With Christmas around the corner, we’re all pinching our pennies to save up for that ever important New Year’s Eve dress.  This year is especially important for me as I have a wedding to attend!

In the summertime, I blogged about a DVF dress I found for $90 at Bloomingdale’s in Chicago.  While I was there, I ventured to my favourite dress designer’s department — Nanette Lepore.  I discovered an amazing dress that afternoon, the Darjeeling Dress by Nanette Lepore.  It was gorgeous, what dream dresses are made of: silk, intricate beading, and a big price tag ($378).  As you know, the DVF came home with me but the Darjeeling did not.

M
y birthday was in November and I decided to see if the Darjeeling Dress was available on eBay.  Oh it was and for only for $125.  With shipping it came to $150 and arrived within 2 weeks from Australia.  FABULOUS.  My poor DVF dress will have to wait until the following weekend when I celebrate a BFF’s 30th birthday as Miss.  Darjeeling will be worn NYE 2011.

As I mentioned on Monday, all hail the return of the timeless lady.  Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2010 collection is magnificent.  I loved everything about it and can’t wait for the looks to trickle into the mainstream.

I can definitely see the hemlines lengthening and becoming fuller in the coming seasons with fitted tops balancing the look.  Because I die for shoes and bags, my breathe was taken away when I spied the shoes rounding out the timeless LV looks.

If I could justify the $815 and buy these LV shoes I would never take them off .  I can see the headlines now, tragic car accident caused by silly girl staring at her new LV shoes moving up and down on the gas pedal instead of the road.  Really, it’s not suffering from insanity if you’re loving every minute of it.

Check out the show for yourself:

Dear Tina Fey,

I don’t often write fashion love letters to celebs , but you looked GORGEOUS at the Emmy Awards in your Oscar de la Renta gown. You were the embodiment of classic, chic, contemporary style.

I loved your hair, tied back in a simple pony that showcased the high neckline of this beautiful dress.  The gown defined your waist exquisitely and the Art Deco embroidery is beyond breathtaking.  You (or your stylist–if we’re being honest with each other) chose accessories that accented the dress rather than stealing the show.

I know it’s been a tough road for you at red carpet events, but girlfriend, you can laugh at all those worst dressed lists cause you looked A-lister F-A-B!!

Love,

Fashion Chronicles

Oscar de la Renta hardly steers a girl wrong and Tina definitely rocked this timeless Oscar de la Renta gown from his 2011 Resort Collection. If this gown is considered resort wear, reserve my spot at that place next January!!

Actually, if you’re anything like me, take a look through all the dresses in Oscar de la Renta’s collection (particularly at the end) and start placing bets to which red carpets they’ll start appearing worn by the next Tina Fey wannabe.

Images courtesy of JustJared.com

Emmy Bonus

Dear John Hamm,

I love you and wanted to tell you that I would never send you a Dear John Letter.  But I also heart your gf, Jennifer Westfeldt, because she wrote, starred in and produced one of my all time favourite films, Kissing Jessica Stein. Which you were also in before you became the complicated Donald Draper — in case you forgot.

Love,

Fashion Chronicles

There are few things in life that I love more than my dog, Scout.  My find last month in Chicago definitely made me forget about my dog for an entire afternoon: DVF, Bloomingdales, and a massive end-of summer sale!

I couldn’t believe my dumbluck when I beheld a black silk, DVF dress in my size, for $90 reduced from $365 at Bloomingdales.  I was nervous the shopgirl was going to tell me it was a mistake when I went to pay.

Diane von Furstenberg without a doubt designs the most flattering dresses for women.  Oh and she’s also a Princess, but hey who isn’t?

When DVF married Prince Egon of Fürstenberg in 1969, she decided to make a name for herself by developing her career as a designer.  In the early 70′s, she designed the iconic knitted wrap dress which has been a staple in women’s closets ever since.  Based on her success in the 70′s, DVF moved into all facets of fashion designing everything from sunglasses to handbags to couture ball gowns.

As you can probably tell, finding a DVF dress for under $100 in your size at Bloomingdales is like when Planet Earth captured the elusive snow leopard in Pakistan on film…you can spend 6 weeks looking, but sometimes dumbluck is all you need!

DVF at home in Conneticut

Images Courtesy of Bloomingdales and Town and Country

My bff was cleaning out her closet and was about to toss a silk scarf from Paris before I stopped her.  The scarf wasn’t Hermès, mind you, but it was gorgeous nonetheless.

I couldn’t believe she would consider tossing it, when you can wear silk scarves in so many fabulous ways!

If you’re truly lost on how to wear a scarf, take note from the French and tie that scarf simply around your neck and pair it with a basic white-t, skinny jeans and flat shoes. Throw a blazer over-top and you’re set for a stylish Sunday brunch with your ladies.

The tying options for a larger, Hermès style scarf are endless.  You can tie it around the handles of your Birkin (cause we all have one of those) or wear it as a halter dress.  Yes, you read that right, you can tie two Hermès scarves together to create a dress, spaghetti strap top or basic halter! Très chic!

Below is a video depicting seven ways to tie your Hermès scarf. My favourite part of the video has to be the soundtrack, but the adorable HK Hermès Silk Ambassadors are super informative with their mad scarf tying skills.  So take the 8 mins to check this vid out.

Not surprisingly, the Halston Heritage Collection has gained a lot of attention recently what with Sarah Jessica Parker being the new face of Halston both on and off screen.

Back in January, with pictures taken from the NYC set of SATC 2, I began piecing together the Halston and SJP connection, to later find out she was signing with them.  For those of you who watched the recent SATC 2 film, she rocked four unique Halston Heritage Collection dresses.

The two dresses pictured above, Halston Heritage One-Shoulder Cape Dress ($325) and Halston Heritage Pleated Silk Dress ($895),  are gorgeous examples of this 70′s throwback collection. To view the other two dresses she wore, check out my post back in January.

More recently, SJP wore a Halston Heritage Collection frock to the Met Ball in NYC.  Shameless self promotion or love of fashion—you tell me?

I love a great summer dress.  I love summer dresses at work, weddings, parties, picnics, evening strolls…I love them always!

When I received an email from Vogue about Miuccia Prada’s Print Collection dresses, I was excited at the thought of wearing them for summer.  To my dismay, of course, Vogue seems to think that these dresses are priced at a “not-unreasonable” $760-$885.  Umm hello Vogue, I earn 5 figures not 6 and that price is unreasonable to me!

But I come to you today with three reasonable steps that you can take to wear it like Prada without the devilish price tag!

1Classic Dress
Look for a bold print, in a classic A-line style, with a defined waist and full skirt.  Find a dress with a conservative yet classic neckline and, like the Prada version, search for a style with buttons that run from the neckline to the waist–that will really make the look flawless.

2 Brown Belt
Purchase a slim, brown, leather belt that sits well perched high above your hips. What I mean is, ensure the belt doesn’t gape at your back when you’re standing. Additionally, if the belt is too long, you can get it professionally shortened by your local cobbler while he adds a new heel to those stilettos you have meaning to repair.

3 Black Crinoline
The purpose of the full, A-Line skirt of your new dress is to allow room beneath for a beautiful, black crinoline. Make sure the crinoline hangs slightly below the hem of your dress for the ultimate Prada Print Collection look.

Throw on an equally bold patterned ballet flat, a chain-link handbag and rock it this summer.

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Marc Jacobs and Victoria Beckham

Born and raised in New York City, Marc Jacobs is not only a fashion icon, he is one of the 50 most powerful gay men in America (according to Out magazine) and, most recently, Time magazine crowned him the most influential fashion designer of 2010.

Marc Jacobs was appointed Creative Director of Louis Vuitton in 1997 and subsequently designed LV’s first pret-a-porter (ready-to-wear) line. Marc Jacobs also created his own brand in 1986 which now includes: high-end Marc Jacobs Collection; diffusion line Marc by Marc Jacobs; and children’s line, Little Marc.

The successful Marc by Marc Jacobs line is affordable and readily available.  It’s carried in boutiques throughout the world and large, department stores like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus in the States.  When Neiman Marcus has sales on any of these bags online, they fly off the rack (or disappear from the online shopping cart, if you will).

In celebration of the honour bestowed upon Jacobs by Time magazine, his friend, Victoria Beckham toasted him by writing: “Marc Jacobs is undoubtedly one of the most influential designers of all time. He has never followed fashion or trends; he follows his heart and sets trends.”

For that we love Marc Jacobs and can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.  Check out the recent Marc Jacobs collection at New York Fashion Week.

Image courtesy of InStyle.com

I recently discovered 3 labels (Splendid, theory and VINCE) that I covet in every possible way.  In fact, I actually discovered a cropped Theory jacket in my wardrobe yesterday…I simply adore turning an old flame into a new love!!

These labels are truly droolworthy, I recommend procrastinating on their sites today:

Splendid

Splendid: Mock Two Piece Jersey Dress, $125

Splendid: Open Front Cardigan, $70

theory

theory: Maydie Dress, $225

theory: Neini D Skirt, $190

VINCE

VINCE: Exaggerated Raglan Sweater, $190

VINCE: Boyfriend Jacket, $440

Before you comment, I now realise each piece I pulled to showcase has no colour!  It’s not that I have an aversion to colour, I simply adore the versatility of black and gray!  Happy procrastinating my lovelies!

These Valentino Sculpture Lace Pumps are to die for.  I certainly appreciate couture clothing for being works of art, but these shoes could be showcased at the Musee D’Orsay tomorrow!  Can you guess how much they cost?  As I said to a friend yesterday…if you have to ask, you can’t afford them.  At $4700, these won’t be in my closet anytime soon.

Today’s Frugal Friday offers up sexy lace stilettos.  While none compare to the Valentino Sculpture Lace Pumps, the below, affordable pumps are still cute in their own right.

At $885, the Valentino Lace d’Orsay pump isn’t exactly a bargain, but it is cheaper than its $4700 sister.

I love these Pour La Victoire Elena Peep Toe Shoeties. Like the Valentino Sculpture Lace Pumps, they have both a leather sole and upper beneath the lace.  The gorgeous 4″ heel takes you the same heights as the Valentino, and at $249, they’re still pricey, but more affordable than both Valentinos above.

These $137 Menbur Monaco Peep Toe Pumps are cute.  The rosette on the peep toe is very Valentino, if you look at the bags and shoes in the Valentino Spring Summer 2010 collection.  Upon closer look, these pumps aren’t as well made as the Brazilian Pour La Victoire brand, but on a budget, they give you the Valentino look without the Valentino price tag.

Which lace shoe is your favourite?