Spring 2012 Fashion Week: Milan

Spring fashion week already seems like a distant memory (especially with the fall 2012 shows quickly approaching), but I am marching onward to cover Milan and Paris.  In Milan, I fell in love with the Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Emporio Armani collections.

GUCCI

This season, Frida Giannini outfitted the Gucci woman in flapper-glam dresses and pant suits. The look was strong and sexy (as it must be with Gucci), and ready to hit the town. Art deco patterns adorned everything from dresses to pants, all rendered in a bold palette of emerald, black, white, and gold. The series of shimmering drop-waist dresses were incredibly fun and glamorous--some were fringed for an extra dose of attitude.   If I were in the market for a knockout party dress, this is the collection I would be pulling from.

DOLCE & GABBANA

For their spring collection, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana went back to their Italian roots and channeled a young, sexy Sophia Loren.  They also must have looked to the kitchen for inspiration, because every runway look was adorned with food.  Models wore eggplant and onion printed dresses, bow tie pasta earrings, and pepper and garlic trimmed handbags. If you think that sounds tacky, take a look at the garments--they are luxe, feminine, and glamorous. After a parade of vegetable-print circle skirts and bra tops, the show ended with a series of colorful jeweled corsets.   This was a happy, exuberant collection.

EMPORIO ARMANI

Giorgio Armani's collection for his Emporio Armani line was a departure from most spring shows. Presented in a stark black and white palette, his models marched out as platinum-bobbed clones. They had a polished Parisian air about them, thanks to the white boater hats and boxy handbags. All of the looks were very clean and graphic, with seams and edges defined by contrasting trim. This was a striking collection that was also very wearable--I can picture the separates and suiting fitting well into most women's wardrobes.

Golden Globes Red Carpet 2012

Awards season is upon us, which means more beautiful celebs in fabulous designer gowns!  Here are my favorites from the Globes:

ROONEY MARA IN NINA RICCI

Nina Ricci Pre-Fall 2012

This isn't the most striking I've seen Rooney on the RC, but it still a gorgeous look.  I love the sculptural quality of the dress; I just wish she had added a makeup or accessory "pop". 

EMMA STONE IN LANVIN

Lanvin Spring 2012

Emma Stone is becoming one of my favorites to watch on the red carpet, because she never goes for the typical red carpet dress (strapless, neutral...).  I love the unusual color combination and the killer eagle belt.

NICOLE KIDMAN IN VERSACE

Versace Spring 2012

My jaw dropped a little when I caught a glimpse of Nicole on screen.  This dress did AMAZING things for her figure.  Very Versace, very fabulous.

TILDA SWINTON IN HAIDER ACKERMANN

Haider Ackermann Spring 2011

Tilda + Ackermann is always a winning combination.  Can you believe this woman is 51??

CHARLIZE THERON IN CHRISTIAN DIOR COUTURE

Christian Dior Couture

What a dreamy gown!  As a brand ambassador of Christian Dior, you can always count on Charlize to turn it out on the red carpet in some gorgeous Dior Couture. 


JULIANNE MOORE IN CHANEL COUTURE

Chanel Couture Fall 2011

This is a beautiful interpretation of the standard awards season strapless black dress.  The tiers add interest and the ruffled peplum is right on trend.

ZOOEY DESCHANEL IN PRADA

Custom Prada

This quirky custom Prada dress fits Zooey's personality perfectly.  Super cute.


MADONNA IN REEM ACRA

Reem Acra Pre-Fall 2012

The bodice of this dress looked dangerously tight, but Madonna still looked stunning.  The geometric skirt of this gown really looked gorgeous on the stage.

SALMA HAYEK IN GUCCI

Gucci Spring 2012

When your husband controls the top fashion empire in the world (LVMH), you have access to some pretty amazing clothes.  Salma picked an adaptation from one of the spring's flashiest collections, Gucci (more on that later).

CLAIRE DANES IN J. MENDEL

J. Mendel Pre-Fall 2012

This dress is all about the view from the back. The silhouette is in tune with Claire's minimalist style, but is spiced up with black and white deco detailing.

Best Red Carpet Dresses of 2011

Once again, it's time to reflect on the important events of the year 2011...you know, like when celebrities wear amazing runway gowns to events and pose on the red carpet.  Below is my roundup of favorite red carpet moments from the past year:

EMMA WATSON IN BOTTEGA VENETA

Bottega Veneta Fall 2011

Hermione is all grown up!  This dramatic Bottega Veneta gown is gorgeous, but the modern styling really took it to the next level.

ZOE SALDANA IN BALMAIN

Balmain Resort 2012

I love seeing Zoe on red carpets, because she is such a risk-taker.  This Balmain gown is business in the front, party in the back, and chic all over.

ROONEY MARA IN PRABAL GURUNG

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012

I have not seen The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo yet, but I am already a fan of Miss Mara's strong personal style.  Her red carpet looks have been striking, set off by her porcelain complexion and sleek raven hair.  This backless dress with cutouts would look vulgar on anyone else, but she is working it.

GWYNETH PALTROW IN ELIE SAAB

Elie Saab Spring 2012

Gwyneth's red carpet choices are usually very vanilla, but I have to admit, this look is flawless. This emerald color is so striking against Gwyneth's coloring, and the diamond choker necklace is a perfect finishing touch.


JANET JACKSON IN HAIDER ACKERMANN

Haider Ackermann Fall 2011

Is it just me or is this the best Janet Jackson has ever looked?  Top to bottom, this look is fierce. I love that Janet went the nontraditional route here and wore separates, and chose a more under-the-radar designer such as Ackermann.

KERRY WASHINGTON IN RALPH LAUREN

Ralph Lauren Fall 2011

So effing gorgeous, I can't stand it.  She is killing it.

KIRSTEN DUNST IN CHANEL COUTURE

Chanel Couture Spring 2010

After falling off the radar for a couple years, Kirsten really brought it to the red carpet at Cannes.  The silver-bodiced deconstructed tulle dress looks feminine and modern on her.

NICKI MINAJ IN OSCAR DE LA RENTA

Oscar de la Renta Spring 2012

Nicki Minaj's taste ususally verges on...how can I put this...uber tacky? But she hit a sartorial high note in this dramatic ball gown from Oscar de la Renta's spring collection. I even approve of the pink hair in this case, as a bit of a wink.

GWEN STEFANI IN STELLA MCCARTNEY

Stella McCartney Pre-Fall 2011

Disco-fabulous. The Jean Harlow hair, the fuchsia lip, the sequined JUMPSUIT on the red carpet--this look is perfection.


ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITLEY IN GUCCI

Gucci Fall 2011

What do you wear to a premiere when you're a knockout model-turned-actress?  A sheer-skirted Gucci runway dress, naturally.  And she pulls it off beautifully.


LADY GAGA IN ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

Alexander McQueen Spring 2012

This was one of my favorite looks from the McQueen spring show, so I was happy to see Gaga rocking it at the Bambi Awards. The gold armor-like bodice coordinates well with her award.

MADONNA IN VIONNET

Custom Vionnet gown

Stun-ning.  This custom Vionnet gown is downright low-key for Madonna, but she still manages to look every inch the superstar.   This quirky old Hollywood look suits her perfectly.

KAROLINA KURKOVA IN JEAN PAUL GAULTIER COUTURE

Jean Paul Gaultier Couture Spring 2011

Karolina Kurkova showed the world how to wear Gaultier couture at the Met Gala.  You must be a supermodel to pull this one off.

Spring 2012 Fashion Week: London

London Fashion Week, like NYFW, left me a bit disappointed with my favorite designers' shows.  Everyone is allowed to have an off season though!  Top trends in London were bold color and prints--how perfect for spring!  It felt like everyone was going wild with patterns, from Mary Katranzou to Burberry.  At the head of the print-crazy London pack were Peter Pilotto and Erdem.  I absolutely LOVED these collections.


ERDEM

Dainty, sweet and feminine, this collection just made me happy to be a girl.  Who can resist delicate florals, embroidery and lace?  Erdem Moralioglu's signature floral print looked like something you would see on an antique china tea set.  As if that wasn't precious enough, the looks were styled with lace boater hats, gloves and a bold red lip, for that enviably chic, French-girl vibe.

Backstage at Erdem

PETER PILOTTO

Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos's collection fit in nicely with many other spring 2012 shows' sporty/aquatic theme.  The models were cool surfer girls with gleaming skin and wet hair, wearing intense, brightly colored prints.  Despite the strong athletic detailing--black plastic zippers, racerback dresses, and neoprene--the pieces were very lady-like.  Forties silhouettes emerged in the knee length pencil skirts and peplum-waisted dresses.  The colorful optical illusion prints were not only hypnotizing, but also super slimming.  Fashion forward and flattering?  Sign me up!

Happy Holidays!

I am so behind on my blogging, barely trudging through the Spring 2012 show reviews, but all of that will change in the New Year!  Also, it is time to usher in a new, cleaner blog look.  Gotta love New Year's resolutions.

For now, I leave you with something shiny and pretty.  The Alexander Wang Anais shoe caught my eye in February when it walked the runway at New York Fashion Week, and I have been obsessed with it ever since.  It even found it's way into another blog post here.  So you can imagine my delight when the space-age loafer turned up under my Christmas tree this year (thanks, hubby)! 

The Floral Mani

Who says florals are only for spring?  This season, I have been captivated by winterized floral patterns--colorful, but juxtaposed against an inky background for more of an edge.

Winterized florals:  Jil Sander F/W 2011, Miu Miu F/W 2011, Celine Resort 2012, Balenciaga F/W 2011

Unless you have a few months of rent to drop on a Miu Miu dress, I've found that these unique florals are hard to come by (although Zara does have an on-point Celine knockoff).  So, I decided to recreate the print on my nails.  It sounds tricky, but it's not!  You need black nail polish for the base, and as many bright colors as you want for the flowers.  I chose green, red, blue, and yellow.  The critical item is a box of toothpicks, for a precise application.  I applied 2 coats of black, and then applied green in sweeping motions with a toothpick to form stems and leaves.  After this dried, I proceeded nail by nail, dotting on each petal with toothpicks.  This technique is pretty foolproof--there's no brushing or blending involved, just dabbing.  The final step is a good topcoat (I like Seche Vite)--I don't want these babies chipping!

Spring 2012 Fashion Week: New York

The spring shows at New York Fashion Week seemed a little lackluster this year.  There were some solid collections, but  my usual go-to designers (Marc, Rodarte, Proenza, Wang) did not knock my socks off.  Fortunately, Victoria Beckham, Thakoon, Jason Wu and Oscar de la Renta pulled through and produced beautiful, memorable spring collections.

VICTORIA BECKHAM

Victoria Beckham's collections are always very polished, but are usually too one-note for my taste.  She always comes back to the slinky-yet-demure dress, with a strong Rouland Mouret vibe.  This season, Beckham really came into her own, with a very on-trend, athletic-wear inspired collection. The trademark sexy dresses were still there--she has a strong celeb clientele that will surely scoop those up. But she also introduced separates--perfectly tailored, boxy silk jackets, over ultra-mini skirts, and leather leggings. The color palette of black, navy, orange with splashes of cream and lavender felt so fresh and sophisticated. Probably my favorite color story of Spring 2012.

THAKOON

Thakoon Panichgul blazes his own trail each season.  His collections usually leave me scratching my head, not because they don't make sense, but because he manages to fuse disparate elements in a way that shouldn't work, but somehow does.  Last season it was the Masai and Rococo, and this season it is the wild West and India. Each model's runway look was truly a vision--bold metallic paisley separates paired with gold-toed cowboy slingbacks, and topped of with a cloud of cotton candy hair. There was beauty in the details as well, from the sari-inspired gold trim to the Western-inspired embroidery. As out-there as the runway presentation was, the separates could easily mix into your average fashionista's wardrobe--hello, statement blouse!

JASON WU

Jason Wu's career skyrocketed to stardom after designing Michele Obama's inauguration gown, but his signature has since been safe, preppy separates and cocktail dresses. His spring collection's separates continued in the same preppy vein, but were punched up with beaded collars, a digital petal print, and exuberant feathers. It was Wu's final gowns, however, that stole the show. His bold chartreuse ball gown was unexpected and jaw-droppingly gorgeous--one of the most memorable dresses of the New York spring shows, in my opinion.

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

You can always count on Oscar de la Renta to bring the old-school couture showmanship at his shows. He opened with a huge golden ball gown topped with a lace tee--a modern and dramatic interpretation of evening wear. I envision SJP rocking this at the Oscars. De la Renta ended with more voluminous dresses, closing with a delicious frothy cream Contessa gown. In between, he presented the usual feminine day dresses and suits, rendered in lace and bouclé. There were a number of strong looks, but no real continuity--his silhouettes and color palette jumped all over the place. But the shoes--oh, the shoes!--were so fabulous that all else was forgiven. Those pink spectator sandals will haunt my dreams come spring!

Fall 2011: The Must-Haves

This post comes a bit late.  I know that everyone has already pulled their fall clothing out of storage, but I hope you have not completed your fall/winter shopping.  I know I haven't!  This is your guide to the MUST-HAVE, can't-live-without, pieces for fall.


THE MAN-SLIPPER

This is the trend that I promised myself that I wouldn't fall for, but here I am slipping.  It takes a lot to get me excited about a flat, but this one is fresh enough to have piqued my interest.  Brogues are getting tired this season, and ballet flats are more tired, so why not make room for the new flat on the block?  I need these in leopard and glitter.

Clockwise from top center:  Christian Louboutin Roller Girl, Topshop Kosy, Dolce Vita Nariko, Stubbs & Wootton Louie, Topshop Klass, J. Crew Darby, Topshop Manney, J. Crew Darby, and Jimmy Choo Wheel

THE COLLAR NECKLACE

Otherwise known as the choker necklace (I prefer the term "collar", as it sounds much nicer),  this statement jewelry piece adds major punch to even the most basic outfit. The Michael Kors and Lanvin runways debuted this trend back in February, and it is not going away any time soon (hint: spring runways were covered with collar/choker necklaces).  Whether you go sleek and minimal or ornate and flowery, necklaces are chunky and short for fall. 

Top:  Backstage at Michael Kors Fall 2011, street style at fashion week
Bottom: Vita Fede Tubotelle necklace, Dannijo Hudson neklace, Kenneth Jay Lane oversized necklace

WINE

Bordeaux, burgundy, crimson, whatever you want to call it--I'm talking about the deep red color, not the beverage.  Wine is the new black this season, perfect for all your separates and accessories.  Head-to-toe red is the statement I want to be making, but if you are restricted to one piece, a pair of bordeaux skinny pants is essential. 

Street style photo; Clockwise from top left:  Equipment blouse, Zara gloves, Theory sweater dress, Celine bag, Zara waxed trousers, Lyn Devon leather skirt

THE SIXTIES SHIFT

The '70s have dominated the runways for the past two seasons, but for fall, Prada was the one to say ENOUGH!  Let's take it back to the groovin' '60s.  I have a serious weakness for mod styling--the big hair, doll-eyed makeup, bold colorblocking--so I was more than ready to usher in this trend.  Whether a dress or a coat, the cut is short, boxy, and high-necked.

Prada Fall 2011; Clockwise from top left:  Shoshanna dress, French Connection coat, Zara dress, French Connection coat

ROSY BLUSH

Last fall had me swooning for bold lips, but this fall, it's all about the rosy cheek.  The heavily flushed look was popular on runways--from Oscar de la Renta, to Marc Jacobs, to Prada.  The key to the look is building up a natural glow with a cream blush.  At Prada, Pat McGrath (genius makeup artist) used this Covergirl blush to great effect.

Fall runway makeup: Marc Jacobs by Francois Nars, Prada by Pat McGrath and Oscar de la Renta by Gucci Westman

PYTHON

I know I've already posted about the snake-print trend on runways, but this deserves another mention, because it it shaping up to be a MAY-jor fall trend (and my personal obsession).  Think python-print silk shirts, envelope clutches, and knee-high boots.  Prada's leather boots have had me salivating for python since they walked the runways in February.  Not to beat a dead horse, but when a new trend surfaces at Prada, you sit up and take note.

Top: Python street style, Prada Fall 2011 boot 
Bottom (clockwise from top left):  All Saints Ottavia trousers, Zara pumps, BCBG belt, Zara clutch

FABULOUS FORTIES

If you want to look like a sophisticated lady, this is the era for you.  Take inspiration from the Marc Jacobs and Miu Miu fall shows, and wear fitted pencil skirts, peplum-waist jackets, and shapely dresses with strong shoulders.  The best thing about this trend?  It's totally office-appropriate.

Miu Miu Fall 2011; Clockwise from top left:  Zara gloves, Modcloth dress, Preston & York faux fur stole, Zara bag, ASOS pencil skirt, Topshop coat, and Kate Spade pumps

BOY MEETS GIRL

For this year's holiday parties, try swapping out your go-to little black dress for a little black pant suit.  A sharp menswear look can be just as fun as a slinky party dress, especially when you amp it up with a sequined blazer or metallic loafers. Wearing a full-on tuxedo is a tough look to pull off, so try wearing one borrowed-from-the-boys item (crisp white button down or a long blazer) and adding a felt hat or heeled loafers to finish off the look.

Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2011; Clockwise from top left: Zara sequin blazer, Topshop pork pie hat, ASOS chiffon tie, Tibi tuxedo pants, River Island tie shirt, and Alexander Wang Anais loafers

THE PARKA

Somehow, I've never owned a parka.  Maybe it's because I don't ski or hike or do the rough-and-tough outdoor activities that require one.  Fall runways had me lusting for one though, because they looked so chic when thrown over a feminine frock.

Altuzarra Fall 2011 & Vera Wang Fall 2011; Clockwise from top left:  Daughters of Liberation parka, Laundry by Shelli Segal parka, ASOS wool & leather parka, Zara parka