Whirlwind Week

After a week full of castings and fittings, Ali walked in 14 Paris shows and 1 in Milan:

Prada
Isabel Marant
Undercover
Balenciaga
Dries Van Noten
Givenchy
Barbara Bui
Celine
Chanel
Rue du Mail
Kenzo
Chloé
Nina Ricci
Miu Miu
and Louis Vuitton

Check out her photos at style.com and elle.com! More to come (including some travel photos) soon!

Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks

I am in Europe for the Spring/Summer 2008 fashion shows with my family, because my sister, Elite model Ali Stephens, walked for Prada and we are now in Paris! More to come on my European travels... including my (first ever) visits to H&M and Zara, fabulous French cuisine, the Champs Elyssés, and counterfeit Gucci.

Jovovich-Hawk Hits the Bullseye

Maddie Jayne's got the latest on Target's Go International line... and it's turning out to be quite pretty. The retail giant has nabbed the cool girls of Jovovich-Hawk to collaborate for a slew of sweet dresses and pretty shirts for a collection following Erin Fetherston's turn. Would you wear it?

Sweet Sneaks

I am not a sneaker girl. I adore flats, especially if they are made with red patent leather and make me feel like a chic French girl. However, after seeing model Ali Michael's shoot in the September issue of Teen Vogue, in which she wore a cream pair of Converse All-Stars, and managed to still look feminine, I decided to give the shoes a try. I found these crackled copper All-Stars on the company's website for $86.99, and they ended up at about $101 with tax and shipping. I love them. They add just the right amount of tomboy cool to any outfit... definitely a change for the lover of ballet slippers.

Photo: converse.com

MJ's Behati: The New Stam?

A new Marc by Marc Jacobs tote bearing the name 'Lovely Behati' begs the question: Was it named after easygoing model Behati Prinsloo? Several designers have named bags after famous fans, celebrities, and model friends. The 'Stam' bag by Marc Jacobs has become a major hit, and was named after supermodel Jessica Stam. More of a school tote than a status symbol, the 'Lovely Behati' bag is found at nordstrom.com for $458.

Gap's European Adventure

I know I've expressed my love for the Gap, but I'm even more in love after viewing their European Collection. Classic, pretty, and unmistakably chic, they have imported some of their European designs in slightly more luxurious fabrics... cotton-cashmere blend anyone?

Photos: gap.com

Urban Outfitters bag? Soooo MJ

This fall, quilted bags continue their reign as one of the season's best accessories, updated in sleek patent leather. Marc Jacobs and Chanel, as well as several other designers, continue to make quilted bags that are coveted by the fashion set. But at prices upwards of $1000, they can be hard to get your hands on. It was with a sigh of relief that I found this adorable, yet sophisticated, quilted tote at Urban Outfitters' website for $38. It comes in four shades: ivory flat, periwinkle blue, potent grey, and patent berry; my favorites being the patents (grey and berry). The colors are a little deceiving (my berry one turned out to be more purple), but I like it all the same. And if tote bags aren't for you, check out the quilted barrel bag ($48) or the Gabrielle quilted clutch ($18).

Photo: No. 252 Diamond Quilted Tote at urbanoutfitters.com

September Fashion Mags Arrive

The best issue of the year for fashion magazines, September, is finally on newsstands. Vogue's cover features British trendsetter Sienna Miller, Harper's Bazaar has a smiling Kate Hudson, supermodel Sasha Pivovarova wears a pink gown on the cover of the U.K. Vogue, and Lindsay Lohan takes over Elle. For many of the issues (included Bazaar and Vogue) it's the biggest issue ever, and for Vogue that's huge (over 800 pages). Although you have to flip through endless ads, the magazines save the best articles and features for the major fall fashion issues, making the nuisance of getting to the actual magazine features all the better.

Hairspray!

Yesterday I saw "Hairspray" (the movie), and oh my goodness, it is fabulous! It was also incredibly hilarious, which I was not expecting. During "Without Love" I was crying and literally shaking with laughter. It was way better than I was expecting it to be... and I expected it to be great! To top off all the comedy and amazing music, the actors were all perfectly chosen. I can't imagine anyone else playing any of the parts. Four stars!

Doo.Ri for $6.97

Yesterday I was shopping at Gap (one of my favorite retail chains), when my mom pulled a familiar looking shirt out of the sale racks. I rushed over, practically hyperventilating, because she had found one of the limited edition CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund shirts by designer (and eventual winner of the award) Doo-Ri Chung. It was on sale for $6.97!!!! (after originally being sold for $68) The designer shirts were nearly sold out in one day on gap.com... which was disappointing, as I loved every one of the Rodarte shirts. The updated classics were also featured on the May 2007 cover of American Vogue, which was the World's Next Top Models issue and my personal favorite of all the Vogues I've ever read. (The one my mom bought was worn by fashion darling Agyness Deyn on the cover and is worn by Liya Kebede on the far left in the photo on the left) Needless to say, my mom scored a serious deal with that purchase.

Shirts by Thakoon Panichgul...

Gorgeous creations by the Mulleavy sisters, who design Rodarte

Photos: dexigner.com