Patent Leather & Metallic items on sale for Spring 08 – Belts, Bags & some Watches

I had to return something to Bloomingdale’s yesterday and I looked on their site to see if there was something I could exchange it for. I found these items on sale that were Patent leather and/or Metallic. You should check them out:

Belts

Avignon Skinny Patent Belt – Org: $78 Now: $45.99

Avignon Skinny Patent Belt Genuine Italian patent leather belt with self covered buckle. 1/2″W. * Catalog Item Number: 81063 * Please note, not all colors may be available * Black (09), Dark Chocolate (20), Cherry (60), Violet (56) or Dove Grey (04) * Sizes S (30-1/2), M (32-1/2), L (34-1/2), XL (36-1/2) * Imported

WCM Skinny Metallic Belt – Org: $80 Now: $39.99

WCM Skinny Metallic Belt Metallic leather belt with rectangular covered buckle. To be worn on the hips. * Catalog Item Number: 72759 * Gold (75) and Pewter (03) * 3/4″W * Sizes’ S (28-1/2), M (31), L (33-1/2), XL (36)

Double Buckle Waist Belt BLACK SZ MED ONLY- Org: $160 Now: $47.99

Double Buckle Waist Belt Leather belt with double buckle detail. To be worn on waist. * Catalog Item Number: 76859 * Please note, not all colors may be available * Mirrored Silver (07) or Black (09) * 4″W * Sizes S (29), M (31-1/2), L (34), XL (36-1/2)

Avignon Patent Belt – Org: $128 Now: $88.99

Avignon Patent Belt Genuine Italian patent leather belt with covered buckle.2W. Black (09).Sizes S (30-1/2), M (32-1/2), L (34-1/2), XL (36-1/2).Imported. * Catalog Item Number: 77695 * Black (09), Cherry Red (60), Denim Blue (40), or Chocolate (20) * 2″W * Sizes S (30-1/2), M (32-1/2), L (34-1/2), XL (36-1/2)

Bags

Kate Spade Long Wallet, Wallet and Coin Purse:
Long Wallet – Org: $195 Now: $116.99
Wallet – Org: $175 Now: $104.99
Coin Purse – Org: $85 Now: $50.99

Kate Spade Long Wallet, Wallet and Coin Purse * Please note, not all colors may be available * Long envelope wallet with back exterior pocket, flap closure. Six credit card slots, zip compartment and additional pockets. Silver (07) or Gold (75). 7-1/2″W x 4″H. Imported * French purse wallet with front flap pocket. Five credit card slots and bill holder. Silver (07) or Gold (75). 4-1/2W x 4″H. Imported. * Top zip close and key fob coin purse. Silver (07) or Gold (75). 5″W x 3″H. Imported.

Franchi Metallic Flap Clutch – Org: $165 Now: $98.99

Franchi Metallic Flap Clutch Distressed metallic flap clutch with hidden magnetic snap closure. Detachable drop-in shoulder strap. Interior mirror. Inside zip, cell phone and additional pockets. Lined. * Catalog Item Number: 21826 * Gold (75) or Pewter (03) * 14-1/2″W x 5-1/2″H x 1″D

Donald J. Pliner Quilt Patent Tote – BLACK ONLY – Org: $335 Now: $233.99

Donald J. Pliner Quilt Patent Tote Quilted patent leather east-west tote with smooth leather double shoulder straps and base. Magnetic snap bridge closure and drawstring. Inside zip, cell phone and additional pockets. Lined. * Catalog Item Number: 68430 * Black (09) * 19″W x 12-1/2″H x 5-1/2″D * 10″ drop * Imported

MCM Patent Medium Tote – DARK PURPLE ONLY – Org: $1150 Now: $689.99

MCM Patent Medium Tote Patent leather double handle tote with double zip closure and two front exterior pockets. Inside zip, cell phone and additional pockets. Protective metal feet. Lined. * Catalog Item Number: 89366 * Please note, not all colors may be available * Purple (50), Silver (07) or Black (09) * 13 1/2″W x 8″H x 6″D; 5″ drop from shoulders * Imported from Italy

Watches

Patent Crystal Watch – ONLY PURPLE & GREEN – Org: $68 Now: $19.99

Patent Crystal Watch Patent leather strap watch with round stainless steel case. Silvertone dial. Swarovski crystal encrusted bezel. Japanese movement. * Catalog Item Number: 82476 * Black (09), Green (30), Red (60), Purple (50) or Blue (40)

Betsey Johnson Leather Watch – ONLY PINK – Org: $95 Now: $56.99

Betsey Johnson Leather Watch Patent leather strap watch with goldtone round case and white dial. * Catalog Item Number: 23024 * Please note, not all colors may be available * Pink (66) or Black (09)

I already have the Avignon Patent Belt in Cherry and the Patent Crystal Watch in Blue. I think I may go for the Double Buckle Waist Belt or the Franchi Metallic Flap Clutch in Pewter. What do you think? Anything strike your fancy?

Oscar 2008 – The Good, Bad and Ugly – Part 2 Color – The Bad & Ugly

The 80th Oscar awards have come and gone. I’m here to tell you the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. In Part 1 I wrote about the dresses I liked. Color was big at this years Oscars. Red, black and Metallic. But some of the celebrities made some bad choices.

The Bad & Ugly

Red
There were aspects of Julie Christie look that I did like but the short red dress was not one of them. She designed this dress along with her stylist/costume designer Tanya Gill.

Black
There was nothing about Tilda Swinton look that I liked. She arrived on the red carpet in a black washed silk draped evening gown by Alber Elbaz for Lanvin that was just bland and unoriginal. It looked like a piece of fabric thrown over her. No sewing. Just thrown…..ugggghhhly

Another woman whose look I didn’t like was Daniel Day-Lewis’ wife Rebecca Miller. There was just too much going on with the lace skirt & sleeves was attached to a black velvet bodice held up by red fabric on the shoulders!…Just TOO much. I also thought the fit in the skirt was poor. It seemed to hug her midsection too much accentuating her tummy.

Sequins
The last faux pas were the ladies who wore sequins. In part 1, I wrote about the women who wore sequins whose look I loved. These women’s looks I did not like. Sequins are a hard thing to carry off. They should usually be used sparingly.Faye Dunaway in a gold sequin long sleeve scoopneck sheath gown by Pamela Roland was an example of using too many sequins.

Also not to my liking was Adrienne Frantz, best known as a Soap Opera Actress, gold sequin mermaid dress. While she may have looked like a female oscar, it was just TOO many sequins for me.

Nancy O’Dell’s dress while not as bad as the two ladies above still used a bland shade of silver with sequins on the front and on the high side slit. I just thought it looked tacky.

Just Bad

In the just bad category was Michael Moore’s date/wife/mother dress looked like a prom dress or a bad sorbet southern belle bridesmaid dress.

Thanks goodness Katherine Heigl didn’t have to wear this thing in the movie “27 Dresses.”

Oscar 2008 – The Good, Bad and Ugly – Part 1 Color – The Good

The 80th Oscar awards have come and gone. I’m here to tell you the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. First I’ll start with the Color Trends and what I liked.

Good

Red

Everyone this morning is talking about the abundance of Red on the red carpet. Katherine Heigl, Heidi Klume. Helen Mirren, Ruby Dee, Miley Ray Cyrus. It really is a beautiful color and so many people wore it well. Catwalkqueen made a compilation picture of some of the best:

Rami from Project Runway would have adored Anne Hathaway’s rosette-trimmed gown from Marchesa. Look at the detailing on the shoulder:

Katherine Heigl on the red carpet in a red silk Georgette Escada column gown with one-shoulder design and draped and pleated bodice.

My two favorite Red Dresses:

Helen Mirren’s custom-made Georges Chakra garnet duchess satin gown accented with Swarovski crystal drop sleeves and back was especially designed for the event. It may have been my favorite dress of the evening.

Although Heidi Klum red silk taffeta bustier gown with drape detail by John Galliano Haute Couture was an AMAZING dress that probably only a supermodel could pull off. Look at the open back with the high neck. It was Fierce as Christian from Project Runway would say.

Black

Also represented in abundance was Black. Jennifer Gardner, Nicole Kidman and Hillary Swank all wore Black gowns. Catwalkqueen made a compilation picture of some of the best:

** NOTE: Penelope Cruz’s dress was very dark navy that read black in many pictures.Nicole Kidman had a beautiful glow and a tiny baby bump to go with her Balenciaga dress accented with L’Wren Scott necklace.Jennifer Garner looked beautiful in Oscar de la Renta.

My favorite Black Dress:

I was a HUGE fan of Hillary Swank’s black Versace gown. She made a slight alteration to the Atelier Versace gown – making it a one-shouldered version.

Metallic

The one trend I noticed that no one talked about was Metallic. Either in the color of the dress or some sequins added.

Metallic Color

Renée Zellweger was lovely in a Caroline Herrera silver hand-embroidered lace gown with Cartier jewels.

My 3rd favorite metallic dress was worn by Keri Russell. It was a stunning a strapless champagne organza bustier evening dress by Nina Ricci.

And an unindentified woman on the red carpet with Wolfgang Puck was in a beautiful silver dress.

My Two favorite Metallic Dress:

Best Actress winner Marion Cotillard wore a Jean Paul Gaultier mermaid-inspired gown with Chopard jewelry, including a champagne necklace layered with brown diamond bead necklaces. It was really striking looking.

Keisha Whitaker was my 2nd favorite. I loved her dress and her hair and her makeup. The woman just knows how to look put together.

Sequins

Sequins also made a strong appearance last nite. Jennifer Hudson, Adrienne Frantz, Nancy O’Dell, Keisha Whitaker and Cate Blanchett all had sequins adorning their dresses. Some a little; some a LOT. Some I liked a lot. Some I liked a little (very little). So little you might equate it with serious dislike (look to part 2 for that review 😉 )Cate Blanchett Dries Van Noten dress on the red carpet was an example of a dress that used sequins to complement the dress.

But a better example of sequins and also my winner for most improved form last year was Jennifer Hudson. Her white Roberto Cavalli dress was sooo much better than her Oscar debacle from last year. You remember that Oscar de la Renta dress. Here are her 2008 and 2007 dresses side by side:

That 2007 dress just proves that even Andre Leon Tally, Vogue and fashion stylists can be wrong wrong wrong….Ouch

Here is a closer look at the details of her 2008 Roberto Cavalli dress:

Special Note

Of special note should be Cody Diablo in leopard print and sequins. Just the description sounds like it could have been a mess; But her Dior by John Galliano leopard print silk chiffon gown with jeweled detail wasn’t as bad as the description makes it out to be. Not one of my top picks but I gotta give the girl kudos for an awesome script, original style and great spirit.