Today I had the pleasure of getting an insider look into the exciting spring trends that we will be embracing very soon.

I headed off to Sears where I met with Cynthia Florek, Brand and Trend Director at Sears Canada. Cynthia took me on a guided spring tour showing me the key pieces and trends that we will be seeing on the retail racks and the hippest street scenes this coming spring.

Don't panic: there's still lots of time to work your way through your gift list. Our gift guides are in the works and appearing every week! Image courtesy of Banana Republic

As we get ready to bring you our famous holiday gift guides in the coming weeks, we thought we’d give you a taste of things to come. We typically include product descriptions and lots of options for him, her, and everyone else. Today’s gift guide preview is a down-sized version: think of it as an hors d’oeuvre. For you.

This gift guide will probably make your own wish list or a pre-holiday must have/self-gift guide. So indulge and treat yourself to something fun before the frenzy sets in!

Glam leaf earrings, $50 at Banana Republic

Hard heart purse at Urban Outfitters, $34

Michael Kors Very Hollywood solid perfume cocktail ring, $40 at Sephora

Floral patterned tights, $19 at Banana Republic

White leather chronograph silver dial women's watch, $95 at Fossil

Coach wallet, $198

Crystal bracelet, $45 at Aldo Accessories

Jeweled Bow clutch in smokey topaz, $89.50 at Banana Republic

Cable knit circle scarf, $19 at Joe

Images courtesy of Urban Outfitters, Sephora, Aldo Accessories, Fossil, Coach, Joe, and Banana Republic.

Giuseppe Zanotti white leather studded shoe, $1,250

The New York Garden Tower (above, pictured at right) by architect Daniel Libeskind: cut-out and angled

Yesterday, Jordana brought you fantastic footwear that seems to take inspiration from architecture around the world. Today we add a few more to the list, starting with the fabulous white leather cut-out Giuseppe Zanotti shoes with silver detailing (pictured above, top). So stunning, inspired, and textured with the variously-shaped studs that I hardly know where to begin.

But more than that, these shoes have a distinctive architectural feel. Take a look at the New York Garden Tower by Daniel Libeskind. Two of a kind? The Tower and the shoe have a similar flair at the top, reaching for grandeur and shapely mid-way cut-outs. Zanotti and Libeskind seem to be channeling the same kind of beauty in a structured form.

Exhibit #2: The Prada booties from this fall’s collection. Yet another cut-out shoe/boot, these studded leather beauties evoke the Art Deco love affair with symmetry and all things fan and shell-shaped. Peacock tails, anyone?

Prada studded leather cut-out bootie, $990

Art Deco elevator, NYC

And while we’re at it, we might as well throw in these studded Men’s sneakers by Christian Louboutin. While they have little to do with architecture, they are interestingly blending the century-old Chuck Taylor All-Stars culture of the high tops with one of the iconic detailing choices of punk wear: the metal studs.

This classic take on punk captures the style and spirit of the cultural movement while keeping things light, clean, and fun. They’ve got the trademarked Christian Louboutin red soles that we see on the designer’s women’s shoes, making these just the right balance of luxe, edge and whimsy. At $1,200 a pair, those are truly some All-Stars sneaks.

Christian Louboutin men's sneakers, $1,200. Available Spring 2010

Punk fashion. Image courtesy of Tokyofashion.com

Images of Giuseppe Zanotti and Prada shoes courtesy of Neiman Marcus, where the shoes are available for purchase. Image of Christian Louboutin sneakers courtesy of Culture Shoq. Elevator image courtesy of The Seattle Times; Libeskind Garden Tower image courtesy of Jebole.

Thakoon Mirror Mosaic Sandals, $1150, net-a-porter.com

Take a close look at these photos of Thakoon’s mirror shoes.

Thakoon Mirror Mosaic Sandals, $1150, net-a-porter.com

Thakoon Mirror Mosaic Ankle Boots, $1195, net-a-porter.com

Thakoon Mirror Mosaic Ankle Boots, $1195, net-a-porter.com

Do they remind you of anything?

When I first saw them, I couldn’t help but think that I had seen them somewhere before – on a much larger scale. In fact, Thakoon’s mirrored beauties remind me of two well-known buildings. Judge for yourself.

First up is the Frank Gehry designed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.

Guggenheim, Bilbao, wikipedia.org

Guggenheim, Bilbao, wikipedia.org

Next in line is Michael Lee-Chin’s The Crystal, a new addition to The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.

The Crystal, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, wikipedia.org

I’m not certain that Thakoon’s mirrored shoes were inspired by these two buildings but I definitely see a connection here. As a fan a fan of both fashion and architecture, I love when these two worlds collide!

Photos courtesy of wikipedia.org and net-a-porter.com.

Top awards go to: Taylor Swift in Reem Acra, Jennifer Nettles in Luisa Beccaria, Taylor Lautner in Calvin Klein, Iman in Jason Wu, and Eva Mendes in Miu Miu.

And since Nicole Kidman is so popular, we have to include her in this week’s mentions, although I’m not 100% loving this shoe-horned look on her by  L’Wren Scott.

Taylor Swift wears Reem Acra

Jennifer Nettles wears Luisa Beccaria

Taylor Lautner wears Calvin Klein

Iman wears Jason Wu

Eva Mendes wears Miu Miu

The middle of the road for this week: Nicole Kidman (gasp!)

Nicole Kidman is busting out of this L'Wren Scott dress. It's embroidered, beaded, and all tricked out but frankly, I'm not that crazy about it.

Images for this week’s Fashion Finalists and Fashion faux pas Friday posts courtesy of Fashionism.ca.

Vote ‘em! Yay or Nay to Daphne Guinness’ look by Alexander McQueen? Although the lobster claw shoes are now infamous, I think that they actually work here. I can’t say that I mind this look, although the black-streaked hair is a little odd to me.

What says you?

Yay or Nay: Daphne Guinness wears Alexander McQueen and those infamous lobster claw shoes by McQ

Vote ‘em! Yay or Nay to Kristen Stewart’s colourful look worn to a The Twilight Saga: New Moon premiere?

I actually kind of like it even though it is a touch grade-school…

Yay or Nay: Kristen Stewart wears... this

Vote ‘em! Yay or Nay to Rihanna’s red carpet look by Stephane Rolland Couture worn to Glamour Magazine’s Women of the Year Honors at Carnegie Hall?

Am I the only one out there who doesn’t like this dress?!

Yay or Nay: Rihanna wears Stephane Rolland Couture

A good cause makes us feel better about buying more shoes.

The collaboration: Nine West and Goodwill

The offer: Bring in a pair of unwanted, gently-used shoes and receive $20 off a new pair priced $100 or more

The timeline: Offer valid Nov. 20 – Dec. 13, 2009

The bonus: You supply the bonus! Donate generously this season and bring in extra pairs of shoes; tough economic times have tightened the budgets of companies that help charitable organizations. Please help with what you can- those dusty Mary Janes will be loved again.

Thank you,

xoxo

Coveted: The Leica M7 Special Edition Hermès 35mm camera. At $14,000, no less.

Who wouldn’t want to pull this fine specimen of a camera out of their bag to snap a few street pics? Obviously intended for those dedicated to fashion and with an eye for style, this limited-edition Leica camera is the result of a collaboration with luxurious fashion house Hermès.

Count yourself lucky if you even spot one: only 200 of these Hermès-orange or étoupe (green) “Vault Swift” leather and chrome cameras will be crafted, which means the likelihood of seeing one of 100 of these orange puppies is slimmer than your chances of making it to the top of the Birkin wait list.

Model: 35mm Leica M7 Edition Hermès

Price: Approximately $14,000

Includes:

- a matching, silver anodised Leica SUMMILUX-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH. wide-angle lens

- a classical round lens hood in silver anodised metal manufactured exclusively for the Edition Hermès

- a Leicavit M rapid winder finished in silver chrome

- a real leather carrying strap handcrafted by Atelier Hermès to match the color of the camera chosen.

Does not include:

- a Birkin.

Image & story link courtesy of Chic Report and Luxist.