Zac Posen for Target take 2!

Zac Posen for Target. Again! Lucky, lucky, lucky! I wasn't lucky enough to have scored any pieces from his last collection. So here's hoping that they will be released in Australia again. I will be lining up for these pieces for sure! The pieces are due out April 25th. I really like most of the collection- Zac really has a vision of how to celebrate a woman's natural shape without being too body conscious, knows how to both emphasise and balance the qualities of feminity and edginess - whilst he effectively retains a constant effortlessness to his style. Pure genious! Here's my favourites from the lookbook for the upcoming collection:

I believe that designer collaborations with chainstore brands have got to be one of the most brilliant innovations in the fashion world in recent years. It is such a clever concept, as the two major parties involved--the designers themselves and the consumers of their products, each feel the other party must be off their mind.

The designers must think that we the consumers must be off our minds by the sheer craziness which ensues when they open the doors of accessability to their label. Entire collections selling out. Lines and waiting lists to purchase products kilometres long. What's more, the brands are able to preview and test looks to a wider market, and ultimately create a brand awareness in the public eye. This all equals major $$$.

Whereas, we, the consumers are able own pieces from designers we would dream of owning, for only a fraction of the cost. We think we're getting a real steal, and we are boggled as to why such a high-end, exclusive, major, coveted label would allow for us mere mortals to own such high-end, exclusive, major, coveted works of fashion.

Basically it's a win-win situation. God, I love designer collaborations!

Credit for photos to fashionista.com (click to view the full collection)

Post Christmas (no) sales

Today I went to Paddington again with my Mum! But this time... I didn't buy a thing! Sure, there were so many clothes that I would give my left and right arm/leg for. Like a dress we saw from a Norwegian brand called Fin that was made from bamboo (!), or the sensational Opening Ceremony collection at Land's End in 5 Ways. Or the hundreds of shoes in Zomp, the Isabel Marant collection in Parlour X and the dresses in Willow. Not to mention the Romance Was Born Pop-up store, which was down a little alleyway and was like an underwater fashion-theme park!

Top: Uniqlo Thermo-top (!)

Embroidered vest: From a flea market in Tokyo, around $6!

Jeans: Roy Jeans, Melbourne $50, from $220

Necklace: Glebe Markets

Shoes: Vintage Italian shoes circa 1980s from The Wardrobe Store $60

Bag: Lauren by Ralph Lauren, bought in Boxing Day Sale 2005, David Jones $60 from $250

Top: Banana Republic $25

Bag: Pleats Please by Issey Miyake $50!

Jacket: from Isetan Shinjuku

Jeans: from Japan

Sunglasses: Oroton

Yes, I would happily give away my body parts to own these things, but for some reason, I wasn't in the buying mood. You know how sometimes, as much as you see so many things you want and have the capacity to buy, you just dont' feel like buying them at the end of the day?

I was happy just to admire, drool, and ah, drool some more. Plus Mum and I had lots of fun messing around with my camera. Ala The Sartorialist. To be honest, it actually felt good not buying anything. I just haven't found the post Christmas sales to be that good this year. I even checked out David Jones in the city on Boxing Day, and it was underwhelming to say the least. Too crowded, overpriced and just. not. worth. it. So until something really catches my eye, I'm going cold turkey! Although, whenever I have a bit of a dry spell, I tend to go on a bit of a psycho spending spree soon afterwards...