Love it or Leave It: Utilitarian Boots

Left, Left, Right, Left... Repeat...

Utilitarian is a look synonymous with fall and although a chic blazer is always able to give you an edge these boots are able to stand out without upstaging your entire outfit. The boots were chosen as an essential autumn pick by the girls at WhoWhatWear and they suggest wearing them with your favorite knit layers. The high heel takes lace up combat boots to new heights so you can step out in style with a look that is truly effortless.

Shop:
Dolce Vita Joelle Platform Booties, $244 (US)

Fashion Quote of the Week: Jeff Koons on Salvador Dali

Jeff Koons, the American artist known for his larger-than-life balloon animals recently shared a memory that changed his life forever: meeting his hero Salvador Dali.

"I grew up in Pennsylvania, where I came across Salvador Dali in magazines and coffee-table books. When I was 17, I found out that Dali was staying at the St. Regis Hotel in New York. I contacted him to see if I could meet him, and he told me to come over. When I arrived, he greeted me and invited me to an exhibition of his work, where he posed for some photographs. I remember that he was very patient while I juggled my camera round. He was very generous to give his time to a young artist like myself. Meeting Dali had a big impact on me. That evening, on the way back home, I thought to myself: 'I could do this. Art could be a way of life.'"
Courtesy of Elle Canada

Paris Fashion Week - Time Capsule: Christian Dior Spring 2005 RTW

Paris Fashion Week started on the first of the month with a successful show for Christian Dior. John Galliano decided to go with a sailor motif for the spring/summer 2011 collection:

The models, some of whom wore leis, worked their little sailor hats by giving salutes at the end of the runway, which was made to look like a rusty slipway. The girls emerged at the other end from a set that looked like a desert island.
Courtesy of NYMag.com

In celebration of Galliano's continuous reign of the runway I'd like to take time to reflect back and pay tribute to the man who opened my eyes to a new side of the industry.

All it took was one runway show for me to understand the genius that is John Galliano. In 2004 I had become obsessed with style.com and constantly watched the coverage of each spring 2005 show. The Christian Dior show captured me from the minute it started; I'm not sure if it was the bright knee socks, pom poms, or Joe Le Taxi by Vanessa Paradis, but whatever it was I couldn't help but watch the show over and over again. In comparison, spring 2005 was nothing compared to the elaborate stage productions that Galliano is now known for, however, it will always be the runway show that began my love for the artistry of fashion.






Photos: Style.com

Fall Basics: A to Z, the letter B

B is for Beret

Put a lid on it, your head that is. Hands down the simplest stylish piece you can ever invest in for the fall is a classic knit beret. Keeping you warm in fall and winter, the knit beret goes perfectly with all jackets, from leather to peacoat.

Neutral Colours
Its best to choose either a grey, black, white, or beige beret so you can mix and match with all of your wardrobe.

Shop:
Bop Basics Thick Knit Beret, $58 (US)

Seeing Double: Blue Suede Shoes

Blacks are essential, nudes give you runway-worth legs, but blue pumps may just be your secret weapon this season.

We all fell so deeply in love with Carrie's "Something Blue" Monolos but they aren't exactly the perfect shoe for the little black dress.

Thankfully Yves Saint Laurent has electric blue suede pumps made for this exact reason, at $720 a pair here. But fear not,we all have the chance to get "something blue" because Steve Madden has made the same shoe just at a fraction of the price, at $89.95 a pair here.

Love it or Leave It: Top Gun Inspired Shearling Jackets

Top Gun, the movie that put Tom Cruise on the map also established a piece of outerwear that constantly gets reinvented in the North American fall wardrobe: the shearling jacket.

According to the brilliant writers at WhoWhatWear, the shearling jacket is here to replace the army jacket and with the comfy trim comes a hefty price tag. Ranging anywhere from $100-$2000 its safe to say you can find a piece that will fit your budget, no matter what it is.

The jacket is definitely light enough for the fall weather and the trim is both functional and sets the coat apart from leather bombers, the only reason why it doesn't make it as a "fall basic" is the fact its cropped. Finding the perfect length is essential to any body type so its important to make sure the jacket both looks and feels right.

Shop:
Obey The Williamsburg Jacket, $88 (US)

Fall Basics: A to Z, the letter R

R is for Riding Boot

It's time, fall is here, out goes the sunshine and in comes the workload. To lighten the mood we have fashion to look to and like every season, fall comes with its own inherit fashion basics.

Boots are your best bet for fall footwear and my absolute everyday favorite has to be the riding boot. Best worn over jeans or tights with a chunky knit sweater, finding the perfect pair is essential to your fall wardrobe.

Shop:
Charlotte Russe Flat Riding Boot, $45.50