Saturday, April 30, 2011

The Wedding of the Century!

So Kate Middleton and Prince William got married this week, (as If you didn't know) and she wore a dress designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. I'm sure everyone saw the dress, and i'll get to it eventually in the post, but first, let's go through what everyone else in attendance wore:

Mother of the bride, Carole Middleton,was all smiles in her "Something Blue" attire.

Grand-daughters to Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Eugenie wore a cobalt blue Vivienne Westwood outfit, while Princess Beatrice wore a blush Valentino number, both in Phillip Treacy hats. Is it me, or do they look like Cinderella's evil step-sisters?

 Celebrity power couple David and a pregnant Victoria Beckham were also in attendance. David wore a more traditional penguin-esque tail coat, while Victoria wore six-inch Louboutin's and a dress of her own design, head-piece also by Phillip Treacy.

 Tara Palmer Tomkinson was just... They should have turned her back at the church door for so much damn blue. Distasteful.

 UK Prime Minister, David Cameron and wife Sarah, who, while looking fine in a ruched silk-crepe Burberry dress, was the only invited guest to have not worn a hat. Inappropriate.

 As the maid of honour, Pippa, the bride's sister, also wore Alexander McQueen designed by Sarah Burton. Divine.

 Doesn't she just take your breath away?

 The groom didn't look too shabby himself. He opted to wear the official uniform for a Colonel of the Irish Guards, one of his honorary titles. A garter sash and star, his Royal Air Force wings and a Golden Jubilee medal lent further dignity to the look.

 I'm not usually one for monochrome looks, but Princess Letizia of Spain looked awesome in an elegant sheer-and-lace dress with floral embroidery accessorized with matching satin pumps and a netted-feathered hat.

 I just love Queen Elizabeth II! She looked every bit the lady in a sunny Angela Kelly wool crepe dress and coat paired with a ladylike satchel and pumps, pearls and diamond brooch.

Harry looked dashing in the uniform of the Captain of the Household Cavalry, a navy blue military suit with aiguilettes, cross-belt and gold waist belt.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel of Sweden looked terrific. I love the peach colour on Victoria, and the sun hat! And that wrap detail is very chic.

Chelsea Davy, Prince Harry's on-again, off-again girlfriend chose a teal Alberta Ferretti dress and jacket combo paired with a fascinator by Victoria Grant. I think she looks terrible.

Zara Phillips, eldest grand-daughter to Queen Elizabeth II, arrived with fiance English rugby star, Mike Tindall. Zara, wore a Phillip Treacy hat, and what appears to be an Akris coat-dress. The two will reportedly wed in June or July.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Top 10 Collections of Fall 2011!

Well, I have to say I was pretty impressed with this season's collections from New York right through to Paris, so to say it was hard coming up with this list, is pretty much an understatement. I loved so many collections, (Elie Saab, Emmanuel Ungaro, Miu Miu, Chanel, to name a few) alas, there can only be ten. So here goes; my ten fave collections for Fall 2010 RTW:

10. Haider Ackermann


Having produced my fave collection last season, I surely wasn't disappointed this go round. Sure, the mood was a little darker this time, but the aesthetic was generally the same- draping juxtaposed with new shapes, all seen through the prism of sexual tension.

9. Celine


To talk about the best that fashion has to offer today and not mention Phoebe Philo's work with the house of Celine is kinda not getting it. Her designs are cutting edge, completely modern (with just a slight whiff of vintage) and altogether very sharp and well-tailored. This collection was another excellent one. Oh, and those coats? Beautiful!

8. Alexander McQueen


I really hope they aren't planning to replace head of design Sarah Burton at McQueen any time soon, because if there were any doubts as to whether she can carry on the original designer's name, there should be none by now. Burton's aesthetic isn't as dark at McQueen's was, at his best, but you know what? It doesn't need to be- she approaches each subsequent collection with such reverence and purity, it's almost easy to imagine McQueen sketched these designs himself.

7. Emilio Pucci


Well, what can I say? Peter Dundas knows what celebrities want. And what they want is glamour and hot, hot sex. The colour palette this season was gorgeous, but it was the corseted figure and haute-edge that made this collection stand out for me.

6. Prada


It was a collection, for me, that was very 60's London-esque; but knowing how Miuccia Prada's brain works, I can assure you that the inspiration didn't stop there. So there was 20's-style coats, snakeskin, coat dresses and those really weird scale-like sequins. Some critics didn't like it, but who cares? This is Prada; bad press won't hurt her one bit.

5. Givenchy


So while rumours are still swirling as to whether Riccardo Tisci will be placed at the head of Dior now that Galliano has been sacked, the Fall collection for Givenchy couldn't have come at a better time. It's funny to note how critics and fashion people have come around to Tisci in recent years, considering his aesthetic has been one that they really didn't get at first. Sure, he's come a long way in terms of editing, but the fact remains that he constructs one-of-a-kind, wearable, beautiful clothes and accessories. Continuing with the theme of the Fall menswear collection, the show was more of an event, (with Kanye West, Florence Welch and Liv Tyler in the front row) evidence of how much impact Tisci has as a designer.

4. Marc Jacobs


Watching this collection via live stream, I was like Ooooooh! Aaaaaaaah! with each new look that came out. There were Dalmatian spots, latex, lace, fur; indeed, it was a wonderful juxtaposition of textures. The collection, touted to be influenced by sex shops and dominatrices, was soundtracked to Marilyn Manson's "The Beautiful People," and beautiful it was.

3. Dries Van Noten


Where do I even begin with this collection? Well...
There’s a sentiment about his collections I particularly appreciate. His vision of prints, mixed media, and easy draping is extremely likable for how effortlessly these fun looks can fit into everyday life.  His girl comes across lithe, well put-together, and somewhat quirky.  The mixing of fabrics is unique, the prints are delightfully fun, and the length and structure, for this collection, created a very relaxed silhouette.  Better yet, this entire show felt effortless; the clothes are beautifully cut while the fabrics give the impression of richly nuanced luxury.  What's mostly impressive though about his collections, and indeed this one, is how highly pragmatic Van Noten’s designs are; these are smart clothes for the smart woman made by a smart man.

2. Proenza Schouler


I'm surprised by how high this collection is on my list, but what can I say? It was excellent. Designers, baby-faced Jack and Lazaro are making me eat my words with each new collection, but when they're this good, that's fine. Every thing was beautiful and playful, and the pixelated prints were right on. More known for their accessories (shoes, bags) than their clothes, it's amazing how unlike their other collections, I was impressed by every piece that came out. 

1. Fendi


Here's an interesting tidbit- I didn't like this collection the first time I viewed it. Weird? I know. But the more I viewed it, the more I fell in love with it.
The collection best exemplifies Lagerfeld’s versatility and ability to make more than one line and to make them wearable and perfect, eclipsing even his work with Chanel. Teaming up with Fendi partner Silvia Venturini Fendi to create a wearable and wonderful collection, Lagerfeld presented colourful coats, all completely luxurious. The collection blended mink, chinchilla, sable and fox, creating some truly sumptuous and wonderful outerwear. Outside of the fur-work, there was plenty to love, too: the coloured stockings, the goggles, the bags and shoes- it was all a very quirky collection with so many stand-out, well-tailored pieces. Absolutely amazing!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Christophe Decarnin leaves Balmain



Christophe Decarnin, the French designer whose sexy rocker pagoda-shouldered jackets and tiny minidresses turned Paris' once-floundering Paris house of Balmain into one of the world's hottest labels, is leaving, the fashion house said Wednesday.
Speculation about Decarnin has swirled since the notoriously shy designer failed to appear for a bow after his fall-winter 2011-12 ready-to-wear show last month. It was rumored he'd had a nervous breakdown and was in a mental hospital, but a spokesman for the house dismissed the speculation, saying Decarnin missed the show because he was resting on doctor's orders.
Wednesday's brief statement from Balmain didn't provide any details about the reasons for Decarnin's departure, nor did it name his replacement.
Praise for the departing designer was kept to a minimum.
"Decarnin contributed, along with the studio, to the success of these past years," Balmain CEO Alain Hivelin is quoted as saying.
Founded by Pierre Balmain in 1945, the label was among the vanguards of postwar Paris fashion, along with houses founded by Christian Dior and Cristóbal Balenciaga. Like his crosstown rivals, Balmain became a favorite of royalty — of both the European and Hollywood variety, including Marlene Dietrich.
The founder's death in 1982 ushered in a slow decline, which culminated with the label's 2003 filing for bankruptcy protection. It hired and fired a series of designers before settling two years later on Decarnin, a then 42-year-old who cut his teeth at Paco Rabanne. He was named artistic director in 2007, the statement said.
Decarnin soon found his footing, sending out sexed up, rock-infused pagoda shouldered jackets and sequin-covered mini-dresses with sky-high price tags that completely reversed the label's fortunes, transforming Balmain into a must-have label for the global glitterati.
Critics chastised Decarnin for sending out the same looks season after season, but that didn't seem to bother the legions of fans who eagerly shelled out thousands of dollars for hole-riddled T-shirts or upward of $10,000 for dresses so short they could be confused with old-time bathing costumes.
Wednesday's statement did not say what Decarnin's future plans were.
These are turbulent times for Paris fashion, with last month's sacking of disgraced Dior designer John Galliano, abruptly dismissed amid a scandal over a video in which he's heard to praise Adolf Hitler.
Louis Vuitton also announced last month that it had parted with its menswear designer, Paul Helbers, who was replaced immediately by Kim Jones, formerly of Dunhill.

(Source: The Seattle Times)