Black Beauty...

So I had a major catastrophe this week. My Macbook's hard drive died.... and... don't scold me... but I never backed it up. So, bye bye all those posts about my trip to Paris in March since I no longer have any pictures from it. Good thing I am going back in less than 100 days. 

Anyways, when it comes to shoes, my devotion to the house of Balenciaga is broken. Yves Saint Laurent takes the cake for the best shoes. If you ask me, the YSL Tribute ankle boots from the F/W 2008 collection are the greatest shoes ever created. 

Big thanks to Tommy Ton for shooting the best picture of them too. Actually, that whole F/W 2008 collection is one of my favorites of all time (I've been trying to add those runway sunglasses to my collection for years to no avail), and one of Stefano Pilati's greatest at the house. I like to think of it as a minimalists manifesto, a constant influence for anything I do artistically. You can check it out here.

Back to what this post was originally about. I can get side tracked rather easily you know. I was reading W magazine and was reminded of the amazing YSL shoes from the F/W 2010 collection. 

Talk about some fierce footwear! I can just see them with some amazing Trussardi 1911 dress. I'd like to think of it as some cultural appropriated version of neo-Native American style. You know, something so over the top and fabulous that only Carrie Bradshaw or Anna Dello Russo could get away with wearing it. And speaking of ADR, if I don't see her wearing these during the fall fashion circuit, I will be seriously disappointed. I always think of two different things when I see these a) the mane of a horse, and b) a liberty spike mohawk. Apart from the heel of hair, I'm also really feeling that slight curve of the platform. It helps keep the shoe visually interesting when they go into production sans hair. I'm assuming this is what they will be doing seeing as that type was also shown on the runway, and would make for a more commercial product. 

Dior a la Galliano...

In the words of the ever insightful Mademoiselle Agnes; There's going to be beige. There's going to be panties. There's going to be transparency. 

She may have said that for the S/S 2010 season, but I think it applies to every season, even Fall Couture/2011 Cruise. Nuf said. 

Remember Now...

Don't you hate when something is so hyped up and you get super excited to the point of almost wetting your pants, then you are left in a state of devastating disappointment because this thing was not as good as expected. This happens to me all the time with movies and books, but Chanel Cruise 2011 takes the cake. Kaiser Karl made a little movie called Remember Now which you can view by clicking the link. It's like 16 minutes of super skinny super model partying bliss! I mean, can we just stare, drooling at Magdalena Frackowiak, Karolina Kurkova, Freja Beha Erichsen, and fashion DJ extraordinaire Leigh Lezark?! And the whole movie is about my favorite pastime other than fashion, partying! Seriously, there is nothing I love more than going to a club, dancing till dawn, hitting up an after party to watch the sunrise, and then starting up a day like nothing happened. Maybe a trip to Saint Tropez is in order for me this year to live this movie out in person. Now, Karl usually uses a good deal of the upcoming Chanel collection in his little movies, much like the Shanghai one. This is where the excitement came in. For the past week I'm thinking short short short party dresses, modern and sexy, blinged out to the max, and NOT like Balmain. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Balmain, good trashy club wear, but the idea of Karl doing club wear a la Chanel was almost too good. Actually, it was too good, CUZ HE DIDN'T DO IT! The whole show was straight up YSL 70's, not his amazing 1940's collection, but his Peasant collection. Karl hardly even modernized anything like he does so well. Where was the modernity?! Just because it is Chanel, does not make rust colored suede flares ok. This is a collection I would like to erase from my mind, instead let's remember now the magical Chanel Cruise 2010 show...

Ahhh... much better. 

Yarn Art...

Remind me never to get into PR and do event promotions. Even when it comes to my own work being shown, I tell no one until it is too late, like this...

My fancy yarn graffiti show which has been on display for the past few weeks and wraps up today. I have this weird fascination with knitting and crocheting doilies, which is where I got my inspiration for this piece. Something about them is so frivolous and ornate that I just love them to death. Doilies were originally created to protect fine wood from scratches, but if you ask me, a lacy, hole ridden piece of cotton is not the most effective means of doing so. 

Something about spring time, my love of all things lacy and round, the color green, and a pressing deadline to get something knitted while dealing with school work, lead to me randomly knitting in a circle and hope for the best. I didn't even do any measuring for the building it was being installed on! Call it luck, but it found a perfect home right next to some greenery, transforming my humble doily into some extravagant neon spider web. 

I think it is quite handsome no?

Skip Summer, Lets Just Head Into Fall...

Seriously, just as I start to get excited for the season we are in... BAM! something like the fall ad for Givenchy comes out and gets my mouth watering for all the beautiful camel and black everything off the runway.  This steamy shoot hit all the right notes with the always amazing Mariacarla Boscono, Simon Nessman, Paolo Rolden, and Catherine McNeil. Then there is the unexpected casting of Lea T, who was his former assistant and fit model at Givenchy, and a transexual. I just wish they could find a way to squeeze Liu Wen and Emil Dostovic in there. 

I really like that they are continuing the same format from last season, I think it is a really effective way to fit as many clothes and models (both new and of the super- variety) into a very simple advertisement.  Plus the constant androgyny makes me just want everything, and not just the stuff on the guys. Camel coat on Malgosia Bela, I'm coming for you when I get back to Paris. You too bibbed tuxedo shirt! 

At The MET...

Of course fashions equivalent of the Oscars happens during finals week. Now everything is all good, so I can find the time to do more frequent posts... like this one that should have happened the day after...

From top left to bottom right: Zoe Saldana, Francisco Costa and Diane Kruger all in Calvin Klein Collection. Gisele Bundchen in custom Alexander Wang with Tom Brady. January Jones and Stefano Pilati in Yves Saint Laurent. Emma Watson and Christopher Bailey in Burberry Prorsum.

I am sure I am not the only person wishing that I was Francisco Costa in that Picture. As if Zoe and Diane are not dreamy enough, you go and stick them in those gowns and it is like a fashion fantasy. Now I don't think that Gisele can ever top that 2008 Atelier Versace gown, but this custom made Wang sure comes close. Next we have Stefano Pilati, looking dapper as ever and getting my best dressed male award, with the amazing January Jones. If I could have one complaint about fashion today it is that we have lost so much of our elegance. It is those little details like the watch chain on the vest and the long satin gloves that finish off a look perfectly. Finally in my top four we have the grungy punk brits; Emma and Christopher. I don't recall Christopher ever looking this skinny before, so props to him for that. I know I just said I love how chic the YSL clan was looking, but there is a place also for some casual glamour, and these two pull it off perfectly. 

Liu Wen in Naeem Khan, John Demsey, Constance Jablonski in Jason Wu. Charlotte Gainsbourg and Nicolas Ghesquiere in Balenciaga. Vera Wang and Mila Kunis in Vera Wang. Sasha Pivovarova, Sean Lennon, and Kemp Muhl all in Marni.  

Of course the Gala is never complete without a little model magic (sorry Gisele but I'm not counting you), cue the super stunning power duo of Liu and Constance! While a lot of dresses and gowns were heading south, theirs climbed to new heights, giving us legs for days. Thanks girls! Ah Nicolas and Charlotte, you cheeky little devils. I can't for the life of me figure out where her Balencaiga dress comes from, he hasn't shown anything remotely similar since F/W 2009, ages ago in fashion terms, and showing up in one of those dresses would be a fashion disaster. Her shoes are clearly F/W 2010, but the dress is nothing like that collection. This leaves two possibilities; Balenciaga Edition, or super secret special gift from one bff to another. I'm leaning to the latter since the great Cristobal never did anything like that. Vera gets my props for looking like she is 20, and having the best blow out ever. Her hair stylist must have worked hours teasing and blowing that hair into an amazing volumous mass of hair. My last pick for best dressed goes to the coolest kids in town. Sasha, Sean and Kemp are the best people to rep the brand and make me want to run to the store and join the Marni Tribe. 

Tina Fey in Yves Saint Laurent. Laura and Kate Mulleavy with Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte. Keren Craig, Georgina Chapman, and Eva Longoria Parker all in Marchesa. Doutzen Kroes and Zac Posen in Zac Posen. 

Now the worst... Tina Fey I'm talking to you. Seriously though, if you have a stylist or not, you can't possibly leave the house so many times looking like a hot mess, or in this case, a hot mess in a jump suit. Stefano is probably hiding a 10 ft pole in this tuxedo to keep her YSL disaster from rubbing off on him and January. As for the ladies behind Rodarte and their famous friends, I'm starting to loose hope in the brand. Maybe it was the New York equivalent of Balmain, too pricy and too recognizable. This past collection didn't show very well either, and like Balmain, each collection looks like the last one. I know you girls don't like to go to parties, but please, try to at least look like you are having fun. And now for Eva Longoria Parker and her dress that is a) not long enough, or short enough and b) has too long of a train. Also when standing next to Georgina Chapman, I suggest wearing 8 inch platforms. Finally we cap off the worst dressed with curvy girl darling, who surprisingly did not go with something Vuitton or Prada, which she rocks, but instead goes with an enormous blue mass. Zac, Joann's called, they want their tulle back. 

Andre Leon Talley and Whoppi Goldberg in custom Chado Ralph Rucci.

My honorable mention in the best dressed category goes to Mr. Talley and Whoppi Goldberg. No one wears a cape like ALT. 

Calvin...

So, I think I kinda like what was going on at the Calvin Klein presentation, and the beautiful pictures via models. I swear their photography makes everything look better than it really is.  

Especially the mens outfit on the right. I have really been liking longer coats lately, the proportions feel nice, especially because I am a tall person. I was recently gifted a Donna Karan deconstructed trench coat that is minimal to the max and totally reminds me of the Jil Sander S/S 2010 collection. It is really basic (it doesn't even have back vents!) and all the edges are frayed. I don't know what that story has to do with this post except that I like black thigh length coats. A nice wool topcoat will have to be on my list of clothes I need to survive the winter in Paris. Also, remind me I need to try the uber slicked down hair sometime. I have a fancy dinner on Wednesday, maybe I will do some channeling of this presentation and do slicked down hair and even slicker black minimal clothing. 

Models.com

WWD's image of the same look...

Seriously though, photography is just as important as the clothes. Models photo makes me want those clothes, and WWD one makes me want to move on to something better. Just saying...