October 23, 2010
by fashionpulse
[Images via Elle.com]
Valentino
Mention the name Valentino and it’s easy to get visions of the designer’s ultra-famous gowns, à la Julia Roberts in a black and white vintage dream at the 2001 Oscars. And while the house’s current design heads Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri are hardly shy about putting models in fresh, frilly, demure minis, there were a few surprise twists and turns on the Valentino spring 2011 catwalk. There were a handful of looks in…wait for it… denim! It was, nevertheless, the most refined-looking display of denim ever, but it was nice to see something so quotidian done with such class. Trust Valentino to take basic cotton, among many other things, and make it seem truly out of this world.
[Images via Elle.com]
Yves Saint Laurent
Black, white, backless jumpsuits and exposed midriffs with calf-length skirts…it was all about pushing the ends of the YSL spectrum as far as they could reach for Stefano Pilati. A somehow new and inventive trench coat appeared on the same runway as a ruched and ruffled gypsy-eque dress; a blouse fit for a pilgrim was immediately disavowed by the fact that it was completely sheer. It was as if the designer wanted the collection to be omnipresent, to meet any kind of need any woman might have in order to make her mark. Oh, marks were made alright, by Pilati himself and the YSL Spring 2011 woman, though she doesn’t even know it yet.
[Images via Elle.com]
Balenciaga
While Nicolas Ghesquière used items from the house’s long history to influence his designs for Spring 2011, this wasn’t a presentation of how-well-do-you-know-your-Balenciaga — for example, a particular panel leaf dress inspired the shape of this season’s coats. Instead, Ghesquière had slicked and spiked models wearing minimal make-up and bringing a tough masculinity to each look. A smooth, almost serpentine texture on smocked blouses contrasted tailored trousers and scalloped, sleeveless, menswear-style shirts. The designer insisted he was after individuality, and he sure got it.
-Kaci Hamilton
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October 21, 2010
by fashionpulse
Ah, Barbie. Her house, her car, her boyfriend, her clothes…haven’t we all wanted to walk in her hot pink shoes once or twice?
Well, maybe we can’t have the whole dream house, but a little Barbie fashion? Now that’s something we can get behind. Barbie fans can now own piece of this iconic doll’s wardrobe, a silver and black Swarovski crystal corset, as seen on Katy Perry at a photocall appearance in Vienna.
The corset is from The Blonds Spring 2011 runway show, and you can get your very own, made-to-fit, just like Barbie! For collectors, the actual corseted Barbie doll will be on sale for $5000 from November 16th at 9:00 am in The Blond Collection catalog and on BarbieCollector.com. See, dreams can come true.
-Kaci Hamilton
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October 20, 2010
by fashionpulse
[Images via Elle.com]
Alexander McQueen
The task of taking over any fashion house comes with its own special set of sresses, much less one as firm in its vision and feel as that of Alexander McQueen. Yet Sarah Burton, who worked with the designer for 15 years, proved this spring that you don’t share such close quarters without learning a thing or two. Her softening of McQueen’s quintessential details – the dramatic coat, the intense shoulders – was the right merging of two harmonious minds. Fortunately, Burton didn’t soften the drama too much, as her elaborate, awesome (in the true sense of the word) dresses harnessed the wildness of nature in its most wearable way.
[Images via Elle.com]
Viktor and Rolf
Amid the theatrics and tones of bright blue and earthy red, the overriding theme at Viktor and Rolf for Spring 2011 was the timelessness of a man’s shirt. Some outfits, like the opening quadruple-cuffed and collared shirtdress, may not transition so easily from catwalk to sidewalk. Yet, there were quite a few coat-tailed shirts with slim pants, and shimmering party dresses with asymmetrical embellishments of lace. Perhaps most surprising was the presentation of a few bridal pieces, with luxurious layers and structure. In the V&R world, the man’s shirt knows no bounds.
[Images via Elle.com]
Balmain
Fans of Christophe Decarnin who were expecting more of his heavy opulence from last season had another thing coming this spring. The designer stuck to his usual detail but went in the direction of punky studded jackets, second-skin leather pants, and safety-pinned tops with nary a dress in sight. It was focused and simple, but not without Balmain’s signature refinement. Starlets ready to up their rocker ante in a chic way in Spring 2011 now know exactly where to look.
-Kaci Hamilton
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October 17, 2010
by fashionpulse
After turning her San Fran apartment into a workshop for reupholstering and refinishing vintage furniture, Irene Jung realized she liked the idea of re-purposing other people’s trash more than the furniture itself. Alas her “workshopping” spread to jewelry and her pieces are all about merging old and new. A gold leaf brooch is strung up beside turquoise stones, or jade beads are revamped by antique enamel earrings; and the names of the pieces are just as original. Who wouldn’t want jewelry called “Midnight Fling”, “I Feel Pretty”, or “Lemonade with Honey Please”?
Prices start at around $128 and you can visit Irene’s website to browse her collection at www.jungjewels.com.
-Kaci Hamilton
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