Trends

October 20, 2009

Paris Fashion Week Spring 2010 Recap: Chanel, Hermès, Alexander McQueen

[Images via Style.com]

Chanel

Chanel S/S 2010 was, hands down, my favorite collection of the season. It managed to be fun yet sophisticated and was showcased amidst farm scenery, though the clothes were not overshadowed by the uniqueness of the down on the farm set. The show had a very “Marie Antoinette” feel to it: a charming and romanticized take on rustic country life full of sweet and delicate dresses paired with a pale color palette of black, red, and blue accents. Though the collection was nothing truly groundbreaking, it stayed true to Chanel’s aesthetic and played up its own trends instead of giving us yet another take on trends we have seen over and over again this season.

[Images via Style.com]

Hermès

Tennis was the theme at Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring 2010 Hermès collection. I wasn’t too keen on the idea upon hearing the pitch for the line, but as soon as I saw the clothes — and, of course, the impeccable bags — I quickly changed my mind. Gaultier delivered a sophisticated, timeless collection for Hermès that is on-trend without veering too far overboard nor disposable once the next season rolls around. Each piece was beautiful, wearable, and effortless, from the tennis skirts to the silver chain-linked belts.

[Images via Style.com]

Alexander McQueen

Appropriately titled “Plato’s Atlantis,” Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2010 RTW collection was out of this world and was truly one of my favorite shows of the season. Inspired by mankind’s evolution from the sea and the idea that we may someday return, the dramatic collection featured 10-inch heels, belle-skirt silhouettes, braided asymmetrical hairstyles, aquatic colors, and intricate, digitally printed dresses. Evolution is still stuck in McQueens head, and ours, from the Darwinian-inspired collection that featured large to small taxidermied animals framing the runway. With this collection, McQueen proved he still knows how to put on a show — the hair, makeup, clothing volume (not to mention the shoes!), and overall primitive/futuristic aesthetic were combined in a slightly unsettling, almost scary, way — and the outcome was a brilliantly creative work of art.

-Sarah Nason

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October 7, 2009

Warm up with Fur Embellished Winter Boots

by fashionpulse

Via our friends at thefind.com:

After making an appearance on the runway at Marc by Marc Jacobs, the fur boot is back. You may recall the mukluk trend from a few seasons ago. Yes, it’s back and it is part of the larger fur trend we are seeing on faux fur vests in particular as well as handbags. So it make sense, but not sure if I am ready to embrace furry winter boots again this year. What do you think of these fur festooned boots? Will you buy them this winter?

The style seen on the runway for fall 2009 is the Marc by Marc Jacobs Faux-fur lace-up boot (bottom right, $350 at Net-a-Porter). A completely fur covered boot this will keep your toes nice and toasty during the snowiest of days or perhaps on the slopes aprè ski? The gray faux-fur-embellished boots feature black canvas criss-cross laces at the front, silver-tone eyelets and a black rubber sole to prevent slippage on snowy urban sidewalks or while relaxing in the ski lodge. Another style is Givenchy’s Fur-Front Ankle Boot, (top right, $1150 at Saks.com) and obviously not too appropriate for snowy streets, but perhaps a snow-free night out on the town. These rabbit fur embellished booties with a stacked heel will look perfect with black leggings or skinny jeans. From down under Australia Luxe Collective’s Nordic Angel Fur Boot, (middle bottom, $410.00 at Neiman Marcus.com) is a pimped out version of the classic shearling boot. This sheepskin boot would work in snowy surroundings as well as the sunny shores of California. The 16″ tall boots features black double-faced sheepskin and natural rabbit fur trim. As well as a signature logo plate on the back. Ralph Lauren Collection’s Willa Suede Boots, (bottom left, $695 at Saks.com) are tall suede platform boots lined with shearling and a faux fur cuff at the top. More fashion than function these tall boots would work well with skinny jeans tucked in and perhaps a faux fur vest to complete your ensemble.

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October 5, 2009

Milan Fashion Week Favorites: Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Alberta Ferretti

by fashionpulse

[Images from Wire Images]

Fendi

Fendi’s Spring 2010 collection successfully embodied some of my very favorite things: sheer fabrics, raw edges, lots of neutral tones, and a romantic-yet-rough overall aesthetic (not to mention, the runway show was set to my favorite album of the year, The Dead Weather’s ‘Horehound’!). Karl Lagerfeld took the season’s obsession with transparency to a whole new level, all the way down to completely see-through evening clutches. The collection successfully blended toughness and relaxed femininity and the outcome was one of the best Fendi shows in recent years.

[Images via Wire Images]

Dolce & Gabbana

The design duo’s S/S 2010 show was heavy on the lace in a super charming, incredibly flirty, burlesque-meets-tango sort of way. The mixture of textures and fabrics that one might not initially think would be well meshed (such as denim and lace) turned out to be a hit as the details were impeccable and the collection was true to the house’s Sicilian roots. The show lacked the giant ball gowns that have been prominent in its last few seasons, instead showing a return to form with tailored suits, hotpants, corsets, and mini dresses.

[Images from Wire Images]

Alberta Ferretti

Romantic chiffon dresses were all the rage at Alberta Ferretti’s Spring/Summer 2010 show. The soft, delicate dresses featured this season’s trendy pastel palette with a few strong splashes of color and embroidery hidden amongst the nightwear-inspired floaty fabrics. Though this season has seen no shortage of gauzy feminine gowns, Ferretti’s are among the best as they are very wearable, beautiful, and timeless.

-Sarah Nason

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October 4, 2009

Goth Chic Rules the Runways

by fashionpulse

It’s not a bad idea to go slightly Goth with your look for Spring 2010, according to several designers who rocked the runways this season, veering away from bright colors and light sentiments associated with the warmer months. The looks range from “Queen of the Night” to “Avant Garde Vamp Chic”.

Our favorite Goth-inspired runway looks: