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>>>> If you’re viewing this healthy eating or healthy living tip as part of an aggregated content stream from different sites, or as a re-blogged post, please check out the content on the original Web site at www.myBeautyMatch.com

I cannot tell you how much I love being invited to the annual French Lingerie fashion show!

Last year I went with my friend Krista, but this year I brought along with me my two product reviewers Eleni and Daphne!

There were people fashion, sexy shoes (which you’ll see on the video), gorgeous men and of course amazing sexy French Lingerie.

I honestly think that an event like the French Lingerie is all about what I saw and not what I have to say about the event.

I took loads of photos of some of the latest fall 2009 trends from France when it comes to the sexy world of lingerie and you’ll see from the video below there was a lot of really amazing designs.

You’ll notice in the video that I’ve included a lot of cue cards to highlight a few interesting section. In the middle you’ll also notice a number of photos from a performance from a few talented dancers that honestly reminded me of a Cirque du Soleil show!

>>> I hope you’ll enjoy watching the beautiful designs for fall 2009 French Lingerie trends:

***If you like this video, I’d appreciate it a lot if you could rate it!***

Eleni and Krizia looking Hollywood before the French Lingerie Show!

Photo by Click O Momento

These evening and wedding dresses are the latest collection by designer Vivienne Dacosta from Mocha Designs and the wedding hair styles are from Michelle at Atlanta Hair Designs!

You’ll be surprised by these designs because these dresses were created for women with curves who have loads of style and sophistication!

I hope you’ll enjoy the slide show as much as I enjoyed the fashion show!

You’ll find more details on the creative geniuses behind the fashion and hair styles here:
1) Vivienne Dacosta from Mocha Designs

2) Michelle at Atlanta Hair Designs

>>>> Here’s the video!

Photo by realSMILEY

Well everyone knows that First Lady Michelle Obama’s style has been the subject of a lot of conversations lately because the recent G-20 was a really fashion show in many ways. Indeed, the whole point of the top 20 leaders of the democratic world meeting for a few days in London was to talk about ways of improving the crumbling international economy. But, let’s face it, you could NOT open a newspaper or read a web site without hearing about “Michelle Obama’s fashion” … even CNN joined in and had daily fashion-flashes of the First Ladies designer  choices.

I know I might be a tad bit controversial here because contrarily to so many people I’m not always taken by Michelle Obama’s fashion sense and in some case I cringe when I see her choices. I still cannot believe the Isabelle Toledo lime green inaugural ensemble paired with forest green kitten heels. In my book, that was wrong-wrong-wrong.

Here’s also where I diverge from a lot of people: I say STOP comparing Michelle Obama to Jacqueline Onasis Kennedy – PLEASE STOP! They have distinct styles of their own and there have been forty years of fashion between the two First Ladies.

Oscar de la Renta was not impressed with Ms. Obama’s constant love of JCrew and her selection of lesser known US designers. I think that acknowledging the work of upcoming designers is a great thing, but I say NO to a JCrew sweater in London for such an important event. That is when you pull out the REAL couture like Oscar de la Renta.

In any case, Michelle’s fashion has caused French newspaper L’Express to publish her top 10 commandments and I’ve decided to translate them for you and see if you agree with the French press:

1) I shall rejoice in colourful clothing: Indeed, the First Lady doesn’t shy away from colour!

2) I shall wear jewellery proudly: Michelle is rarely seen without her strand of pearls.

3) I shall keep them guessing: Michelle is always embracing new and unknown designers.

4) I shall be chic even when gardening: The photo of Michelle in her organic garden was an example of style I approve of!

5) I shall remain fit: Everyone is talking about Michelle fit arms and shoulders, but if you train daily … you want everyone to see the efforts!

6) I shall appear on magazine covers in pink: Michelle chose pink dresses for three recent magazine covers: More, Vogue and People. Pink is a great colour and I’m as partial as Michelle to that shade.

7) I shall never wear Gwyneth Paltrow heels: You won’t see Michelle in 4 inch heels. It’s true that she’s already quite tall (5′11/1.82 m) and prefers kitten heels. That said, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy who is 5′9/1.75 m also prefer kitten heels and flats. When it comes to shoes, I’m exactly like the First Ladies and would look like a drunken sailor if I wore heels higher than 2 inches.

#8) I shall wear my Alaia belt without restraint: If I had an Alai belt, I’d be showing it off as must as I can as well!!! There is nothing fashionista in Michelle’s approach and I like the fact that she doesn’t consider such an expensive purchase as a one-time-wear.

9) I shall ignore the press’ play on competition: I think that there is NO competition between First Ladies Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Michelle Obama. I’m quite partial to the First Lady of France’s choice of Dior (I quite like Dior myself), but I think she could learn a lesson or two from Michelle bold colour choices. Indeed, things are grim for a lot of people, but colour makes the world a better place. As for Michelle Obama, I hope she does allow well known designer to dress her and that she stays away from selections that I tend to find a bit matronly.

10) I shall keep wearing black for formal occasions: I’m all for colour, but nothing replaces a smart looking black dress or suit!

You can read the original story here: Les dix commandements du style de Michelle Obama

Don’t forget to read this style post on First Ladies Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Michelle Obama:

France and America have two very stylish First Ladies over 40!

France and the U.S. are head to head on this ‘beauty AND brain’ race!

Have you noticed how the world of fashion is focusing on the battle of style between First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy of France and First Lady Michelle Obama of the US?

I think that it’s quite fitting because it’s been a long time since First Ladies of powerful countries have been oozing this much style and sophistication.

I should also point out that both First Ladies are the youngest First Ladies in recent memory: First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (41, born December 23, 1967) and First Lady Michelle Obama (45, born January 17, 1964). For those of my readers who didn’t know … First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy got married at 40 … Ladies there is hope to find love at any age!

It’s true that both ladies live in style capitals (both America and France boast a plethora of highly talented designers) … so you’ll say that their jobs are that much easier when it comes to being seen in public looking polished and stylish … but then what about all the other First Ladies who preceded them and who have been quite frankly a bore to watch.

Am I the only one who has been yawning every time former First Lady Laura Bush made an appearance? And I couldn’t even tell you of any memorable outfit former First Lady Chirac wore. I do understand that the role of First Lady requires a wardrobe that is totally different from Pamela Anderson, but still, it does NOT and should NOT preclude being feminine, girly and fresh.

In my humble opinion … that is exactly what First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and First Lady Michelle Obama bring to the table.

Along with an incredible sense of style, both of these women are incredible intelligent, eloquent and quite talented in their own field of expertise. First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is a former-supermodel, speaks five languages, she’s also an accomplished songwriter-singer in France and around the world while Lady Michelle Obama is a Princeton University and Harvard Law School graduate (WOW! WOW! WOW!) and she’s also a successful lawyer who is now taking time to be a stay-at-home mom and supporting her husband who I think has the hardest job on the planet.

I’m so happy to see strong, smart, intelligent women who also care about the way they look … because you can actually be all of that wrapped up in a lovely package and STILL get your message across.

First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and First Lady Michelle Obama I say BRAVO!!!

So what do you think of the two First Ladies?

Photo of First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy by Wikipedia

Photo of First Lady Michelle Obama is her official White House portrait

It’s no secret that a lot of us will bypass the idea of buying new clothes because of the recession and we’ll do our best to recycle what we already have bought in past seasons. So many of us have already wardrobes packed and I’m sure there are a number of items that still have the price tags on them (by the way, if you’re not wearing it, sell it at consignment stores or on eBay for a little extra cash).

I think Donna Karan said it best when asked about how the financial situation will affect the world of fashion.

Karan said that women will be buying smarter more classic pieces and less frivolity. I’ve always adhered to that philosophy myself since my teenage years. I’ve never bought trendy items because I always felt that for the money, I’d rather buy something I’ll have for a while. That’s also how I can justify buying items that are a little pricier. There are items that I’ve had for years, but every time I pull them out, I have women asking where I bought them … to which I usually answer: “At this point in time, this item is classified as vintage, love”.

If you are going to do trendy, I say look at shops like H & M, Zara, Top Shop, TJ Maxx or Winners. Don’t forget affordable First Lady Michelle Obama’s favourite J. Crew.

>>>> Bazaar’s recommendations to using what you already have in your wardrobe:

1) Big earrings are back! If you have any kicking around at the bottom of your jewellery drawer/box, pull them out!

2) Street shorts: These were popular a few seasons ago to replace the Capri pants, so if you have them, you can surely pull them out. If you have a pair of white or black shorts, you can create a black/white look for the season by pairing them with the opposite colour top.

3) Nude shades are back: Not all nude shades are equal … some are more beige, some more yellow, some more greenish and some more pink. Make sure to choose the shade that looks best with your skin tone.

4) A pencil skirt is NEVER out of style: Well, that’s my fashion prescription! I believe you can never go wrong with a body-hugging skirt if you have the right figure. Certain figures look killer with an A-line skirt (instead of a pencil skirt) that evens out a broader shoulder. If you are slender, then you’ll be fine with a pencil skirt. If you are curvy or have broader shoulders, you might want to opt for a flare or an A-line skirt instead.

5) Big bold belts say BAM! That’s right, not only will a big bold belt make you look thinner because it focuses on the smallest part of your body, but when you go big and bold you make that belt a real fashion statement. If you decide not to update any clothing items from your wardrobe this year … you might want to add a big bold belt to update any clothing item!

6) Cardigans: I never leave without a cardigan because I’m always cold when the a/c (air conditioner is blasting during the summer months). This season, cardigans are featured as a fashion note rather than a practical one. I’m sure that most of us already have one or two cardigans in our wardrobes. If you’ve not been wearing them … now is the time to pull them out.

7) Trousers/pants are a staple: HURRAY! Any style of pants will work for spring 2009 so that means you can really pull out old styles. NOW, I need to warn my readers that anything that you’ve had from the 1980s should not be in consideration. When designers bring back older styles, they always add a modern twist and it shows.

#8) Classic handbags: No doubt that the sales of the $2,000 or $3,000 or even $4,000 handbag will hit hard times because fewer women will be willing to depart from all that money just for one accessory piece. Also, I strongly believe that most of us have enough designer handbags in our wardrobe that we can pull out. If you’ve bought expensive handbags in the past, but they’ve only been sitting pretty in your wardrobe because you’ve been accumulating them season after season … now is the time to pull them out instead of buying a new one. You might want to keep you fashion budget to buy something that you actually don’t have or that needs an update because they are worn out … like a classic pair of black trousers.

9) Boyfriend blazer: This is the longer blazer that falls below the bum. This has been out of style for a while now, but it’s coming back … so if you kept your older blazer, you might want to pull them out. Now, please make sure that the shoulder pads don’t scream early 90s. If they do, take them to a seamstress and have them replaced with more demure shoulder pads.

10) The classic white shirt is another staple: A white shirt is not only timeless, it’s also season-less. You can wear it anything, with anything for many different occasion. One word of caution, make sure your white shirt is always white and new. If you find that you have an older shirt that is looking stained or yellow, it’s time to buy a new one. White shirts rarely go on sale, but you can surely find them at many fashion discount.

Photo by Art Comments

>>>> Black/white keeps coming back!

When it comes to black/white, you’ll see a lot of polka dots and a lot of graphic prints. I don’t think I’ve ever warmed up to the idea of wearing polka dots and I doubt that I’ll start wearing that print now. That said, I do like some of the softer graphical prints that are coming out this season because they are less edgy than they were in the late 1980s when black/white was also very popular.

When it comes to the Queen of black/white you have to take a look at Chanel … because no one does black/white like she does.

>>>>Nude Shades are back!

Not all nude shades are equal … some are more beige, some more yellow, some more greenish and some more pink. Make sure to choose the shade that looks best with your skin tone. If you find that you don’t suit nude shades, you might want to incorporate that trend via a few accessories instead of clothing pieces.

>>>>Trousers/pants will be softer and less constructed

Any style of trousers/pants will do this season, but the runway has been showing softer fabrics and I quite like the movement in the pants that have been featured by designers like Armani, Etro, Blumarine and Nicole Miller.

I’ve found some fashion slide shows from New York Magazine!

These slide shows really give you a great insight on what’s in this season. Make sure to take a look at some of the ugliest fashion to walk the spring 2009 catwalks!

>>>>> 100 Most Fabulous Spring 2009 Looks

>>>>> Spring 2009 fashion I’d never be caught dead wearing – 100 Most Hideous Looks

>>>>> Spring 2009 looks by designer (you’ll be able to see the different trends from different designers on this page).

Photo by Art Comments

When I watch some of my favourite styles and makeover shows like Gok Wan’s “How to Look Good Naked” and Tim Gunn’s “Guide to Style”, there is always a HUGE emphasis on how the proper bra or panties can do wonders for your self-esteem because you end up looking much better in your clothes and that can only boost your confidence.

Well, when it comes to boosting the confidence of many French women, Simone Pérèle has been adding a dash of sexy to many wardrobes for 60 years!

The French lingerie brand is celebrating over 60 years in business (they celebrated their 60^th at the end of 2008)!

It all started several decades ago when Madame Pérèle, a young corset maker in the 1950s, set up her small atelier in a building in Paris. Personifying Parisian elegance, refinement and vivaciousness, Simone Pérèle imbued the brand with a couture made-to-measure philosophy by associating it with comfort, well-being and a strong aesthetic sense.

In Bertrand Machet’s 1968 work, “Instants Volés”, Simone Pérèle was quoted as saying:

“In order to reveal their beauty to the fullest, it is necessary to liberate women’s

bodies.”

Simone has also been quoted as saying:

“Women should not have to choose between comfort and elegance.”

Flash forward 60 years and the brand continues to be loyal to Madame Pérèle’s values, creating innovative new styles made from exceptional fabrics.

I won’t bore you with all the details of building a brand over the course of 60 years, but I thought these historical highlights were quite interesting!

The evolution of the Simone Pérèle brand:

* 1948: creation of the Simone Pérèle brand.

* 1960: Soleil, the first lace bra with shoulder clips – a sweeping success!

* 1968: In the middle of the feminist movement, Simone Pérèle launches, Pétale, her first invisible bra.

*1985: Simone Pérèle’s children, Catherine and Philippe Pérèle, head the company and

develop the international market.

* 2006: Launching of Andora Group – it is the brand’s first bra made from “Spacer 3D” an

innovative thread that knits three layers of fabric together for absolute comfort and

support.

*2007: The first product in the Epure Group is launched, featuring Superfine microfiber mesh. Its innovation is based upon the extraordinary finesse of the style. The highly advanced knitting technique creates a second skin that highlights the silhouette but still remains comfortable and light.

* 2008: Limited edition re-launch of the Stiletto Basque in order to pay homage to the feminine form.

* December 2008: 60th anniversary of the brand

There is no doubt that you can buy much cheaper underwear than Simone Pérèle, but this is a brand of luxury that I think everyone should have. This could be a great one to add to your gift-list or simply as a gift you offer yourself.

You’ll find Simone Pérèle lingerie at 300 points of sale in Canada and just about as many if not more in the U.S. Of course, if you’re in France, it’s a jeux d’enfant (as easy as can be) to find Simone Pérèle lingerie!

I had created a video on French lingerie. This is last season’s styles, but I’m sure you can get inspired to upgrade your undies’ drawer!

I read Sophie Kinsella’s book ages ago and I could not believe Becky Bloomwood’s shopping addiction.

In a few days, the “Confessions of a Shopaholic” movie will hit the big screen, but I’m curious to see how well it’s going to be received.

I was having a conversation not long ago with a contact of mine and I told her that I had a feeling that given the recent turn of events in the economy, there are a lot of women who won’t want to see the vices that landed them in the poor house on the big screen.

It’s no secret that since October 2008 (when the stock market crashed) the sale of most designer items including high priced handbags and signature shoes has come to a screeching halt because so many people have lost their jobs, seen their retirement funds fizzle into nothingness or seen the value of their house drop by several percent.

It’s gotten a whole lot harder to justify a $2,500 handbag or a $1,600 pair of Christian Louboutin high heel boots … no matter how killer they look on you.

I was watching CNN a few weeks ago when they did a report on how former-fashionistas-turned-recessionistas were finding creative ways of maintaining the appearance they’ve grown accustomed to during the roaring 2002-2008 years.

>>>> Why not rent your lifestyle instead?

One of the fastest growing businesses these days is the designer rental business! That’s right … if you cannot afford it … why not rent it!

Interestingly enough I had asked this question to my friend Joy and our resident product reviewer Eleni way back in August and I had saved their responses to my question in my “idea bank” for a future post and the second I saw the CNN report and remembered that the movie “Confessions of a Shopaholic” was coming out, I had to revisit the topic of “renting a lifestyle”!

Since the recent market crash sites like Bag Borrow and Steal have seen their paid membership go from 250,000 eager women to more than 1,000,000 women willing to dish out several hundred dollars each month to rent their designer handbag of choice.

Bag Borrow and Steal carries an insane inventory of designers like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Lambertson Truex, Ungaro, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Channel, Lulu Guinness, Rebecca Minkoff, Hermes, Burberry … and the list goes on for kilometres.

I’ve been on their site and I’ll openly admit that I was influenced by Jennifer Hudson’s character in the “Sex and the City” movie.

Personally, I find the prices are a bit high for rentals of a handbag that thousands of other hands have touched. I’m really particular about my couture and a bit possessive … basically I don’t want too many other women to have owned what I now own. I say yes to eBay, but have not warmed up to Bag Borrow and Steal yet.

My friends Joy and Eleni (both are Baby Boomers) are sitting on either side of the fence on this and I’ll let you read their different points of view:

Joy’s point of view:

“I’d rather save for an item or buy a less expensive option than rent. I saw the “Sex and the City” movie, but I’d never rent from Bag Borrow and Steal. “

Eleni’s point of view:

“Most of the really cool bags that cost over $2,000 retail can be had for under $35 per week. It can become addictive and you know how fickle those fashionistas are …once you’ve saved up for an “average” bag of say $1,200, there’s another “must-have on the market. All the fashion gurus will be viewing your hard-earned handbag as yesterday’s news.

I like the concept for special events or outfits…I don’t think I’d be continuously trading each week, but you never know. They don’t ship to Canada … otherwise I’d be all over a Chloe or Dior bag even for a week. I love their concept!!!”

>>>> It’s not only handbags that you can borrow/rent!

The CNN report highlighted that there are a number of stores in America where you can rent designer clothing, accessories and EVEN shoes for an evening.

It seems that a number of CNN reports had rented their couture for the Obama inauguration because since so many people were going to see them, they didn’t want to end up buying an expensive outfit that you might not be able to wear twice.

Now, I know of consignment stores that sell secondhand items from women who have several thousands of dollars of monthly shopping allowances and who like to dispose of last season’s style, but I had not heard until recently of stores where you could rent a Chanel dress that might normally retail for $10,000 for a mere $1,000!

You might be screaming at your computer screen now and saying is Krizia on drugs because $1,000 for a dress is outrageously expensive. I agree, $1,000 is far more than I’ve dropped on a dress, but if I wanted a Chanel for one evening, this might be the quickest way to get it.

Since I shop Euro style, I most likely would never allow myself to drop that kind of cash on something I will not own. I shop at a store where they get suits from the exact same fabric mill that produces fabric for  Chanel suits, but the labels are not Chanel, they have another more affordable line. Where you would pay $5,000-$7,000 for a Chanel suit, you could get something of comparable fabric for $2,200. In my book, I’d rather save to own something like that than rent it for $800 for one night … but maybe that’s me.

I also would rather drop the money on a ticket to Paris or Florence to shop for some amazing clothes that I can actually own … at least if I don’t want the clothes anymore, I can sell it off at a consignment store or list it on eBay. I’m blessed to have Euro friends who open their doors to me whenever I’m in Euro withdrawal.

Now, some might argue that renting designer wear for one special evening is no different than renting a wedding dress and a tuxedo for a wedding. In theory, I agree, but practically, I would NOT want to be seen at a party with my wedding dress three months after my wedding. When it comes to buying couture and wearing it more than once … I truly don’t mind. I can easily change it up with accessories. If I were Halle Berry (good Lord her man is FINE) that might be a different story, but I don’t have too many hungry paparazzi chasing me to splash my photos all over the Internet.

>>>> So would you drop $1,000 to rent a dress?

Another interesting about the CNN report was that they went out and interviewed a number of people and asked them if they would rent designer wear. The respondents were on either side of the fence … some people thought it was a brilliant idea and others loaded the concept of dropping so much cash on something that you cannot keep.

One woman expressed my feelings when she said that she would never want to hold (referring to a handbag) or wear something that so many other people had before her.

I’ll go one step further and say that when it comes to renting shoes … the concept makes me cringe. I don’t bowl for one reason – I’m not putting my feet into shoes that many other people have worn and sweated in (period)!

>>> Would you rent a lifestyle? I’d love to hear your position on this post. Leave me a comment to let me know if you agree or disagree.

Photo by MoonSoleil

Everyone and their dog had an opinion on the Queen of Soul’s Inauguration grey hat with big bow hat. I would never wear that kind of hat, but we’re talking about Aretha Franklin and she should be able to wear whatever she wants!

In fact, I think that Aretha’s hat got the most media coverage in terms of fashion statement and I might even be tempted to say that she might have received more press buzz than First Lady Michelle Obama’s couture choices.

Aretha’s hat was designed by Luke Song (a graduate of Parsons the New School for Design) of Song Millinery in Detroit and last night on CNN (January 27, 2009 on the Campbell Brown No Bias No Bull evening show) it was reported that since the Inauguration Mr. Song has received over 3,000 orders to the Aretha hat and the orders keep coming by the hour!

I’d say that Aretha Franklin has done her part in stimulating the US economy because since Aretha took the stage on January 20th just before 12 pm EST, the Song Millinery has sold over 1,000 of the $179 hat. Aretha Franklin’s wool felt and Swarovski-crystal hat was a customized version that Mr. Song says he did not charge her for!!!

If you are interested in getting your hands on an Aretha-look-alike hat, rest assured that the hat manufacturers will launch a new collection of 12 hats and the line inspired by Queen of Soul’s headpiece will be named after the singer.

>>>>So what did you think of Aretha’s hat? Did you like it or hate it?

This breaking news just arrived in my inbox one second ago about what Michelle Obama will wear today.

It seems the First Lady will go Latin with her design because she’s chosen to wear an outfit by Isabel Toledo at the swearing-in of her husband Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th president on Capitol Hill this morning.

Toledo is a Cuban-born designer who has worked under her own name for more than 20 years and briefly served as creative director for Anne Klein.

No word yet as to what the outfit will look like, but it surely will be stunning because this is a HUGE day for Michelle Obama and the entire Obama clan!!!

Michelle Obama has worn Isabel Toledo’s designs in the past during the presidential campaign.

Michelle Obama has something for Latin designers (especially those of Cuban heritage), as she seems to like Narciso Rodriguez a lot … so much so that she wore two outfits by Narciso’s to the pre-inaugural events on Sunday.

No one inside Michelle Obama’s office will reveal more details on the dress/outfit, but given this is a historic day and this dress will be photographed for every single magazine and newspaper cover around the world, there is no doubt it will be stunning.

Isabel Toledo MUST be quite excited because this kind of exposure can change her career and take her to the international forefront.

As I get more news today on what Michelle Obama will be wearing, I’ll pass it on to my readers.

In the meantime, you can take a look at the dresses that were submitted to Michelle Obama for the weekend festivities: What will First-Lady Michelle Obama wear at the inauguration of President Obama’s ceremony?

My verdict on Michelle Obama’s fashion choices for the inauguration:

I wrote the first part of this post before seeing the Isabel Toledo outfit. After seeing it from every different angle possible, I have to say that I’m a bit disappointed.

My opinion might not be unanimous, but I personally didn’t like either of Michelle Obama’s choices. The Isabel Toledo outfit in chartreuse (yellow-green) is a hard colour to wear by most people and the whole outfit looked quite matronly. I’d say it made her look 15 years older.

The white gown designed by New York designer Jason Wu was very similar to what Nancy Regan wore on the night of President Ronald Regan’s inauguration in 1981. The style is not fresh or original and since Michelle Obama has dark skin she could have really chosen a bolder or brighter colour than off-white. Also, I could understand the one strap on Michelle Obama’s dress … it almost looked like an after thought.

Here’s Nancy Reagan’s 1981 evening inaugural gown (photo from the Smithsonian Institution)

What about Jill Biden?

No one is talking about Dr. Jill Biden’s selections! I find Jill Biden’s red coat and high black boots during the day and her red gown designed by Reem Acra during the evening were quite flattering.

In the end, I still believe that the selections I had picked for Michelle Obama in my original post were better, but January 20, 2009  was about history more than fashion so I will leave at that!

My original selections for Michelle Obama:

I still recommend the Diana Von Furstenberg dress yellow and white suit for the inauguration and the party dress would still be a toss between Monique L’Huillier’s divine dress gown and Michael Kors’ vision in vivid blue!

All photos of the inauguration from Flickr.

This is going to be a short feature because in this case a picture speaks volume and nothing I write can remotely compare to Bill Cunningham’s feature slideshows for the New York Time Fashion Section.

I’m a hard core fan of Bill Cunningham’s way of seeing New York City through the lens of his camera and I’m always amazed at how astute he is in his analysis of street fashion.

During the last economical meltdown back in 1930, women had adjusted their fashion sense to the harsh reality of the time.

I’m sure that Fall 2009 will be a mirror of the time and fashion will be a little more conservative (the international fashion shows will start at the end of February and I’ll be sure to share highlights with my readers). I’m almost tempted to say that during the 81^st Oscars presentation on February 22, 2009 (hosted by High Jackman), Hollywood female stars will be a lot less flashy in their selections because times are so tough and everyone is quite aware that many people around the world are finding themselves in a situation that has never been seen in recent history. I did watch the 66^th Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 11^th, 2009 and I did notice that the couture was a lot simpler. The lines were clean and the colours were either neutral (flesh and soft rose) or black. You had a few Hollywood stars show up in red like Eva Longoria-Parker, but for the most part, the fashion was not as over the top as it’s been in past years. I’d even go as far as say that even the jewellery was not as flashy and “in your face” as it’s been in the past and I’m sure that the Oscars will only confirm these first changes in the world of fashion.

Bill Cunningham’s slideshow is from September 2008 (so as things were starting to change, but it had not gotten to the critical situation it is now). Bill features trends from New York City and from Paris and you’ll notice that the styles are more somber and the length of the skirts and dresses are longer than they were a few seasons ago. Since women can now wear trousers in public (which was not the case in 1930), Bill Cunningham also highlights how more women are wearing them … but they are opting for styles that are pleated in the front. Pleats in the front of trousers have been out of fashion for a very long time now (I’d say since the late 90s in Italy and early 2000s in North America), so it’s interesting that they are making a comeback.

Here’s the slideshow I’ve been referring to:

Bill Cunningham’s Street Feature: The New Recession Style & Fashion

Here’s another slideshow from Bill Cunningham showing a fashionista recycling her vintage designer coats … since buying too many new clothing items has become so gauche.

Bill Cunningham’s Street Feature: Vintage Coats

Photo by Peter Duhon

Armed with the retailer of choice for First Lady-elect Michelle Obama, I attempted to be more recession-smart and try my hand at shopping online for a few deals.

I hit two major online retailers: eBay and J.Crew. This was my first time buying anything from either retailer and my experience was vastly different from one retailer to the other.

I’m a fairly small dress size, BUT I have long legs, I’m tall, I have a small waist, and I have curves. This makes buying a bit of a nightmare in many cases because it’s quite rare that I can buy something without trying it and I have to try-try-and-try again before finding items that fit because designers cut clothes that fit women who are short and who have the same hip-to-waist ratio.

That said, I was still willing to have an open mind about it all and see if I might be lucky with online shopping since I wasn’t finding the style/quality/price point I was looking for where I live!

Here’s my J.Crew experience:

I spent so much time on the J.Crew site that I almost knew the item codes by heart. I also ordered their catalogue in the hopes that it might be easier to evaluate if a particular style would suit me or not.

I found it was quite difficult to understand if items would fit me or not. It’s not because there is a lack of sizing measurement instructions, but it’s so two dimensional for me and I’m so used to looking at an item to know if it’s my size or not.

I’m also really particular when it comes to quality of fabrics, and here again looking at a computer screen or catalogue does little justice to the product you’ll receive by mail.

Although I had very little understanding of what I was going to get, I still ordered the following items from J.Crew:

1) One black merino cardigan

2) One light grey merino cardigan

3) One silver skirt made from Italian fabric

4) One J.Crew special edition t-shirts

>>>>>>>> Here’s what I thought of my items:

1) One black merino cardigan: I was very surprised at how thin the yarn was. It seems like it was only one ply of merino wool and J.Crew was selling it for $88 USD … that didn’t sit very well with me.

2) One light grey merino cardigan: The colour was difficult to evaluate online and in my catalogue. When I received it, I didn’t need to even open the package to know that the colour was sooooooooo wrong for me and it was going to wash me out terribly. Once again, I found the fabric very thin.

The colour of the sweater below had NOTHING to do with the colour of the sweater I received:

I usually opt for cashmere sweaters because I’m always cold and they keep me very warm, but when it comes to wool sweaters … I’ve been buying Banana Republic merino and I’ve always been impressed with the quality and durability. Banana Republic’s merino sweaters are nice and thick and they fit beautifully so you can imagine that the whole time I was trying on my J.Crew sweaters at $88 USD, I was comparing them in my head with my Banana sweaters that usually cost about $80 CAD.

3) One silver skirt made from Italian fabric: I had to order a size 4 and a size 6 to find out which would fit. The size 6 was way too big and the size 4 did fit, but it was really (REALLY) shiny and with my curves I felt the skirt spoke before I ever opened my mouth. It didn’t wow me one bit. Interestingly enough while watching “What Not to Wear” a few days after ordering my skirt, I noticed that Stacy London was wearing the same skirt and she had paired it with a purple silk shirt which was my plan as well. Truth be told, I was aiming for a look I had seen on Wendy on Lipstick Jungle (played by Brooke Shield). I thought the skirt was a bit pricey for what it was at $175 USD.

Here’s the Lipstick Jungle look I was aiming for … but with a silver skirt:

4) One J.Crew special edition t-shirts: The J.Crew t-shirt was my biggest disappointment because the fabric looked incredibly cheap and it was practically see-through. If I’m going to pay $55 USD for a t-shirt (and I don’t mind because I’ve done it before), it’s got to be a pretty good looking t-shirt and the fabric needs to look like it’s a quality t-shirt. If my H&M or Gap t-shirts look better than a $55 t-shirt … there is a problem. I was actually so insulted by the poor quality of the t-shirt that I sent J.Crew a note telling them as much.

The models in the J.Crew catalogue have no curves so it’s interesting to see how differently things fit on them. The silver skirt I bought sat on my hips like a fabric drapes a bottle of Coca Cola while the skirt on the J.Crew model sat on her like a skirt hangs on a hanger – not the same look.

I returned all of my J.Crew items about 4 days after receiving them and the cost of shipping them was pretty hefty at about $20 … after all I had already paid shipping and duty fees to receive them and nothing fit properly.

Note: You have 30 days after receipt to return them or else you get a J.Crew credit instead of a full refund … I wanted to make sure nothing delayed the return process so I rushed to the post office.

Once you’ve returned the items, you have to keep checking with J.Crew to ensure they’ve received them within the deadline and you then need to ensure that you receive your full credit. I had to call three times until I did receive all my credits. I should also point out that during my last conversation the overly polite J.Crew consultant, she started telling me that she didn’t see the two additional return item I was talking about and just hearing those words made my blood boil because all my five items had been returned in the same box at the same time and I had proof from the postal office that they had been received and signed for by J.Crew and this was my third call.

I considered trying to see what J.Crew’s cashmere sweaters looked like, but I thought about the ordeal of getting a super-thin sweater and having to return it because it wasn’t to my liking.

If I lived in proximity to a J.Crew store, I think the experience would be dramatically different because I’d be able to try the clothing and look at the pieces and evaluate the colours and not have to wait to receive the items at my home before being able to decide if I actually like what I see.

I’m sure this might only be bad luck on my part since J.Crew sells millions of dollar of clothing each month via catalogue and online, but I thought it was worth sharing with my readers!

Here’s my eBay shopping experience:

I decided to focus on accessories on eBay, since it was my first time and since a number of people I knew had warned me about authenticity and designer clothes on eBay. I thought that accessories would be a good place to try my hand at this before graduating to some more robust eBay shopping.

1) I spent an entire Saturday evening browsing the eBay site in an attempt to become a bit more familiar with the whole concept. I searched for all the designers I could think of and I was amazed at how many items were on sale. I was also quite amazed at how many new items were being sold and I was shocked at the condition of some of the used designer items and how many people were still willing to bid on these items.

2) The first item that had caught my eye was an YSL (Yves Saint Laurent) Muse bag in black patent that had a starting bid of about $300 USD. The regular price for this item is about $2195. I thought it was a steal and bid on it and found myself the highest bidder. I started hyperventilating because it was $425 and I realized I made the mistake after bidding of realizing that I had not physically seen the bag. Since this is eBay it took about five hours before someone else placed a higher bid.

3) The very next day, I ran to a luxury department store to check out the style, size and retail price of the YSL Muse handbag. It’s when I had the handbag in my hand that I realized how huge it was. Needless to say that I was grateful that someone had placed a higher bid on the YSL Muse because I no longer wanted it.

4) I still continued to watch the bid and in the end the YSL Muse handbag sold for about $685 USD. It’s only a fraction of the retail price and the bag was brand new.

5) After realizing that YSL Muse bags were a bit bigger than what I wanted, I turned my focus to Marc Jacobs (not Marc by Marc Jacobs, but the more expensive bags). I saw a number of great styles, but the one that I actually really wanted was not available in a colour of my choice … they only had it at the time in black. That said, I did continue to follow the bids of many other Marc Jacob bids and I was surprised at how high used bags could fetch.

6) I decided to change focus and look at cashmere scarves. I found a few pashminas that were 100% pashmina that sold for a very reasonable price and I did place a bid on three and bought them! When they arrived I ran to a few stores to compare the quality (since they were coming from China) and the quality was excellent. I decided to keep two of them and give one as a gift.

7) Armed with this victory, I went back to trying to find a handbag. After many searches, I decided to focus on a Valentino Histoire handbag because I loved the style.

#8) I did my research on this Valentino bag and while speaking to a number of sales people, I found out it was the last bag designed by the Italian virtuoso of fashion.

9) I find it important to go to stores to check out the current bags to be able to look at detailing, logo placement (on the outside and inside), finish and the look of the dust bag … all these elements will help ensure that you are buying a real designer handbag from eBay and not a fake.

10) At first, I bid and won a purple Valentino Histoire bag on eBay, but as I was ready to pay for my so called “new Valentino Histoire handbag”, I was told by the seller that it was not exactly all that new and it had been worn a few times and had a few wrinkles. Since we’re talking about patent leather, I felt that wrinkles were not acceptable and that new should mean “new”. The seller was amazing because she agreed to cancel the transaction because she didn’t want me to be disappointed.

Here’s Jennifer Gardner (aka Mrs. Ben Affleck) wearing her Valentino Histoire bag:

11) A few days later, I saw a black Valentino Histoire bag and since I had already done my research and I was certain I wanted to buy it, I decided to bid. After a few counter-bids, I did win that bag.

12) When you buy on eBay, you must be prepared to wait for your delivery if it’s coming overseas or abroad, and in my case it took 10 business days for my bag to come from California.

13) You also have to be prepared to pay country taxes and duty fees, but if you get the item at a rock-bottom-even-way-lower-than-wholesale then you are okay.

14) My bag did arrive and I was quite nervous before opening the bag. I took one look and I knew that I had been quite lucky in scoring a great bag at a ridiculously low price (and the bag was in fact new).

15) The style that I bought is still being sold currently in stores, but the black patent style is already a few seasons old and that’s why the seller was able to price it so low … since we’re talking black patent, it really doesn’t matter because it’s a classic.

16) A few weeks later, I attempted the same exercise for a Furla wallet. I’ve been buying Furla wallets for many (MANY) years now and I really like their design, but unless I get them in Italy I find that buying them locally is quite expensive.

17) I waited for five weeks of continual searches before eyeing a great new Furla wallet in a crocodile embossed style that sells for a few hundred dollars in stores.

18) My final bid was an incredible deal and it’s not only a Furla, but it’s a brand-new-never-been-used Furla wallet.

I was quite pleased with my eBay purchases and they prices I was able to get them at.

It’s true that you don’t get that instant gratification of buying an item and taking it home with you, but given the incredible savings, I’m quite happy to wait.

If I had to summarize 6 practical buying tips on eBay, I’d say:

1) Know your items before placing bids by doing a lot of research and make sure you see the physical item before bidding.

2) Don’t be hesitant to pose questions to the sellers.

3) Make sure that the photos show the items in as many angles as possible.

4) Know what your price ceiling is so you don’t get caught up in the bidding frenzy.

5) Don’t be afraid of walking away from the item … because there will be others.

6) You need to make sure you want the item before bidding on it because you don’t want to cause a seller to miss a sale because of your uncertainty.

I have to say that given my experience, I would have no problems buying again on eBay and I intend on checking a few more items.

If you’re looking for guidelines on buying on eBay, you’ll find them on either eBay or any country-specific site like eBay Canada and eBay UK and you can also read the posts I had written on the subject after meeting with Sandra Graham, eBay Jewelry & Celebrity Style Director:

1) Get the Film Festival look on a budget you can afford!

2) How to buy and sell designer clothing and accessories on eBay?

Intro photo by pandemia

All photos of clothing are from JCrew

Photo of all accessories from eBay

WOW! What a show! W-H-A-T A S-H-O-W!!!

I had planned on watching 10 minutes of it, but ended up watching the full hour that ended thirty minutes ago because it was hard to do anything else.

The lingerie was very couture and the models were beautiful.

It hurts me to admit this, but Heidi Klum (mother of three and Seal’s wife) looks absolutely incredible.

I think the lesson here for women over 35 is that sexy lingerie can make you feel super-sexy and I’m damn sure it can give you that boost of  confidence I saw those models bathing in tonight.

Here are some of my favourite Victoria Secret lingerie–

I love Selita Ebanks in this number … that’s my favourite:

Here a few other favourites:

Don’t forget to check my video on French lingerie:

Here’s a video featuring the Victoria Secret Fashion Show – Final Preparation

First it was the election-day dress designed by Narciso Rodriguez and then it was the $15,000 diamond chandelier like earrings … Michelle Obama, who is said not to have a stylist, is surely getting a lot of ink for her style.

I’ll be honest here and say that I didn’t like that dress she wore the night her husband was elected President and I didn’t like that dress when I saw it on a model during Narciso’s Spring 2009 fashion show in September. I just find that too much is happening at the waist area and I actually found the dress made First Lady elected Michelle Obama look wider than she is. In my view, the whole thing was very distracting and she’s had many other much better fashion days.

During her four years as the wife of the President of the US, Michelle Obama will no doubt have a chance to influence a lot of women in their fashion decision because she represents the average American women.

Her love for JCrew and Target is well documented and it will be interesting to see how her off-the-rack fashion selections affect the retailers she favours. One thing is certain, stores like JCrew and Target will mostly likely have a very quick turn-around on items the First-Lady-to-be chooses to wear.

It’s interesting, but the last time political fashion made so many people talk was when Hilary Clinton was First Lady. Her struggles to adopt a more polished and sophisticated look are well documented. Hilary is all brains and it’s clear from old photos that she spent little time thinking of what she wore … even in the early days of Bill Clinton’s presidency. Michelle Obama is vastly different from Hilary in that respect. Both women are incredibly brilliant and well educated, but Michelle Obama has been able to masterfully marry brain and beauty!

Will Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama be able to leave a mark on fashion as strong as Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onasis? Only time will tell!

I found that New York Times did a fantastic recap of Michelle Obama’s style in the following reviews:

The Next First Lady’s Style

She Dresses to Win

That Dress? Everyone Has an Opinion

An Obama Fashion Bump

Photo by Bobster1985

There is no doubt that the months leading to this historical event will give way to many new fashion trends (some good and some very-much forgettable), but I thought that now that all the anticipation of “will Sara Palin be able to represent America without being ridiculed or will Michelle Obama become the first African-American First Lady” are over, I would take a look back at some of the strongest fashion trends from this election.

If memory serves me correctly, I don’t remember any past US election giving way to so much talk about the couture … with good reason because I don’t think we’ve ever seen an election where celebrities, grandmothers and well-kept-dogs were walking about town with a candidate’s face on a t-shirt!

Post Obama-mania fashion review

1) The Obama t-shirt: singers, models, actors, influential figures all sported the Obama t-shirts with great pride. Perhaps, I’m missing the fashion-ball here, but I don’t recall seeing supporters for W. Bush and Bill Clinton walking around with their candidates face stapled on their chest.

2) Obama bling: Yes, you’ve read correctly. The Obama-mania extended to one of my fave accessories – jewellery. I’m all for gold jewellery, but I draw the line when it comes to blingging it up with a presidential candidate’s name around your neck. I personally would never do it, but it seems many Americans were willing to part with $79.00 for an Obama 2008 Nameplate in 10K Gold.

3) Michelle Obama style: many reporters have been caught saying things like: “She dresses very Jackie Oish”. Since the French press is calling president-elect the next Kennedy, it makes perfect sense to start comparing Michelle Obama’s look to another presidential fashion icon (Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onasis). One thing is clear, elected-first-lady Michelle Obama prefers clean lines, bright colours and simple sophistication.

4) Michelle Obama prefers Target (known as Tarjay in Canada) and JCrew: Target and JCrew could NOT hope for better publicity. I mean when the most powerful woman (move over Queen Oprah) in the US says she shops at your store … the rest of America (and the world) listens. It’s been reported that Michelle Obama revealed on a Jay Leno appearance that she buys her clothes (sans personal stylist) online via JCrew.com, the company say their sales increased by a staggering 464 percent! Women were clicking away and grabbing tanks, cardigans and skirts to emulated the Michelle Obama look … which by the way is VERY recession-proof!

5) Sara Palin bold glasses were hard to miss: I’ll have to admit that Sara Palin has done more for the revival of the eyeglass than any other event in recent years. In a time when lasik surgery is becoming the norm and most people at ditching their eyewear, Sara Palin was introduced to the world wearing a fairly prominent rectangularish pair of rimless Kazuo Kawasaki spectacles. American women ran to their nearest optician demanding to be fitting for a new pair of Palin-inspired glasses. It was such a big event in the US that ABS News bold stated that “eyeglasses are the new pantsuit”.

6) The $150,000 recession-bust wardrobe: It’s still not clear if Sara Palin spend that ungodly amount on updating her hockey-mom look during the middle of one of the worst recession in recent memory, but it made the cover of every media outlet, and it will be impossible for her to ever play this down.

7) Cindy McCains high end couture look: Cindy McCain was also mentioned for her expensive wardrobe (which she actually CAN afford given that she’s a multi-millionaire in her own right). There are pieces from Cindy’s wardrobe that I quite liked. I do have to say that where Cindy and I parted ways was when she did the matchy-matchy look where the jacket, turtleneck or shirt and skirt where ALL the same colour. In my fashion-book … that is a big no-no. That said, I was quite partial to the bling … since I love jewellery so much.