Reader Request - THAT satc belt

I just got a reader request for help finding THAT belt worn by Carrie in SATC the Movie.


The styling in the film and that belt in particular was such a big hit, every sharp designer and retailer and their mama has jumped on this bandwagon. The pro being lots of choice, the con being lots of choice.

So, I've hunted and gathered the best belts I could find. Let me know your thoughts.


And if you're feeling very inspired by Sex & The City Style, make sure you take a look at my previous posts.








Exhibit 1.


Exhibit 2



Patricia Field has one available for $120 from her NY boutique and online store. It has sold out for now but keep an eye on it as I'm sure they'll be getting a new delivery in for the new season.
www.patriciafield.com.


Target, quick as a whippet, produced this $20 baby.
www.target.com.


The Streets Ahead version is by far the best and is available for around $180-250 from
www.shopkitson.com
www.singer22.com
www.streetsahead.com


I am totally loving this Rough Roses one from www.couturecandy.com. And it's on sale at the moment for $95...Hurry!


And there's this slightly different but very similar belt, its all black and the studs are flatter so offers a more slick, sophisticated look. Also Rough Roses from www.couturecandy.com.



America's cheapest high street store, Forever 21, have this very cute distresses cream belt for $19.80. And you know what? It might actually be my favourite one!
www.forever21.com.


This bright and quirky number is vibrant turquoise croc leather with hexagonal metal studs, tres chic. $268 www.freepeople.com.


This spot on version is by Rachel Leigh, fab accessory designer known more for her jewellery. this belt is exclusive to www.chickdowntown.com and is $150.



From www.shopintuition.com we have the Linea Pelle studded belt for $120, its thinner size makes it a great choice for women who prefer thinner belts around their waist or even better, it would look fab through the belt loops of your favourite pair of jeans.

FOR MY UK READERS
Decided to separate the UK finds from the US finds to make it easier to find what you're looking for.


The monochrome palette is huge for Autumn/Winter and this white leather Diesel belt with the mixed metal eyelets is a perfect accessory to your new season attire. £45 from www.asos.com




Love, love, love the outsize studs on this belt. £55 from www.asos.com



Linea Pelle really do offer some of the best quality leather on the market at the moment, you know what they say, you get what you pay for. £235 www.asos.com. Love the shape on this one.


Cheap and cheerful is sometimes the best way for such a high fashion item and www.asos.com bridge that gap with perfection. This wide belt is only £15.



And if you want an exact replica of Carrie's belt for a fraction of the price, you can't beat this one for £15 from www.asos.com.


This luxe black leather belt from London based twins Daniela and Annette, who design under the name (their surname) Felder & Felder, is available from www.brownsfashion.com for £55.



John Lewis? Who knew? Anyway, don't let that put you off. This bargaintastic belt is £35 from www.johnlewis.com



Hot new online retailer www.oli.co.uk seem to have their fingers in a lot of the right pies, love this belt from Jodie Kidd's Fusion line. Its £30 so very reasonably priced too.


www.oli.co.uk also have this fantastic Ted Baker belt. Its £55 and his site has a wider selection of fab studded belts too so make sure you take a look. www.tedbaker.com

Tiger Tem's Been Bitten...but smitten?

So as you might have noticed I'm something of a Sarah Jessica Parker fan. She was very involved in the creation and development of Sex & The City which is probably my favourite TV show. Ever. And yes I can say that with such confidence as I really don't watch that much TV.

I remember being beside myself with excitement when I heard she was launching a clothing line. I love her style, her personal style is more conservative than Carrie Bradshaw's but she still knows how to work it. She's not classically beautiful but the way she dresses and comes across makes her seem damn attractive. Which is why I think women like her so much, she shows us all how to be attractive when you're not classically beautiful. Rather handy.

For the most part, I'm not a fan of these celebrity faux collections. We love your acting/singing but that doesn't make you a designer. Kate Moss was smart enough to just hand over the keys to her wardrobe and instruct TopShop to 'copy' whatever she'd been photographed in most. That's why her line is one of the very few that has worked...no designing involved. (But really, why did brand director Jane Shepherd leave so soon after Kate arrived?)


So when I was set to go to America, checking out Bitten was definitely on my list of priorities. Had a look at the website.
.
Not bad.

I found out it was carried by a store called Steve & Barry. Never heard of them before (and I know my shops, I make a point of researching shops). And their store was a little out of the way in the city I was in but off with my map I went.

Everything in her line is under $20. Yes UNDER $20. Now that does sound like a good thing but I'm growing a little more wary with time of this cheaper and cheaper trend with retailers. Somebody somewhere is always paying the price...aren't they?

But with a tagline like "Fashion is not a luxury. Its a right". I was all set to be smitten by Bitten.


Steve and Barry's looks like a giant loft/warehouse. Kinda like the Urban Outfitters in Kensington but not as nice. I made a beeline straight for the Bitten collection.

Oh my. Hmmm. Er. Well. Hmmm. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough. Ok, sizing issues abound was my first observation. I'm a US 2 and I could barely find anything in my size. But that's just luck of the draw. (I do think its good that the collection is from a Size 2 - 22.) The place was a little haphazard and disorganised looking. Hate that. But I love SJP so onwards I went. Distinct lack of quality, and nothing that looked especially reminiscent of SJP's style. It was just a selection of very ordinary basics. With astoundingly low prices yet, but with such poor quality...what's the point?


light blue puff sleeve ruffle top $9.98, heather gray hoodie $14.98, chino shorts $9.98 with lace up red sneakers $9.98

double vneck tank dress $19.98 & purple t-shirt $7.98

strapless black dress $19.98 with henley $9.98


I've seen Bitten and I definitely wasn't smitten. I understand that she wanted to go cheap and cheerful but its tooo cheap and not at all cheerful. Being as much of a SJP fan as I am, I was very disappointed but got a tshirt as I'd really gone out of my way to find the stuff. I think it would have worked a lot better if she'd gone for a more Kate Moss line and maybe collaborated with Forever 21 or someone with a bit more presence than Steve and flippin Barry.

I understand that being cheap makes your range accessible to a much wider range of shoppers but a balance needs to be struck. And I'm hating this cheap cack that retailers keep churning out thinking a low price tag is enough to seduce shoppers. You have to work a little harder than that for my love.

So I've decided that I'm going to shop BETTER. You can either buy 6 $20 dresses that will probably do a bit of shape shifting and colour bleeding in the wash, or you can hold out for a much nicer dress for $120 that's bound to stick around a lot longer.

I don't like Primark. There. I said it. Provocative statement I know. But I intrigued by the launch in the UK and the low prices, but the one jumper I bought the one time I went was itchy and scratchy and then after one wash never looked the same. What do you expect when you pay £7. Not a lot. Reminds me of the time I bought some no frills chicken from Tesco, and I was sick for days. No joke. Gimme Sainsbury's Taste The Difference any day.

But with time I've started to pay less attention to disposable fashion as my closet is slowly but surely gasping for air, I refuse to stuff it any fuller with stuff that doesn't last. The lazy man and the stingy man walk the same road twice so instead of constantly updating my wardrobe at the speed of knots with the cheap stuff, I'm going to slow my roll and focus on the slightly nicer stuff. Shops like Massimo Dutti, Zara, and a whole heap of independent collections now tickle my fancy a whole lot more. And I love to cruise the sale racks. Especially the department store shoe sections. You'd be surprised at how much the fancy stores want your money come sale time. Meeting me halfway? That's much more my kind of love.

Let's Talk About Sex

The countdown has begun and in case you didn't already know I'm totally obsessed with Sex and the City. Loved the show when it was on and my box set is my ultimate go to when I want to chill out and watch something. (my ADD means I'm not that good at watching films). We have just about a month to go as the film is released on May 29th...a date that's been etched in my memory for months.

The storylines, the witty banter, the fabulous characters, the sexy city, the glamourous lives and oh my oh my....the clothes.

So as we all eagerly anticipate our lives being graced with the magic that is Sex and The City...I've done some mighty fine research to bring you my favourite outfits from the show.

Nothing much to report from Season 1 (i.e. no budget) so we'll start with Season 2.

LOVE this dress. Donna Karan at her finest. They way it moves and shimmers and reveals a little more leg than you probably should at a wedding, supremely sexy...all that and Big walks out to take a call while she's giving her speech. Ah well.


Charlotte wore the hell out of this Richard Tyler dress to a wedding. Black, plunging halterneck....once again a little va-va-voom for a wedding but when you look that hot who cares about propriety?


And moving onto season 4. Carrie rocked this beautiful Badgley Mischka dress to a wedding with Aidan. And that hair is fierce. Love this dress so much it gets two pictures...but you really need to see the back.

How bridal can a woman look when she's refusing to wear her (Harry Winston no less!) engagement ring...and chooses to wear it on a necklace as that 'keeps it closer to her heart'. That's priceless commitment-phobia in full effect. Gotta love the show.


Still on season 3 and unlike a lot of people at the time, loved the haircut and I'm so in love with that Vivienne Westwoood suit. Now that's what I call a suit.


Onto season 4 and Carrie brings the sex to the city with this fabulous killer outfit. The apple green Vivienne Westwood skirt worn with the sexy Chloe top and vintage belt...was she on the rebound? This looks like the perfect rebound outfit so if she wasn't and you are....you know what to do.


One of the more left of centre looks but I love it. Patricia Field does an amazing job of championing the lesser known designers and this Imitation of Christ dress looks fabulous, worn with Manolos and a Lulu Guinness striped tote.


Killing the primaries with this gorgeous Tracy Feith colour block dress...and the strawberry Kenneth Jay Lane necklace that sparked a huge global trend.


Onto season 5, the short season. And my word did Patricia Field work some magic at making diaphonous look...diaphonous and not I'm-trying-really-hard-to-not-look-preggers. Love this cute classic little Marni jacket with a fabulously feminine floral dress.


Charlotte looking demure and sexy in a vintage duck egg blue top. Love, love, love the super feminine style they worked with for Charlotte.


Season 6 was the jackpot season for wardrobe. Miranda...wasn't so keen on her wardrobe for the most part but I guess they had to work with the job (lawyer). Loved this Ilya frock on her though and the colour really suits her. And Charlotte looking cute as a button in a Plenty by Tracy Reese dress.

Charlotte got married to Harry in this Audrey Hepburn inspired Badgley Mischka dress.


At Miranda's autumn wedding Carrie wore this beautiful Badgley Mischka dress with a superpretty Luisa Beccaria floral print dress coat (you can just about see it draped over the back of her chair). Love the updo too.


The chick managed to look hot doing jury duty. And created a global sell-out for Manolo with those shoes. Cute hair too.


Fabulous, fabulous Marc Jacobs cocktail dress. And didn't she handle Edith fawning over Alexandre like a champ?


And with a cheeky nod to the Jane Austen era strumpet...Charlotte wore this Ralph Lauren corset well. Very well. Almost enough to make me want to own some Ralph Lauren.


In case you didn't know, I love purple and I loved, loved, loved this Sonia Rykiel jumper dress. It had sold out by the time I found out who it was by but i did eventually get my hands on something incredibly similar and yes, I still love it to bits.


Shall we dance? Nobody does couture like Oscar De La Renta and the dude is 75 and still going strong. Gotta respect that. A classic moment as Carrie passed out outside the opera and they ended up having their dinner and dance at McDeux.


They milked the hell out of the American in Paris with wardrobe but what's a great love story without un petit peu de fromage? And naturally they waved the American flag with the Jill Stuart dress and the Delaura hat, and said 'allo to the French with the Balenciaga coat, Rochas gloves and Christian Louboutin shooboots. Nice.


And going deeper with all things French, I loved this Balenciaga dress (very Minnie Mouse) with the cute Christian Lacroix coat and of course, Christian Louboutin heels.


The most classic all-dressed-up-and-nowhere-to-go outfit I've ever seen. A little OTT perhaps but when in France do as the Americans do...and overdress. JUST JOKING! It was an easy one. And effort is often overrated.


And we leave the girls back in their sexy city looking fabulous. Abso-figgin-lutely baby.



p.s. if you want to check out pics from the film take a look at
http://tigerbites.blogspot.com/2007/10/sex-and-citythe-return.html

Sex and The City...The Return

By now, every single woman under the sun must know that yes, at long last there's a Sex And The City Movie in the making.

Now I'm all for plot spoilers cos at the end of the day, Sex And The City had such a talented crew that put the show together, no matter how many twists and turns are leaked, there will still be some classic comedy, drama and high octane glamour moments that will make the film worth every penny.

But more importantly, I want to know what the girls are wearing.

The TV show spawned a few trends of its own and the film is certainly going bigger and better in every way as its making the transition from the small screen to the big screen, its supersizing its fashion too.

Patricia Field is back on board and with an oscar under her belt for the Devil Wears Prada, she's really upped the ante this time.

First up, we have a classic Carrie ensemble. A cute, fun, flirty strapless dress with a little something added by that eyelet belt and a lot of something added by that feathered Ferragamo bag.

And then we have the supersize corsage. Love it or hate it....I love it, just not so crazy about the shoes. But apparently the shoe thing is a key trend...forget the super feminine delicate shoes of the TV show, now Carrie is rocking some chunky, studded Dior Gladiator sandals in a choice of 2 finishes. Black patent and Brown snakeskin.

The most hyped new accessory from the film so far has to be this vile Eiffel Tower bag from Timmy Woods. I hate it. But Americans are so obsessed with Paris and Parisian style so I'm sure there are thousands of women who want one right now!

Next up, zut alors, Carrie 'not-the-marrying-kind' in a wedding dress! Well rumour has it that either her and Big tie the knot or its a very elaborate dream sequence. I don't think they should get married, it just makes their union seem so much more conventional when in reality it was anything but. Dress by Vivienne Westwood and Patricia Field kept up the feathery theme with a turquoise fascinator. Quirky ensemble yes, me likey? No. But then again, I don't need to.

So the bridesmaids...looking a little like the Wicthes Of Eastwick but I guess it was always going to be a very un conventional looking wedding. I just hope they didn't plump for some naff venue.
Interestingly enough, Miranda's overall look is by far my favourite. The black dress on Charlotte looks a little severe, Samanthat looks a little Copacabana...which leaves Miranda in pole position. Who would ever have thought that day would come?

And for a bit of affirmative action, we have Jennifer Hudson as Carrie's assistant. I loved her in

DreamGirls, she totally stole the show. So I'm hoping she works some magic in this as well which would make her a bona fide fantastic actress. Not crazy about the outfit, I know the bag is Chanel but nah. But the boots could work. I'd wear them with a black outfit, or maybe red, either way I'm usually a walking colour riot but even I'd say just one colour would have looked a lot better. But who am I to argue with Patricia Field. Interesting choice of hair....what are your views on that?

And last up we have the ladies looking their usual Manhattan's finest.

But oh wait, what's that......

One last look at the past? Or the future ready to mow them down?