Left: Vivienne Westwood, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Dries Van Noten

By mixing and matching different motifs, the golden rule is resemblence – it’s safe when patterns are the same colour range. However, designers including Dries van Noten, Balenciaga and Donatella Versace, suggest a more daring option – contrast. The most impressive and workable mixes were presented by Marc Jacobs who sent down the runway models dressed in colourful dotts, flowers and checks.

Trendy Summer 2010 Prints:

• Ikat - this print will add a techno attitude to a boring look, it derives from the trendy digital print
• Tie-dye – reminiscent to the hottest summer time, tie-died pieces will help you channel your inner hippie in an easy way
• Tribal print – you should definitely visit a website of the upcoming fashion designer from Kenya whose collection is entirely African Inspired!
• Floral print – flowers here, flowers there, flowers everywhere
• Digital print – Photoshop rules! Digitally generated prints are a definite A-list favourite

JAC Monika Jagaciak

Monika “JAC” Jagaciak

Ad campaigns: Clavin Klein

JAC was born on 15 January 1994, she is 5 ft 10+1⁄2 in (1.79 m) tall. Even though she’s only 16, she’s already ranked #10 on the Top 50 Models Women List. In 2007 she was the face of Hermès campaign along with Daria Werbowy, in 2008 she was invited to Australian Fashion Week but she was rejected due to her young age. JAC opened Versace and Joseph Altuzarra Fall/Winter 2010 fashion shows and has also walked the runway for Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, BCBG Max Azria, Narcisco Rodriguez and Calvin Klein.

Anna Jagodzinska

Anna Jagodzinska

Ad campaigns: Donna Karan, Blanco, Tommy Hilfiger, Stella McCartney

Anna was born September 12, 1987, she is 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) tall. She debuted at Pringle of Scotland’s Fall 2003 show and then moved to New York City where her fashion career speeded up. In 2005 she did modeling for the fragrance Moschino Funny and for the Neiman Marcus catalog. She did editorial work for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Apart from walking in the annual 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Anna Jagodzinska has also walked the runway for Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Balenciaga, Chanel, Givenchy and Louis Vuitton.

Marcelina Sowa

Marcelina Sowa

Ad campaigns: Qua, Sergio Rossi, Bershka

Marcelina Sowa was born 16 October 1990, she is 5 ft 8 1/2 in (1.74 m) tall. She did modeling for fragrance Yves Saint Laurent Young Sexy Lovely and cosmetics Christian Dior Snow Pure. She also did editorial work for Elle France, Vogue Paris and Vogue Italia. Marcelina has walked the runway for Prada, Dior, Dries van Noten, Yves Saint Laurent, Chloé and John Galliano.

Of course I couldn’t resist visiting Tavi’s blog as I heard she has four thousant visitors but my expectations were erm quite different than what I found there. I mean she’s a lovely 13-year-old fashion-lover who probably grabbed designer’s attention because of her daring fashion sense and a young age. She was lucky to be invited to see Marc Jacobs and Rodarte shows.

Another important figure in the Fashion Blogger scene, Bryan Boy is a “pseudonymous, style-obsessed blogger from the Philippines” (so read in the article). He reportedly had his plane tickets paid by Christopher Bailey himself (he’s so cute) and he was given a front-row seat at the fashion show of D&G. Pictures don’t lie, he sat like two seats from Anna Wintour! God bless America, but who’s next?

Actually, I think I will never go that far like Tavi or Bryan Boy. I mean, I’m very keen on what I’m doing, I write fashion posts and browse fashion pictures almost every day with a kind of madness but I’m not that extravagant enough to grab designer’s attention. I’d love to have the ability of strutting some designer staff. I love Balmain, Balenciaga and Marchesa, but does it change the fact that I don’t have a single piece of their collection? Not even a sock.

I come from Poland where high fashion is so expensive that probably even designers themselves wouldn’t buy their own clothes. Of course, there’s always eBay, but you know what? There are these shipping costs and taxes that prevent people from buying in US. So the only thing left is shopping at Polish department stores but after seeing all these fascinating clothes from the greatest designers I feel sick when I see their cheaper substiutes.

Few years ago I launched a website dedicated to Victoria Beckham and it’s of course Posh Madness. I would update it regularly with everything concerning Posh and I was dreaming that some day Victoria will at least write to me and say she’s glad she has such a fan. After 9 years (yeah, 9 years, do you imagine?) I didn’t hear anything from her. I don’t know if she doesn’t like her fans or what because I don’t believe that she’s never came accross my website.

All right then, so do I have to change my sexual preference, wear flamboyant clothes and poke rubbish to make people like Posh see me? Or am I just too boring?

Strong shoulders is a totally wearable trend, but I would be careful because shoulder pads create a very Dynasty-style looks. For the ‘reserved’ fashionistas I would recommend strong shoulders for rather formal occasions. It is perfect for formal jackets, dresses, blouses and it can be successfully paired with fur, gloves or belts. This classical looks is promoted inter alia by BCBG Max Azria, Chanel, Donna Karan or Anne Valérie Hash.

Lavin, on the other hand opts for a light version – note that they used tulle instead of shoulder pads that gave the impression of strong shoulders. Marc Jacobs and Emanuel Ungaro had a totally different idea on how to create a strong shoulder of today. It is a very rock-inspired style, reminding me of the shiny spacesuits. I really liked a strong-shouldered bolero by Ungaro worn in a casual style and a geometric yellow dress by Jacobs, probably borrowed from the Star Trek film stage.

[Show as slideshow]

12:00 pm CORINNE COBSON 66 rue Charlot – Paris 3e
2:00 pm ANNE VALERIE HASH 36 boulevard Bonne Nouvelle – Paris 10e
3:00 pm DÉVASTÉE Salon des Miroirs – 13 passage Jouffroy – Paris 9e
4:00 pm KRIS VAN ASSCHE 18 rue du Faubourg du Temple – Paris 11e
5:00 pm GARETH PUGH Passage du Désir – 85-87 rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin – Paris 10e
6:00 pm PEACHOO+KREJBERG Garage Turenne – 66 rue de Turenne – Paris 3e
7:00 pm ESTRELLA ARCHS Espace Commines – 17 rue Commines – Paris 3e
8:00 pm RUE DU MAIL (by Martine Sitbon) 5 rue du Mail – Paris 2e
9:00 pm FATIMA LOPES Salon des Miroirs – 13 passage Jouffroy – Paris 9e

Thursday, March 2009, the 5th

10:00 am BALENCIAGA See invitation
11:00 am LIE SANG BONG Le Grand Hôtel Intercontinental – 2 rue Scribe – Paris 9e
12:00 pm HIROKO KOSHINO Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Soufflot*
1:00 pm CHER MICHEL KLEIN Mini Palais – Grand Palais – entrée Pont Alexandre III – avenue Winston Churchill – Paris 8e
2:00 pm SHARON WAUCHOB Garage Turenne – 66 rue de Turenne – Paris 3e
3:00 pm BALMAIN Hôtel Ritz – 17 place Vendôme – Paris 1er
4:00 pm BRUNO PIETERS Musée de l’Homme – 17 place du Trocadéro – Paris 16e
5:00 pm RICK OWENS Les Beaux-Arts de Paris – salle Mélpomène – 13 quai Malaquais – Paris 6e
6:00 pm LUTZ MK2 Bibliothèque – 128 avenue de France – Paris 13e
7:00 pm NINA RICCI Halle Freyssinet – 55 boulevard Vincent Auriol – Paris 13e
8:00 pm AF VANDEVORST Garage Turenne – 66 rue de Turenne – Paris 3e
9:00 pm BLESS 3 rue Barbette – Paris 3e

Friday, March 2009, the 6th

10:00 am ATSURO TAYAMA Palais de Tokyo – 13 avenue du Président Wilson – Paris 16e
11:00 am ISSEY MIYAKE Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Le Nôtre
12:00 pm GASPARD YURKIEVICH Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Soufflot*
1:00 pm BERNHARD WILLHELM Espace Commines – 17 rue Commines – Paris 3e
2:30 pm CHRISTIAN DIOR Espace Ephémère Tuileries – Jardin des Tuileries – Paris 1er
3:30 pm ISABEL MARANT Couvent des Cordeliers
4:30 pm VIVIENNE WESTWOOD 7 place Vendôme – Paris 1er
5:30 pm LANVIN Halle Freyssinet – 55 boulevard Vincent Auriol – Paris 13e
6:30 pm MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA POPB – salle Marcel Cerdan – porte 28 – 8 boulevard de Bercy – Paris 12e
7:30 pm VÉRONIQUE LEROY Espace Commines – 17 rue Commines – Paris 3e
8:30 pm YOHJI YAMAMOTO Carreau du Temple – 3 rue Dupetit Thouars – Paris 3e

Saturday, March 2009, the 7th

9:30 am JUNYA WATANABE See invitation
10:30 am HAIDER ACKERMANN Les Beaux-Arts de Paris – salle Mélpomène – 13 quai Malaquais – Paris 6e
11:30 am TSUMORI CHISATO Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Soufflot*
12:30 pm MARITHÉ & FRANCOIS GIRBAUD Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Le Nôtre*
1:30 pm SOPHIA KOKOSALAKI Espace Ephémère Tuileries – Jardin des Tuileries – Paris 1er
2:30 pm JEREMY SCOTT Faculté de Médecine – 45 rue des Saints Pères – Paris 6e
3:30 pm LOEWE Université Paris Descartes – 12 rue de l’Ecole de Médecine – Paris 6e
4:30 pm ANN DEMEULEMEESTER Couvent des Cordeliers – 15 rue de l’Ecole de Médecine – Paris 6e
5:30 pm COMME DES GARCONS See invitation
7:00 pm JEAN PAUL GAULTIER 325 rue Saint-Martin – Paris 3e
8:00 pm VERONIQUE BRANQUINHO Espace Commines – 17 rue Commines – Paris 3e

Sunday, March 2009, the 8th

10:00 am KARL LAGERFELD Espace Ephémère Tuileries – Jardin des Tuileries – Paris 1er
11:00 am ANDREW GN Les Beaux-Arts de Paris – salle Mélpomène – 13 quai Malaquais – Paris 6e
12:00 pm AKRIS Musée de l’Homme – 17 place du Trocadéro – Paris 16e
1:00 pm EMANUEL UNGARO Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Le Nôtre*
2:00 pm COSTUME NATIONAL Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Soufflot*
3:00 pm HUSSEIN CHALAYAN Couvent des Cordeliers – 15 rue de l’Ecole de Médecine – Paris 6e
4:00 pm DRIES VAN NOTEN Lycée Carnot – 145 boulevard Malesherbes – Paris 17e
5:00 pm CHRISTIAN LACROIX Garage Turenne – 66 rue de Turenne – Paris 3e
6:30 pm GIVENCHY Carreau du Temple – 3 rue Dupetit Thouars – Paris 3e
8:00 pm SONIA RYKIEL See invitation

Monday, March 2009, the 9th

10:00 am STELLA MCCARTNEY Carreau du Temple – 3 rue Dupetit Thouars – Paris 3e
11:00 am BARBARA BUI Couvent des Cordeliers – 15 rue de l’Ecole de Médecine – Paris 6e
12:00 pm LÉONARD Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Le Nôtre*
1:00 pm GUY LAROCHE Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Soufflot*
2:00 pm GIAMBATTISTA VALLI Espace Ephémère Tuileries – Jardin des Tuileries – Paris 1er
3:00 pm ZUCCA Les Beaux-Arts de Paris – salle Mélpomène – 13 quai Malaquais – Paris 6e
4:30 pm VIKTOR & ROLF Halle Freyssinet – 55 boulevard Vincent Auriol – Paris 13e
5:30 pm MANISH ARORA Garage Turenne – 66 rue de Turenne – Paris 3e
7:00 pm YVES SAINT LAURENT Palais de Tokyo – 13 avenue du Président Wilson – Paris 16e
ERRATUM 9 & 10 MARCH EVENING PARTIES

Tuesday, March 2009, the 10th

10:30 am CHANEL Grand Palais – avenue du Général Eisenhower – Paris 8e
11:30 am AGNÈS B. La Pagode – 57 rue de Babylone – Paris 7e
12:30 pm JEAN-CHARLES DE CASTELBAJAC Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Le Nôtre*
1:30 pm ALENA AKHMADULLINALe Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Soufflot*
2:30 pm VALENTINO Cité de l’Architecture – Galerie des Moulages – 1 place du Trocadéro – Paris 16e
3:30 pm JUNKO SHIMADA Espace Pierre Cardin – 1 avenue Gabriel – Paris 8e
4:30 pm ANTONIO BERARDI Maison de l’Architecture – Couvent des Recollets – 148 rue du faubourg Saint-Martin – Paris 10e
5:30 pm COMMUUN See invitation
6:30 pm VANESSA BRUNO 8/10 rue de la Pierre Levée – Paris 11e
8:00 pm ALEXANDER MCQUEEN POPB – salle Marcel Cerdan – porte 28 – 8 boulevard de Bercy – Paris 12e

Wednesday, March 2009, the 11th

9:30 am TALBOT RUNHOF Lycée Turgot – 69 rue de Turbigo – Paris 3e
10:30 am KENZO Carreau du Temple – 3 rue Dupetit Thouars – Paris 3e
11:30 am ELIE SAAB Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Delorme*
12:30 pm WUNDERKIND Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Soufflot*
1:30 pm PAUL & JOE Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Le Nôtre*
2:30 pm COLLETTE DINNIGAN Hôtel Saint-James & Albany – salon Marie-Antoinette – 202 rue de Rivoli – Paris 1er
3:30 pm CHLOÉ Espace Ephémère Tuileries – Jardin des Tuileries – Paris 1er
4:30 pm LIMI FEU Musée de l’Homme – 17 place du Trocadéro – Paris 16e
5:30 pm HERMÈS Halle Freyssinet – 55 boulevard Vincent Auriol – Paris 13e
8:00 pm JOHN GALLIANO 55 boulevard Vincent Auriol – Paris 13e

Thursday, March 2009, the 12th

10:30 am RM BY THE DESIGNER ROLAND MOURET Musée de l’Homme – 17 place du Trocadéro – Paris 16e
11:30 am CHAPURIN Palais de Tokyo – 13 avenue du Président Wilson – Paris 16e
12:30 pm SHIATZY CHEN Les Beaux-Arts de Paris – salle Melpomène – 13 quai Malaquais – Paris 6e
1:30 pm MARIE BISHARA Le Carrousel du Louvre – Salle Soufflot*
2:30 pm LOUIS VUITTON See invitation
4:00 pm IWAYA FOR DRESS 33 Hôtel Westin – 3 rue de Castiglione – Paris 1er
5:00 pm MIU MIU See invitation
6:00 pm MOON YOUNG HEE Galerie Nikki Diana Marquardt – 9 place des Vosges – Paris 4e
7:00 pm ROBERT ABI NADER Hôtel Westin – 3 rue de Castiglione – Paris 1er

* Le Carrousel du Louvre, 99, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

Balenciaga is a name of a fashion house, founded by Cristóbal Balenciaga, who was born in Basque Country. He had a reputation as a couturier of uncompromising standards and was referred to as “the master of us all” by Christian Dior. His bubble skirts and odd, feminine, yet ultra-modern shapes were trademarks of the house.

Balenciaga is right now owned by the Gucci Group (part of PPP), which found the house unprofitable within the year 2007. However, the line designed by the Balenciaga‘s head designer Nicolas Ghesquiere for F/W 05 attracted many customers, like celebrities and the Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Below there is a gallery of 10 hottest satchels for fall 2008. Here’s the list:

1. Versace - Pewter pintot leather front pocket satchel

2. Coach - Soho leather satchel

3. Burberry - Ruched spray satchel hanadbag

4. Bottega Veneta – walnut basketwoven leather flap satchel

5. Anne Klein – New York bowery vintage north/south satchel

6. Balenciaga - calfskin link detail pocket satchel

7. Chloe - calfskin Bay medium satchel

8. Versace - black shirred satin leather trim logo detail satchel

9. Fendi - Spalmati print Selleria large satchel

10. Prada - lace print satchel

10. Prada - lace print satchel

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10. Prada - lace print satchel

Basically, crocodile bags are another statement itself. They don’t have many ornaments, they are mostly simple and classic. Croc totes work great as an overnight or a weekend bag. They make a perfect match with biker jackets, because while combined together, they are all so into that biker style trend. Just try to match them with Harley-set type boots or heavy duty shoes with metal hardware and you will look exactly like Victoria Beckham arriving at the airport. Imagine yourself making so much chaos!

Yves Saint Laurent has launched the greatest collection of crocodile tote handbags for fall 2008 and winter 2009 season. They are made of Croc embossed patent leather or lambskin, some of them are glossy, they have different colours, like golden, red and chocolate. At the gallery, there are also crocodile totes by: Balenciaga, Chloe, Francesco Biasia, Jessica Simpson, Rebecca Minkoff, Versace, Zagliani and Nancy Gonzalez.

Balenciaga - two tone crocodile bag

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Balenciaga - two tone crocodile bag credit: http://www.geekpurses.com/

OK, they are fabulous and look rather cosmic-like, but to be perfectly honest, I have no idea how they can be worn. All right, you crazy designers, are you going to start special courses, preparing your female clients to walk in these ‘contrivances’??

List of the craziest shoe-creators:

Alessandro Dell’Acqua, Alexander McQueen, Antonio Berardi, Balenciaga, Burberry, Christian Lacroix, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Viktor & Rolf

Please wait until the presentation has loaded:

collection during Paris Fashion Week on Feb. 10, 2007.