Archive for September 2010

Fashion Week

Milan Fashion Week Spring 2011: The Nine Best Looks

The fashion that came off the runways in Milan this week was bright and bold and beautiful. From the DayGlo and Baroque and Latin flair at Prada, to the neon color blocking and couture silhouettes at Jil Sander, to the wedding-white lace confections at Dolce & Gabbana, Milan’s designers made an impressive showing this season.

It was my first time seeing the collections in Milan, so while I have less basis for comparison, all the heavy-hitting critics–Horyn, Menkes, Alexander–seemed to be in agreement that this season was one of the strongest showings from Milan in some time.

Here are my top nine looks.

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Rants

Major Thing We Missed During NYFW: US Weekly Hearts Scott and Garance?

Sometimes I feel as though I live in a fashion bubble. There are people that are fashion famous–or at least very well-known in fashion circles–that I assume those who work outside of the industry aren’t particularly familiar with. Anna Dello Russo may be a rock star to me and those who read this site, but has my 22-year-old cousin living in Washington D.C. and working at Nikon ever heard of her? Unlikely.

So I was a little surprised last weekend when, whilst flipping though a copy of US Weekly on my first day off since September 5, I stumbled upon the rag’s annual list of Most Stylish New Yorkers. Along with the usual suspects–Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford, Katie Couric, our favorite PR powerhouse, Kelly Cutrone–two bold-faced names stood out in particular: Scott Schuman and Garance Dore.

Now, before you say “Wait, this is old news!” I know. But like most fashion people, I wasn’t paying attention to anything outside of Lincoln Center and Milk Studios on September 14. I was too busy worrying about the fact that The Row just canceled their New York show to scan the latest issue of US. So forgive me. But I feel compelled to share my thoughts with you anyways, dear reader.

Although I doubt we’ll be seeing this particular superlative mentioned on The Sartorialist homepage underneath “Selected as one of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Design Influencers”, it might be even more significant.

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Beauty

Fashionista and MAC Present: How to Create the Perfect Bold Lip

By Steff Yotka Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 / 6:00 PM

While SS11 is caught between a startling orange lip and a cool nude one, AW10 is all about the bold lip. In red, scarlet, mauve, or violet, it complements autumn’s rich wardrobe perfectly. In this video, MAC artist Fatima Thomas demonstrates how to create it.

Trendspotting

Trendspotting: Pleats, Please

By Samantha Tobias Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 / 5:30 PM

Sharp pleats are everywhere–some more, please.

Streetwalker

Street Style: Kiki is Rushing Around

Name: Kiki

Occupation: Model

Agency: Supreme

What is your favorite dessert? Macaroons

What is the last good movie you saw? The Pianist. It’s an amazing film!

What is your favorite part of fashion week? I just love doing all the shows and walking down the runways!

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Reviews

Armani Sings The Blues

MILAN–For the last big show of a fantastic week of fashion in Milan, Giorgio Armani wrangled some serious A-list celebrity for his spring show. And we’re not talking about Megan Fox, though she looked gorgeous. We’re talking about George motherfucking Clooney. A real, bona fide, Carey Grant-esque (in my opinion), movie star. We could hardly blame the crowds outside the venue for letting out screams when he walked through with Elisabetta Canalis. Or blame Elisabetta for whispering in his ear and leaning on his shoulder during the entire show.

But enough about George. There were clothes to gawk at, too. Really pretty clothes, all in navy blue. Armani called his show “La Femme Bleue”–a fitting French title for a collection inspired by the Tuaregs of French-speaking North Africa. Set against a projection of sand dunes, the whistling wind audible in the soundtrack, models were styled in silk turbans and sheer wraps for chic protection from the wind and sand. Underneath the wraps, the clothes were hardly desert attire, but layered nonetheless. Tailored suit jackets were paired with skirts over pleat-front pants. A ruffled jelly-fish-like hem, carried over from Emporio Armani, was present on tunic tops. Crystals lent sparkle and texture to the monotone palette. And the finale evening dresses, many of them one-shouldered in thick satin with big bows at the shoulder, were red-carpet-ready.

Click through for more looks.
**All photos from Style.com

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Beauty

Our Favorite Niche Fragrances

In this age of globalization, corporate conglomerates, and big box stores, there’s something very comforting about finding a product that no one else has. You can get small-batch olive oil. There’s an entire cult on Twitter that is in search of unusual teas. And finding a new local fashion designer often feels like a delicious secret when everyone around you is wearing something from the mall.

So with everyone looking for a way to express individuality in a world that is becoming increasingly commercial, niche perfumes are the perfect antidote to conformity.

I’m a lazy fragrance user. I own and have used quite a few in my day, but never very regularly. Days will go by when deodorant and toothpaste are my signature scents. This is really sort of unacceptable.

Enter Marian Bendeth. Marian, a fragrance expert and consultant who has worked with over a thousand brands, is based in Toronto, Ontario. She writes about scent, teaches about it, argues about it, collects it, and lives for it. She only wears vintage fragrances, but wouldn’t reveal them to me. I could have talked to her for hours about finding my signature–niche–perfume, but here’s the short version.

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Fashion Is Fun

Willow Smith’s Top Three Looks From Milan Fashion Week

She may be years away from fitting into runway clothes and should probably have been in school this past week, but, hey, that never stopped Tavi. Willow Smith, who has yet to reach double digits, spent last week accompanying her mom to Milan’s front rows.

Willow is already proving herself as a tween fashion force to be reckoned with. Honestly, she has an impressive sense of style for someone so young. Or, do you think she uses a stylist? Click through for her ensembles.

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Reviews

Cavalli Rings in 40 With Hip-Hugging Leather and Fringe

MILAN–Roberto Cavalli celebrated his 40th anniversary in business with a sexy as hell collection for spring. The set was a greenhouse complete with tropical foliage (oversized and in plastic), and the looks were steaming hot to match.

If there’s one body part Cavalli emphasized with this milestone collection, it is the hips. Skin-tight leather pants sat dangerously low, and long chiffon dresses were cut out at the sides, the skirts hitting just at the hip bones for maximum swagger down the runway. Of course, when supermodels like Natalia Vodianova and Laetitia Casta are modeling the clothes (Natalia opened, Laetitia closed), the swagger is guaranteed.

Cavalli kept his color palette neutral and went for it with embellishments in a dazzling display of craftsmanship. His low-slung hip-hugging leather pants were laced up the sides and paired with hand-cut cropped leather tops. An excess of leather fringe hung around the necks of floor-length Bohemian dresses in animal prints and handbags got the fringe treatment too.

American celebs came out to fete Cavalli, too. Taylor Swift, Leona Lewis, Rachel Bilson, and Heidi Klum were all front row.

Click through for more looks.
**All photos from Style.com

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Fashion Week

Sneak Peek: Chanel’s Spring 2011 Invite

By Fashionista Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 / 1:30 PM

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Shopping

We Need, We Want, We Have to Have: The Perfect Leather Jacket

By Fashionista Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 / 1:00 PM

If there’s one thing we want this season, it’s a little leather jacket. From biker to bomber and back, there’s something for every style.

The great thing about a leather topper is that it instantly updates your look, whether you’re pairing it with some trousers, a frilly dress, or denim. In fact, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites for your viewing pleasure…it just so happens that we think you’ll like them, too.

First up is Helmut Lang’s “Dirty Vintage” Denim and Leather Jacket. This piece is quite rock ‘n roll, but gentle enough to wear to the office on a casual day. Pair with black jeans or skinny slacks and a pair of spiky black heels for a look that’s both powerful and polished. Our favorite part? The leather and denim double collar.

For something a bit more dressy that maintains a punk edge, consider Marc Jacobs’ washed lambskin leather moto jacket. It comes in a soft hunter green that pairs beautifully with a pencil skirt and a plain white button down. Of course, it looks equally as good on the weekends with your oldest pair of jeans.

For those of us partial to head-to-toe black, Diane von Furstenberg‘s emerald green cropped motorcycle jacket adds just just the right pop of color. Plus, it looks good with an LBD, another fall wardrobe staple.

Leather blocks the cold, particularly when its padded. ALC’s quilted version does double wind-breaking duty. What’s more, designer/stylist Andrea Lieberman has created a chic little funnel neck, which means it’s ten times as sleek as your typical down puffer.

Sure, these options are fantastic, but sometimes classic is best. Smythe’s lambskin leather moto jacket is as traditional as it comes, but updated in a more modern silhouette.



This content series is brought to you by Nordstrom. Create your wear-to-work wardrobe online at Nordstrom.com.

Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Fashion’s Most Eligible, Armani for Gaga, and the Bra That Won A Nobel Prize

The Emergency Bra: No, the bra does not defy gravity or work as a flotation device. This bra can actually, apparently, save your life by turning into a pair of protective face masks. If you’re completely paranoid about terrorist attacks and the like and carrying around a face mask is just too much of a hassle, why not wear two of them on your boobs? Every day? The bras only come in B and C cups, so, if you’re smaller than a B or larger than a C, which many people are, you are going to die. {Tonic.com}

Bad Romance: Check out this roundup of “fashion’s most eligible bachelors.” That’s right, 25 available men who work in fashion, many of whom are actually straight. Take your pick! But be careful girls–some of these guys are likely bachelors for a reason. Just sayin’. {Refinery 29}

Matthew Williamson X Bulgari: Matthew Willamson’s new line of handbags for Bulgari is super pretty but won’t come cheap. “Obviously the Bulgari customer, who is a woman who appreciates great quality, glamour and luxury,” says Matthew. {InStyle UK}

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