Paris - Spring 2011 Couture Shows

Christian Dior - John Galliano 

January 24, 2011 

     Without disappointing, John Galliano displayed lots of colors, volume, and drama [of course!] in this collection. American supermodel, Karlie Kloss [love her], opened the show in this voluminous red coat hemmed with tulle with a feather scarf and feather hair piece. There were a total of 32 looks filled with graphite smears, pencil strokes and scribbles, erasure marks, and gouache washes of  illustrations which were duplicated in cloth and embroidery. The most dramatic effects was called chiaroscuro which is the interplay of light and shade, duplicating the wash of watercolors and the shadows of classic couture photography. I'm a sucker for volume, tiers, colors, bows, cinched waists, and floral details -- all of which was featured in this collection. The make up was minimal and tame for a Galliano production [love the red lips], but still suited the collection perfectly. Some of the looks were even adorned with elaborate hair pieces with 1960s-esque waves hairstyle. My favorite piece was this pastel yellow gown filled with tulle -- such a princess moment [as Rachel Zoe would say] I lovelovelove strapless dresses, color, and tulle and this dress bursts with all of the above. Here are my 14 favorite looks -- 

Armani Prive' - Giorgio Armani 

January 24, 2011 

     For this 41 looks collection Georgio Armani said that he was inspired by the gleam of gemstones, therefore he wanted to produce a collection that came from another planet. That description clearly became literal with the metallic saucer hats produced by Philp Treacy, the famous hat designer. The collection shimmered around the models' bodies and according to Tim Blanks of style.com "by some feat of fabric technology, a mirror effect managed to give organza a reflective quality. Silk was threaded with metal to produce a sheen. Sweeping collars and bodices that looked molded from some hard alien material were actually supple and light. The sci-fi aspect was reinforced by silhouettes curved and carved to rearticulate the body." Despite the futuristic feel to it, my favorite piece was this very structured and tailored multi-colored blazer, with really strong and broad shoulders [love]. Olivia Wilde who was spotted front row at the show was quoted saying that the collection was very "Tron-y" in light of her latest movie.  My top 4 looks are as follows -- 

Chanel - Karl Lagerfeld 

January 25, 2011

"I was sick of all those Eiffel Towers, sick of all those violent colors"

     The quote above explains why Karl Lagerfeld's spring couture collection was very muted with a little splash of color in some looks, but at the same time, the collection was very luminous in its delicacy and sparkle. After all, it was reported that ten million beads were used in this 66 looks collection [holy Coco!] Again, according to Tim Blanks of style.com "light is not only illumination, it's also a lack of heaviness. There was a precise, balletic grace to the shifts, the tops, the fitted jackets, and floating chiffons, all of them built on sequined leggings." And what's more is that all of the models wore flats! [blasphemy or pure genius?!] Everyone should know that I'm also a sucker for classic and romantic pieces so it was inevitable that I fell in love with the flowy and tiered skirts and the classic Chanel lady like jackets. I also love the hints of color, florals, and explosion of ruffles in some of the pieces. The details in this collection was so beautiful it makes you gasp for air. Here are my top 11 looks -- 

Love, KB

Documentary Film Review: The September Issue

     This 90 minute documentary chronicles the inner workings of Vogue's biggest production of the year -- the September issue [duh]. It follows the magazine's notorious and legendary editor in chief Anna Wintour and its reative director Grace Coddington. The issue produced in the film was the September 2007 featuring Sienna Miller as the cover girl which weighed nearly five pounds [*yikes] and was the largest issue that American Vogue has ever published. 

     The production of the issue starts out months and months ahead of time [five or so months as featured in the film] and it gives the audience an inside look of the business that goes on to produce such massive issue. I feel as if the general public sees the world of fashion as this glitz and glamour type of place and this film portrays the harsh reality of such world -- lots of preparations, details, designing, and editing [very cut throat]. There were several instances in the film when they used the word kill when referring to not including, or worse, discarding an entire shoot for a spread in the magazine where lots and lots of hard work, creativity, and especially money [$$$$] could potentially be put to waste. 

"There is something about fashion that can make people really nervous."

- Anna Wintour

     The entire film gravitates around two key players of American Vogue which are British born Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington. The one-on-one segments featuring Anna Wintour is really moving because for the first time you actually get to see what else is going on behind those primly cut bangs and dark shades. She talked about how her relationship with her father and her siblings greatly influences her. Her father, Charles Wintour, whom she greatly admired and respected, was a newspaper editor in England, and her other siblings are involved in obscure businesses around the world. In a way, such relationships explain her perfectionist-detail-oriented tendencies and 'ice-woman' facade and why this billion dollar industry, despite the fact that it makes a lot of people uncomfortable, has its importance. Her daughter Katherine was also featured in the film which completely humanizes Wintour. Aside from being the most influential woman in fashion, she is also a mother and someone a lot like us in many ways [minus al the couture!]. 

     Grace Coddington, on the other hand, perfectly juxtaposes Wintour's reputation and character. As the creative director of the magazine, she is the genius behind the beautiful fashion spreads that we see in the magazine. As a creative director, her job is to interpret the fashion and tell a story with it. She has a very prominent role in styling and producing the issue. As Anna Wintour is the one responsible for editing and choosing what goes in the magazine, Grace Coddington is the one that makes the fantasy and story come to life. Her personal story was very remarkable and heartfelt. As a teenager she was actually a model for British Vogue but at the age of 26 she was involved in a terrible car accident which left her disfigured [she lost her eyelid]. She was later hired by British Vogue as a Junior Editor and later joined Anna Wintour at American Vogue in New York City in1988. 

"Never fall asleep during a car ride -- you'll never know what will inspire you"

- Grace Coddington

     I very much connected with Grace while watching the film because for someone who used to be featured on the cover of Vogue and have some awful event alter her life, I feel as if she now translates her [once/inner/gone] beauty on to her work and to the pages of Vogue, which is really incredible. Because when you pick up a copy of a high fashion magazine on the newsstands it's seldom that you think about the people behind the production. With her story, I felt as if I learned the meaning of beauty from every perspective [inner and outer beauty]. 

     And of course, a documentary about a the production of a high fashion magazine wouldn't be complete without the cast of all-stars! The film featured photographers like Patrick DeMarchelier and , Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld [*alleluia], and designers such as Philip Lim and Vera Wang. This film was a perfect mix of creativity, seriousness, humor, and of course high fashion! Watch it and I guarantee that you will be inspired and moved. 

Love, KB

T.V. Obsession: GOSSIP GIRL Season 4

Oh Mon Dieu!

 

     The second half of the fourth season of Gossip Girl resumed this week with yet another inconclusive tangle of hook ups and break ups and of course scandals and betrayals. 

[Blair with Nate. Serena with Dan. Dan with Vanessa. Blair with Chuck. Chuck with Jenny. Nate with Serena. Vanessa with Nate. Jenny with Nate.] Did I miss one?

Now that everyone has practically hooked up with each other, at least there is still one thing keeping us from watching this show which is the FASHION! Thank god the writers are not in charge of the wardrobe! [*whew].

     The season kicks off with Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen spending their summer vacation in Paris [ooo la la] and of course that means only one thing: pure fashion heaven. I fell madly in love with Eric Daman's [the costume designer of the show] ensembles for Blair and Serena. Blair was featured wearing a red Oscar De La Renta couture gown with Harry Winston jewelry and Serena wore this gold Emilio Pucci jacket with exaggerated shoulders and these royal blue trousers to match -- to quote Rachel Zoe, "I DIE." [Who btw was featured this season] And of course, Paris would not be complete without being showered with Chanel. Tons and tons of Chanel. 

     Season 4 then continues to follow the characters as they begin yet another fall semester at Columbia and NYU. And of course the life of the Upper East Side elites wouldn't be complete without all the lavish parties, galas, and benefits. But then again you don't really need an excuse to dress up when you're Blair Waldorf. 

     Here are some of the fashion of season 4 so far. 

Love, KB