It was four years ago that we met style-challenged Betty.  What was an initial attempt to get into the publishing industry turned into a warm, humourous and heart-felt comedy that became a household name.  I always loved this show.  The exaggerated storylines were always fun and it explored the fashion industry in a way that no other show did.

The best part of the show for me was none other than the fashion.  With the genius mind of Patricia Field behind the costuming, who could expect anything less than perfection? Field created amazing, fashion-forward looks which fit every character like a glove.  For Betty, though the task was to create looks to emulate a fashion wreck, it was still a pleasure to watch!

Week after week, Betty would trot to Mode in an insane mix of bright colours, explosion of prints and granny-looking garments.  Here’s the thing…most of what Betty sported was from a designer label; from Anna Sui to Marc Jacobs to Prada.  Somehow, it just worked for Betty’s eccentric, unique sense of style.

Throughout the show, as Betty got a bit slimmer, hair got shinier, eyebrows thinner and as she discovered more body-hugging silhouettes, Betty slowly understood what fashion was…the meaning behind it, what drives it, how it is inspired and how it can connect with people.  The underlying element of fashion (from the out-of-this-world storylines and crazy drama to the cluelessness and constant mockery of Betty) paved the way for Betty to become a star.  A character that clearly seemed disastrous on day one slowly seeped into our hearts, so much that we started rooting for her.  Betty represented the brave few, risk-takers that are gutsy and bold yet honest and compassionate.  Betty was in fact, what we like to call, beautiful.

Image Source: Abc.com, Starpulse.com, Ugly-Is-In.com

I remember being six years old and wishing I was older simply so I could use a purse.  Instead, I would just steal from my mum’s closet and run around my home with a purse so long that it almost reached my ankle! Naturally, you can imagine my excitement about this trend.  We saw long strap shoulder bags make an appearance on the Spring/Summer 2010 runways…

Derek Lam, Spring 2010; Marc Jacobs, Spring 2010; DKNY, Spring 2010

This new shoulder bag is perfect for everyday use, night or day.  Pair it with a fun dress or with tightly fitted jeans…

Lauren Conrad; Zoe Salana; Alexa Chung

There are so many options out there at a wide range of prices, colours, styles and material…and these are only my picks!

Studded Shoulder Purse, Forever 21, $14.80

Totally Turnlock Sasha Messenger Bag; Marc by Marc Jacobs, $458

Material Girl Crossbody Bag; RACHEL Rachel Roy, $79.00

Rocker Bag; Rebecca Minkoff, $330

Goa Saddle Bag; Banana Republic, $150.00

Leather Woven Cross Body Bag; Topshop, $55

Image Source: Asos.com, BananaRepublic.com, FashionUnder100.net, Forever21.com, Macys.com, Shopbop.com, Style.com, TinyPic.com, TopShop.com

Salvatore Ferragamo Spring/Summer 2010 with Claudia Schiffer

GF Ferre Spring/Summer 2010

Balenciaga Spring/Sumer 2010 with Iselin Steiro and Mirte Maas by Steven Meisel

Bvlgari Spring/Summer 2010 with Julianne Moore by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott

Valentino Spring/Summer 2010 with Dree Hemingway by Mert & Marcus

Tom Ford Spring/Summer 2010 with Nicholas Holt and Carolyn Murph

Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2010 with Jamie Bochert by Juergen Teller

Hermes Spring/Summer 2010 with Karlie Kloss

Image Source: Fashionising.com

Celebrating Nars’ 15th anniversary, make up guru Francois Nars launched 15 x 15, a book that is fit for the coffee table featuring 15 artsy portraits of his fashion buddies.  Tanya Ballou, Naomi Campbell, Daphne Guinness, Carla Gugino, Dayle Haddon, Shalom Harlow, Marc Jacobs, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Amanda Lepore, Natasha Poly, Isabella Rossellini, Lisa Marie Smith, Olivier Theyskens, Amber Valletta and François Vincentelli are all featured using star products from the brand.  All proceeds from the project are donated to 15 of the icons’ desired charities.

The looks, created by Nars himself, truly show how you can play with make up!

Marc Jacobs as China Machado wearing Dovima Nail Polish

Natasha Poly in Punk Rock wearing Rated R Duo Eyeshadow

Daphne Guinness in Modern Edwardian wearing Night Breed Single Eyeshadow

To view all portraits or to purchase the book, click here.

Image Sources: 15x15Project.com, NarsCosmetics.com

It boggles me as to how Marc Jacobs just manages to nail it season after season – especially with the things he tries to pull off.

For the Spring 2010 season, he imagined ballerinas on the way home from a performance or showgirls going to Raido City for their rehearsal.  The resulting look had his models in pulled up stockings, tightly pulled back hair, geisha inspired makeup paired with everyday things – like fanny packs!

Marc Jacobs is truly an amazing stylist.  He is able to combine the romance of frills with the rigidity of sharp edges.  He is the master of playing with clothes and proportions to create a desired shape.  Linda Fargo, Senior Vice-President of the fashion office at Bergdorf Goodman said it extremely well, “He (Marc) has that way of always turning our world inside out – the corsetry on top of a little touch of men’s suiting but the men’s suiting was very feminine with the ruffles.”

Only you Marc, only you.

For more of Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2010 RTW, click here.

Image Source: Style.com

On Saturday evening, I went to the open discussion at the School of Visual Arts where Cathy Horyn tried to pick the brains of photographer, Juergen Teller.  Many of you may know him as the man who convinced Posh Spice to get into a shopping bag for a Marc Jacobs ad campaign; others know him as the daring photographer who is witty and to the point with his portraits.

Teller talked a little about his past and how he started in photography, his initial work with doing record covers and press shoots for bands before moving into fashion photography, his work with i-D and The Face, and collaborating with people like Marc Jacobs and Vivienne Westwood.  He gave some insight as to how he works and his preference to work as a small operation.  He prefers to work alone with his subjects.  When Cathy moved on to talk about the technology involved in his photography, it was interesting to hear that Teller is quite “anti-digital”.  Blaming his lack of computer knowledge and being stuck in his old ways, he explains that the digital, technological, fast ways that we are so used to now takes away from the time and magic involved in photography.

The discussion went on with Teller touching on working with different characters, designers and campaigns.  There is a lot of trust involved in working with people.  Coming up with successful campaigns takes a lot of brainstorming and planning.  When he knows what he wants, he executes it.  And then of course, there are times when the pieces just fall into place.  “When I’m shooting, sometimes things just happen”, he confidently said.  He gave the example of the Marc Jacobs’ Fall 2009 ad below.  Yes, you saw it right, pardon the model while she jumps out of the window…for a bag.

It was nice to see that Teller has a sense of humour about work and life.  When asked why he liked to take pictures, he explained that taking pictures gives him an excuse for adventures and to really look at things.  His opinions on fashion is that it has a strong influence on culture and is used to make a comment on it.  It shouldn’t be taken too seriously…fashion should be enjoyable.  His pictures say exactly that.

Image Source: Elle.com, MarcJacobs.com