Snake Charmer

Peep the python that paraded down the Prada runway for Fall.  Snakeskin is a luxurious classic and was a favorite among designers this season, especially for Hannah MacGibbon at Chloé.

The Prada boots may be out of your price range.  But thanks to Zara and Urban Outfitters, you have easy access to stylish looks for less. 

PS: Feel free to purchase a pair of the UO oxfords for me. Such a chic take on a "borrowed from the boys" staple. 

Mod Moment

There are a lot of retro trends popping up for fall, and the Mod look is no exception.  In addition to Peter Pan collars and shift dresses, when one thinks of Mod, one thinks of the poster girl for the style--Twiggy.

And it's easy to see the heavy Twiggy influence on Vogue Russia's recent editorial, featuring Natasha Poly and shot by Hedi Slimane.  I love how they exaggerated the signature fanned lower lashes Twiggy had:

Check out all the photos at FGR

Sidenote: I love musicals.  So, naturally, the return of Mod made me think of one of my favorite musicals: Sweet Charity.  One of the best scenes involves Fosse-choreographed dance numbers at a club.  The choreography and costuming are so fabulous, it was the obvious inspiration behind Beyonce's "Get Me Bodied" video.  Watch "The Rich Man's Frug" below:

The Sincerest Form of Flattery?

I adore ASOS and love shopping their online store.  But while checking out there dress selection, I noticed this particularly punchy striped dress...

...God bless the poor gal who unknowingly purchased this SS'11 Prada knockoff.  

It's one thing to garner inspiration from runway looks.  But this is just a blatant copycatting with zero shame.  Here's the original:  

There are slight differences, but they are outweighed by the similarity in colors, stripes, and even the ruffle at the bottom.  Less knockoff and more knock-out dresses, ASOS! 

(Prada runway pic via Style.com)

Such a Doll

The Dolly Necklace -- Topshop

Adorable.

The MI_I Skirt

If you were to fill in the blank, you'd probably put a N for "mini".  But for fall, try inserting a D.  The calf-grazing midi skirt is a happy medium between the mini and maxi options.  From Marc by Marc to Gucci (see below), designers served up ladylike looks with flair at the Fall shows.  And the Midi is a perfect fit.

For my closet, I chose to purchase a chic black version from ASOS:

I like how this look was styled with a simple brown belt.  But I think I'll pair it with my skinny, leopard print one ;)

(Pics via Style.com) 

OPI Fall '11 Collection:: Touring America

OPI's polish collection for Fall 2011 is out, and the colors were inspired by different cities across the USA.  Being from Baltimore, I was naturally excited to see my hometown being included in the collection: 

It's the deep plum color, third from the left.  Being a lover of purple and my Baltimore Ravens, I'm excited to doll up my digits with "Honk if You Love OPI." Check out the full collection on OPI.com and see if your city made the cut. 

Ad Love: Stella McCartney

When I first started to get into fashion magazines, one thing I couldn't stand about 'em were the ads.  I thought they got in the way of the important parts (editorials, articles, etc.)  But over the years, I have learned to appreciate the ads so much that I actually love them!

The image(s) selected to be featured in a label's ad represents the entire collection for that season and make major statements...As I perused the September issue of Elle magazine, one ad in particular really stood out to me: 

Natalia Vodianova is the star of this Stella McCartney ad in a dress that combines sheer seductiveness with polka dot sweetness.  The look showcases a little skin in such a creative and fresh way and ups the va va voom factor.  And the pose is strong, yet demure.  Between that and the black and white image with green topiary serving as a background, this ad is a fabulous contradiction.

PS: Polka dots = Major trend for Fall