Lanvin goes all H&M

Big news for ladies who love a major label but haven’t stretched the limit of their credit card enough to pretend to afford the major price. Parisian house Lanvin will be joining the ranks of Jimmy Choo, Stella McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld, Sonia Rykiel and Victor + Rolf as the newest H&M designer collaborator. As noted at the end of the above video, more info will be hitting the public streets on September 9 and the line goes live November 23 but until then, we can all only dream about the looks Alber Elbaz has up his sleeve for an H&M that’s “going luxury.”

Things that make me go mmmm: iPhone apps

We all know there’s an app for everything but what’s amazing, is just how many are focused on arts, fashion and culture. Check this handful of Style Blog-worthy picks, there’s even a few Philly-centric picks thrown into the mix. Prices for each app are listed at the end of each description.

The Philly Concert Hub. It’s a great way to see what shows are coming into town and at what venues. You can browse by date or venue. It’s like a day planner for the Philadelphia live music enthusiast. (Free!)

The Feather Report. This app is pretty genius, especially if you, like many of Philly’s ladies, ride a bike to work and are out in the elements for your commute. Take fashion, add weather and what do you get? Feather. This app gives you a few clothing options based on the weather forecast to help you plan your outfit for the day or inspire a purchase or two (the app gives links to the featured clothing/shoe/accessory options). Sorry, gents, looks like the Feather Report is ladies only at this time. (Free!!)

At the Booth. Broadway enthusiasts rejoice. This app will give you the lowdown on what tickets are being sold at the famous discount Broadway ticket booth, TKTS in Times Square. In addition, it is like a Broadway encyclopedia and includes information on all on and off-Broadway shows, showtimes, reviews and cast information. Just be warned, TKTS has NOT endorsed this app. (99 cents)

The Live Arts/Philly Fringe 2010 App. As one customer review notes “This is a must have for anyone participating in or going to the Philly Fringe/Live Arts Festival.” This app gives you times, dates, places for all events as well as event information and a handy map tool so you can find your way easily from one event to the next. (Free!!)

Mad Men Cocktail Culture. So this one is a bit more about fun than function but worthy of a spot on this list nonetheless. In this game your knowledge of 60s’ cocktail mixology is put to the test. You get to learn how to make some of the best cocktails of the era and drink them up and for the true Mad Men enthusiast, the app also includes a broadcast schedule and access to Mad Men on iTunes. (1 drink and the cocktail guide FREE, additional cocktail features $1.99)

Mexico gets Miss Universe

Miss Universe Jimena Navarrete (image people.com)

Out of all the post-Miss Universe banter I saw out there last night, I personally enjoyed the opening line of this post on E Online the most:—

“Welcome to the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant, brought to you by the United Republic of Spray Tan.”

Seriously though folks, isn’t it slightly unnerving to look at a group of 83 contestants that are supposed to represent countries spanning the globe only to find that they all look like they all just carpooled in from the Jersey Shore? This mixed with the somewhat painful co-host choice of Brett Michaels and setting in Las Vegas made for a pageant that could have easily been confused with an MTV reality show had some unassuming soul been flipping channels last night. Well, in case you missed all the bronzed beauty fun, the Miss Universe web site has a collection of clips from the night posted along with plenty of photos, extras and even a profile on winner Jimena Navarrete of Mexico. Fair warning though, you have to become a Club Universe Member to access some content.

Diamondiferous

I find myself feeling a little nostalgic for summery dresses when it gets to this point in the season. Even though fall is my favorite time of year, the beautiful sundresses and gauzy frocks of summer hold a special place in my heart. Thankfully though, Diamondiferous, the spring/summer collection from Alexi Freeman has a little more staying power than the average line of summer dresses. Many of his flowy and caped pieces have a flexibility allowing them edge their way into early fall with their dark patterns of black and grey combined with minute instances of structure. Click here for more picks from the collection.

Hot List: Late Summer Edition

It’s been awhile since I’ve given you a hot list. Check out what I’m endorsing in the late summer and tell me if you love it, you hate it or you think that I need a lesson in what’s HOT.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. He’s the cutest thing I’ve seen on the Internet in years and the dialogue he’s having with his off-camera interviewer is truly genius. I also dig his tennis shoe choice. Directed by Dean Fleisher-Camp and voice/writing by SNL regular Jenny Slate.

The 23 Hottest Male Models Behind the Campaigns by Details. I can’t help myself, I love a little eye candy on a Friday. Don’t worry fellas, I have a pick for you on the list too.

The Mann Music Center. I’ve had a few opportunities to get out to the Mann this summer and it’s resulted in catching some awesome outdoor ampitheater music including a raucous evening with Passion Pit and the jaw dropping experience of the Philadelphia Orchestra playing Planet Earth Live. You can still catch Pavement, Cake and the Chamber Orchestra before the gates close for the chilly months.

The Philly Fringe “Plan Your Festival” Facebook App. This is awesome. I get overwhelmed whenever I thumb through the Fringe/LiveArts catalog. Thankfully this application does all the hard work of planning for you. Click on a date and it lists what performances are happening that day with links to purchase tickets. The Philadelphia LiveArts/Philly Fringe Festival runs September 3-18.

Okay so this is my “for the gents” portion of the post. (Go ahead and ogle gal in the photos while your girlfriend shops for the $600 lingerie). I’m a big fan of old school underwear and shape wear and this fall it’s coming back in a pointy way. Prepare yourself for the return of the pointy bras, yes the same ones strapping in the chests of the ladies of Mad Men. Though I tend to stick to the non-pointy bustier options, I like the idea of a lingerie fad that’s a little more classy than those of previous years—like the horrifying trend of showing the top of your thong.  The above photo is from a lingerie line by Jean Paul Gaultier for La Perla.

Grasshopper Boutique Summer Sale

Jump on it! Grasshopper Boutique is boasting up to 60% off of summer styles in addition to having a major men’s pants sale. If you’re anything like me, fall means getting to layer some of your favorite summer pieces with blazers, thigh high socks and cardigans so don’t think that you’ll have to wait until next season to enjoy the picks you’ll find at this sale. Also, maybe Erica can find a pair of sunglasses. Looks like Grasshopper has “new” old stock sunglasses (mostly from the ’60s-’80s) from Rare Eyeware.

Etsy-delphian of the Day: Secret Lovers

In case you’re out of the loop, knitting isn’t just cool – it’s downright badass.  Sure, celebrities like Kate Moss and Sarah Jessica Parker made the hobby once reserved for grannies look chic, but it’s the recent wave of renegade needle-wielders – guerilla knitters known as yarn bombers – who have firmly established knitting as the street art du jour.  It may be lot less permanent than spray-paint, but it’s just as ballsy, since it’s technically just as illegal.

Even if you lack the guts to apply your craft to yarn graffiti, you can still proclaim your fierce knitter’s pride, and your support for cross-stitching rebels everywhere, with a Secret Lovers Tough Knitter tee.

The lovechild of Philly Etsy sellers Giant Dwarf and Softfocus, Secret Lovers is a collection of charmingly cheeky screen-printed tee shirts, featuring slogans that lack all the typical skeevy innuendos and bad taste. Their graphics and captions, like Beards Not Bombs and W.W.A.S.D? (What Would Amy Sedaris Do?) are tactfully clever.  The line even includes a special tribute to the City of Brothery Love: that visitor-baffling Philly-ism “jawn” lettered like the iconic LOVE statue.

Things that make me go MMM…FASHION WEEK(S)!

Mark your calendars. It’s that time of year when the fashion world gets down and dirty.

FBH The Agency’s Philly Fashion Week 2010: August 30-September 4th

This year FBH is boasting a week’s worth of events and runway shows. For photos from our coverage of 2010 click here.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: September 9-16

The tents of Bryant Park are gone, what will this year’s Spring 2011 collections bring?

Fashion’s Night Out: September 10

New York City

A credit card melting festival of shopping and celebrity.

Fashion’s Night Out (King of Prussia Edition): September 10-12

King Of Prussia Mall

In conjunction with the New York shopfest, select stores at the KOP Mall will also be joining the FNO fun.

Philadelphia Fashion Week Presented by CMK Entertainment: October 6-9

Featuring student, local and couture shows at the 23rd Street Armory.

Local Jewelers for SA VA

Local jewelry and accessory designers this post is for you! We just received notice that SA VA, recently voted Best New Boutique for Philadelphia Magazine’s 2010 Best of Philly, is holding an open call this month for local designers to feature in their retail and online stores.

“If you design and make jewelry, hand bags or accessories and you feel that your brand would be a good match to SA VA clothing please feel free to attend our open call for designers.” -SA VA

The open call date is Friday August 27 from 11 a.m.-1p.m. at their retail location at 1700 Sansom Street.

They have some pretty specific guidelines regarding where you are located (within 200 miles of Philadelphia), the style of your work and pricing so be sure to check out the details HERE.

Ass-itude

If I wasn’t in the midst of a “no spend month” (I’m only dishing out dough on food and absolute needs which means no online shopping!), I’d probably already be typing my credit card number into the online checkout at Levis.com.  I tend to stick to the classics when it comes to things like denim but unfortunately Levi’s just never fit my “junk in the trunk” bootie correctly, until now. Their newest CurveID line for women finally takes into consideration the butts and hips that might be a little more Christina Hendricks and a little less Christina Aguilera. And at a pricepoint that ranges from $59-$79 they are a steal.