Smoking Permitted

There are very few things in life actually worth dying for, but sometimes danger and its magnetic appeal can cloud one's better judgment. Enter the smoking slipper. With a name evoking ideas of forbidden action and a structure uniquely suited for pairing with anything from skinny jeans to full-on Hugh-Hefner-esque robes, this season's proverbial "bad boy" of shoes is alluring in the most satisfying way--the wearer reaps the best of both worlds, as these flats are safe enough to wear without fear of falling but just perplexing enough to feel that rush of bending the rules. Now that makes them a clear, cloudless choice if you ask me.

From top and clockwise: Miu Miu Embroidered Satin-covered Leather Loafers, Lanvin Bow-Embellished Patent-Leather Loafers, RESTRICTED Gloria Loafer, Steve Madden All-Over Stud Loafer, Steve Madden Elton Leopard Loafer, Jimmy Choo Wheel Glitter-finished Leather Loafers, Charles Philip Eula Marble Print Flats, Marc by Marc Jacobs Sequined Leather Loafers

xo Heidi 

A Bejeweled Burden

[The sore neck is worth it. A look this bold delivers both mass and magnificence.]
Images via style.com

Land, ho! Are those newly discovered territories or...really big gems? The ladies at Lanvin took on a weighty task for the fall shows and strung on jewels that exercised their earlobes and necks, but not without reaping the benefits. (And each sashayed down the runway as if donning delicate chains, not decadently monstrous pendants.) Art deco-y and baroque, monumental rubies, emeralds, and sapphires brought already luxe fur-encased and glove-bedecked outfits to extravagant new peaks, domains so chic you may want to explore them yourself. Play into this over-the-top lavishness by wearing a pair of earrings and a necklace that match, and juxtapose the chunkiness with a sleek yet relaxed blowout. Et voila! Black-tie (or bar time) ready. 

SOME GLEAMING FINDS:

1. V-Lace Necklace, $26, baublebar.com// 2. Ranita Drops, $68, anthropologie.com// 3. Ranjana Khan Bronze Necklace, $49, thelimited.com// 4. Serpentine Drops, $172, baublebar.com// 5. ASOS Floral Rhinestone Y Necklace, $33.14, asos.com// 6. Rhinestones and Spikes Bib Necklace, $12.97, charmingcharlie.com

xo Heidi

Bright Eyes

Each season brings about not only fresh looks in fashion but in beauty as well. And with a bland morning routine of brown eyeshadow, mascara, and black liquid liner, I couldn't be more excited about the new eye makeup trends. 

For the fall shows, designers debuted creatively glam eyes; from Stella McCartney's ultraviolet mascara to Anna Sui's bold swipes of liner to Roberto Cavalli's luminescent multi-hued lids, there were looks for every occasion and personality on the catwalks. And I admire how well each eye makeup look complemented its clothing counterpart: McCartney's preppy, pared-down pieces in gray, black, and blue with the indigo mascara, Sui's mismatched rocker-boho style with the graphic eyeliner, and Cavalli's lush and over-the-top ensembles with the different colored shadows. Lucky for us, the cosmetics are a bit more affordable than the actual runway outfits.

STELLA MCCARTNEY'S INDIGO LASHES

The Product:

Golden Rose Perfect Lashes Blue Mascara,

$9.99, amazon.com

ANNA SUI'S COBALT CATEYE

The Product:

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aquarelle in 3 (Bright Blue),

$20, sephora.com

ROBERTO CAVALLI'S PEACOCK EYES

The Products:

SEPHORA COLLECTION Prisma Chrome Eyeshadow in Purple Prisma 40 & Emerald Facet 25,

$15 each, sephora.com

Images via 1, 2, 3, & 4

xo Heidi

NYFW '12: Rebecca Taylor-Vivienne Tam

Already shoulder-deep in the fashion shows taking place across the pond, I have yet to finish discussing the best looks from New York's shows. Well, it seems like this is going to be one chic fall!

The final installment of my favorite NYFW trends:

 Rebecca Taylor

[The perpetually feminine Rebecca Taylor continues impress with her understatedly unique pieces. Always wearable but never bland, her clothing stands out with cool details. This season, sheer-paneled slits and fuzz-adorned sweatshirts delight my girlish eye. But what sticks with me most are the perplexing sheer pants layered under shorts in the third picture. A more comfortable alternative to tights, perhaps?]

Suno
[When Rachel McAdams wore this blue dress last year, I hurriedly set out to find who was responsible for such a fun, offbeat look. That's when I first learned of Suno, and the name has been on my mind ever since. And after seeing the label's latest collection, it goes without saying that its designers are the masters of print. Mismatched florals, stripes, or botanical scenes, it's all good if it's Suno.]

Tadashi Shoji
[Having burst into the fashion scene after Oscar nominee Octavia Spencer wore his gowns this awards season, Tadashi Shoji didn't hurt his newfound popularity with his recent fall runway show. Emerald sheer, two-toned tulle, gold glitter, and floral silk all sashayed down the catwalk ready to be worn to the next big awards show (Oscars, maybe?)--you would never guess the maker was fairly obscure until now.]

Thakoon
[If I had to describe Thakoon's fall line using only one word, it would be "fresh." With the models' clean makeup (save for bold red lips), the shiny red and black fabrics, and the minimal accessorizing, Thakoon makes being chic look so easy. But my favorite part of the new collection is the 3/4 sleeve sheath dress (1st and 3rd pictures). It calls to mind the mid-20th century but at the same time looks so untried and original.]

Tory Burch
[Sometimes I fear aging; not for typical reasons like wrinkles and menopause (hey, I can say "menopause" on here if I want), but because I'm afraid I'll have to forfeit stylish dressing. But Tory Burch proves that is surely not the case. She clearly doesn't design for a set age group, because I fell in love with each one of her pieces as a 20 year-old--everything from the tight plaid trousers to the chain-strap, flower-adorned purses--but I can also see myself wearing the same ensembles when I'm forty.]

Tracy Reese
[Wow, does this woman have a way with color! Turquoise and purple, orange and gold, green and royal blue, she somehow assembles her pieces to make any combination work. Another relatively wearable line, I can see myself wearing her t-shirt/skirt combos with flat sandals to class and with heels and added jewelry at night. Bonus: with hues this bright, my friends would never lose me in a crowd.]

Vivienne Tam
[Whether the task is creating a party-ready LBD or a lazy Sunday brunch outfit, Vivienne Tam is up to it. She can make sexy, slinky gowns with cutouts along the torso and soft, printed sweatshirts look equally appealing. Right now, though, I'm really just wishing I could crawl into those loose gray trousers, a much more polished alternative to my uniform of sweatpants.]

xo Heidi

[PRESS PLAY: "Through the Dark" by Alexi Murdoch. Available on iTunes.] 

NYFW '12: Jason Wu-Oscar de la Renta

New York Fashion Week is over (the shows continue over in Europe), but I'm still reeling over the all of the beautiful sartorial creations debuted last week. So, naturally, my list of favorite collections continues.

The second set of reasons I'm looking forward to fall:

 Jason Wu

[The young newcomer continues to stun with his unparalleled designer's eye. This season he took cues from the far East, boasting colorful brocade pantsuits and draped silk skirts. Red and black add a major dose of sex appeal to an otherwise conservative gown, while a simple cape is made exotic with heavy embellishment.]

Jenny Packham

[After seeing Kate Middleton strutting around in Ms. Packham's design last year, I can't help but picture the Duchess wearing each gown sent down the runway this past week. While the elegance of the dresses are an obvious choice for Kate, the interesting details (like choker necklines and sequin-studded shoulders) remind me that Blake Lively and Carrie Underwood are also fans of the brand.]

Marchesa

[Ever the connoisseurs of intricacy, Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig of Marchesa yet again baffle and woo me with their complicated, one-of-a-kind confections. Gilded satin ball gowns and ethereal, feathery mermaid silhouettes can really make a Midwestern girl wish she had some fancier weekend plans. And hey, check out the eagle on the third dress pictured! The trend lives on.] 

Michael Kors

[Oh, how this line makes me want to cuddle up next to a fireplace in a cabin in Aspen! But since I have neither a Colorado chalet nor the money to buy these lustworthy Kors pieces, I will commit to memory this coziness--turtleneck sweaters, relaxed checkered trousers, long-sleeved maxi dresses, and long menswear vests--and hunt it down at more reasonably priced retailers.]

Milly

[Bright and eclectic, the ensembles at Milly can easily add a pop of fun (and neon pink) to any girl's everyday wardrobe. The flouncy metallic skirt, the tweed short suit, the lace print frock--all of these are totally wearable with a pair of black tights and a layered coat or tee. Best part: there's no way an inexpensive seller like Forever 21 will be able to pass up recreating such lively looks (with much lower price tags).]

Monique Lhuillier

[Red, black, and gold are the go-to colors for Ms. Lhuillier this year. Although she exhibited a darker, sultrier collection than typical, she didn't leave behind her signature romance, as proven by the floaty gowns, sheer panelling, and lace trim. It's the blood red and use of heavy metal that are fresh for fall. Bravo! She's invented a gothic I want to try.] 

Oscar de la Renta

[Oscar de la Renta has purely amazed me this season. I've really only regarded him as a gown designer in the past, but with working-girl sets and Jackie O-worthy shifts, he has clearly proven his talent extends beyond the realm of Red Carpet. How a man can design such unapologetically feminine, ladylike pieces, I don't know, but looking through his collection, I am oh-so happy to be a girl.]

xo Heidi

[PRESS PLAY: "Only If for a Night" by Florence + the Machine. Available on iTunes.] 

NYFW '12: Altuzarra-Diane von Furstenberg

At risk of posting too much about designer clothing, I cannot allow New York Fashion Week to continue without noting the many amazing trends being created for this fall. Although names like Marc Jacobs and Armani seem far-off and too idealistic for the typical girl's wardrobe, the ensembles they develop inevitably end up inspiring and dictating what lands on the racks at stores like Forever 21, Macy's, and even Target. So instead of writing the runway shows off as inapplicable to your own life, consider yourself "in the know" of the fall trends to come.

Here's the first installment of my favorite autumn looks:

Altuzzara

[Easily one of my favorite collections yet, I can actually picture myself wearing these outfits; they're relatively practical for a Wisconsin coed. The black leather boots cap off easy cargo pants and embellished sweaters, while a bohemian coin-adorned frock is thrown into the mix for fun. Having grown up on Disney movies, I couldn't help but think of The Hunchback's Esmeralda. Who knew gypsy could be so couture?]

Badgley Mischka

[The duo's done it again. While the ultra-glam gowns are always expected, the cutout shoulders and vest toppers are not, though they are completely welcome. My favorite facets of the fall line: the liquid gold maxi, blush mauve colors, and hair evocative of the 1930's.]

Band of Outsiders

[I surely wasn't at Woodstock, but this collection is what I imagine would surround me if I was. Decidedly hippie meets Laura Ingalls Wilder, the lineup boasts long dresses and ditsy floral prints as well as floor-dusting coats and generously tufted fur vests. 1800's or 1900's? Doesn't matter what century the inspiration came from; it's all very now.]

Carolina Herrera

[Always the lady, Ms. Herrera impresses with layered turtleneck blouses and calf-length pinafores. Varying textures and patterns add interest to monochrome outfits. The hue of choice is navy blue, but I'm not a bit blue about it--if those headband-bound bouffants don't lift your spirits, I don't know what will.]

Diane von Furstenberg

[In a sea of dark sequin sparkles, DVF manages to inject her line with plenty of doses of color. Brilliant colors, at that. Baby pink and eye-popping red on a pantsuit spice up a boring day at the office while the aforementioned black shimmer is a no-brainer for night. Always thinking of the working girl, aren't you Ms. von Furstenberg? Thanks!]

xo Heidi

[PRESS PLAY: "Walking On a Dream" by Empire of the Sun. Available on iTunes.]