Couldn’t make it to Milan to catch Gucci’s spring show? Us neither. Luckily we’re bringing it to you live through the magic of the internets. Tune in tomorrow at 9 a.m. EST when we’ll be live streaming the Gucci show (which should include Frida Giannini’s a stellar model line-up, wink).
SS11 fashion week was filled with amazing collections, which were in turn filled with inventive and unique fashions. We couldn’t just pick ten, so we’ve selected 20 top looks for you instead.
Forget diamonds–shoes are a girl’s best friend.
The SS11 runways were full of new “best friends” for shoe addicts everywhere. From Alexander McQueen’s and Rodarte’s sculpted wedges to Calvin Klein’s lucite and wood stilettos, there’s something for every girl, even sneakers (from Giles and Yohji Yamamoto, of course)! Trying to pick a favorite may cost you hours, so why not just love them all?
Click through to see the best of the best shoes from the Spring runways!
For SS11 designers turned to their animal roots, emblazoning their designs with portraits of their favorite furry friends. From Prada’s now famous monkeys to Tsumori Chisato’s tiger, jungle animals were the most popular, although Miu Miu went classy with swans and Giles showed some koala-looking blobs on intarsia sweaters. Which animal portrait would you wear?
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.
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
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.
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
MILAN–Ferragamo’s Spring 2011 show opened to the sounds of waves lapping, I imagine, against a very fancy yacht. Designer Massimiliano Giornetti’s collection was, according to the line sheet, “snapshots of a perennial summer, living by lazy rhythms, in boats and rarefied society gatherings.” To protect their hair against the sea breeze, models wore Gypsy-like silk kerchiefs, and to keep warm, decadent suede jackets over crocheted bikinis in beachy neutrals. On a bohemian bent, Giorentti sent down long peasant skirts with cropped tops. For a cover up, fluid shimmering full-skirted sheer dresses that could double as evening wear (with the right undergarments, of course).
Click through for more looks.
