Links à La Mode - December 3rd 2009

Edited by Fashion Pulse Daily

This week, as I’ve been getting geared up for the holiday season’s shopping ( both loving and dreading it) via Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I couldn’t help but compare the posts to stocking stuffers. Why? Because it felt like a nice, sentimental hodge podge of little items that although different, still fit together into the the bigger equation, hence my new phrase, “Links a la Stocking Stuffers!” Although I jest, I love the variety of posts this week, from how to style and what to wear including Retro Chick’s guide to ’40s hair for holiday parties, CoolMamaStyle.com’stuxedo jacket, The Coveted’s adventures in Century 21 and What to Wear’s Art Basel fashionable looks, to Prom Mafia’s run in with Black Friday and SwaySwaySway’s blissful tactics to keep your computer off on Cyber Monday.

As expected, there was a fabulous round-up of links in the forum as well, all worthy of your eyeballs!

Links à la Mode : December 3rd

• 39th and Broadway – How zoning may save the fashion industry
• Bonne Vie – talking about Knockoffs and why making accessible fashion isn’t a bad thing
• Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Interview with Katie Mackay of What Katie Wore, as she reaches the end of her year-longstyle challenge, to wear something different every day!
• CoolMamaStyle.com -  Binge or Bargain: Black Tuxedo Jacket
• Fashion Pulse Daily - Saks Fifth Avenue & Windows 7; an unlikely pairing for the holidays!
• Fashion XK8 – Explores Fashion through local anthropology
• Girl Friday – Mad About the Tote
• Little Miss Makeup: Smoky Eyeshadow: A Timeless Makeup Trend
• Oranges and Apples -  Fashioning the Future: my favourites from the 2009 sustainable fashion awards
• Painfully Hip - Edie Sedgwick takes San Francisco (she was born a California Girl, after all)!
• Prom Mafia – Surviving Old Navy’s Black Friday Sales
• Rags to Reverie - How Essie got me to embrace nail color once again
• Retro Chick -  A Step by Step Guide to Easy 40s Style Party Hair
• Style Symmetry – Blog to Watch ~ My Mom, The Style Icon
• SwaySwaySway -A short and humorous guide to beating those seductive Cyber Monday urges
• [the 3st] - Interview with Hungarian Designer Dora Mojzes, recently featured at the Marie Claire Fashion Show,
• The Art of Accessories - helps you find a gift for everyone on your list with the 2009 Winter Gift Guide
• The Coveted – Finds designers at an old favorite discount department store, Century 21
• The Door in My Wardrobe – A lengthy post about fabric weaves and fibers, helpful for vintage hunter
• The Working Wardrobe - Check out these eco-friendly ties that work with your outfit and your office dress code.
• What to Wear -Art Basel Miami Beach–the most important art show in the United States

Fashion Limbo Loves - C.O. Bigelow

A member of the Fashion Limbo team recently came back from New York with a bag full of some goodies we love, and we decided to show and tell.

The C.O Bigelow products are old school, natural beauty and apothecary treatments. Last year we discovered their Mentha Lip Shine, a transparent lip gloss, long lasting and with a fresh mint taste. We are now trying out the other varieties, with cinnamon and spearmint.

Our NYC traveller also brought us the Lemon and Pomegranate Body Wash, that left our skin feeling quite fantastic. The smell when applying the wash is amazing, it turned our shower into a sweet treat, with citrus kicks, refreshing and utterly lovely. The texture is creamy and rich.

There is also a wide range of products for men, such as he Barber Hair and Body Wash, with an exotic blend including vanilla musk and amber, it smells delicious.

We personally adore these products, and you know what's even greater? They are not tested on animals.

To find out more about the Bigelow products click here.
Picture: Fashion Limbo

Christmas Gift Ideas for Men - Part 2

If you are simply out of ideas, buying a scarf may seem slightly boring. However, if said scarf is by Paul Smith, we then have a true stylish gift.

The right gift for... with all the colours, designs and fabrics available in Paul Smith's collection, you can be confident to find the right scarf for the right type of man.

Feel happy... giving one to your dad, grandfather or any older relatives who may not be interested in fashion and still haven't discovered the wonders of Paul Smith. Style and softness all in one piece of fabric, and with prices starting at €60 (approx.) it is still credit-crisis-friendly.

To shop Paul Smith, click here.
Pictures: Paul Smith

Belgian Design - Hampton Bays

Some of you may or may not know this, but Belgium is a hotspot for creativity. With Antwerp as its fashion capital there are endless brands and designers waiting to be discovered. Fashion Limbo recently came across Hampton Bays, and its 09 winter collection quickly grabbed our attention.

It is a very laid back, easy and warm range of clothes. We were pleased to discover how colourful the collection is. Whereas many other brands out there have embraced greys and other dark shades to express themselves, Hampton Bays gives a warm, cosy, and ultimately romantic feeling to their clothes with light greens, oranges, pinks and powerful blues.

Flower print dresses, long cardigans, vintage-inspired coats, bootcut and wide-leg shapes for their trousers, all in all, a modern look with a very retro feeling.

Their shoes, a girlie and pretty collection of boots, comes as a result of their collaboration with TORFS, and can be viewed here.

Hampton Bays can be found in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
Picture: Hampton Bays

H&M To Spoil You a Little More - Sonia Rykiel

As if we hadn't had enough with the Jimmy Choo frenzy, H&M will be unveiling it's latest designer collaboration on December 5th, with some stunning lingerie by Sonia Rykiel.

What to expect? Very retro, vintage inspired designs include high waisted knickers, gorgeous one-pieces in stunning rose, sexy black numbers, and chiffon and velvet robes. Bras are luxurious, with black lace and silk amongst the pretty fabrics used for this collection.

What else to know? Sonia Rykiel's collaboration will continue from February 20th with some knitwear designs for women and girls, and a line of accessories.

Picture: H&M

Christmas Gift Ideas for Men - Part 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged that finding the right gift for a guy (no underwear, socks or ties allowed) is nothing less than tricky. Fashion Limbo is here to make this Christmas easier for you.

We begin with the so-called greatest robe of all time, by No Mas. 

Who is it for? Get it for the retro loving guy, the sports-addict, or your own personal hero.

Picture: No Mas

All I Want For Christmas - 2009

T'is the time of the year. We feel merry and worthy of the most lovely gifts, and for that reason, we give you Fashion Limbo's 2009 Christmas Wish List.

We begin with sequins (above). We love anything with a sparkle, and the seasonal editions of Lulu Guinness' famous lip clutches are desirable and very stylish. This one comes with Swarovski crystals and will cost you around €600 (approximate price).

As our search for the perfect thigh-high boots continues, we can't help but lust over these Cavalli beauties (pictured below). Great heel, fitted to one's skin to elongate limbs and make us look sexy in front of all the Christmas lights. Grab them at net-a-porter for €1690.

If there is one piece of jewelry we want, is a Bubble Bear by Tous (below). In white gold, diamonds and purple zephyrs, it comes in so many beautiful versions we had trouble picking our favourite. So cute, so dazzling, we are wondering who will be the darling to give us such a precious little thing.

And, appealing to our colourful side, we love this Gypsy Mini Chandelier by Dutch By Design.

On Fashion's Relevance - Lady Gaga

You may, like us, love Fashion. You may hate it (hardly, why would you be reading Fashion Limbo if you weren't a tad attracted) but fashion is everywhere. Luxury and high end couture may not be in everyone's shopping list at these tight economical times, but it's relevance and influence could not be greater.

Take Lady Gaga. When we featured her at the start of the year, we could not foresee the effect not only her music, but her image would have on music, fashion, and every lifestyle cover this year. We also didn't expect to like her that much. Musically, her work is anything but new. She is clearly following the steps of icons such as Madonna, Grace Jones and is greatly influenced by David Bowie amongst others.

But it is her visual side, and the work exerted on outfits worn at performances, public appearances and videos that get all the talk. Again, this is nothing new, as fashion and music videos or photo-shoots have always gone hand in hand. However, it's exciting to see such powerful statements, and such a clear admiration for glam costumes and dramatic make-up.

Her latest video, Bad Romance, features those infamous Alexander McQueen's "Armadillo" shoes (pictured above), Michael Jackson moves and Kubrick's aesthetics. Another good move in music for Lady Gaga and another good step in the catwalk.

Pictures: Lady Gaga

Once Upon a Time - The Supermodel

Back in the day when Fashion Limbo was a molecule of thought in the brain of a little girl (there was no Internet then, dear Lord!) there was a breed of women ruling all magazine covers and fashion catwalks: the supermodel.

As Wikipedia defines it, the term refers to "a highly-paid élite fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling (...) First-name recognition is a solid indication of supermodel status in the fashion industry" And so we had, amongst others, Helena, Eva and Claudia.

Helena Christensen, Eva Herzigova and Claudia Schiffer are all gracing the current I-D winter issue.
To Wikipedia's definition we will like to add timeless beauty and supernatural physiques. What else can one say after seeing this cover? And what else can we do except keep drinking stupid amounts of water everyday (we will drown, I tell you!) moisturise over and over again, unhappily drag ourselves to yoga, and maybe pray for a miracle?
Picture: I-D Magazine

Let's Party... In Style

It is upon us. For some, it has already begun. The party season arrives every year getting us through the lowering temperatures, preparing us for the darker months once the New Year passes. This year in terms of style we have it easy: got sequins? got it right.

This example below is by H&M. We adore how the styling is finished off with a pair of bright tights (funny how H&M are always so good with their campaigns and lookbooks). There hasn't been an easier way to skip the bare-leg agenda and feel more comfortable and sexy. The great thing about this is that you shouldn't worry about colour-clashing as the season allows much flexibility in shading. Plus, if you're a firm believer in the LBD, you have the entire palette to add a colourful twist.

Karen Millen already showed us their take on party wear, and it's pure sexiness and quality style. The dress below could also be worn with leggings or skinny jeans, as it feels a lot like a tunic. Adding sequins to jeans is always a good bet, whether it is in the form of a jacket, or a scarf used as a belt, or sequined accessories. It adds pizzazz and for the weeks ahead it is sheer understated cool.

Another complicated task can be what to wear on top of a sequined dress so as not to ruin the entire look. Mango suggests a trench coat and we could not agree more. It's sophisticated and a timeless classic. If you feel your budget is being stretched, see it as an investment. You will use a trench coat forever, especially if in beige, grey or black tones. This one by Mango adds to the party vibe with it's shiny texture, but if in doubt, grab a black one from any of your favourite outlets and you are ready to go.

Pictures: H&M, Karen Millen and Mango

Fashion Event at Karen Millen Brussels

photo copyright Muse Communication

With the party season upon us, Fashion Limbo got to enjoy a fantastic night on the 18th, as we attended the Karen Millen Christmas Collection Preview. The night was a buzzing event, with bubbles, canapes, and models show-casting the luxurious collection. Delighted faithful customers, the Belgian press present with De Morgen, journalists from fashion publications, blogger Sabine Clappaert from Muse and more pretty people, the evening was a fun shopping frenzy with surprise discounts and prizes to be won (a lucky girl got to win a stunning blue leather bag, we were so jealous!).

The manager of the flagship store in Brussels, Samia, and her gorgeous team of style advisors were smiles all around, styling customers and mingling in style, managing to rock an evening of fashion and bubbles.

We had a great time, the atmosphere was fantastic and we wish more events like these were organised in the Belgian capital.

Our favourite outfits were so many we cannot begin to enumerate them, so head over to Karen Millen if you wish to explore their range of party dresses. You will surely fall in love with more than one.

photo copyright Muse Communication

Pictures: Karen Millen, Fashion Limbo.

Stores, Seduce Us or Lose Us Forever

Fashion Limbo is delighted to have a guest writer today, fellow blogger Sabine from Muse. An expert in branding and communication, and an avid shopper, we give you her view on how some stores present themselves, and how many get it oh-so-wrong:

While some love the thrill-of-the-chase of a good bargain (as do I), the drawbacks of the shopping experience are just too great for others to even bother. Crowded stores, the frenzied tug-of-wars over flimsy summer tops, long cues at the fitting rooms and check-out counters....It is a nightmare many are quite willing to skip!

Over the past few days I have spent quite some time thinking about what I call "fitting room politics": how our experience in the store - and especially in the fitting rooms - can make or break a sale.

Here are my top 3 fitting room "peeves":

1. Uncleaned floors - Nr 1 killer of a positive impression of a brand! All that shiny marble goes to waste when the floors are littered with dust, hairs and clothing fluff! The worst? 7 out of 10 stores have fitting rooms that are not clean!

2. Lazy sales personnel. The kind that expects you to return the items you've just tried on to the correct shelves in the stores (a favorite in Belgium stores!) instead of doing so for you (with a smile!).

3. Fitting room basics: a well-closing curtain or door, a few hooks, a stool (these days often considered a luxury, it seems), flattering lighting.

Getting it right in the fitting room is of the utmost importance: it is probably the ONLY place in which your customer thinks clearly about her purchase. The more comfortable she is here, the more likely she is to buy!


To read the rest of the article including some tips on how to "get it right", click here.

Girls, Dresses and Rock and Roll

With the award season kicking off last September, we have been inundated with pictures of celebrities working the red carpet for many occasions. For us, the best looks have been seen on stage and many of these can serve as a good inspiration on how to wear certain key looks.

We begin with fashion icon and Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole, showing us all how to wear military cropped jackets and team them effortlessly with harem pants.

Beyonce made sure there was a guy to talk about during the recent MTV European Awards, London designer David Koma. She chose his bodycon in a futuristic style. It has since been spotted on Cheryl Cole.

At the same award ceremony, Katy Perry was also a hot topic of conversation, as whilst hosting the event she went through numerous dress changes. This one pictured belongs to one of the after-parties, in which she dons a pair of printed tights we wish we could get our hands on. Fun and sexy, a great look for the weeks ahead. Velvet is also very on-trend in luscious red.

Leona Lewis has been promoting her latest album wearing some impressive Vivienne Westwood gowns, and for the festive period ahead, it may be the look for those of you wishing to make a gothic/romantic statement.

Pictures: PA, Reuters via BBC, MTV and Telegraph.co.uk

Hot Talent - We bring you MAINFRAME

When Fashion Limbo comes across pure, unapologetic talent, we have to share it. We are so excited to feature MAINFRAME, giving a new twist to your typical sunglasses. We got the fantastic chance to talk to Alexa Demie, behind the project with Kelly Merlo. These two girls are responsible for some sexy frames recently worn by hot model (and Kanye West's girlfriend) Amber Rose.

Who is Mainframe?

The creative minds behind MAINFRAME are two 18 year old girls born and raised in Los Angeles. I started designing  in 2008 when I was asked to style a shoot for a local LA artist. I customized a pair of sunglasses she already owned and she loved them. I enjoyed transforming a simple design into an innovative piece that uplifted the whole outfit. So I continued doing it and brought on my partner Kelly Merlo, who contributes to the designs as well. Our ideas are ever changing and I don't think we will be running out of them any time soon, so prepare yourselves for a lot of amazingness, I know, that's not a word, but that's what's coming your way.

What inspires you? 

The street, music, other artists, books. Anything can be an inspiration depending on how you interpret it.

What is the latest fashion item you have bought?

Mmmm...... let's see, I haven't been doing too much shopping these days, it seems this was the dress down "hustle" year, for me at least. I did purchase a vintage crew neck sweater, its sort of fuzzy. Its an amazing piece but very itchy. Oh and today I purchased vintage metal earrings that look like the beast from Beauty and the Beast. Amazing.

Picture: MAINFRAME

Silver Luxury - Thomas Sabo

We saw this cute ensemble by Thomas Sabo and we couldn't help writing about it. Containing Disco Dog and other sterling silver and zirconia pendants, it's a luxurious treat we will be adding to our Christmas Wish-List. To shop Thomas Sabo visit their site here.

Picture: thomassabo.com

Introducing Aaitski - Belgian Fashion à la Funski

Recently Fashion Limbo came accross Aaitski, a fun concept in fashion and design. Based in Ghent, Belgium,  Aaitski produces unique t-shirts. Simple yet eye-catching (see one of our favourites above), these funky tops are thought by and produced by Bruno Seys and Filip Vandewiele, also known as Brunowski and Flipowski. They play with three main concepts: Boys & Girls, Animals and Vehicles, and with prices from €25 there is no excuse to become an Aaitski fan.

What's so great about them? They cater for adults, children and babies offering both all age groups the same designs, because fun must stop at no age. T-shirts for babies are made of 100% organic unbleached cotton.

What made us love them even more? the fact that they are offering Fashion Limbo readers a 20% discount on online purchases until the 12th of December. Just use the discount code LIMBAAITSKI on checkout. 


Picture: Aaitski

Black and Red by Women'Secret

Spotted: black and red sexy combo by women'secret. Very wintery, romantic and fun. What do you think?

Picture: women'secret

Let's go Thigh High - If they let us

As much as we love living in the heart of Europe, it is not the heart of fashion, and this means that finding what we like can be a bit of a challenge. And as one cannot just drop everything and jump on a plane towards NY ...

We say this because the latest fashion-related challenge is finding the perfect pair of thigh-high boots. And THIS is important, to the extreme. We mean mean business, ladies and gentlemen.

Where is the pair that would work for us? Our wish list states:

• Colour: black, dark brown o grey, or any dark shade.
• Fabric: leather, or fake leather, suede or fake suede, anything that will hold on to our legs pretty tightly
• Heel: not sky-high. Ideally there would be flat, we want to wear these boots and feel comfortable. Winter is cold and harsh enough without the added pain.

So, is this so hard? the ones in Zara are pretty, but the heel and the quality don't make them too wearable (or are we wrong? anybody tried them?). H&M and Jimmy Choo have a pair too but the quality warnings are putting us off (they advice about replacing sole and heel prior to wearing) and designer versions are out of our credit card's range (rent and food first, fashion after).

Tips to wearing thigh-high boots:

Do not wear with body-con dresses: as soon as you remind yourself of Pretty Woman you have gone the wrong way.

Do look for the right style and cut for your body shape. It should not make you look shorter, but elongate your figure.

Picture: Karen Millen

Easy Glamorous Shopping - theOutnet.com

We have known of the existence of theOutnet for a while, but it was only last week until we shopped with them. Fashion Limbo is currently based in Brussels, wishing we could go more to London and shop-shop-shop. In the absence of cheaper travel fares (and more hours in the day to do so) we decided to give theOutnet a go, and we were not disappointed.

The chance came when we spotted a glorious pair of 7forAllmankind jeans, with a 70% reduction, and we simply had to get our credit card out. TheOutnet is part of Net-a-Porter, and offers designer products at extremely reduced prices, thus, it is an online outlet.

We ordered on the Sunday, and we received the delivery by Wednesday. Our jeans came lovingly packed (see picture above) in a zip-up bag, wrapped in some soft paper. All of this was placed in a box, so our purchase seemed pretty protected throughout the journey.

theOutnet charges a small return fee, but it all seemed pretty straightforward and easy should we had required to return/exchange the jeans.

All in all, we were thrilled with the service. We could track where the package was and calculate its arrival, which was quick.

We were so happy with the service we wondered whether we should share the news or keep the secret to ourselves... ahh fashion...

Picture: Fashion Limbo

Layers of Comfort - Tees and Shirts (guys only)

Autumn is a tricky season. Too warm? too cold? Before you know it you are uncomfortable, sweaty and crushed under a great but too-thick a jumper. The key to survive? Layering. Autumn is the time to stock up on some great t-shirts to wear under shirts, cardigans or any sweater. We have some fabulous finds for you.

We begin with Abercrombie & Fitch, their classic designs come in all colours and shapes, but we particularly loved this orange/grey combo (€34). Very comfy, great under a thin black cardigan (or orange if you're a tad colourful).

If classic and discrete is your take on fashion, then head to H&M to find some pocket-friendly tees, and stock up on them because at €7,95 they are a real bargain. Of course the quality is not the best, but having some cheap tops around is always handy.
From Santa Cruz's autumn range we have this original graphic tee, Appetite for Destruction, at €31 aprox.
And our favourite, from French Connection, a Ghostbusters-inspired example, great to wear under a shirt, or a thick brown cardigan. It is all about the ghost-catching crowd lately...we are so smelling the remake.
Click on the links for more details on our picks.

Pictures: A&F, H&M, Santa Cruz, FCUK

How to Perfect the Red Pout - Lancôme

With the colder months ahead, we can already see it: pale complexions, chilly wind, scarves and coats galore. Everyone feeling gloomy, cold and seriously unsexy. To fight against all this, Fashion Limbo has decided to wear warm red lips, à la Inés Sastre (above) but how to do it?

We recently received a little package by Lancôme, together with an invitation to be bold with colours. As part of their Indigo collection, Cover Fever Matte is the name for a range of powerful reds. Developed by Aaron de Mey, Lancôme Artistic Director for make-up, it is a forward and very bold line. The red lips are a huge nod to the Parisian spirit and look.

Our verdict? We loved the packaging, in silver and transparent red. We also very much liked how it felt on our lips, very light, we could hardly tell we were going rouge. This range comes in three tones Red Paris-Paris, Red Avant-Garde and Red Libertine (so eighties Mylène Farmer, we love it).

Things to remember if you decide to try red lips:

Good lip care is key - Exfoliate your lips with a wet toothbrush before applying any colour, as red lipstick will show any dry skin. Keep your lips daily moisturised.

Get the tone - Fair skin tones should go for a blue shade of red. Medium complexions should opt for a pillar-box red, and olive skin tones suit a spicy red.

Got the colour, how to use it? A great way to do it is to apply red to the centre of your lips, then dab it outwards.

Picture: Lancôme

My Latest Favourite Thing is by H&M

Pictured above is the latest item to join my closet (or clothes-rail, truthfully, as I do not own a proper closet). I saw it during a short stop at H&M, thought about it for a couple of seconds, then I bought it ( €19,95) and I eventually fell in love with it.

What I love about it - is how easy it is to wear. In cotton, it feels like a cardigan more than a jacket. It goes over and under other items to bring some soldier fun to my day. It can be dressy, it can be casual, it can even be sexy.

How I wear it - I wear it over a black wool dress by the same brand. I team it with a long black or purple t-shirt over skinny jeans or black leggings. And last Monday it went over a flower print dress and the clash surprisingly worked.

Picture: H&M via TimesOnline

Happy Halloween in Style and Sexiness

It's Halloween tonight, the birthday of fabulous fellow blogger Sabine at Muse, and via another great blogger, Retro Chick, we were reminded of this fantastic Tim Burton-inspired shoot for Harper's Baazar. Delightfully scary and truly sexy, pictured above is our favourite shot, with the ever-so-present Louis Vuitton boots infamously worn by Madonna.

To read what Retro Chick had to say about the shoot, click here.

Picture: Tim Walker for Harper's Baazar

What To Buy Right Now - On a Budget

The gorgeous little sister called us this afternoon for some fashion advice. She is a young university student on a budget struggling about what to buy right now, without breaking the bank. This is what we told her to shop:

Shirts - the classic pinstriped ones. The ones you would wear tucked in and neatly ironed, now are cheeky and in trend. Wear over your skinny jeans and finish off the look with some trainers, All Stars style, and sexy red lipstick. Pull and Bear has some nice ones with white collars and cuffs, H&M also has alternatives.

Jeans - if you can find a cheap pair of skinny jeans, bag them. These are to be worn until they fall to pieces (which is also fashionably acceptable) with boots: flat, ankle or knee-high, leather, PVC, suede, etc.

Boots - If you still lack a pair, go find your perfect pair of high black boots. They come in several heights and with all sorts of heels this season, so simply choose the ones that are comfortable and visually elongate your legs. A good pair of boots is always a great investment that will see you through the entire cold season, even into spring. Wear with the above mentioned skinny jeans, dresses, skirts, etc.

Accessorise - if on a budget, invest in colourful scarves: leopard prints are fun to wear in this manner. Buy long necklaces to lace with thin scarves and you can dress up the cheapest H&M t-shirt to look like a Balmain.

Picture: Topshop

Lily Allen Rocks Antwerp In Style

Lily Allen performed in Belgium for the second time this year, this time in the Antwerp Lotto Arena. We were sad we couldn't see her, but are pleased to see all the cover her stage antics, especially her outfits, received. Pictured above, she is donning the leopard print trend, with some black tasselled undies to finish off the look. Cheeky, sexy and mostly fun. What do you think? Do you like her as the current Chanel girl?

Picture: Gie Knaeps/LFI via Daily Mail

Look of the Week - Blake Lively

If there is a reason Fashion Limbo may confess to watching Gossip Girl, that reason is Blake Lively (oh, yeah and Chace Crawford has nothing to do with it... well not much). We covet every single piece she wears, we dream of having her flawless style and trotting down the streets of New York with her natural beauty. And now we love her for rocking the power suit, a complete change to her usual style.

Glamour Magazine UK features this picture taken at the Angel Ball in New York. Blake Lively is wearing a black and dark grey dress, perfect for the colder months. She chooses to finish off the look with some sparkling blue shoes and flattering red lips.

Another way to work the same dress? take come opaque tights and team with some thigh-high boots, for a more overstated/killer look.

Picture: PA Photos via Glamour UK.

Time Killer N° 2 - Fantastic Looklet

We recently discovered an interesting site named Looklet, and we can now present you the product of such find: our first creation, Dirty Blue.

Looklet is an online styling studio where one can create looks by combining hundreds of pieces in a fashion collection based on real items by Hugo Boss, Topshop, Acne... the endless list goes on.

It is also a social networking site, allowing users to vote on each other's looks, post on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Yet another social tool, another fashion frenzy, but how user-friendly and fun it is!

Picture: Looklet by Fashion Limbo

All Stars - Make Your Own

Looking for a fashion-related time-killer? Try the "make your own" tool at converse.com. You can create your own fun trainers, and support the RED campaign. Shame they don't ship these internationally. Come on Converse, it's about time you fixed this!

We hope you like our little creation, inspired by one of the men in our life ;)

Jimmy Choo for H&M - Unveiled

H&M has finally given the public a glimpse on what to expect on November the 14th. A huge collection by Jimmy Choo, including clothing, stilettos, shoe-boots and thigh-high boots. Simply go to the H&M site for the whole preview.

Picture: H&M

Shoe of the Week - Karen Millen

One of our favourite trends this season is everything with studs: dresses, handbags, shoulders, gloves... and we are in love with these peep toe stilettos by Karen Millen. With shiny ball studs and eyelets, a generous heel and a balancing platform, they are surprisingly comfy yet have killer style.

There is also a handbag to match, but we are afraid our bank account will not appreciate our efforts at working the whole look :)

To buy the shoes, click here.

Picture: Karen Millen