Yes, it always seems like so many styles are 'in style' at the same time. Well, that's the great (and bad) thing about the fashion industry now, you get more choice! With this season's earthy theme, straw bags are obviously 'in'. Fashion editors have approved it, and think it's perfect for a summer chic look.

Personally I suggest that straw bags will look better with shorts, capris or skirts, instead of long pants. I also think they will look best with wedges rather than flats. But it's really up to your personal style and body shape.

Here is some of the best offers this season:

Look elegant and posh with this Kate Spade Monoco Wicker Roll Bag.
Super kawaii (cute) pick: Coach Lady Bug Applique Boxy Tote.
I LOVE this Kate Spade clutch (Rivera Straw Nikki Clutch). It's perfect for shopping around in your neighbourhood, esp if you live in rich places like Knightsbridge and Beverly Hills.
Another one of my favourite and a cheaper alternative. This Straw Doctor Bag from Urban Outfitters is very spring pretty and looks like its actually practical.

I am sure you have all walked into the shoe department and encountered these odd looking shoes that are very funky but somehow not quite right, going by the very befitting brand of Irregular Choice. I am sure you have all wondered about where they came from and who would think up such irregular shoes. .

The where is no other then good ol' London, the land of funky clothes. And the who is 32-year-old Danny Sullivan, who having witnessed too much normality in this world, was moved to launch the Irregular choice shoe label. He wanted to ". . do something mad and adventurous, something based on an irregular concept," and Irregular choice is surely all that. And we love it. Since 1999, it has grown from a small little known brand in Europe, to a highly respected international brand, always pushing fashion to new limits.

Here are some of this season's hottest. .

The floral wedges with a slimmed down heel
I am loving these mary-janes with its unusual color, pattern and if you see it in real life, pointy tips.

The typical floral pointy flat with a twist. I tried these on as well, and they are real cute!

While flipping though Tattler, (which is an excellent magazine on the British high society btw,) I noticed that the Fashion editorial featured this gorgeous pair of sunglasses, and even though they were 300 pounds for a pair, I simply cannot resist checking them out online. Most of the sunglasses were designed with the hip, trendy and rich girl or guy in mind. They are highly fashionable and have a large variety for you to choose from. Here are a few favourites:

A few years ago, while randomly cruising the shops at Landmark (a very good shopping mall in hk) with my mom we came across Dries Van Noten, and I was instantly intrigued. Inside the gloomy and minimal exterior of the shop was an array of distinctively unique and feminine pieces. The voluminous skirts, the subtle floral embroideries and patterns, as vogue.co.uk puts it, it was as if "you were rummaging through your grandmother's trunk in the attic."

Dries Van Noten is a Belgium fashion designer who comes from three generations of tailors. Fashion was clearly in the blood. Although his designs appear to be very "of the moment" right now, with all his floral patterns and poofy skirts, he has in fact been doing this for the longest time. Having carved himself a niche in the fashion world, Dries Van Noten is not one to bend to the rigid rules and is instead commited to creating individual and intimate unique pieces. Here are some more photos from his Spring/Summer 2005 runway:

Sigh. . what I wouldn't give to have been there. . .

That's right, we don't really care about the actual Tribeca Film Festival because celebrities don't bother too much about it anyways. Apart from the premire of The Interpreter, (which looks like an excellent movie btw -I esp like Nicole's hair,) it wasn't a greatly publicized event. However, the Vanity Fair party for the Tribeca Film Festival got plenty of attention -and how could it not?

Vanity Fair (the magazine) is famous for holding beautiful parties for the beautiful people. This year's party was held at the Centre Street Courthouse, it tempted in stars and supermodels. So we will be looking at these beautiful people wearing their glitz and glamour. I picked the ones that deserved my fashion ooos and ahhs.

First off, I have of course picked the star of the night, Nicole Kidman. Her black dress by Azzaro is oh so simple and classical, yet still makes Nicole look glamorous with that diamond-studded straps around her collar bones. The fabric looks like velvet, which is a major fabric in the coming fall/winter season.

The back of the dress is even more glitzy and sleek than the front. What does Nicole think of her dress? 'It's so tight I can hardly breathe,' she whispered to one journalist.

One cannot help but admire how Nicole manages to still look beautiful in such a simple dress. And seriously, even the pony tail looks shiny, sleek and glamourous on her. How unfair is that?

This weekend, we went to Nordstroms to return my friend's AG Legend Jeans. She returned it not because she'd changed her mind or anything (she's had it for a few months now), but because it RIPPED! Yes, you read correctly, her $130+ jeans RIPPED when she was sitting down, and trust me, it's NOT because she didn't fit into it.

And the most amazing thing was, she was not the only one to have her $100+ pair of gorgeous jeans rip. The lady in front of us at the counter had the same problem with her newly bought and hadn't even washed Rock and Republic Jeans!

Clearly the ripping of the expensive jeans is not an uncommon phenomena. You'd think a pair of $100+ would not to rip at any time-imagine the potential embarassing moments! As it turns out, the lady at the counter explained to us that it ripped because of the huge amount of acid they'd used to create the acid washed effects on the jeans, which had weakened the material. My faith in $100+ jeans just dropped. Incidently, Nordstrom has excellent service, as they returned the money of my friend's jeans even though she'd already lost the receipt and the tags.

Another major hairstyle trend this season is the braid. If you read fashion magazines often enough, then you will probably thinking, aren't braids claimed to be 'in' all the time? Well, like many other trends, braids can be styled differently and look very different with different complimentary fashion.

This season, the braids come in two main styles: one that is Swiss influenced and another that is for the hobo Amazon look. Main fashion houses campaigning this look are Moschino and Galliano.

Moschino. All the models were wearing this hairstyle in the Moschino catwalk, (sometimes topped with a cute hat.)

Ashley Olsen attending the recent Zac Posen fashion show in NY. You will notice that her hair, while messy enough to be chic, still remains her normal elegant style.

Galliano. The Galliano take on braids is the boho Amazon look. Make a few random thin braids and tie them in a seemingly messy direction.
Galliano. The Galliano look is more wild, fun and youthful -just the typical crazy Galliano fashion you can always count on.

Like spring, I am busting out all over in my new strapless tapestry corset.

Very uplifting - if you know what I mean.

I love the Venice trim.

Just enough support at the waist to conceal those few extra pounds.

Well, I know summer is on the way and I will be increasing my weekly workout routine.

Corsets are just the right sexy garment - they conceal what we want concealed and emphasize and enhance our figure.

What girl, or guy for that matter, doesn't appreciate more cleavage.

This is just the right sexy outfit to announce our new Corset page.
Just like we did for Thongs, we have created a page for the hottest, sexiest corsets we could find from leading retailers and manufacturers.

Sexy Fashion Poll

Well, it been six months since we started this Hot Sexy Fashions column.

As you noticed, we have fallen a little behind in a daily schedule, however, we will now develope pages with a month worth of sexy fashions on each page.

I have noted that many of our in depth - feature articles generate a lot of e-mail, and are e-mailed to many of our readers friends.

In case you haven't noticed, you can use the the small cute e-mail icon at the bottom of column, to mail this column to your friends.

So now it time for you decide,

• 
  do your want a daily column with more celebrity news,


• a daily column with more fashion news,


• a daily column with more celebrity - fashion news, or
  
• a bi-weekly column with more in-depth feature.

Just fill out the Hot Sexy Fashion Poll on the right.

You be the judge.

Corset Facts - Art

2000BC

The Minoans of the island of Crete had a snake goddess who wore a fitted vest that helped support and display the breasts as well as leather rings or bands that confined and accentuated the waist

16th century

The Coche (later known as the busk) appears to straighten the front of bodices.

Separation of the skirt from the bodice leads to development of the corset.

17th century

A boned inner-bodice is built into most gowns, this eventually separates to become a pair of corps or corset.

18th century

Early in 18th century, many corsets have a separate decorative center front piece called a stomacher. Breasts pushed upward and together

1938

Nylon developed and underwire developed.

1943

Howard Hughes designed bra for Jane Russell in The Outlaw.

1948

The Merry Widow for Dior’s new Look along with Lana Turner in The Merry Widow.

1950’s

The bigger the better, bullet bras with circular stitching, Marilyn Monroe.

1960’s

Brings the elastic strap and flexible underwire.

1970's

Then came LYCRA in the 1970's.

The Corset

What is it about corsets that so fascinates costume historians and fetishists alike?

For more than 500 years, women and occasionally men rigidly laced themselves up in whalebone or steel in order to be molded into some sort of physical ideal.

Consider the work of contemporary designers such as Gaultier and Lacroix, and it becomes apparent that this strange obsession continues to this day.

While there is no shortage of information on this fashion curiosity, Valerie Steele here emphasizes the aesthetic, social, and historical aspects.

As chief curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and the author of nearly 12 books on costume history, she is well qualified to tackle the subject and to attempt to answer "why."

The text is scholarly, yet lively and readable, and the numerous images drawn from a variety of sources such as trade cards, paintings, advertisements, book illustrations, and contemporary photos help illustrate her point.

Margarete Gross, Chicago P.L.

From Library Journal

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Like spring, I am busting out all over in my new strapless tapestry corset.

Very uplifting - if you know what I mean.

I love the Venice trim.

Just enough support at the waist to conceal those few extra pounds.

Well, I know summer is on the way and I will be increasing my weekly workout routine.

Corsets are just the right sexy garment - they conceal what we want concealed and emphasize and enhance our figure.

What girl, or guy for that matter, doesn't appreciate more cleavage.

This is just the right sexy outfit to announce our new Corset page.
Just like we did for Thongs, we have created a page for the hottest, sexiest corsets we could find from leading retailers and manufacturers.

Sexy Fashion Poll

Well, it been six months since we started this Hot Sexy Fashions column.

As you noticed, we have fallen a little behind in a daily schedule, however, we will now develope pages with a month worth of sexy fashions on each page.

I have noted that many of our in depth - feature articles generate a lot of e-mail, and are e-mailed to many of our readers friends.

In case you haven't noticed, you can use the the small cute e-mail icon at the bottom of column, to mail this column to your friends.

So now it time for you decide,

• 
  do your want a daily column with more celebrity news,


• a daily column with more fashion news,


• a daily column with more celebrity - fashion news, or
  
• a bi-weekly column with more in-depth feature.

Just fill out the Hot Sexy Fashion Poll on the right.

You be the judge.

Corset Facts - Art

2000BC

The Minoans of the island of Crete had a snake goddess who wore a fitted vest that helped support and display the breasts as well as leather rings or bands that confined and accentuated the waist

16th century

The Coche (later known as the busk) appears to straighten the front of bodices.

Separation of the skirt from the bodice leads to development of the corset.

17th century

A boned inner-bodice is built into most gowns, this eventually separates to become a pair of corps or corset.

18th century

Early in 18th century, many corsets have a separate decorative center front piece called a stomacher. Breasts pushed upward and together

1938

Nylon developed and underwire developed.

1943

Howard Hughes designed bra for Jane Russell in The Outlaw.

1948

The Merry Widow for Dior’s new Look along with Lana Turner in The Merry Widow.

1950’s

The bigger the better, bullet bras with circular stitching, Marilyn Monroe.

1960’s

Brings the elastic strap and flexible underwire.

1970's

Then came LYCRA in the 1970's.

The Corset

What is it about corsets that so fascinates costume historians and fetishists alike?

For more than 500 years, women and occasionally men rigidly laced themselves up in whalebone or steel in order to be molded into some sort of physical ideal.

Consider the work of contemporary designers such as Gaultier and Lacroix, and it becomes apparent that this strange obsession continues to this day.

While there is no shortage of information on this fashion curiosity, Valerie Steele here emphasizes the aesthetic, social, and historical aspects.

As chief curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and the author of nearly 12 books on costume history, she is well qualified to tackle the subject and to attempt to answer "why."

The text is scholarly, yet lively and readable, and the numerous images drawn from a variety of sources such as trade cards, paintings, advertisements, book illustrations, and contemporary photos help illustrate her point.

Margarete Gross, Chicago P.L.

From Library Journal

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Flicking through Teen Vogue the other night I came across this. . .

. . the newest designer mobile: the Betsy Johnson e315 by Samsung. Covered with Betsy's signature rose pattern with screensavers drawn by Betsy, this new design practically emanates the coming of the spring/summer. The bright floral design is definitely very cute and this season.
But unfortunately for Betsy, the Anna Sui design is hard to beat. Despite the darker more wintery colors, this Anna Sui mobile is ultimately more sophisticated, ladylike, girly, chic and timeless. And the matching phone chain is very cute indeed. For a staggering $249US I would prefer something I can use for more then one season. . . .

By shorts, I mean pants that run above the knee-just to be clear you know. Terms nowadays are SO confusing. Back on the topic of shorts, the era of super tight short shorts are over(thank god), being replaced by well tailored, ladylike, loose bermuda shorts! And just in case you were wondering, the official definition of bermuda shorts according to dictionary.com is: Short pants that end slightly above the knee. Also known as Jamaica shorts.

As you can see, well tailored and loosely fitted bermuda shorts are very prominent on the catwalk this season, featuring in the Zac Posen and Carolina Herrera show. Note how both are matched in a very ladylike manner with a tucked in blouse. And yes, white is very hot this season. So hot that simply looking at certain catwalk photos are blinding (check out Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 05).

For those of yor who want to go short, go short the Dries Van Noten/Prada way. Never super short and stylishly cut to loosely fit. And add a ladylike touch to them with stylishly cut blazers!

And take shorts to the next season with these dark and unique creations from Diane von Furstenberg and Chloe. I love these from DvF, I love the color, the cutting and the way they matched it- with a distinctly safari flair. And no wonder really, Bermuda is a group of islands off in the Atlantic! And these Chloe ones, with rolled up hem and the row of three button lends it a sophistication that makes it perfect for the fashionable office look. And their dark colors makes them much more resistant to the change of season, unlike the very light colored and distinctly summery shorts shown above.

And off the catwalk these tailored, loosely fitted and very detailed shorts go on Ashley Olsen. Love how she mixes it with such casual hoodie and flip flops (well. . maybe not those flip flops. . not that color anyway).


For the classical bermuda shorts, I am loving this ones from Armani Exchange.
For more of a twist, try these blue striped ones from American Eagle. Blue stripes are all the thing this season after all.

I used to have this idea that shorts looked really trashy and all (back in the short shorts days) so I only wore them for gym class. But I love the short trends this season, its just soo ladylike and stylish! Match them up with sandals, heels, flats and flip flops and your ready to go! And maybe sneakers if you are going for the shorter ones and have real long legs. Must go shopping!

Every year (starting from 1999), Time magazine produces a speical edition called "The Most Influential People of the 20th Century." Within this list of 100 people, 20 of them are categorised as "Artists & Entertainers." I was very excited to read that in the 2005 issue, one of my favourite designers, Miuccia Prada, has made it on the list!!

The magazine says Miuccia:

• "...provoked and influenced colleagues for years with her eccentric and highly personal sensibility."
• "Three seasons ago she launched the frumpy Fifties housewife look, which would rule other designers' runways for several seasons..."
• "In February she stunned the colour-happy fashion industry with an all black collection. Which means that, for now at least, black is the new black."

Creative Director of Prada and founder of Miu Miu, Miuccia Prada had a very unfashion-related youth. She rebelled from family tradition to study Political Sciences, and was a member of the Communist Party, and campaigned for women's rights in the Seventies Milan. In 1985, she designed the classical black nylon Prada bags, which we all now know Prada by. Together with her husband, Patrizio Bertelli, who is responsible for the business aspect, have lead Prada to become an international conglomerate.

Read more about Miuccia's life here.