Christian Dior at Paris Fashion Week
John Galliano dazzled Dior’s growing fan-base of high-profile, young, rich celebrity customers with an African inspired collection at Paris Fashion Week…
The Dior spring/summer 2009 collection strode down a Paris catwalk earlier today to a tribal beat, with the models balanced on six-inch, metal “fertility goddess” heels as high as their sculptural, plaited head-dresses.
Christian Dior spring/summer 2009 collection at Paris fashion week
The collection was inspired by “”my memories of many trips, all over Africa” by Dior’s prolific British designer, John Galliano, and drew on earthy, sensual references.
Christian Dior spring/summer 2009 collection at Paris fashion week
The clothes were obviously designed to appeal to Dior’s growing fan-base of high-profile, young, rich celebrity customers, including the pop singers Katy Perry and Lily Allen and the actresses Emma Watson and Eva Green, who sat front row with the likes of former supermodel, Stephanie Seymour, the Oscar-winning, French actress Marion Cotillard and the burlesque star, Dita Von Teese.
The dresses were amongst the shortest and sexiest ever seen on a Dior catwalk; flipping flirtatiously at mid-thigh in acid-yellow, orange, fuschia and delphinium blue organza and chiffon – and conspicuously see-through; although thoughtfully accessorized with matching, knitted hot-pants.
Christian Dior spring/summer 2009 collection at Paris fashion week
Bustiers made of coloured python-skin, teamed with flippy micro-skirts, in bark-printed chiffon or embellished with cowrie shells, brass discs and crystals, along with corset-tops in stingray, worn with hug-me-tight black leggings, added to the exotic mood of tribal-chic.
But Galliano – ever with an eye on the cash register and mindful of the fact Dior reported a 1.54 billion Euro profit for the first half of this year – did not neglect his more conservative clients.
Christian Dior at Paris Fashion Week
Here, he moved into a quieter ‘comfort zone’ of fashion, offering superbly-tailored, Dior ‘Bar’ jackets in fine wool; double-breasted, “flying” jackets; and belted, “lantern-sleeve” jackets; shown with crisp shorts or pretty, pleated skirts in polka-dotted or plain chiffon, in a palette of beige, grey, black, cream and soft pastels.
The evening gowns, although as diaphanous as the cocktail frocks – “but more choice in the showroom”, Galliano promised backstage – were muted in terms of colour, with long skirts of pastel and Dior grey chiffon, panelled with ribbons of lace or with tiers of pleats from thigh to knee.
But the tribal chic note resounded with the chain-mail halters, gilt-studded stingray bodices and cowrie-shell embroidered leather bustiers, worn with silver metal chokers made up of fertility goddess figurines.
Designer Marc Jacobs handbags for Spring-Summer 2009
Spring is all about expressing yourself more freely, and this is naturally reflected in the clothes and accessories we wear as well. Fashion designers, it is only understandable, are not the ones to overlook this – on the contrary, it’s on what they base all their creations.
However, out of the lot, it’s perhaps Marc Jacobs that really asks you to be bolder and more beautiful than ever come this spring, with the newly launched collection of bags plus accessories at New York Fashion week.
Marc Jacobs spring/summer 2009 handbags collection
To start with, as attractive and colorful as this new line might be, it’s not for everybody.
Marc Jacobs has always been a designer for the select few because his limits in terms of creativity are close to non-existent, therefore everything that comes out bearing his signature is audacious beyond imagination.
The same note of boldness characterizes the latest line as well – multi-layered, shiny and almost too flashy for their odd combination of colors, the Marc Jacobs bags are made exclusively for women who are not afraid to have all eyes on them no matter where they go.
And, believe it, that will happen – guaranteed – with one of these totes strapped to one’s shoulder.
Hidden gems
Hidden gems
I recently fell in love with Karen Konzuk’s collection of stainless steel and powder-coated enamel jewellery (konzuk.com). Known for her use of unusual materials, she created the pieces with a process normally reserved for outdoor furniture and household appliances. Each stunning bangle (shown, from $180) has one of nine colours hidden inside, exposed only when you swing your wrists. I like to think of them as my little secret — and now yours, too.
Rihanna is Fur-tastic
Barbadian beauty Rihanna sports a humungous fur collar as she leaves the ITV TV studios in London on Monday.
Maybe it’s faux fur??
And no wonder Janet left Def Jam–they are busy pimping out their precious Rihanna. And why not, she’s a bona fide hit maker!
Check out the video below of Rihanna performing her smash hit “Disturbia” on ITV1’s For One Night Only.
http://justjared.buzznet.com
topshop’s playsuit is right on trend, and available stateside
If you swore that you’d never, ever wear a jumpsuit, it may be time to eat your words.
After all, even the Queen of the Dress, Diane von Furstenberg, just sent an all-in-one down her runway. Topshop’s silky playsuit has several things to recommend it: the dusty mauve color, pleated shoulders, pretty bow belt, and the fact that’s it available via the Brit retailer’s U.S.
http://www.style.com
Sanaa, Ana, and Kim All Wear Michael Kors
Jumpsuits have been all the rage this season, and this black Michael Kors jumpsuit seems to be the celebrity favorite.
Sanaa Lathan, Ana Ortiz, and Kim Kardashian were all recently spotted wearing the strapless jumpsuit on different occasions, although it was Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson who wore first a few months ago. As for who wears it best, Ana and Kim get points from me for adding a belt.
The belt visually breaks up the piece and almost gives the illusion that it’s actually a strapless top paired with black slacks.
All three ladies look fab, but I think Kim’s look is my fave. She makes it look so glamorous with her oversized shades and flowing locks.
Source: www.batchplease.com
Gottex hot bikini
It’s cold autumn but Gottex presented hot Spring/Summer 2009 at New York Fashion Week.
Gottex NYFW Spring 2009
It’s great to see sexy models on Gottex catwalk. Their have beautiful bodies and swimsuits emphasize their forms.
Gottex NYFW Spring 2009
J Lo rocks Acropolis as a Greek goddess
The 39-year-old Jennifer, who completed a triathlon last weekend, was performing in front of 11,000 fans at a show in Athens – where Madonna has sold 70,000 tickets for her gig next week.
The performance was great as it usually is, but Jenny from the block has forgotten that even if she had lost pounds after giving birth to twin-kids, she still has to hide the ugly Bridgette Jones knickers.
But earlier that day Jenny from the block has been spotted posing as a Greek goddess in a stunning shoot for a Greek magazine. Dressed gorgeous white gown on the top of the Acropolis in Athens she definitely looked better. So booties need the right style to look hot.
Emmys 2008 dresses
The stars were hot, literally, on the red carpet at Sunday night’s 60th annual Emmys awards — and that meant the sweeping trend on A-list actresses were updos.
Brooke Shields in Badgley Mischka resort 2009
Heidi Klum wore one and so did Mariska Hargitay. Same ‘do for Marcia Cross, Vanessa Williams, Julia Louis Dreyfus and Sandra Oh.
Marica Cross in Elie Saab Fall 2008 Couture
The perfect accessory? Dangling earrings, such as Debra Messing in 19th century diamond fan-pendants from Fred Leighton.
Debra Messing in Monique Lhuillier Spring 2009
There also were many strapless gowns — on the likes of Tina Fey and Teri Hatcher — and, in a nod to an emerging catwalk trend, asymmetric looks as seen on Christina Applegate and Vanessa Williams.
Christina Applegate in Reem Acra Spring 2009
But almost to a person the looks were anything but trendy, sticking instead to safe silhouettes, boldly elegant jewelry and flattering colors.
Take, for example, Oh, one of the night’s fashion winners, who previously had done time on a few worst-dressed lists. She came in a retro-style black lace dress by Oscar de la Renta with a ribbon sash and a few sparkles on the skirt. They matched her gleaming 5.5-carat (each!) emerald-cut diamond earrings by Bulgari.
Kyra Sedgwick in LWren Scott Spring 2009
Applegate didn’t disappoint in her much-anticipated red-carpet return after breast-cancer surgery in a dramatic, sweeping gown in ice blue with metallic patches.
I think Applegate was one of the best dressed of the night,” said stylist Marie Alice Stephenson. “She was glamorous, elegant and she pushed it.”
Christina Hendricks did her 1960s-era “Mad Men” character justice in a curve-hugging emerald green gown, which complemented her red hair that she wore in a up-style twist. Louis-Dreyfus showed off her trim figure in a salmon-colored Narciso Rodriguez dress with a fitted shiny bodice — complete with a sliver of skin showing under the bust.
Eva Longoria in Marchesa Spring 2009
Nicolette Sheridan wore a sleek strapless gown by Angel Sanchez in purple, a trendy fall color. Laura Dern did purple too; Holly Hunter wore a plum Jenny Packham gown with a jeweled waist.
Fey liked the color too, leaving her glasses at home, wearing her hair down and choosing a sexy sweetheart eggplant-colored gown by David Meister in what seemed an obvious attempt to avoid Sarah Palin comparisons.
Kate Walsh in Zuhair Murad Fall 2008
Two of TV’s brightest stars were Brooke Shields in a hot pink lipstick-color (pun intended) strapless gown with a ruffle down the front and brooch on the side of her waist by Badgley Mischka
Klum had the opportunity to take the most risks, as she was expected to adopt many looks throughout the night: She planned no fewer than six as she extended her red carpet walk in a custom Giorgio Armani Prive gunmetal metallic gown with a one-shoulder capelet to hosting duties on the broadcast.
It was a mature choice for what Heidi normally wears,” said Klum’s stylist Maryam Malakpour, but Armani won her over by sending a personal note to congratulate her on her “Project Runway” nomination.
Fellow model and reality host Padma Lakshmi wore a short gold Monique Lhuillier dress, showing off her legs. “When you’re working with a model, there is so much choice,” said her Stephenson, who worked with Lakshmi. “They rarely look bad in a dress.”
Powerhouses Oprah Winfrey and Susan Sarandon, in a draped jersey look by her friend Donna Karan, both opted for red, and Hargitay was in a soft one-shouldered, marigold-yellow gown by Carolina Herrera.
Still, there were plenty of neutrals.
Jennifer Love Hewitt — her hair in a bedhead bun — told E! that her white-with-black strapless gown by Herrera was an easy choice, and Williams’ splashy white-and-black print dress by Kevan Hall had a jeweled strap that went from her shoulder to just below the waist. White was also worn by Kyra Sedgwick, whose dress by L’Wren Scott featured diamond embroidery.
Lisa Edelstein in Reem Acra Spring 2008
The black fan club included America Ferrera in a bubble-hem dress and Hollywood siren-style red lipstick; Chandra Wilson in a gathered Tadashi Shoji halter gown; Kate Walsh in gown with alternating rows of crystals to go with a complete set of diamond-and-platinum jewelry by Neil Lane; and Dana Delaney in a vintage gown splashed with an Art Deco-style beaded embellishment.
Veteran star Glenn Close and Broadway transplant Kristin Chenowith both wore black Armani.
Black is tricky on the red carpet because it doesn’t pop, said Stephenson. “America Ferrera had a bold Fred Leighton necklace and a shorter hem — and that’s the way to do it. If you don’t do something spectacular with black, it can fall short.
Felicity Huffman literally sparkled in a split-neck silver gown and she showed off a sleek bob haircut, and Eva Longoria wrapped herself as a gift to escort and husband Tony Parker in a short strapless number with fringed tiers by Marchesa. He wore a complemetary silver-gray suit.
Emmy 2008 celebrity dresses
Fashion at the 2008 Emmy Awards included beaded gowns, draped and ruched looks and lots of colour. See your favorite Emmy celebrity dresses now
There is nothing better than a Sunday evening with french fries, Franzia and fashion. The Emmy Awards are on right now and they are…meh. The opening scene sorta blew (except for Heidi Klum’s sparkly unitard…that she looked HOT in), the rest is a bit boring, and my Franzia hangover is already kicking in.
But the red carpet fashion was some of the best I’ve seen in years. Seriously, I can’t even think of one dress that I didn’t totally love. Well, maybe one, but that is for a whole other post.
As I walked past a mirror on my way to the bathroom and caught my reflection – sorority butt pants, a stained t-shirt and super greasy hair – I couldn’t help but imagine what I would look like in any of the following gowns.
Not that I will ever walk a red carpet…or get to wear a Nanette Lepore gown…or drink any wine that doesn’t come in a box, but a girl can dream.
Amy Poehler in Zac Posen resort 2009
Jennifer Morrison in Marchesa Spring 2009
Evangeline Lilly in Elie Saab fall 2008 couture
Elisabeth Moss in Jenny Packham spring 2008
