Tag Archives: Balenciaga

21/02/2013 · 1:36 pm

NY’s FINEST, part 2

ny's finest 1

It’s MFW day 2, and unlucky us, we woke up this morning to a storm, followed by some light snow. By the time the clock hits 4:00 pm, we will be covered in it. It’s the last post about NYFW, and then we are moving on to the LFW trends! It’s the final countdown, the five shows that made it on to the top: the ringmaster, the prodigy, the surprise, the dynamic duo and even bigger surprise. Are you ready to discover them? Keep on reading!

wang

All eyes were on his show on this edition of NYFW. After all, he is the new Creative Director of Balenciaga, his debut for the French brand is scheduled for Feb. 28. It will be an intimate affair, only a chosen few will get to witness it (Salma, you bitch!). Back to his namesake, leave it to Mr.Wang to completely reinvent the coat. With a basic color palette (black, grey and white), he combined textures and textiles (shiny leather and wool, silk and fur, leather and fur), he draped, he folded and he killed it. The fun detail? Boxing fur gloves and sweater-covered shoes! I may be needing those next Winter. Overall, this was a sartorial sneak peek of what we may be seeing on Balenciaga next week. Is he gonna be able to fill Ghesquiere’s gigantic shoes?

j.crew

I bet you didn’t expect this one, right? With Jenna Lyons on the steering wheel, J. Crew has really been stepping up its game. The Fall 2013 collection was a celebration of all that hard work, but more importantly, it really put J.Crew up there, where the big shot designers live. Every single piece of the presentation was covetable and wearable. The mash-ups were out of this world: colors, florals, herringbone, embllishments and jacquard played beautifully together. The highlight? The coats and the shoes. Those colorful ankle straps and the metallic t-bars will be everywhere next season, mark my words. To Jenna Lyons, you are simply the best!

marc jacobs

Marc has been around for quite a while and he is the ringmaster of NYFW. He has the “big dramatic show” syndrome, like fellow designer Karl Lagerfeld. The difference between these two? Call it age or whatever… With the seasons, Karl’s creations drown in the set (they are not as powerful as they used to be). Marc on the other side, his sets really empower his collections (they work together and they deliver). For this season, he took the concept of evening pajamas to a whole new level. The color palette was soft, but the textures and the fabric were out of this world. The show was all about shiny, almost liquid gowns, beautiful knitwear adorned with lavish, fur stoles and hotpants, lots of them. It was all paired up with retro, ankle-strap sandals.

p schouler

Lázaro and Jack have accustomed us to their crazy mix of prints and beautiful embroideries. This season, we definitely were not expecting what came down the runway: Neutrals, neutrals and more neutrals. They clearly focused on construction, sartorial details and simplicity. But their simplicity is more complex than it seems: they played with volumes and layers, and they did an incredible job. The accessories (one of the main reasons why we love this duo): oversize clutches and the pointy shoes (with bows, with straps, grey, you name it). It was a clean and sophisticated collection, different from what they usually do, but equally perfect.

phillip lim

He has been working hard for the past seasons and this collection really shows how far he’s come. It was, without a doubt, the best show of the bunch. The construction was spot on, the colors and the textures worked to perfection, the shapes and the details were so unexpected and beautiful at the same time. Layering was flawless, just check out the first look and you’ll understand. It was effortless, it was chic, it was urban, it was the epitome of cool. I could go on and on praising him, because the truth is, I can’t stop looking at his collection. He paired motorcycle vests with simple knits, slouchy trousers and statement skirts with sweatshirts and plaid. The highlight of the show? The textured shorts and the patchwork. I give him a standing ovation, how about you?

That’s a wrap! NYFW has been reviewed and covered! What was your favorite show?

Sweet kisses..

Image sources:  Style.com

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

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02/11/2012 · 2:08 pm

PFW COVERAGE: Raffia Couture

Finally Friday, my sweet readers! Here in Italy, we are having a long, long weekend but a blogger’s duties never stop! Here I am with the first post about PFW and the 13th from our coverage series. We are almost done, I swear. I can’t wait to wrap this up and post more fabulous trends and wintery outfits. In the meantime, Paris is always a good idea! To open up the French reviews, we have an impressive line-up (who am I kidding, all the shows from Paris are nothing but stellar). For you, this Friday, Rochas eternal romance, Balenciaga’s innovative shapes, Dries Van Noten’s beautiful mash-up, Carven’s Parisian swag and last, but not least, Balmain’s raffia couture. Are you ready to rumble?

ROCHAS

Rochas and its ethereal aesthetics have always been among my favorite from the Paris bunch. Not only because of the beautiful prints, but because I’m all about brands with a romantic vibe. For Spring 2012, it was a lavender heaven with touches of French grey, Raspberry and White. The collection had a retro chic feel to it, but there was also something sporty about it. Marco Zanini presented a large range of shapes and cuts: Double-breasted jackets intended as dresses, sheer and flowy maxi-skirts, hot pants + bralet ensembles, hourglass dresses with midi lengths. The polo shirts (biggest trend so far in the neckline department). One of the highlights? He played matchy, matchy and it worked beautifully. As for the accessories, round sunnies, head wraps and white, sock-like shoes.

BALENCIAGA

There’s no doubt that Nicolas Ghesquiere has the x-factor when it comes to innovative skills. Season after season, the designer has always had raving reviews and while Balenciaga’s shapes may not be everyone’s cup of tea, he always manages to get all heads turning his way. For Spring 2013, he may have toned down the sharpness a notch. The shapes were beautiful and architectural, but not as boxy and structured. For the first half of the show, Ghesquiere built some dramatic ruffles into skirts and dresses (hello, gorgeous peplum). Then came the volume skirts with the asymmetrical pleats. Pairing them up with simple, knitted cropped tops was beyond genius. The skin flashing matched beautifully the almost neutral color palette.

For the second part of the show, he entered the “tweed” zone with simple mini skirts and his interpretation of the ladylike jacket. For the tops, he kept it cropped and the hemlines, he kept those short and sexy enough (an unsual thing for Balenciaga). As for the finale, those meticulous, laser-cut, detailed dresses were the cherry on top of that French cake. As for the footwear, always a highlight, low-cut booties in burgundy, cream and black. The front row? Overall, lovely and easier to wear than usual.

DRIES VAN NOTEN

This collection has to be dubbed the queen of all mash-ups. Dries Van Noten really hit the ball ot of the park this Fashion Week. A collection so complex and so visually appealing at the same time: the colors, the shapes, the textures, the tailoring, a lot of fabulous things to take in on one runway show. It was grungy, but it was so damn chic. The plaid tops (in different colors and shapes) blended in to perfection with the floral prints and embellishments. There was a touch of sheer and sexy, some velvet here and there and even some ladylike, retro dresses. The best part of the show? The beautifully crafted, rosette skirts (particularly the one with the pastel shades). As for the shoes, pumps galore: metallic, printed, with laces, with cutouts, you name it!

BALMAIN

When Christophe Decarnin’s departure was announced, everyone grieved. When Olivier Rousteing was appointed Creative Director, some eyebrows were raised. Could the really young apprentice take on such a big responsibility? After this show (and last season’s runway), the answer is abso-effin’-lutely. The designer has done a wonderful job so far, keeping the cool chick vibe Decarnin built but also taking it to a whole new level. Remember the signature, fitted jacket? Olivier has turned it into a boxier and sharper one. The leg-flashing mini dresses? He has made them his own with unique textures (hello, raffia) and beautiful tailoring. He had made clear why a top costs so much, there’s just a lot of work in them, a work of art.

His references were clear: the 80′s all the way. Big shoulders, cropped tops, big, high-waist trousers, black & white stripes and leather skirts. The star of the show? The pale blue, yellow and cream woven number (that’s going to be more photographed than Prada’s striped dress from Spring 2011). The accesories were also detailed and woven, peep-toe booties, statement belts and sharp pumps. Hands down, a stunning collection. If this beautiful man (because he is not only talented, but also gorgeous) keeps doing what he is doing, Balmain will remain on top (where his teacher Christophe left it).

CARVEN

What’s not to love about Guillaume Henry’s Parisian ladies. Season after season, he delivers chic and wearable clothes that we can’t help but drool after. For his Spring 2012 show, he presented a bunch of beautifully tailored and feminine pieces. Almost every ensemble was accompanied by cute and classic collars. Some of the dresses presented chest cutouts, the tops were cropped (mini jumpers never looked so good), skirts were perforated and there was Toilè. Yes, you heard me, Toilè. Pardon my excitement, but as a serial Francophile, this is really my cup of tea. It was another French delight from Carven, thank God for Carven!

LOOK OF THE DAY

Mixing florals and leopard print is always an interesting option. For a French twist, the jumper over a dress with a volume skirt and ankle-strap shoes. For accessories, the golden treatment!

1. Leopard Jacket, DKNY
2. Floral jumper, Dolce & Gabbana
3. Black dress, MAJE
4. Black wedges, ZARA
5. Pelican bag, ALEXANDER WANG
6. Black bangle, KATE SPADE
7. Leopard bangle, J. CREW
8. Ring pack, ASOS
9. Infusion prune nail polish, LANCOME

For all the details on today’s look, go to Fashiolista.

There you go, first five from Paris are up! It’s Friday! Any fun plans for the weekend?

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis
Image sources: style.com, Zara, My Theresa, ysl, Polyvore, River Island

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

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21/06/2012 · 12:52 pm

SWEET’N'RAW DOES CHICTOPIA vol. 7

Hello, hello my sweet readers! I’m bringing to you my 7th article for Chictopia’s blog, Everybody is Ugly. This piece really reflects my personal style, y’all know I’m a pastel junkie, but my real obsession has always been nude. It was 6 years ago, when in a trip to San Diego with friends, I went back home penniless and with two suitcases packed with ivory, cream, blush, french gray and light coral garments. Since then, the obsession, like all obsessions has grown considerably (up to the point that I now refuse to wear black). I have also been a fan of color-blocking since the Jil Sander milestone, that’s why I wanted to mix both this trends. Color-blocking neutral style? Yeah baby! Read away and tell me what you think!

Style Tip: Neutral Color Blocking

It was in Spring 2011 when a certain Jil Sander collection changed it all. Bananas of Prada were not the only ones to steal the spotlight that season. Raf Simons’ bright and colorful silhouettes also took over the fashion world. From his game of proportions, volume, and length, to his couture shapes paired up with simple, white t-shirts, it was a delightful fashion display. But there was one particular trend from the show that really stood out: color blocking.

SKINNY JEANS

Color blocking can be defined as the art of mixing and contrasting different chunks of color in one ensemble. That September, bold color blocking was embraced by many designers such as Gucci, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Prabal Gurung to name a few. It obviously became the trend that defined the season. Soon enough, retail followed. We are sure that if we took a peek inside your closets, we would still find that green lantern skirt or the hot pink, jersey blazer, both from Zara. We all did it that season and we kept on doing it the next. And since fashionistas around the globe can’t seem to get enough of it, color blocking is not going anywhere just yet!

SMART SHORTS

In fashion, all things tend to get renewed, refreshed, and reinvented. Christophe Decarnin transformed Joan Collins’ ghastly shoulder pads and inserted them in those pricey-but-oh-so-worth-it Balmain jackets. The infamous harem pants of MC Hammer were brought back from the dead (a much better version of them) in 2009 by Chloé and friends. And last season’s print mash-up morphed into a textured one. With neon and pastel colors taking over Spring 2012, it was only a matter of time for color blocking to get its revamp. Sugarcoated or electrified, this style is still a favorite among the fashion crowd.

SCALLOPED SKIRT

Since color blocking went from bold hues to pastel ones, why not take it to neutral territory? Neutrals are a constant in fashion, even if tangerine or hot pink are in trend, you’ll always need them to compliment them. Instead of mixing them up with other hues, why not pair French Gray and blush with ivory or white? The result? Sleek color-blocking, always clean, always sophisticated.

We’ve come up with three different ways to style the neutral color blocking trend! It’s time to put your color blocking skills to the test with subtle colors. We know you can do it Chictopians. Get the style tips from the illustrations!

SKINNY JEANS
Jeans, FRENCH CONNECTION
Knit top, ZARA
Biker vest, ZARA
Shoes, ZARA
Bag, BALENCIAGA
Sunglasses, STELLA McCARTNEY
Thread bracelet, ACCESSORIZE
Spike bracelet, ASOS
Buckle bracelet, ACCESSORIZE
White bangle, TED ROSSI
Love ring, ARIELLA COLLECTION
Gris Deco nail polish, YSL

SMART SHORTS
Color-blocked top, TOPSHOP
Layered shorts, ROMWE
Snakeskin sandals, STEVE MADDEN
Tan clutch, ROCHAS
Leopard bangle, KATE SPADE
Cuff watch, LA MER
Bangle set, FOREVER 21
Earrings, FOREVER 21
Beige Leger nail polish, YSL

SCALLOPED SKIRT
Blush blouse, ASOS
Scalloped skirt, ASOS
Dynemite heels, STEVE MADDEN
Shoulder bag, ALDO
Lace white bangle, LK DESIGNS
Lace pink bangle, LK DESIGNS
White enamel bangle, KATE SPADE
Braided bracelet, ETTIKA
Buckle bracelet, MICHAEL KORS
Pearl studs, ASOS
Rose Abstait nail polish, YSL

Finally Thursday! Only one more day for the weekend to begin! Happy times!

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis
Image sources: ASOS, Zara, Mango, River Island, Harrods, Topshop
 

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

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17/03/2012 · 3:24 pm

PFW COVERAGE: C’est fini

It’s been a long and fashionable month and I finally get to have some runway rest after this post. Probably you are in need of a break too. We close this season’s Sweet’n'Raw Fashion Week coverage happy with the results and with six of my favorite names from the Paris line-up: Hussein Chalayan, Balenciaga, Giambattista Valli, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and my favorite, Haider Ackermann.

CHALAYAN

Thank you Hussein for bringing your usual colorful pop to the season. For this show, the designer chose a vivid color palette that included bright red, teal, lime, black, mustard and taupe. He mixed his long and minimal gowns with oversize garments, structured shapes, and cut-outs, lots of them. He did his fair share of color-blocking by putting together beautiful combos such as teal-mustard-white or taupe with holographic panels. As always, his prints were as interesting as his garments and he definitely hit a high note by pairing the looks to equally colored pumps.

BALENCIAGA

Leave it to Balenciaga to make the ultimate PFW statement. This show is among the most coveted of the week, I always silently curse my paisana Salma Hayek, her marriage to Mr. Pinault has snagged her a front row seat next to Anna Wintour. Nicolas Ghésquiere is always one step ahead of all of us mortals, and with this collection, it shows. The designer sent out the runway a display of high-waisted trousers with metallic finish, structured and oversize coats, sheer garments with shiny leather inserts, printed sweatshirts and volume A-line skirts. The collection had an air of sporty to it but also some 80′s vibe. For the accessories (major role at the Balenciaga show), pumps with a strap overload, two-toned ankle booties and gloves, beautiful leather gloves.

CHANEL

Shall we address the fact that the Chanel set is always insultingly beautiful? The Grand Palais always dresses up with its best pieces when it comes to the brand’s show. This time it was all about crystals and it was dazzling. Now about the collection, to be honest, it wasn’t my cup of tea. Miranda Kerr and company strutted the stellar catwalk in oversize garments, pants over dresses or skirts, metallic and sheer textures and colorful tweed. Color palette was jewel toned, so were the eyebrows of every model that walked Karl’s runway. My favorite parts, the side strap pumps and the little boy.

HAIDER ACKERMANN

This is my PFW climax, I was expecting this show for ages and it didn’t disappoint me one bit. Over the seasons, ,my love for Haider Ackermann keeps growing and growing. He has developed a signature style that can be recognized from a plane. This show, like his past two,, was delightful. The designer payed special attention to the woman’s waist by cinching almost every look on the runway, his artistic layering skills were at its best and his effortless and precise tailoring was done to perfection. His color palette was all about rusty, Autumnal shades. What killed me? The cobalt blue, cropped jacket number.

YVES SAINT LAURENT

It was the final bow at YSL for the great Stefano Pilati and what a dark & sexy way to say bye, bye. With a runway filled with dark puckered amazons, the designer sent out the runways a bunch of looks in which the waist was the main element. Almost every ensemble from the collection was cinched, enhancing the woman’s natural hour-glass figure. Form structured and leathery outerwear to sheer and delicate sheer, midi dresses, it was beautiful all the way. The accessories went perfectly with the collection´s mood, ruched black boots, wide belts and wait for it… metallic pumps (I’m a sucker for shiny stuff). It was a beautiful end of an era and on to the next question: “Where are you going Stefano?” We already know that Mr. Slimane is taking over Pilati’s position and that makes us very, very happy.

GIAMBATTISTA VALLI

A fabulous Italian in Paris, that’s how I like to think of Giambattista Valli. I’m a sucker for his romance and his beautiful silhouettes. This time his mixed up his signature femininity with some graphic and edgy prints. He pleated skirts with sheer inserts, he added peplums to knitwear, he did the “very popular this season” dress over trousers and for the end, he did a beautiful evening gown display (the long-sleeved, burgundy one took my breath away). It was a versatile collection, but it always stayed true to its creator’s style.

LOOK OF THE DAY

Last FW look and we had to do a little Parisian chic. I chose a green lace dress, that as soon as I saw it at ZARA, I fell for it. I made it jumper style by adding a red, striped button-down underneath, this one is from ASOS. To enhance the waist, a skinny belt in the same shade of green as the dress. This peacock snake one is from Malene Birger. For coverage, a chic tan biker, also from ASOS. For the legs, thigh-high socks in cream and tan booties (I have used them in previous looks) from ASOS, they are now on sale.

For the bag, I love the contrast between navy, green and tan. That’s why I went with Proenza Schouler‘s PS1 Large. For accessories, I kept it simple, a single deer ring from and ASOS beige & tortoiseshell watch. For the nail detail, Tom Ford‘s Scarlett Chinois polish.

For all the deets on today’s ensemble, go to FASHIOLISTA.

We officially close Fashion Month (even tough it ended a week ago) and we are very much looking forward to welcoming the new season, of course, Sweet’n'Raw style.

Wishing you a gorgeous weekend, sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofía Alanis
Photos: style.com

All texts are written by me, PLAGIARISM is not cool…

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29/02/2012 · 12:58 am

PFW LINE-UP, LITERATURE STYLE

Time for the cherry on top of our Fashion Week cake, time for lovely Paris. After three long and exciting weeks of runway madness, we still have seven beautiful days to enjoy what the prettiest city in Europe has to offer. The schedule is busy, the list is long, the names are powerful and I am sure that our expectations will certainly be  surpassed. Remeber my NYFW line-up post, that little game I played with baseball terms and designers? Well, for Paris I had to come up with a more cultural theme. After a long discussion with my sister, the one with the Literature degree, the one that calls my Chick Lit trash, this is what I came up with.

You don’t have to love Kafka, but I bet you sure know who he is. He was and still is one of the most powerful authors of all times. This six brands are to fashion what Kafka is to Literature. What we can expect from their shows: la creme de la creme, a killer front row, a jaw-dropping set and an impressive model line-up.

  • LOUIS VUITTON, Wednesday 7th
  • GIVENCHY, Sunday 4th
  • CHANEL, Tuesday 6th
  • LANVIN, Friday 2nd
  • BALMAIN, Thursday 1st
  • HERMES, Sunday 4th

They are the ones that always bring the romance, the flowers, the lace and the sheer to PFW. From Valentino´s long sleeved and flowy gowns and Nina Ricci’s lingerie inspired collections, to Elie Saab’s dreamy fabrics, their creations seem to really come out from a Jane Austen novel.

  • VALENTINO, Tuesday 6th
  • NINA RICCI, Thursday 1st
  • GIAMBATTISTA VALLI, Monday 5th
  • ELIE SAAB, Wednesday 7th
  • CHRISTIAN DIOR, Friday 2nd
  • YVES SAINT LAURENT, Monday 5th

Just like Oscar Wilde’s interesting personality, this group of designers not only bring their genius to the table, but also their  strong minded creations. Collections filled with drama and eccentricity, always make powerful statements on PFW. Like Mr. Wilde, they sure know how to draw attention to themselves in the purest form of art.

  • VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, Saturday 3rd
  • JEAN PAUL GAULTIER, Saturday 3rd
  • VIKTOR & ROLF, Saturday 3rd
  • JOHN GALLIANO, Sunday 4th
  • ALEXANDER McQUEEN, Tuesday 6th

Chick lit may not be considered classic literature, but it is what most of us girls like to read right now. And this six designers are what us girls are wearing right now or dream of it anyway. From Stella’s stellar collections, to Isabel Marant’s chic nonchalance, thanks to this brands and like a Sex and the City episode, the street has become our concrete catwalk.

  • STELLA McCARTNEY, Monday 5th
  • MIU MIU, Wednesday 7th
  • CARVEN, Thurday 1st
  • CHLOÉ, Monday 5th
  • CELINE, Sunday 4th
  • ISABEL MARANT, Friday 2nd

They put the d in dark and the t in twisted. These shows, like Mr. Poe’s stories and poems, are always on the mysterious and macabre side. Many of their looks may not be wearable (not even Anna dello Russo wearable), but they sure are beautiful works of art and construction.

  • GARETH PUGH, Wednesday 29th
  • ANNE DEMEULEMEESTER, Thursday 1st
  • YOHJI YAMAMOTO, Friday 2nd
  • MUGLER, Wednesday 29th
  • COMME DES GARÇONS, Saturday 3rd

And last but not least, this group is the Andre Breton of fashion (an expert when it came to breaking traditional shapes and transforming them into new ones). They are not afraid to try new materials and shapes. They always manage to do the unexpected. If you want novelty, innovation and genius, this are the ones to watch.

  • MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA, Friday 2nd
  • HAIDER ACKERMANN, Saturday 3rd
  • BALENCIAGA, Thursday 1st
  • JUNYA WATANABE, Saturday 3rd
  • CHALAYAN, Friday 2nd
  • DRIES VAN NOTEN, Wednesday 29th

Now you know what to expect and when to expect it! PFW is just getting started and I’m sure some amazing creations are ready and waiting to walk the Paris runways.

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofía Alanis
Photos: style.com

All texts are written by me, PLAGIARISM is not cool…

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26/02/2012 · 5:34 pm

LFW COVERAGE: Beautiful Chaos

It’s Sunday and instead of my relaxing routine, I find myself drowning in a sea of runway reviews, missed deadlines, photos and more. The good news is, I just went to the supermarket (ran out of coffee and milk, I die without them) wearing nothing than a thin, trench coat! Milano is finally accepting the fact that Spring is about to start and there’s nothing that stupid Winter can do about it. Anyway, as I told you yesterday, our lovely New York rendezvouz is now history. We find ourselves (a little late) in the beautiful city of London and what an opening line-up have I put up together for you, my sweet readers: Eye-popping Holly Fulton, drama king Giles, print clasher Erdem and my personal favorite, the fabulous Antonio Berardi. So, let the games begin!

ACNE

Leave it to Acne to keep the cool and simple with a twist of random. The Swedish brand is all about the natural swag and this collection is proof of it. This collection was all about shape distortion, Johnny Johansson took his inspiration in three artists. With one quick look at the works of André Kertész or Hans Bellmer, you can absolutely see the influence on the designer’s garments. With ‘Blue Monday’ playing on the back, Johansson sent out the runway a total of 35 looks, each an every one of them with an interesting construction and a beautiful color clash. The shoes are definitely something to remember, so are the volumes and proportions and that two-tone blazer (last image). Simply fabulous!

ANTONIO BERARDI

I’ve always had a soft spot for Antonio Berardi and after this show, it has become massive and softer. First of all, his color palette. It was so diverse but at the same time, it had a clear continuity. The transition from the gray, to the red, to the blush, to the aquamarine and so on, was so subtle and beautiful. Models looked perfectly put together in those precisely tailored numbers Berardi sent out the runway. Everything was sharply cut but never straight, just look at the curved panels and uneven pleats.

The collection was inspired by artist Giacomo Serpotta, hence the beautiful and sculptural silhouettes. Textures played a very important part on Berardi’s show, fur made a brief appearance, there was also shiny, glossy and those teal shoes, OH, THOSE TEAL SHOES! To me, it was all so beautiful, although I wasn’t crazy about his last gown. But hey, getting right 42 out of 43 is pretty damn good.

GILES

From the opening to the closing, Giles runways are always packed with drama. This season’s catwalk was no exception. Last year he gave us those monumental, bird headpieces, this time is was all about a dark romance and edgy glamour. The show opened up with a startling mask made by Stephen Jones (same mind behind the gorgeous swans) paired up with a sharp tuxedo number. From the first dark look, Deacon’s collection escalated into artistic and femenine shapes.

Color palette was mainly neutral and textures played a major role in the whole dramatic exhibition. Lengths went from mid and mullets to long with movement. The main detail worth mentioning: the burnt-like, laser cut stains that worked as prints on some of his final dresses. It was chaos, beautiful chaos.

ERDEM

If you thought the mash-up was a Spring trend, think again because Erdem has taken it to a whole new level for Fall 2012. After the soft floral hit from last season, the brand decided to maintain the theme but with a very different and darker take on it. With a front row that included editorial legends, Anna Wintour and Franca Sozzani, the Erdem show was definitely the place to be. The color palette included bold colors such as fuchsia and chartreuse in beautiful laces and painted prints. As seen in most of this season’s fashion shows, the length was midi (it was almost all dresses and skirts, a few trouser looks made an appearance). My love for ERDEM grows and grows with each season, just like their powerful and beautiful prints.

HOLLY FULTON

It’s gonna be a flashy and bright Winter for Holly Fulton, also one filled with graphic prints and textures. Miss Fulton’s show was packed with sharp tailoring and simple shapes. Fitted dresses and pencil skirts were the main element one the runway and a lot of leg flashing. In a sea of midi lengths, she managed to give us a few mini ones, thank God. The high notes: the almost baroque black number, the Versacesque jacket/top/skirt flashy combos and the oversized pink blazer,  I sure love them all.

LOOK OF THE DAY

London calls for a laid-back look, and this is what I came up with. I chose a pair of yellow leggings with a liquid finish from ASOS. I paired them up with a plaid shirt with an ombre effect from ZARA. Over it, I threw on a navy v-neck jumper from CLOSED. For more contrast, poppy red platform shoes from NASTY GAL.

For the bag, a bright green City Balenciaga, a classic in a flashy color. Accessories are little bit on the edge, a pack of tribal bracelets, a claw golden ring and a skull one (all three from ASOS). Last but not least, Dior Vernis in Blue Label for your nails.

There you go! Better late than ever, right? 6 down, a lot more to go. London is on fire, Milan and Paris are on the pits, ready to get their engines started.

For all the details on today’s look, go to FASHIOLISTA.

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofía Alanis
Photos: style.com

All texts are written by me, PLAGIARISM is not cool…

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29/01/2012 · 4:46 pm

THE MASH-UP: Texture Collage

 

Lazy Sunday my sweet readers! Oh how I enjoy days like this, working inside the covers, with a big, fat cup of coffee while watching Kelsey Grammer’s Boss al day long. Today I’m introducing our new trend series and frankly, this is one I’ve been wanting to do for a while now (you’ll underestand later on why). The mash-up has become very popular in the music business. Who hasn’t seen a video on Youtube featuring one with an Adele or Rihanna song? Obviously, the fashion industry came up with their on wersion of a mash-up. During Fashion Week in February, we witnessed how hundreds of models strutted the runways in particular creations, overloaded with details. Remeber the”print over print” we were given a few season ago? Well, this is the 1.0 version. Not only are we now allowed to mix and match prints, but also different textures, knits and finishes, all at once. So if you like scrapbooking, why not do it on yourself?

RUNWAY SELECTION

Here’s a selection of looks that some of the designers displayed on their runways on Fashion Week A/W 2011.

TOP:

  • Garden collage, Mary Katrantzou LFW AW 2011
  • Futuristic textures, Balenciaga PFW AW 2011
  • Detailed volumes, Marni MFW AW 2011
  • Temptress mix, Givenchy PFW AW 2011

BOTTOM:

  • Retro salad, Marc Jacobs NYFW 2011
  • Romantic randezvous, Valentino PFW 2011
  • Pastel madness, Missoni MFW 2011
  • Shiny contrasts, Anna Sui NYFW 2011

There you go! Over the next few days I will be presenting some looks that can help you get ideas on how you can pull this trend off. I hope you like them! Wanna know why I love this trend so much? You should know by now… I’m allergic to minimalism.

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis
Photos: Style.com
Mixed wallpaper: Sammy Davis vintage, fabricsandpapers.com, artgalleryfabrics.com

All texts are written by me, PLAGIARISM is not cool

 

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04/01/2012 · 9:56 pm

The Daily Fashion Bread: SPRING 2012 AD CAMPAIGNS

First post of the year my sweet readers! It’s always exciting when a new year begins, it’s a perfect time to start fresh, to keep trying, to change and to make new memories (I already fulfilled one of my resolutions, launch this blog’s Spanish version). But also with the new year comes new fashion! That is why today we have fresh bread! Starts to smell like Spring, doesn’t it? Even though we still have to wait two more months take out our bare legs for a stroll (that is if global warming allows it), designers are alredy making us dream and desire that moment by releasing their Ad campaigns for the coming season. Are you ready? Check them out!

LOUIS VUITTON 

Sugary, lovely and pastel! Even more beautiful than the collection itself, we all want a piece of Marc’s cotton candyland. Visually appealing but also playful and fun!

  • By Steven Meisel
  • Models: Kati Nescher and Daria Strokous

BALMAIN

My favorite look from the runway was chosen for the campaign,the floral dress, Anja the chameleon and that funky neon glow.

  • By Inez & Vinoodh
  • Model: Anja Rubik

PRADA

We always expect the best from Prada, both on runway and on ad campaigns. This season was no exception! All Prada, all retro, all fabulous!

  • By Steven Meisel
  • Models: Katryn Kruger and Meghan Collison

JILL STUART

Leggy Daphne inside a town car, all in Jill Stuart’s pastel softness. I love the simplicity of it!

  • By: Mario Sorrenti
  • Model: Daphne Groeneveld

YVES SAINT LAURENT

If you book Mariacarla Boscono for your campaign, you are guaranteed to hit it out of the ballpark!

  • By David Sims
  • Model: Mariacarla Boscono

GIVENCHY

There is something so alluring about Riccardo Tisci’s darkness, throw Miss Bündchen into the mix and you have a winner.

  • By Mert & Marcus
  • Model: Gisele Bündchen


BALENCIAGA

It has Balenciaga written all over. It’s bizarre, it’s somehow futuristic and it’s beautiful. Even the model’s disheveled hair looks superb!

  • By Steven Meisel
  • Model: Rosie Tapner

What are your favorite ones so far? We still have lots of them in the oven, I had to make a selection. I didn’t want to give you ad campaign overdose!

Sweet kisses…

PS: SI QUIERES LEER EL ARTÍCULO EN ESPAÑOL HAZ CLICK AQUI

Illustration: Ana Sofia Alanis
Photos: NYMAG, Wikipedia (cracker)

All texts are written by me, PLAGIARISM is not cool

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11/10/2011 · 10:34 pm

PFW Coverage: Hey Hussein, pass me a glass of champagne!

Well hello my sweet readers! Ready for your fashion fix of the day? This time I’m gonna give you Paris, who doesn’t love Paris? And when it’s Paris and Fashion Week, it’s more than just the city of love. This is the first post of my series about PFW. And since the line-up is really, really long, let’s start with our first fab five from the city of lights!

BALENCIAGA S/S 2012

Definitely one of the most expected shows in PFW. Fashionistas all over the globe wait eagerly for the moment they get to see what the great Nicolas Ghesquiere will be showing on the runway. He never disappoints, seriously, he never seizes to amaze. Not even the crashing benches that left the front row standing did any harm, hey there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Plus, he did deserve a standing ovation. With the music from Twin Peaks playing, the show was stunning from the start. It was hard not to fall in love with every single one of the color-blocked looks.

First came the contrast between the oversized jackets with wide shoulders and those tiny but perfectly executed shorts, both in iridiscent materials. The collection was all about Ghesquiere’s take on futurism, and what a jaw-dropping take! He gave us high-waisted shorts, tailored jeans and trousers, printed blouses and lots of waist! In the end, a gorgeous and eye-catching cellophane skirt. It was all about construction, dramatic shapes and all the genius that is Mr. Ghesquiere.

BALMAIN S/S 2012

All eyes were on this one, on young Olivier Rousteing’s debut for the french house. Will he keep on with Decarnin’s legacy? Will he give it a twist? Will he change the brand completely? Will he return to the company’s roots? Many questions were asked, but in the end Rousteing stayed true to what he learned from his mentor, Christophe Decarnin, but he made it his. The collection had all the influences from the previous designer, but it also had the young designer’s twist. It was all so gold, so baroque, so rocker meets cowboy, meets chic, meets Vegas. Iza Goulart, Arizona Muse and Anja Rubik were among the amazons that walked the runway for Balmain this season.

The looks: high-waisted leather trousers and short shorts with a skin-tight fit, detailed mini skirts paired with simple, white tops, cropped jackets, studs and chains. Embellishments were everywhere, as expected. What killed us, those two floral looks you can see above, talk about some lust. In the end,  it all seemed so Balmain but so new at the same time. It was refreshing and I loved it, I hope you did too!

CARVEN S/S 2012

Oh Carven, I beg you to please come in at night and enter my closet and stay there for as long as I live. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands in the whole world. And even if the whole world thing sounds a bit childish, it’s true. There wasn’t a single piece form the collection that didn’t make me want to go out and rob the nearest bank. It was all so retro and all so cute, plus the prints and graphics were beyond beautiful (thank you Guillaume Henry).  It was all so wearable and fun. I’m in serious need of that mustard, leather dress you can see above.

Cut-out dresses, high-waisted shorts, flippy skirts and perfectly tailored jackets were among the garments the french designer presented on the runway. The inspiration was something like schoolgirl meets The Sound of Music. It was all in perfect sync. With a collection like this, who doesn’t want to be a Carven girl?

CELINE S/S 2012

Phoebe Philo knows what she does best and sticks to it, and so far it has been always a winning formula. She has mastered quite well the art of minimalism, and it shows. For this collection, the designer’s color palette was mainly white, black and emerald green, with a touch of burgundy and a vivid red. The shapes and cuts were executed to perfection, the tailoring itself deserved a standing ovation.

Volume trousers, mid skirts, some pleated, some in leather, some with movement, structured tops with peplums (that leather peplum one, score!), architectural garments and complicated but beautiful constructions. The waist, once again, enhanced by wide belts and it was all about playing with proportions. Another hit for the french house, we are so getting used to that.

CHALAYAN S/S 2012

You have to love a designer that loves to play a part, that loves to dress up. That’s the case of Hussein Chalayan. He had done it before and he did it again, this time dressed as a waiter and pouring champagne to his models. The collection was clean, perfectly executed and very innovative from my point of view. Three things very characteristic of him. It all started with neutrals, black, cream, white and beige in blazers and structured garments.

Little by little, the show seemed to grow in full bloom with Mr. Chalayan’s beautiful prints. Shift dresses, printed ones, others with panels. It was overall an interesting collection. More interesting is the character who designed it.

LOOK OF THE DAY

It’s all about the parisian chic! What’s more chic and romantic than lace! For this ensemble, I went for the cutest dress from TOPSHOP in tan. This little number from Jones and Jones drops from the waist into tiny pleats creating volume. To add more chic details, this tassel Gucci belt is the perfect accessory. For the bag, there’s nothing more classic and pretty than the Hermes Constance, also in tan.

Enough with the tan already! To take things more over the dramatic side, some burgundy platform pumps from Sergio Rossi.

For the jewelry, brace yourself for the most beautiful necklace my eyes have seen. It’s from MAWI and it gives the whole ensemble and unexpected twist with a gorgeous result. The green hues and the gold blend in perfectly with the dress and the other accessories. Some arm candy can never do any harm, so to keep on with the green vibe, the hermes Kelly Double Tour.

For beauty, an updo is definitely the way to go and matching the lips to the shoes makes it even more fun. This lipstick is “Sweet Cherry” by Laura Mercier, a master in the make up division!

As promised, this is the first post from Paris. One down, two to go (or maybe three, the shows to review are so many it’s hard to choose from the bunch). Anyway for more scoop, keep checking back. Read away, comment away and keep on visiting.

Sweet kisses…

PS: For all the details on today’s look, CLICK HERE

Photos: Style.com
Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis
All texts are written by me and plagiarism is NOT COOL

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13/07/2011 · 4:29 am

The Daily Fashion Bread: July 12, 2011

Hello my sweet readers! After a 5 day pause (I’m so sorry about that) I am back to bring you some freshly baked bread! And since the fashion industry doesn’t stop, even if I am on holiday, here are some highlights.

  • Armani underwear goes bad Hollywood bombshell, Megan Fox, has been replaced! The italian designer has chosen a bad girl as the new spokesperson for the underwear and jeans ad campaigns. With the distinguished Victoria Beckham as his first choice a few years ago and the world’s hottest woman, Miss Fox as his second one, Mr. Armani is spicing things up a bit this year. Rihanna, well known for her daring fashion, risquè outfits and rauchy performances, has already shot the ads that are set to come out this September. Brace yourselfs for some wild photos, sexy poses and a touch of porn. Thank God those ads will be black & white, I’m kind of sick of her channeling Bozo the Clown.

  • Kenzo and Antonio Marras parts ways The LVMH group announced today that the italian designer is to be replaced with retail duo, Humberto de Leon and Carol Lim. The pair behind the store Opening Ceremony were chosen in an attempt to refresh the brand. Opening Ceremony has had major success since the opening in 2002. Antonio Marrras was creative director of the brand for 8 years and has his own brand. Little do we know about his future, but the rumors are starting to say he could be the next head designer at Dior.
  • Mariacarla is on fire The 30 year old italian is better than ever and at the top of her modeling game. At that age, usually modeling careers are over or about to end. But for Mariacarla Boscono, this is not the case. It’s well-known that she is Riccardo Tisci’s muse. But for this season, she seems to be everyone’s favorite girl. We will be seeing her as one of the faces of Givenchy this fall, along with Naomi Campbell and Natalia Vodianova, as the star of Loewe’s glamorous and a bit raw campaign, and with Natasha Poly and Karen Elson for the always dramatic, Roberto Cavalli.
  • Swanepoel is definitely high fashion We know her for her Victoria’s Secret’s wings and some other catwalk now and then. But for this coming season, Candice is the face of the man of the hour (every hour that is), Tom Ford. Shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, the South African beauty showcases a sexy, fierce, glamorous woman. The shots are brigh with color, glossy and with a touch of drama. For the gentleman, Tom has given us the gorgeous Jon Kortajarena, looking slick, sophisiticated and cool.
  • Balenciaga Fall/Winter Campaign Now this is a first! Nicolas Ghesquière has released a backstage video of his new ad campaign, featuring models Liya Kebede, Liisa Winkler, and Julia Nobis. It was shot by Steven Meisel, who has been very busy this year. Click here to see the video.
  • Hermione Granger’s last red carpet This is the last we’ll see of the Harry Potter character, certainly we will be seeing a lot more of the british beauty, Emma Watson. For the New York premiere of the film, Emma chose a daring and interesting Bottega Veneta gown. Not a safe choice, but definitely Miss Granger really pulled it off, as always.
Check back tomorrow for some Haute Couture
Sweet kisses…

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