What I’m wearing:

• Silk blouse by Alberta Ferretti
• Skirt by PINKO
• Pumps by L.A.M.B
• Bag by Renato Angi Venezia
• Silver multi-chain bracelet
• Long silver leaf necklace

What I’m wearing:

• Cashmere dress by iisli (last seen here)
• Cashmere cardigan by Julie & Jack (last seen here)
• Silver multi-strand bracelet (last seen here)
• Suede gloves by Alberta Ferretti (last seen here)
• Heels by Modern Vintage (last seen here)
• Leather bag by BERGE (as seen in here)

Don’t forget about the latest Phillip Lim giveaway.  Just enter here and you could be the next lucky winner on FashionistaTalk.

Love Lida

What I’m wearing (look 1):

• Suit by The Wrights (last seen Apr. 18’10)
• Necklace by Swarovski
• Heels by Pierre Hardy
• Tank top from H&M

(look 2)

• Chiffon blouse by Prada
• Pencil skirt by Alberta Ferretti
• Silk camisole by Marciano
• Clutch by Steven
• Heels by Pierre Hardy

What I’m wearing:

• Silk bouse by Philosophy by Alberta Ferretti
• Vintage satin heels
• Bracelet by Burberry
• Necklace by MARNI (last seen in Mar. 10’11)
• Skirt by Elizabeth and James

Love Lida

What I’m wearing:

• Vintage skirt (last seen in Jan. 11’11)
• Silk blouse by Alberta Ferretti (last seen in Feb. 22’10)
• Men’s watch (last seen in Oct. 22’10)
• Vintage belt by Gucci (last seen in Sept. 27’10)
• Jacket from Club Monaco
• Gold bracelet (last seen in Feb. 18’11)
• Heels by White House Black Market
• Gold heart/key necklace
• Leather bow clutch by Steven (last seen in Jan. 18’11)

*The first week of school was as hectic as I had imagined it would be. I can’t wait for things to settle down and for life to take on a more steady rhythm.

What I’m wearing:

• Silk dress by “Alberta Ferretti”
• Shoes by “L.A.M.B.”
• Rolls Royce Fold-Over clutch by “Marc Jacobs” (last seen in June 24’10)
• Large silver heart ring
• Long Chill Scarf necklace by “Swarovski”(last seen in July 8’10)

For my Russian Reders:

В среду я ходила на первую в Калифорнии вечеринку по случаю дня рождения моей подружки. На мне было шелковое платье “Альберты Ферретти”. Его покрой,  отчасти, уникален. Снизу вшит бюстье, а шелковая юбка пришита сверху и это делает платье невероятно удобным.

* In this post I’ve included all of the pictures that went into my movie, in case you wanted to get a closer look.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What I’m wearing:

• Silk dress by “Alberta Ferretti”
• Chiffon robe by “La Perla”
• Necklace by “Heidi Daus” (last seen in June 14’10)
• Crystal nepal ceylan topaz ring by “Swarovski” (last seen in June 22’10)

* Look at this pancake breakfast my mom made me on my first day back – talk about a sweet welcome home! Actually it was more of a collaboration because my dad made the latte. Making gourmet coffee drinks is yet another one of my dad’s hobbies (or obsessions) and he is definitely reaching the stage of perfection with this one. He gets so into roasting beans and brewing that he looks like a mad scientist with a coffee grinder. (Lol) It’s like a coffee shop at my parents’ house.

Tell us a little about yourself, your blog and where you’re from…

I was born in Moldova and moved to Canada with my family when I was 12. I’ve always loved to dress up, take pictures, and talk about fashion, so creating a blog like Fashionista Talk seemed like a natural development.

What are you studying and hope to get into later in life?

In September, I’m starting Law School in California where I hope to practice it in the future.

When did you first realize your flair for fashion?

I think that moment of realization came to me sometime in my early childhood. Growing up in Moldova, in the years of perestroika, there was a significant shortage of options in clothing (or pretty much anything for that matter). And I think that for some, these limitations sort of imposed a heightened sense of creativity because if you had a vision for an outfit you had to make it yourself. This is one of the areas in which I watched my mom and aunt really apply themselves. When everyone was wearing minis, because that’s what was available, they were in gypsy maxis. I watched them and I waited…for my turn.

How would you describe your personal fashion sense and how has it changed over the years, if at all?

I love to experiment and play, but on the whole I tend to gravitate towards the feminine. My fashion sense experienced most instability in my high-school years. I went from sexy, to preppy, to somewhere in between. By the time I hit University (or it hit me) my current style was probably in the last stages of manifestation. And by the time I graduated, I began to gain appreciation for high-fashion, couture stuff.

Any specific style icons?

One of my biggest style icons is Evelina Khromchenko, who is the Editor-in-Chief of L’Officiel Russia. She is the strongest voice of Russian fashion right now, and let me tell you, that voice is “pretty.”

Where is the one place in the world that you would love to spend the rest of your days and why?

For me, that’s a pretty difficult question to answer because there are a lot more cities I’d like to see before I commit. Out of all the places I’ve visited so far, I can definitely see myself living in San Francisco or Manhattan. I just know that the city would have to be big, diverse, and dynamic.

What is the one thing in your closet you couldn’t live without?

I couldn’t live without my Inhabit cashmere cardigan. It’s by far one of the most useful items in my closet and we’ve been through a lot together.

What are your favorite designers and places to shop?

Some of my favorite designers are: Consuelo Castiglioni (MARNI), Stella McCartney, Alberta Ferretti, Pierre Hardy, Giambattista Valli, Lanvin, Miu Miu, and Guillaume Hinfray. I shop anywhere that makes affording these brands possible to a student.

How do you decide when to splurge and when to save on certain items?

Considering that I hardly ever truly ‘need’ a piece of clothing or accessory, I go by the value principle. I almost never pay full price for anything, but if I come across a vintage Prada dress that fits me well and is somewhat reasonably priced, I’ll splurge.

What advice would you give to someone looking to define their style?

Experiment and stay conscious of how your choices make you feel. When you begin to feel comfortable with your own style, you will exude a certain confidence that will intensify its effect on others. The way you carry yourself frames people’s perception of your outfit, so wear what makes you feel good and with time your style will define itself.

Next item you MUST purchase.

A pair of those black nerdy frames for my next prescription glasses. I plan to hit law school in style.

In your opinion, what makes the world go round?

I left this answer for last because it’s a serious toughie. To answer “money” would be too pessimistic and “love” too naive. So I’ll go with the sun’s gravitational pull.

You’re stuck in an elevator with your favorite Beatle, who is it and what do you ask him?

Paul McCartney.

Realistically speaking I’d probably be too shy or nervous, or both, to ask anything of substance.

On a serious side note, tell us, whose style have you been eyeing on Weardrobe lately and why?

I really like Rachel’s looks (Studio Swag). She always looks so well put together and her pictures are interesting and dynamic.

The day of the opera I was busy working on the blog, kind of lost track of time, and started getting ready only about 15 minutes before leaving. For moments such as these I usually pick out a dress that is embellished enough for me not to have to worry about accessorizing. This Alberta Ferretti dress did the trick. Its elaborately designed jewelled front and silver-threaded pattern is sufficiently glamorous for minimal fuss on my part. I simply paired it with vintage inspired silver shoes, and finished the look with a crystal hair-pin on my braid. That’s the beauty of strong statement garments like this dress – they work for you.

* I know that some of you are having difficulties leaving comments on the site. Thank you so much for brining it to my attention and for your patience. We will be making some major changes to the site tomorrow and the commenting system will be changed or fixed in the process.

* Along with Wednesday’s pictures, I’ve included some pics of how I wore this dress in the past. The last picture is of Marisa Tomei wearing a similar Alberta Ferretti dress from the same collection.

What I’m wearing:

• Dress by “Alberta Ferretti” (last seen in Beaded Dresses)
• Pumps by “Modern Vintage” (last seen in Beaded Dresses)
• Hair-pin from “Club Monaco”
• Clutch by “Sondra Roberts” (last seen in Feb. 3’10)

As Sarah Mower of Style.com has pointed out, “fluttery chiffon, a dressy princess coat, and a quietly pretty event dress” are the things Ferretti does very well. Her designs may not be risque or edgy but to me their softness and delicacy carries a tone of subtle, sophisticated sexiness that transcends any attempts at trendiness. My couture collection started with an Alberta Ferretti dress, and it was through her clothes that my appreciation for high-fashion pieces grew. I thing I will always have a soft spot for Alberta.

*Here I’ve compiled some of my favorite designs from her spring collections. Aren’t they divine?

(in the future I will do a separate inspiration post on her Philosophy line)