[Closet Addition] Mary Katrantzou for Longchamp

It was Mary Katrantzou's Spring 2011 collection, which also happened to be her first solo runway show - that resulted in me, and countless others, falling in love with the London-based designer.

Katrantzou's use of print was not only refreshing, but also quite strategic. Using images from interiors featured in Architectural Digest and World of Interiors, she created looks that were both artistic and wearable.

So, when I discovered that she recently collaborated with Longchamp to launch a collection of bags, I immediately started my search to find out where I could get my hands on one.

In comes French retailer, Colette.

I was very familiar with the store but had no idea they had an online shop AND shipped to the U.S.! After a few minutes of deciding which size I wanted (hubby was laughing at me while I literally pulled out the measuring tape), I was adding the bag to my shopping cart and entering my credit card details. Since it was sent from Europe, shipping was not inexpensive. But I must admit, it arrived in lightning fast time and was worth every penny.

And if my photos aren't enough to entice you, check out this video of Katrantzou explaining the design process as well as the inspiration behind the collection.

Click HERE to check out the entire line of bags. And be sure to act fast to get your hands on this limited edition collection!

Linking Up: A French blogger and a Greek fashion brand knocks my socks off; Perfect shoes for "Spring"; An exposed bra look that's actually chic

Le Blog de Big Beauty has me lusting over the Greek brand, Mat Fashion. Now, who can I get to send me some gear to the U.S.? [click HERE to see what I mean]

Refinery29 provides us with the perfect Spring shoes for the not-so-warm weather. I think I need those Maurie and Eve "Phoenix" wedges...like yesterday! [click HERE to step your shoe game up]

Only Dulce Candy can make an exposed bra look chic! [click HERE to see how]

Milan Fashion Week SS 2011: Live Streams

Milan Fashion Week (aka Milano Moda Donna) runs from 9/22/10 to 9/28/10 and will include renowned designers such as Gucci, Moschino, Emporio Armani, D&G, Prada, Versace, Missoni and Salvatore Ferragamo.

Click here* to access the central site for the Milan Fashion Week live stream and here for the schedule.

Please note that Milan is 7 hours ahead of Central Standard Time. So, plan accordingly.

Additional Streams:
- Gucci - 9/22/10 at 7AM CST (must register to receive an e-ticket)



*Thanks to @rozfashionista for providing the link on twitter.

London Fashion Week S/S 2011: Live Streams

London Fashion Week is in full effect! Just in case you weren't aware, some of the shows will be streaming live. You still have three days left to get in on the action. Now, remember, London is SIX hours ahead of Central Standard Time. That means you'll probably have to be up as early as 3:00 AM to catch the first show. But, hey, fashion never sleeps. So why should we, right?

Click the logo below to view the live streams and check out the remaining schedule. Next up....Milan!






Additional streams:
- Burberry Prorsum - 9/21/10 at 10AM (CST)
- TopShop Sponsored Shows - Various dates and times

Harrods Tote Bags - A little piece of heaven

Harrods, oh how I love thee. Founded in 1824, the UK store is known worldwide for its luxury and impeccable service. I shall never forget being in London years ago and reading how Harrods gift wrapped a helicopter (click here to see it with your own eyes). For me, Harrods is more like a museum than a store. Majority of the items are priced well outside of my budget but I love to go there and marvel at all the pretty things. From clothing to furniture to electronics, this store is a shopaholic's dream!

Harrods also has THE best store-related souvenirs. From teddy bears to stationery, the souvenirs allow you to own a little piece of heaven Harrods at a minimal cost. And with international shipping, you don't have to necessarily travel to London to partake.

My personal favorites are the shopper totes.



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Clockwise from top left: Store Facade, Black Cab, Classic Harrods, Knightsbridge Map


I purchased a small Black Cab tote for myself although I wasn't completely sure of the purpose it would serve. As it turns out, it has become my all-time favorite lunch bag! Stylish yet practical, this tote is such a conversation starter. Those unfamiliar with Harrods revel at the vinyl bag covered in images of the iconic London taxi. While those very well acquainted with Harrods take notice and begin to share stories of their time spent in Harrods or the UK in general.

My tote will always be one of my favorite Harrods items, even AFTER hubby presents me with a gift wrapped private jet.

Have you ever been to Harrods? If so, what is your fondest memory?

Handbag AND Shoe Swoon - Dune Lonto and Pronto

The Lonto clutch bag and the Pronto pumps are available at Dune!

Stolen Thunder - Jewelry for Your Inner Child

Every time I begin to miss my second home, London, I window shop at PretaPortobello.com. I'm a huge fan of the Portobello Market and in the 8-months I spent living in London, I was at that market at least twice a month. I love the fact that PretaPortobello.com makes the Portobello Market accessible to fashionistas across the globe.

It was my during my latest visit to PretaPortobello.com that I encountered the most adorable piece of jewelry! It was the Stolen Thunder 'Skipping Girl' necklace. The wooden pendant was carved into the shape of a young girl's silhouette and the way it hung from the chain made it look as though the girl was on an actual swing. How charming!



I went searching for Stolen Thunder's website because I was curious to see what else they had to offer. Let's just say, I want practically everything! Each piece -which is handmade in England, by the way - is unique, whimsical and just plain fun! Many of the items will awaken your inner child and, when worn, will display to the world that you don't take life too seriously. Are you in love yet?

Some of my favorites are the 'Skipping Girl' brooch and necklace (although I can't decide between wood or acrylic), the 'Umbrella Girl' necklace, the 'Kite Girl' brooch, the 'Anchor Nautical' stud earrings AND the charm bracelet. Yep...like I said...practically everything.





Born in 2008, Stolen Thunder is fairly young but I truly believe they have a long, bright future ahead.

Visit Stolen Thunder to check out these items plus so much more! Nothing's priced more than $70 and they ship internationally. So, go ahead and make a purchase. I insist. ;-)

Toe to Toe: ASOS 'Ponder' Platform

Who wins?!


Pick up a pair at Asos.com.

Review - NEXT Black and White Striped Jacket

When NEXT UK contacted me to review one of their five classic items, I jumped at the opportunity. I'm a fan of NEXT as well as classic wardrobe pieces. There really is no greater feeling than knowing you've purchased something that can be worn for multiple years AND with multiple items. Out of the five items, I was drawn to the Black and White Striped Jacket because I did not own anything remotely close to it and I knew it would be extremely versatile.

Although the striped design is bold, when I received the jacket, the first thing I noticed was the construction of the garment. The stitching and substantial lining exceeded my expectations. The jacket is very well made and fits true to size. The stripes are not overbearing and the 3/4 sleeves balances out the short length of the jacket. I decided to rock it with my fail-safe black dress and the color block Zara heels I mentioned in this post. I looked (and felt) uber chic! I also realized that this same jacket would work equally well paired with a skirt, trousers or skinny jeans.

I've styled three different looks to help you better envision the jacket's versatility:

My Online Shop Discovery: My-Wardrobe.com

Hello, my name is Nikia and I'm an online shopping addict! Nothing excites me more than being introduced to a great website. Needless to say, I was elated when I found My-Wardrobe.com!

My-Wardrobe.com is a UK based site that carries quality brands like Anya Hindmarch, Mulberry, McQ, ASH and Acne. With those names, you already know that it's not necessarily a site for frugal shoppers. However, they do have great sale items. On sites like MyWardrobe.com, I tend to gravitate towards shoes, handbags and jewelry. I can justify spending a pretty penny on those items since they'll always fit regardless of weight fluctuations.

I just HAD to share this site with my readers because...

In celebration of the recent addition of U.S. shipping, for a limited time My-Wardrobe.com is offering 30% off to first-time customer (discount code: WELCOMEUSA). This offer expires on March 15th at midnight GMT - that's 6PM EST. So, if you're in the market for designer fashion, this is the perfect time to make a purchase!

Here are some of my favorite pieces. If only I had about $2K to blow. A girl can dream, right?














(l-r)
First Row:
Manoush Butterfly Necklace - $82.50
Malene Birger Dessin Shield Necklace -$265.00
Second Row:
Juicy Couture Striped Military Cardigan - $316.80
Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Sunday Dress - $468.60
Third Row:
Ash Lotus Caged Wedge Shoe - $292.05
Ash Shangrila Ankle Boot - $287.10

My Latest "Wants" from Accessorize

Accessorize is one of the stores I MUST visit every time I'm in London. So, the fact that they now ship to the U.S. makes it easier for me to get my hands on their items any time my heart desires.

My most recent visit to the Accessorize website resulted in a ton of oohs and aahs! Although purchasing anything in British Pounds means basically doubling the price to get the US Dollar equivalent, it is absolutely worth it. As I've said numerous times in the past, there's no greater feeling than to know you're buying something that you won't see on or carried by everyone else.

Below are some of my current favorites and they range from bold to vintage-inspired to nautical. Even with the exchange rate, none of these items are priced over $70. Beautiful items, affordably priced is the perfect formula for temptation. Unfortunately, I'm currently on an online shopping fast. That means I must live vicariously through my readers. So, tell me...what great items have you found online lately?














(l-r)
First Row:
Atacama Necklace
Neon Animal Print Scarf
Second Row:
Paris Bon Voyage Brooch Set
Gladys Butterfly Suede Clutch
Third Row:
Ahoy Sailor Coin Purse
Gill Twist & Textured Stretch Belt

Shoe Swoon - WHERE "Tressa" Studded Wedge

Available on WHERE's website for approx. $75. A great deal for such a one-of-a-kind shoe!

Shoe Swoon: The (Unknown) ASOS Shoe

This "shoe swoon" post has nothing more than a picture to reference. When I saw this shoe on the header of the Women>Shoe page on ASOS.com, I started searching all over the site to see who made it and was it available in my size. The cost was the furthest thing from my mind. Simply put...I WANTED IT! Much to my dismay, the shoe was nowhere to be found.

Just to demonstrate my sometimes outrageous obsessions with things, I must inform you that I immediately submitted a request form to ASOS's customer service (which is fabulous and oh-so responsive) to find out how to get my hands on this new love of my life shoe. Unfortunately, the response was that they were unaware of the brand. But there's hope, my friends. They also stated that the shoe should be available on the site next week. Needless to say, I'll be stalking ASOS every day next week. So what do you think? Is this shoe worth all of the effort I'm already putting into it? [in case you're wondering, that's a rhetorical question]

I'll update this blog if there are any further updates on my quest.

So, tell me...What's your current obsession?


**UPDATE**
(2/15/10): The shoe is now up for sale at ASOS! It's the Alpha Suede Patchwork Boot and is available for a price of approx. $215. This is a tad bit higher than what I was expecting to pay. Now, don't get me wrong, I've spent more than that on shoes before. However, they are usually more practical in nature. I'm not so sure I'd get enough wear out of these to justify the current price tag. I will be keeping my eyes on this one in hopes that the price will dip under $200. Then, with a coupon code (which you can always find online at any given time), it'll be even more affordable.

Now, on to the next obsession....

Jacket Swoon - ASOS Stripe Ponti Long Line Blazer

This blazer is perfection! I can already see myself wearing it with dark rinse skinny jeans and my bright red handbag. Sure, it's in line with the nautical trend for Spring but I can see this blazer working for years to come.

Click here for more details (when you see the striped pattern on the back of the blazer, you may fall out of your seat) and be sure to view it on the catwalk. I guarantee you'll fall in love once you see it come down that runway! That's what really sealed the deal for me. If you're in love with this blazer as much as I am, let me know how you'd rock it.

Handbag Swoon - ASOS Art Deco Beaded Clutch

ASOS Leather Art Deco Beaded Clutch - $77

Coat Swoon - Dorothy Perkins Fit Flare Dress Coat

DP Fuschia Fit Flare Dress Coat (approx. $125)

Handbag Swoon - Fiorelli Weave Bag

I am SO lovin' the weave detail and chain strap!

This bag is available at Dorothy Perkins for around $60. It is a perfect gift for the fashionista(s) in your life - and why not grab one for yourself while you're at it?!

Click here for the bronze and here for the multi color.

Let me know which color tickles your fancy.

A Fashion "Monsoon" Touches Down in the U.S.

One of my favorite stores in London is Accessorize. I always make an effort to visit the store at least once during my stay. This store carries some of THE best accessories ranging from jewelry to scarves to ballet flats, all at an affordable price (considering the exchange rate). It's equivalent to Claire's in the U.S. in that you can find one in almost every part of town. However, the quality is much better. Plus, I love any place that offers items I won't see on everyone, at least in the U.S. We all know that exclusivity is KEY!

Needless to say, when I received the news that they are now delivering to the U.S., I was ecstatic. Accessorize is a subsidiary of Monsoon, which is a store that offers clothing in addition to accessories. I've never purchased from Monsoon but based on what I've seen on their site recently AND the fact that most items go up to at least a UK size 18 (US size 14), I may be making my first Monsoon purchase in the very near future.

Of course, I have to share with you some of the items I'm currently drooling over...
















(l-r)
row 1:
Azaria Top - $85
Belisama Dress - $200

row 2:
Georgina Oval hard Case - $50
Frilly Airline Brooch - $15

row 3:
Gemini Catwalk Statement Cuff - $25
Athena Statement Necklace - $30


Click here to peruse the Monsoon site. While you're there, get comfortable because I'm sure you'll be there for awhile. ;-)

Shoe Swoon - ASOS HUSH Suede Cage Shoe

The ASOS HUSH Suede Zip Front Cage Shoe is available at Asos.com for $155. It comes in blue/black and green. My personal favorite is the blue/black one. Which color tickles your fancy?

Coat Swoon - Dorothy Perkins Tiered Coat

Occasionally, I come across items that I just HAVE to HAVE! This is definitely one of those items. This purple tiered coat at Dorothy Perkins is simply amazing. Everything from the tiered detailing, the puff sleeve and the large foldover collar screams femininity! And to top it off, it's in one of the most popular colors for this fall season. For a little under $125, it's a steal - especially since the likelihood of you seeing someone else in it is slim to none. Don't you just love international finds?!







It's also available in orange and pink.

There's really nothing to debate here. Go ahead and get it. You can thank me later.