.... I see rainbows ....

On a shopping trip with ma' gurl Courtney we made sure to make a stop into Prada to take a look at the new Spring collection. The clothes, of course, were fabulous, but what we didn't expect to walk out with was a beautiful, rather large, look book from the new mens and womens lines. Inside this delight were wonderfully shot, and artistically styled, spreads of Miuccia's best spring looks. The inspirations for this collection were chandeliers, finding a steady balance between the soft iridescence and the hardness of a crystal. This came out artistically through the beautiful imagery. The graphics being a wonderful highlight, that my intellectual brother no-doubt obsessed over. Take a look for yourself at some of the best pages from the Prada book.

(Click to enlarge the beautiful details)

Chandelier shoes, so sick

(All photos courtesy of Hapsical)

.... Dipped in studs ....

Damn, this movie looks hot. The Runaways, starring Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart, is a film about two chicks, out to start a badass rock band. One made up of all girls, of course. Dakota and Kristen may play the parts to key, but not only does the acting looks amazing, the styling, vibe, and music are all incredibly fitting as well. The 80's energy reminds me of the club kids from Marc Jacobs' Fall 08/09 collection.

These girls are ganna rock it with some major sex appeal. Can't wait for this one.

The Runaways comes out March 19

(Photos courtesy of Style.com)

....Maria....

It makes me so sad and angry to talk about the closing of a wildly talented friend's business, due to a shitty economy. Maria Pinto, a Chicago based fashion designer, is an amazingly talented woman who brings flavor to everything she does. Since starting her business, post studying at SAIC, she has dressed and styled some of the most powerful and confident women today. Michelle Obama and Oprah are huge fans of Maria's work. Maria's business was thriving before the drop in today's economy, opening a stunning retail space below her offices in the West Loop which she was forced to close. This past month seems to be the dead end for many fashion corners of Chicago. Before Maria, both Yves Saint Laurent and Ultimo boutique closed their doors on their exclusive Oak Street spaces.

Maria has always been so nice and generous to me and has invited me to her studio many times, of which I am so thankful. She is absolutely warm and welcoming to everyone she knows. It makes me so sad that even accomplished designers such as Maria are closing their doors due to this situation. I wish that I had visited her showroom more and had taken a greater advantage of all her designs before this, but I had always thought her clothes would be around forever. Although this situation is sad and unfortunate, I am absolutely sure Maria will one day open her doors again to the fashion world.

If you are able, please make a stop at Maria's liquidation sale (March 16th-20th) at the above address and fulfill your last chance to own such beautiful work. Visit Mariapinto.com to look at all of her collections and learn more about Maria Pinto.

Here are a few looks from Maria's surreal Spring 2010 collection.

(Click on them for a larger view of the details)

(photos courtesy of Mariapinto.com)

TAO

...~...

I'm having a major shoes obsession recently with a pair of studded lace-ups by Tao for Comme des Garcons. Tao is a small avante-garde label that is managed under the Comme des Garcons company. Tao produces work similiar to that of Comme with a bit of a more youthful twist.

I saw these shoes while browsing Colette.com, and I became in love with them and their relaxed boy attitude. Perfect for the summer.

To make it better, they come........... in PINK!

How disco of me.

I've only found these online at Colette of Paris, if anyone is so nice as to make the $700 donation for these handmade beauties.

How lovely, and equally as depressing.

Please walk to my doorstep, I love you.

XO Alex

'',, Comme to me ,,''

Comme des garcons hits It out season after season. This discreet Japanese label, run by conceptual fashion guru Rei kawakubo, carries the pack and has been called the 'secret leader' of the fashion world.

For Fall, Rei did a collection based on what she described as 'inner decoration', the only explanation she gave for her show. The clothing, with this concept, can be interpreted so many ways. With it, Kawakubo brought new jackets, vintage plaids, and stunning white dresses that were all crunched together by bursting bumps and bulges. The oddly stuffed layers resembled a '90's Comme collection 'lumps and bumps', Where strange lumps symbolized the weight of one's personal belonging. But I doubt Rei would pull the same thing twice, unless that was exactly the point. This time around though, shoes were torn apart and finale dresses had snowy layers of white foam popping out of creases. This might have been to give a feeling of dishevelment, or claim perverted feminine territory. It is, as always, up to us to decide. That is what makes Comme des Garcons so undeniably weird, yet masterfully beautiful.

^^^ * These gold sneakers will be mine.

(All photos courtesy of Style.com)

~ Tribal infusion ~

The new Lanvin collection for Fall 2010 was fierce, to say the least. The tribal emroideries, strong silhouettes, and clanking jewelry all danced together beautifully. Watch the short summary of the show below, and feel that African beat for yourself.

~ Versace's full throttle woman ~

In a season all about laid-back minimalism, Versace's woman was the exact fierce, glam-biker opposite. Watch this show and feel good. 'Nuf said.

Have a fabulous week.