Fashion Tops Trend Spring/Summer 2005

Boho luxe is the key to this season's look, as I'm sure this site has already drilled into your brain. But for those who think that the boho items are too airy and not slick enough for you, we provide a solution! This season, you will see many fashion tops (mainly jackets,) with a row of buttons. The tops also have a bit of Edwardian and military influence.
The tops are usually cropped and fitted. To be cool and fashion-foward, team these jackets with boho style skirts or loose long trousers! Think Kate Moss, think old English royalty x hippy style.

Get inspired by Chloe, Balenciaga, Anna Sui and Perry Ellis:

Here are some top picks for this trend:

By Marc by Marc Jacobs: Casual and cool.

By Miss Selfridge, in this season's IT color, white.

Another top by Miss Selfridge. Wear this with a white boho skirt to look hip and carefree!

A dress shirt by Anthropologie. You'll look totally Victorian/ Edwardian in this: Sleek and chic at work.

Totes anyone?

Recently I have gotten fed up with my shoulder book bag and have been looking around for inspiration for a new book bag. And I have finally found my inspiration in . . . drum roll please. . . Mischa Barton. Big suprise.
Mischa looked so good and so cool carrying this Le Sportsac LAMB tote bag around school and the OC that I have been inspired to find the perfect tote myself. I am just suprised that a tote bag had not previously occured to me. What can be more perfect? It is big, fits everything AND very stylish and feminine. Plus, it can be used for everyday casual wear and is big enough to be carried to the beach or on plane.
The very first on my list of considerations is this very similar white and gold tote from Le Sportsac Remix. I saw it at Bloomies this weekend and tried it on. It looked really good. It matches with everything, it is the right size, its summery and it is very stylish. I am definitely considering it. What do you think of this investment?

I also rather like this sand floral tote from American Eagle. I love the casual shape and the subtle pattern of it. I can defintely see someone wearing it in the summer, esp on the beach.

Is this not such a cute tote? I've had my eye on this tote from Intuition for quite some time now. The color of it is so versatile, it has a zip, the words are really cute and the fact that they're made with sequinces just adds an extra oomph to the tote.

Ah. . the choices a girl has to make. . .

Harrods Girl's Hairstyle and Styling Products

In response to our beloved readers comments, here is how my hair looks like:

About a month after I permed my hair, the curls calmed down a bit, and my hairstyle was exactly like MK's (left) throughout Jan to mid-March. In mid-March, I got my ends trimmed and got a fashionable fringe at Urban Retreat, and my hair ended up looking like Ash's (right). This is sort of like a more dramatic version of the Chloe one (see below.) You like it?

So, I thought I would share with you all the styling products I use. I have a thing for the fabulous Kerastase, which are recommended by many celebrities, hair specialist/ stylists and are used on models at catwalks.

After I towel dry my hair a bit, I apply a few drops of Kerastase Serum Nutri Sculpt at the ends of the hair. It prevents split ends, (which is a pet peeve of mine.)

Then I apply Kerastase Creme Elasto Curl evenly through my hair (though I avoid the roots and fringe.) Use fingers to twist the hair, so it has a beautiful curl after it dries. Lastly, crunch hair ends gently. Tips: Apply the creme walnut size at a time. This Kerastase is fantastic, so do try it out if you need a styling product for curly/wavy (thick) hair. If you have thin hair, there is a similar hair mousse suitable for you.

Hairstyle Trend Spring/Summer 2005 I

This season, most fashionable ladies will be sporting the carefree bohemian hairstyle. So what exactly does this mean? Picture the Kate Moss hair, the Sienna Miller hair, the Mary Kate Olsen hair. The hair split is usually in the middle, and the style should be completely natural -like how your hair would look like when you wake up.

Sienna Miller with a more original nature-like bohemian hairstyle.

Mary Kate with a more street-chic bohemian hairstyle.

According to the hair stylist at Marni, the key is "to look like it is totally natural, but in reality, lots of work and some hair products."
Tips:

• Do NOT brush your hair with a comb or brush.
• Coat your fingers with a bit of gel or styling cream and run it through your hair from scalp to ends, to give it a more distinct texture.
• To bring out even more texture, twist individual pieces with a bit of styling wax.

Get inspired by the catwalk:

Burberry Prorsum: slightly wavy hair that is more tidy for the prim ladies.

Chloe: The hairstyle leader this season. Chloe supports the natural bohemian style as mentioned above.

Chloe.

Anna Sui: This style is great too for this season. Red hair also seems to be growing more popular these days.

Devon Aoki

So this weekend I finally gave into everyone's raving and the constant advertising and went to see Sin City, to see for myself just how "cool" and gory it was. The mostly black and white movie with the occasional color used to emphasize and represent things- like the yellow monster in the last scene that is supposed to represent the stench of that person- was definitely very cool and very artsy indeed. O and gory. Yes, all that people eating and body part ripping is all very gory. But the person that caught my eye in this movie was Devon Aoki, who played Miho, the deadly silent killing machine of Old Town.

She had no speaking part in this movie at all, but her role as the protector and killing machine of Old Town was defintely very cool. And the awesome-ness of her very slick kick-ass moves rivalled those of Lucy Liu's in Kill Bill (which might be because of Quentin Tarantino who is the honorary director in this movie).

Devon Aoki also starred in many other movies including 2 Fast 2 Furious, DEB's and Death of a Dynasty.

But with such distinct and unique looks she is of course no ordinary actress. This 23-year-old japanese/German/English American is in fact a model, having done the catwalk for Versace, Chanel, Ungaro, Baby Phat, Blumarine, Fendi, Paco Rabanne and Loewe.

But you may recognize her as the face of Chanel in 1997. . .

. . Or more recently as the face of Lancome. She was also very popular in Asia and Europe, appearing on the cover of the Japanese and the Deutsch Vogue and ads in Asian brands like Max Factor.

The other notable character in Sin City was Alexis Bledel, as Becky, who unlike her role as Rory in Gilmore Girls, played a traitor to Old Town and was eventually killed in the end. I especially liked the fact that they emphasized her large blue eyes making her appear very innocent.

Capris Trends Spring/Summer 2005

Despite the changes in fashion every year, capris will always be around for those uncomfortable with shorts but still want to look the season or just want something different. For clarity purpose, by capris, I mean 3/4 pants just below the knee, because otherwise it IS a bit confusing when pants come in all shapes and lengths these days. This season, the capris will still be around-but with a lot more attitude!

The absolute KEY to this season's capris is loose and stylishly tailored too. Like this white capris by Ralph Lauren and this orange striped capris by Marc Jacobs, both are loose but emaculately cut. The contrasting colored belts on each model serves to emphasize the slim waist despite all the looseness, giving it some shape. Also note how the Marc Jacobs capris are folded up to give it some layer and dimension.

Color and embellishment are also important. Color like this multicolored Cacharel capris. And embellishment like this Anna Sui capris with its heavily decorated charm belt.

For a more daring style, there is also the slimming but scruched up like this white one from D Squared 2. Or this loosely done but tight at the bottom capris by Emma Cook. When properly matched up, perhaps with something of a more street-like material like denim and heels, I am sure this won't look like a part of your pajamas.

Off the runway, this loose but very well tailored white capris by Robert Rodriguez is perfect. They are even folded up already!

Or these pink striped capris from Anthropologie, they too are folded. The pink also gives it a more feminine and ladylike quality.

Most importantly when wearing capris though is that unless you are a super model or are super tall, PLEASE don't wear capris with sneakers. They make you look short and stumpy. Pair them with heels to look glam or flats and sandals for a more casual look.

Royal Wedding: Charles and Camilla

First, congradulations to Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles!
OK, now back to important business- the oh so important wedding dress of course. Apparently, Camilla had six outfit fittings and 10 hat fittings, and a final dress rehearsal before settling on the final dress.

Hat by Philip Treacy

Outfit by Robinson Valentine. The color is described to be oyster, and the dress is soft. We think this is the perfect outfit for this wedding, and she looks beautiful.

The now Duchess of Cornwall has had many outfits made by the label, Robinson Valentine in the past five years, so they are familiar with dressing Camilla.
"It's very elegant. It definitely suits Mrs Parker Bowles and she feels relaxed in it. It's been quite easy because we've made clothes for [her] before and we know what suits her," said Valentine.

Label History of Robinson Valentine
Antonia Robinson and Anne Valentine met at a pattern cutting course in 1985 and established the label, Robinson Valentine in 1986. In 1990, they created their first collection, which consisted of 10 pieces. In 2002, they launched the first Robinson Valentine wedding dress collection. Now that they have designed a wedding dress for a ROYAL WEDDING, the label will be heading for a greater global presence.