It’s the fashion face-off style watchers have been waiting for. The tension has been building. The stakes were as high as a Lanvin shoe. And now, it’s over, and it’s up to you to decide: Who looked better today? Michelle Obama in a fabulous Thakoon dress and matching reverse color coat, or Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in a delicate, soft gray Christion Dior coat?

The setting: Strasbourg, France, before heading to the NATO summit.

Mrs. O definitely dominates in the eye-catching category. Her custom-made floral silk jacquard coat (according to Mrs.-o.org) of black with a fuchsia floral print was colorful but not excessive. Former supermodel Bruni-Sarkozy’s soft, suede Dior coat was cinched at the waist with a thin belt and wide three-quarter sleeves.

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We’re not asking you to feel sorry for us, but it’s not easy to look at collection after collection of beautiful designer clothes without feeling . . .  like shopping. Sure, more than a few of the fall Paris designs are a bit wacky, but there are plenty of beautiful dresses, coats, shoes, boots, etc. to drool over. 

Unfortunately, these items are quite far from our economic reach. So we stamp our fairly high heel and go through one last bit of torment. There are a few of our favorite things from the runways of Paris:

1. We now understand why Balmain is the design house of choice for the very rich, ultra-skinny, edgy party girls around the world. The pointed shoulders, the skin-tight glittering tiny dresses (see them at Style.com), the draped, full harem pants, the brashness of it all. If you can afford it, and you can wear it, go for it.  (more…)

In the aftermath of the fall 2009 runway shows in Paris, we have searched through the rubble and come up with five things worth looking at again:       

1. Thigh-high boots. They’re everywhere, they’re black, they’re brown, they’re laced, they’re skin tight and there’s something amazingly sexy about them. Sometimes they look like leather leggings. Putting them on could be a little tricky. How many times have you struggled with a regular pair of tight boots? We loved them from Stella McCartney (and they’re not even leather!), Chloe, Hermes and Vuitton.   

2. This Balenciaga outfit — a shimmering crystal top and a soft, draped and pleated satin skirt. In case you didn’t know, Nicholas Ghesquiere’s designs are hot, and this is the signature look from the fall show. We love the soft, perfectly draped-at-the-hip rich satin skirt, and that shirt is a crystal-laden killer. Unfortunately, we’ve heard the top alone will cost more than $50,000. So we probably won’t be wearing that one this autumn.  (more…)

Designers believe, in their hearts, in their souls, that you will have a bright yellow dress this spring.

In fact, we apparently will all be buying bright yellow dresses this spring, if a look at the 2009 spring and resort collections is to be trusted. Perhaps there was an overabundance of screaming-yellow fabric for sale in the marketplace, or perhaps all the designers got jaundice at the same moment.

We can’t quite figure it out, because it brings to mind mustard, school buses and Southwest Airlines yellow. (more…)

Ahh, remember the good old days, when ballerina flats and low wedges were in style? Tory Burch ruled the roost and we all walked comfortably.

Wear €˜em while you got €˜em, cause spring ‘09 is going to be one of the most towering, teetering, terrifying shoe seasons on record if the samples on the runways are any indication. Every designer trotted out sky-high strappy sandals and ankle-wrapped stilettos and wedges on the runways, much to the dismay of several models - who fell flat on their faces trying to maneuver in the monsters.

Some looks were zany with oddly shaped heels, and some were cute but still scary. But not a flat was seen, so better grab your highest heels and start practicing walking. Spring looms large for podiatrists and walk-in emergency clinics.