Think romantic Victorian with a new dramatic flair, not angst ridden teen in black or rock and roll rebel. While the majority of these collections are extremely opulent, doing the dirge this season doesn’t have to be extremely formal or menacing. Obviously dark colors and textures are key on the runway, but predictably the gypsy, sophisticated bohemian or serious classic soho (with a flair) looks and the like will sprout from this trend so to appease functionality via chunky knits, velvet leggings, baroque jackets and Victorian high boots.

Remember- this is not your little sisters Goth- it doesn’t have to scare you.  It is more about fluidity than skulls, be it formal or functional.

Avant Garde Goth to Functionally Edgy (L to R) Alexander McQueen, Versace, Givenchy, D & G, Louise Goldin, Juicy Couture, Gareth Pug.

For Hair: The miriad of antioxidants which are naturally infused into the makeup of Argan oil result in amazing benefits to all hair types, working to restore tresses from outside in. The molecules  are small enough to penetrate the cortex of the hair, therefore while the oil gives hair shine it is also repairing, rejuvenating and moisturizing from inside the hair shaft. …. My #1 “Leave in” pick is Orofluido Oil (abt. $30.00, 3.4 oz). I consider Orofluido the Holy Grail of Morrocan oil for a variety of reasons. First and formost, it contains all ingredients and benefits promised of a Morrocan oil. Secondly, the additional ingredients are pure hair heaven. Orofluido is infused with prized Argan which has kept the hair of Morrocan women strong and beautiful for centuries via vitamin E and essential fatty oils which are similar in composition to our own skin, as well as Cypress oil(a fave of Cleopatra)  and contains concentrated fatty acids and  and tocopherol to give natural protection against free radicals and provides softness and volume, while the addition of Lindseed oil seals and smooths the hair cuticle. Thirdly, Orofluido has the most concentrated scent of any Morrocan oil I have come across thusfar and anyone who has used these oils is already aware of the luxuriously intoxicating fragrance associated with them; while all Moroccan oils possess this trademark sweet Amber scent, Orofluido mixes decedant notes of Amber, Vanilla, Orange Blossom, red pepper and more. Orofluido may be a smidgen pricy ($30) but it has more benefits and comes in a larger size than most and lasts forever (I purchased a bottle in April, use 5X pr wk  and nearly 6 months later, I still have half a bottle). As promised with all Moroccan oils, this brand is suitable for all hair types, BUT I do find it works better than the rest for ethnic and coarse curly types in need of deep control and shine. Orofluido is such a great product, I do not recommned ruining it with additional leave ins; I suggest carrying a small sample size bottle in your purse for touch any necessary ups. Another preferred choice is the Moroccanoil line, which has become the beauty mag favorite. Unlike Orofluido, the Moroccanoil brand offers a full line of products- shampoo, conditioners (light/daily, deep mask), leave in treatments (control, defining and oils), which is great. Another benefit to this brand and its array of options is that one can choose a light or heavy oil or conditioner, a leave in curl definer or one which is specific to curl definition, etc. So in short, the Moroccanoil brand is definately appropriate for all hair types, based on all of these choices. While indeed this brand is my runner up/second choice, I find it somewhat lacking in the shine and control department when it comes to ethnic and thick, coarse, curly or long hair types (such as I have). The leave in oil treatment ($36, 3.4 oz) left my hair soft and smelling great yet did nothing for definition and certainly the shine was nothing to write home about. Likewise the Intense Hydrating Conditioning Mask ( $50, 16.9 oz) gave me zero shine, took my curls completely away and added far too much volume for my hairtype- but certainly it did make my hair as soft as silk. Being that this is the case, I recommend Moroccanoil Brand products more for those with straight and wavy hair looking for repair, strenghtening and volume. For those with thick, frizz prone, long or curly hair, do not fret (esp. if you are dying to try it or have already spent $$$ on it and came out disappointed)-This is still an excellent product provided you keep in mind does not work best as a “wash and go” type line for you. If used as an overnight, you will reep the benefits promised [see my suggestions below]. My 3rd brand choice is a little different from the above, as it doesnt call for a rigerous local huntdown or payday advance and can be found at any local Sally’s Beauty Supply. The One n Only brand carries shampoo, conditioner, a restoirative deep conditioning hair mask, and a leave in oil- each can be purchased for $10. Based on the price, I was highly impressed with these products; while not nearly as excellent as Orofluido, they are practically a doupe of the Moroccanoil brand (in fact I cannot tell the diffenrence). A “one up” they have over Moroccanoil brand, aside from the price difference, is that the frizz/volumizing factor is actually lower and the scenting is stronger (more on par with Orofluido, but lighter). Ingredient wise, pro’s include the omission of sulphates, phosphate and parabens while cons are imho, a pretty long list of additional and dubious uneccessary’s (though to be fair, they aren’t particularly harsh ingredients).  And just like Moroccanoil, there are a lot of cones happening here, which, depending on ones preference can be good or bad (I personally am not on the anti-cone bandwagon, as a simple hair clarifier of shampoo and baking soda every now and again keeps me from buildup suffrage).

Tips:

• Being that mother nature is really working overtime in her hair miracles through this product, it is important to choose  your Moraccan oil carefully- Go with the purest of the pure, or a brand which also adds other secondary beneficial ingredients, as some products jumping on the Argan bandwagon can somewhat negate the benefits by way of adding unhealthy ingredients or small amounts of Argan. So be aware of Argan in ingredients placement (ie top of list or bottom), and whether additional ingredints work synergistically with Argan or counteract them.
• Although Moroccan oils do work for all hair types, some obviously are more suited for one type than another. If your hair is thick, curly, dry/coarse, long, ethnic (Hispanic, black, mixed, Indian, etc) and you find you purchased an expensive brand or product that that imparts too much volume or frizz and the like, use it as an overnight treatment instead of as a wash and go. Deep condition, braid or bun twist and leave overnight; or use wash and go method for ultimate softness but top off with your favorite non MO control products.

Skincare: Us ladies, well, we are always on the hunt for a fountain of youth in a bottle aren’t we? While I wouldn’t say Moroccan oils turn back time in regards to the skin, they do hydrate like nobody’s business and are non-comedogenic so they do not clog pores or cause breakouts. In its purest form, Argan oil is an amazing skin moisturizer which serves as an excellent barrier between skin and environmental pollutants. Liz Earle, of Liz Earle Organics in England states “When I first found argan oil, I brought it back to the U.K. to have it analyzed. It was so remarkably high in vitamin E and had these very interesting phytosterols, which are good for scar tissue for and so many other things including that hard-to-define problem of lackluster skin“. Her Superskin Concentrate contains Argan along with the addition of other beneficial skin loving ingredients, such as Camomile, Neroli and Vitamin E. While this is a great choice from an excellent botanically minded company, there are others I prefer. At $70 per ounce plus the addition of other sort of 101 skincare ingredients which while work great, they are simple and certainly do not justify the pricetag in my book. My #1 pick I have to say is Kae Moroccan Argan Oil ($40), a pure Argan oil which also contains Vitamin E, and is 100% Organic, certified Ecocert, vegan, paraben free, fair trade. I have used both of these brands as face and body treatments, and while the heavens did not open up nor did I hear angels sing opon use, both products surely moisturized my dry skin better than most. As opposed to just moisturizing the top layers as creams do, I feel Argan oil soaks in deep and dries fast. Still, It would be unfair for me to sit here and rave over Moroccan oils as the ultimate beauty elixir for the face, being that I personally get more benefits from hyloronic acid and emu oil. So in keeping within honesty here in blogland, I am highly impressed with Moroccan oils for the hair and body; as far as a facial treatment goes, I dont know how different it is from say cocoa butter,end result wise. Of course if absorption, more of a primer effect, or an extra topical “oomph” (such as over Fruition or serums) is on the agenda, you may be more impressed than I.

While there are many women whose styles I respect, I like to keep the VIP Diva room in my mind down to Queen Coco, Marlene Dietrich, Catherine Deneuve, Joan Crawford, Rita Mareno, Dita Von Teese and Madam Bianca. While I am tempted to add Jane Russell, Elizabeth Taylor, Donatella, Tura Satana and Joan Collins in there, I am trying to avoid cat fights within the delicate walls of my hypothalamus. … Again for the record, no I am not a gay male. But I digress…

Here’s the interesting thing about the 1970’s- when I think of fashion icons of this decade, Other than Jerry Hall Bianca, nothing but men come to mind. Bowie for his crisp Berlin/Heroes look, Halston and YSL for their designs. So in a sense, perhaps Bianca just THAT much of a fashion guru, being that she kicked Le Smoking into high gear with edgy classic femininity. It would have been so easy fto have done it all wrong Annie Hall, in the decade of sequins and polyester, wouldn’t it?  Other than Dietrich, no one has ever rocked the menswear look like Mizz B. And quite frankly, no one since has either.

When you mix beauty, exotica, style, aloofness, mystery and brains, you get one hellofa devaliocious icon.

Bianca Pérez-Mora Macias Jagger: Luxe Blog solutes (and worships) you.

Before I go into this on that let me just say this about that….Do NOT wear leggings as pants! I repeat: Do NOT wear leggings as pants!!!! No one’s ass is nice enough to go here- trust me on this one! Unless you are Pat Benetar circa 1983, the short shirt and legging look is simply unacceptable. Or a jazz dance instructor- that’s the only other exception I can see to the rule here. If you follow the simple golden “tunic” rule (long sweaters, tops and tees) and/or under dresses and skirts this look will work for just about everyone and every size.

Also,  short of a stripper Baryshnikov, I’m sorry but no one can make the Lamé or satin legging trend work (and I don’t even know if he would go there)… Ditto for denim leggings- yuk.  Send this shit back to fashion purgatory please. On the other hand the gloss/high shine/wet look leggings can be fab so long as they are black, your ass is fully covered, the top is a lose long one and not a fitted long one.

And remember its the little details that can make or break this deal too, and I’m not talking about accessories.   stirrups, ripped and patterned=no; ruched bottom=yes. And remember: capris=flats not heels.

Sn my humble opinion, if you stick to the tunic rule anyone can do leggings pretty much any way you want, from casual jcrew types to high fashionistas and all in between. Stay with the program people and you can work a fierce legging look such as any of these:

Get of the mark and you could end up looking like this:

Hot bold Pinks: My #1 hot pink shade pick so far is definitely MAC lipstick in Girl about Town ($14.00). I picked this one up in March or April on a whim (aka when utilizing the Back to Mac program getting 3 free lipsticks) and I must say it was a surprisingly fine choice. It’s a creamy opaque in a bright pink & fuchsia shade and there is absolutely no color change from container to lips, which is incredibly rare for bright shades. It’s a rich deep bright pink, if that makes sense! Coming in at a close second would be Centrifuchsia by Lime Crime ($16.00) and Rebel by Mac ($14.00). In comparison to GAT, Centrifishcia is a tad shinier and thinner while Rebel is not quite as rich in pigment, a lighter hot pink yet just as bright. While the color difference between the two shades is only by a smidgen, I would say (IMHO) based on undertones that Girl About Town really pops on more pale skin while Rebel is amazing on darker skin.  Show Orchid (MAC) is comparable to the above two but is more “see through”. Being that this is the case, I imagine that it goes on differently for everyone and can be enhanced (either lighter or brighter) by layering. While I wouldn’t dare add gloss to Girl about Town, Show Orchid would be a great back up if you desire to have a “Mac Glass”look.  If your looking more for a transparent brightness that doesn’t overwhelm, go with Sunrise Fuchsia by Givinchy or Magenta by Motives.

Lilac/Violet/Lavander(ish) Shades: My Hands down, #1 pick here is Up the Amp (MAC)- I wear this one at least once a week. This creamy deep shade is amazing. It’s like magic and looks gorgeous on all skin tones. There’s something crazy about this formula- in fact when I’m grabbing lippies out of my handbag, this one looks like any of my beige neutrals at first glance bc its sort of mauve but then goes on amazingly deep Violet color. [MAC, please someday start putting the names of shades on the side of containers for us addicts, will ya?!]. Also good are Airborne Unicorn by Lime Crime, Lavender Whip by Mac, and the more subtle Iced Lavender by NYX.. And don’t forget: Lavender-ish shades can be a little unforgiving, they really need to be tried out to find what works. I don’t suggest ordering on line and please whatever you do, don’t go Matte. Understandably, if this color trend continues into Winter (which I am betting it will with variations), save it for then. That is, if you can get away with it- these bright and purplish hues are much more flattering in a non mutted state of color.

Magenta & Purple Shades: While I haven’t personally hit the electrified Magenta lippie market yet simply because Purple and reds have always been my staple “go to” look when I feel like something different, little birdies are telling me its all about Rock Chick by Lancôme. If you’re a brave soul with a darker edge,  go deeply bold with Rebel (a vivid purple) or Cyber (a majorly bright deep purple), both by MAC.

The key to these bright trends is you want the shade to pop out as Pretty and complimentary, not as 1980’s bright. You know, be subtle in your not so subtleness! And nix the eye shadow, or leave it totally neutral flesh tone. Remember, these shades stand alone. When I’m doing these lippies, I tend to go with just mascara (curling lashes a wee bit more than my usual daytime look to make up for it) and at night I nix the black liner for beautiful bright yet subtle one  in in a complimentary but not overwhelming shade, usually VaVaVoom gel liners in Peakock or Marcasite (by Pritty Kitty of course!).

Believe it or not, I tend to stay away from high end items when it comes to swimwear. Trust me, I have reasons… 1) I find designer swimsuits tend to be made either for the tall but small framed (runway beachwear) or are a bit on the frumpier side (Hamptons Tankini wearing Mother of three); interestingly there isn’t much of an  in between. 2) Swimsuits are like moods to me and i’d rather have numerous ones to choose from. Being that I only do swimwear maybe 2 months out of the year, spending $$$ would break my cardinal rule of purchase justification- the age old price divided by times worn adage.  In my  experience one can find couture like cut, style and fit  without breaking the bank at all types of no name boutiques, especially online. 3) swimwear accessories (sandals, wedges, hats and coverups) are moi imprtante (imho) and tend to be a little on the pricier side. Like you didn’t see that one coming people…

Some women cannot wait for bikini season to start; others fear it year round. I am not going to get into the whole rules of wear or type for shape issue because I think everyone already knows that- or can google it.  Go with the color and style which works for you, have fun and don’t make beach days an event which calls for zanax.  Buy a swimsuit that accentuates what you love, not what you don’t. To me, a great swimsuit is one which makes the woman of any shape or size feel sexy and comfortable, as well as gives off a feeling of vacationing in Majorca or the Greek isles while tanning in your own backyard.

I have never been one for one piece suits but I actually am intrigued by the continuing cut-out trend this year. My shopping addiction shoulder devil was getting the better of me this month, whispering in my ear “common’ ya know ya want that BCBG crochet cutout one piece!” . And my counter acting budgeting angel was shouting into my other ear “No! One pieces only work for skinny mini’s!”… So what’s a gal to do? Well, compromise I suppose, and compromise I did. I knew this was a “trendy” item that most likely won’t go on long, so I picked up an exact mirror image of it insanely cheap.  Surprisingly, this suit works for me- a Puerto Rican lady with a, ehem, curvy build. It actually frames the hips well and is a lot more forgiving than some other cutouts which barely cover the boobage, in which I know for fact would never hold in my chest in or be even remotely flattering. One thing about this suit: I certainly don’t plan to tan in it being that the checkerboard look would probably not work well for me. Its  gonna be my “jump in the hot tub” and lounging mid afternoon go to this summer. As for my bikini purchases this summer, I decided to stick with solid colors with interesting cuts so that I could “get bold” with coverups and jewelry.  I grabbed myself  the Vix Hermanny Cruise, a subtle but gorgeous bikini in black with beige trim which really emphasizes a good tan. Ditto for the Vitamin A bikini in Emerald, a color that really works for me when I am all golden like. Another plus is the criss cross top, which yes, holds the boobage both in and up a lot better than the triangle tops I usually get (in which I have to wrangle with a bit so to assure no one gets a free show).

This summer, I am adoring the beautiful Melissa Odabash resort wear, and beyond in love with her Hermoine bird print coverup. I prefer sheer but patterned, flowy, uniquely cut with interesting lines and (dare I say) boho-ish? So aside from queen Odabash, if your looking for somethingof similar style, I highly recomend Eternal Sunshine Creations, Milly NYC (think Pucci-ish), Trina Turk and Alexis at Bluefly.com. Alternatively, there are plenty of lacey and sheer tunics which would serve as excellent coverups at a fraction of the price of resort wear.  Try Cheap & Chic, the Japanese vrs of Forever 21 (but better) or Ebay.

And what would summer be without sandals and sunnies. This year, both Michael Kors (the Palm Beach line) and Calvin Klein have really outdone themselves with inexpensive yet adorable wedges under $100. Comfy, not too high of a heel yet high enough to make your legs really stand out in that bikini. If your into going flat, check out all of the adorable flowered sandals available from one of my faves, Poetic License. . . Being that I am a sunnie-aholic, I’m all set for sunglasses. Not to mention I notice designers are slowing the production over oversized sunnies this year, so in my disappointment I will be saving $$.

While your spending summer cash, it would be remiss for me to not drop the “S” bomb here. PLEASE replenish your sunscreen supplies and be sure to order one of the few which contain Mexoryl, well-known all over the world to protect skin from cancer and wrinkle-causing UVA rays (Most sunscreens only protect against UVB rays). Mexoryl SX (also called ecamsule) and Mexoryl XL are highly effective chemical sun filters widely used in sunscreens throughout Europe and Canada. Available commercially here.

My Summer Must Haves: Crochet White Suit ($50), Hermanny Cruise Bikini by Vix Swimwear ($120), Emerald Cruise Bikini by Vitamin A ($150), Hermoine Bird Print Coverup ($600), Michael Kors gold Palm Beach Wedge Sandal ($90).

Luckily my inner psychic fashionista saw this one coming. Ok, that’s a lie, I have always just been a sucker for collecting animal pieces and now I can finally somewhat justify it (get off my property shopaholics anonymous sponsor!).

Unless you’re a toddler, be careful to toe the line between tacky and tre eccentric chic. Use invisible caution “do not cross” crime scene tape of the mind on this one or indeed it can get ugly. While everyone does accessorizing differently, this is a trend which definitely calls for careful planning.

Number one rule: Keep it simple. My advice is do not dare to rock this formally unless your outfit is completely plain and devoid of pattern or embroidery. If that is the case, it actually has an insanely lovely effect relaying an incredibly subtle eccentricity. Rule #2: I find the most flattering way to do zoo couture is by keeping clothing very simple. The animal trend is perfect with a simple outfit because it highlights it. While all black soho bitch is my favorite way to go, I’ll save this one for the colder season. As for summer, think revitalized resort look here; big hat, heels, a hot bathing suit and an animal bracelet or wring while sipping a long island ice tea. Rule #3 (well actually more like number one): Quality, quality, quality! Don’t confuse quality with cost in this trend- I am actually amazed at how many exquisite pieces I have found that look amazingly high end for a fraction. [Note: online store emitations has adorable animal jewelry ranging $150-$300 but if you browse Ebay, you will find the exact same items through various Asian dealers for $7-$25 each.] By all means if you can afford to go couture, do it- if it’s Boucheron or Cartier its art, it’s an investment after all. But if you cannot, carefully examine items for smooth lines and curves, well placed stones, high quality clasps, etc. When it comes to non designer zoo pieces, gold overlay (as apposed to solid and filed) adds to the high end illusion as well as works well for summer… Oh and most importantly- which I cannot actually even believe I have to say but…. Keep it to one piece at a time, ok ladies? This goes for other jewelry. This is such an “in your face” trend that self awareness is definitely your best friend here. Trust me ladies, if you are not careful, you will go from Paris fashion street to Jersey shore so fast you wont even know what hitcha. While we have made many advancements in our modern age, there is still no cure for Liberace Syndrome (I personally would like to donate to the scientific vaccine research).

Left to Right: Antique estate multi colored diamond hedghog ring ($5,000), MVee Diamond frog ring ($ ), Boucheron frog ring (abt $20,000), Boucheron Chameleon ring ($29,000), Cartier yellow diamond and onyx jaguar ring ($50,000), Cartier diamond and emerald crocodile necklance, Elsa Peretti snake necklace by Tiffany (abt $5,000), Butler and Wilson Panda swarovski bangle (abt $150), Owl ring by Noir, Octopus cocktail ring ($130), Salamander swarovski bangle, Elephant bangle, Haley’s snake bracelet ($800).

Models will take to the runway in the Grand Ballroom of the Westin St. Francis wearing pieces from Michael Kors’s Fall 2010 ready-to-wear collection.  This year’s event is also moving in an exciting new direction in that instead of a luncheon, as in years past, the Auxiliary will host it as an evening event, beginning with a cocktail party, followed by a live auction and runway show.

Guests who purchase Grand Benefactor and Benefactor tickets will be able to attend a dinner with Michael Kors in the Alexandra Room at the St. Francis immediately following the runway show!  The event, which is sponsored and produced by Saks Fifth Avenue, takes place April 28, 2010.

The minimum price for a Benefactor ticket is $575 per ticket (which includes dinner), but lesser priced tickets are also available for purchase at sfballet.org

Nicholas Kirkwood is an extraordinary British shoe designer who began his sexy avant garde footwear line 4 years ago. His designs are fashion forward and feminine, mixing elements of architectural design with vintage luxury and edgy modern innovation. His creations are stand out and give Dior, YSL and Louboutin a run for their money- literally, at half the price (typically $600 pr pair). In my opinion, he has the competitive edge.

The Marchesa RTW Spring 2010 line is jam packed with layer after layer of femme detail. The spring line calls on Asian inspirations, but not overwhelmingly so. I see much more vintage ball room here. The details on these gowns are subtly eccentric without being scandalous, completely devoid of trends yet with a modern edge to classic designs.

Every piece in this collection is dreamlike and elegant. It’s so beautiful its difficult to sum up really. Think Betsey Johnston for grown ups with places to be and add a dash of YSL Haute Couture and you’ve nailed it.

Below are my favorite 10 designs from the Spring collection in no particular order; they are all so beautiful I love them pretty much equally. Take heed readers:  There is a distinct possibility I may die if I do not get the embroidered black tulle long gown (photo 1), B&W floral laser cut strapless dress (photo 2), and the lilac ombre tea length (photo 8).

The Marchesa Spring 2010 collection is presently available in Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman in the United States, Harrods in London, and specialty boutiques such as Holt Renfrew in Canada, Podium in Russia, Alothman in Kuwait, Boutique1 in Dubai, and Joyce and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong. You can view the entire collection at the Marchesa www.

From Left to Right: 1) Embroidered black tulle long gown with draped sleeve, 2) Black and white floral laser cut duchess satin strapless dress, 3) Crepe column gown with embroidered wrap bodice, 4) Silver bugle bead strapless column gown with embroidered ruffle detail and tulle skirt, 5) Nude one shoulder draped tulle strapless gown with embroidered ebony flowers,6) Juniper embroidered tulle gown with pleated petal skirt, 7) Wisteria chiffon embroidered draped gown, Lilac ombre tulle draped tea length dress with organza flower detail, 9) White organza tea length dress with embroidered tulle bodice, 10) Silver embroidered platinum crepe column gown with flared cascade skirt