22.11.2010



Be still our beating hearts! Alber Elbaz's Lanvin Hearts H&M collection hit selected H&M stores in the US  last Saturday. The Rest of the World however, would have to wait till tomorrow, November 23rd 2010. “It’s very Lanvin. It’s very much our world, our aesthetic,” Elbaz told Women's Wear Daily magazine. “It’s all the pieces we’ve done yesterday and not pieces we will do tomorrow.” The designer also added that this isn’t Lanvin going mass market, rather, this is “H&M going luxury.”  Call it what you may, Alber - a rose by any other name smells just as sweet....

The one-off capsule collection carries everything from ruffled party frocks, embellished T-shirts, coats, eveningwear, shoes, accessories and even lipstick, at high-street prices. Below are just some of the covetable and TOTALLY mouth-watering items from the collection that we're so obssessed with (can you blame us?):



What we would do to get our hands on the fuschia one-shoulder frock with the signature Lanvin ribbon belt or the leopard court shoes with diamante-encrusted heels and ribbon-tied ankle straps....*Sigh*


xoxo



"There is a fountain of youth: It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age." - Sophia Loren, Italian actress

xoxo



America’s sweetheart and country music phenom Taylor Swift may be easy on the eyes, but she’s no show pony. On the contrary, this girl’s got some serious credentials under her belt. Taylor’s recently been listed as one of the most influential people in 2010 by Time Magazine and to date, she’s won a whopping 67 awards which include 4 Grammys and 6 American Music awards. She writes all her own songs, her country/pop crossover sophomore album “Fearless” is the biggest selling of 2009, and her just released third album “Speak Now” is set to record the biggest first-week album sales by any artiste for 2010, according to Billboard. As if that is not enough, Nielsen SoundScan listed Taylor Swift as the top-selling digital artist in music history with over 28 million digital tracks sold. She’s also CoverGirl’s latest spokesperson (her ads will debut in January 2011). Oh btw, did we mention that she’s only 20 years old?

And so it seems that Taylor has an ingĂ©nue appeal and BFF-relatability that's hard not to swoon over! Her personal style has a touch of witty romance and that certain not-a-girl-but-not-yet-a-woman youthful energy. Always age-appropriately dressed, she prefers pretty floral dresses when going about her everyday business and glams up with lots of sparkle when walking the red carpet. She claims to be “a big people-watcher” and apparently gets many a style inspiration from her fans. We’ve now got our eye on you, gurrl. Taking cue from her simple and feminine sartorial sensibilities, we’ve put together for you a collection of knockout pieces (including vintage floral dresses from one of her favourite designers, Betsey Johnson*) to get you looking fashionable a la Swift!


1. Betsey Johnson Blue Floral Dress [AC203]
This dress in the prettiest blue hue will surely help you stand out from the garden variety and completely echoes the spirit of Taylor’s sweet, girly style. For more cover, balance this floaty feminine style with a denim jacket and finish with metallic flats or neutral pumps. Betsey Johnson dress is fitted at the waist, has thin adjustable shoulder straps, a V-neck, square back, and concealed zip. Size P. 100% rayon. Length from shoulder to hem is approximately 35" (88cm). Made in USA. Dry clean. RM129.

2. Betsey Johnson Yellow Floral Dress [AC204]
Lift your mood and your style credentials with this cheerful yellow floral print dress. Our stylish subject added a little bit of on-trend edginess to her blossoming dress by pairing it with camel-coloured booties. Betsey Johnson dress is sleeveless, has an empire waistline, a scoop neck, a round back, comes with a beige slip and simply slips on. Size 6. 100% polyester. Length from shoulder to hem is approximately 38" (96cm). Made in USA. Dry clean. RM149.

*Taylor Swift was quoted by People magazine as saying, "On the road, I love wearing sun dresses. Some of my favorite things to wear are by Alice + Olivia, Rebecca Taylor, Betsey Johnson, Anthropologie, and Urban Outfitters."


When on the red carpet, Taylor still maintains her signature romantic and feminine air, but ups the level of sophistication a notch or two with guileless ease (or so it seems!). Far from being a country bumpkin, she’s clearly come into her own style wise - slowly but surely her flair for fashion has emerged and they keep getting better! For example, we like how she put her own spin on a polka dot dress with a refreshing ladylike shape (note the cinching at the waist and peekaboo lace detailing) by pairing it with the ubiquitous camel-coloured booties. Or how she took a chance with a Victorian-inspired ensemble comprising a ruffled blouse, tiered skirt, knee-high lace-up boots and patterned tights - pieces that you wouldn't think would work together, but yet the resulting look is an unexpected, delightful surprise  - just like Taylor herself. Consider the following wallet-friendly options which we've curated to help you snag Taylor’s lovely looks without breaking the bank!

1. Zara Polka Dot Wrap Dress [AC205]
Haute spots. This form flattering polka dot wrap dress is an impeccable alternative to Taylor’s option and will make for easy-dressing-but-won’t-cramp-my-style everytime. The side-tie calls attention to the waist, while fluid draping follows your curves and shows off your waistline. While an occasional problem with tie-waist dresses is keeping them closed, the wrap here is a red herring! Zara dress is semi-fitted, has short cap sleeves, a plunging wrap-over V-neck (may require wearing a cami underneath) and a self-tie around the waist. Simply slips on. Length from shoulder to hem is approximately 41" (104cm).   100% viscose. Size M. RM110.

2. Zara Silk-Cotton Blouse with Ruffle Detailing [AC206]
Taylor’s look is easy enough to achieve with this beige sheer silk-cotton blouse with ruffle detailing. Balance the feminine frills with a black pencil skirt for a chic evening combination. Zara blouse has a ruffled collar, long sleeves with elasticated gathering at back and concealed hook and eye enclosures in front. Size L. 30% silk 70% cotton. RM59.

3. Zara Black Pencil Paneled Skirt [AC207] SOLD
The horizontal panels on this sleek black pencil skirt provide a stylish update on a timeless wardrobe staple. Zara skirt has a concealed zip on the side and falls approximately 23" (58cm) to hem. Size S. 73% viscose, 23% polyamide, 4% elasthane. Never been worn.

Free delivery to anywhere in Peninsular Malaysia for purchases of RM50 or more.

For further information or to purchase, please contact:
taitaitwins[at]gmail.com.

xoxo




 
We were privileged enough to be invited to MIFW's Afternoon tete-a-tete showcasing the ready-to-wear collections of several of Malaysia's up and coming designers. There is clearly a wealth of talent in the country and we are thrilled to see the diversity of aesthetics presented by this creative bunch - we saw bold colours, lots of dresses in various lenghts and intricate embroidery. We also saw some re-invention of the classics - where the silhouette looks familiar but the difference lies in the details.


A picture is worth a thousand words, so...without further ado, here's a look at some of the highlights (i.e. our favourites!) from the show:


Oscar Ng

   Syomir Izwa

Syomir Izwa

Asian Atelier by Alin Anuar

Shinju Pearls

Syomir Izwa

Asian Atelier by Alin Anuar

xoxo