Blog - Sharon Haver - FocusOnStyle.com

Fashion Meets Interiors- Martin Margiela designs La Maison des Champs Elysees Hotel in Paris

La Maison des Champs Elysees Hotel by Martin Margiela

There's no secret around here at FoS that I'm a huge Martin Margiela fan. There's a minimalistic, yet futuristic simplicity of perfectly pared down, yet well-designed pieces that are always timeless, yet still maintain an avant-garde edge. So when a favorite label fashion expands it's aesthetic to interiors, like Rick Owens or Jean Paul Gaultier, I'm sold... well, more so if that winged back chair was perched in my living room. Let Richard Nahem take you on a tour of the super stylish hotel in Paris. -- S.H. I have always loved designer Martin Margiela's obsession with the color white. And while Margiela retired as chief designer from his eponymous label a few seasons ago, the brand continues to flourish with his design signatures. Maison

Think of this as your "How To Wear Low Heels" tip sheet... Blame it on the abundance of too-high heels, walking behind girls fumbling in them, or our admiration for the cool retro sophistication that Rochas has been championing as of late, but we are beginning to rethink the short heel and their recent wearable reemergence on the scene. Once matronly and down-right blase, the updates to what we consider the "smart" heel height offer an entirely new way to think about proportion and comfort. From gram to grand slam, there's plenty out there to give you an alternative to ho-hum ballerina flats. >> SHOPPING GUIDE: Low Heels We'll take the printed Rochas slingbacks above and our top three picks as featured below and

Besides the now iconic cone bra's he outfitted Madonna for in the early 90's, the highly controversial Hasidic-inspired collection for Fall 1993 and the many in-your-face ethnic influenced collections ripe with rigorous tailoring that have followed, fashion's original enfant terrible, Jean Paul Gaultier, will forever be a designer who's done much more than that in our books. Long before today's mega names associated with showmanship like John Galliano and Alexander McQueen, there was Gaultier. From indigenous garb to religious connotations to hi-camp athleticism, Gaultier has dazzled the fashion world with a heady tour de force of provocative, imaginative creations brought to life with a hearty dose of brazen wit and fierce execution. Possessing the kind of game changing substance that informs one on the sublime delicacies that high French fashion will

The “Lucky Stars” Material Girl Model Search Video with Mama Madonna and Lola

It's comforting to know that even in this behind-the-scenes' mockumentary, like any other teenager and their worrywart mom, Madonna's daughter Lola (yes, Lordes) doesn't pay much attention to her either. Madonna even accuses Lordes of being a lookist and an ageist... well, we know those stories. For all the moms who still have it going on and who happen to have a mini me, take a peek at the Material Girls "Lucky Stars" model search video: For more on the Material Girl model search, go to materialgirlcollection.com/fall_2011/ for contest details. SHOP The Material Girl Collection in stock at Macy's: In their words... Madonna and Lola announce the Material Girl “Lucky Stars” Model Search with Macy’s. A celebrity-driven panel of judges, led

Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge Attends 'In Kind Direct' Charity Event At Clarence House

p.s.. It's not from this season! It's a First Lady and Royal day here at Fos today. I have to say that we've kept our pledge of only covering the looks that we feel are worth the second notice and offer something that YOU can take away. Kate Middleton stepped out for her first solo engagement as a royal yesterday and the blogosphere was aflutter about a perceived mark that was thought to be that of hair extensions. Instead, according to the dailymail.co.uk, "The spokesman for the Duchess at St James’s Palace confirmed last night that it was the result of surgery as a young child. ‘The scar related to a childhood operation,’ they said." Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge Attends 'In

Trish Summerville, Costume Designer for "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" movie brings the Stockholm Collection to H&M

Fast fashion and Film Frenzy unite...Mark your calendars as H&M sets the frenzy surrounding one of the season's most anticipated films, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," into an even deeper craze with the launch of its Dragon Tattoo Collection which hits Colette exclusively on November 28th. The movie is from the Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy book series, and directed by David Fincher. Watch behind the scenes video of H&M Dragon Tattoo Collection by Trish Summerville: To make the range even more desirable, Trish Summerville, a celebrated Hollywood costumer who worked on the film, was tapped by the company to conceive the limited edition line inspired by the film's anti-heroine, Lisbeth Salander. The line will also hit select H&M stores on December 14th

First Lady Michelle Obama wearing a Tracey Reese sweater

I'll Have What She's Having: Michelle Obama Plays With A Twist On A Classic In Chicago For A Cause We've been a lull on our Michelle Obama style watch for a while, but this striped Tracey Reese sweater got our fashion engine going again for some can-do, every day style chic. While in Chicago yesterday to promote healthy eating initiatives in low-income areas, style maven Michelle Obama radiated a cool playfulness in a classic ivory and black striped sweater from Tracy Reese that featured an asymmetrical key-hole cut-out and an unexpected bow at the neckline. MORE: Michelle Obama style We love the fact that the classic elements of Reese's striped pullover keep Obama looking appropriate and put together while the

Raf Simons and his team at Jil Sander designed all of the costumes for Swinton's character in the movie, which will be released in Japan on December 23. Photo & source: WWD

Just as Tokyo Fashion Week comes to an end pops-up Tilda Swinton in a deliciously discrete and beautifully envisioned minimal blue knee-length Jil Sander dress from the house's recent Spring 2012 runway collection. According to WWD, "Raf Simons and his team at Jil Sander designed all of the costumes for Swinton's character in the movie 'I Am Love,' which will be released in Japan on December 23." It comes as no surprise as Swinton, the queen startlet of embracing fashion's changing winds, continues to break the mold of banal red carpet dressing with wardrobe choices that not only display her keen eye for avant-garde minded fashion but also manage to deliver a controlled message of high-design meets approachable, confident elegance. SHOP: Jil Sander at Barney's

While animal prints may be as banal and captive of the traditional feminine mystic as polka-dots or bows, there's no denying the subtle sexuality and graphic, ostentatious charge they can add to just about any outfit. >> SHOP: Animal Prints And this Yves Saint Laurent "Softy Chyc" animal-print calf hair shoulder bag brings home the point beautifully with its explosive print and lady-like, heritage minded shape and details. Use it to pump up just about any look from your average "Texas tuxedo" to your everyday trench coat, its destined to lift-up even the most mundane of pieces. -Naveed Hussain >> SHOP: Best Bags We've pulled together a few more options for you to consider: More Topshop...

The 21st Annual Tomkins Square Dog Parade

FocusOnStyle is going to the dogs today and we love it! >> Try some ready made Pet Costumes You all know that we're suckers for a pooch in a good costume around here, so without further adieu.... we bring you 500 dogs, 3,000 spectators, and a wild and wooly time for all, with some of our faves from the 21st Annual Tompkins Square Dog Parade this weekend. My Donald Trump Boys Two-headed poodle Princess Beatrice's fascinator More dogs in halloween costumes, 'cause we know you love it too! [nggallery id31]

As hard as it was trying to score this Balenciaga dog print sweater when it first came out for F/W 2000(we've never stopped looking since), an even greater shock comes at the thought of how difficult it's going to be 10 years later, now that it has been reissued for Pre-Fall 2011. As eternally elusive as this trophy sweater may be, we could in turn use it as a reference point for the decade long block of cool cult status Nicolas Ghesquiere has had us under his spell with. -Naveed Hussain Visit Balenciaga.com for more info As featured in Balenciaga's haunting Fall 2000 ad above. Shop some similar finds now: More Givenchy...

Body-defining, figure enhancing peplums have been working their way on quite a few runways over the past few seasons(including next spring) so we couldn't think of a better time to take note on how to incorporate them into your repertoire for an unexpected dose of lady-like chic. We've pulled together some of our favorite uses of peplums for Fall 2011 and jotted a few quick notes down on how to pull them off and make them work for you. >> MORE: FASHION SHOWS AND RUNWAY REVIEWS Stella McCartney (and above) For Fall, Stella McCartney managed to incorporate 80's era touchstones such as bold polka-dots, sculpted shapes and peplums for looks that were achingly feminine with a controlled sense of cool(via ingenious tromp l'oeil patterns)

I'll Have What She's Having (from the waist up): Rihanna manages to ruin a few very good pieces with some dang tacky tights and a girdle for a dress. There, I said it! Givenchy large size Antigona bag in black nappa leather, as worn by Rihanna. Available at Barney's Rihanna was sporting some super chic fashion elements on her 3AM return to her hotel after her concert in Paris. There's the well-proportioned floppy fedora (unlike that over-sized Kim Kardashian monstrosity), the covetable cropped jacket, and the to-die-for Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci “Antigona” bag... all in classic black. But, what is going on with those nasty sheer thigh highs, and the peachy body con skirt in the color of an old

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The Blog Posts...

Fashion Meets Interiors- Martin Margiela designs La Maison des Champs Elysees Hotel in Paris

Fashion How-To’s -Short Heels That Aren’t Short On Style

“The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier” Comes to Dallas this November

The “Lucky Stars” Material Girl Model Search Video with Mama Madonna and Lola

Kate Middleton wears a rather bare dress for her and it looks amazing

Cheap Chic Alert- “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” clothing launching at H and M, video

Michelle Obama wears a striped Tracy Reese sweater for a bit of French Chic style

Tilda Swinton in Jil Sander Spring 2012

In The Bag- Yves Saint Laurent’s Softy Chyc Animalier Bag

HALLOWEEN DOG COSTUMES at The 21st Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade

Must-Have…Balenciaga’s Dog Print Sweater

Shopping the Trends of Fall 2011- The Peplum

Celebrity Style Bust- Rihanna, the girl of too many things but one good Givenchy Antigona bag

Female Entrepreneurs: Helping You & Your Business Get Out There!