sugar skull

Red, black, and white

2011-04-02T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hair today, gone tomorrow, part 5

2011-04-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

Hair, part 4

2011-04-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

Hair, part 3

2011-04-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hair, part 2

2011-03-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hair, part 1

2011-03-31T19:40:00.000-07:00

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

2009-08-17T23:51:00.001-07:00

Here is the beginning. The Third Start.

2009-08-17T23:41:00.000-07:00

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

5 facts!

2008-03-15T13:46:00.001-07:00

This is my favorite youtube subscription...

2007-12-08T02:24:00.000-08:00

i feel trapped inside of myself.
i feel tired again.
i haven't felt this desolation in over a year, and now it's coming back.

Alexander McQueen Spring 2008 RTW

2007-10-23T02:25:00.000-07:00

Lacriox Couture Fall 2007

2007-10-23T02:23:00.000-07:00

Chanel Couture Fall 2007

2007-10-23T02:21:00.000-07:00

Jean Paul Gaultier Couture Fall 2007

2007-10-23T02:17:00.000-07:00

Dior Couture Fall 2007

2007-10-23T02:13:00.000-07:00

The most beautiful thing I've ever seen

2007-06-25T12:15:00.001-07:00

2007-05-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

I don't like Rihanna or anyone like her, but I do like this.

Oh Mama you do love me

2007-05-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

The long awaited new album from Interpol Our Love to Admire is out 7.10.07 and since I'm a total Nazi in my hate of shit music lately I haven't been listening to the radio and totally missed the announcement and the new single The Heinrich Maneuvre.
I nearly fell out of my chair when it came on. I haven't felt this excited in....

it wasn'tover... it's still not over!

2007-05-06T14:24:00.000-07:00

Our hero Rachel McAdam's is starring in the movie adaptation of one of my all time favorite books, The Time Travelers Wife. I'm torn between my unswerving loyalty to Rachel and my rabid over protectiveness of my books. The shoot starts in August and I'll do a daily prayer or sacrifice that all goes well (for the fans of the book). And I am such a geek that I hope the "break" and not "break up" will be over and McGlosling can get back together. Shhh!

for what was and shall never be again

2007-05-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

The new face of Chloe is more recognizable to me than anything Pheobe Philo ever put out in the past. To me, the Chloe of Phoebe was who I aspired to be. A mature version, a light version of my sense of self.

But now with the Fall 07 line designed by Paulo Melim Andersson, I feel like now I can be Chloe as the girl I was in high school and deep inside me still dictates my wardrobe.

This is a wonderful direction for women out there like me who are not so naturally soft edged. The transition from the perfection of Pheobe to the coolness of Paulo was a pretty rough one and there was little true substance there. It was such an amazing experience to look at these designs and know that wherever Chloe is now headed it is not only in good hands, it is not going to be a pale version of what had come before.

2007-05-06T13:44:00.000-07:00

There is a lot I have neglected to post. Like this little Duckling Dress by A McCall.

(click to enlarge)

back to black

2007-04-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

through a looking glass darkly

2007-03-10T13:05:00.000-08:00

Artist Mark Ryden is showing his new paintings at the Michael Kohn Gallery today March 10- April 28. If you've never had a chance to see any of his work, well now would be the time to change that. He's a mix between Frida, Alice in Wonderland, and Currin. Checkout these images oh his pased work: Saint Barbie, The Creatrix, Rosie's Tea Party, Sophia's Mercurial Waters (my faveorite pictured below), Little Boy Blue, Snow White. View them at Mark's website by clicking on the image below.

giambattista valli fall 07

2007-03-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

"PARIS, March 2, 2007 – What do you get when you mix Rembrandt, Le Corbusier, and the Mexican film star María Félix? The new Fall collection by Giambattista Valli."style.com

I know that these images do not do the full collection justice, but they are the ones that held my attention the longest.

I was surprised and impressed by the details. On each piece there is something unique, and yet the collection is cohesive. I am gratified to see that Valli has done consecutively successful collections.

john galliano fall 07

2007-03-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

Check out the runway show from style.com

"PARIS, March 3, 2007 – ...his own decadently staged collection returned to the romantic, excessive, eccentric hothouse scenes people so adored him for in the early nineties, complete with "vintage" Galliano bias-cut dresses... (we were) greeted with a cast of made-up Parisian street characters, overflowing dinner tables, potted palms, dogs, chicken coops, Turkish rugs, bordello couches, and an unmade brass bed—were instantly put in party mood. We were in Pigalle during the tens and twenties—the world of Kiki de Montparnasse and Brassai's Madame Bijou...The theme sent him off on an orgy of costume reference (and self-reference) that brought out deep-red Poiret-era coats whorled into asymmetric rose ruffles, gigantic leg-of-mutton-sleeved jackets, high-waisted redingotes, flower-printed tea dresses, and a multiplicity of his signature bias-cut gowns, in everything from black velvet and sheer lace to face-powder pink and dusty-tangerine chiffon.

The roll of credits included Stephen Jones' millinery, Pat McGrath's makeup, Julien d'Ys hair, and Michael Howells' set design. All played crucial supporting roles in bringing Galliano gloriously back to full cinematic form... "– Sarah Mower style.com

It's over the top. The details are endless. The make up is half the show. And it's everything I expect and desire from John Galliano. He never fails to surprise, enchant, and impress me. One could spend hours if not days delving into the construction and conception of this and any Galliano collection.

Alexander McQueen Fall 07 RTW

2007-03-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

alexander mcqueen fall 07 rtw part 1 runway show

part 2 of full runway show

"...McQueen put a heartfelt personal passion into a collection that was based on a startling revelation from his family history. His mother, who traces family trees, discovered that her bloodline leads back to a victim of the Salem witch trials who was hanged in the Puritan hysteria of 1692. The themes of witchcraft, paganism, and religious persecution played on the dark and angry side of McQueen's...
there was a pentagram traced in red in a black-sand circle, with an inverted pyramid hanging over it. As the show started, a macabre film—of naked women, swarming locusts, faces decaying to skulls, and blood and fire—started to play above the models' heads. Theoretically, no one objects to being disturbed and discomforted by a pointed McQueen performance—it's an accepted part of his identity."

I cut the review down to descriptions of McQueen's inspiration and details of the show itself. Fashion being subjective, I'd have to say that I enjoyed the collection immensely. Here is an artist with talent. I'm not viewing this collection in terms of saleability, or in any other way besides that as conceptual art. All fashion is to me. What really impresses and astounds me in the workmanship in the construction of these garments. In the design process from inspiration to sketch to the draping and pattern making. This is a breathtaking collection for all those reasons.

click any image to enlarge

jenni kayne

2007-03-08T23:09:00.000-08:00

It's getting hot in So Cal so I thought I'd post on what's right now.

"A true California girl, Kayne isn't afraid of prints—for spring she did an oversized floral that appeared on everything from ruched maillots to pleated gowns. She's also comfortable with color: The runway was a swirl of chartreuse, teal, navy, aubergine, and brown, as well as salmon, saffron, mustard, and black. It could all have been much too much, but it worked, as did Kayne's leathers. She showed trenches (cropped and knee-length), motorcycle jackets, and a cocoon coat with a pin-tucked hem—every piece was buttery soft, but tailored sharp as a blade."style.com

Kayne is a new designer to me, but I fell for her mix of short/tough/girly ensembles paired with super flat sandals. It's so California and as a native it speaks to what I know. The colors are fresh and so very of the moment, and each is completely covetable.
She has a cool website so check it out. The only sad thing about the show was the clusterfuck of starlette-WB-castoffs and rich-with-no-talent celebrities. I loath seeing their stupid little faces everywhere.

seasons of derek lam

2007-03-08T22:46:00.000-08:00

check out video coverage of Lam's latest show: fall 07 rtw

spring 07

resort 06

fall rtw 06

the best of the best

2007-02-02T11:27:00.000-08:00

DIOR HOMME

Fall 07

The collection I've been waiting for finally arrived on my computer early this week, Dior Homme Fall 07. And fall collections are always my favorites of any designer. I love Hedi for his lines, his silhouette, and for the continuity of his taste. It's always different but I can always see that it is essentially him. I can see his style in the interior design of his boutiques, his photographs, and in the designer himself.

He is not trying to be anyone but himself.
I cannot say that I believe that of all of men's wear designers, or designers period. Hedi is always ahead of the pack, next season look for looks similar to these designs. I still find designers putting out collections that are reminiscent of past Dior Homme collection under Slimane rule.

Men's clothing is very forgiving and often can fit many sizes of men's body types. It pleases me that there is a designer who caters to a THIN silhouette. The idea that men be put through the same wringer of weight and body type restrictions as all women designers do makes me extremely satisfied.

This collection, as most Dior Homme collections are not meant for mass consumption, they are stylized and specific to the uber cool elite. Not everyone can pull off these looks. You can feel art and music in the inspiration of this collection, of every collection. It speaks a certain language.

Click these images for a closer look. Check out the full collection here at style.com.

press play

DIOR COUTURE SPRING 07

2007-01-23T22:27:00.000-08:00

I'm in love. I'm always in love with the Couture Collections Galliano masterminds. This season is a major departure in terms of theme from Fall's 06 Collection. What comes to mind is the obvious Japanese inspiration but there is so much more. So many images pop up while you porous the collection, words like: geisha, origami, Japanese water gardens, and Japanese woodblock art. There are also influences of vintage Dior circa 1947 The New Look, and hyper-feminine glam. It is the perfect juxtaposition to the Joan of Arc warriors of the Fall. All the costume drama is so classic Galliano. Naturally the collection reminded me of Memories of a Geisha, but how decadent and amazing would it be in an opera costumed by this collection and directed by Baz Luhrmann? A girl could wish..

"For anyone who first glimpsed Galliano’s raw, romantic genius 20 years ago, or witnessed the impact of his first, all-black Japanese collection done on a shoestring a decade ago, today's presentation recaptured everything that ever made him a force to be reckoned with. Was it anything new? No. But when Galliano does what he does this brilliantly, there’s no one who can touch him." sarah mower style.com

Please click these images for an enlarged view and please please please check out the full collection on style.com. I'll post detail shots tomorrow because I'm so damn self indulgent.

check out video here

Fall 07 Menswear so far

2007-01-21T00:49:00.000-08:00

Alexander McQueen -
What I really liked about this collection, that beyond the theatrical pieces, he'd turned out some sublime wearable pieces that put to shame most of the pack not only so far, but in past seasons. (and this does exclude any Dior Homme or the Burberry Men's Fall 06 collection).

"a collection as startling and individual as this. In purely technical terms, McQueen mastered a striking repertoire of effects, such as the silvery glaze on a gray flannel suit, the plastic coating on a Prince of Wales check, or the taffeta-and-felt bonding that turned scuba neoprene into the stuff of jackets and pea coats. Only McQueen could make a conceptual point of the interplay between the most luxurious natural fibers and the most Hazmat-toned synthetics (orange nylon was a particular standout).

McQueen’s work continues to enthrall ... He’s the most cinematic of designers, and with this collection, he offered up a vision that combined the broad-shouldered, immaculately-tailored elegance of haute Hollywood with a dystopian futurism that left his models looking like glassy-eyed replicants. It was extraordinary... Still, the bugle-beaded jackets that McQueen presented as a finale must surely stand as the new century’s definitive statement on male glamour—until his own next show, at least." style.com Tim Blanks

Alessandro Dell'Acqua

I had a few problems with this collection, it seemed to borrow too much on others designers past collections. And normally I feel that the cut -especially of the pant- is funny, done too designer for it to look right on a man. But I was pleased with the pants especially from this collection. Also the color scheme all silvers, greys, blacks, and creams.

"...Dell’Acqua wanted more from this collection than the things his closet was missing: He was hoping to nail a modern man’s wardrobe. Unfortunately, that grandiose goal may have been a bridge too far. The most memorable items were his reconceptualizations of simple pieces like a basic jean (delivered here as a deep-pleated pair of dungarees) or a mod nylon parka (line it with Persian lamb and it’s a whole new bag)." style.com Tim Blanks

Bottega Veneta-

Overall the collection was a bit boring, but these two caught my eye.

"Tomas Maier’s technical accomplishments at Bottega Veneta are all the more spectacular for being so subtle. This season, his obsession with the craft of clothing saw him apply his trademark “barely there” construction to the formal foundations of the finest Neapolitan tailoring—no mean challenge! But the very first outfit, a three-piece suit with peaked shoulders, deep vents, and a trim double-breasted waistcoat, was a confident assertion of success, and that sharp, hypertailored silhouette set the tone for the rest of the collection." style.com Tim Blanks

Burberry Porsum-

After a slightly disappointing Spring Collection, Christopher Baily redeemed himself with his Fall 07 collection. The cut of the coats. the pant length, the pairing of the boots with the pant is wonderful. Bailey hands down is my pick for color schemes. I've yet to see another designer use color in a better palate than Mr. Bailey. My only objection is that he insists on slapping a belt on everything. Here are a very edited version of my favorites.

"...The military influence on Christopher Bailey’s new collection was so overt as to beg the question about its connection to current events. But Bailey insisted it was the romance of uniforms that inspired him—and, more specifically, the idea of the young princes William and Harry at Sandhurst Military Academy...

A post-show Bailey talked about transferring the volume of outerwear to knitwear, and playing with menswear proportions in the same way that a designer is able to toy with the dimensions of womenswear, which added up to a radically oversized cardigan with buckled closings, or poor-boy knits that hung well below the hem of leanly tailored jackets. It was very much an expression of a mood the designer called “more formal but still a scruffy English kid.” style.com Tim Blanks.

J. Lindberg

Most people would think that this is right up my alley. That this is my standard and style for my ideal man. And if we were talking about the guy on the street, I'd agree. This is the straight guy version of what I like. I'd wish him to wear Dior Homme and be able to pull it off... but unless he's super svelte, or a rockstar, good luck not being super gay.
The collection wasn't flawless, there was too much material being thrown around making the looks a bit messy, and the beaded necklaces made me gag, but that was the stylists fault I suppose...

"Today's collection marked both the tenth anniversary of Johan Lindeberg's brand and a creative departure for the designer. He declared his ambition to bring his signature line to "a new level of luxury and personal expression," and it turned out that wasn't just marketing speak. Gone from the runway were his skinny jeans and updated athletic wear (they'll continue to fulfill a lucrative role at diffusion level). In their place was an unexpected play with proportion and volume. Lindeberg showed high-waisted, button-fly, loose-legged pants; long shirts layered under cropped jackets and pea coats; an elongated patent bomber jacket; and sweeping greatcoats. He may not be the first designer you'd count on to make such a concerted, persuasive case against the tyranny of lean, but for Lindeberg, thin is clearly no longer in." style.com Dirk Standen.

That's it so far, other designers only had one or two highlights for me so I didn't post them. Although I would highly recommend that you check them out anyway and see what take you get on them. Check out Costume National (the pants really threw me), D&G, Etro had some nice usage of color, and Gucci had nice finishing touches. You can find all these and more on style.com.

real men dressing real well

2007-01-20T16:22:00.000-08:00

I post a lot on fashion for women, and I feel that I'm neglecting some of my favorite eye candy: menswear. Well thanks to the new Fall 07 season's debut I'm finally making the time to show you what I like from the men who wear what I like.

I've been saving up a lot of my material because I haven't had time for much posting so many of these are a few months old. Most are from the oh so so wonderful Sartorialist, many from other photogs on style.com, and some from Nylon. Here's an "edited" version of my collection.

I love my little skaters, especially the ones who wear glasses...

The older ones who brush their hair, and wear glasses...

Head to waist I fucking love it.

The hot lead singer... and that other guy what's his names... oh, who cares is what it is.

It's not the men in the cloths, it's just the cloths that makes me swoon. I'm a sucker for trenches and velvet. I love the pairing of the trench and the black tie stubble and hair style. Similarly the dark GREEN jacket unfussed with, plain white shirt. He may be not that great looking, but I love the beard and the hair with this look.

The hardcore bachelor...

I have yet to see Hugh Grant look anything but dashing. He really knows how to put an outfit together and look natural.

The designer who knows how to look good too...

Only Thom Browne can look perfect in Thom Browne.

This guy here...

And here...

The style nerd...

A successful mixing of patterns, this is a fave.

The coat guy that smokes...

Nothing is better than a coat. Hands down I say coat over jacket.

The unashamedly redhead...

Don't see a lot of red heads these days, and slim to none who know how to put it together like this. Love the Purple with the grey scarf.

Scarf guy...

As the Sartorialist pointed out on his blog, the skull scarf, the chain wrapped in front of the pant, well done.

Nice jacket... sir...

Very few jackets these days make my head turn, and the scarf just really clinches it for me.

Hallelujah...

He is ALWAYS the coolest.

Nice fucking gloves italiano guy!

Okay it's not a secret I have a thing for yellow. This color scheme is what really catches my eye.

And the old crazies in cool coats...

He looks like he might have shanked someone for the coat, but it's still a fucking kick ass coat, I'd have killed for it too.

Perfection...

The hot guy trying to hide it...

This is the lovely Josh Hartnet arriving at the Late Show. Aside from his general scorching hotness, I really love the sunglasses. These are my one and only for me. I've seen them on Kate Moss, Michelle Williams, Heath Ledger, and some day... me.

Oh Soooo fabulous...

Chris Bletzer, I love your jacket, love your hair.

I still love ya...

The asshole in cool duds...

Vincent Gallo, I don't like him but I always like his style.

I bow again and again...

Bruno Danto, Editor in Chief Vogue Hommes

Nice bookends...

Waris always looks cool.

And the next generation has taste...

Brian Ferry's boys in Milan.

no more words...

2007-01-19T21:22:00.000-08:00

did this fucking video say "hobo jungles?" WTF? At least Nina looks amazing as Bonnie...

what horrible hair, at least there aren't any hobo jungles

and here she is so cool, love her look so very much

YOUNG FOLKS peter bjorn and john

2007-01-11T21:50:00.000-08:00

firepower

2007-01-03T23:06:00.000-08:00

What's this? A big time corp. being taken into account over an actor shining light on an issue? This is the story from vogue.com.uk

BURBERRY QUESTIONED
BURBERRY executives will find themselves up in front of a UK parliamentary committee later this month to defend its proposed closure of a factory in Treorchy, South Wales, that will affect 311 jobs. While one of the fashion house's current models, actor Ioan Gruffudd, spoke out against the closure in November, the Welsh Affairs Committee has now committed to question Burberry as part of its investigation into the impact of globalisation on employment in the region. "We thought that it was opportune to invite Burberry to provide evidence and background about why they intend to close the factory," Hywel Francis, chairman of the committee, told WWD. While Burberry has stressed that no final decision has been made regarding the fate of the factory, the Welsh Affairs Committee has no power to prevent its closure. (January 3 2007, AM) Dolly Jones

This is fantastic, instead of giving a shit whether which starlet isn't wearing panties (for shame! Learn that flashing your shit across America's all too eager eyes is not the way to make a stunning comeback, or to be immortalized) our famous should be using their star power for good not evil. Case in point Ioan Gruffudd, a Welsh actor who is employed by the company he spoke out against. How I wish this could have happened for our country and it's factories. No one seems to care that we have our products made in other countries. It would be lovely for this country to keep it's domestic products be domestically produced. Think of all those jobs...

DL & CO.

2007-01-02T22:29:00.000-08:00

Finlay i get to post on Douglas Little. Up until now I'd been waiting on the day I'd take another step out of the stone age and buy myself a scanner so you could all see my years of accumulated cool. And having sat on my Douglas little article for a couple years, he and his company have FINLAY gotten their website up and running and I can share another interest of mine.

(magazine images and excerts from W mag)

Although I couldn't find an image of a top hat by Mr. Little in a gentle dove grey, a black band, and a seahorse stickpin. It's one of my most treasured finds. Guess I do have to get that scanner, damn.

Here's a bit from his website telling you who and the what about Mr. Little, "Mr. Douglas Little is a sybarite of the senses who has created award winning images and ideas for the finest names in beauty. His appetite for rarefied pleasures has compelled him to bring Modern Alchemy into being...

Within the dim, opulent parlors of Modern alchemy, detail, craft and imagination are all greeted with a tender reverent embraced, and are cordially introduced to their lusty suitors..."

Well you get the idea. He is a very peculiar man with very specific tastes that happen to be fucking fabulous. He must lament being born into the wrong century.

I'll post more on DL & Co. later.

in the new year still hanging onto remnants of last year

2007-01-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

Now that we are in that weird transition period between 06/07, here is my amalgamation of the two and the best there of:

The must domestic magazine issue:

the must book: john currin by alison m. gingeras et al.

the must online shop: la garconne.com
which carries designers such as: acne
3.1 phillip lim
lover
randall devon

and the oh so cool alexander wang

and peeking into the passed: I still like these neck ties

secretly love this photo spread

and adore this look.

i still wish i could remember where i got this image from

and i'm still in love with this collection by Burfitt

and i still love this song

runway footage

2006-12-05T23:44:00.000-08:00

roland mouret for the gap

2006-11-28T16:38:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I missed such a huge story! Rolan Mouret designed a line of 10 dresses for The Gap. Yes ladies and gentleman, The mother-f'n Gap. As you can see these dresses are so beautiful and a definite must. Only problem is, is that these great must-haves are only being sold in SELECT NYC stores and you know how fast those will go. I'm trying to pull a miracle out of my ass to grab a couple, you know prep for the big day. Who knows, may be Christmas will come on Dec. 1st for me.

watch this video of how the debut went for the Gap in the UK.

mms://telegraph.wmod.llnwd.net/a689/o1/gaps.wmv

Roland Mouret for Gap available December 1 at select NYC Gap stores: 1 Astor Pl., (212) 253-0145; 657 Third Ave. at 42nd St., (212) 697-3590; 734 Lexington Ave. at 59th St., (212) 751-1543; 60 W. 34th St. at Broadway, (212) 760-1268; 680 Fifth Ave. at 54th St., (212) 977-7023; 1466 Broadway at 42nd St., (212) 382-4500; 122 Fifth Ave. at 18th St., (917) 408-5580.

JEERS TO PARIS VOGUE NOVEMBER ISSUE

2006-11-25T17:18:00.000-08:00

I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING THIS MONTHS ISSUE OF PARIS VOGUE. THAT IS TO MEAN I AM ON 1 MONTHS STRIKE. IF YOU SEE IT ON THE NEWS STANDS YOU'LL SEE WHY. I FEEL VIOLATED, AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY.

alice in wonderland

2006-11-17T16:02:00.000-08:00

click each image for larger view

This is the BEST and most influencial feature spread for me. When I first started this blog I made mention of this feature layout when I did a double blog on Natalia Vodianova. Well, going through my catalouge of magazine features last night brought me back t o this beautiful and perfect photo adaptation of Alice in Wonderland starring Natalia...

"Alice in Wonderland" by Hamish Bowles the complete story appears in the December 2003 issue of Vogue.
Curiouser and Curiouser

Beyond nonsense verse and coming-of-age fables, Lewis Carroll's true passion was photographing moody young beauties. Olivier Theyskens, in the guise of Carroll, captures model Natalia Vodianova as Alice Liddell. Natalia wears a Rochas iridescent blue-flower ruffle dress specially designed by Theyskens.Photo: Annie Leibovitz

Through the Looking Glass

Wrapped in ocean-blue Balenciaga couture, Alice perched on the mantel, longing to escape into the shadow world, as her black kitty purred nearby. Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière crystal pleated chiffon dress and grey ankle boots. Shot on location at the Château de Corbeil-Cerf. In this story: fashion editor, Grace Coddington; hair, Julien d'Ys/Island d'Ys; makeup, Gucci Westman.Set design by Mary Howard. Prop fabrication by Jean Hugues de Chatillon.Photo: Annie Leibovitz

Drink Me

How was Alice to know the innocent little bottle would make her grow to such a size? As Helmut Lang watched from the wall, she curled her legs up and hoped the designer's organza minidress wouldn't be crushed by her startling height. Dress from the Helmut Lang made-to-measure studio.Photo: Annie Leibovitz

Advice from a Caterpillar

Clad in Marc Jacobs's ruffled chiffon minidress, Alice found herself engaged in an infuriatingly roundabout conversation with a mushroom-dweller. Where am I? she wondered...and how have I gotten here?Photo: Annie Leibovitz
Pig & Pepper

It was a queer-shaped little creature, and held out its arms and legs in all directions, “just like a starfish.” Chanel Haute Couture embroidered satin jacket with a draped satin skirt and cream leather boot pants. The Chanel designer wears Chrome Hearts necklaces and belt.Photo: Annie Leibovitz

The Cheshire Cat

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” Alice asked sweetly of the cat with a grin as devilish as anything she had ever seen. “ That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” replied our Cat, Jean Paul Gaultier. Blue silk-jersey draped dress by Gaultier Paris.Photo: Annie Leibovitz

Tweedledum and Tweedledee

“If you think we're alive, you ought to speak,” said the one marked DEE. Alice, in a Viktor & Rolf multilayered silk dress, stared as the Tweedle duo spouted nonsensical tongue twisters. Rolf Snoeren, left, and Viktor Horsting wear matching suits and bow ties of their own design.Photo: Annie Leibovitz
The Mad Tea Party

“No room!” The March Hare and Mad Hatter shouted. “No room!” But Alice plunked down, desperate for some biscuits after a long day of living backward. Christian Lacroix Haute Couture dress with painted and sculpted mink dickey over a lace top and frilled lamé skirt. Stephen Jones (right), wears a custom-made hat of his own design. .Photo: Annie Leibovitz

Who Stole the Tarts?

“My name is Alice, so please Your Majesty,” the young girl, draped in Dior Couture, said softly. “ You make me giddy!” screamed the Queen. Dior Haute Couture by John Galliano hand-painted polka-dot dress. Galliano as the Queen of Hearts, wears a Dior Haute Couture coat and is accompanied by his King, Alexis Roche.Photo: Annie Leibovitz

The Mock Turtle's Story

“What is his sorrow?” Alice, in Atelier Versace, asked the Gryphon. “Once,” sighed the Mock Turtle, “ I was a real turtle.” Atelier Versace layered silk-tulle and chiffon-organza dress lined in lace. Donatella Versace and Rupert Everett are in Versace.Photo: Annie Leibovitz

this feature story was especially inspirational for me since I was in my 1st year of FIDM as a fashion design major. back when my class had no idea who Olivier Theyskens was, but one teacher in particular told us to keep an eye on him. back when I only said Nicolas Ghesquière in my head because I couldn'tpronounce his name. back when Tom Ford was still a fashion designer for Yves Saint Laurent. I thought how cool it was for Helmut Lang not to be in the photograph with Natalia like all the other designers, but to be pictured in an obscure corner of the picture in the form of a portrait.

And falling for the Atelier Versace layered silk-tulle and chiffon-organza dress lined in lace, the best gown of the season.

camilla staerk

2006-11-10T00:06:00.000-08:00

For a woman who does black with such passion, it feels good to see her do spring colors that don't stab my eyes with the glare of their ferocity. This is the proper way to do non-black for those of us who live in the color no matter the season. Check out her Spring 07 collection at vogue.com.uk.

banks revisited

2006-11-09T20:36:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I last posted on the amazing artist Banks Violette, so I wanted just to post a few new pictures I recently found just to keep him in mind to all my favorite people.
You can also see an article on him in the features section of Vanity Fair's Art issue so I highly recommend you check it out.
In September Banks had a solo exhibition at the Standard in Oslo. But most exciting is he is to have another solo exhibition in 2007 at the Team Gallery in New York. It's definitely worth a trip to the city. The thought of seeing his art in person is just thrilling.

But to make a girl like me really go over the top is the collaboration he has had with my guy Hedi Slimane. Hedi has been a part of a few editorials on Violette, i.e. the inaugural Vanity Fair Art Issue 2007, & in 2004's Dazed and Confused August issue, also Doingbird issue #8. There was an article I found last year (or longer) citing that Slimane had asked Violette to design one of his Dior boutiques in Japan but I cannot find the article now. I'll get back to you on the last.
In short, go buy the Vanity Fair Art issue (it has a GREAT photo of Banks) and go to his exhibition in New York next year.

2006 white cast salt space Steel, hardware, plywood, paint, fibreglass, tinted epoxy, salt, resin

"Banks Violette’s Untitled takes as its origin a performance by the rock bank SunnO))) which the audience was allowed to hear, but not to see. Casting their stage equipment in salt, Violette’s Untitled comprises the only visual documentation of this event. Through its strange crystalline and ghostly presence, Untitled captures the lingering aura of ominous phenomena. Reminiscent of the biblical story of Sodom, Violettle’s contemporary ‘pillars’ of salt give aftermath testimony to forbidden indulgence. During SunnO)))’s performance, the lead singer was encased in a black coffin. Represented as a shard-like abstraction, an ebony form takes centre stage as a mysterious monument of dissolution."-staachi gallery

all too human

2006-11-04T22:52:00.001-08:00

that was the Rakes
heres...
It's no secret I'm a big Hedi Slimane groupie, and in my best efforts to show off just how cool and talented he really is here is some more proof. You MUST visit the Hedi Slimane Diary site. It is full of his pictures. Here are a few of my favorites.

jenny lewis

2006-11-04T22:40:00.000-08:00

that was jenny lewis
here's
noa noa a great clothing line...

from the Noa Noa 2007 Press Release:
"Noa Noa's 2007 spring collection is a beautiful interpretation of this lifestyle in a more
easily applicable and accessible version.

There are dresses that bring to us a pleasant awareness of the good life: delicate knits
that could just as well been worn on the tennis courts of the '50s, pleats, beautiful prints,
details and generally a simpler expression than before – to put it briefly, a collection that
signals class in a discrete fashion. Immensely inviting."

This a very cute clothing line, click on any of the images for link to the Noa Noa site. It's worth a peek.

neighborhood #1

2006-11-04T22:31:00.000-08:00

pearly

2006-11-04T22:26:00.001-08:00

That was Radiohead
heres...
The Satorialist
This guy is amazing I love checking out his blog and seeing all the stylish people on the streets on New York. Here are some of my favorites.

... in NY

... in NY

... in Paris

all is full of love

2006-11-04T17:46:00.001-08:00

my must list

2006-10-30T00:28:00.000-08:00

Here are my Fall must haves in no particular order ...
(click on images for links to products)

1. Silver Chalis by Z Gallerie
2. Ship pillow by West Elm
ship pillow cover
each: $19.00

3. Night Owl pillow from West Elm
night owl pillow cover
each: $19.00
4. Spotted Feather Ornaments from West Elm
each: $9.00

5. Hedgehog pillow from West Elm
hedgehog pillow cover
each: $19.00
6. Black Crown Ornmaents from West Elm
crown glass ornament
each: $9.00

7. Birch Comforter (my numero uno pick) from West Elm
down, full/queen $129.00
8. decorative and violent cutlery

9. Deer pillow from West Elm
deer pillow cover, spray
each: $24.00
deer pillow cover, flax
each: $19.00
10. Glass or Marble Rolling Pins

11. Table Easel from Z Gallery
$34.95
12. Totem Wine Glass and Goblet by West Elm (surprise!)
gobet set of 6 $29.00
wine glass set of 6 $29.00

13. X-mas Antique Silver Glitter Tree from West Elm
3' each $49.00
14. This chair is from a fave of mine Martin Baas Smoke collection. But it's a simple concept that can be replicated, by me. (minus the fire)

15. Wetter Indochine Bunny from Rose and Radish.
each $28.00

akris

2006-10-30T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's hard not to fall for Akris' geometric Spring line. It's pretty, it's tough, it's modern, and it's thoughtful. My on;y complaint was that it's too white, but that doesn't take anything away from the collection for me. it just makes the cloths that much more impossible for me.

PARIS, October 4, 2006 – In a switch from the typical seating arrangements, buyers rather than editors sat at the head of Akris' runway, with the best views in the house...Akris has become a quiet retail powerhouse on the strength of this designer's subtle and approachable interpretations of runway developments...In a city where the grand gesture rules, this label risks being overlooked. That's why Kriemler and co. invited show-goers to Akris' St. Gallen, Switzerland, headquarters for a quick tour of the brand's archives at a special exhibition last weekend. By all accounts, the Alpine town has an illustrious past as a center for textiles. But today Kriemler looked straight ahead with the show's modern, geometric embroideries. – Nicole Phelps style.com.

vivienne

2006-10-29T23:56:00.001-08:00

Vivienne Westwood may be a bit of a blow hard, but I've never had issue with her cloths. Quite the contrary, she is a maverick, a genius, and a true legend. Here inn the Spring 2007 RTW collection she dislpays her mainpulation of drape, color, and shilouette which are so uniquely Westewood that they can be recognized and 100 paces, and saying that, remain fresh and exciting.

PARIS, October 3, 2006 – Vivienne Westwood isn't about to relinquish her role as English fashion's resident provocateur. If today's graffiti print combining "Free Leonard Peltier" and "I am expensiv" (sic) scribbles raises a few eyebrows, so be it. (Ditto for the doodles of the male anatomy that she used for a cape and a sheath.) And if the collection—which ranged from a black skirt suit, draped and tucked at oddly graceful angles, to a remarkably simple, subtly bejeweled blue-velvet bustier dress—wasn't a huge step forward, well, that's not really why people keep coming back.- Style.com, Nicole Phelps for RTW Spring 2007.

Comparing Westwood's Spring and Fall collection can best sum up her year of design adn how much the contributed to the success of this 20006/2007 year.

PARIS, February 28, 2006 – Vivienne Westwood was made a Dame of the British Empire last month by Queen Elizabeth II, and she's one of just a handful of designers due to be fêted at the upcoming AngloMania exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute, but she hasn't given up on her trademark brand of rebellious dishabille. Tartans, bustiers, toga wrapping, and Edwardian pannier skirts—all essential elements of the Westwood vocabulary—came fast and furious down her wooden-plank catwalk on models with glossy red lips and tousled upswept hair. The layered-up looks had a disheveled, madcap appeal in which Westwood, who took to the runway with her tiny rhinestone horns firmly in place, clearly revels.- Style.com, Nicole Phelps on Westwood's Fall 2006 RTW.

Burberry

2006-10-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

There was something sincerely special for me in Burberry's Fall 06 Men's Collection. It's colors and cut were beyond perfection. More to the point, they drew me in to be a Burberry, or rather a Christopher Bailey fan.
While the Women's Fall 06 Collection was outshined by the Men's, this season it was nice to see the opposite happen.

Here is what my fave fashion site had to say about the collection:
MILAN, September 25, 2006 – Christopher Bailey's formula is to find a piece of British iconography to match the mood of the season, and then apply it to the fundamentals of Burberry's heritage. For spring, like many other designers, he's thinking about making things "lighter and more joyous," and he found the key while leafing through a book of Cecil Beaton's photographs.It was Beaton's whimsical early portraits from the twenties that caught his eye most: "The ones where he used cellophane, feathers, and sequins in studio photographs of his sister Baba and other debs." Bailey took that as a cue to give the familiar Burberry trench a new treatment, puffing gentle volume into the shapes, and working a palette of palest beige and silvery metallics into lace and high-tech brocades made from lightweight aluminum and silk." Sarah Mower style.com

JEFFREY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-10-19T00:17:00.000-07:00

"He's like another Vivienne Westwood," says Runway's Tim Gunn. "He's adept at taking what's happening on the street and making it into fashion with a capital F."

I never thought they'd give him the title. Last season the judges were so afraid of giving Santino (season 2 subversive designer) the title because he had such a hard edge, so that added with Jay McCarroll's season 1 win would bring out all the freaks at the auditions. I'm soooo unbelievably thankful that the broader picture was honored with Jeffrey's win. I agreed with all the points the judges brought up and the order in which the designers we eliminated.

I agreed that Micheal was a good designer, but NOT Project Runway Winner. There was nothing innovative enough in his designs, or chic enough in his designs to really make me say, "That guy right there is the future of fashion."
As for Laura, well, it's hard to see the cloths behind the personality. She is extremely opinionated and cannot see beyond the surface of things or people. It was always impossible for her to win this competition. She is a very specific designer, and a damn good one, but she cannot design outside of her box.

Then there is my darling Uli. There is nothing bad I can say about her as a person or about her cloths. She was always the dark horse, always just below the radar. But even designers that make millions doing the flowing dresses can also make pants. I wish I could have seen her stretch her designs to be more well rounded. That is my only complaint. People in Miami wear pants right?

So Jeffrey was my last best hope for this season. His collection was perfect. His design aesthetic appeals to me in a way that made me excited to see what he made each week. And the preview of his collection last week made this finale episode a must see. Based solely on the merit of his cloths.

So hey, of all the finalists I've picked Jay for Season 1, Santino for Season 2, and Jeffrey for Season 3 for the winners. Two outta three ain't bad right?

matthew wiliamson

2006-10-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

I usually never love a Spring Collection, but I really liked this one and although Matthew Williamson is a popular designer, I'd personally never been drawn to his work, until now.
While the collection was not a unilateral success, there is a lot to be said of doing well enough to gain a new fan.

(click here for video footage of this Spring 07 collection courtesy of elle.com)

Matthew Williamson is a designer who really shines in his spring collections. When I think of him as a designer the color pink usually comes to mind, and I think he's he only one for me who can make pink seem pretty and cool. Here is what my peeps at style.com had to say on the collection.
NEW YORK, September 13, 2006 – Party clothes are Matthew Williamson's specialty. But last season, after landing the Emilio Pucci gig, he practiced unfamiliar restraint on his own runway in an effort to separate the two labels. Today, the pendulum swung back, way back. Williamson showed a wildly over-the-top collection for a girl on permanent vacation in Ibiza. Colors were psychedelic, prints were loud, and mirrored sequins glinted. The opening look—coral short shorts and a chambray chemise heavily embroidered with wood and plastic beads—had a bit of the relaxed boho vibe he once favored, but from there he went all-out glam with fluoro brights and kaleidoscopic digital prints on smock dresses, sweater vests, and a bathing suit. In the right time and place—i.e. at 4 a.m. on the dance floor at Pacha—some of it could work, the lily pad-print sleeveless minidress, for example. But at 4 o'clock in the afternoon in a West Side ferry terminal quite a few of these pieces looked garish. And there's probably never a right time for the embroidered and studded Mexican peasant top he sent down the runway with floral leggings. – Nicole Phelps style.com

And for perspective, here is a look at some of his Fall 06 highlights.

kate kate kate again

2006-10-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

I found this article on the internet and wanted to post it for my readers-

"BELLE DU JOUR ON TOUR

KATE MOSS stunned the audience at a Babyshambles gig in Dublin when she took to the stage with the band to perform a duet with her beau Pete Doherty. The supermodel performed a Babyshambles track called La Belle et La Bete, which translates as Beauty and the Beast, along with Doherty, at what was his first post-rehab performance. It’s not the first time that Kate has wowed onlookers with her impressive singing voice: at her 2004 birthday party she took a turn on the mic, and she has previously sang with Bobby Gillespie, husband of Alexander McQueen’s creative collaborator Katy England, on his band Primal Scream’s track, Some Velvet Morning.

Wearing a black lantern sleeved minidress, Moss took her bow after the song, despite the crowd shouting for her to stay and perform again. It’s the latest in a series of non-modelling ventures for the face of Burberry Prorsum, Calvin Klein and Christian Dior. Amid constant rumours of a burgeoning film career, last week she announced a collaboration with Topshop on a capsule collection. What’s next?(September 26 2006, AM)

Stephen DoigG>"</STRONG>

Here's Kate at the Topshop Spring show. I cannot wait to see what she can do. She has such impeccable taste and she is copied by everyone. To me she can do no wrong!

peter som spring 2007 rtw

2006-10-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

If you've been reading you'll know that I am crazy in love with Peter Som's Fall 06 collection. Well, here is a peek at his Spring 2007 and a quick recap of Fall 2006.

NEW YORK, September 13, 2006 – Peter Som did his homework, visiting the Louvre and studying eighteenth-century garments at the Costume Institute, before designing for spring. Thankfully, though, he didn't take his sources too literally. Instead, he presented a collection that, while it took few risks, was full of pretty but not overdone confections that should be right up his well-heeled customer's avenue. "I was thinking about pared-down luxury—not minimalism," the designer said. "My aim was to spin texture and tone with a light touch."There was lightness in the palette, which ranged from dove gray to buttermilk and was punctuated with patent shoes in "crazy makeup" colors. Generally, Som went in for matte effects rather than shine, and fabrics like Jacquards and burlap parchments added a tactile quality. Watteau backs offered a variation on the trapeze, moving volume to the rear, a conceit that was especially effective in the finale trio of washed organdy gowns. Som's collection stressed evening over daywear—not a lot of this would look right in an office—but then he knows his fans aren't exactly 9 to 5 types. – Laird Borrelli style.com

(Peter Som pictured here with m'girl Jessica Stam)

As for the Fall 2006 collection here are my top 4, I would give anything to have these peices in my collection. They are so perfect it hurts.

giambatista valli

2006-10-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a highlight of the Spring 07 RTW season, Giambatista Valli. His past collections contain peices that have been particularly inspiring to me in my work, and I am beyond pleased and delighted to see that this collection also holds peices of singular beauty and individuality.

PARIS, October 6, 2006 – When shopping for a trapeze dress next season, you could do worse than seek out Giambattista Valli...the lifelike roses that decorated one short black dress. Inspired by the abstract expressionist Alberto Burri, Valli burned their edges, so that they rustled like fallen leaves as they glided down the runway. "I wanted to portray an intellectual beauty," he said...he requested permission from the Calder Foundation to reprint one of the artist's mobile paintings for an aptly airy bubble skirt that he paired with a collarless, belted jacket. And from art benefactress Peggy Guggenheim, he cribbed rococo sunglasses and pagoda hats.The results skewed more precious than intellectual, but there was no quibbling with the beauty of Valli's mille-feuille organza meringues. If they will need a few extra inches added to their hems to make them red-carpet safe for the likes of Katie Holmes and Victoria Beckham, his front-row guests, that's a minor complaint and one easily solved by this technically accomplished designer. – Nicole Phelps stye.com.

Doo Ri

2006-10-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

Doo Ri Spring 2007 is one of the few anomalies that produced a BETTER Spring line up than their Fall 2006 Collections. I am a girl predisposed to love anything fall over anything spring. It's in my DNA. And while Fall 2006 did draw my attention and make me take down the name Doo Ri, I didn't really save any of the images from the collection to my computer. This Spring collection was quite the opposite. Delicate where the Fall collection was heavy and a little overdone, here are some highlights.

"NEW YORK, September 15, 2006 – Nabbing Swarovksi's Perry Ellis Emerging Talent award and one of the ten finalist spots from the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in a span of three months is no mean achievement. Even more impressive is the fact that Doo-Ri Chung refused to play it safe today. She could have simply repeated the things that brought her to this point, but instead she dramatically narrowed the silhouettes of her earlier forays into daywear, showing sexy leggings with snug, fitted jackets or zip-front short-sleeve blouses. And she exercised restraint with embellishments, embroidering the neckline of a white sheer-jersey top with subtle black metal rather than obvious crystals. "style.com

style.cominterview with Phillip Lim

2006-10-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

I check style.com everyday I get on the internet. Today was a great treat to see an interview with a favorite designer of mine, Phillip Lim. He's a CDFA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, along with an amazing line up consisting of Thakoon, Doo-Ri, Rodarte, and Costello Tagliapietra to name a few. Style.com will be posting these interviews throughout the month and i'll post my faves here. These designers are the future of fashion and are extreemly exciting.

(Here is Lim himself and his showroom waiting area)

The former designer for Development, this 33-year-old from the O.C. has quickly built a following on the strength of his pretty yet cool, beyond-basic clothes. With his seventh collection in just over a year under his belt, he spills for Style.com.
how would you describe your clothes?
Classic with a sense of madness.
what was your big breakthrough?
Pulling off the spring show. It was my first, and it was amazing. To see these real, beautiful, professional girls walking out like fluttering butterflies into this sea of people, I thought, "Is this us? Is this for real?"
who is your favorite designer, living or dead?
It's definitely Dries Van Noten. I just love that he's such a die-hard romantic. From the invitation to the refreshments at the show, the whole thing is such a dream.
what is the best trend of spring 2007?
For me, it's white. White, white, white. It's all about that freshness, the innocence, the naiveté.
what's the worst fashion faux pas?
Leggings worn as pants without covering the middle portion. Only a girl like Kate Moss can get away with that. One girl in the world, and that's it.
what was your worst look?
Polka-dot socks. With shorts. It was back when Wham was big. You know: shorts, vest, polka-dot socks.
what is your greatest inspiration?
My mother.
chanel or elsa schiaparelli? and why?
I love both, but I'd have to say Chanel. She was always modern, always stylish, but with a wicked sense. She had such a rebellious attitude, and I love that.
what would you be if you weren't a designer?
I'd love to work in a flower shop. I feel like I have a good hand for that. I'm always arranging things.
in what specific areas of business would you invest the $200,000 cfda/vogue fashion fund award?
Additional staff. And I'd put more into a marketing budget. Grassroots marketing. We can't advertise, but we could propose trunk shows, things like that.
if you didn't need the money for business, what would you do with it?
I'd be sitting in it. Not literally. I'd be sitting in a Porsche. I never dreamed of being a designer, but I've always wanted a Porsche 911. I've been fixated on that car since age seven. I'm crazy about it.
The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund makes annual awards to up-and-coming designers to enable and encourage the recipients to pursue their business plans. Previous winners include Proenza Schouler and Trovata. This year's finalists are 3.1 Phillip Lim, Costello Tagliapietra, Devi Kroell, Doo.Ri, Jovovich-Hawk, Marchesa, Rag & Bone, Rodarte, Subversive Jewelry, and Thakoon. Between now and November 16, when the winner is announced, Style.com will be publishing a short Q&A with each of the finalists.
—Joanna Rodger

Phillip Lim's 3.1 Spring 2007 RTW Collection was FAB-U-LUS!!! I want everything. I posted on it when it debuted, but the post got all wacky and I had to delete the whole thing. So here is
3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2007 RTW Part II:

"Working almost exclusively in white, with a few shots of navy, as well as a colorful floral, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist proved that he's not only a romantic—handmade rosettes decorated a T-shirt dress—but also an accomplished tailor.

Lim can do simple, as demonstrated by a pair of high-waisted, pleated slacks, but he can also do complex: the crepe de chine blouse paired with those pants came with delicate sleeves of pleated tulle.Lim has a knack for combining the dressy and the casual—take a cotton voile strapless bell dress paired with a men's leather pilot vest, for instance; or a girlish jumper with an attached bodice made of sequins. Is it day or evening? His clients couldn't care less. More so than most young designers working today, Lim knows how fashionable women want to dress. – Nicole Phelps " style.com

"The appeal of his pretty-but-cool clothes is that they don't try too hard" style.com. Here is a peek at his small but inspired Fall 2006 RTW Collection.

(I think the simple grey blouse under the navy velvet jacket is pure perfection.)

(a close up of this dress reveals great detail that seems to be Lim signiture)
There is much more to this collection so please take a peek at it here.

viktor & rolf rtw spring 2007

2006-10-16T01:41:00.000-07:00

Viktor and Rolf always have amazing showmanship. Their Runway shows are always noteworthy, and they usually have some amazing singer to bring it all home. My last fave was Fall 2005 RTW with Tori Amos, it was the perfect fit. And this Spring 2007 Collection was no less perfect. Rufus Wainwright, need I say more. The man can sing me into a swoon, and so did the dreaminess of this collection.

You really MUST check out the runway video coverage of this show. Click here for a link to style.com coverage.

PARIS, October 2, 2006 – You've got to love Viktor & Rolf for their dedicated services to fashion week entertainment. For spring, they produced the full cabaret: Rufus Wainwright singing "Over the Rainbow," a showtime orchestra, ballroom dancers, chandeliers, and champagne. It was a gorgeous performance—all girls two-stepping backward in Lucite-and-pink-satin platforms, and tuxedoed boys dancing cheek to cheek. What more could one desire in a fashion show? A little more consideration to the clothing. Seems churlish, but there it is.Occasionally, as when Tori Amos did her gig on their stage, V&R manage to combine artistic collaboration with an amazing, thought-provoking collection; this time the Strictly Ballroom theme didn't get to the same level. Star motifs, spangly nude inserts, and dance skirts are emerging as a Paris sub-theme, and Viktor & Rolf had those. But these trends pose difficulties in the execution, and the duo's focus on the technicalities of tricky zigzag and starburst cutouts overrode any sensible outcome in terms of wearability. Their off-putting commitment to silk fringing—cascading over dresses and blouses, and smothering the whole of one pantsuit—led to an even more obvious snag. Snoeren and Horsting say they believe in fashion escapism, but when their garments might get a woman caught up in her closet-door handle, they've reached the limit. – Sarah Mower

zero, maria cornejo's little ditty

2006-10-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

"NEW YORK, September 11, 2006 – With the Cooper-Hewitt Design Award in the bag, Maria Cornejo moved her show from the confines of her tiny NoLIta shop to Bumble and bumble's Meatpacking District salon. As the sun streamed in through the big south-facing windows, she showed a deceptively simple spring collection that confirmed she deserved her prize. Continuing to explore the theme that's occupied her throughout her career—simple geometric shapes and the way they drape on the body—she added novelty in the form of industrial zippers as well as broad bands from which falls of knit jersey and gauzy cotton were draped. They gave the mostly soft, sculptural collection a tough, chic edge. Shoulders were a focal point: A black silk dress and blouse came with circles cut out there, while other coats looked built up in that area. It took a moment for the eye to adjust to the new proportion, but it's those intriguing details that give Cornejo's clothes their appeal. – Nicole Phelps " style.com

It's exciting to see a great new designer on the scene. Maria Cornejo fulfills my needs for geometric shiloutetts, a minimal color palate, and youthful and sophisticated taste. I cannot wait to se what the future holds from Zero.

(detail shots from Elle.com)

Chloe Spring 07 in no mans land

2006-10-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

Style.com's Sarah Mower summed it up best when she said this of Chloe's Spring 07 line:

"PARIS, October 7, 2006 – Since Chloé is waiting for a new designer—Paulo Melim from Marni— to arrive, the spring show was necessarily a case of keeping the brand in a holding pattern. That considered, the team did a respectably unadventurous job of keeping the best-selling items warm: fragile blouses, short Empire dresses and, of course, the shoes and bags. The theme, according to the notes, was Gloria Vanderbilt, which apparently was indicated in log-cabin patchworks (her personal hobby) and that peculiarly seventies palette of ochre, brown, and purple. Meanwhile, there's no change to report in the silhouette, and no news that moved Chloé on from the template set by Phoebe Philo some while ago. The thing this middling collection illustrated best is the gulf between imaginative design and just designing a line. Let the first go, and you are no longer in a leadership position and, in this instance, heading toward the territory occupied, at a lower price point and with more spirit, by Marc by Marc Jacobs. With the best will in the world, this is not the sort of thing people come to Paris to see. "

And this on the heels of the Fall 2006 collection was an especially diappointing thud. I understand that the line is being designed by committee and therefore much creativity and vision would get muddled and murked down by too many cooks in the kitchen all of whom do not have what it takes to go it alone.

I live in hope that the new desinger Paul Melim (currently at Marni) can revive the quickly floundering favorite of mine. While this and the FAll 06 lines are not total busts, they just are not up to the Chloe standard set by Philo, who I say completely outshone McCartney. And in the mean time I'll live in the memory of Pheobe's last dance with Chloe, the uber perfect Spring 06 RTW collection.

Here is the best of what came down the Spring 07 runway. Thankfully there were plently of peices that I could still covet and take with me into dreamland.

Chanel lastest 3 collections a review

2006-10-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Chanel's year end review. Reviewing Chanel Spring 2007 RTW, Fall 2006 Haute Cutoure, and Fall 2006 RTW. Starting with the latest from Mr. Lagerfeld. Here was the gentle and edited side of Chanel, light on the flounces, tweeds, and all the bells and whistles that pour out from Carl Lagerfelds fingertips. We all know how fab Chanel tweeds are, but I am not including them in the line up here, the real highlights for me were the knits and the mini's.(click any image for larger view)

PARIS, October 6, 2006 – With perfect pitch, Karl Lagerfeld dashed off yet another virtuoso demonstration of how to play up and down the classic Chanel scale in tune with any season. It was up-tempo, light and girly, with a cute opening device: a bouncy parade of girls in standard-issue white cotton cabine coats swinging along, attracting all attention to stacks of gold cuffs, link bracelets, chain-and-pearl necklaces, and plastic-Lucite-and-glitter wedges and platforms.

The segue into the short, A-line, and fluttery was carried off, sans effort, via breezy white flared tops over little black skirts, with a trill on the abbreviated white tucked-front shirtdress, and a high-note from a gold-quilted chain bag. Then the clever bit: What on earth to do with the old, potentially heavy-wash-cloth Chanel tweeds in such a mood? Why, put them with black sequin short shorts—thus chiming with the leggy forties showgirl theme of the moment—and shoot sparkle through the borders of the bouclé.

Instead of the multitudinous flocks of options he has sent out in the last few seasons, this single-file presentational march condensed everything that can be thoroughly Chanel, yet completely du jour. While he was at it, Lagerfeld also dashed off sporty striped T-shirt dresses, tulle-covered denim, Edie Sedgwick, metallic-scuba, and puffy Empire organza moments, but mostly it was all about those newly wantable accessories. Black leather quilted mini bags, smothered with biker-like metal logo badges, were the final ta-da. In other words, a hit.

– Sarah Mower

(click here for runway coverage from Chanel Spring 2007 RTW Collection courtesy of style.com)

Chanel Haute Cutoure Fall 2006
PARIS, July 6, 2006 – With his sharp knack for synthesizing the mood of the moment into the spirit of Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld came up with a couture statement that might neatly be labeled “mod medieval.” In a short, leggy collection shown entirely with thigh-high boots, some in distressed denim, he compressed a tough vibe into a sequence of abbreviated suits and tunic dresses marched out at high speed around a stark-white runway.

The skinny-leg device showcased Lagerfeld’s deft handling of new proportions. It started with a narrow, molded shoulder line falling to dresses with a slight flare in the hem, or to short, belled skirts articulated to swing underneath tweed jackets. One outstanding cardinal-red duchesse-satin coat with a huge bubble collar was a succinct reply to the vexed refrain of whether “volume” can be truly desirable—no question, if it looks that gorgeous.

Still, for all the rigor of line, there was rich Chanel craftsmanship in every piece. Jeweled buttons and belts, embroideries of exploding stars, pearl and diamond hair decorations, dense patches of appliqué and stones, and smotherings of black satin bows conspired to give a fleeting impression of armor and heraldic pageantry—that’s where the sense of futuristic medievalism came into play. It all passed at such relentless velocity, though, the details were difficult to catch, at least until the very last moment. When the girls finally stood still, the audience, watching from seats on a central dais, suddenly found itself revolving, carousel-style, at leisure to inspect every look. Great trip, in every sense.

– Sarah Mower for style.com

(click here for runway video coverage from Chanel's 2006 Fall Haute Cutoure Collection curtesy of Elle.com)

Chanel Fall 2006 RTW Collection

Here is another example that while Lagerfeld is amazing, and it is signiture, there is soooo much going on. I'm not saying that it is necessarily a bad thing, just par for the coarse. Who wouldn't love to have at least one Chanel peice (and handbags or other accessories do not count!) in their closet? These collections are fashion history. Where I sat in my lessons in college learning about Dior's New Look or Coco's drama during WWII, my future counterparts will be learning just who Carl Lagerfeld was and how he breathed such life into Chanel.

PARIS, March 3, 2006 – Karl Lagerfeld’s ability to stretch the template of Chanel this way and that according to the moment never ceases. This season, the block-heeled sixties spectator boot he first showed for couture gave him the starting point to design upward into a young and leggy look. Let les autres turn to the omnipresent Balenciaga influence; for Lagerfeld, there’s no need to look beyond the Rue Cambon for a reason to make a newly proportioned short tweed suit. Just as it was in the fifties and sixties when Coco competed with Cristobal, now Chanel’s slim coats and jackets, worn with ruffled blouses and jewel-buckled belts, represent the authentically sourced Paris alternative to the oft-quoted architectural volumes of Signor B.

Though it was mainly black, with touches of white, cream, and dull pink, Lagerfeld’s collection didn’t come off as one of the season’s solemn pronouncements on sobriety and restraint. Instead, he worked texture, sparkle, and girlishness into surfaces and styling: He used satin ribbons and bows for hair bands and bodices, raw edgings on hems, and gemstones and crystals set in big brooches or as bejeweled necklines set into evening dresses. As a contemporary twist on the classic Chanel bag he added an oversize unstructured hand-held tote—something like a laundry bag, but in patent leather, with a short chain handle.

As always, the Chanel presentation zipped pell-mell through many options. There were simple sleeveless little black dresses and short redingotes, flared from the waist (the best in plain herringbone tweed). For evening, Lagerfeld checked off more points of the season, from exaggerated puff-sleeves to sixties Edie-ish baby dolls and various renderings of chiffon dresses layered over trousers. Cute and young was the general impression, but—no surprise—Lagerfeld also ensured that classic Chanel’s all-encompassing sweep remained firmly in the mind's eye.

– Sarah Mower style.com

(click here for video runway coverage from Chanel Fall 2006 RTW)

Dior's holy trinity

2006-10-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a slightly condensed review of the reigning King. We get to see Galliano's,for Christian Dior, consumer friendly side. There is Dr. Jeckle which would be Dior's RTW collections, and then there is Mr. Hyde, which would be Dior's Couture collections. Both are brilliant and not only thought provoking but are testament to the best in design.

This Spring RTW collection seems at first glance to pale in comparison to the last 5 years of Dior's collections, but once you get past the normalcy of the "look" and styling of the runway show, what is left is just as on par as his past RTW collections.

Also upon closer look you can also see the tying thread that Dior usually has from the Couture to Rtw collections. Where we saw the late middle-ages suits of armor and the court players in the Fall 06 Couture Collection, we see the remnants of the drape from the court ladies dresses, the construction from the suits of armor, and even some chain mail to tie it all together. To bring this collection down the runway, Galliano had the models in what can only be described as the Joan of Arc look. It was great, here are a great number of my highlights:

(from style.com)

(click here to view video coverage of Dior's Sprint RTW Collection courtesy of style.com)

Here's a recap of Dior's highlights from the rest of this year which include:
Dior Haut Cutoure Fall 2006 and Dior's Fall RTW 2006 Collections.

Dior Haut Cutoure Fall 2006
PARIS, July 5, 2006 – Let us not be so prosaic as to ask exactly what Joan of Arc, Siouxsie Sioux, Botticelli, and the forties French film actress Arletty may have to do with one another—we’ve arrived in the parallel universe known as John Galliano’s Christian Dior. So, on with the show!

It’s a parade of medieval warrior-women in gilded chain mail, copper verdigris gowns, and glass diadems, each equipped with an armored sleeve. It’s a bizarre troupe of goth-punks in outsize black-and-red folded 3-D shapes fashioned from trash-bag plastic. It’s a mincing line of forties ladies in pea-green and magenta doublet-jacketed crepe suits sporting lobster parts for hats. And then it’s a perambulating collection of Tuscan topiary, with pennants and trumpets poking out atop.All this—and, be assured, there was more—played out against the backdrop of a Renaissance garden underneath a sky that alternated between blood-red storm clouds and a spinning astrological wheel taken from an illuminated manuscript.

Such historicist games, richly yet randomly referenced, are, of course, part of the perverse delight of any John Galliano presentation. This season, the connecting threads of his allusions even managed to make sense in places. He refined the dark-ages militarism that appeared earlier on Dior's ready-to-wear runway, explored the parallels between doublet and hose and tunics and leggings, and hinted at a surrealist subtext that seems a pretty apt response to the here and now.

Between the theatrics, there were also some amazingly covetable draped gowns in sugarplum, white, and peach. These showed up just before the finale: Galliano dropping in to take his bow, dressed as a spaceman. – Sarah Mower style.com.

(click here for runway video coverage of Dior's Fall 2006 Haute Cutoure 2006 Collection courtesy of elle.com)

Dior 2006 Fall RTW Collection

PARIS, February 28, 2006 – Kerrang! The Christian Dior woman has turned into a goth-metal rock chick, all black bandana, major shades, fur-sprouting distressed leathers and stompin' medieval biker boots. With Pat Benatar and Bon Jovi on the soundtrack, and a front row that included Kate Hudson and Black Crowes hubby Chris Robinson, John Galliano turned the ultra-establishment Grand Palais de Paris into a fashion-rock stadium for the night. (Well, 20 minutes of it).

For anyone with an eye for recent history, this was Galliano up to familiar tricks. The identically wigged, long-haired rocker women on the runway were—stylistically at least—slightly more contemporary sisters to the blood-spattered nineteenth-century zealots who appeared in Dior's French Revolutionary haute couture show for spring. This fall collection made the trickle-down effect from fantasy to nuts-and-bolts ready-to-wear more understandable than in seasons past. Galliano's voluminous, floor-sweeping coats with huge, shaggy goat-hair tufts escaping from their seams, and his neat jackets, decorated with vertical strips of fur, will translate into plenty of sellable pieces for the boutiques of the world to carry.

More surprisingly, but just as cleverly, Galliano also slipped in references to Christian Dior's 1947 New Look jacket—here in a peplumed shape, or covered with tulle in the front. Those suits, with their artfully tattered and embroidered surfaces and second-skin pencil skirts, have a certain delicacy that is guaranteed to register with the more hyper-feminine Dior customer Galliano knows so well. Oddly enough, they also made a connection with the eighties power suit; a look that is preoccupying the young—and the not-so-young—on Planet Fashion this season. – Sarah Mower

(click here for runway video coverage on Dior's Fall RTW 2006 Collection courtesy of style.com)

Alexander McQueen Fall 06 & Spring 07 RTW

2006-10-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

PARIS, October 6, 2006 – The story of the last few years of Alexander McQueen has been a long, frequently angry tussle between his love of grand theatrics (which often deflect energy and attention from the clothes) and the more sullen straight-up parades flung on to appease the commercial guys (which only deflate his critics' expectations). For the first time, his spring collection resolved those conflicting tensions in a presentation, staged in the round in the Cirque d'Hiver, that framed all his romantic, historicist accomplishments without veering too far in either direction.

An ensemble of musicians and a dusty chandelier gave just enough background atmosphere to sustain the sequence of gracefully detailed Edwardiana, infanta dresses, and sharp signature tailoring. His collection notes quoted Barry Lyndon, Goya, and the Marchesa Casati, but really this was a revision of all the things the designer does best. Going back over his own history—as well as favorite points in fashion history—is something McQueen has done before; in this case it improved the sense of lightness and delicacy in his clothes. Nineteenth-century bodice-fitted jackets came out with chiffon jabot blouses and long skirts, followed by corseted dresses—some with hard, hip-exaggerated hourglass carapaces—which bloomed into lace-covered skirts. A palette of dusty gray, ivory, and faded pinks added to the poetic rendering of skills he has perfected over the years—both during his stint in couture at Givenchy and at the atelier he maintains in London to make wedding and special-occasion dresses.

From this last, perhaps, and the young clients who come there, he's learned about the softness a woman wants in a romantic dress today. Still, the standouts were a couple of more modern looks perfect for less dressy evenings: gray pants with versions of the season's tunics over them, one in asymmetric tiers of dusty-rose lace, and the other a gold-leaf-tinged elongated T-shirt. Looking at it from a broader perspective, it's true to say that this self-referential McQueen collection did not contribute to the new debate about how fashion can move on from its fixation with the past. But as a summation of all he has to offer in the way of refinement, it was one of his best. - Style.com, Sarah Mower for Alexander McQueen RTW Spring 2007.

McQueen's Spring 07 RTW and Fall 06 RTW were cohesively perfect and the absolute BEST of the collections the uber-designers had to offer.( And this comes from a Dior fanatic too.) Not since McQueen's 2005 Fall RTW collection has McQueen so imoressed me and helped to further cement his name in the upper echelons of fashion-icon royalty. (click here to watch video coverage of the genius of McQueens 05 Fall Collection)

click here to watch video coverage of McQueen's 2007 Spring RTW Collection.

Westwood again and again

2006-10-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood may be a bit of a blow hard, but I've never had issue with her cloths. Quite the contrary, she is a maverick, a genius, and a true legend. Here inn the Spring 2007 RTW collection she dislpays her mainpulation of drape, color, and shilouette which are so uniquely Westewood that they can be recognized and 100 paces, and saying that, remain fresh and exciting.

PARIS, October 3, 2006 – Vivienne Westwood isn't about to relinquish her role as English fashion's resident provocateur. If today's graffiti print combining "Free Leonard Peltier" and "I am expensiv" (sic) scribbles raises a few eyebrows, so be it. (Ditto for the doodles of the male anatomy that she used for a cape and a sheath.) And if the collection—which ranged from a black skirt suit, draped and tucked at oddly graceful angles, to a remarkably simple, subtly bejeweled blue-velvet bustier dress—wasn't a huge step forward, well, that's not really why people keep coming back.- Style.com, Nicole Phelps for RTW Spring 2007.

Comparing Westwood's Spring and Fall collection can best sum up her year of design adn how much the contributed to the success of this 20006/2007 year. (click here for video coverage of Westwoods's Spring Collection courtesy of Elle.com)

Personally I am gravitating to Westwood's Fall 06 Collection, so I say it's the winner.

hedi speaks

2006-10-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite Dior H show. I thought every look was perfection and I've never seen it's equal.

Balenciaga: Ghesquière's vision of the future

2006-10-05T20:10:00.000-07:00

The heavy hitters of fashion showed their Spring 07 RTW collections yesterday. Dior, Westwood, Balenciaga, Gaultier all came ready to hit it out of the ballpark. Fortunately we received the expected best, and some surprises.

A special highlight was Balenciaga. Nicolas Ghesquière is ableto follow up a crazily popular Fall 06 RTW Collection with a equally unique and exciting Spring 07 RTW Collection. "I was thinking of robotic articulation. Car parts. Droids. A boyish silhouette…" said Ghesquière.

Here is a review of this Spring Collection from Style.com, "his incredible futuristic vision was out of the gate: elongated black jackets with a double-layered shoulder line; cyber-goddess dresses jigsawed from patent leather; space-crew shirts with high white collars. Within seconds, the message in these refined, precision-judged looks was sending chills through an audience that five minutes earlier had been on the point of meltdown from heat. Was it worth the wait? Without a doubt. Like last season's Balenciaga retrospective triumph, this is a collection that will reset the fashion agenda, but in a different way." – Sarah Mower

(click here to view video coverage of Balenciaga's Spring 07 Collection)

Merdia

2006-09-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

Merdia: I'm really excited by this great plant fiber floor covering (or simply rug company)I also found at the ICFF Exhibitor List. Their work is very sophisticated, clean, and mature without being boring. I really love their choices of color combinations of their photos.

"Merida’s passion is in the creation of distinctive textile floor covering grounded in the principles of innovation and good design. Inspired by the unusual textures and fresh aesthetic of natural plant fibers, we began importing Sisal to sell as a commercial grade wall covering. Noting its successful use as floor covering in Europe, Merida soon began promoting natural fibers as floor covering in the U.S. Initially, most people used it for wall-to-wall installations, but as the use of hardwood floors grew in popularity, Merida saw an opportunity to develop an area rug business. By innovatively combining the distinctively textured broadloom material with an extensive selection of edge finishing tapes, Merida was able to offer customers a level of customization and personalization that was unavailable elsewhere. Our rugs could be created in sizes and shapes to fit most any room, and could further be personalized through a selection of over 300 different edge finishes ranging from Cotton Twill to the finest French Tapestries." Merida Meridian.

a new find!

2006-09-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

I spotted this amazing British design company, Ochre, on the ICFF designer index. I loved everything on thier products pages- much like I loved evrything on the BDDW site- Here is a short synopsis from the Ochre site-
"Ochre creates objects of style and beauty which are both timeless and contemporary. The collection consists of furniture, lighting and accessories for the interior, the emphasis being on the use of very high quality materials and flawless British craftsmanship. The simplicity and honesty of form and proportion, together with the luxurious materials result in an understated elegance, which has become the signature for Ochre"
I couldn't choose what to post on my blog as far as pictures, so I'm posting everything I loved. Here are the zillion pics from the Ochre site which I highly recommend you check out.

(snooze sofa in elephant grey nubuck and velvet)

(Divine Recline corner chair & stool)
(Coloured horn and bronze handles)

(Divine Recline chaise longue)

(gesso burnished bole frame (white or pewter) with verre eglomise (gilded with silver leaf) mirror)

(Short Maasai lamp)
(Bronze table: table with bronze base and oak top)

(Light drizzle chandelier round black)

(Light Drizzle wall light)
( Pendant Eclipse wall light: horse hair rim with horn drops and patinated bronze arm and backplate)

(Chain mail chandelier rectangular)

(Light drizzle chandelier rectangular black)

(Arctic pear chandelier)
(Light drizzle chandelier rectangular clear)

(Bespoke Chandleiers- Private residence Paris, France - specified by Andree PutmanJune 04 )

(Bespoke Chandleire Attica club »London, England - specified by Raw DesignOctober 01 )

(Bespoke Chandelier Chapel Street »London, England - specified by Candy & CandySeptember 01 )

it's here!!!

2006-09-22T00:42:00.000-07:00

Rosanna Fashion Tableware is a Seattle based store with a cult following. She has a beautiful and very elaborate collection of tableware she designs that are a must-see. Her King's Road Holiday Collection has been greatly anticipated by her fans- including me. I doubt I could ever bring myself to use them, but I would defiantly want to have them on display year round! Here are some details from the King's Road and Rococo Noir Holiday 2006 Collections.

Set a table fit for a king (or queen!) with beautiful tableware in four majestic designs. Our crowning collection is dubbed after an historic road in Chelsea, today a hip London scene. Detailed in 24-karat gold, they lend an imperial accent to a ‘High Street’ holiday table, and are particularly regal with our new white dinner plate.

Made of- Refined porcelain

Care- Not for use in microwave; hand washing recommended

Like a better-than-basic black dress, this collection steps right out off the runway in the strongest color the season. Reminiscent of the exuberant style of the mid-18th century, it sets the stage for accessorizing with gold, silver, platinum, white — or anything you please.
Made of- Sturdy stoneware
Care- Microwave and dishwasher safe; hand washing recommended

"drawing on her love of Italy, she collaborated with Italian artisans and factories to produce her original line. When the truckload of dishes finally arrived at the doorstep of her bungalow, she unloaded the shipment herself and washed each piece by hand. One million dishes and over 20 years later she runs her brisk business out of a teeming warehouse in Seattle, Washington, shipping truckloads of stylish tableware to destinations across the states and around the globe. Her unique boutique, aptly named Rosanna, is located in Seattle’s European-flavored outdoor shopping center, University Village. " Rosanna Bowles at rosannainc.com.

rollout wallpaper

2006-09-22T00:13:00.000-07:00

Rollout is a great wallpaper company based out of Vancouver Canada who specializes in custom made wallpaper prints. Here is some info about them from their website.

"ROLLOUT was born out of the need for graphic expression in the interior design industry. Gone are the days of slick minimalism. Texture, expression, emotion, and color have filled the gaping hole left by modernism. We represent a culture of creativity and warmth that denies conformity.

(this wallpaper below is nammed Coral withEyeflowers by Julie Morstad)

Relying on community-based recruitment, ROLLOUT constantly hunts for exciting ideas from any inspiration. Illustration, photography, graphic design, and industrial design provide media; the walls provide the medium.
(this next wallpaper- seen below- Papyro by Don Cleland)

ROLLOUT custom wallpapers are premium, latex-based inkjet wallcoverings that come in 36 inch wide rolls. Roll length is dependant on image used and space you will hang it in. Regular wallpaper adhesive must be applied to the back before hanging.

(this next print is great, nammed Paris Trash by Dave Briker)

...Anything you can think of - photos, illustrations, collage, paintings - the options are almost unlimited. The one thing to consider is we process a digital file in order to print your paper and low resolution imagery doesn't usually translate well as a large print. We can also work with you to develop a custom wallpaper of your very own.
(this may be my favorite though, Assembly Point (5) by Kristopher Grunert)

How long does the print last for? At least 5 years in suitable environments. For papers that will be hung in areas of continual exposure to sun or high traffic, we recommend an image protection coating that can be applied with a roller like paint. This coating can be purchased through us when you order your paper...Turnaround is usually between 2-4 weeks, not including shipping. "

(beautiful print nammed Fog Blossoms by Karin Bubas)

Contact Information:

ROLLOUT

Artist & Custom Wallpaper

#301-321 Railway Street

Vancouver BC Canada V6A 1A4

(604) 681-3780

urban outfitters

2006-09-16T01:26:00.000-07:00

These are my urban outfitters must haves. First pick, I must have the whole outfit. The bottom two are from the Europe urban outfitters website, and they are even more ridiculously priced, but still very cute.

givenchy couture fall 06

2006-09-16T00:21:00.000-07:00

The most dramaticly beautiful collection of the couture season.

"PARIS, July 6, 2006 – At Givenchy, what’s interesting is watching what the young designer Riccardo Tisci can make of the rarefied milieu of haute couture. It is a field now narrowed to a very few players, some of whom were running their own ateliers before Tisci was born

Tisci is working toward expressing a somewhat dark, contemporary vision of Parisian chic, permeated with an awareness of global undercurrents. The themes in his program notes were drawn from multiple ethnic sources, including Bosnia, India, Africa, and Indonesia. They produced a show, mainly in shades of dark browns and black, that juxtaposed precise tailoring and evening gowns with vast tribal headpieces, veils, and skeleton-like boleros, and suggested imagined worlds of ritual, ceremony, and myth. "-style.com

alison lohman

2006-09-16T00:18:00.000-07:00

She is My Stella Tennant. She is incredibly talented and private. You won't see her crawling out of a club next to P. Hilton (I refuse to fully state THAT persons name on my blog). The girl could, if in a pinch, act her way out of a cardboard box. I love those two slashes of eyebrows, and that short bob that just highlights how small and delicate her features are.

erdem fall 06 rtw

2006-09-16T00:12:00.000-07:00

LONDON, February 14, 2006 – Erdem Moralioglu is the half-Turkish, half-English, Canada-raised designer who won last year's British Fashion Fringe competition.
-style.com

That whimsical, romantic bent comes, he says, from a childhood spent watching Merchant Ivory films on PBS; and if he's going to make a mark, it will be as a dressmaker.-style.com

This collection is so softly roromantically gothic. With gently hands it presents you what previously has been stuffed down our throats. ERdem Fall 06 RTW is layered and beautiful and intricate. I especially love the smoke colored chiffon dress made in layers, and a bottom layer that is the dresses splash of color, in yellow.

Christina's World in W

2006-09-16T00:08:00.000-07:00

Christina Ricci does not always photograph well. Her beautiful face, too round, her great figure, too stocky when you know she is thin. But these pictures are able to capture her unique beauty, and the real charisma of her persona. Check out this photo spread in the past issue of W magazine.