The hair bow has a long history, starting long before Lady Gaga’s infamous white blond topper.
From Valentino’s FW05 Couture messy bows to YSL’s FW05 neat, loose bows, the up-do’s been a must (if an under the radar must) for years.
But the clip on hair bows taking over your local drug store since Gaga’s reign started are far too plastic-looking - and weird - to actually attach to one’s head.
We’re taking our inspiration from the hairbows at left, shot by one of our favorite new photographers, Zooey Grossman. High, messy, sexy… much chicer than a messy bun, but just as easy to do.
Click through for a DIY! Note: The only prerequisite is having long hair (obviously).
Lara Stone is getting married, and while we wait with bated breath to see the dress she dons, we thought we’d have a little fun and play stylist for the afternoon.
We’ve picked out a few things we’d love to see her wear down the aisle. Some are practical, but most are not.
In reality, she’ll most likely wear something custom-made, and probably by Karl. Regardless, we can’t wait to see what she does choose.
Valentino accessories get knocked off right and left.
Every shoe department is home to a beribboned heel and at this point, who hasn’t crossed a mock-rosette bag?
But the Valentino couture braided tote, released almost two years ago, is more sophisticated than playful. It’s not for evening, it’s for everyday, ideal for an uptown girl or working woman. That’s why Eric Daman slung it over Blair Waldorf’s shoulder on the last season of Gossip Girl.
So what’s Urban Outfitters’ reason for ripping it off now? It’s the wrong customer, it looks like it’s made out of plastic and if you’re really dying for the shape you can save up and get the real thing for half the price at Neiman Marcus.
Or, you can buy this bag. It’s not a copy of anything, it’s well made, it’s cute, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
2009 has been the year of new ventures and expanding résumés for some of fashion’s finest. From Valentino’s documentary to The September Issue and Tom Ford’s A Single Man, fashion’s biggest names have taken the film world by storm.
Well, Karl’s jumped outside his short-film-as-commercial box and made a slightly longer feature he’s called Vol de Jour. He directs Lara Stone and Baptiste Giabiconi while they ransack Chanel stores all over Paris and they make out with some great loot! I just wish it didn’t end there. Perhaps we can persuade Karl for a Vol de Jour, parte deux?
After all, where there are robbers, there are cops right? All I can think about is how perfect a jail scene would be — Lara in this and Baptiste in this. Now that’s cell block chic.
Triple Crown: Tom Ford’s A Single Man scored three Golden Globe nominations: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore and Best Score. Come Oscar time, Arianne Phillips deserves one, too. {Variety}
The Carrie Effect: We’re pretty anti-logo, but something about the way Carrie Bradshaw rocked Fendi’s double ‘F’ always makes us look longingly at the ‘Fendi’ stamped clutches in their 5th Avenue window. If that doesn’t sound totally crazy to you, check out their new online pop-up. {theCorner}
Never Have I Ever: These Givenchy shoes popped up this morning and I, Britt, am in love. They might be the best shoe I’ve seen all year. Maybe. Probably. {Net-a-Porter}
I thought you guys might want to take a look at this copy of Valentino’s Rose Bag by some company called Big Buddha that I found on Piperlime. Not that it looks even close to as lovely, but it’s blatant.
Plus it was even a Rachel Zoe pick. I die. Do you think it will end up in her “Alternate Universe” on The Zoe Report? I bet it might.
Anyway, just thought I would point it out. Happy Thanksgiving!
Blog-alicious: Meet Caroline. She’s guest blogging for Lucky (how we found her), but she’s actually a textile designer with her own blog full of illustrations, both fashion and otherwise, and other very pretty things. {ItLooksGoodToMe}
Oscar & Valentino: The designer’s doc is on the short-list for an Oscar nom. Sadly, The September Issue is not. But we’re still pulling for a fashion victory. Also, we couldn’t be more excited for Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to host. {Vogue UK}
Thigh High: The kids over at Nylon sound like they had a grand old time recreating Miuccia’s super festive socks and they’re letting us in on the scheme. Just in time for party season. Hooray! {Nylon}
This is the End: They may be denying it, but sources say there’s a major brawl going down between executives at Ungaro over what else? La Lohan. Let’s hope the best man wins. {Page Six}
She’s Back Y’all: Gemma Ward’s not going anywhere, thank god. She’s just taking a mini-break from modeling. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if she got back into it without losing those twenty pounds? {Fashionologie}
Blurry Blogging: An even deeper look into the world of fashion blogging. Do you embrace the industry? Stay away from it? Can you be a part of it and still be a real-life blogger? {Blackbook}
One More Time: The age-old, never-ending debate about whether or not girls can be both into fashion and smart, or more importantly, taken seriously. {Telegraph}
Getting Technical: Nicholas Kirkwood and some other major players in the shoe industry teach us all about how they make heels more comfortable from materials to techniques. We love a mini-tutorial. {NY Times}
A friend found this dress on Bebe’s website the other day. Since then, I think I’ve gone through all the proper stages of grief.
It might look like a disturbing coincidence to some, but I splurged on the Valentino Red original on Net-a-Porter last month and Bebe’s copy kind of breaks my heart. They’ve captured the idea: black tube shape with lace on the neck and ruched sleeves. The pattern on the lace even looks the same, though I guess their factory couldn’t handle the tiny details like the outline of the collar or the delicate ribbons.
I take some solace in the difference of quality, the dresses hang differently even online, but I don’t understand why they can’t take the ideas - lace, black, ruffles - and make something on trend that’s not an exact copy.
When I found Alice Dellal backstage at Valentino, she was busy bickering with her elegant mother.
Apparently, they disagreed about the right look for the night’s parties. Mom, in head-to-toe Valentino red, favored the Valentino look Alice sported during the show while daughter preferred her cozy shearling, torn t-shirt, jeans and massive shoes - though she couldn’t remember where they were from, “Somewhere on the high street?” she said, “It’s all I can afford.”
The jeans and t-shirt won, quelle surprise, and she looked gorgeous. One always wonders about the pseudo-royalty-becomes-model-types, but up close and personal, there’s no wondering about Alice. She has an air about her and when you stand next to her, you just get it.
Despite its less than stellar performance since Valentino’s exit, the industry’s VIPs continue to flock to Valentino.
Today’s show played host to a stellar trifecta: Linda Fargo, Michael Roberts, and Anna Dello Russo sat front row for Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli’s second effort.
Their collection was pretty - very, very pretty.
The clothes weren’t overly complicated, nor dramatic or groundbreaking, but their sense of lightness looked comfortable and desirable. If they were going for dreamlike, they succeeded with a palette of dusky nudes and lilacs. Sparks of Valentino’s signature heavy handiwork appeared on mini-dresses and a gown or two, and of course, there were bows.
As for the showmanship of the show itself, no expense was spared. Black and white images of mutating orchids and flames were projected onto the walls of the tent and the tones of grey translated to the seats, which, by the way, were the most plush seats I’ve ever seen at a fashion show - soft banquettes, only three rows deep, perfect for resting my Fashion Week ridden body.
Of course the lingering question is, and will be for some time, what did Mr. Valentino think?
Finally — the first live action peek of Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus — and it’s packed full of Lily Cole.
The model, who looks more doll-like than ever, plays Valentina, daughter of Doctor Parnassus who’s played by Christopher Plummer. Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell take turns as Tony, collectively make this the most attractive film ever made. Lily’s in the background of at least half the clips, sometimes naked, once in a Valentino red dress, once making out with Heath and always framed by her wild red mane.
Our reaction to this is probably like a twelve-year-old’s to Twilight.
It’s easy, while flipping through magazines and seamlessly perfect luxury advertisements, to forget what kind of work goes into building such perfect little worlds.
So here’s a peek behind the scenes of the shoot of Valentino’s latest fragrance ad starring a kohl-eyed Siri Tollerod, Erin Heatherton, Marloes Horst and a mirror. The song is, of course, written just for this: “Valentino Loves You” by Sophie Carpentier.
It’s most fun to see the comic book-like sketches and instructions detailing the shoot’s order. Hop in!
“They have no feeling for the actuality of life, no sense of a lived experience, and frankly I’d be worried about getting too close to one of those prickly, encrusted numbers. You might get a rash.” -Cathy Horyn on the dresses at Valentino. Man we wish she blogged every single day.
Designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli took some serious hits from critics after their first couture showing in January.
But the press seems to have warmed a bit to the collection they presented yesterday in Paris.
There is definitely a new vibe at the house. While an occasional bow did make an appearance, the looks were dark, almost entirely black. And for the most part very short and sexy. There were no splashes of color and definitely no Valentino red to be found.
I will admit to not being the biggest Valentino (the clothes, not the man) fan in town, though I’ve always had a great appreciation for many things about the line. But this collection actually speaks much more to my personal taste. I think it looks young and hot and current.
Carlos Souza is going to be able to take this collection and run with it…all the way to Hollywood.
We started hearing word from the Jean Paul Gaultier show earlier today via Tweets from lucky attendees. Old Hollywood was the theme and seating was even named after the major studios.
And may we add a quick thank you to the newest editor addition to Twitterverse, Joe Zee. The man is on it with the rapid details and pictures.
(He’s tweeting from Valentino as we write.)
When he wrote about crocodile overalls paired with a sable coat, we knew this was the look we had to see stat.
Bergdorf Goodman’s teamed up with the American Visionary Art Museum for their 5th Avenue windows.
The museum’s in Baltimore, Maryland, but its artists created a collection of fantastical backdrops here in New York for clothes from Jason Wu and Oscar De La Renta, brightly colored homes for Louboutin shoes, erratic sketches frame a bejeweled Valentino bag and a man carved from wood watches over a Rodarte look complete with slashed gloves and Nicholas Kirkwood boots.
The museum’s mission statement defines visionary art as “art produced by self-taught individuals, usually without formal training, whose works arise from an innate personal vision that revels foremost in the creative act itself,” which, when combined with the best of pre-fall fashion makes for a must-visit outdoor museum on the street.
Valentino’s been an utter disaster since Valentino left.
So yesterday the company announced they were bringing back Carlos Souza, the former model and current PR whiz to whip it back into shape. Or more specifically, to get back their devoted celebrity clientele.
He’s starting now, or next week at couture and working alongside HL Group here in the States to right what’s become the wrong Valentino image.
If anyone can do that, if anyone knows the brand well enough, it’s Souza, but how can all the PR in the world fix a label with disastrous, or worse, boring designs? From Alessandra Facchinetti’s controversial ousting to the lackluster clothes from Valentino’s former accessory designers the house hasn’t had the least success since Valentino left.
Here’s hoping Souza really is the answer. We’d hate to see Valentino be the new Halston.
The hair bow has a long history, starting long before Lady Gaga’s infamous white blond topper. 
Lara Stone is getting married, and while we wait with bated breath to see the dress she dons, we thought we’d have a little fun and play stylist for the afternoon. 
