Spring is a great time of the year to be fashionable. Colors are cuter than they were last winter. Your skin once again becomes something that you expose and not hide under coats or thick boots. Strappy stilettos are sexy and not-as-uncomfortable as they were in the snow. This season, Manolo Blahnik will satisfy your shoe lust, regardless of taste.

Trends in shoes tend to be fleeting, especially when moving from February chill to March sunshine. This season’s new crop of covetable Manolos covers about every trend on the runways. Whether it’s GAP or Gucci, there’s a pair Blahniks to go with your outfit.

First there’s the profusion of stones that we’ve all been seeing in other brands’ collections (most notably Gucci’s). Blahnik seems to have paid attention to this trend as well, with designs in his usual sexy-and-independent-woman style.

This classic t-strap design (known as ‘Lluxa’), for example, gets a major update with the jewels going down along the front. It’s perfect for formal events, especially if you’re wearing a relatively plain ensemble. The sparkle from the stones really catches attention.

Strappy also seems to be a major theme in Blahnik’s new collection. With everyone else going back to the Mary Jane style, Blahnik sticks to his guns with sexy, strap-laden shoes. Now that the weather’s warming up, it’s time to show some skin, ladies!

This studded strappy sandal (nicknamed ‘Ibiza’), for example, might end up covering a lot of your foot, but the little skin that peeks through just screams sex appeal. If you’re not into the schoolgirl-style trend right now, this’ll work just as well. Besides, all your Mary Jane-wearing friends will fall back to their strappy shoes in a season or two.

High shine has been a very big thing in bags for the last couple of seasons, and Blahnik crosses it over to shoes for spring. There’s a bumper crop of shiny Manolos ranging from patent yellow to metallic purple. It’s a great way to make dull outfits (particularly monochromatic or black-and-white ones) so much more dramatic.

Just try stepping out in these shockingly bright metallic turquoise heels (codenamed ‘Sprappy’) and see if you don’t attract some admiring stares. Even your dullest navy blue office outfit will look runway-ready with these blinding babies.

It’s spring and it’s time to put your best (heeled) foot forward. And if you’re wearing Manolos, you can be sure your oh-so-stylish foot will make a Carrie Bradshaw-esque statement.

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It’s a good time to be a female brand-loving fashionista. There are so many trends going around right now that you could be in vogue wearing practically anything. The new crop of Gucci clothing seems to realize this newfound diversity in the industry and lets you go in two drastically different directions.

On one hand, you could take the tougher tomboyish look that’s been seen on a lot of runways all over the world. Katie Holmes (a.k.a. Mrs. Tom Cruise) made quite a splash a few months back with numerous sightings of her in boyfriend jeans. Girls nowadays don’t just get into their guys’ pants; they get the pants to boot.

But you don’t need to get all loose and baggy just to get on with this look. You could reference the tough girl trend with traditionally masculine materials and styles, such as this brown leather biker jacket from Gucci ($2,880, styledrops.com). Fresh from its S/S 09 line, this is just an example of how the label has begun crossing even the most basic gender boundaries.

On the other hand, you could also bring out your more feminine side and have curvier, drapier pieces instead. This is another big trend for S/S 09, most notable pushed by Jean Paul Gaultier in his runway collection for the season. It’s great if it hangs down and hugs your curves along the way; it’s even better if there’s a big print to make your look even more distinctive.

This flower-print scoop-neck summer dress from Gucci ($1,639, styledrops.com) is perfect for the warmer weather as well as for the new trend. It’s got that feminine flair, as well as a considerable amount of boho charm about it. It’s the kind of thing that’ll make you look cool and chic, no matter how warm it might be outside.

Now is a good time to explore a new look and try a trend you’ve never attempted before. You never know, biker jackets might just be the thing to show off that perfect figure that your trench coat hid last winter. Be quick about it, though; summer doesn’t last forever.

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Miuccia Prada and her design team certainly has eccentric tastes, but you can see that they really work every trend that they push. No effort or detail is done haflheartedly with the powerhouse fashion label, and that goes for everything in the business from their famous shoes to their rather unusual clothing.

In case you live in the kind of place where the cold is a perennial fact (Alaska and certain Canadian regions instantly come to mind), cold weather gear is a must for all 12 months of the year. Prada, fortunately, has the goods to keep you both cozy and chic. No oversize Eskimo coats here, just endless Italian style.

The great thing about getting clothes from a designer label like Prada is that even the smallest details get a lot of attention; it’s not just their grandiose runway looks that they care about. That extends even to their collection of gloves. While obviously not a major component of the Prada clothing line, they bear all the signatures of genuine Prada pieces.

If you liked the Prada collection that the brand sent down the runways for F/W 08, the Prada touch on these finned lambskin gloves ($502, styledrops.com) is instantly recognizable. There’s that same asymmetric flow that made the finned Prada bags from last season so much more dramatic than all the rest. It’s one pair of gloves that will keep any stylish woman comfortably warm.

A more recent trend is Prada’s newfound love for flame designs, as seen on this pair of brown lambskin gloves ($502, styledrops.com). It’s still on a couple of Prada tote bags in the label’s S/S 09 collection, so it seems that this isn’t going out of vogue just yet. Besides, that contrast leather detail adds so much attitude to an otherwise ho-hum pair of hand warmers.

Sure, these babies are labeled as part of Prada’s collection for last season. But with the kind of quality and aesthetic that goes into this kind of product, they’re items that you could wear practically any day of the year. Who cares if it’s already S/S 09? Go ahead, wear them. They’re Prada and they’re yours.

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Last season was a great time to get one of those small cocktail party bags that could hold a mobile phone, a credit card and not much else. But clutches and pochettes are on their way out, and it seems that they’re slowly being replaced by their bigger cousins.

With all the economic brouhaha going around, fashionistas everywhere have begun consolidating form and function, especially in bags. That’s partly why the new It bags of the season are so humongous – they look chic, but they can also carry half your desk when necessary. The new Gucci handbags for the season represent this trend particularly well with the label’s collection for S/S 09.

Gucci had this pearlized thing going on with the bags from the Cruise 2009 collection, and a good number of pieces for S/S have it too, albeit in a larger size. Here, for example, is a shiny and sizable tote ($579, styledrops.com) featuring the unmistakable GG logo and that prominent stripe design we saw a lot in F/W 08. Yes it’s huge, but it’s also pretty enough to make other people overlook that minor quibble.

If you’d like something that’s a little more direct and statement-ish, you could also opt for one of Gucci’s tattooed beauties. Initially a fundraising effort for UNICEF, the label has expanded its range of Tattoo goods to a number of bags and even shoes as well. This Tattoo tote ($839, styledrops.com) with its red leather details is a prime example of how fierce this new trend can look – especially on your arm.

And like any good fashion trend, you could put these two details together to make your look even more unique. Don’t worry about the bag looking too busy or gaudy; Gucci was able to strike a nice balance between putting the two trends together while keeping its luxe influences alive. See this leather tote ($1,579, styledrops.com) – a mixture of Babouska hardware, Cruise collection sheen and Tattoo print – for yourself.

While these new bags aren’t exactly classics, we also expect them to still be rather fashionable at least a  couple of seasons from now. And with all the commemorative collections going around, you know you’ll be seeing these again in a few years.

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To say that John Galliano knows how to put on a show would be an understatement. The man practically pioneered the use of dramatic sets and almost dizzying color in shows. For S/S 2009, though, Galliano has gone back to his roots that lie in the British Isles.

References were abundant in this collection, starting with the very first look down the runway. The towering, furry column of a hat couldn’t have been anything but a nod to the distinctive headdress of the British Royal Guard. The same kind of headpiece topped off several looks composed of separates, from a dainty little cropped peacoat to a knee-length peek-a-boo dress in rouge red.

But it wasn’t just the guards that Galliano remembered in his collection. Several looks paid homage – albeit indirectly – to the Queen Mother herself. Some of the models wore curly white wigs topped off with a flamboyant hat, apparently a tribute to the Queen’s love for hats. There were also a couple who wore exaggerated versions of the hats of the Victorian-era British Navy.

All references aside, Galliano managed to turn down his creative volume knob yet keep the utter stylishness of it all at an even level. This being Galliano, his toning down his work is already revolutionary in itself. The fact that he maintained the drama and the excitement in a more restrained collection only speaks of the man’s genius.

There was an interesting cross section of womenswear in this collection. Separate pieces and outerwear were made more interesting with some ruffles or creative ruching. Classic little dresses suddenly became new with an extra peek of skin here and there.

Of course, no Galliano show would be complete without his usual riot of colors on display. For this collection, he used a kaleidoscope of deep colors that surprisingly stood out against neon-hued solid pieces. From cropped jackets to frilly mini skirts to full cocktail dresses, the effect was quite successfully pulled off.

But Galliano shows that he too has a softer side. A darker, more subdued yet equally colorful fabric was used for the eveningwear portion. The Impressionist-style print made for an illusion of movement, while the daring cuts kept everything upbeat and alive.

Whether or not the designer meant it, this is his fourth fantastic show in a row, and easily the best one yet. It’s a great season to be British.

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Italian fashion trendsetter Prada seems to be on an extremely eccentric aesthetic streak – a little too eccentric, even by fashion industry standards. While it went for fins and lace in F/W 08, the label went in a glittery direction for 2009. The new wave of Prada handbags promises to be shiny and shimmering, but not necessarily splendid.
No one probably knows what went on with Miuccia Prada’s creative process, but it’s sure that she went gaga for gemstones. Regardless of what she imagined, her company came up with a bag collection with about a third of it featuring these sparkly baubles. All the bags are labeled pietre (Italian for ‘stone’), which probably refers to the gemstones.

The only problem is that the designs aren’t exactly a big hit, even with previous Prada fans. One of the Prada handbags that earned the most ire was the Whips Pietre Evening Bag ($1,832, styledrops.com). Individually, bag lovers say, the green patent snakeskin, the gold chain or those jewels would have made for covetable arm candy. All together, though, and the final product ends up looking downright cheap.
Offering some improvement is the Tessuto Pietre Clutch ($983, styledrops.com), a dainty little black fabric clutch for evenings out. You could easily imagine this with your favorite LBD, but that also limits the outfits that could go with this bag. What probably makes it work is the plain, solid color background that lets the jewels just stand out.
Perhaps the Prada faux pas here was that it tried to put in too many details that the bags overall look visually busy and, well, gaudy. Many bag critics are saying (and we agree with them) that this crop of Prada products is more costumey than chic. Even if you’re the biggest Prada fan in the world, you’ve got to admit that there’s a grain of truth in that.

The Prada bags for S/S 09 are a bit tricky to work with, requiring you to wear only the plainest ensembles to keep your outfit from looking like a costume rental. Unless you’re the type who likes status symbols – these new bags are every inch a symbol of conspicuous consumption – you may want to stick to some of the more classic designs.

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As a brand, Gucci is known for its quirky and sometimes out-of-the box aesthetics. Few other companies could have triggered such a widespread interest in fringe, and even less can pull of that countryside chic look that they worked last season. For its 2009 Cruise collection, not many eyebrows were raised about Gucci’s eccentric choice of theme: tattoos and tortoise prints.

Now, many of you might have gotten excited when Gucci’s whole love for tattoos began last year with the Tattoo Heart bags, a charity effort for global nonprofit UNICEF. And for its new collection, the brand brings the tattoo several steps further – literally.

At first, the term ‘tattoo-print shoes’ almost sounds like an oxymoron. The first image associated with a tattoo is a tough biker guy, not a Gucci boutique. But Frida Giannini and her design team execute the whole tattoo concept with so much finesse, you’d wonder how you survived so long without a pair of these in the first place.

If you’re still not convinced, check out Exhibit A: this tattoo-printed peep-toe slingback stiletto . From afar, it looks like any other pair of Gucci shoes, especially with the mild color and the double-G logos. Get closer, though, and it reveals its wilder side with the tattoo-style rose print.

More conservative fashionistas, however, might want to take the alternate route with the other trend that Gucci’s starting this season: tortoise. Just like with Gucci’s fascination for tattoos, the design is applied sparingly but to great effect. It’s a subtle touch that adds lots of drama to a single pair of shoes.

These off white stilettos , for example, would look like any other pair of office shoes in the store. Those 3 ½” tortoise shell heels, however, will make you look for objet d’arte than office worker. Gucci didn’t use much, but you know that every inch of those heels make a big impression.

Just in case your bank account’s of the recession-proof variety, you might want to pair your trendy new shoes with a matching tattoo-print or tortoise-finish bag from Gucci. Every fashionista knows that you’ve got to take a trend all the way to make a statement.

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Ah, spring. It’s that time of year when a man’s fancy turns into love and a girl’s wardrobe gets infinitely more revealing. Put your coats and your parkas back in the closet, ladies! Spring has arrived, and Jean Paul Gaultier is the perfect label for the grand opening.

The Gaultier label is synonymous with the bold and daring designs that have become the signature of the designer that began the company. That fearlessness and radicalism shines through in the Gaultier S/S 09 collection with drama, color and skin exposure aplenty.

Most other designers usually have as little fabric as possible clinging to their skinny models. JPG, as usual, went with the less traveled and more dramatic route. For S/S 09, he didn’t send just one loose and flowing look down the runway; he sent almost an entire collection of it.

Yards upon yards of billowing fabric were sent down the Gaultier runway. If he planned to shock his customers into buying, he wouldn’t have had even a scarf left after the show. He added extra cloth to body-hugging looks, resulting in an overall image that’s somewhere between fierce Amazon and feminine Greek goddess.

If the wild cuts of the pieces didn’t wake you up, the colors definitely will. With a palette ranging from mandarin orange to mint green, the color scheme was anything but conservative. Sure, there were some black pieces and neutral tone ensembles, but you can’t fight the feeling that JPG basically rolled the whole color wheel into this collection.

You’ll still get the same aesthetic when you go from the runway to the retailers. Upscale stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus are just full of Gaultier clothing that feature a lot of drape. Prints have also taken hold in retailers’ displays: the loose cut and the wild, fanciful designs make for a sweet mix of good old boho and high-end SoHo.

Spring is that season when the trees come to life and the flowers bloom into a riot of colors. But who says they should have all the fun?

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In the present world of fashion all of us want to go for celebrity stuff. Generally,

Celebrities go for branded things. But, it is not possible for common man or woman as these products are usually expensive. Branded things are actually designer items. Celebrities too have their favorite designers that design clothes, shoes, and other ornaments for them. Every one wants to behave and dress up like his favorite celebrity. People are trying to live like them. As celebrities are out of reach, so we only try to copy their lifestyles. 

Designer shoes are essential accessory for woman. Even female celebrities use lot of designer shoes to create their own style statement in this fashion world. Designer shoes like Burberry come with huge price, but are extremely impressive. Every woman cannot afford to buy them. This is why they are dreamt by every girl and woman. Their price is very high because they are original and cannot be copied.

Getting original branded products are extremely difficult these days as there is war going on between many designer and duplicate shoes. We have replica stuff in the fashion market as it is not possible for a common woman to buy original Burberry designer shoes. Also, they come with similar characteristics as original ones. But, Burberry shoes from the latest women’s shoes Spring/Summer 2009 like black beige shoes or black patent leather shoes can only be enjoyed with their originality. Replica just sells, but cannot be enjoyed for long. 

Thus, if you are looking for chic fashion choice, Burberry would make a best option to enjoy the ever changing trends of fashion. They proudly add more value to your outfits and speak of their authenticity and quality. I always go for original stuff, if you also want to embrace originality and unique style of branded items, go for stuff like Burberry that would never let you down. Rather it would help in creating a lasting impression on the onlookers. So, choice is yours whether go for original designer shoes or reasonable replica ones.

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Who knew that the fashion industry could take a cue from the financial sector? In these economically troubled times, investments are either going down or becoming more conservative – and your shoes may soon follow suit.

Freakishly tall heels and towering stilettos have been dominating the runways for the past few years. And while that’s not exactly bad, coming up with taller and even thinner heels isn’t just unimaginative; it’s dangerous (to see why, watch the latest Hervé Léger show). Enter Prada, shoes with sensible heels and that unmistakable Italian chic.

“What goes up must come down,” the saying goes, and Italian fashion tastemaker Prada is heeding the adage. That’s probably why their newest shoe collections feature heels that are either thicker, lower or both. Gone are the towering needles, which were replaced by thicker and chunkier heels, such as in these peep-toe slingbacks .

Now, the popular view is that heels must be as tall and thin in order to be glamorous. This season, that kind of stereotype is exclusively for runway models again; Prada’s new and generously proportioned heels come with some new touches that don’t involve heights.

You don’t need to be tall to command attention, especially if you’re wearing something like these jeweled slides  from Prada’s new Resort collection. The 3” heels should be comfy enough to let you work these all summer long, while all the bling in front will make people forget that you’re not as tall as usual.

It’s not just Prada that’s losing the tall-and-thin image this season. Other big shoe brands like Gucci and Fendi have been churning out similarly thick-heeled styles and, in some cases, have even gone with the ultimate anti-heel statement – flats. Will this become the new vogue? Perhaps. But enjoy the more comfortable styles while they last.

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