This story picks up in January when I knew I had to secure a dress for the fab Zac Posen event in Toronto, held at the end of April 2014. Back in January I spied a beauty of a gown on Moda Operandi’s VINTAGE VANGUARD collection (www.modaoperandi.com).

Zac Posen and model Karen Elson for Moda Operandi’s Vintage Vanguard. Photo courtesy of VOGUE.

Sweaty ladies: (left to right) Gisele strolls Manhattan in Kenzo’s single eye sweat top; Christopher Kane’s S/S2014 runway; stylist and former model Hanneli Mustaparta at Paris fashion week.

I remember the first time I sprinkled M&Ms on my movie theatre popcorn. My mind was literally blown…it shouldn’t have worked but it was fabulous. Exactly the feeling I had when I saw the street style shots from New York, Paris and London wherein 90’s style sweatshirts were hooking up with tailored skirts, skinny jeans, heeled sandals and single soled pointy pumps. It was as if worlds had collided and Friday night out was now partnering with Saturday morning in. Just like the chocolate complimented the buttery saltiness, the humble frump of the sweatshirt compliments the acute fit of a sharp mid-length skirt and a Swiss-Army-knife sleek shoe. Ditto the effect when the shapeless upper is bottomed out with skinny jeans or an elegant ladylike skirt. 

Midway on the runway AW2013 as seen at (left to right): Victoria Beckham, Celine and Haider Ackermann.

It’s time to raid your closet and ask yourself this compelling question. The current hemline for skirts, the one to be wearing right now, is the midi. It started last year, when houses like Miu Miu went full on midi for SS2013. At the AW2013 collections (shown in February/March), it was the only length the frowers were wearing. This season it has really arrived. No longer dowdy, today’s midi skirt is sleek, feminine and surprisingly sexy. Credit the likes of Mrs Beckham, Sienna M and Carine Roitfeld for giving midis their  sultry seals of approval and thereby propelling them to superstar status. 

Animal graphic sweaters and sweat shirts are an easy way to update your casual look in a jiffy. They’re PETA approved and take solid separates or denim from meh to (to quote Seinfeld’s Kenny Bania)”Gold Jerry, gold!”. Who wouldn’t love the raw fierceness of Givenchy’s Rottweiler tee, especially as seen on the likes of Liv Tyler? Buyer beware: this is a trend that may be in for now but don’t blink because it will be over and done with by January. 

At 3.1 Phillip Lim, models tied one on, on the runway.

There was a time…back in the day…when tying a garment of clothing at the waist was a perfectly acceptable practice. Then came Y2K and we all embraced a sense of pristine put togetherness. Good news; that 90’s vibe of grunge-ish nonchalance has once again resurfaced, and is the ideal way to season a middle-of-the-road outfit with a bohemia flavour. A few points to keep in mind in order to pull off the unstudied vibe:LENGTH AND POSITIONING ARE KEYThe tied shirt or sweater must reach your knees. Also, you’ll have to determine if you want it tight to the waist (tailored) or relaxed on the hips (grunge).

Paris Vogue’s Emmanuelle Alt (front of the line) and one of her minions work white jeans in   Paris’ chilly February air.

Today is Labor Day. For some, this day marks a return to school studies. For others, like myself, it usually marks the time of year the whites (shoes, pants, skirts) are relegated to the rear of the closet until some time near the end of next May. It’s been a fashion unspoken rule adhered to as strictly as “never wear stockings with open-toed shoes”. So imagine my dazed and confused state when I spied the fashion doyenne, Emmanuelle Alt (the Paris VogueEmmanuelle Alt), wearing (gasp!) white jeans in February. Leave it to her ALTerior trail blazing nature to take an ancient fashion “must not” and smash it to bits. 

Summer Days: Relaxing in my Bikini Lovers bandeau, Cartier aviators and J.Crew hat.

Well hello there. Apologies for being out of sight and out of touch for so long. Had to iron out some wrinkles with the blog and am happy to report all is pressed and crisp; ready to wear. Kinda ironic that my last post was that iconic shot of JLaw tripping up the stairs at the Oscars. Just as she picked herself up and moved on, so is Sparkles and Feathers and Newsprint. You will notice some changes as well…mostly the tone will be a little less serious and a little more conversational. After all, we’re old friends now, aren’t we?
Rather than simply skim over my closet activities since March (what?), I’m going to do a fashion flash and catch everyone up in a jiffy. Hold on to your hangers…

I am neither an art director nor in the business of public relations, but if I was…does it get any better than this?

A Lanvin dress (from Spring 2012) with snake-effect embellishment.

Sunday February 10th marks the start of the Chinese New Year…capturing the feel of Chinese New Year in your wardrobe is simple: stick to a colour palette of black, red, gold and orange. An all black ensemble with a shot of gold and a red lip and nail is a subtle approach. The more daring can incorporate Eastern influences like a mandarin collar, clean lines and capped sleeves or sleeveless uppers(calling to mind the style of a classic cheongsam).

Anna Dello Russo in Piers Atkinson’s “Cherry” hat, Gaga’s “meat” dress and Katy Perry’s “cupcake” bra: surreal style.

Elsa Schiaparelli’s shoe hat really pioneered the spirit of the trend. It’s not for everyone, especially not for those who prefer to fly under the radar. If it had to have a spokesmodel these days, Anna Dello Russo and her Piers Atkinson cherry fascinator would merit my vote, with Gaga (meat dress) or Katy Perry (cupcake bra) coming in a close second. Surrealism in fashion. It’s bold, cheeky and almost always rated over-the-top. This season both garments and accessories appeared with surreal connections. The brash and striking points of reference are perfectly suited to fall/winter fashion. Success usually comes with one touch and for those of us not comfortable in a feathered frock like Bjork’s 2001 Oscar’s “swan dress”, that nudge is best kept light and subtle.