Street Style by Polka Dot vs. Elle Spain Copyright Infringement

I just wanted to thank everyone who either read this post here or this one on Jill’s blog and supported her.  As of last night, ELLE Spain finally did take down the blog post in which 4 of Jill’s photos had been used without her permission.  However, Jill has yet to receive an apology from ELLE Spain or the blogger, Carmen Bejerano, who had used the photos.  Keep showing your support and hopefully a much-deserved apology will be forthcoming.

March 11 – 13, 2011: Style Nation Blogger Meetup in Las Vegas!

If you are subscribed to the blog via an RSS Reader or service like Bloglovin‘, you may not have seen the new Badge on the right side of the site home page.  Here’s the dish:  Beverly of Style Underdog and Vahni of Grit and Glamour are coordinating a Blogger Meetup in the exciting city of “what happens there, stays there” Vegas!  There is a good chance that even I may forego my anonymity (at least partially) and attend this one!  Click below for more details:

Image via grit and glamour

Assuming I go (which I am assuming), I’d love to see you there!

Buy a Little Woolf and Help Sister Wolf

I wasn’t familiar with blogger Sister Wolf until I read about this fundraiser on Wendy Brandes’ blog yesterday.   I spent some time reading Sisiter Wolf’s blog yesterday and found myself inspired by her strength and resilience.  This remarkable woman endured a devastating loss earlier this year, and is now struggling with a roof that is on its last legs.

Wendy, together with Queens Marie and Michelle of Kingdom of Style and Kate of Make Do Style are all working together to try and raise some funds for Sister Wolf.  Wendy has offered the proceeds of sales of her Little Woolf necklace in silver.  For every Woolf sold for $50, $35 will go to Sister Wolf.

During this season of giving, think about purchasing one for yourself or as a gift!  Click below to be taken directly to the product page.

Click to buy a Little Woolf (Image via Wendy Brandes)

Nick Knight honors Alexander McQueen with Haunting Video

This beautiful video was filmed by famed photographer and videographer Nick Knight.  The clip was presented during the British Fashion Awards, where Alexander McQueen was honored with a posthumous award for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design.  According to The Cut: “the clip is set to a soundtrack by Björk and features McQueen’s most iconic pieces, styled by Edward Enninful and worn by black models only.”

The video allowed the pieces to be modeled one last time before they are moved to the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in preparation for a Spring exhibition of Alexander McQueen’s work.

What do you think?

The New Face of Chanel Handbags: Blake Lively

Does Chanel normally have a “face” specifically for their handbag campaigns?  Is it wrong that I didn’t realize that?  I mean, ask me who the latest face of Chanel Fragrances is and I can tell you with no problem.  I somehow missed this one.  According to E! Online, however, it looks like Blake Lively has landed this coveted gig for the new year.  A source tells Marc Malkin that:

“The Gossip Girl beauty will star in a new ad campaign for Chanel. I’m told she was just in Paris shooting for the French fashion house’s handbag collection. The ads should launch early next year…”

What do you think of Lively representing Chanel?  She certainly seems to have won the heart of Anna Wintour (and has 1, 2, 3 Vogue covers to prove it), so why not Karl Lagerfeld as well?

Chanel Pre-Fall 2011 Paris-Byzance Collection Preview

Chanel’s Pre-Fall Métiers d’Art Collection, Paris-Byzance, is inspired by the Byzantine Empire.  It is full of muted colors, rich ornamentation and striking silhouettes.  The designs are stunning and decidedly regal, but they also have just a touch of edginess to them.  I think it’s one of my favorite Chanel collections in some time.  You can check out images from the showing here, but I personally adore these preview shots which were shot by Karl Lagerfeld himself.

Image via Vogue Paris

Image via Vogue Paris

Image via Vogue Paris

Image via Vogue Paris

What do you think of the collection?  Any other Pre-Fall lines catch your attention?

Harper’s Bazaar UK: Emily Blunt in Tom Ford

I know what you are thinking.  Tom Ford.  Again.   I can’t help it.  I shared these images on twitter and facebook a week or so ago, but I had to make sure you had all seen them.  Check out this beautiful blue dress that Emily Blunt is wearing on the cover of the January 2011 Harper’s Bazaar UK.

Image via celebitchy

Karen Elson wore it in the December issue of US Vogue, but here you can see the detail of the dress even better.  Tell that that color isn’t one of the most striking blues you’ve ever seen.  Tell me the dress isn’t perfection.  Kill me now.

Image via celebitchy

To check out the rest of the Tom Ford goodies in the issue, click here.

Photography I Love:

Finally, I’ve been so busy talking about Tom Ford this and Tom Ford that lately that I neglected to mention these absolutely beautiful images.  These are from various photoshoots that caught my attention.  Click on the image to view more of each.

Alison Arboux for Kurv Magazine. Photographer: Jonathan Segade (Image via Zombie and Candy)

Alexandra Carl in Creature. Photographer: Damon Baker (Image via Zombie and Candy)

Maryna Linchuk for Vogue Turkey December 2010. Photographer: Ellen von Unwerth (Image via Zombie and Candy)

Kirsten Dunst for F/W 2010 Lula Magazine. Photographer: Autumn de Wilde. Rodarte's Laura and Kate Mulleavy guest-edited the issue. (Image via fashionologie)

Have any editorials caught your eye lately?

What else is on your mind this Whatever Wednesday?

Remember a few weeks ago when, after the Emmy’s, Christina Hendricks was all over the fashion news because of a  quote that was run in the Scottish Daily Record? Media outlets ranging from The Cut to the UK Daily Mail to bloggers worldwide (Wendy Brandes did a great post on the topic here) were talking about what she had reportedly said:

“People have been saying some nice, wonderful things about me. Yet not one designer in town will loan me a dress. They only lend out a size 0 or 2. So I’m still struggling for someone to give me a darn dress.”

In my opinion, the article had made her sound very UN-Christina-like.  She sounded extremely entitled, and a more than a bit like a spoiled, whiny brat.  So I defended her more than a few times.  I have followed her interviews enough that it seemed – to me – that something was “off” about the whole thing.  Yes, she had commented in the past about the difficulties her size caused when it came to dressing in designer gowns, but this latest quote seemed particularly out of character.

Fast forward to this quote from the November 2010 issue of Harper’s Bazaar:

“Years ago in an interview, Christina said it was difficult to find a dress that wasn’t a sample size, and she recently saw that quote recycled in a British tabloid. “I was like, Whoa! First of all, I am so grateful any time I get to wear one of these great dresses, and since the show has gotten more popular, I’ve had the opportunity to wear the most amazing designers. I mean, L’Wren Scott? How did that happen?” She is also a huge admirer of John Galliano. “Oh, Galliano,” she faux swoons. “Forever and ever and ever. I don’t care what he does, whether it’s leather, delicate lace, or anything. I’ll carry a riding crop down the red carpet.”

It looks like my instincts were right, and the topic and quote was used by the Daily Record as a way to drum up publicity.   I won’t judge her on an old quote, but rather the things she says today… and although she still references the difficulties she has fitting into sizes, she also admits that she is fortunate in that she has numerous opportunities to wear designer pieces.  She sounds neither entitled nor whiny – just grateful.

To read the rest of the interview, click here. Check out the photos by Terry Richardson and behind-the-scenes video below.

Photoshoot Details:
Harper’s Bazaar, November 2010
Photographer: Terry Richardson

What do you think of the shoot? Pretty low-key for Terry Richardson, right?

If you haven’t already done so, please click here to enter to win a Wendy Brandes Lotus Necklace!

To wear heels, or not to wear heels, that is the question

According to a study conducted at England’s Northumbria University, men could care less whether women wear high heels or not.   Per the UK Daily Mail, “the tests looked at whether the change in body posture brought about by wearing heels, such as the illusion of longer legs, tilting torso and more prominent rear, sends a signal which has an effect on men.”  The conclusion?  Male observers were unable to tell which of the female  subjects were wearing heels.  While I agree a shoe alone doesn’t make a woman confident and sexy, I don’t believe it’s absolutely irrelevant.

I don’t know about you, but I wear heels for me.  They make me walk straighter, carry my head high, and feel sexier.  If I feel sexier – I act more confident.  It doesn’t matter whether a man notices my heels or not – I notice them.  Other women might feel just as sexy in flats as I do in heels.  Nothing wrong with that.  The point is, if we are confident in what we are wearing, we show that confidence.  The man might not notice the shoes – but he certainly notices the confidence!

Besides, can you really convince me that the first few seconds of this promo would have been just as sexy if she wasn’t wearing heels?  Everytime I saw this on TV, I died a little inside because I loved the heels so much!

Vote for the Sexiest Shoes of the Year

Obviously, Saks Fifth Avenue thinks heels are sexy.  Per WWD, they, in conjunction with Footwear News, are holding a contest to determine the years sexiest shoe.  Contestants range from Christian Louboutin to Manolo Blahnik to Miu Miu and Dolce & Gabbana.

Voting is open to the public and will take place online, as well as at the 10022-SHOE boutique in the flagship Saks Fifth Avenue store in New York.  Click here to vote online today!

My pick?  These Jimmy Choo Feline’s.

Blog Writer?

I’ve shopped at ModCloth a few times.  Many of the items aren’t really my style, but I occasionally run into something with just the right amount of edge.   Regardless, I always get a kick out of the names they come up with for items, and sometimes the descriptions are absolutely genius!  I was perusing the site last night when I came across the “Blog Writer Dress.”

Although I could see some bloggers wearing this (Tavi comes to mind – and she would rock it), I wouldn’t be caught dead in it.  It looks like a nightgown to me (grandma’s night gown!), is not polished at all, and it’s rather pricey for what it is!   I know ModCloth is just trying to think of fun names for their dresses, but I hate the idea of people thinking bloggers dress like this.   It’s stereotyping, in a way, and am I wrong in thinking the majority of fashion bloggers wouldn’t wear this?

Thou shalt not use the name “Chanel” in vain

This is something we should all be aware of as fashion bloggers: Chanel is on the prowl for people that are misusing their trademark brand name.    Specifically, they would like a cease and desist placed on the use of the word “Chanel” as an adjective.  The powerhouse recently took out the following ad in WWD:

Source: Chic and You Shall Find

So, fellow bloggers, be mindful of that next time something reminds you of a Chanel piece!

Metro Chic and Tom Ford’s Black Orchid

Quite a few of you have been asking about the nail color I am wearing in this photo:

It’s called Metro Chic by OPI for Sephora.  It’s actually a really popular shade from last fall, but I still love it – one of my faves!  Click on the image below to buy it.

Another nail color I am excited about is Tom Ford’s Black Orchid!  Although it looks more red than black, it kind of reminds me of Chanel’s Vamp (please don’t hurt me for the comparison, Chanel!).  Looking forward to seeing this one in person.

A couple of doses of inspiration

Karen Elson looks spectacular in this Harpers Bazaar shoot, and I am seriously coveting those gorgeous red locks of hers!

Photoshoot Details:
Harpers Bazaar UK, October 2010
Photographer: Alexi Lubomirski

Meanwhile, I am strangely drawn to Eniko Mihalik’s hair in this shoot.  I can’t stop staring at this shot… (plus, the dress is gorgeous!)

Photoshoot Details:
Harpers Bazaar Spain, October 2010
Photographer: Nico

How is your Wednesday going? Anything particular on your mind?

Photographer: Cedric Buchet