R.I.P Chuck Bass

It has taken me a week to dry my eyes and remove the tissue paper from my sodden face following the tragic news that The Greatest Hero Of Our Time, Mr. Charles Chuck Bass, is in a serious critical condition has died. The event begs the question: why? Why Josh Schwartz, why did you do this to me? And what will I do without Chuck's smug little face lighting up my screen every week? Who will I turn to in my hour of sarcasm? What will become of Brooks Brothers now that he is no longer keeping them in business?

This morning I stumbled across this. A framed collection amassed by Mr. Alister Mackie, whom like Chuck Bass, enjoys a good bow-tie. It seems a rather fitting epitaph to the man who paired his oxfords with candy cane-coloured ties that the display should be in sobering, somber black.

R.I.P Chuck Bass, and we'll see you next season in hell in heaven. Amen.

Girl got game

Alexander Wang declared his love for American Football with his sporting Spring 2010 RTW collection. A trend that also scored a touch down at Topshop, Chanel, A.F. Vandervost, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Elie Tahari and Giorgio Armani; participation in this group sport is not optional so best get yourself to the locker room stat!

Splat!

Designer Heidi Merrick gives new meaning to the painter's smock with her Carlisle blouse. Visit her website for more Art Attack inspired Spring 2010 pieces. Splat.

Public displays of affection

Spread a little love today...

Bex Rox Seahorse Kiss necklace
Etsy Bunnies Kissing necklace
Alex Monroe Love Bird ring

Emma Franklin Kissing Goat pendant

xx

Say hello to Holgarazzi

Self proclaimed 'light hunter' Nina Westervelt is a Brooklyn-based photographer with a holga permanently attached to her hip. Her fashion snaps span the catwalk, backstage and front row; the great and good of Bryant Park are captured in all their finery by this Holgarazzi. A welcome respite from the usual straight-ups, Westervelt's photography is artfully composed and never looks too posed. Her flickr site has a dedicated following thanks to Westervelt's candid celebrity shots, and her beautifully dreamy catwalk snaps are often more aesthetically pleasing than the clothes themselves. Her fashion blog, Chic Squared2, is currently sporting a teaser of Westervelt's Fall 2010 photography...visit now to catch a glimpse of what's to come.

Plucky Duckie

"This is a really volcanic ensemble you're wearing, it's really marvelous!"

Duckie, Pretty in Pink (1986)

While most girls may remember John Hughes' Pretty in Pink for leading lady Andie's eighties ensembles, its Duckie that does it for me. His loud combo of plaids, paisleys and stripes, together with his love of sunglasses indoors, slouch socks, natty shoes and Western neck ties really were the most volcanic of ensembles.

J'Adore

If you haven't yet visited the Virtual Shoe Museum you're in for a treat. Feast your eyes on these bad boys, from Patrick Cox's SS'96 collection. Anyone who read Diary of a Crush by Sarra Manning will remember its heroine Edie owned a pair. I want.

You Make Me Wanna Die

Taylor Momsen is reportedly leaving The Greatest Show of Our Time to concentrate on her band Hole The Pretty Reckless, full time. Shame. The band recently shot their first video for You Make Me Wanna Die ahead of their appearance at the Bamboozle Rock Festival this weekend where Taylor rocked out on stage in what can only be described as goth-slut get-up. Momsen, in those clothes, You Make Me Wanna Die. R.I.P Little J. xoxo

Image: Just Jared

Going Undercover

Jun Takahashi's AW2010 collection for Undercover debuted in Paris this weekend. Eschewing the formal runway, Takahashi opted yet again for an unconventional presentation, presenting a live lookbook. Creating a mise-en-scene reminiscent of a foreign indie film, the designer employed his wife Riko to model the cosy-casual layers in front of a series of projected backgrounds. Ranging from an airport to a hotel corridor to a supermarket car park, Riko effortlessly assumed the stance of traveller, hotel guest and consumer, and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Bravo.

Paris sees red

Sonia Rykiel AW2010 rtw

Givenchy AW2010 rtw

Comme des Garcons AW2010 rtw

Ann Demeulemeester AW2010 rtw

Cacharel AW2010 rtw

Barbie goes gaga

I do enjoy a good make over, and doesn't Barbie look swell in her Gaga-garb?

Courtesy of Lu Wei Kang, Babs now has her very own weird and wonderful wardrobe to wear to the Monster Ball.

I wonder what Ken would say?

Who's that girl?

This little lady was all over the streets of London during LFW. Clad in hairy-scary barbie doll creations, she gave Gaga a run for her money in those shoulder-pads. A little bit of research revealed her to be one Rhiannon Jones, a novice fashion designer from up north. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next...

Picture: Jenny Dyson

I heart The Art..

of the Trench.

Burberry's new website celebrates that all-important great British classic I have previously pontificated upon: the trench coat.

Hopping on board the multimedia train that mixes website with facebook connect, the site invites fans of the TC to submit their own snaps which will be sifted and sorted and perhaps eventually selected for display on site alongside photos taken by the online omnipresent street-style snaptographer Scott Schuman.

It's a novel idea and I enjoyed viewing multiple images at once according to 'weather,' 'colour' and the always debatable 'belted' and 'unbelted.' There's also a nifty little timeline history lesson for serious trench anoraks featuring images from the Burberry archive.

My only complaint is this - the soundtrack. Who chose The Kooks Sofa Song to accompany this trench appreciation site? Next time I visit I'll be muting my volume!

The Art of the Trench

Image: The Sartorialist

A charming Skulk of Foxes

I was lucky enough to stumble across A Skulk of Foxes today - an enchanting Australian jewellery line featuring a clutch of woodland creatures. The acrylic brooches will look delightful on a winter coat and I'm jonesing for the antler studs made from recycled scraps of silver. Enjoy.

Rabbits, birdies, squirrels and more are available here.

For more foxy fancies go here.

Oh my oshkosh b'gosh

I lived in my oshkosh b'gosh dungarees as a child. A tomboy til the age of seven, I returned to my old faithfuls on several occasions after discovering skirts. As a Blossom devotee, I wore cut-off white denim dungarees with a flamenco blouse and glittery jelly sandals to my primary school leavers dance. Needless to say, I didn't get my first kiss that night. That didn't dissuade me from wearing them throughout my first year at high school, grunge style, with a plaid shirt and boots. Oh yeah!

So imagine my amazement to see them crop up once more on the catwalks this year in every imaginable incarnation, from dirty denim to leopard-trim suede. The question is - can I bring myself to wear them once more? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

steve allan

nicole fahri

cynthia steffe

louise gray

ralph lauren

Oh, Florence

What a MACHINE.

Seeing double

Blog Advanced Style rocks my world and so do this pair, Marian and Vivian Brown, the infamous San Francisco twins and Queens of senior sartorialism.

I first saw them in the city ascending the Macy's escalator in matching ruby red cowgirl ensembles. Sweet and smiley, they were also slightly scary in their identicalness.

Apparently the two have only spent three weeks apart in their 82 years together and take turns to decide what to eat and wear each day. Luckily they both have a penchant for leopard print and are rarely seen without their signature hats.

I would love to see the identical duo give MK and Ashley a run for their money in an Alice Hawkins fashion spread...what do you think?