There are so many girls in Romania, who spend a ton of money on magazines each and every month [I'm sure this doesn't happen only in this country, and I know you might feel "guilty" of that too], however I am not one of them. Long gone are the days when I used to get my celeb and fashion fixes with Bravo Girl, Cool Girl, Glamour, Look (to mention just a few), because let’s face it: they are very commercial and their quality is, well, below what I expect now.

The only mag that I do buy each month (for about 3 years now) is Elle Romania. Why? Because it’s the best there is, here on the market. I won’t start and compare it to Vogue Italia, for instance, because we’d talk about totally different spheres of fashion editing, as I won’t start comparing Romania, as a country, to Italy: we all know who would be drawing the loosing straws. So, I won’t even go there. I try to keep my hopes up for the development of this country, and with that, the evolution of Romanian fashion and the countries designers as in, maybe next season [by the way, does anybody know when Romanian fashion week ss07 is?] they won’t rip off so many collections from international fashion designers. “Hope dies last” as one Romanian proverb says. At least now I know for sure that one can find that Stella McCartney sweater dress here too!

This is the main editorial, presenting the most important looks to have this fall. There’s one editorial like this in each and every September issue of each and every fashion mag; I guess better later than never. Madalina Draghici/Best Models photographed by Gabriel Hennessey in “Get The Look”, styled by Domnica Margescu and Maurice Munteanu.

These photos are re-prints from Elle U.S. (I think), “Frumusete Neimblanzita” by Hans Feurer, styled by Bill Mullen.

The second Romanian editorial “Good Evening Mr. Lynch” ["Buna Seara Domnule Lynch" photographed by Ionut Stanciu, styled by Maurice Munteanu and Marian Palie] is supposed to be a mix between the season’s “retro” mood and minimal silhouettes in a “Twin Peaks” atmosphere. Personally, I don’t get what’s “Twin Peaks” about it, and besides that rabbit fur cape, I’m missing the “retro” part too. The horses are beautiful, though!

There’s an interesting article about Fendi and also one about Maison Martin Margiela. What’s funny to me is that not long ago, two Romanian readers got into a contradictory discussion on my blog [here] about the last Elle issue, trends, Romanian fashion editors, all the way to Parsons Paris, Maison Martin Margiela’s PR, Guillame Sauve, Comme des Garcons’ Anya, Yvette Tars and so on. While it’s impossible for me to know who’s right/wrong, I do enjoy their debate. Maybe they can continue it on this issue of Elle, it certainly is entertaining to follow [written in Romanian, unfortunately].

Last but not least, I loved to see that the hot pink trend got all the way to furniture (pic1), and also, to decorate your home thinking about Balenciaga’s fall07 collection? That would certainly be a challenge. Another challenge for Romanian designers seems to be the ads they print in fashion mags. It’s great that Razvan Ciobanu has two ads in this issue of Elle, but this ad (bottom far right) starring a Romanian singer is a bit bland, boring, too green and what’s with that pink heart splattered in the right corner? Seriously, wtf? Hire a professional web designer, for God’s sake!

To end on a lighter, more positive note: I absolutely love the new Paco Rabanne Black XS feminine fragrance ad with Bianca Balti (I think): great styling [perfect looks-like-velvet blazer] and look [sexy but in a cool way] *love love love. Also, a bit of love for that male model from the men’s ad and his perfect abs *droll [a lot!].