Recently in Hideous or Fabulous Category

As anyone who reads Flairvoyant knows, I am a huge fan of J. Crew.  I am pretty sure I love almost everything they make.  Rarely do I hate something.  Well, I'm afraid to say....

this is quite hideous... even more so considering the price tag of $995!

I'd say it's great if you wanted to look like you're wearing a bristly kitchen sponge.

Item Description: "The life of the party, in sumptous silk organza embellished with a flurry of hand-cut, hand-pressed and hand-applied silk organza petals. Finished with a picot-edged silk charmeuse sash at the waist, it makes any occasion special. Strapless. Fitted bodice, straight skirt. Removable silk charmeuse sash. Back zip. Fully lined in silk."

I don't know about "life of the party", perhaps laugh...

At least they had the sense to only make this dress up to a size 8.  They normally make dresses up to size 12.  Although a size 8 person would look truly massive in this dress. I would have made it in 00, 0 and 2 and even then.... ugghhh.  Okay, I've said enough.

Ever since shoulders pads popped up in Balmain and Vuitton's SS09 collections (shown last Fall), we have seen it coming... the onslaught on the shoulder pads.  Eek!

Jennifer Connelly in Balmain

I remember back in the '80s everything had shoulder pads, normal shirts, t-shirts, jackets, ugghh.  I remember cutting them out.  Maybe for younger women who don't remember the '80s, this trend will be okay, but for me - it's a pass! 

Regardless, shoulder pads are here for a while.  The marketing has begun: see below from Topshop.

Hhmmm, this is a tough one.  On one hand it's quirky and cute, on the other it's some hideous thing pulled out of your weird aunt's closet.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Flights of Fancy Shopper Tote, $428

It's made with pebbled and croc-embossed leather with an owl, heart, mouse, racoon, apple tree, bird and cloud. The interior is lined and has a zip pocket and two patch pockets.

I'm not sure on my verdict. I'm going to mull it over.

J.C. Penney has opened a store in Manhattan at Herald Square near Macy's. They are the new anchor store at the Manhattan Mall. I belive the anchor space had been empty since Stern's closed up shop there in 2001. The New York Times Critical Shopper article, 'Playing to the Middle' by Cintra Wilson on the subject sums it up quite nicely: "J.C. Penney has broken free of its suburban parking area to invade Herald Square, and the most frequent question on New York's collective lips seems to be: Why? "

(image: Donna Alberico for The New York Times)

Ha! I totally agree. Part of being in Manhattan is getting away from terrible places like J.C. Penney. Perhaps I am biased because I grew up in a rural place with only J.C. Penney, seriously there wasn't even one Gap store. I remember very well the tedious selection of run of the mill styles at pretty reasonable country-folk types of price points.

The NYT article seems to agree with me, stating that "a good 96 percent" of the inventory is made of polyester! And the racks are short on size 2s, yet 10s, 12s and 16s are aplenty. And that "it has the most obese mannequins I have ever seen".  Well good luck to them.  I guess the only positive is that the area they opened in is very heavy on tourists and b&t-ers thanks to its proximity to the Empire State Building and the PATH train.

Anyway, my verdict is hideous.

This is certainly a "different" look D&G is showing for Fall 09: Structured Shoulder Turtleneck, $575 with Duchesse Satin Bubble Skirt, $575.

I know a lot of designers have been showing the puffy sleeve and structured shoulders, but yikes, I don't know...  It looks so 80s, and that still frightens me.  The print of the turtleneck also looks much like a tapestry or carpet bag, that's not a good thing.

Holy smoke, check out these boots from the Prada Fall 09 Collection. 

The OTK Boot in black nappa leather. $1,400. (Honestly, I'm suprised they aren't more. That's a lot of boot per dollar.) But seriously, who would wear that?  Carmen Electra?

Somthing like this is a little more normal looking. Tall boot ($990), but the heel is only 3-1/2 inches, why?

You just can't get away from the "boyfriend" trend this Spring. Maybe it's Katie Holmes' fault since she was photographed in New York many times last Fall wearing the look ... But since then this "boyfriend" jeans/jacket/cardigan etc. etc. look has been popping up everywhere... Reece Witherspoon, SJP, Jennifer Anison, even Victoria Beckham.

Here's a shot from Bloomingdale's "Springs Best Trends" mailer.

I think the jeans: Yes and jacket: No. The jacket they're showing above isn't as stupid and 80s looking at most examples.  The jeans need to be worn correctly, however.  Like above with really cool shoes, I don't recommend the Katie look (flat sandals or ballet flats, and rolled up just to the ankle). I really don't care if they are Lanvin flats, it just doesn't look good.

I like the way J Crew shows them.

(This is their Distressed Vintage Slim Jean in Antique Destroyed Wash, $148.)

Here is a classic for the hideous or fabulous category: Christian Louboutin's Fringe Cutout Boots. ($1,795)

Oh my goodness!  I am kind of shocked that he would put his name on something so ugly. I think the only thing these would be good for is a slutty cowgirl halloween costume.

Anyway, Comments?  Hideous or Fabulous?

When I first saw this picture of Gwyneth at the movie premiere in Paris of "Two Lovers" I thought she was wearing little white socks with her boots!  And, I thought, hmmm that's strange.

But then after a little digging around I realized she is wearing Rupert Sanderson's Kit Kat Shoe Boot ($1,100). The version for sale at Net-a-porter has a white heel.

I can't say that I really like these boots, but I think it was more fabulous than hideous of her to wear them.  The dress (with a see-through lace front!) is also a little aggressive fashion-wise so why not? Anyway, fashion is supposed to be fun, you can take risks once in a while. These were certainly a more interesting choice than the Christian Louboutins that have become standard issue for every woman in Hollywood. (not that I don't LOVE those, I do)

Net-a-porter shows them styled with tights and I do think they are A LOT easier to pull off like this.

Here's a good one for the hideous or fabulous category: from Gucci's Fall Collection Shoes, the "Babouska" High Heel Open-toe Sandal/Bootie. $1195 (black leather with antique brass studs, 4.1" heel)

When I first saw these, I thought definitely hideous! But I was looking through the NY Times style section and they have some slide shows from fashion week, and one of the models is wearing these shoes. And, wow, they really look great.

It's so true, you know how your Mom would always say "you have to try it on", and it turned out sometimes she was right... Well these look SO MUCH better on than not. Clearly, you have to be a certain type with a strong fashion sense to pull these off (in good style), but they're not hideous at all! It's good to be wrong sometimes!

I have to say that I am not understanding some of Gucci's Fall "Hysteria" Collection at all!  This bag for example:

Hysteria Medium Top Handle Bag in Off-white Tapestry with Black Leather Trim, $1295

Um, isn't that just plain ugly? This tapestry looks very old lady to me.  Maybe it's supposed to be so ugly that it's cool?  It's just not working for me...

Prada is featuring this fairy print on handbags and clothes in their 2008 Spring Collection.

It's supposedly been a big hit - is sold out, and has been called by some the "bag of the season".

Well, I'm afraid that it's just plain ugly and hideous. I've never been into fairies anyway, but even if I was, I woudn't want them on my $2000+ handbag.

Hideous or fabulous?  Just kidding, it's just hideous!  No question about it.  I mentioned before that I pretty much hate everything she wears, so I had to put this up.  I couldn't resist.  Is that mean?

Anyway, a picture is worth a thousand words...

As long as I'm harping on Vogue, check this out from their on-line feature "10 Best Dressed - Week of 03.29.08"... #4 is Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in Christian Dior arriving in London to meet the royal family.   PLEASE, that is the most ridiculous and dowdy get up I've ever seen, I don't care if it's Dior. Yuck, not good, in any way.

This Spring Giuseppe Zanotti has come out with some crazy looking cut-out wedges in various styles.  Hideous or Fabulous?  I'm going to have to say hideous.  Although I would wear them, I think they would look great for part of a mod Halloween costume.

Cutout Turquoise Satin Wedge - available at the Giuseppe Zanotti boutique 806 Madison Ave., NY - $675

Cutout Leather Sandal Wedge - available at Zappos.com Couture - $754

Cutout Leather Sandal Wedge with Zipper Detail - available at Net-a-porter.com - $695

One of the funny things about fashion is that sometimes there is a very fine line between the truly hideous and the fabulous.  The fashion-forward are the ones who usually test this line, to varying degrees of success.  Think Sienna Miller, the Olsen twins, etc.  These Jean Paul Gaultier "ankle sneaker boots" are a good example of the hideous/fabulous.  They're an interesting mix of canvas, suede and patent leather and have a killer 5" heel.   

I think with the right outfit these could actually be very cool. And one certainly wouldn't have to worry about everyone having the same shoes! (they're $825 at eluxury)