Met Ball’s Most Inspired Looks – Punk: Couture To Chaos

This year’s Costume Institute Gala Benefit – celebrating the opening of the Punk: Chaos to Couture exhibition – was co-chaired by Rooney Mara, Moda Operandi creative director Lauren Santo Domingo, Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci, and Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

Some attendees obviously didn’t read the invitation, missing completely that the evening’s theme was based on the exhibition (Punk: Chaos to Couture), and were as boring as plain vanilla ice cream. Fortunately, there were those that took the theme to heart and delved into the task of creating a “punkish” ensemble with imagination and zeal.

Madonna won for the most passionate, true-to-the-theme look in a Givenchy blazer, thigh hi’s and bright pink pumps. Her Cleopatra wig topped off the look with her usual aplomb. Sarah Jessica Parker, in her divine combination of a Giles Deacon’s gown and velvet tartan plaid Louis Vuitton thigh-high boots, along with Ashley Olsen in a Chanel Haute Couture gown paired with a vintage Balmain jacket, were close runner-ups. They looked awesome!!

Other winners were Sienna Miller, who completely grasped the concept in a Burberry white low v-neck fitted dress topped off with a studded black motorcycle jacket. Nicole Richie expressed her inner punkdom by dying her hair grey. Her selection of a custom-made, beaded, column white Top Shop gown let her hair do the talking. The two were the epitome of chic punk.

Then there were those that celebrated the sexy side of punk – Anne Hathaway looked uber sexy in her see through vintage Valentino gown, and her platinum dyed locks. Ciley Myrus’s slinky fish net Marc Jacobs gown – though it covered more – and her blonde-tipped spiked hair had more of a punkish sexy flair to it.

I would be amiss if I didn’t mention the night’s co-host, Rooney Mara’s, Riccardo Tisci – another of the evening’s co-host – white lace, exaggerated shoulder dress with a high center split. Simply stunning!

Top section – from top left to right: Nicole Riche in Custom Top Shop,  Anne Hathaway in Vintage Valentino, Karolina Kurkova in Mary Katranzou, Kristen Stewart in Stella McCartney, Gisele Bundchen in Anthony Vaccarello, Leelee Sobieski in Dior Haute Couture, Jessica Biel in Giambattista Valli, Dakato Fanning in Rodarte.

Bottom Section – from top left to right: Madanna in Givenchy, Diane Kruger in Chanel Haute Couture, Ashley Olsen in Chanel Haute Couture gown and a Vintage Balmain Jacket, Sienna Miller in Burberry, Sarah Jessica Parker in Giles Deacon and Louis Vuitton Boots, Rosie Huntington in Gucci, Rooney Mara in Riccardo Tisci, Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs.

Paris Fashion Week – Alexander McQueen Plus More Favorites

“I don’t know what started it,” laughed Sarah Burton backstage before the show, “Maybe female worker bees, like all of us in the studio”. She is, of course, referring to the collection’s inspiration which, as she is the McQueen bee, very apt.

Another brilliant collection that was not only focused and intricate, but also oddly sexy. Burton emphasized that she’s more interested in “sensuality and the female form, and doing something light but not naked”. The hyper-exaggerated female silhouette was derived from the pinups of Alberto Vargas, and were displayed perfectly with wasp-waist corseted double-peplumed jackets made of gold-on-black honeycomb-patterned jackets, cagelike pannier dresses, and hard, tortoiseshell-resin harnesses and bras. The presentation culminated with the show stopping Bengalinesque gowns that had Scarlett donned them, Rhett Butler would have been brought to his knees much sooner.

I leave you with a few of my other favorites from Paris.

 

1st group of photos – Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2013.

2nd group – clockwise from top left: Isabel Marant, Balmain, Louis Vuitton, Haider Ackerman,Valentino, Chanel, Haider Ackerman, Miu Miu.

If I Could I Would – My Covetables

One of my favorite days is the day I get my September issue of Vogue. All of its 5 Lbs is glorious and is my favorite reading of August. Every page is the most delicious eye candy and the inspiration for my list of covetables.

Indeed, my list is quite extravagant but if I could, I would add them to my wardrobe in a heart beat (a girl can always dream, can’t she?). Owning any one of these items a fashion junkie, such as myself, would think she had died and gone to heaven. Take the Alexander McQueen matte leather mini-bustle jacket, you could wear it with just about anything and be the envy of every style maven out there. Or the Balmain pearl studded skinny pants, I have ached for those since the moment I laid eyes on them – heavenly with the cashmere sweater it walked the runway with. Speaking of which, the Dolce & Gabbana embroidered corset would be perfect with fall’s wide leg trouser pants or uber sexy with a pencil skirt.

Maiyet, Charlotte Olympia….I could go on but suffice it to say, my coveting cup runneth over…… BIG TIME!

Clockwise from top left: Matt Leather Mini-Bustle Jacket $4795.00 www.alexandermcqueen.com, Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2012, Maiyet Ponyhair Ceres Clutch $1850.00 www.barneys.com, Balmain fall/Winter 2102, Miu Miu Red Current Dress $1780.00 www.miumiu.com, Charlotte Olympia Lucinda Leopard-Print Ankle Boots $1495.00 www.netaporter.com.

Paris Fall/Winter 2012 Collections

For this year’s Alexander McQueen spring collection Sarah Burton gave us colors of the sea – beautiful blues and corals. For Fall 2012 Burton takes us far into the sea and gives us various anemones disguised as fashion. Sarah’s visions for fall were encased with thoughts of ” a beautiful future, positivity and optimism”. Like an under water dream, designs made from organza, marabou feathers and layers upon layer of tulle floated down the runway.

The beginning consisted of “pods”, short shaped skirts, with decoration embedded in the fabric which turned into “doilies” of laser-cut ponyskin mounted on leather, and finally fur pompoms. Then the pods exploded, like puffballs, into extravagantly shaggy shapes in goat fur, ostrich feather, or Mongolian lamb. Referring to a show that didn’t delineate a rational working wardrobe for fall, Burton said, “I think it’s the icing on the cake of what we do, you want something magical”. Magical it was.

But Burton is not one to leave any stone unturned. She delivered, at the temporary Paris atelier, racks of the practical, wearable commercial collection which reflected the ideas that glided down the runway — everything from jeans to floral knitted sheath dresses, pastel tailoring, and curvaceous coats and jackets.

Besides McQueen, Haider Ackerman is a designer that has always delivered for me and his fall 2012 collection was no exception. More body conscious than spring — note the wide, molded leather belts that cinched in the waist — the collection was dominated by full-bodied Melton wools, Mikado shantung, satins and rough-textured leather which Ackerman molded into very sexy and modern ensembles. The master of draping and color didn’t disappoint, there was a paprika satin blouse and mustard peplum worn with a berry-brown wool jacket and skirt that was divine, and an eggplant shantung 7/8 coat with smoke-gray satin pants and a chestnut blouse flourished with a bois-de-rose scarf to die for. His folds and drapes were those that could only be made by a master technician, they seem so natural and easy as if that was how nature would have them fall.

Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri have come into their own at Valentino this fall.  The overall concept for their fall collection, according to the designers, was “folk, but in a modern, faceted way.” They have been modernizing their sweetly feminine silhouettes — black leather gave the duo’s by-now familiar dresses and jumpsuits a new edge — and are designing for a more natural less perscriptive kind of beauty. I look forward to their future envisions for the Valentino woman.

The following are a few of my other favorite looks from Paris.

First group of 4 photos – ALexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2012. Second group of 4 photos – Haider Ackermann Fall/Winter 2012. Third group of 4 photos – Valentino Fall/Winter 2012.

Second Group – clockwise from top left: Lanvin, Lanvin, Balmain, Givenchy, Dries Van Noten, Veronique Leroy, Chanel, Balmain — all from Fall/Winter 2012.

From My Closet To Yours – Styling Tips By Kristin

  Favorite Resort 2012 Looks

It’s a new year and a time to look forward towards new beginnings, and what better to start us on our journey than the prelude to spring – Resort 2012. These our my 21 favorite looks from the Resort 2012 collections, the ones I would die to add to my wardrobe (hopefully a few of them will). But even the ones that don’t make it into my closet will make for great inspiration while I am planning my spring wardrobe and updating my style.

I recommend going over to Style.com and perusing the Resort and Spring 2012 collections to get your inspiration. It’s a wealth of imagery that will inspire many ideas. Which designer is your favorite? Whose collection resonates with you? Do you see a style that “says you” or maybe there’s a designer whose “look” you’ve been wanting to try?

Whether you want to fine tune your style or do a total overhaul – a fresh, new beginning – this is a great time to start! Let me know who inspires you this season.

Happy Shopping!!

Clockwise from top left: 3.1 Phillip Lim, A.L.C, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Helmet Lang, Gucci, Givenchy, Balmain and Celine – all Resort 2012.

Group 2 – Clockwise from top left: Jenni Kayne, Johnathan Saunders, Lanvin, Peter Pilotto, Theyskens’ Theory, Zac Posen, Vionnet, Valentino,Preen, Matthew Williamson, Nina Ricci, Rachel Zoe – All Resort 2012

Paris Fashion Week-Dries Van Noten & Balmain

Paris Fashion Week kicked off March 1st amid gossip and innuendo surrounding John Galliano’s alcohol induced rant. But within the first two days all talk had switched to the strong showings at Dries Van Noten and Balmain.

Belgian designer Dries Van Noten described his collection as a “Meeting of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust and Ballets Russes founder Sergei Diaghliev”. Many of his pieces were a montage of contrasting prints and colors with asymmetrical lines-in one dress he combined up to five different prints. Dries continued on with the seventies influenced trend as many of the jackets and skirts were reminiscent of a seventies lava lamp, using vivid colors such as bright rust, blue-gray, purple and gold. The coats, made of a mixture of multicolored tweeds and fur-lined lapels, along with the chunky two-toned sweaters were divine. Noten’s luxurious fabrics and the exotic skins of the model’s boots were a perfect fit with the opulent gilded and frescoed interiors of the historic 17th-18th century Hotel de Ville where the collection was previewed.

The talk at Balmain was of the absent Christophe Decarnin, who was under doctor’s orders to rest after being treated for an unconfirmed illness, rumored to be exhaustion. Melanie Ward, Decarnin’s head stylist (who replaced Emmanuelle Alt when she was elevated to the editor in chief at Paris Vogue), stepped in for designer. The collection, which was absent of studs and the shredding effects Balmain was famous for, still had a rock and roll effect but was more streamlined-it was less punk and more glam rock. What did come down the runway was beautiful yet limited in depth, showing only a few different styles of pants-cuffed trousers being the main stay-and dresses. The collection, which also featured liquid metallic leather pants and blazers, and gem-encrusted mini dresses and skirts, drew rave reviews and was the talk of the town.

Two different looks that are similar only in their uniqueness. Looks like Paris Fashion Week is off and running.

Clockwise from top left the first three looks are from Dries Van Noten’s Fall/Winter 2011 collection and the last three are from Balmain’s Fall/Winter 2011 collection.