Long Live McQueen

In light of the recent, tragic death of one of fashion's finest, I find myself unable to rouse interest in posting. Sans la Mode is about my inability to picture a life without fashion - but I cannot, as of yet, picture fashion without Alexander McQueen. His fearless designs were what brought me to love fashion and to appreciate it as an art, and it distresses me that I will never meet him or experience his genius first hand.

Alexander McQueen, you were my one, true love in fashion. You gave the world so much to be thankful for.

May you rest in peace.

Le Cirque

{Anthropologie}

I'm a firm believer that nobody does a catalog like Anthropologie, and this month is no exception. Somehow, their flirty dresses and vintage vibe fit so perfectly into an arid desert campsite, the fantastical imagined world of the traveling circus. Spring can't come soon enough!

You Have Bewitched Me, Body and Soul

{Blazer | Dress | Headband | Ring | Heels | Clutch}

Despite my usual inclinations to wrap myself in all manner of dark and cozy hues, I've found sudden inspiration in the purity of white. Maybe I'm craving its bright cleanliness against the dull grays of the city... but more likely, it's because I just watched the newest version of Pride and Prejudice and fell in love with the stunning, youthful effect of white on a woman. It's fresh, feminine, delicate - conversely, it's also sleek and modern. A perfect combination, no?

{Google}

Reem World

{Feathers Dress | Reem Alasadi}

It's not often I fall head-over-heels in love with a designer. I pick and choose from the pieces of a collection, opting for specific favorites rather than an overarching brand or designer name. And I really do feel like this approach is, in general, a more practical way to look at fashion - because no single person will consistently match my aesthetic and artistic tastes (not even me, considering how often my opinions fluctuate).

That being said, there are a few exceptions to my rule. Alber Elbaz, for one. Alexander McQueen is, quite possibly, my ultimate favorite. And now there's a newcomer who has dazzled me (enough so that she's in the running to become a designer favorite) - Reem Alasadi.

A recent search for feathered dresses on Polyvore brought me to the stunning, strong-yet-ethereal dress (pictured above, left), which then led to a search for information about the label, Reem (not to be confused with Reem Acra!). As it turns out, she was the subject of a blog article over at Vogue.com not long ago, where I found an even more breathtaking photo (below). My short list of genuine favorites may be growing by one...

{Reem Alasadi}

And So I Ask the Stars in the Sky

{Fashion Gone Rogue}

You've probably noticed by now that I'm a sucker for any and every photograph with even a hint of an ethereal quality - so of course, I've fallen in love with this image from the February issue of W Magazine. I love the softness, the fairy tale aesthetic, the sparkle that's more about the feeling than the actual appearance...

Diddy Does Vogue

{Fashion Gone Rogue}

Natalia Vodianova and Vogue are a natural match (and one I'm always happy to see!), but Diddy makes an unexpected appearance in this February spread. Surprisingly, I like it. In fact, I kind of adore the above image.

Outfit: Watch, Briefcase, Trousers

{Glasses | Watch | Blouse | Trousers | Bag | Heels}

I'm still fixating my sartorial attentions on the menswear-inspired look, with everything from trousers to briefcase-like bags to chunky gold watches. As usual, I tried to give everything a little balance by adding super-feminine ruffles and a subtle bow on the shoes, hopefully giving the standard white-shirt-dark-trousers look a bit of a unique spin!