PETA Finds an Animal Ally in Topshop

Topshop's Oxford Street store windows are a real jungle right now. Filled with stuffed animals that draw you in with their cuteness, this critters pack a powerful message: “Keep wildlife out of your wardrobe.” 

Topshop has teamed up with PETA for a campaign to advocate getting the fur and leather look without animal suffering. Faux is the new fur. Pleather and faked exotic skins are in. 

Personally, I used to say that even wearing faux fur promotes the bad cause, but now, submerged in the fashion world and acutely aware of fur's recent grand splash runway return, better to fake it then make it, in this case. The modern man and woman want the styles but without the suffering. And with major technological improvements, it's getting harder to tell the fake from the real thing anymore. 

Stella McCartney has been toeing the line of stylish and unreal specimens brilliantly for years and hers is now a successful business with profits increasing to $4.6 million during the fiscal year. Topshop is taking a leadership stance that will hopefully be the future of fashion. No longer will animals have to die to "get the look".

Going for the Gold (Beauty Trend)

Featured in VOGUE's December issue was a "Oh silly rich people" suggestion of gilding your face for holiday parties. Seriously

The one page real estate harkens to the confidence VOGUE has in this trend blowing up, yet Bloomingdale's took it to heart, slathering their Soho mannequins in a facial gold rush

And Broadway between Broome and Spring Street must have a magazine share program, because a mere block away our Brit friends at Topshop applied goldleaf to the MALE mannequins too. Who says you just guild the 'Lily', when Luke and Larry can sport a metallic mug too

Meanwhile, I say until they go all Jill Masterson, I'm gonna give this emerging beauty trend the golden ticket. I can't wait to see ladies (and lads!) at cocktail parties radiating with those golden complexions.

The Best of London Fashion Week

So London Fashion Week closes and editors head to Italy. Let's take a look at my pics of the best from a week of wacky

(Peter Jensen's color blocking)

(Paul Smith's ox blood skirt)

(This yellow blouse from Roksanda Ilincic was the most dramatic but chic)

(You know I had to throw in an Elizabeth Taylor piece. Thanks to Topshop Unique for slapping that B's mug on an over-sized sweatshirt. NEED!)

(Speaking of sweatshirts, this wild print from Mary Katrantzou is also on my Spring 2012 wish list. Imagine with dark denim and white Adidas. My outfit for the first day of Spring)

(Giles Deacon's ice goddess cocktail dress will literally light up the room)

(Danielle Scutt gets how I dress)

(Alistair Carr's first collection for venerated Pringle of Scotland used a lot of great 70's graphic prints. Bring on the "Logan's Run" remake!)

And finally LFW can't be summed up without including some sharp coats from Burberry Prorsum. Who needs a coat in Spring/Summer, I'll never know, but if you're the type chilly in 75 degree heat, might I suggest

See you in Milan!

Window Dressing on the Side: Topshop

For some reason Topshop's Holiday party display eerily reminds me of that amazing opening scene in Suspiria

Does this make me a sicko?

And child if you don't already OWN Suspiria, put it on your Santa list right now! 

It's a visual carnival!

Sequined Sweaters Make Mouths Happy

How cool is this sweater on Housing Works' website right now? A Markus Lupfer for Topshop sweater with shiny mouths reminds my oldness of those Twizzlers commercials and The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Either way, the petulant high school me would have needed this sweater back in the day

I still might....

http://www.shophousingworks.com/lot.cfm?lotID=59246

Proenza Schouler Say That Omnipresent Street Urchin Look is Out

There's a really great interview with designers Jack and Lazaro of Proenza Schouler from the latest "Grazia" circulating the web right now. 


Most blogs have focused on their controversial quote about how people can afford a clothing line even the designers themselves confess to being to poor to afford. That's pretty good copy, I agree, but I took to this quote too

"We are also tired of the shoes with the studs and the whole biker-jacket thing," says Lazaro.

"It's so common," Jack says.

"We work on Broadway near Topshop and are so over seeing all those young girls showing so much skin," Lazaro says.

 Good for you, boys! Time for folks to stop spending so much money to look like they crawled out of some 80's zombie movie.

Don't I Look Cute Today: Sunday May 16th 2010

(Tangerine shirt, Topshop jeans, Miu Miu shoes and Liberty of London tie)