Spring is finally around the corner, so lets put away the winter gear and show off a little leg.  The perfect combination of edgy, fun and sexy, for a girls night out on the town.  Whether you are on the prowl, or simply out for a good time, you are bound to get more than one double take in this ensemble.  Women will be green with envy (no ode to St. Patty’s day there), men will gravitate towards you and the rest is history.  Ok, maybe I am getting away from myself, but why not?  Such a fabulous entourage deserves the utmost attention, so grab your cocktail and go forth to dance the night away.

1.  belstaff newport jacket

2.  isabel marant tali dress

3.  j.crew necklace

4.  kotur clutch

5.  tiffany & co ring

6.  saint laurent ankle booties

]]> http://isnapumagazine.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/the-photographer-candice-lake/ Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:05:31 +0000 isnapumagazine http://isnapumagazine.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/the-photographer-candice-lake/ http://craftytrixx.com/2013/03/17/belstaff-autumnwinter-2013-14/ Sun, 17 Mar 2013 09:47:42 +0000 Charli Luc http://craftytrixx.com/2013/03/17/belstaff-autumnwinter-2013-14/

Let’s start out with your bag. Now, gay, straight or somewhere in-between it is perfectly acceptable for a Modern Gentleman to carry some sort of bag to keep your belongings in. My top choice for a luxury bag this spring in the Dorchester Tote by Belstaff. When I wrapped my fingers around the handles on this bag and took in the unmistakable breath of  Italian leather I was afraid I would never let go. This dark chocolate  tote has a very appealing weight and is seamed flawlessly for a sturdy and masculine feel. The two zippers slid open very smoothly and the concealed magnetic button reveals a very large and beautifully lined nursery for your Macbook.Now, obviously not everyone can, wants to or would shell out $3,000 for a bag, regardless of how perfect it is. Therefore, I found a great comparable bag from Zara that passes my approval as well! The Saffiano Leather Shopper is about the same size and I have to say I really like the structured design. Sleek silhouettes are big this Spring and this bag will compliment a slim-fitting navy suit. The only downside to this bag is the composition- Polyurethane, no one’s favorite and after having this bag for only three weeks, a few stitches at the mouth of the bag have come loose and the zipper is not as smooth to open and close as I would like.

Side-by-side these bags have their similarities and differences but they definitely both work in professional and casual settings. The handles on the Zara shopper aren’t as arousing-to-touch as the Belstaff’s, nor is the lining as enticing to lay your electronics into, but for under $100, the bag is a great buy. I can see the Dorchester Tote being used throughout the year, however, the Saffiano will probably show significant signs of wear by the end of the season and need to be retired as a result.

Which bag will you be buying?

]]> http://certifiedglamorous.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/rose-for-her/ Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:41:10 +0000 certifiedglamorous http://certifiedglamorous.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/rose-for-her/

After looking at the fall 2013 collections that were presented in New York, London, Milan, and Paris, something became very noticeable: there is a disturbing absence of non-white runway models. Jezebel reported after New York Fashion Week that of the 4,479 individual looks shown through the week, a whopping 82.7% were shown on white models. Meanwhile, Asian models were featured in 9.1% of the looks, black models wore about 6% of the looks, non-white Latina models showed 2%, and models of other races were in about 0.2%-0.3% of this season’s looks. An even more upsetting fact is that high-profile labels such as Belstaff and Calvin Klein featured entirely all-white casts, and in total, 9% of this season’s New York presentations featured casts of only white models. Now I’m not big on statistics, but even I can tell something is completely wrong. In New York City, a place noted for its diversity, why are so many prominent fashion designers choosing to show their looks almost exclusively on white models? Instead of becoming more progressive, this season’s NYFW was even less diverse than the last.

Unfortunately, New York showed more diversity than all four of the major fashion capitals combined. Based on the research by Kate Rushing for Style Minutes, 968 models walked in at least one show this past Fashion Month, and there were about 479 total shows between New York, London, Milan, and Paris. 87.6% of models were white this season, 6.5% were black, 6.1% were Asian, 2.1% were Hispanic/Latina, and only .31%, or three Israeli models, represented Middle Eastern descent.

I won’t say that the issues regarding models’ weight are unimportant, but the perturbing amount of white models dominating Fashion Month is becoming an even greater distraction. What makes matters worse is that the fashion industry’s possible racism doesn’t stop after the shows are done. There have been countless instances of racism in editorials, particularly involving blackface. Most recently, French fashion magazine Numéro released a spread titled “African Queen,” which featured Ondria Hardin, a 16-year-old white girl. Hardin was essentially painted brown and styled in stereotypical and slightly pejorative looks. Though the ridiculous styling is offensive enough, Numéro didn’t even cast a black model to portray an “African Queen.” The magazine blamed the photographer, Sebastian Kim for the catastrophe, who threw the blame right back at them, ultimately distracting from the real issue. Meanwhile, the publication’s apology basically seemed to state “we’re sorry some people got offended, but we have some black models in other issues of our magazine so whatever you’re all wrong,” as if race is just a basic and unimportant subject.

Perhaps that’s the largest problem with the fashion industry’s apparent prejudice against non-white models. It seems as if designers and casting directors consider racial diversity to be an accessory; it’s almost like they look at including a non-white model the same way a stylist would consider whether or not a scarf should be worn with an outfit. However, within the fashion industry, this obvious inequality causes competition between models to be the top black, Asian, or Latina model. You don’t see white models fighting for a runway spot or ad campaign, yet we’ve seen countless cases of the industry pinning non-white models against each other (Tyra Banks vs. Naomi Campbell or Chanel Iman vs. Sessilee Lopez, anyone?). Racial exclusion in the fashion industry presents an even bigger problem. Even a middle-American suburban girl with no particular interest in high fashion will notice this apparent white ideal, as the white girls who dominate runways will eventually dominate cosmetics and television advertisements.

I am white, but I don’t think white skin is more beautiful than any other (just as a side note, I am almost exclusively interested in dating a black woman). As much as I love fashion, I think it’s time for this typically progressive industry to catch up the rest of the world. Race shouldn’t define a standard of beauty. I also don’t think age or size should either, but I’ll attack those topics another time.

Mary Janes have grown up – sheer class by Manolo Blahnik. Sigh.

Flights of fancy by Giuseppe Zanotti. Quite frankly edible.

Everyday joy by Longchamp.  Supermarket shopping could really feel this good?

Sultry butt-kicking ankle straps by Etro. You know you want them.

Combat fighting grace by Belstaff. Aggressively delicious, no chocolate necessary.

By Tods –  The optical illusion double whamy – a heel you can walk in AND thinner legs

 Laters, kate x

I don’t know if I have any one-percenters that visit this site, but if I do, this is for you. Belstaff is an iconic brand that consistently churns out high quality and sometimes extremely high priced products. This Belstaff Bamberg jacket falls is an example of the high priced item. If you have to ask how much it is, then you can’t afford it. If you have never heard of Belstaff, then you can’t afford it. If your bank account is anything like mine, then you can’t afford it. But the good news is that we all have Internet and we can at least marvel at this masterpiece of a jacket.

The Bamberg jacket isn’t exactly the type of jacket the British brand is known for. Its beige suede trapped in beige leather caging is a departure from the classic leather and waxed cotton jackets that Belstaff usually make. But change can sometimes be good, and in this case it’s great. And it didn’t deviate too far from the old Belstaff look, it still has the slim, sharp profile that the brand is known for. The jacket sits at the waist, which is important if you actually ride a motorcycle because it allows for an easier ride. Lets be honest though, no one is buying this jacket to ride motorcycles, this is all for style. But I could be wrong, I’m not a one-percenter, so I have no idea how their minds work.

Wait a second, I just thought of a way that the average person could buy this jacket. If you play the lotto and happen to win a decent amount of money, then you could get it. If you’re truly irresponsible enough, you can have this jacket as soon as you cash the ticket in. Just head over to Belstaff’s website and make the order, and of course with a jacket like this there’s special instructions to ordering so make sure you follow instructions. And in reality, if you waste your hard earned money by playing the lottery every day, you’re already pretty irresponsible and half way there. I’m sorry for calling you irresponsible, you’re just hoping, wishing and praying for a better tomorrow, it just happens to be through the biggest scam in history. But it’s not a scam for the winners and you can’t win if you don’t play, right? Right.

Images Courtesy of Belstaff

SOUTHGATE DRESS on Belstaff.

Click to view SERENELLA presents Belstaff on GLOSSI.COM

…lovely in green…

i love this outfit and i love that i can go to http://www.polyvore.com and create outfits around what i already own…or a piece that i own – to see how i might mix it up a bit! for a girl who is on a no shopping kick… (for now anyway…) this site is a perfect place for me to get creative. if you haven’t tried this site…it’s a must! however, in reality…when i look at the pieces i have selected and then tied into one glamorous , all things pretty, outfit…i have literally spent a $1,000.00 …$ OR mOrE $…good thing it is just on paper! seriously…look at my earrings on this post alone…i spent 3,995.00 on diamond earrings…surely i can find a look-a-like at H&M! scl

Her light brown cotton-blend jacket features a buckle-fastening collar, black leather sleeve panels and trims, four front snap-fastening pockets and a detachable buckle-fastening belt. Her black stretch nappa pants boast back zip pockets, front ribbed panels, slim legs with stitched detailing and belted zip hems. Last, but not least are her platform ankle boots which are rocker chic at its finest! They feature buckled straps, a rounded toe silhouette, chunky heels and rubber lug soles.

Click to shop Plum’s look below:

Visit www.belstaff.com for more information.

*Images courtesy of Tatler.

This is from Belstaff Pre-Winter 2013-2014 collection, which is a terrific collection by the way.

Mango has a very stylish more elaborate version from their 2013 Collections (169 Euros)

H&M goes for a more “rockstar” look

Zara added a stone cast collar to make their black leather jacket version more sophisticated ($129)

while Forever 21 offers a more linear cut for the lowest price of $32.80