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Posts from the ‘Balmain’ Category

Style Vs Fashion

This is an age old discussion.  What is better, to be Stylish or to be Fashionable? 

I think a Stylish person can be fashionable or vice versa but a Stylish person is more apt to be fashionable and Stylish than a Fashionable person is to be Stylish and Fashionable.

Let me explain.  Style is timeless, it’s the Chanel handbag, the pearl necklace, the trench coat, the items in your wardrobe that stand the test of you time.  You can wear them now or 10 years from now and you will still look stylish.   Fashion is seasonal, it’s the Balmain shoulders, ruched leggings, the crop top.   These items are usually shown on the runway as the “new it item” and then adapted by the fast fashion chains like Dottie, Forever 21 and H&M within a week of their debut.  These items are often stylish for a few seasons and then drop off the radar. 

A stylish person may incorporate a new fashionable item into their wardrobe if it fits in with their lifestyle.  I find the mistake most ‘fashionable’ people make is with wearing too many of the seasons trends all at once and making themselves look more like fashion victims than fashionably stylish.

This explanation can also explain why certain items will cost more.  If you buy a Chanel handbag for $2000 and then wear it every day for just one year, the cost per wear is roughly only $5.50 per day.   And since that bag will be timeless you will be able to wear for years and years, which brings the cost per use down even lower.

You can buy a knock off any fashion item at a fraction of the cost because it will only be around for a few seasons so why spend a lot of money on it.  There are the select few that will buy the original fashion item but they are usually celebrities that can afford to discard the expensive items and buy the new “it” item every season.

Another observation I’ve made regarding the Style vs Fashion discussion is that a Stylish person seems to stay stylish whereas Fashionable people come and go with the trends.  Yes Rhianna is very fashionable at the moment but without her amazing Stylist and tremendous budget she would soon fade away.

What are your thoughts, would you rather be Stylish or Fashionable?

WhoWhatWear.com – Inspired by Balmain

WhoWhatWear.com - Always the BEST inspiration


1. French Connection Lust Dress ($288)
The long-sleeve mini dress is a fall fashion must-buy, so why not go for it with gusto? If you’re ready to brave the Balmain look, don’t miss this amazing marine blue sequin dress from French Connection. It’s the perfect piece to wear to all of your upcoming holiday parties or it could be the saucy centerpiece for a girls’-night-out ensemble. To ensure you don’t look like an eighties lounge singer, we suggest pairing the glizy frock with some slightly punk footwear, like buckle-embellished boots or studded pumps.

2. Bakers Buckley Boots ($170)
Whether they’re in leather or suede, Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain’s Buckle Boots ($1605) are strikingly cool. They’re also an extravagant splurge, so when creating this Inspired By story, we knew it was imperative to find a suitable substitute. Enter Bakers’ Buckley Boots: a super-affordable style with all the attitude of the runway version! They’ll look amazing with a bandage skirt and tucked-in tee or simply worn with your favorite pair of skinny jeans.

3. H&M Shirt ($25)
One of the most intriguing looks from Balmain’s recent show involved a pair of split leg harem pants and a black t-shirt with silver sequins. While you might be a touch wary of wearing the head-to-toe look, it’s easy to incorporate the interesting tee into many different outfits. H&M happened to create a stylishly similar shirt for fall, which we would wear under a boyfriend blazer or paired with some slouchy trousers (sans slits, of course).

4. Current/Elliott Moto Skinny Jeans ($435)
Decarnin always creates the most amazing denim pieces and definitely knows how to start a jean craze (such as the bleached-out and thrashed trend). So when he sent out a slew of motorcycle jeans at Balmain’s F/W 09 show, we couldn’t help but notice. While tastemakers like Vanessa Traina adore the originals, personally, we will invest in a pair of Current/Elliott’s Moto Skinny Jeans instead. Like everything else from Current/Elliott, these jeans are beyond darling, fit like a dream, and are totally on-trend.

5. HTC Electric Multi-Chain Belt ($240)
As we mentioned earlier, one of the must-buy accessories for the Balmain look is a chain belt. While the uber-expensive designer options are certainly desirable, we like this heavy-metal style from HTC. It has multiple chains mixed with sturdy leather, a very appropriate combo for today’s topic! Throw it on with an elegant pair of pants or just add it to your casual jeans, either way, it’s an awesome item to have on hand!

6. Zara Black Studded Pumps ($80)
Though Balmain’s killer buckle boots are hogging the majority of the footwear press, we must point out that they’re not the only shoe-style worth noting. The house also created Diamante Studded Pumps ($775) that are obviously more interesting than your average pair of heels! While they’re cool, we actually heart a studded style we found at Zara just as much. They’ll perfectly punctuate your outfits all autumn long and we have a feeling you’ll appreciate their very affordable price…

7. Dannijo Sparo Cuff ($538)
While Decarnin didn’t use much jewelry in his fall runway presentation, we couldn’t resist including this beautiful cuff in our roundup. It’s a got a hint o’ vintage thanks to the rhinestone pattern, but the silver-chain element gives it some necessary edge, which means it fits in with the rest of our Inspired By story fantastically.

8. Topshop Embellished Biker Jacket ($310)
The sculpted shoulders of a Balmain jacket are eye-catching and highly desirable, but not everyone wants to wear such an identifiable piece. To achieve a subtler silhouette while still executing the collection’s spirit, we suggest picking up Topshop’s Embellished Biker Jacket. The shoulders are strong, but less exaggerated than the runway style, so we think it’s much more wearable.

9. Club Monaco Jen Beaded Clutch ($80)
Last, but certainly not least, we have a beautifully beaded bag from Club Monaco. Though it’s patently different from the Crystal Leopard Suede Shoulder Bag ($3590) that was carried on the runway, we think its pewter-gray color, slight shimmer, and squared-off lines would totally fit in with the collection. It’s a great antidote to the typical basic black bag; we’d wear it with a tuxedo jacket, a slim pair of cigarette pants, and dance off into the night!

Summer Glunge that is soo Balmain

Today’s dressing adventure also began with Ms Diabolina’s post of jeans. Now in her post she said she is over the boyfriend style of jeans. I have to disagree, I LOVE this style of jeans. So comfy but so stylish (if done correctly). I picked up these no label jeans at a sidewalk sale, they are a touch to big but that makes them more comfortable. I hacked at them a bit and washed them a few times and voila, perfect boyfriend jeans.
Today I paired these jeans with this wonderful white blazer from Zimmerman, the shoulders are soo Balmain. I wish I had white studded sandals but since I don’t, these zippered Louboutin copies with have to do.

Today’s outfit is brought to you by: Blazer – Zimmerman, Tee-shirt – no label, Jeans – no label, Jewellery – mixture of vintage, gifts and Tiffanys, Shoes – Louboutin copies by Satchi
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