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Prada Fall 09

Claudia, the very lovely fashion director at Harper's Bazaar sauntered into work the other day wearing tiny denim cut-offs and some very enviable thigh-high black suede boots. Stevie, the fashion editor at Russh, wore her thigh-highs throughout RAFW. Then of course there's Prada, Rodarte and those Margiela thigh-highs on Carine Roitfeld.

I've always thought of thigh-high boots as a bit trashy, a bit prostitute chic, a bit of a no-go really. Clearly there is something I'm missing.

I guess this thigh-highness does inspire me to start a 100-squats-a-day routine immediately, but it also leaves me wondering; how do you look less Julia Roberts in Pretty Women and more Barberella? Jeans are key, steer clear of anything resembling a patent leather finish and let suede (à la Marc Jacobs) be your new best friend.

Update (27/5/09): We just got the Prada thigh-high gumboots (above) into to work and I have no words. I'm also rendered speechless thanks to the thigh-high Hermes suede numbers staring at me, and the fact they are situated next to a black Birkin doesn't help matters. I have major boot envy.

Marc Jacobs Fall 09

Rodarte Fall 09

Photos courtesy of Garance Dore

Rodarte

Photos courtesy of fashionologie

It was quite fitting that guests, including a doe-eyed Kirsten Dunst, sat in tinfoil-wrapped folding chairs at Rodarte this morning. Laura and Kate Mulleavy mixed more materials than ever (leather, lace, metallics, crystals, and of course those knits they're so well known for) for their Fall collection that there were moments when the models looked like they could have been wrapped in the seating.

The collection is more or less another evolution of the Rodarte aesthetic which has been in place for a few seasons now - an elaborate collage of wearable arts and craft. The short, semi-structured minidresses were sure to draw some Balenciaga comparisons, but the sister's are all the better for it - and those romantic knits, they really get you. But really, who has $2000 to spend on a Rodarte skirt these days anyway? One can dream.