Currently Craving: Beyond My Means

1. Jillian Lewis Puzzle Piece Pants
2. Deux Lux Drawstring Bucket Bag
3. Forever 21 Faux Leather Shorts
4. byCORPUS Leopard Bow Blouse
5. Pencey Open-Back Dress
6. Balmain Suede Buckled Ankle Boots

Clearly what I want and what I can afford are two very different things! Take these Balmain booties I spotted on Nitrolicious - ever since I saw them I've been dreaming about how much better they would make every outfit in my closet. But at $1,195 they can't ever be mine, unless perhaps I won the lottery? And the Jillian Lewis Puzzle Piece Pants - I loved Jillian on Project Runway, and her Fall 2009 collection is absolutely divine, but $700 for what are essentially a pair of tights? No can do. And so I must move on and try to drown my sorrows at Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters. Wish me luck!

And now for some biased reporting on Balmain F/W 09.10

I am shamelessly obsessed with both Decarnin's Balmain and Erin Wasson, so when you put the two together I can barely contain my shrieks. The Balmain F/W 09.10 collection, while sticking closely to the Decarnin formula of recent years, is so fantastic in its design and execution. The over-emphasized shoulders, the quilted leather, the sequins, the studs - it teeters towards being over-the-top, and ends up falling somewhere between chic and gaudy. Which I mean as a compliment, really!

The dresses are all stunning, similar to last seasons but why mess with perfection? Also, I predict that we'll see similar emphasized-shoulder blazers on many fashionistas come Fall/Winter 2009. And the slit-front harem pants... well, those may be a miss, one of few in this collection of hits! Unfortunately, Balmain is insanely priced, but honestly I'd sell a few unnecessary organs for a Balmain dress or two!

Ok, so after that love-fest I may need you all to bring me down to earth. What do you think of the collection (view the whole show here)? Too same-old, same-old? Too over-the-top? Or are you swooning just like I am? Let me know!

Pics from Style

If you love me, won't you let me know?

My dream Christmas List:

Either this Balmain Spring 09 Ready-to-Wear Dress (and I'll take the shoes!),

...Or this Balmain Spring 09 Ready-to-Wear Dress (btw this is the dress SJP is wearing in the post below).
Unfortunately you can't buy either dress online, but this is my dream Xmas list, and in my dream whoever is buying me one of these has the same kind of hookup as SJP and can get me one before they're available to the public!

These Yves Saint Laurent sandals come in blue and black, and I'm definitely feeling the blue.

These Marni Rubber Mary-Jane pumps are so cute, and they almost look like they could be comfortable - well as comfortable as 4 inch heels can be.

I need a little black dress, and what better than this stunning Alexander McQueen Satin one-shoulder dress?

Lastly, I would love these studded Fendi Peep toe platforms, and they're actually on sale right now! It's a Christmas miracle!


Pictures from Style.com, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-a-Porter, Eluxury

Is this legal? Balmain Fringed Boots

First up, the original version, Balmain's Fringed Leather boots for $1,025 at net-a-porter.

And now for the "inspired by" styles. Here's the Flare BK boots for $99 from Bakers.

And here's the Black Suede Fringe Lace Up Moccasin Ankle Boots for $23 at Ami Clubwear.Which would you choose?