Gonna go BACK in time!

CoutureCarrie is loving backless dresses, and lucky for us, all three of these beauties are currently on sale at Neiman Marcus! Counterclockwise from top, Marc Jacobs chiffon-sleeve silk wrap dress; Rachel Roy jeweled cutout dress (do I detect some side-boob?); Valentino Roma bow-back dress.

HEAD GAMES

The options are limitless for crown adornment these days. While Mary-Kate Olsen was lambasted for wearing the Marc Jacobs Jazzercise-inspired headband pictured above in a recent W Magazine spread, she was ahead of the fashion curve and should be applauded! Below, HEADGEAR REDUX:

THE TIARA: overused by brides, pageant winners, and royalty; underused by the rest of us! Would that we could get our hands on the fabulous pieces worn at the recent Chanel Couture show (runway detail photo at right courtesy style.com)!

HEADBAND: the Stacey Lapidus three-row crystal band (above left) is very Blair Waldorf - try it! Go to http://staceylapidus.com/insideha1.cfm. Couture Carrie also enjoy the SATC-ified the Jane Tran flower/feather version, pictured at left.

WRAP: whether DIY or J. Crew "no-hassle" (pictured at right and available in a variety of preppy patterns at jcrew.com), the headscarf is an excellent summer solution, whether your problem is overheating, frizz, or chemically-treated, sun-phobic tresses.

I LOVE THE 80s

It’s official . . . they’re baaaaaaack. To jog your memory, see the cinematic wonders of the decade at http://www.fast-rewind.com/. Dress the part with fluorescent socks; Madonna bracelets; Jordache jeans; Vans, jellies, tricked-out Nikes or patent pumps; leg warmers or stirrup pants; Wayfarers; and dangly bright plastic earrings. While the iconic pieces pictured in the collage above are all "vintage", the rest of this post consists entirely of CURRENT fashion trends, all nods to the past but available NOW!

Some famous 80s labels that have recently reinvented themselves include: Lacroix, Halston, and Norma Kamali, and Ossie Clark. Other 80s trends that have been resurrected? Sperry Topsiders; Moon Boots; Tretorns; bodysuits; lanyards; and side ponytails. And don’t forget about Member Only jackets like this delightmare gold version at right, for purchase at traceyross.com !

An undeniably retro look by Enrico Coveri (photo at right taken from Italian Vogue’s coverage of the fall runway shows in Milan) is the modern embodiment of the 80s bright minidress, tights and booties trend. Awesome!

Ra Creations reminds us simultaneously of feather-trim roach clips and friendship bracelets with this Marykate peacock hair clip, for purchase at shopbop.com. Dope!

Don't forget your leggings! Whether they are leopard or lace, like Kova and T's (pictured at right and available at ronherman.com). Apparently Lindsay Lohan, determined to see that her favorite clothing item remains on the radar, has jumped on the legging-design bandwagon (though I have yet to see her creations in any store). Rad!

Of course, we all know how to channel the 80s with some fab retro sneakers. But how to go dressy, you ask? Darlings, fear not: the deliciously decadent footwear for Fall 2008 will keep you right in step with the Wall Street crew.

Just check out these fluorescent pink Emilio Pucci patent leather lace-up boots (at right).

Or, even more tragically hip, Christian Louboutin's ridiculously patterned leather and suede high-heel boots (at left). Both photos via style.com. Bitchin'!

I totally did a Jane Fonda double-take when I saw this photo of a performance by Girls Aloud at dailymail.com/uk. Holy leotards, Batman!

Well, darlings, it is true: girls just wanna have fun!

Full Sized Legos For Grown Ups: LunaBlocks by Lunatic Construction

Designed and created by Thierry Nahon & Philippe Landecker, LunaBlocks are based on an original concept, the transformation and enlargement of bricks used in building games for children. (Gee, do you think they are referring to Legos®? Duh.)

Easily stacked together, functional and totally versatile, LunaBlocks are designed for the world of decoration and for the home.

Whether in the form of design objects, structures, contemporary furnishings or lighting, LunaBlocks may be used for any decorative idea. They may be adapted to any combination of materials and used in all sorts of architectural contexts.







Available in sets of one, two, four or eight pegs, LunaBlocks are made of innovative and timeless materials, including acrylic glass, Arpro®, metal and concrete.

Light and compact, opaque, transparent or luminous, the LunaBlocks series includes

LunaGlass:



Made of PMMA (Altuglas®), ABS or polycarbonate, LunaGlass can either be shiny, transparent, mat-finished or have an opal-colored reflection. Every season, new ranges of colors and new materials are used to reflect recent trends.


LunaSoft (for the kids):




LunaSoft is made of expanded polypropylene (Arpro®), an innovative material which provides great shock resistance. It is completely safe and is able to be used by children. Ultra-resistant and ultra-light, LunaSoft is a playful design object that can be easily stacked together. It is aesthetic, functional and resolutely avant garde.

Produced in versions having two, four and eight pegs, LunaSoft is primarily designed for interior decoration and for children’s use.The primary advantage of LunaSoft is that it is resistant and light.:



LunaLight (Luna pillow)
Made from natural rubber, the LunaPillow allow to use the other blocks as seats, banks, chairs. It can be stacked atop the other luna blocks to create comfortable seating .:



LunaShine (coming soon):
LunaShine is made of the same material as LunaSoft. Surprising and seductive, LunaShine combines brilliant, icy aesthetics and extreme lightness.

The crystallisation of its surfaces by a new and exclusive process gives it an incomparable “Chinese lacquer” appearance.

Known as the luxurious version of LunaSoft, produced with Two, Four and Eight pegs, ultra-light and easily put together, LunaShine is the most modern, the most surprising and the glossiest of all LunaBlocks®.




LunaMetal (cast in steel):









Lunatic Construction:
Inventors and builders of things ephemeral, Thierry Nahon & Philippe Landecker created LUNATIC CONSTRUCTION SAS in July 2007 so as to give the original concept of « Lunablocks® » every chance for success.

A creative idea thus became an innovative international marketing initiative. Thanks to technological innovation, a significant research program and a brave and independent entrepreneurial approach, the necessary corporate structures (Creative Design, Technical Studies, Printing, Production, Communications, Sales and Marketing) have been put into place to ensure future development.

Sponsored by OSEO Financement and OSEO Innovation Ile de France, LUNATIC CONSTRUCTION SAS is an innovative, young company that has qualified for funding from mutual funds specializing in innovation.

Buy them here at Artydandy


Or buy them here at Homology

Lunatic Construction SAS
12, impasse Deligny 75017 Paris France
tel +33 (0)1 44 40 01 44
fax +33 (0)1 44 40 02 44
info@lunaticconstruction.com

Commercial
République Innovation
18, rue du Faubourg du Temple 75011 Paris
tel +33 (0)1 55 28 17 77
fax +33 (0)1 47 00 15 14
contact@lunaticconstruction.com

SURRY WITH THE FRINGE ON TOP

ADORNMENT, FLAPPER-STYLE

From gowns to handbags, fashion is on the fringe! The most fanciful (and doubtless, expensive) takes on the trend were those sashayed down the runway for Bill Blass's Fall 2008 Collection. The dalmatian-spotted mini-dress (left) and frilly black-fringed white gown (above) are show-stoppers! Photos via nymag.com.

A more achievable way to wear the trend? This sexy Elizabeth and James French lace minidress, for purchase at Neiman Marcus. Scandalous!

If you dare not don the fringed dress, you can carry the look with an adorable clutch. I am absolutely smitten with this silver Easter-grass strewn Roger Vivier Exotica bag, featured in style.com's coverage of accessories for Fall 2008. Even more fanciful, with a splash of teal, is Salvatore Ferragamo's tiered mesh fringe frame bag with resin barrel closure. Handbag pictures courtesy style.com. Now shake it like a Polaroid picture!

RUFFLES HAVE RIDGES

THE RUFFLE FRONT . . .

Ah, the frippery of the tuxedo shirt!

Luckily, it has been softened in recent seasons, as evinced by this delicate silver Etro ruffled silk blouse, for purchase at bergdorfgoodman.com. Perfect under a fitted blazer!

But the ruffle is not limited to blouses! I adore the bold persimmon-hued Valentino Roma mini-frock pictured at the top of this post. It has a delicate keyhole detail in back. The frilling (ha!) news? It's on sale at neimanmarcus.com!

Check out this kicky Moschino Cheap & Chic white ruffle front sleeveless a-line dress (currently fifty percent off at shopbop.com).

Not sure which came first, but it looks curiously similar to Albino's zipper-front leather version, which Couture Carrie discovered while perusing Italian Vogue online.

If you need something a bit fancier, try Valentino’s lovely ruffle and jewel-adorned gown for Resort 2009 (photo at right via style.com).

Product Pick Of The Week: Thomas Pedersen's Stingray Rocking Chair

The Stingray rocking chair in wood veneer by young Danish designer Thomas Pedersen was conceived as an innovative reworking of his earlier Stingray in plastic (shown further down in this post).


Above: Thomas Pedersen

Pedersen’s rising prominence in the international design world can partly be explained by his remarkable ability to challenge familiar assumptions and his unwavering persistence to extend the previous boundaries of design. Stingray introduces a new meaning to the traditional rocking chair.

The shape of the rocking chair was partially inspired by a shell. This gives it a beautiful organic design which is raw on the outside but smooth and refined on the inside. A piece of furniture that provides a unique experience of inner tranquility. The steel frame has been constructed without any transverse lines thus accentuating the floating appearance of the chair.





Winner of the "Interior Innovation Award Cologne 2008".

Oak:

Walnut:

African Macassar


Available in oak, walnut and the African wood macassar.
Dimensions w120 x h80 x d100 cm
buy the wood veneer one here.

The Stingray can also be ordered in an upholstered version with your choice of color and fabric from several options:



Buy the upholstered version here.

The chair is also available in white or black plastic as shown below:





Buy the white or black plastic one here.

Price:
$2,244.74 to $8,705.73 depending on options

Dimensions:
W.120 D.100 H.80