If you’re a wearer of designer sunglasses, I highly recommended checking out the website Otticanet.

I know many people consider designer sunglasses a royal waste of money, and I am on the fence about this one, however I do have to admit that designer sunglasses generally feel sturdier and slicker than your average petrol station pair.

Anyway that being said I do occasionally get an urge to buy a pair of ridiculously priced sunglasses and when I do, Otticanet is my number one stop.

The prices here are way less than what you’ll generally find in-store in Australia (unfortunately, designer goods in Australia do tend to be more expensive thanks to import taxes). Current season glasses are generally 20% off and you can also pick up previous season models for a very reasonable price.

I’m a big fan of Roberto Cavalli sunglasses and got my current pair from Otticanet last year for around $200.

Other designers featured on the site include Dior, Versace, Chloe, Gucci, Marc Jacobs - and just about every other big designer name.

By Caroline Warnes

July 2, 2008

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If you’ve had your eye on the Zac Posen Designers For Target range, now is the time to buy.

I was attempting to be sensible yesterday afternoon in my local Target - ie duck in to buy some sensible sports socks then duck back out before any damage could be done - however that was not to be.

Unfortunately (for my bank account, not for me), being a sucker for pretty shiny things, I got sidetracked along the way by the Designers For Target range and noticed that there are some nice reductions going on with the Zac Posen range - some were 50% or more off the original price.

As each DFT range comes to the end of its run, the few remaining pieces are usually reduced to make way for new stock (Target likes to clear them out entirely). There are still some decent pieces remaining in popular sizes so get in quick.

For a refresher on the Zac Posen DFT range, click here.

By Caroline Warnes

The annual Costume Institute Gala is New York’s equivalent of the Academy Awards: that is, a chance for the rich and famous to get dolled up in their best designer frocks.

This year’s event was held today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was hosted by Vogue magazine with the theme “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy”.

Each year this event is really a chance for the designers to cut loose with their imaginations on their celebrity clients and this year was no exception.

You can view some pictures of the celebrities at FabSugar.

Briefly… (click each name for a photo)

Katie Holmes in Armani: Don’t like it. The colour looks promising from a distance but up close the gown’s material looks like a hot drag queen mess. Or like a Chinese restaurant threw up on her. Also the dress is a centimetre or so too short. So is Tom Cruise. The shoes (I think they are Louboutins) don’t work with the dress either.

Gisele Bundchen in Versace: Wow. Could Donatella Versace possibly have used any less material around the top? Of course, when you have a body like Gisele’s most people prefer it when you wear less. Also satin is a very unforgiving fabric. It says a lot about Gisele’s physique that her body has nothing to hide in skin-tight satin.

Mischa Barton in Missoni: Joan Collins called from the Dynasty set, she wants her look back.

Beyonce in Armani: Yawn. Plus, you’d think she could afford an iron.

Naomi Watts: Channeling Marilyn Monroe in “The Seven Year Itch”. The pleats are very flattering. Loses points for the hair which looks lank and over-styled.

Fergie in Calvin Klein: Is Calvin Klein angry at Fergie? That is the only explanation I can think of for him offering her this Morticia Addams number. Actually it could work on someone a little… ummm… less Fergie-like than Fergie, such as Eva Green - but not on Fergie and not with that overly severe hair and makeup.

Jessica Stam in Proenza Schouler: This dress is absolutely fabulous but looks a little informal for the Costume Institute Gala which is a formal event.

Molly Sims in Versace: Hasn’t this cut and colour been done to death?

Eva Longoria in Marchesa: Her dress looks like it’s been attacked by one of those icing bag thingies and she’s worn this colour a billion times before.

Diane Kruger in Chanel: Love this look! Love! The colour, the cut, the fabric… what a great look. And those hot pink shoes are fabulous too. Once again, may not be formal enough for this event.

Mary-Kate Olsen in Diane von Furstenberg: Run a comb through your hair before you leave the house and get a smaller dress in your size.

Victoria Beckham in Armani: This photo just made my day. It goes to show that you can be rich and thin and still manage to look look like a leather handbag covered in a tablecloth. But then again, nothing beats this “I forgot my pants” moment from Victoria Beckham: link

By Caroline Warnes

I am yet to join social networking site MySpace as I find the whole thing utterly cringeworthy, however the MySpace Fashion Channel has piqued my interest.

According to the press release, the Fashion Channel is a “tight-knit community of 18,000 Australians which provides direct connection with designers such as (Chanel’s) Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Miuccia Prada, Viktor & Rolf as well as Australians Alice McCall, Lover and Ksubi”.

From what I can tell, these direct connections are links through to the designers’ MySpace profiles, however what is more newsworthy is Oyster Vision, a new faeture that provides you with Australian fashion-related video content, including artist interviews, runway coverage and more.

Trender Bender is another a great feature - you can see photos of what everyday people on the streets around the world are wearing (great for providing fashion inspiration). Users can also upload their own photos.

There are also forums and blogs where the community meets to discuss everything fashion-related.

By Caroline Warnes

When it comes to designer footwear, the hottest designer at the moment is unarguably Christian Louboutin.

The brand is best known for its trademark red sole and sky-high stilletos, having been seen on just about every celeb you can poke a stick at over the past few years.

Whenever I wander into David Jones, my eyes seriously tear up at the sight of these gorgeous creations (Louboutin himself describes them as “wearable art”) as well as their price tags (which run into four figures).

Oprah recently aired a fascinating segment on Christian Louboutin - you can watch it below - which explains his creative process (it involves a swing), his motivation and even the reason for the red soles (hint: it was a total accident).

There is also a showcase of some of his latest designs, which are, as always, absolutely breathtaking.

By Caroline Warnes

Yesterday marked the last day of the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival and the day belonged entirely to Target.

Held at the waterside location of Central Pier in Docklands, Target hosted an all-afternoon event, including some free attractions outside in the 35 degree sunshine including a concert by The Veronicas.

But it was the action inside that I was excited about - that is, the two fashion shows to launch Target’s new collections (in particular, the latest Designers For Target range from New York designer, Zac Posen).

Having seen the new collection live on the runway, I have to say that the pictures on the site don’t do the collection full justice. The reds and purples are much more vibrant in person, and the materials are much more luxurious.

The collection was presented with a distinctly 1940s flavour with a modern twist - think Cate Blanchett playing Katharine Hepburn in “The Aviator”, if that makes any sense. The wide-legged pleat detail pants (you can see all these at the DFT website) featured heavily throughout the show, teamed with the various blouses in the collection, tucked in neatly - a great look for the office this winter.

Also a great idea for winter is the black Turkish coffee coat, which is a reinterpretation of the classic trench coat. In person it looks very smart and tailored and is priced well at $199.

And then there are the dresses - which were nothing short of spectacular. I was all ready to be wowed by the full-length Ottoman Dress, which has been featured heavily in promoting the collection and closed the show. And while it was indeed stunning, I was actually more taken with another dress in the collection - the Brocade Trim Ottoman Dress, pictured here. It comes in either brilliant red and black and once again I have to emphasise that it is so much more stunning in the flesh than it is in photos. The detail at the back is so unusual and exquisite and the mid-thigh hemline makes it very wearable for semi-formal and cocktail occasions. And once again, the price is right at $179.

I will have photos from the runway show later this week. The full range hits Target stores on April 3.

By Caroline Warnes

Hot New York designer Zac Posen has just been announced as the next Designer For Target.

That is fantastic news for Australian women who love fashion - Posen’s designs are creative and beloved by a host of celebrities, including Natalie Portman and Katherine Heigl - however, the clothes from his main collection also carry the hefty celebrity-style price tag.

Bringing Zac Posen’s range to the Designers For Target collection will bring it all in reach of us mere mortals - pricing is yet to be confirmed but it is likely to be similar to previous DFT ranges, with the most expensive items being around $200.

Zac Posen is a New York born-and-bred designer who took the fashion world by storm back in 2000 when he designed a gown for supermodel Naomi Campbell.

He’s best known for his edgy take on 1940s fashion, and his designs flatter women of all shapes and sizes - whether you’re super svelte or on the curvy side.

You can now view the range online at the Designers For Target website and it will be in stores on April 3.

The Zac Posen collection launches next weekend at the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival next weekend, and I’m heading down there to report on the range up-close. Stay tuned to the blog next Sunday night for more!

By Caroline Warnes

When it comes to shoes, I am something of an extremist.

For me, they have to be either fabulous stilettos (usually reserved for the weekend so I can take them off if needs be) or comfy flats. I don’t like kitten heels. Wedges are not for me. I must be in either extreme comfort or glamorous discomfort at all times.

However, this season’s 15-centimetre Yves Saint Laurent “Tribute” heels (pictured here) scare me. Just looking at the photo makes my arches cry out in protest. And this is coming from someone who owns a pair of the most ridiculously high Jimmy Choos in existence. Granted, they have spent most of the last four years sitting in my cupboard, as I can’t walk around in them for more than 45 minutes without either falling over or otherwise making a fool of myself. Particularly after a few drinks. I know this from experience.

So, in short, you should expect to see copies of these ankle-breaking YSL Tributes in stores soon. However, don’t expect to see me wearing them. This summer I have decided to embrace flat shoes as much as possible. Honestly, my feet have had enough of heels for now.

Anyone else who loves flat shoes will be happy to know that there are plenty of glamorous options around at the moment. If you want something ultra-affordable, I’ve been really impressed with the quality of shoes from stores such as K-Mart, Target and Big W in recent times. Big W has some canvas ballet flats that would be perfect for going casual on the weekend for under $15.

If you’re willing to go over the $100 mark, I noticed some pretty and stylish Steve Madden patent flats in Myer earlier this week in this season’s hot colours such as electric blue and candy green. If you’re looking for something that will last several seasons, you can’t go past red patent.

Nine West also has plenty of flat styles this year, in both casual and dress. At $89.95, the Caro style is a bargain.

Last but not least, who can go past the humble thong in the summer months? For a different take on it, how about the Ipanema range from Brazilian company Grendene, which boasts supermodel Gisele Bundchen as its spokesperson. Hey, I may not have Gisele’s looks, but at least I can wear her shoes!

By Caroline Warnes