Fashionable Flag Waving

Bonjourchic's definitely not your typique July 4th reveler. Et quelle surprise I wasn't theme-dressed at the office yesterday in red, white and blue. But as I'm never one to turn down a few fireworks of the fashionable kind, I'm spending my lazy morning off work musing over my favorites from Chanel's Spring 2008 RTW collection. Taking cues from '40s and '50s americana, it's patriotic inspired fashion of an edgier stripe. Enjoy:







And, seeing as my Chanel taste has to adapt to something closer to an Oscar Meyer budget, I'm wishing I could speed the following picks to my door for ce soir.


Rachel Pally Sloucher Racer Back Dress



Tibi Harbour Knits Sweater

Christian Louboutin Sometimes Shoe Boots


Happy 4th!

Organic Style

A couple of summers back I was on a freelance kick and was researching green apparel. Only to find that apart from Linda Loudermilk, Edun jeans and a handful of other hard-to-find niche labels, there really were not too many stylish choices readily available to eco-conscious buyers – and even fewer without similarly niche prices.

Two years later, some mass retailers have picked up on the idea of sustainable fashion, but all in all the movement has remained at the gimmicky-one-off collection level. Take oft-cited Target who brought on Rogan Gregory for its early summer GO International Collection. Although company press releases laud Gregory’s “expertise at fusing organic material with skillful design,” and their goal of making “eco-friendly fashion available to women everywhere,” a permanent eco-option has yet to appear in their stores.

Fortunately news in WWD today could prove that the tide is finally starting to turn and clothing retailers are beginning to look at what large grocery stores have been switched onto for a few years: the feasibility of providing a broad range of organic choices at lower prices than specialty stores.

One of the biggest new mass offerings set to make it easier for eco-buyers? Bernardo Green, a Montreal label now based in New York that made a name for itself in recent years creating machine-washable and dry-able suede jackets of the sort you’d see in the frumpy sections of Nordstrom. Today’s word from WWD is that the company will be turning its attention to eco-sensitive practices, launching of a range of greener jackets that would look at home on the fashion editorial pages of a magazine.

Using hides from organically certified tanneries in Slovenia, the pieces price-pointed at a wallet-sensitive $71 to $79 will apparently go on sale at 18 exclusive Nordstrom locations stateside and 30 Marks and Spencer stores in the UK. So, if the Bernardo Green offering below is a little Leona Lewis Bleeding Love video for your liking you can check out other designs as of August. Next step, fair trade fashion? We can only hope.


Forget hemp, silver suede the latest word in green fashion.

Bonjour Bizarre: Road Safety Made Sexy

We all know neon has been in and out of fashion for the past few years, but does this mean we’ll be seeing more? Well not unless you have Monsieur Lagerfeld’s suggested accessory du jour: your very own broken-down vehicle.


Listen to Kaiser Karl
“It’s yellow, it’s ugly, it doesn’t go with anything, but it could save your life.”

Unfortunately even though the location of my last vehicle breakdown (Siena) was pretty glam, I did not handle the event with such style as Mr Lagerfeld...

Modern Greek

Summer is well and truly here. 90-degree weather notwithstanding, yesterday I saw my first TV commercial for the Olympics. I guess a season of sporting fever is finally upon us. Not that we haven’t already been bombarded with news stories surrounding the games. From the lackluster reception the Olympic torch has received on its journey to China, to debate as to whether world leaders will be boycotting opening ceremonies, you’d be hard pressed to escape Olympics news coverage.

Hardly surprising then that fashion in sport has also grabbed a few headlines in recent months. Starting with several new picks to outfit Olympic national teams. Stateside, it was announced that Polo had ousted Canadian brand Roots to outfit the US team. And just last Thursday Britain’s Beijing hopefuls appeared in new Vivienne Westwood-designed outfits.

Now, it would be easy to talk about the socio-political significance of America’s retro, gentile Gatsby-esque choice, or Britain’s favorite go-to: trad. yet rebellious cool Britannia. But on a purely sartorial level, all this buttoned-up tailoring, especially on the part of Polo, seems strongly at odds with the high-tech, functional mood pervading sportswear of late. Think: Speedo’s controversial LZR swimsuit that has been credited with as many as 35 record-breaking times this year.

Fortunately you need only look as far as the 2008 spring and summer collections to discover a rich melding of classic, retro and modern. Because this season, Greek chic swept the runways and designers looked to the ancient world for inspiration. Thankfully not in an entirely literal here’s-your-toga-ma’am way.

At Lanvin, Alber Elbaz ripped a page from original classicist Madame Grès’ sketchbook, meditating on drape and playing with fluid lines by adding ostrich feathers and sequins. And really who better to reference than Grès when thinking of modernity? After all, her revolutionary use of classically inspired draping and free-flowing gowns cut on the bias epitomized modernity for stylish, liberated women in the 1930’s.

Harnessing a Grès-like sense of purity, for 2008 Elbaz proved that the goddess gown could be translated for the everyday working woman and not just the red carpet diva. Simple deconstructed draped dresses were made bold and contemporary with a bright injection of canary yellow and moss green. And with a short midnight blue dress that was softly pleated across the front and modernized with a long zipper, he gave the floaty dress the tough edge modern-day goddesses deserve.

Elsewhere, Panichgul Thakoon adopted the daytime goddess dress, instead choosing asymmetry with soft pleating to create a shimmering confection. At Preen, Thornton and Bregazzi produced a body-con-meets-sleek-greek dress in muted dove gray, while Jonathan Saunders went monochrome, showing a white abbreviated dress draped from the neckline and belted at the waist.

But really it was Nicolas Ghesquiere’s revolutionary collection with its structural tailoring, strong shoulders and space age feel that stole the shows with its forward-thinking take. Punctuating each floral look was a classic Greek sandal, transformed into a towering biker-chick-come-gladiator statement shoe that combined the ancient world and modernity with a high glamour quotient. Surely if Nike the goddess of victory wore shoes they would be from Balenciaga.

Off the runways the modern Grecian dress has also filtered down to the mass market. And considering Greece was the founder of democracy, it’s apt that Target, the US home of democratized fashion, has been one to pick up the look in a contemporary hue that's perfect for achieving the look without being mistaken for a movie extra.

Looks like we can all enjoy a little ancient history as cutting edge fashion then. And you don't have to be watching the Olympics to appreciate that.

Bonjour Beauty: Totally Lashed!

Recently bonjourchic got the haircut blues. Not just I-need-a-haircut blues, but I-need-totally-new-hair blues. So, in a bid to change things up I chopped my hair down to a neat crop à la Agyness Dean. The result? I love it.

From the way it takes next to no time to wash and style, to how my new do frames my features in a kind of gamine Mia-Farrow-meets-Twiggy-but-sorta-circa-1986 fashion, I totally love it. But, here comes the but. Said feature-framing is also posing a few new make-up woes. And by woes, lets not exaggerate, I mean “cool, lets try some new products”woes.


You see, what Twiggy and Farrow both share are long, dark and totally feminine lashes. It’s what keeps the whole look on the gamine and girly side of androgynous. For me that’s meant out with old faithful Maybelline, and in with a new Cargo mascara that’s been checking all the boxes on my luscious lash quest. Eyes speak volumes and my lashes have been needing some super volumizing.





The Name:
Cargo Blu-Ray Mascara

What it is:
The blueprint for picture-perfect, big screen-ready eyes. Specially designed as a remedy for unforgiving HDTV close-ups, this mascara caters to my inner leading lady, working to lengthen, boost volume and make lashes look amazing in any light.

How it works:
To ensure an award-winning performance, each wand features a two-sided brush complete with a flat portion for even coverage and a super-fine comb for perfect distribution. No clumps here.

Why you want it:
Not satisified with good looks alone, thanks to an infusion of replenishing panthenol and keratin, Blu-Ray delivers chic, healthy and strong lady-like lashes that dazzle under the spotlight.

So, the only question is: Who shall I cast to play my leading man?

Bonjour Beauty: The Eyes Have It!

The promise of San Diego's infamous May Gray is making Bonjourchic reach for Spring and Summer's vivid eye colors. Think bold, think beautiful, think hot colors that beg the question: Where's the party?

Chic Pick: Laura Geller Baked Marble Eye Shadow


What it is:
A colorful, ever-fashionable eye shadow confection baked into irresistible marble swirls.

How it works:
Thanks to a duo of subtle shimmer and elegant color, blended together by Italian artisans, you get to choose between all-over iridescence and several one-of-a-kind hues.

Why you want it:
One small shadow, infinite color possibilities. You can have your cake and eat it too.


Chic Pick: New Urban Decay Loose Pigments


What it is:
The ultimate in vivid color delivered in individual, no-spill bottles.

How it works:
Loaded with bold pigments, each shade can be either swept on for a radiant luster, or piled on to achieve a hot, daring tone.

Why you want it:
Straight-up colorful style without the messy clean-ups.

Color therapy meets retail therapy, what could be better? Hurry, get your beauty clicks on at chic HQ, www.sephora.com

Bonjour Beauty: Eco Chic Lips

Do good and look good, call it a winning combination. So too is the mix of style and celebrity behind this new Cargo Plant Love lipstick. Designed by a-list mom Denise Richards, and named after her daughters, choose from Lola for lashings of sheer sparkling praline, or Sam for a berry redcurrant hue. And because beauty is as beauty does, these sheer pout-perfectors boast an earth-friendly corn-based compostable tube and biodegradable packaging sewn with wild flower seeds. Now that's what I call flower power.

Cliquez vite chez www.cargocosmetics.com to get yours.

Fast is fashionable

Fashions come and fashions go, sometimes as fleetingly as the passage of time itself. It is, after all, the story of style. Trend is transitory. Well up to a point that is. Because if one thing has remained the same throughout the history of modern fashion it is the strict fashion calendar. What streams from the catwalks one month will most certainly take many more to make it into women's closets in the real world. Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer: fashion follows a tried and true style cycle.

Yet, with cheap chic retail on the rise and aspirational customers demanding trends as up-to-the-minute as those they see in magazines, change is afoot. As rapidly reinterpreted high-style looks are filtering to the mainstream within the blink of a short fashion minute, instant fashion gratification is in vogue. Today, no fashionista need wait for the real designer deal when the inspired-by-version can be snagged for just a fraction of the cost.

Hardly surprising then that just this past week, just as Old Navy announced a push towards a speedy trend-driven sales model, several big names retaliated. We're not talking lawsuits here, although the past year has seen Diane Von Furstenberg sue both Target and Forever 21 for copyright infringement. This time two big-time luxury names entered the arena to battle for design dominance. On the offense? The soon to be resuscitated Halston and online retailer Net-a-porter.com --both armed with a maneuver stolen from the mainstream itself.

Rendering the trade in quick knock-offs less attractive by stealing the giant retailers' thunder, the pair have now publicized a plan to sell two Halston pieces within just 24 hours of Halston's debut Fall 2008 show. It's certainly a move that would drastically change production cycles were it to be adopted by many other houses, but it definitely lends added cachet and exclusivity to the garments tagged for early sale. And moreover, by creating a new red letter day on the shopping calendar, buying the latest garment becomes a happening --hardly a tactic dissimilar from the first-day events Topshop and H&M create to build hype around their limited edition big name designer collections.

To many, this swing towards mainstream retail practice may just seem like a minor detail in the march towards fashion democratization and the dominance of ready-to-wear over haute couture. However, other than simply opening up the opportunities for aspirational shoppers to trade up to designer rather than down to mass market, this new luxury penchant for fast fashion also reflects is a larger change on the shopping landscape and in the global climate.

Simply put, given the sheer must-have desirability of fast fashion and the reality of climate change, the practice of sticking to several strict seasons seems pretty passé. Why not wear a different season's look when it's not necessarily snowing in January, or in the case of much of Europe last year, not warm and sunny in July? As layering and all-season dressing gains relevance for the average fashion lover, so too does the need for faster access to new looks. Collections including Resort and Pre-Fall that may have traditionally been off the strict fashion calendar are now registering clearly on many a fashion junkies' shopping radar.

It follows then that over the past few years, the off-calendar collections that were once just a European fad have gained huge popularity. Not just as a way to give buyers and journalists a taste of the Fall looks to follow, but also to create buzz around collections and meet the needs of stylish mid-season dressers. For 2008 Proenza Schouler presented its first Pre-Fall collection during Paris Haute Couture week, and, on the same note, Peter Som for Bill Blass showed a debut offering in New York.

Proenza Schouler Pre-Fall 2008

Bill Blass Pre-Fall 2008

So does this mean we'll be in for more attention-span-shortening collections, all sold in fits and starts throughout the year? A plethora of many new mid-season and pre-season collections many not be inevitable, but one thing is for certain, from mainstream to luxury, fashion is becoming a fast and fierce competition. For any hope in getting hold of the latest looks, it's time to upgrade your internet connection and get your elbows out. Forget fast fashion, retail is a race. On your mark, get set…shop.

Blue-Sky Thinking

In many ways mood rings and fashion --and by fashion I mean take-your-breath-away cutting-edge fashion-- have a lot in common. I'm not talking about 1970's kitsch here, rather the fashion pack's habit of manipulating color to reflect society's mood. Be it through economic upturn, or political change, with every swing in society's mood, designers twist and turn the fashion kaleidoscope to match. Just compare the austerity of the 1940’s fashions with the luxe, vibrant fabrics and palettes of the post war years for an idea of how the trend started.

So when the Pantone Color Institute released its top color picks for Fall 2008 last week, one thing seemed very clear: this fall, we're in for a blue mood. Hardly surprising you may think during this time of economic and political uncertainty.

Yet, far from being melancholy, Pantone's new bevy of blues proved radiant. Whether injected with red, or tempered with soft, powdery mineral-like tones, for 2008, blue has had a makeover. Gone are the average royal and navy blues from seasons past. Make way for a rhapsody of blues heavily perfumed with the scent of dewy dawns, tropical sea breezes and floral bouquets. Shakespeare’s “that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet,” hardly rings true for shades with such evocative names as Caribbean Blue, Twilight Blue or Blue Iris.


Suffice to say that the blue hues that appeared on the New York runways were just as whimsical as their Pantone names suggested. Erin Fetherston used Blue Iris on belts and tights to provide a jolt of color to a slew of dresses in silver-spun tweed and floaty florals. In his debut Halston collection Marco Zanini opted for the powdery cornflower shade on a jersey all-in-one jumpsuit, while Preen showed a diaphanous dress in parachute-like silk in a rich purple-hinted interpretation of the color.

Electric indigo blue amped up Anna Sui's tapestry of deco-meets-native-American tunics, caftans and mini dresses, while at Karen Walker dashes of the same vibrant shade lent a voluminous skirt and peacoat added wow. From Bill Blass to Matthew Williamson by way of Phillip Lim and Calvin Klein, the vivid array continued throughout the week. And where there wasn't bright color play with amethyst, ochre, green and orange colors, blue appeared time and time again, like a bright patch of blue sky on a gray and cloudy day, punctuating neutrals in dove gray or mushroom-like brown and set against thick dark ribbed tights.

In fact, set against the ladylike and sometimes demure silhouettes that proved popular at Diane Von Furstenberg, Donna Karan and Jonathan Saunders, blue appeared more like a sartorial slick of red lipstick than any bellwether of bad times. And, like a sweet pick-me-up, the color gave serious-feeling collections a much-needed playful outlook.


So, with 2008's blue shades charged with so much hope and positivism, could it be time to rewrite the old color clichés? After all change does happen, even if it is once in a blue moon.

On the Boutique Beat

It's not just the silver birch wallpaper plastered across this cozy store on 30th Street that invites San Diego’s fashionable to frolic like wood nymphs -- although it helps. Instead, put it down to a neatly selected mix of threads blossoming with natural indie chic.

By singling out fashion favorites and emerging designers to suit the artistic sensibilities of South Park shoppers, Maeve Riley’s owner and buyer Michelle Smith seems to have created a fashion haven for San Diego’s cool, creative class. Moreover, with its location wedged between several hip hangouts, the store’s concept successfully offers up equal measures of edginess and California casual.

For every girl lusting after quality, on-trend basics Riley proposes C and C California, Lauren Moffat, Mon Petit Oiseau and Sass and Bide. Meanwhile, edgier fashionistas can relish an eclectic lineup of labels including offbeat options from Paul Frank and Scrapbook . And, with La Petite Princesse jewelry that picks up on the store’s affinity for natural charm, the assortment is complete: chic and colorful with an organic, roughhewn quality.

Surely, if there were ever a destination in San Diego for fresh and funky coffeehouse couture, Maeve Riley would be it.

The Glam Standing:
With its small premises, you’d be forgiven for expecting Riley to be a glam jam of clothes, but thanks to dressing room-like touches -- Venetian mirrors and chandeliers -- this bijoux boutique has all the jewelry box plushness and appeal of a private boudoir.

The Style Selection:
Prices range between $30 to $70 for soft tees, $150 to $185 for top name jeans and between $100 and $400 for tunics and dresses, so cheap chic this ain't. However, Maeve Riley does make for the perfect indie alternative to Bloomies. Make it a go-to for cornerstones to your seasonal wardrobe and you'll be fighting off the compliments. Hit the jeans rail for the individual attention you'll get finding the right fit. Or, if it’s dressier blouses and frocks you’re hunting down, shop Riley’s fabulous one-of-a-kind finds.

The Je Ne Sais Quoi:
Picking up on a trend that has seen regional boutiques like Portland's Le Train Bleu go online, Maeve Riley now also hosts a virtual storefront and web teaser featuring key looks. So now you get in a shopping preview over a latte -- how better to get your fashion clicks?

Maeve Riley
2328 ½ 30th Street
San Diego, CA 92104
619.501.3500

Maeveriley.com

On The Boutique Beat

If fashion has the power to transport, then Tucci in Solana Beach could quite possibly be the mother ship. Planted among shabby chic home boutiques and lifestyle stores, this South Cedros spot brings a fresh touch of metropolis-cool to a beachside shopping strip more readily associated with a style lexicon of surfwear and Juicy Couture sweat suits.

Tucci’s unique position on the Solana Beach shopping landscape? By sourcing San Diego exclusives from New York and Paris, owner and buyer Jessica Agatucci leads fashionistas on a stylish escape from the Socal shopping norm. And thanks to her picks from Charlotte Ronson, Philip Lim and Diane Von Furstenburg -- all edited for the North County set -- she delivers a great getaway for funky, fashion-forward and classic dressers alike.

Home to both casual and très put-together stylings, Tucci serves up a variety of luxurious knits, soft blouses, sophisticated workaday skirts and glitzy high-style dresses. So whether your dress code speaks to the breezy unbuttoned luxe of the California coast or the fast pace of the city, with Tucci’s creative, on-the-pulse inventory, chic discoveries are guaranteed.

San Diego design darlings rejoice, though just a few years old, Tucci’s a hip destination with all the goods to become Solana Beach fashion mainstay, if not part of the Southern Californian retail establishment.


The Glam Standing:
Elegant tented fitting rooms add whimsy to an otherwise sleek minimalist décor, while sculptural flower arrangements ensure an inviting, airy space that puts the focus firmly on the unique mix of labels.

The Style Selection:
Net-a-porter-like in its focus on fashion-forward separates, don't expect your usual beach town boutique filled with denim and jersey offerings. Go to hunt down that cool Rogan T-shirt you saw on Gossip Girl or the chic Development tunic you spied on Cashmere Mafia. Price tags compete fairly with any other high-end store with similar big name labels.

The Je Ne Sais Quoi:
With prime picks from Vanessa Bruno, Tucci’s real pièce de résistance lies in the fabulous French finds you'll be very hard pressed to get your hands on anywhere else in the county. Think chic imports you'd feel equally comfortable wearing strolling the streets of St Germain as hanging out on the sands at Swami's. Now that's something to write home about.

Vive la différence!
Tucci Boutique
130 South Cedros
Solana Beach CA, 92075