Big Time.

Bloggers as front row denizens. The desk and the laptops were courtesy of D&G.

It's happened. The big fashion bloggers have invaded the front row. Garance Dore, Tommy Ton, Bryan Boy, and Scott Schuman displaced some of the regular top tier fashion folks in the prime spots lining the runway at the D&G show. With a desk and four laptops at the ready, the fab four were able to insta-blog the procession. This is a sea change. Yes, bloggers have increased their presence at Fashion Week, but to be stationed in the coveted front row while buyers and paper editorial directors are now seated second and third tier, is a significant shift. It's kind of exciting to be witnessing the emergence of a new era. I for one am proud of them, even though it seems that this placement ruffled some feathers.

Fashion 2.0: Bryan Boy, Scott Schuman, Garance Dore, and Tommy Ton.

The thing that I love about the bloggers who got the spots is that at least three of them are supremely talented. Their sites are photography-based and have given fashion fandom a fresh way to see the world they were coming to take for granted (sorry Baboosh!, even though I admire your style, it's just not my thing, ok?). I do find it interesting though that none of them actually blogged any immediate content during the show. I'm betting that's what D&G were hoping for.

Um, P.S., did you know that The Sartorialist and Garance Dore are a couple? Last I checked he was married with children. But, I guess that's changed:

That's one Sartorial style smooch. The only thing I have to say is that this quote that Scott gave recently is a little uncharacteristically tasteless:

TMI Scotty, TMI!

God, Please Let Me Age Gracefully.

Garance Dore snapped this beautiful woman of a certain age looking timeless and marvelous on the streets of Amsterdam. I want to be her when I grow up.

Cozy Beach.

This photo from Garance Dore's style collage in Australian Vogue is gorgeous. The colors? The cozy sweater on a cool beach at dusk? That beautiful, simple cocoa-colored hair? Yes, please to all of it.

Grow Up.

Here are two beautiful ladies of a certain age to ease anyone's fears of passing days:

Garance Dore found them. I want to drink coffee with them and listen to their stories about life. Then raid their closets, quiz them on their skin care routine, and scope out their shopping spots.

If A French Fashionista Can Do It...

How are everyone's New Year's Resolutions going? Just thought I'd check in. It is the 7th day of the newest year and on the seventh day the universe created cigarettes, sleeping in past gym time, cheese doodles, beer, and winter sales that could bust a girl's savings account. But, stay strong! There is hope for you and your resolution. Today I present a bit of rare inspiration. Garance Dore, the chic French fashion hunter, illustrator, and creator of her amazing eponymous site, has quit smoking all on her own. No patches, pills, fake puffs, or hypnosis. Now, if a through and through French fashionista, who freely admits that she smoked for years because it was ever so chic, can kick the habit? Anything is possible. You all hold on to the resolutions. You can do it! Read more about Garance's habit going up in smoke here.

Illustration by Garance Dore

No Isaac Cake If You Don't Finish Your Viktor and Rolf Stamppot!

Over on Style.com, they've compiled a couture cookbook. In their newest feature various fashion plates teach you how to make plates of their favorite recipes for the Holiday Season.

I personally can't wait to try Viktor and Rolf's Boerenkool Stamppot. I figure if they are serving it, it must come with a side of fashion fantasy fries or something. Donna Karan's Green Juice looks a little healthy for the Holidays, but it will help you flush out after indulging in Isaac M.'s Banana Rum Coconut Layer Cake.

Shout out to Garance Dore who can officially call herself a stylecon, now that she's given her recipe for Panna Cotta and looks ever so glam-cool in the featured photo. Head on over to Style.com to scope Dore's coolness and to get your fashion-forward recipes.

All photos from Style.com

Keep it Simple

Every time I go on to Garance Dore I am struck by the amazingly beautiful women that stare back from the France-based blog's posts.

It just confirms my theory that Europe is the promised land of milk and honey skin, clear eyes, and gorgeous hair. I've studied these pictures and wondered, what is it? What makes these women so striking? I think it's the simplicity, the less is more aspect of their beauty. So little makeup leaves so much room for their gorgeousness to shine. I know these women have great skin and a prettiness that most certainly runs in their genes but, we can all take a tip from them and start underdoing it. If you've got good enough, leave it alone.

Images: Garance Dore

Fun with Google Translator!

Are you bored behind your computer screen? Are you wishing for a chuckle inducing diversion? I know you are! By all means, leave it to me to come up with one for you. Fun finding happens to be one of my most highly developed skills. So please, won't you join me in a little game I like to call "Fun with Google Translator!"?

The first step is to head on over to the amazing French street style site, Garance Dore. This is the mecca of chic French fashion chicks from the mecca of chic French fashion, so it's like the holy grail of style sites. Once you recover from seeing the predictably gorgeous, effortlessly elegant girl of the day featured on the website (like Anabel and Julia here below)

mouse on over to the right of the screen and click on the link that says "Google Translate Can Be Funny: Click here for the English Translation". Let the invisible electronic Google Gnomes do their magic and voila! Instant hilarity. Here's a sample of what the Gnomes will come up with for the presumably beautiful French phrases that Garance Dore has put out into the virtual world:

"Yet, I loved Dior was gay, I strong and want a tutu-dress-in fact we all want dresses tutu, tutu skirts, micro-skirts Fly tutu, I'm too too fan of tenunue following dessussus, I want my tutuuuuu!"

I want my tutu too! Makes about as much sense as a stammering Sarah Palin. Have fun!

Image: Garance Dore

Roll with it.

Ladies and gentlemen who doubt my recent purchase of rollerblades, have faith in my judgment please. Check out this pretty Parisian princess who also had the good sense to strap on some skates:

and with a babydoll floral print, no less! I just hope her helmet is in that rather large bag of hers. A brain is a terrible thing to bust. Let's roll, baby.

Jumping Haricots!

These lovely French Femmes from Paris street style site Garance Dore' prove two things: French=beautiful, and the jumpsuit test is the fashionista's final exam.




If you can pull one of these off without making people think of footie pajamas or mechanics, you've really got something. I'm still studying for the test, so these pics are my cheat sheet. Keep your eyes out for my coveralls coming soon. Summa cum Laude baby.