Giuseppe Zanotti-UN GENIO!

Giuseppe Zanotti, my ALL TIME favorite shoe designer has done it again. His Fall/Winter 2009 collection makes me drool as if I were a dog begging for a bone. His shoes are so luxurious, expensive, and sexy, I feel sinful even looking at them.

Before I show you two photo's of 2 different pairs of boots by this O so talented man, here's a brief history on this genius' past and how he came to be one of the world's most famous and talked about designers.

Zanotti was born in San Mauro Pascoll, an Adriatic town with a long tradition of shoemaking. He has been working on his masterpieces for over twenty years, beginning as a design apprentice before making a name for himself as a footwear designer for Italian and international companies. After a long time working under other peoples orders, he finally decided to try his hand in his own business.

The uniqueness of Giuseppe Zanotti's pumps, sandals and boots are that they consummate synthesis of design awareness and quality.

“design awareness keeps you up to speed with the major trends that, season after season, dominate the worlds of ready to wear and haute couture; and it's also important for building up a repertory of ideas and images taken from music videos, from art, the cinema, from design, in short from everything which reflects changing fashions,” explains Zanotti. “Technique and taste work in a reciprocal relationship, allowing all these ideas to come together.”

Another very important quote by the designer, that might just be what makes him so modern and different from any other-

“The way the shoe is crafted is essential for its success, without the skills of the shoemaker the collection can never take form.”

Now, finally, enjoy two of my favorite Giuseppe Zanotti boots from his Fall/Winter season:

Comfort + Warmth = Winter - From UGG to Mou

So, we all know the immense attention and popularity of the "O SO" overestimated UGG boots in the United States during the past few Fall and Winter seasons. Thankfully, there is good news this Winter, now there is a much upgraded kind of UGG boot out there that is extremely well hand-crafted, extraordinarily comfortable and just a tad bit more expensive than the actual UGG's that were the talk of the town for WAY TOO LONG.

Although UGG's were/are the most comfortable winter shoes on earth, we must admit they were/are not quite the most attractive boots. The "Mou Accessories" line, based out of the United Kingdom has come out with the perfect solution! Boots that can be just as fashionable as they are comfortable, or at least I think so!

Their products are featured for sale on websites such as net-a-porter.com, and their very own site: http://www.mou-online.com/

Here's a look at this seasons best by Mou-

Marithé François Girbaud

French based clothing company Marithé François Girbaud was founded in 1969 by husband and wife, François and Marithé Girbaud.

Due to the war-like urban feeling of the clothes, the company gained popularity in the suburban and urban communities of the United States, but in my opinion, it is still not as well known as it should be throughout the entire nation considering how spectacular the designs are and how well crafted each piece is.

Although they are mostly specialized in casual clothing, for the most part jeans, their look is so unique and raw that the brand has become iconic, and even infamous after a notorious campaign ad featuring pictures of Jesus' last supper where the apostles had been replaced by women. These ad's were banned in France and Italy because of how controversial they were considered to be.

Although I have not yet seen much designs by Marithé François Girbaud in stores around the Midwest, where I am currently residing, I have found many of their fabulous designs for sale on websites such as farfetch.com-one of my favorite international shopping websites!

If you like these outfits below as much as I do, I strongly suggest checking out more designs on the site, and while you're there, explore the most unbelievable collection of designers and boutiques from all over the world as well!

Rodarte-Kate and Laura Mulleavy

The sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy must have had quite the mundane adolescence, which I have come to the conclusion of because of their rebellious fashion during latter years in life.

Either it was that, or the sisters never got over those crazy young sexy hot days as teenagers!

Both sisters graduated from U.C. Berkeley in Pasadena, California. Which I would have NEVER guessed in a million years after researching their "look," since it is anything BUT "California Girl" inspired, how stereotypical of me. My apologies.

After their first and O so small collection (only 10 pieces!), the girls were lucky enough to catch the eye of some of fashions most powerful slave's-Anna Wintour and department stores such as Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys, and THANK GOD THEY DID!

A few years later, these two unstoppable sisters are some of the most talked about Haute Couture designers in the world. Their fashion style is edgy, diabolic, eccentric, beautiful, HOT, and totally NOT affordable. But, for what it is, you would expect no cheap tag. The designs are full of character and shape!

-How wonderful it would be if we could all dress in such costume-like designs everyday and not be looked at like were out of this world. I would do it in a heartbeat! Specially if I could afford it!

Roland Mouret

After months in Parisian fashion college during the year of 1979, Mouret developed his style and unique look that makes women's shape be visualized as sophisticated yet sexy in a very professional manner.

The designer has been known to say he hates Spanx, which I believe is why his clothes look good no matter what! This might also be because he struggled and lacked skill in garment construction before becoming famous.

Now, he tries and definitely succeeds in making women of all ages, shapes and sizes feel confident and comfortable in their bodies, just the way they are, without the help of any body shaping second skin-like material. His fashion exudes unbelievable amounts of sensuality and makes any woman completely irrésistible! He is most famous perhaps for his "Galaxy" dress, which was debuted in his Spring 2006 collection. The dress was named among many things "the dress of the season."

Hollywood A-listers such as the very posh Victoria Beckham, the almost too sensual Dita Von Teese, and the always so glamorous Claudia Schiffer have all been seen in his fabulous constructions! As usual, a few images await your sparkling eyes right below this text! Enjoy Mon Chéri!

Alexandre Herchcovitch

Designer Alexandre Herchcovitch, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been rocking the Brazilian runways since 1994 with his unusual, at times politically charged constructions. Although sometimes his clothes might have a controversial religious aspect or something of that sort, for the most part they are beautiful, fantasy inspired creations that are HAUTE! Below are some photos of my favorite past looks and one photo of the designer himself.

Adriana Barra

Brazilian designer Adriana Barra, in my opinion, somehow manages to bring rhythm to her clothes. Her prints remind anyone who sees them of the beautiful colors, sounds, landscape and spirit of Brazil and its vibrant people. Her website is unlike any I have ever seen. It shows the designers personality in a friendly warm way that ends up being quite personal and unique.

Instead of having a mundane look and feel, the site captivates its viewers with an unusual collage like "visual" that represents all the things Ms. Barra loves in general. Her biography, much like her website, is unique in the sense that it includes unfinished sentences in purple and then the designers handwriting right below answering whatever each sentence means to ask. The "questions," or such, tell the user random fun information such as what the designer's fundamental accessories are, and what is an indispensable make-up product in her opinion, among other things. For more information on this brilliant, beautiful, talented woman, check out her equally successful website-http://www.adrianabarra.com.br

Winter Necessities-OVER THE KNEE BOOTS

Okay, I admit it, I'm a bit obsessed with both boots and just any kind of footwear (if you haven't already noticed). BUT, this winter has just been sort of kind of heaven to me and torture at the same time, specially since most boots are OVER THE KNEE and suede!

It's almost as if I've been dreaming of them for the longest time but have never really seen one at a store or website.

And now, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE! Prada, YSL, Donna Karan, Stuart Weitzman, Christian Louboutin, LD Tuttle... and the list goes on and on and on.

ALL of them, my favorite shoe designers, doing my favorite most perfect dream boots. If only they just gave us young girls a break and BIG discount simultaneously! That would probably then be considered heaven on earth, at least for me that is.

Drool with me over two of my favorite designs this season... That's the least we (or maybe just me?!) can really do about it at the moment.

JOIE
Coachella Above the Knee Boots:


LD Tuttle
The Shaper Flat Boots:


Both boots can be found on-
http://www.shopbop.com/
For sale.

PERFECT WINTER BOOTS!

"These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do! One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you."

Stuart Weitzman has literally designed the most perfect boots for winter that I have ever witnessed. Although the trend nowadays is the O so popular "Over The Knee" look, I believe these will do just fine, and will be easier to wear with just ANYTHING.

Even though they are not quite O.T.K., the price is right (for leather designer boots that is), and the comfort is right ON! Trust me, I speak from experience. They may seem WAY too high heeled, but, they are actually not so bad at all since there is a hidden platform besides the actual heel.

If you are by any chance looking for the most gorgeous-go with anything-under $600 boots, well my friend, look NO further.

-A singularly commanding statement, these pull-on suede (sort of) over-the-knee boots feature ankle seam detail and a square toe. 1.5" covered and hidden platform and 5" covered heel. 17" shaft and 14.5" circumference. Rubber sole.

Check it out-
Stuart Weitzman Tubular Suede Square Toe Platform Boots:


Or, for a more casual/everyday kind of look-
Stuart Weitman Tubular Square Toe Platform Boots:

OSKLEN-Oskar Metsavaht

Oskar Metsavaht is both theoretically a film director and realistically a renown talented Brazilian designer. He explains in his website:

"My creative process begins with a scene, a history, a style, a concept that I create from something that I wished or lived. From this point, I create the environment, the atmosphere, the looks and the attitudes. In most cases, I have the concept of the campaign before the collection."

"The pieces are drawn to be the figurine of my film. And it is impossible to "watch" in each detail of my collection. I am only satisfied when proposed elements for each piece, the colors, the textures and the silhouettes start being used by the characters of the film I made."

What more can explain his fabulously cinematic, futuristic, empowered clothing? Well, maybe only a taste of his creations-