Horror Coiffeur - Charlie Le Mindu Spring 2013

A lesser-known designer made a spooky impact at the Paris couture shows this week... Charlie Le Mindu was inspired by women who "scare him", citing muses like Nina Hagen and Lee Aaron.

He created dramatic dresses made from human hair.  The effect recalled femme fatales of years past as well as striking dominatrix ladies of contemporary times.

What do you think of this collection?
Photos from nowfashion.com and Giovanni Giannoni

Lolita Boys? Comme des Garcons all 2013

Comme des Garcons at the recent menswear shows showed a collection that was definitely against the norm of traditional "masculinity".  In addition to the typical black and avant garde clothing from the label, they had male models stroll down the runway in bunny and Mickey Mouse ears from Stephen Jones.  There were pastel jackets, pajama-like pants and fuzzy sweaters...   This was supposed to be an ode to "youth".  Yes, even handsome male models and iconic designers have an awkward phase...

Noir Style at the Golden Globes

I love a sexy sheer gown! E! Red carpet host Giuliana Rancic had a stunning gown from Greek designer Celia Kritharioti.  Juliana Marguiles had a beautifully embroidered serpent-like gown from Emilio Pucci. 

Helena Bonham Carter always gets criticized for her choices on the red carpet... I personally loved her eccentric Vivienne Westwood getup in 2012, but I may have been the only one.  Last night, she wore a beautiful black lace Dolce & Gabbana dress with a quirky Lulu Guinness lip purse with matching lipstick.  Hugs.  

Two golden girls looked fierce in Alexander McQueen... Kate Hudson wore a figure flattering dress with dramatic gold embroidery coming from the neck while Nicole Kidman had gold motifs framing her face and sexy sheer lines at her midriff...

What was YOUR favorite look of the night?

The Effects of Color

What colour dress will you wear tonight? It is possible that the colour that you wear can have a deeper psychological effect that previously thought. Have you ever been shopping and found out that depending on what mood you are in you feel more or less drawn to items of a certain colour?

This may not be a random coincidence. Apart from colour affecting your mood in general (if you are feeling stressed you can imagine the effect that being placed in an intensely colourful, or all black room would have on your mood in comparison to a calming white space) it is possible that wearing certain colours can have an immediate effect on you and the people that are around you. It is rumoured that colours can have an influence on your creativity and how you get on with others around you.

How Does This Happen?

It is well known that the seasons affect our mood greatly. February comes and we all start to understand the blues that come with seasonal affective disorder which is caused by a lack of a certain sort of light. Colour is essentially the reflection of light. Though an easily ridiculed idea, it is possible that the colours that are around us can contribute to a general feeling of happiness and wellbeing. If you are a working woman then it’s possible that you spend more time at the office than at home as many people have to these days. The upshot of this is that wearing the right colour can have a positive effect on you, your colleagues and your acquaintances.

Inspiring Productivity

Thinking about how colours affect people only takes a little bit of creative thinking. What do certain colours make you feel? It has been suggested that red can boost energy levels in office workers. So why not think about investing in some red dresses to inspire you and your co-workers with the added bonus that it is renowned as a super sexy colour too. Choose between a gorgeous crimson, vermillion, scarlet, or a lighter pink shade.

The colour does not need to invoke fear, as in H.G. Wells' story, this all may be a psychological phenomenon which is self perpetuating. If the right mental attitude is applied in a certain situation a motivating and pioneering spirit can be brought out by colours such as red, bringing out leadership qualities and an ambitious and determined state of mind. A little bit of thought each morning or when out shopping can potentially change a day very easily.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Very.co.uk.

ODD Style - NYC

Looking for some haute Gothic style?  Or just something luxe and just a bit ODD...   A fairly new boutique in  Manhattan's Lower East Side carries a curated collection of designers that specialize in the exotic, the dark and edgy like Dafne Balatsos, Heidi Gardner, MartinMartin, Rochambeau and Gareth Pugh.

They collaborate with stylists and are working on their own label as well.   Women usually luck out with designers, and they do again at this store, but I love that they have a huge selection for men.  For once, men have just as many fashion forward options in clothes and accessories as the ladies.

ODD Boutique

164 Ludlow Street

New York, NY 10002

(Between Houston and Stanton)