D&G's wintery mix

Over in Milan, fall 2010 shows have been pretty promising. Prada and DSquared² both had excellent shows, and gave me a lot to look forward to this fall. D&G, on the other hand, was kind of a head-scratcher. This isn't to say I didn't like it, because I'd take outrageous yet interesting over wearable but boring any day--but these pieces aren't functional by any stretch of the imagination. If I had to name the collection, I'd call it "Sexy Snow Bunnies", which really doesn't work because even snow bunnies need to stay warm. Bare legs don't fare so well on the ski slopes.

style.com  

The knits are cute enough, but why isn't there a little more to them? The reindeer and snowflakes scream "winter" but I wouldn't wear a dress that length outdoors in December--unless I lived in Southern California. And speaking of SoCal... I couldn't help but notice the collection's striking resemblance to Seth Cohen's Chrismukkah sweater.

source

Time to buy a trench coat

After drooling over Burberry Prorsum outwear the other day, I became obsessed with the idea of getting a trench coat for the spring. Luckily, trenches seem to be one of the leading trends for spring, so there is no shortage of adorable, reasonably priced coats choose from right now. Since I shop at the same five stores every day (and I think you can all guess what they are by now), my choices come from the places I frequent the most. But whether you shop at Saks or H&M, I have no doubt the perfect trench is out there waiting for you.

 

forever21.com 

Can we all take a moment and applaud Forever 21 for the awesomeness of these trench coats? Just look at them! There's one trimmed with a checked pattern, a more traditional one with ruffles and a floral trench. And they're all under $50.

target.com  

The above trenches are from Target, and they certainly aren't the only ones the super store has to offer. On the right is a playful pink trench that's $49.99. On the right is a trench from Jean Paul Gaultier's upcoming line at Target, available March 7. I have a feeling that trench will be one of the most in-demand items from the collection.

 

urbanoutfitters.com

And, finally, because Urban Outfitters can't say no to a trend, we have the BDG Twill Trench, the most expensive at $98. But good trench coats should last forever, and this is one trend that will likely never go out of style.

burberry prorsum fall 2010: an exercise in outwear perfection

style.com

Yesterday, Burberry's Prorsum show was taken in around the world. In a fashion first, the show was streamed in 3D--and was also available to watch live on the company's web site. I'm so glad these brands are making the shows more accessible to average citizens who most likely won't find themselves sitting in the front row any time soon. Although I have to admit, when I watch the shows online, I'm often more concerned with what celebs and editors I can spot than what the models are wearing.
Burberry's show was great, most notably their signature outerwear. The coats above are gorgeous, and it looks like the thigh-high boot trend will be staying on for another season. Check out the trench in the middle, above. There appears to be a zipper around the waist, so the bottom can be zipped off to shorten the length of the jacket. Very inventive, and I'm sure the piece will be in demand this fall. You can see the full collection here and watch the entire runway show here.

olympics fever

It's hard to know where to divert my attention these days--Fashion Week or the Winter Olympics? Both events are full of spectacle and shock. But watching Lindsey Vonn conquer the mountain is slightly more uplifting than watching Karlie Kloss conquer the runway. Either way, I've been busy keeping up with both events.
I recently jumped on the bandwagon and began a Tumblr, which can be found here. Don't get jealous, Blogger! I'll just be using the Tumblr to supplement this blog and post things I don't really have words for. Like the stills released from Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video.
So, tonight, you can rest assured I will be sitting on my couch cheering for Evan Lysacek to bring home the gold in men's skating. Hopefully, he'll be wearing another fab Vera Wang creation like he did on Tuesday.

 

source

rodarte fall/winter 2010

The Rodarte sisters' Fall/Winter 2010 line showed today at New York Fashion week. I've come to expect a lot from Rodarte, and they always end up exceeding my expectations. This line is incredibly soft and feminine, especially compared to the edginess of Spring/Summer 2010's collection.
Luckily for us non-insiders, the show was streamed live today on SHOWstudio--and is available to watch there now. There's tons of floral prints, draping and delicate white dresses. The models are almost zombie-like, wearing practically no makeup and dead expressions. Here's a quick preview, but you can see stills of the entire line here.

photo collage by me, stills from coutorture.com

long live mcqueen

The fashion world is still mourning the loss of British designer Alexander McQueen. He was a favorite of many, and will certainly not ever be forgotten. At this time, I'm sure everyone's thoughts are with his family and friends--though one can't help but wonder what fashion will be like without his unique voice. 

On a personal note, Alexander McQueen was one of the first designers I really loved. I remember flipping through an issue of Vogue towards the end of high school and seeing the white and blue dress from his fall 2008 collection. I fell in love with the shiny blue fabric, the pouf of white skirt, and had to know who this Alexander McQueen person was. Ever since then, I've anxiously awaited his next collection and always hoped I'd own something of his design one day. This is a great loss--such a young talent with so much more to create. In his honor, in my own small way, I'd like to pay tribute to his short time with us. 

He made actresses take fashion chances. This is only a small sampling of the many McQueen dresses that have found their way onto the red carpet. Actresses who wanted to wear something a little different, a little daring, might choose to don McQueen at a premiere or awards show. They might have gotten ripped apart by the fashion police (who tend to favor bland, middle of the road dresses that lack imagination), but they always got a gold star from me for taking a chance and making the parade of beautiful but ordinary dresses that much more interesting.

He gave us a good reason to join corporate America. Suits are boring, right? Not when Alexander McQueen designs them. Whether they're plaid or houndstooth, trimmed with fur or paired with a plunging neckline, McQueen made woman want to put on a suit. Michelle Obama knows--she's wearing a McQueen pinstriped suit in the photo above. Clothing should never be boring, even in the boardroom, and McQueen made it possible for fashionistas to bring it at the office.

 

He brought the crazy. As long as your name isn't Lady Gaga or Daphne Guinness, chances are you wouldn't be caught dead in any of the ensembles above. But they are SO interesting to look at! One of the things I love about McQueen is that he can outfit the First Lady of the United States in a tasteful suit, and then turn around and provide the jaw-dropping costumes for Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" video. McQueen was truly imaginative and versatile. 

 

  

You can't beat his runway shows. Each time McQueen premiered a new collection on the runway, the fashion world held its breath. He's made his models chess pieces, aliens and dancers. His sets have been beautiful, bizarre and creepy--usually all at once. He was one of the first designers to stream his show live on the web, making him an innovator with an eye towards the future. 

There isn't much I can say that hasn't been covered elsewhere, but I had to take a moment to look back at McQueen's astounding career. As upsetting as it is that we will never see a McQueen show again, I take comfort in knowing we have what he gave us while he was here, and hope that wherever he is now, he is at peace. 

mcqueen

 

  

  

So sad to hear the news about Alexander McQueen's suicide. His fall 2008 collection is one of my all-time favorites, so I leave you with a few images to appreciate.