Prada Fall 2008 - Prada $390 (left) and Forever 21 $7.80 (right)

So - Top Shop’s Spring 2009 look book is finally complete, with Witchcraft finally being live online. How funny that the pair of leggings they feature on the witchcraft model are not on the site!? See post “Twinsies - Rodarte Leggings at Top Shop“. WTF. Anyway - we all may have to go the Rock of Love website route until we get to those precious Rodarte knockoff’s that are bound to hit somewhere, some place, soon!

www.FunnyLegs.com / $11.75

$1,265 Louboutin’s vs. $12 @ GoJane.com

These pups are from the Philip Lim Spring 09 show, the flat version from post “Ruffled & Rosey Louboutins for Philip Lim’s Runway”

Apparently Balmain is back. I’m not much for disregarding design houses - especially those French in origin and with Edith Head-esque credentials (Balmain did a lot of Hollywood costume design), so the vicious fashion cycle strikes again. But - Balmain comes out on top with new design head Christophe Decarnin (formerly of Paco Rabanne), who is leading the the label in staging a movement towards an edgy, sultry and complicated boho genre - very far off from the original Pierre Balmain’s uncluttered and pure styling.

Although I’d love to see a bit more of Pierre in these shoes - I won’t lie, I’m definitely more cluttered than uncluttered, and I love a heavy metal shoe that I can wear with everything. I kind of think Balmain is the alternative answer to the somewhat retro and polished showings on the runways recently, more specifically the Balenciaga Fall 08 that we never had this year! Although Christophe is going against the grain with the house’s aesthetic, he’s doing what’s best for the label in the end - a fresh, young, and Bergdorf Goodman worthy collection to bring the name out of couture and into closets.

$125 @ Aldo.com

$22 @ GoJane.com

Buy the real thing, $1,950 @ LuisaViaRoma.com

This belt is so easy to pull off - and so cheap! Everyone is already of the mentality of cinching their waist, so this is the perfect compliment to what’s already in your closet. If you really want to try to embody the look, pick up some paper bag pants and wear it with a pair of flesh colored heels and a structured, but bare top. I’m placing an order tonight for the Alexander Wang twinsies from the post “Twinsies - Alexander Wang Cropped Trousers” - and because I’m a complete pack rat, I already have a bow belt stashed in my belt drawer (nutso, I know - ask my beau he has no space for clothes). I didn’t think I would fall so hard for this menswear bottom movement, and to some it might be a hard look to achieve - but the girly & fun vibe of the bow belt help to balance the dichotomy and keep it real.

Asos $8

I get about 5 Google search hits a day via people searching for info about the Rodarte cut-out leggings shown for Spring 09 - so I have been hunting the web for a way to feed the need. Unfortunately, this is a quasi teaser post because the leggings featured are a preview to the Spring/Summer 09 Top Shop look book, so they’re not out yet - but they will be soon, and you better bet I will check the site everyday until they’re there. And - according to Google Analytics, for everyone in need I’m sure it will be well worth the wait.

Check out the Top Shop Spring/Summer 09 Look Book, “Witchcraft”

Forever 21 paper bag pants $22.80

Above photo of Kerry Washington in Louis Vuitton at Paris fashion week last year - is strikingly similar to below shots of Leanne Marshall from Project Runway’s finale show. The thing is, Louis Vuitton showed the collection this look is from, for Fall 08, meaning it actually was on the runway in February 08. I don’t know exactly when Project Runway taped the last season, but it was definitely on air this Fall - which begs the question, was Leanne just as big of a copy cat as Kenley? For those of us not into the show, Kenley was accused of knocking off a McQueen feather dress in her final presentation, but Leanne was praised and in the end won. I think I may have been the only viewer who liked Kenley, so take this Leanne! Honestly, Michael Kors should be more on top of his game.

Images taken from Getty Images & BravoTv.com

At two different, ridiculously cheap price points this time!  Really, it comes down to whether you’d like two layers of fringe or one - or if you want to stick to the replica brown suede, or head in an evergreen, berry, or black direction (available in both twinsies).  Booties like these go well with not only tights and a boho dress, but a pair of Levi’s skinny jeans & a skimpy top - I’m talking rocker skinny, where it’s essentially a legging in denim form.  I can’t stand where the jean starts to get baggy around the knee - when it’s tight around the knee that’s when it looks Baby Shambles - esque.  And when wearing below fringe booties - this is all the fringe you need.  I often have to choose between my fringe bag and shoes when putting together an outfit, and no matter how difficult it is to choose which to highlight, they should always be kept separate to avoid that Stevie Nicks aesthetic.  Totally unfortunate.  What’s also unfortunate is that I’ve been seeing various forms of this studded fringe ankle bootie even before the Fall 08 Gucci show.  I love the looks and it was a huge movement for Fall, but this is definitely a trend that moved from the streets to the tents, which a lot of designers have really been identifying with (i.e. Marc Jacobs and Murakami, Stephen Sprouse).  So - at least we can all think we have a little bit of an impact on the world of fashion by just being ourselves.

Shop Forever 21 bootie $36.80 & Ami Clubwear bootie $19.99

As a die hard bow addict, I’m on France Luxe’s mailing list and so receive their catalogs (which even if it is a dying business - I really do love getting). France Luxe is a small ecomm/direct luxury hair accessories business based in Washington, which I discovered through late night desperation googling for a bow headband last year (see post: Feeling Girly? Take a Bow). The great thing about luxury anything is that when you are on top of a trend that is hard to find - pretty much the only way to find it will be in its original form and usually not so cheap. At the time I was absolutely willing to shell out $50 for a headband, but then of course got angry when 6 months later there were 5 different versions at H&M. Such is the life of a trend in a modern fast fashion world. And - as I’m on a little punk spree at the moment, flipping through the catalog the studded tortoise shell headbands jumped off the page, I got a little excited, and then looked at the price and my heart sank! So, as always - Forever 21 to the rescue.

If you have more than $10 in your checking account, shop France Luxe

Otherwise, budget friendly Forever 21