Pearls aren't just for Grandma

Who said pearls were just for Grandma? Well, whoever it was, didn't know about Mikimoto Pearls. I would say, even I, must admit to thinking Pearls are rather “old lady” and honestly wouldn't buy them. However, I am definitely thinking different now. I think every girl should have a pearl bracelet. My Grandmother always told me that pearls were for the ladies, she wears them all the time and some I realized are Mikimoto.

Mikimoto Pearls only take about 3-5% of cultured pearls meaning one of their pearls is, one of the best. If you’re going to get pearls you mine as well get the best. I loved that they make a breast cancer pearl bracelet. They make this Pink Cancer Ribbon Bracelet. The pearls are strung with pink silk thread and finished off with a Mikimoto ball clasp, in 18K rose gold. Don’t fall in love too quick though these pretty little pearls have a pretty, not so little price. These lovely strung pearls will cost you $1050 … yikes, put this one on your Christmas list.

I personally happen to like the Mikimoto Fire Bracelet, which is that the bracelet up there, but the price on this one isn't friendly at all, $9.800! Hey, quality costs! ;)

Jill Sanders. Uniqlo. Time Travel.

Jill Sanders Collection

So everyone, well at least me, has been waiting with intense anticipation for Thursday, October 1st. On that day Jill Sanders reveals her new line in Uniqlo stores around the world. I thought of how to speed this up, I thought about time travel machines and the like. Then I thought, what if I went to Seoul where it is a day ahead to get the scoop. It's like a time warp. So that I did, when the store opened they informed that it is being released around the world at the same time thus voiding my plan. So here I am with one more day and counting.

I took this photo to document my travels. As the photo illustrates Chang, In-hae has never experienced the pains of time warping.

Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea

Evan Goodfellow

Milan Fashion Week

Today is the last day of Milan Fashion Week and there has been a strong emphasis on boudoir styles, which is a trademark of Italian fashion.

Once again we travel back in time into your grandma's closet where her old-school wardrobe is revamped and reintroduced.

Most of the styles shown at Milan Fashion Week have a old-fashioned feel to them. All the lace, knitting and cotton is straight out of the 1930's. Its old-fashion chic in its finest.

"Corset tops worn over a jeans bubble skirt, panties peeping out of a pair of short shorts and bra tops veiled in silk chiffon all combine to create a romantic rather than raunchy mood," commented Daniela Petroff for The Canadian Press.

That's right ladies, the corset is back!

-Erin Jones

Coca-Cola Does Milan Fashion Week

Yes, I know. A bit odd. But hey, it is Milan Fashion Week.

Coca-Cola Light teamed up with various designers this week to feature "fashionable" giant coke bottles wearing various designer's labels.

The event, "Tribute to Fashion," was thrown to raise money for Abruzzo, Italy earthquake victims. Some of designers who participated were Moschino, Donatella Versace, Angela Missoni, Alberto Ferreti, Consuelo Castiglioni and Etro.

Emma Watson to Design Fair Trade Fashion Line

The actress most famous for playing Hermione Granger has now decided that she wants to not only design a fashion line, but also one that benefits the laborers that help to construct it.

The Brown University freshman has described her clothes for People Tree as a long thought out effort:

"I wanted to help People Tree produce a younger range because I was excited by the idea of using fashion as a tool to alleviate poverty and knew it was something I could help make a difference with. It has been the most incredible gap year project."

Not only are they fair trade, the designs also use organic cotton and recycled materials.

Hopefully, this very young fashionista will not only lend her keen fashion mind to this venture but also her voice to this very important movement.

--Daphne Muller

Proenza Schouler makes it Young & Electric

"We wanted something young, something that felt fresh, so we looked to surfing and skating, the things we grew up on," said Lazaro Hernandez backstage during his show. Well that is definitely what they gave us, the colors were bold and electric. The funky kid was definitely flying full color on the catwalk this fashion week. They said they were inspired by surfing and skating and that vibe was apparent throughout their show. The bight blues, yellows and greens definitely scream surfer and skater.

Bringing back the tie dye from years past, there is the hippie inspired feeling in them but still modern day. I would say a hippie of today would definitely rock one of these dresses with a feather headpiece. Done deal! These two guys nailed it. Spring, I am so looking forward to seeing you! ;)

Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun

Fashion Week is well under way in New York and the show that has everybody talking to Marc by Marc Jacobs.

It has definitely been the show to remember. The collection had a very 80's feel to it. The pieces were "bubblegum preppy," said Amy Diluna from NY Daily News. It had everything 80's from minidresses to jumpsuits and even the preppy schoolgirl sweaters.

Next spring is going to be full of excitement with Marc by Marc Jacobs. I can't wait to get my hands of a few items from this collection.

Hilary Alexander of The Telegrapgh commented on the show, "Bright florals, low-top sneakers, bow wraps in the hair and glitter-striped stretch belts cinching the waists of everything. The collection was a delightfully disarranged mix of High School Musical meets Clueless."

- Erin Jones

Fashion Week New York: The Hits Keep on Coming

Fashion week certainly got off to a bang last week with Fashion's Night (if you attended any of the events, we'd love for you to comment. Personally, I thought Stella McCartney's veggie food truck and sustainable cocktails were worth the wait if you made it out.). And, as the week unfolds, designers have delivered big time with clothes that are both wearable and interesting.

The most exciting development in fashion week so far is that it's the smaller fashion houses--not the big names--that have debuted the most creative and artistic collections. Thuy is my favorite. A tailored gold motorcycle inspired jacket that you can wear to work and out? Charge it. Bibhu Mohapatra delivered a collection with some of the most inspired cocktail dresses I've ever seen--her blue silk overlay dress is certainly going to fly off the shelves. And Barbara Tfank's fifties inspired wallpaper dresses are perfect for the office, a Sunday afternoon, or a funky party.

So far, New York Fashion Week wins the "Most Improved" award after last year's boring parade of Banana Republic-esque dresses and slacks. Keep up the good work!

--Daphne Muller

The Beauty of a Draped Rose

Bags with floral applique are really in these days. I know most of you have probably already picked out your fall bag but I would suggest adding another into your mix.

I recently bought a black bag with a gorgeous draped rose taking over the front of the bag and I receive compliments on it all the time.

A draped rose bag, like the one featured above by Valentino, makes any outfit more feminine and sophisticated. This purse can be worn with any outfit. This bag resembles something from a different era. It looks like it was plucked right out of the 1920's but it still fits perfectly in today's society. It is a gracefully styled purse and is a piece that is timeless, twenty years from now this purse will still be in style.

If you're still shopping around for the perfect fall bag, do yourself a favour and seek out a draped rose purse, you will be the envy of all your friends.

-Erin Jones

Lindsay Lohan Named Fashion Consultant for Ungaro

Yes. That Lindsay Lohan. Emanuel Ungaro plucked the young actress to consult with him on a Summer 2010 collection.

Since Lohan has no formal design training, her role will simply be "artistic adviser" according to the fashion house. She will be working directly with chief designer Estrella Archs and according to Reuters, she'll be "contributing her experience as a consumer of luxury goods."

Is this the new trend? Before, celebs started their own lines but now they've started infiltrating the established brands (Kanye West/Marc Jacobs; Ashlee Simpson/Stuart Weitzman, etc.).

Hopefully Lohan will actually have some design advice and not simply be a marketing tool for the label. We'll see....

--Daphne Muller

Tim Gunn: Fashion Guru by Day, Fashion Crime Fighter by Night

Marvel Comics has a new super-hero on their hands. His special power? Being able to see through lousy trends, discern cheap fabrics, and discover up and coming designers. His outfit? A freshly dry-cleaned Armani suit and Ferragamo loafers.

Yep, that's right--Tim Gunn has officially become a super hero. The comic "Loaded Gunn" will feature Gunn as the fashion-crime stopping hero that always steps in at the critical moment when a poor fashion choice is about to be made.

Says Gunn of the project, "It's exciting and exhilarating, but bizarre. When they came to me, I said, `I'm about to turn 56 years old. Are they crazy?' But it kept revealing itself in layers and next thing, I'm wearing the `Iron Man' suit. I was dumbstruck."

"Most superheroes are fighting the same thing — good vs. evil — but who's taking on crimes against fashion? Me!"

According to Gunn the greatest fashion crime is improper fit--and Crocs, "It's the No. 1 fashion crime item — and I see it a lot."

Does that make Mario Batali the villian?

--Daphne Muller

Canada Bites the Big Apple

I'm not sure how many of my readers know this but I am a Canadian girl. I am based out of Toronto. And fashion in Canada is on the rise, our fashion industry has slowly been making a name for itself. And now that one of Canada's own is showing at New York Fashion Week I'm sure Canada will soon be recognized as a major player in the fashion world.

Malene Grotrian, 29, is a Vancouver fashion designer and you can only imagine her surprise when she received a phone call a few months back inviting her to show her line in New York.

Showing at New York Fashion Week is an amazing opportunity. In order to be allowed to show you have to be invited. Fashion is a very prestigious world and the only way in is through invitation or association. Somebody has to endorse you and say you're good enough to be there and to draw an audience.

Malene received a standing ovation at Vancouver Fashion Week for her highly tailored evening and professional wear, lucky for her she was noticed by someone who knew the producer of the Metropolitian show in New York.

Malene will be showing her Spring 2010 line. It is a tailored collection with many silks and a neutral, dusty palette, but a softer touch than her earlier highly structured work.

-Erin Jones

Fashion Designer to Move into Michael Jackson's House

Ed Hardy's Christian Audigier is rumored to be taking over Michael Jackson's $30 million mansion in Hombly Hills when Jackson's lease expires at the end of the year. Audigier hopes set up a memorial to Jackson and open up the home to the public every June in honor of the singer.

Oh, yeah, and it's the house Jackson died in.

Personally, I find this a little creepy and nothing more than publicity stunt for his already over-exposed clothing line. Looks Audigier's personality is just as tacky as his designs.

I vote that he turns the house into a Jackson fashion museum. Now that would be some kind of memorial.

--Daphne Muller

Coco Avant Chanel

It looks like this will be the year of fashion movies. While Valentino's movie was released ealier this year, there is still a couple to look forward to. I have already introduced The September Issue, but there is still one more.

Coco Avant Chanel is the story of Coco Chanel's rise from obscure beginnings to the heights of the fashion world.

Coco Avant Chanel or Coco Before Chanel is the story of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, who began her life as a headstrong orphan, and through an extraordinary journey became the legendary couturier who embodied the modern woman and became a timeless symbol of success, freedom and style.

While this film premeired in France and Beligum on April 22, 2009 it has yet to be released in the US. On September 25, 2009 Coco Avant Chanel will be released in the US.

If you enjoyed the movie of Valentino's life or the movie which follows Anna Wintour through an issue of Vogue, you are sure to enjoy this movie's portrayal of Coco Chanel's early years

-Erin Jones

Happy Birthday Adam Liam!!!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to Adam, Happy Birthday to you! On behalf of the CHAOS Magazine team I would like to wish our amazing Creative Director Adam Liam McCleery a Happy Birthday! We put him through hell here and we love him to pieces! Heheheh. There has been many nights where his eyes have started to bleed but he remains the blood that flows through CHAOS. Wow that's kind of creepy ... but then again we are CHAOS and we're kinda weird Haha :)

ADAM WE LOVE YOU!!!!! xx <3

New York, New York

There is one week left before New York's most anticiapted event of the season. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, which is held September 10th - 17th, is the week where New York's fashion elite get dressed to the nines and become the envy of every girl who only longs to be invited to those shows.

The shows are a playground for designers, it's the place where their 6 months of hard work finally pays off. It's the week where everyone who is anyone in fashion comes out to bare witness to the Spring 2010 trends. The shows are held at Bryant Park and are easily identified by those glorious white tents.

I would love to be a fly on the wall inside those tents. I can only imagine how crazy it is backstage but at the same time how utterly fabulous it must be.

This years shows will feature designs from, Lacoste, Diane Von Furstenberg, Michael Kors, Phillip Lim, Ralph Lauren and many more. But this years show is also a special on, as it marks the start to iconic designer Betsey Johnson.

-Erin Jones