aleXsandro Palombo is an Italian illustrator, whom the cult knows via his blog Humor Chic. Palombo studied design at the Marangoni Institute in Milan and later launch is own line before becoming the scathing blogger his is today. The designer has a no-hold’s barred social point of view and he uses personalities from the worlds of fashion and politics as his cartoon character templates.

One of my favorites is his reworking of Michelle Obama’s March 2010 Newsweek cover (seen below). It’s irreverent & relevant without hitting you over the head with it’s satire. I love that the skeleton is cheetah print! Mrs O, is almost as trendy, after all.

Images: humorchic.blogspot.com, michelle-style.com

In addition to the clever e-merchandising, the cool weather offering looks pretty attractive. It’s full of stylish, yet understated outwear pieces, which the recent & abrupt change in weather has me craving at the moment. But I’ve never shopped with Uniqlo and am generally wary of “discount” brands. I’d love to scoop up the above jacket for the very good price of $169 but if it’s going to start degrading in quality by next season (or even two years from now) I’d rather save my pennies and shell out more for a coat that will last me for years. Click the link below to browse.

+J FALL WINTER 2011, The Final Collection. Get it first online from 1am on Thurs September 8, 2011!

photo: fashionista.com

So what might the trend mean? Elephants have been connected with wisdom, long memory, power, and royalty among other symbolism. Elephants are revered in some Eastern cultures, figuring largely (no pun) in the history and culture of countries like India. In fact, Indian people and culture are increasingly visible in Western popular culture, which plays such a big part of forming fads. Yet trends are more than fashion fad. A real trend is a vibration that can be felt throughout. In fashion, music, cuisine, design, politics, social structures, everywhere… What does the image of an elephant mean to you?

Pictured, clockwise from top left:
Topshop pendant necklace, Tarina Tarantino earrings, Sevan Bicakci amethyst ring, Dannijo Necklace, Hermes Charm, Alkemie cuff bracelet, Sakdidet Road ring

Shop more elephant jewelry items below.

Elephant Cornelian Cameo Pendant / Pin Del Gatto’s highly skilled master artisans select and hand-carve every shell using century old techniques. This beautiful cameo with an 18K gold frame can be worn as a pendant or pin and is part of the Corniola collection which uses South East African sea shells. Made in Naples, Italy

TARINA TARANTINO ” Tilt-A-Whirl” Blue Elephant Drop Earrings Slip the TARINA TARANTINO “Tilt-A-Whirl” Blue Elephant Drop Earrings into your ears for a fashion statement no one will forget! Each rhodium-plated silver post with a friction back holds a sparkling light-blue crystal. A bright turquoise blue Lucite elephant charm dangles below from a single chain link for a whimsical touch. Measuring more than 2-1/2 inches long, these charming earrings will add a fun and colorful element to any outfit. Pair these earrings with crisp white shorts, a loose patterned top, and strappy wedge sandals for an outdoor lunch or garden party.

Vanessa Mooney Brass Elephant Charm on Tube And Ball Bead Bracelet Vanessa Mooney jewelry is hand made in Los Angeles, CA. The pieces are created to feel unique and one of a kind.

DOMINIQUE LUCAS – ELEPHANT NECKLACE Yellow gold plated sterling silver. Made in the U.K.

Elephant Charm Bracelet This style worthy elephant charm bracelet is a bold and beautiful piece ready for any occasion. Day or night, easy or elegant, the gold large open chain links make a rich statement as the gold and black enamel elephant hangs charmingly for a playful touch. Bracelet fastens with a simple toggle clasp.Metal: Gold platedMeasurement: 7 ¾ inches longPendant dimensions: 1 ¼ inch wide, 1 ¼ inch long

Elephant Pendant Necklace The elephant pendant necklace lets you have fun with your accessories. The abstract black elephant hangs at the bottom of the long chain and pops with 18k yellow-gold plate details. Layer this irresistible piece with your other fashion jewelry necklaces for a bohemian chic look.

Double Elephant Pendant Necklace Double elephant pendant necklace is a perfect gift for your best friend. A stylish 14k yellow gold disc is engraved with the image of two elephants with their trunks interlocked with one another. Because the trunks of the elephants are linked, they symbolize friendship. The pendant measure 5/8 inch in diameter as it dangles from a lovely 16 inch chain that is also crafted of 14k yellow gold. Necklace fastens with a lobster claw clasp.

Spammers can be extremely obnoxious, but as someone who’s had the task of improving SEO for clients I’m somewhat sympathic to the poor souls. If they post a comment that’s completely unintelligble or links to something totally irrelevant, then surely their contribution is quick to hit the back of my e-trash can. Every now & then, however, a savvy (or sincere) poster comes along with an obvious SEO bid that’s not just alright by me, it’s welcome!

Such was the case when one “dorisclausen” posted a comment here that linked to a page on madaboutown.com. Unlike many of the spammers that try to hit up TFC this site is home to beautiful and quality fashion products, like the Belgian fur felt hat by Barbisio above. And even better, the link lead me to a page with a video of some Barbisio hats being made.

Barbisio from MAT media production on Vimeo.

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It’s a delightful clip, which shows the care and craftsmanship that goes into making the very dapper hats. The Barbisio brand is clearly about classic quality & not trend-chasing – a characteristic that continues to rise on my priority list. Also, the video ultimately reminded me of being a kid again. Of all the ’80s era children’s shows Mister Rogers was a favorite because of his trips to factories to show how things are made. The Crayola crayon episode is an enduring classic. See it below.

It’s true: TFC has taken somewhat of a philosophical turn in the last year or so, which is reflective of some exciting things in the works. Still, we can appreciate some pure fashion eye candy – the kind on which this blog was originally founded. This is especially true when there are lovely hi-res pics to share. Thank you Vogue.com!

YSL

The Paris Uniform by eighty jane

A few days back from my trip to the fashion capital of the world, I’ve had a bit of time to reflect a bit on my experience. I was surprised (and maybe a little disappointed) to find that Parisian fashion didn’t seem to stand apart from the global crowd. It might be a result of the nature of fashion these days: We all read the same magazines (the same publisher, at least) and, perhaps more importantly, we read many of the same blogs.

My trip consisted of days in New York City, Paris, and Amsterdam – and each seemed to be a mosh of the same H&M-informed style palettes. To be fair, each of these cities has more than their share of tourists, and each is a “Western” city. Perhaps if my international jaunt had included Merida or Calabar or Jakarta I might have gotten a bit more variety.

Above, see a Polyvore representation of the most common look I saw on the streets of Paris. I wish I could say that the striped shirt was characteristic of the classic Paris style we all think of, but I think it’s just a reflection of a global trend toward horizontal stripes. The look lost it’s jazz after seeing it for the 88th time, but it’s made up of good foundation-like pieces, so I’m not mad at it. Click here to shop the look.

photos: zimbio.com

Few things have the power to pull me out of style slumber like the Costume Institute’s annual gala. Especially so, when there’s McQueen in the air. This year the ball-goers event toasted the opening of “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” – and exhibition of the late designers work, which opens at NYC’s Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4. I’m hoping to be as riveted by the exhibit as I was by the fashion history show at the V&A c. 2004 – the same year I began to realize that fashion might be more than just a passing fancy for me. I’ll be stopping through New York on my way to Paris this month & though I may take care of a touch of business while I’m there, a visit to the Met was a big motivator for my intentional 2-day layover.

The red carpet for the annual gala is truly the best of all the red carpets around the year. After all, at events like the Academy Awards, for example, stars are doing their best to be beautiful and often play it safe. At the Costume Institute, however, the avante garde is embraced (even if still rare) and drama is applied with a heavy hand. I love seeing designers arrive with stars and starlets draped in their creations. Just look at them beaming like proud mommies presenting their bouncing babies. More highlights from the arrivals in the gallery following.

Below, Clockwise from top left: Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel with Blake Lively; Jennifer Hudson with Vera Wang; Diane Kruger with Jason Wu; Franciso Costa for Calvin Klein with Zoe Saldana; Tory Burch with Kanye West; & Zac Posen with Christina Ricci.

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photos: zimbio.com

Today’s Object Of My Affection (OOMA): SUEDE AND LEATHER STRIPED BOXING SNEAKER by Superga. I’m not even into sneakers like that, but these have me feenin hard for some new kicks.

They are currently half off at Luisaviaroma.com + there’s this: 20% Promo Code FR10CJBA01 on sale items. I soooo, want to snatch these up right now, but I just bought a ticket to Paris and I need not to be on a spending spree right now. Oh, the agony!

LUISAVIAROMA.COM – FREE SHIPPING to the United States, Canada, and Europe