Confessions of a Fashion Fanatic: Hardy Har Har

Confessions of a Fashion Fanatic

The daily chronicle of a fashion-and-beauty obsessed, style-writing, pseudo-Angeleno who made her way from the Great White North to La-La Land -- otherwise known as Los Angeles, California -- and back again. Till the next big city calls out her name, that is.

: Name: Haute Hippie; Location: Everywhere and anywhere

I'm a Vancouverite who moonlighted as an Angeleno. My momma is the best in the entire world, and I'll argue you hoarse on that one. I've been in love only once in my life. The East Coast calls me but the West Coast is in my blood. Social butterflies -- and party animals -- are a great species. Fashion and writing will be the death of me, but what a way to go. Carine Roitfeld is fabulous. I would die a painful death if art, design, photography, fashion, music and dancing did not exist. Always kind of wondered why Smurfette was the only girl in town. I can't draw. Absolutely believe everything happens for a reason. I feel so lucky to have the girlfriends that I do. I'm a total sun baby. Think I might be a workaholic. I may have slight road rage. Ice cream and hockey are religions. I buy too many glossy magazines. Nothing beats someone with a killer sense of humor. Chivalry is really not dead. I'm a victim of minor vertigo and a serious lead foot. Always up for meeting people from paths different than mine and crossing paths with old friends. At the very end of it all, I want to be able to look back and say: Yeah, I sure lived a damn good life.

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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Hardy Har Har

Fashion and design go hand-in-hand.

That explains why Philippe Starck designed watches for Fossil, why Frank Gehry designed a jewelry collection for Cartier, why Donatella Versace designed hotel interiors and why Fabien Baron designs for everything under the sun.

This style annum, there has been a lot of emphasis on the structure and architecture of clothing, jewelry and accessories -- particularly shoes. The Howard Roark -- protagonist of Ayn Rand's heavy, heavy novel The Fountainhead (trust me, it took two years before I finished that literary Goliath) -- of shoes is Pierre Hardy, cobbler of Hermes and Balenciaga.

Single-handedly, Hardy breathed new life into the House of Dior's shoe collection in the late 80s, then worked creatively for Vogue Homme International and as an professor at the Ecole Superior des Arts Appliques. In addition to launching a new handbag collection, he's also a fantastic artist who captures shoes through different visual mediums.

There is a rhyme and reason for every curve, cut-out, strap, heel and toe (or peep-toe, whichever you prefer) of a Pierre Hardy masterpiece.

And even if there wasn't a rhyme or a reason, he still holds the royal title of cobbler king.

I'm Lovin' it: Dsquared2, one of my uber-stylish L.A. BFF's favorite brands. After hitting it big on the international fashion circuit, the cutesy Canadian twin duo of Dean and Dan Caten packed up their things in Toronto and made Milan their atelier base. If you're unfamiliar with the Dsquared2 brand, think Dolce & Gabbana, but slightly funkier. I'm particularly digging this cross-over belted dress. It's candy striper-esque without being porn-star cheesy or goody-two-shoes.

I'm Over it: My friend Mikey tagging me in old pictures on Facebook. I had blonde hair back then -- with my complexion color, it wasn't a good thing either. Thank god dark is in.

Artist of the Day: Sebastien Tellier. This electronica artist from France looks slightly like John Lennon, circa the 70s and minus the tiny lens, round glasses. His second album "Politics" was re-released due to popular demand -- his latest album "Sessions" is bound to live up to the hype. If you enjoy the musical vibrations of Air, Royksopp, Thievery Corporation and the like, you'll probably crush on Sebastien Tellier pretty hard.