This month's StyleSeen pick is Rihanna.

While  her outfits can definitely be hit or miss, Rihanna somehow always manages to pull off a new daring look. She's funky, fashion forward, and radiates confidence!

written by:

Karli - Makeup Artist/Student Currently studying a Freelance Magazine Writing & Editing course, I hope someday to write professionally for magazines. I would love to write about anything from fashion and beauty to entertainment and celebrities.  I want to work within an industry where I can be creative and have the freedom to express myself.  In my spare time I love to bake and cook and can be found making numerous sets on the fashion creations and shopping website Polyvore. If you would like to have a look at other sets I have made please free to go to my profile page at Polyvore.com. http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?id=1071491 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We often get asked questions about shoes and happily try and help educate ladies about ‘everything shoes’. One thing that most ladies don’t understand is the actual process involved in making a shoe.  It is not a simple process and can literally take months from a sketch until it hits the streets.  I usually start with a sketch or series of photos of other styles / colour patterns which get sent to the manufacturer along with all the specifications so they can make a sample for me.  The specifications will include: colour and material of upper, colour of sole, heel, toe box, height & style of heel, any embellishment details, size to name a few.

Many, many emails later, a sample is finally made then sent to me. Eeach sample might get sent to me 1-2 more times before I am happy with the final product.  At is at this where we might either offer it for pre order or get a larger order made of that style.  More than 100 operations go into the construction of a shoe. The first and most important step is the creation of the last, a hand crafted wood or plastic replica of the human foot. It determines the contour of the arch and how evenly the wearers weight will be distributed throughout the foot, both of which are critical in establishing comfort.

A different last is required for each shoe style, whether the shoes is handmade or mass produced. You cannot just put this upper on this heel nor can you just chop off the heel to make is shorter as this affects the shape of the entire shoe (and yes I have been asked this question many times).

After recording as many as 35 measurements from a footprint, the make judges the symmetry of the toes, calculates the girth of the instep and ball of the foot and calculates the height of the big toe and contour of the instep. He also estimates how the foot will move inside the shoe.

The challenge is to address all these without compromising the architectural beauty of the shoe. For a heeled shoe, he/she visualises the heel height them determines the size of the throat. Next the appropriate height of the shoes quarter is established. Then using the last as guide, the patternmaker cuts out the shoes upper and lining bevels the edges to ensure a good fit and sews the pieces together. Next he constructs a toe box, adds the counter and soaks the leather so it will easily conform to the lines of the last. A master craftsman carefully positions the upper on the last, tautly stretching it before nailing it tightly into place. The upper dries on the last for 2 weeks before the sole and heel can be attached.

In the final steps, finishers trim the welt, pare the heel, burnish the sole and add the insole lining. Last but not least, the shoe is polished and buffed and ready for wear.

So please remember this when you are buying shoes and you can appreciate how much work goes into them and why they are well worth the investment.

written by:

Tanya Williams - Princess Chic Chic Executive Officer & Shoe lover, designer and collector of Princess Chic

There’s no escaping the leather jacket this winter and why would you want to?

A leather jacket is the best way to inject instant street cred into your outfit. But a black leather jacket is so 2009, all the cool kids are wearing blue leather this year – Blake and 90210’s Jessica Stoup show us how:

Blue tones soften the tough biker jacket look and make the trend accessible for those of us who just can’t pull off black.

Want one? Lucky for you we’ve scoured the international streets to find this leather hottie from Parisian label Sarah Wayne:

Blue leather jacket: $440
Available at: www.europeanwardrobe.com.au

Oui oui!

written by:

This month I have chosen Rachel Bilson for my StyleSeen pick. Rachel has become somewhat of a style icon for young women ever since her days on The OC, playing spoilt, rich teen, Summer Roberts. And, like her alter ego,  rarely does she put a foot wrong when it comes to fashion. Rachel is always photographed  looking trendy and chic, even when she's out on her day to day errands like, grabbing a coffee or walking her dog. Rachel can pull of any look from cute and sweet to sexy and rock chick.

Want to get this look for less?  Check out some cute finds below!

The nautical stripe is making a big comeback, and rightly so.  This Parisian look is versatile, fresh, casual and very chic.

If you are concerned about the horizontal stripes making you look bigger, then you just need to choose wisely.

• The wider/thicker the contrasting stripe is-
• The wider/thicker it will make you appear.
• The narrower/thinner the contrasting strip is –
• The narrower/thinner it will make you appear.

This is called the ‘Ladder effect”.

When the rungs on the ladder are close together it will make the viewer run their eye up the body, creating a visual illusion of length.  Now who doesn’t want a longer thinner body?

We heart ballet flats

Ballet flat shoes are one of those wardrobe staples a girl just can’t get through transeasonal dressing without, they’re like the little black dress of shoes, just ask Kate...

When buying ballet flat shoes, don’t be afraid of experimenting with colour, fabrics and styles – plain clothes and statement shoes spell sophistication.

Invest in a well made pair of ballet flats that can be worn with skinny jeans and a scarf for coffee with your girlfriends or teamed with a grey skirt and black opaque tights for work.

We’re loving these fine flatties:

Mmmm... candy (of the arm variety)

Move over earrings, necklaces and rings (just ask Lara Bingle), celebrities and fashion following types are popping up everywhere with some seriously cool arm candy wrapped around their wrists. Just ask Mena...

The latest look in accessories is all about layering individual beaded and woven bracelets to create your own signature style.

We love, love, love this look because it works with jeans and flats for day or a cocktail dress and heels for night – très versatile.

Here’s some of our faves:

I’m going to come right out and say it… I’m a bit of a Hilary Duff fan! Even at the age of 22 I will unashamedly admit to watching a repeat or two of Lizzie McGuire. And before I’m judged by the Hilary haters out there, it’s usually only late at night when nothing else is on (or maybe there is I just choose not to notice).  I was also pretty excited when I found out she was starring on Gossip Girl, and maybe I listen to her music every now and then, and maybe I was annoyed that I missed out on tickets to her concert. Okay, now you may be thinking I’m more than just ‘a bit’ of a fan. Well…you may just be right!

I chose Hilary as my pick for this month’s ‘Style Seen’ because I always seem to love what she’s wearing. She has her own sense of style; her look is carefree, casual, and trendy all at the same time. The way she presents herself is relatable to young women and I find her outfits are easy to recreate. Although she will be found wearing the pricier version of clothes most females wish they could afford but can’t, I have managed to track down some clothes and accessories, which will allow you to emulate her style without leaving you penniless.

In Order Left to Right

Zipper Tank $29.95 General Pants
Abbey’ Skinny Pant $59.99 Jeans West
Mafia Booties $130.00 Santini
Jersey Stripe Scarf $49.95 French Connection
Black Frilly Saddle Bag $59.00 birdmotel.com.au
‘Creamy Lips’ Ellis Faas Makeup $52.00 Mecca Cosmetica
With Love’ Hilary Duff Eau De Perfum Spray 100ml $49.95 perfumeconection.com.au
Pearl Studs $9.99 Diva

If you’ve been living under a rock you might not know New York Fashion Week set the Damrosch Park runways alight from February 11 to 18 showcasing the trends that we’ll all be wearing when autumn rolls around this year.

Of course there was black, there always is, but refreshingly black is not the new black and some of this year’s collections featured even more of the jewel coloured accents that began to emerge in Autumn/Winter 09.

On Aussie shores, David Jones recently released their Autumn/Winter 2010 catalogue featuring lots of (you guessed it) colour, including everything from orange to fuchsia.

Head to toe colour can look AMAZING, especially if you’re Miranda Kerr, but if the thought of all out colour instils images Grimace and Papa Smurf, go for colour accents instead – think LBD and hot pink clutch, black pant suit and killer red pumps or black skinnies and multicoloured handbag.

Here’s some we prepared earlier:

From sweet parisenne styles to a new even bolder twist on the 1980’s power dressing.
Yes mum, I know ‘It’s all back again and if only you hung onto that jacket.

Pencil skirts are everywhere.  Be sure to match your pencil skirt with a top that gives you some horizontal detail at the neck, head or shoulders.  That way you will be balancing your body.

A lot of red and purple this season, works great on darker toned ladies.  If you have lighter hair and tone be sure to carry the stronger hues with your lipstick, maybe match jeweled tones with neutrals to bring it back a peg.  Don’t let the colours wear you.

Luxe is best worn with a mix of fabrics, break it up with a sexy jersey.  Animal prints look great on warm toned women.  A cooler based lady could try the slate animal prints and match it back with a bold red.  You will see a lot more nudes, tones that are close to your own skin look great when it is framed with a contrasting piece of jeweler, scarf or collar.  

Images from the David Jones fashion week.