Dress Trends Spring / Summer 2005 I

As usual, there is never just one trend each season. The spring/ summer 2005 trends for dress begins with high-waisted, full-length and flowing dresses. The dresses are never plain- they are always adorned by patterns, sequins or other accessories. All of them give out the message of 'casual but luxe', 'pretty without too much effort' and 'can you feel that comfortable, soft summer breeze?' This season, my favourite collections for these type of dresses include Chloe, Marni and Missoni.

by Missoni
I love that this dress has such lively colors and untraditional flowery patterns. The decorations on the V-shape part makes the dress stand out even more.

by Missoni
Another Missoni dress with very vivid colors. The colors flows very nicely with the whole flow of the dress. Notice that both Missoni dresses are so high waisted, that they tighten right under the chest.

by Burberry Prorsum
Do I have to say more about how lovely this flowery dress is?

by Marni
This dress has a basic earth, nature-type color. The constrasting blue waist-belt makes the dress high-waisted also, and the green flower accentuates the nature feel of this look.

by Marni
The metallic dress provides a more modern approach to the basic earth/ nature look. The brown and bronze accessories are definately important to achieve this look.

by Twinkle
This type of cutting of the dress is similar to Chloe's cutting. The pattern gives the dress a slightly ethnic feel.

by Anthropologie
This is just another example of a lovely, pretty dress by Anthroplogie.


Mischa Barton wearing a dress by Chloe in the FOX "White Hot Winter" Network Party. This is one of my favourite dresses this season. The dress has a new approach to a V-cut. The hole in the middle of the dress makes this casual, flowing dress sexy in a non-slutty way. The material is metallic in a comfortable blue tone to give an effortless luxe look. Mischa wearing round-toed shoes allows her whole outfit to look more youthful and less formal, as opposed to the original pointed-shoes that were designed to go with this dress in the fashion show. In the Chloe fashion show, the dress was modelled by my favourite model, Gemma Ward.

Barbara and Jenna Bush

In the Inaugurations Ball this Thursday, the general public (aka us) finally got to see the much talked about gowns Badgley Mischka created for the First Daughters for this occasion.







After all the articles I read about them, I expected something fabulously amazing and special. But perhaps my expectations were just too high, because I was pretty disappointed when I finally saw it. Jenna Bush's emerald green dress indeed suits her complexion very well, but the cutting of the gown seemed to be lacking in shape. Barbara Bush's pale aquamarine dress was simple and elegantly cut, but the color seems to just emphasize her already pale complexion, especially paired with her very natural make up. So overall there was nothing really to make such a big fuss about.



Badley Mischka, based in NYC, was founded by designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka. It is known for its luxury evening wear sold in Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstorm. They've been named one of the "Top 10 American Designers" by Vogue and has dressed celebrities like Madonna, Halle Berry, Catherine Zeta- Jones, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker and Ashley Judd. - Perhaps this was just not one of their best works?

UK Final Sales

To all Brits, the final sales are on full force this coming week! Topshop and Miss Selfridge almost have no more on sale items left, so don't waste your time there. H&M still have several on sale items, although the items are definately not very attractive.



Remember this is your FINAL chance to go to Selfridges for their final sale this weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun.) All items will will further discounted by 10%. Harrods ends its sale on the 29th Jan., and will be closed on the 30th.



Go buy cheaper designer items before sales end! And good luck pushing through the horrendous crowds in weekends!

Online Shopping

With the snow storm coming yet again, the best way to stay warm and sane, is to shop online (especially for people without cars!). It is to my opinion the best invention since the creation of the mall. In fact, in some ways it is even better, because they have more stock, everything looks neater, they have more variety, they sometimes have better bargains and they deliver to your doorstep!



But being the intelligent shopper that I am I don't just buy from any old website I see on the net. Here are a few rules that I live by:

1. Always buy from the official website of the brand you are looking for if its available. It may be more expensive, but it is also much more reliable.
2. If such is unavailable, buy from a well-known and reputable online store. They also have very good return policies in case they don't appear as they do online, wrong size, damaged or you just don't want them.
3. Always keep the boxes and all the sheets of paper (smart label) it comes with until at least a month after purchase, for easy return.
4. Never pay for shipping. This is AMERICA, you should always get free or even upgraded shipping. Give them a call if you don't.

I know, this is probably all common sense and old news for fellow intelligent shoppers out there, but it never hurts to reiterate. Here are a few of my favourite online stores:

• Urban Outfitters (of course!)
• Girl Shop (some of the cutest and most fashionable clothes out there)
• Amazon (for a healthy dose of chick lits)
• Intuition (for LA-style and celebrity buys)

Happy Shopping Everyone!

ps. Today is Bush's inaugural day, wear black and refrain from shopping in protest!

1000 Visitors Celebration

I am Fashion has passed the 1000 visitors mark! Barneys Girl and I would like to say thank you to all of our readers - yes, YOU!! To celebrate this happy, happy day, we present you with these shoes. Pick yours according to your personality!



For all rich & beautiful girls... by Gucci





For all wild & sexy girls... by Manolo Bahnik





For all Sex and the City girls... by Manolo Bahnik





For all beachy girls... Marc Jacobs





For all country & picnic girls... Moschino





For all aqua porsum girls... by Jimmy Choo

For all working girls... by Salvatore Ferragamo

For all Legally blondes... by Dior

For all girls who glitter & shine... by Miu Miu

For all casual & posh girls...by Jimmy Choo

For all cute & colorful girls...by Marc Jacobs

For all new vintage & pretty girls...by Miu Miu

Hope you loved the shoes like we did!! Tell us which ones suited YOU!!

The Trump Wedding Dress

This gorgeous wedding dress will be worn by Trump's new bride, Melania Knauss, in their wedding this Saturday. Melenia Knauss chose this dress in the Christian Dior haute couture show in Paris, with the help of Vogue editors Sally Singer and Andre Leon Talley. This voluminous strapless gown took 550 hours of labor just to do the embroidery. The details of the shopping of this dress will be featured in the Feb. issue of Vogue. Melania will also be wearing a Vera Wang dress during the wedding dinner.



Sigh... if only all us girls had Vogue editors to help us choose bridal dresses and can actually afford such expensive dresses, there will definately be a higher marrage rate.

My New Buys & Other Golden Notables

Sales are everywhere! And it is a most exciting thing for fashion-holics like moi. So I speed-walked to Covent Garden, and started my shopping spree. I got two tops in H&M for 10 pounds total! Got a cool, disco-like, long-sleeve, black turtleneck from Miss Sixty for 17.5 pounds. Lastly, got this from Urban Outfitters for 28 pounds. This shirt is by Miriam Ocariz. Her designs are actually quite cool. Go check them out at www.miriamocariz.com.

My day instantly brightened up after buying so many 50% off beautiful item. The amount of endorphins shopping sprees give to fashion-holics is unbelievable.



I found some other dresses I thought were quite pretty from the Golden Awards after-parties.

Nicky Hilton, showing that she does not only wear the LA style.

Katie Holmes, looking naturally beautiful as usual.

Notice that they are also wearing white, (or near white shades.)