25 Years of Madonna

For twenty-five years Madonna has been entertaining us, intriguing us and giving us something to think about.

The 48-year-old sensation will celebrate her 25 years in the music industry by planing a huge party and a special multimedia release. In an interview with the International Herald Tribune, the sexy singer says, "I'm thinking about doing a 25-year retrospective — multimedia, with video and photographs of me by Mario Testino, Herb Ritts, Steven Klein and Steven Meisel."

Madonna also mentioned that she would love to throw a party for all of her friends that would, "celebrate all the designers", such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix, who have created famous and groundbreaking designs for Madonna over the years.

Oh My Gosh... Do You Smell That?

Spring is in the air! Go ahead take one big whiff of the warm weather and the sunshine, which go hand-in-hand as far as Style Spotter is concerned. And speaking of hand-in-hand, fashion's mid-end store, The Gap is currently teaming up with 2006's winners of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund to bring you a limited edition line called Gap Designs Edition. Doo.Ri, Rodarte and Thakoon have taken their design talents, inspiration and sketches to The Gap to create a line inspired by the classic white shirt.

Style Spotter absolutely adores when a mid-end clothing company teams up with high-end designers to bring high-end style to the masses.

Wonder not sistern country, U.K.! Topshop, the U.K. equivalent of H&M has teamed up with Kate Moss to bring you a line inspired by Moss' looks. With a little bit of rock n' roll mixed with a playful edge you too can get that Mossism look.

In Topshop stores May 1st, 2007

The Status Symbol

Style Spotter and hubby were having a big debate over cars and why one person needs so many vehicles to drive. Hubby has three cars and does not drive them all at once! Simply impossible! So why is it necessary?

His answer: "The same reason why you need all those bags!"

GASP How could he compare precious bags to cars. However, Style Spotter contemplated his answer and soon realized that bags are to women what cars are to men: status symbols.

And this spring, ladies, our status symbols are bigger, more eclectic and much more expensive than ever.

Check out Style Spotter's pick for this season's must-have bags.

SOMETHING TO TOTE AROUND
Tote bags are great. Carry a few tabloid weeklies in them, throw in an overnight outfit or the kitchen sink for that matter, totes can handle massive amounts of your "stuff."

LOUIS VUITTON LOVE BAG

CANVAS STELLA MCCARTNEY TOTE

LEATHER COACH TOTE

GET THE PATENT
Patent leather bags are back and are gorgeous, never mind how easy they are to keep clean!

PATENT LEATHER FENDI SPY BAG
B. PATENT LEATHER FENDI BAG

LUELLA CRACKED BLACK PATENT LEATHER BAG

LITTLE WHITE BAG (LWB)
White forces you stand out in a sea of black and earth tone colors

BUTI LEATHER BAG

BOTTEGA VENETA BAG

TOD'S BAG

IN MEMORY OF

Style Spotter has not posted in a few days due to the horrific events at Virgina Tech University on Monday. Please let us take a moment to say a prayer for the people who were involved in any capacity. We have to do better. We have to talk to our children, get to know how they really are. We have to change the gun laws in America and most importantly we need to pray and have COMPASSION for one another.
God Bless,
Style Spotter

FACE of FASHION

While Style Spotter was in London The Face of Fashion exhibit was showcased at the National Portrait Gallery. The exhibit displays portraits by well-known fashion photographers from Europe and America. Mert Alas, Marcus Piggot, Corinne Day, Steven Klien (my personal favorite), Paolo Roversi and Mario Sorrenti have all contributed to the exhibit, which is at times haunting, but all around striking.

Take a look through the camera phone lens (which, later Style Spotter found that photos were not permitted! Yikes) into a the world where fashion is disturbing as well as glamorous.

KEVIN FEDERLINE


WINONA RYDER


MADONNA


A YOUNG KATE MOSS


BRAD PITT AND ANGELINA JOLIE


JUSTINE TIMBERLAKE


KATE MOSS

Fashion and Graffiti?

Fashion and graffiti, who would have known that these two creative forces could be combined. Well, when you have women at the hem of course graffiti can be oh so fabulous! Women are changing the way we look at what was once known as "gritty" street art.

CLAW

Claw a New York City native has been tagging for 19 years. Her signature symbol a "W" shaped two-toned paw has been seen in L.A. and in Europe as well. Claw, who is the fashion director at Swindle Magazine also has her own collection of sunglasses, called CLAWMONEY, which are handmade in Japan. She has also created a line of silk bombers made of vintage fabrics. Think 1980's Versace.

LADY PINK

Widely known as the 1st female graffiti artist in NYC, Lady Pink along with her artist hubby organizes groups to tag in dilapidated areas of New York City, adding color to grey abandoned areas of the metropolitan . "We were painting trains trying to figure out what to do when we grew up, not knowing that it was right there in front of us."

FAFI

The 31-year-old South of France native brings sexiness to graffiti with her Betty Boop-esque caricatures. While Fafi started tagging in the early 1990's, she has just wrapped up a collection for Adidas and is now designing bright, colorful, fun, imaginative bags for LeSportsac coming this spring.

Learn more about female graffiti artists by picking up Nicholas Ganz's book Graffiti Women: Street Art From Five Continents

UK STYLE

Style Spotter is back from a fabulous, decadent vacation in London and Amsterdam. A European vacation was well needed, well deserved and well fashioned.

Style comes from all over the world. And the Style Spotter was there to spot the style seen in the designs of buildings, landscape and of course in clothes!

At 9:00 pm Greenwich Mean Time the Style Spotter and her handsome companion made their way through the busy London section of Earl’s Court. Exhausted but somewhat wired; food, a bed and two pillows were all that was needed at that moment.

K+K HOTEL GEORGE - our residence for a few days

Next day on Sunny Sunday morning the streets of London led Style Spotter to Green Park via tube (nothing like NYC trains!) where tourists and locals alike filled the grounds of the park, Buckingham Palace and The House of Parliament. London is truly a magnificent city full of history, art, humor (love the Charlotte Church Show!) and life. Very proper indeed!


But atlas Amsterdam awaits, So Style Spotter and handsome companion were off to the city of sex, drugs and beauty!

Unfortunately whatever happens in Amsterdam stays in Amsterdam. So Style Spotter cannot report on this leg of the trip. However, what can be said is that there were plenty of bikes, wonderful canals, which flowed through the city and lots of shopping!

EUROPEAN STYLE
Most Europeans have a great, aerodynamic sensibility when it comes to fashion. Whether the look is polished or soft core rock and roll, European style comes with its own personality. However, right now, Europeans have a strong fascination with our “It” Girls – La Lohan, Ms. Ritchie and of course everyone’s favorite hate-able heiress, Paris Hilton. In London, Style Spotter also spotted a California girl impression of style, which some Londoners pull off flawlessly, with balloon sized topes, skinny jeans and cute, comfortable flats.

TRENDS
The biggest trend in the U.K. right now is the spring dress. Buy them a Harrods, Topshop, Monsoons or H&M. In the May 2007 issue of Vogue’s Snip magazine fashion editors give their readers great advice. Here are a few of my favorite:

ALL DRESSES FROM TOPSHOP, LONDON


“Dresses are the buys of the summer; they’re perfect for day and night, the beach and the workplace. All you need is tanned legs and a pair of flat sandals or clumpy platforms. Dresses are also a great way to introduce color and print into your wardrobe”
----- Kate Phelan, fashion director, UK VOGUE

“Well-groomed hair and make-up have the power to life a cheap dress”
----- Sarah Harris, fashion features writer, UK VOGUE

“Visit Topshop at 9am when it’s empty. You will have the pick of the crop and all the space in the world. Zip though Zara and H&M whenever you have a spare five minutes – they change their merchandise daily.”
----- Calgary Avansino, beauty and health associate, UK VOGUE

“Steer clear of high-street (low end) imitations of the real thing- look for unique pieces that work in your wardrobe.”
----- Deana Voulters, fashion assistant, UK VOGUE

Besides "The Dress," other UK trends were the fabulous florescent nails, metallic continue to dominate the world and the color blue is the must have shade this season.