Crocodile belt owners and the air crash in Congo

A crocodile stashed in a duffel bag got loose on an airplane, frightened passengers and led to a crash that killed 20 people on board, according to an inquiry into the accident.

The lone survivor of the crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo told the story to investigators, the U.K.’s Telegraph reported on Thursday. A British pilot was among the dead. 

The plane was on a routine domestic flight from the capital of Kinshasa to a regional airport in Bandundu when the bizarre tale unfolded on Aug. 25.

An unnamed passenger had hidden the crocodile in a large duffel bag with the intent of selling the reptile, according to the Telegraph. The animal escaped as the plane approached its destination. 

“The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by the passengers,” a report obtained by the Telegraph said. The plane then became unstable, “despite the desperate efforts of the pilot.”

The plane crashed into a home a few hundred feet from the airport.  The crocodile reportedly survived the crash but was killed by a blow from a machete.

The ironies here are that the owner who brought it on might be that sole survivor(!) and that the crock will be flying again, as someone’s luggage, shoes or purse.

Michelle O marches into Manhattan

With her husband’s party facing an uphill battle in the here-before-you-know-it midterm elections, First Lady Michelle Obama could at least count on support among her fashionable base Monday evening.

Obama and her vice presidential counterpart Jill Biden jetted to New York for a cocktail-hour fund-raiser at Donna Karan’s Central Park West penthouse, where a host of New York designers, including Michael Kors, Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Georgina Chapman, Nanette Lepore and Isaac Mizrahi, gathered to show their support.

The First Lady arrived shortly after 5 p.m. and was quickly hustled inside by Secret Service agents. Barricades and some preexisting scaffolding on the building’s facade ensured that onlookers would only get a side view of Obama on her way in. Those quick enough to catch a glimpse saw that the First Lady, now a veteran in such matters, wore a camel-colored coat over a dark dress — both by Donna Karan — with silver heels.

After the Karan-hosted cocktail party uptown, Obama was Broadway-bound. Sarah Jessica Parker, another design-friendly Democratic pal, was due to host a special performance by Patti LaBelle at the St. James Theater.

Guests who attended the evening’s Act I sung Obama’s praises as they headed back out into the fall chill.

“I think she is the perfect trifecta,” Kors said. “She is powerful, human and galvanizing.”

Nanette Lepore said that even though the encounter was short, it was well worth it. “It is so important to get the enthusiasm back to what we had two years ago when the President was elected,” Lepore said.

“She is gorgeous and smart,” said von Furstenberg, who dashed off early for another political event. “Unfortunately I had to leave before she spoke, because I had to support [Richard] Blumenthal, hopefully my future senator in Connecticut.”

The early goodbye was something of a theme on Monday night. Russell Simmons left about 20 minutes before Obama arrived. He had thought about sticking around to chat to the First Lady about well-being initiatives in schools, a topic he’s raised with her before.
http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/michelle-obamas-manhattan-moment-3342907?module=featured_stories

Fashion for Work: Chic Office Styles

Office Style with Lisa Finkelstein: Retro
Jewelry design director, J.Crew

Her splurge (of course) A J.Crew party dress.
Her tricks: Invest in a simple A-line dress — a clean canvas for your unique look. Snap up lots of fun, affordable baubles, like enamel pins, to pile upon neutral basics. Shop for steals in new color combos. Play up your femininity at work — you can look just as confident in ribbons as in pinstripes. Enhance casual-Friday jeans with budget-friendly accessories, like a vibrant blouse, crystal belt, and big jewels.

Also, emulate someone you admire, like the late socialite Nan Kempner, who wore the same fabulous clothes over and over again in different ways. Transform a dress from party-frilly to polished with a shrunken jacket in a cool fabric. Keep everything — the more to mix and match with!

Jacket, $298, dress, $225, cardigan, $110, brooch, $50, necklace, $150, bracelets, $25 to $85, J.Crew; jcrew.com. Shoes, $795, Valentino; neimanmarcus.com for stores.

Another Viewpoint: Are cargo pants in or over for the fall? If they are passe, is there something that has replaced them?

Many of us are thrilled to know that the military trend is marching right into fall, and that includes cargo pants. Whether you bought a pair of skinny cargo pants or a silky relaxed pair this past summer, or are interested in investing in a few new pairs for fall and winter, there are several fresh ways to wear them this season.

Try pairing skinny cargo pants with a draped tank or t-shirt and a strong blazer. Finish the look with ankle booties or a platform pump. If you prefer a looser fitting cargo, look for one in a slinky knit or silky fabric which gives them a dressier appearance. Pair it with a slim fitting top and a this season’s must-have desert boot or lace-up bootie for a modern military look for fall.

Fact: Those “to-die-for” High Heels May Alter Anatomy

(HealthDay News) — High heels may turn heads, but new research shows the long-term cost of wearing them is even steeper than the sky-high price tag of some coveted brands.

• High heels do put stress on the back and knees. Squeezing into high heels with narrow toe boxes can cause a condition called Morton’s neuroma, a painful thickening of tissue between the third and fourth toes.

Another horror- “Haglund’s deformity”, sometimes called the “pump bump,” occurs when back straps of heels dig into the tissue around the Achilles tendon. Too-tight shoes can bring on bunions, an enlargement of bone or tissue at the base of the big toe that pushes the big toe toward the second toe.

• Pointy shoes can worsen hammertoe by forcing the toes to bend at the middle joints, eventually causing them to stay bent and rigid even when barefoot.
• And then there are those uneven-sidewalk wipeouts that lead to ankle sprains and breaks.

The fix for many of these conditions, podiatrists said, may come as bad news for those emulating “Sex and the City” fashionista Carrie Bradshaw: Box up your stilettos and wear more sensible footwear. 

That’s what podiatrists say. To that I say, BOO HOOOOO.  Put a pair of flats in your bag and definitely use them for extended walks.  But nothing changes your look, your attitude, a bystander’s glance… like a pair of sexy high heels.

What are your thoughts: Do you love skinny cargos or wish they would go away? Have you found a pair that fits and flatters?

Here’s a blog post by Sara Cornell of The Fashionable Housewife, that I found very interesting despite the fact that I honestly disagree with it:

Skinny Cargos are a fashion trend that I’m having a hard time embracing.  I have tried to love the taupe colors, experimented with different shades, tan hands and pale hands, and I still think that taupe nails make one look like they slammed their hand in a car door and ended up with bruises on their fingers.  In theory, skinny cargos should work.  Skinny jeans – love ‘em.  Cargo pants – a fun a functional part of any wardrobe.  But together…meh.  The problem with skinny cargos is that they combine two the the most feared fashion components of any woman’s wardrobe:  making your legs look short and heavy.

Readers: What do you think??

Some fantastic Plus Size pieces at eShakti-

With a size range from 0-26, custom sizing for a mere $7.50…. it looks like they are really stepping up their game. The colors in their fall palette are simply delicious. Beautiful jewel tones in purples, blues and green…definitely a great way to step out of browns, blacks and grays this upcoming fall season. I only have one piece from eShakti (see review here), but after seeing how well it washed, I’m definitely going to grab a few more of their dresses. They also offer pants and tops as well, but I think they do amazing things with their selection of dresses. You definitely won’t see anyone else wearing what you have with eShakti…well unless of course you are a blogger, we sometimes tend to like the same things.  

I hear there’s a 10% off discount code (type in nikstarr123 during checkout) so definitely worth checking this out 🙂

Love this post from Who What Wear about the Lace up boot trend…

Utilitarian Boots / Sam Edelman Vancouver Booties ($225)
There is nothing like an outdoorsy boot to get us in the mood for a little power walking, which is why we’re so excited about fall’s rugged options! This season, high-heel boots are taking on new terrain and going utilitarian, bringing us to our next essential pick for the autumnal season: Sam Edelman’s Vancouver Booties. These heavy-duty lace-up booties are certainly stylish, and they offer an easy way to give your look an earthy vibe. We suggest pairing them with Fair Isle sweaters, cozy knit layers, and shearling jackets for a spot-on ensemble.

Black hedges, a little boy, and why Chanel is worth it

Upon entering the Grand Palais on Tuesday morning, the look and feel of Karl Lagerfeld’s set for Chanel was of a French formal garden. Model after model entered and strolled around the black hedges as through on promenade at the Tuileries.

At the other end of this time spectrum, a tiny blond boy walked in the show, grasping the hand of a male model, each of them wearing a white Chanel jacket. The child gazed in amazement at the sprawling space full of people. One can only imagine what that memory will be like for him years from now.

In his collection, Mr. Lagerfeld took the season’s preoccupation with lace to the couture level. Skirts and dresses were made of laces of many textures — most intriguingly, some with a cubist pattern that reminded me of shattered glass.

A series of suits of traditional Chanel tweed suits were formed by stitching together horizontal ribbons of the fabric, creating another lovely shattered look. These textiles and manufacturing methods are the reason Chanel clothes cost the moon.