I'm going to post the pics from the actual Chanel runway show tomorrow in my round-up, so for now just feast your eyes on the fab beauty and accessories from the seriously, seriously fab and entertaining show.
OMFG the nail polish. It's this purplish-taupey-mushroom brown that comes out next spring, but I think you could totally dupe it by mixing together OPI's You Don't Know Jacques and Parlez Vous Opi polishes, both $8 at amazon.com. I'd say use 60% You Don't Know Jacques and 40% Parlez Vous Opi, but I think you'll have to play around with it to get the right shade--but it's totally worth it. I think tattoos are officially en vogue right now, because the models at Chanel, Rodarte, and Galliano (just to name a few) were all done up with fake tattoos. And the Chanel chain/faux garter version is killing me. So cheeky and irreverent, but also kind of chic.
Me want this bag. And this belt. And especially those shoes. I hate small bags, and even I would use that mushroom Chanel shoulder bag every single day. That belt would be perfect for any simple dress, because with all those woven, contrasting textures it doesn't need anything else to work, and oh, those shoes. Love the sculpted heels, love the tulle/feather flowers, love the giant platform/Mary Janes combo, and the black and white is so Chanel.
Image Sources:
All pics except the tattoo pic: style.com, Tattoo pic: style.com
Just to break up all the runway coverage, I thought I'd play dress-up. In my own closet. Yes mom, this is what I do with my free time. Be proud. Anyways, I put together a few looks I'll be wearing this fall. Sorry for the crappy mirror pics, but my roomie was being productive and studying, and well, that's the only mirror.
Look 1: Top: American Apparel Tri-Blend Light Weight Raglan Pullover, $36 at americanapparelstore.com, Purple Scarf: Forever 21, Jeans: 7 For All Mankind High-Waist Boot Cut Jean, $165 at shopbop.com, Sperry Topsiders: $42.90 at zappos.com, Look 2: same top, Red Plaid Scarf: Vintage, Belt: H&M, Skirt: American Apparel Jersey Pocket Skirt, $30 at americanapparelstore.com, Heels: Steve Madden Luxe. Our mirror is in a hallway, so there's like 2 feet of space in front of it and it's ridiculously hard to fit my entire reflection inside the mirror. So no, my legs are not as stumpy as they look in that first pic, and those jeans are actually really flattering. I swear. I love this American Apparel top. You get the look of an over-sized sweatershirt/tee, but since it's slightly cropped and fitted at the body, the volume isn't overwhelming. The wide crew neck flashes a needed bit of skin, and I like to push up the sleeves for an unstudied look. With the jeans and the Topsiders it's casual, and slightly androgynous chic, and the scarf adds a nice little pop of color. With the high-waisted skirt, there's a nice play on proportions (I love tucking baggy tops into high-waisted skirts), and the top balances out the length of the skirt perfectly. That's actually a guys belt, but I like the juxtaposition of a girlier outfit with masculine accessories, and that scarf is my favorite scarf of all time. I got it for $5 at a flea market like 3 years ago, and I wear it ALL THE TIME. It's my baby. Oh, and I really like the grey-on-grey color palette of this second look. It's chic in a very subtle, subdued way, and the red in the scarf keeps it from being boring.
Look 1: same vintage scarf, Cardigan: Vintage, Black Tank: Forever 21, Shorts: Johnson, Tights: Target, Hunter Boots: $115 at shopbop.com, Necklaces: 3 vintage gold necklaces, Tiffany Key Necklace with Vintage Oval Key, $175 at tiffanys.com, and Small Oval Key, $125 at tiffanys.com, Look 2: same necklaces and American Apparel Skirt, American Apparel Unisex Solid Rib Oversized Pocket Cardigan, $42 at americanapparelstore.com, American Apparel Tri-Blend Racerback Tank, $19 at americanapparelstore.com, Coach Belt. I really want to make these tights work somehow. Tights are something I've always wanted to wear but never really thought I could pull off, and these were like $6 and are the perfect amount of sheer, and I realize that they don't really work here but I wanted to put them in anyways. The navy cashmere cardigan I stole from my mommy--it has the prettiest mother of pearl buttons--and yes, I'm wearing it over a black tank because you can wear black and navy together! It's hard to see, but the shorts are plaid, and the colors play off the plaid in the scarf nicely. I would actually wear this if it was raining, and I die for my Hunter boots, and for the giant tangle of necklaces I'm wearing (literally, they tangle the moment I put them on). For this last look, I did an oversized cardigan for more coverage over that skimpy tank, and a more delicate belt than before for a softer look. That cardigan is actually a bright forest green, so it has a little more color. It's an easy way to wear an oversized piece while still keeping some shape, because the high-waist of the skirt and the belt remind everybody that you have a figure. And I just had to throw in a picture of the scarf. I mean, it has plaid AND leopard print AND paisley. All in one scarf. Plus it's the size of a small blanket, which is awesome and convenient.
Usually I try to keep it to 9-12 runway shots. It's a nice, manageable size, big enough to give a realistic idea of what's going on on the runways, but small enough that I don't lose my mind writing about it. But this time...I think I have 18 shots? I mean, it's towards the end of Paris Fashion Week. It's time for the really, really big players, which means I like everything and die trying to narrow down the amazingness. These are some of my favorite looks from all of Spring 2010. Enjoy!
All Givenchy: I don't remember ever being a huge Givenchy fan, but wow. I highly recommend checking out the entire show on style.com yourself, it's a whole other kind of amazing. I'm really impressed by how Tisci managed to inject the same bohemian rocker chic feeling into such a wide range of clothes and silhouettes that would really work for anybody. On the left you've got a more tailored, geometric piece that could appeal to a whole spectrum of ages. The black and white color combo is chic and versatile, the exaggerated collar adds drama and a bit of a tuxedo vibe, and the slouchy pockets keep it from being stiff. In the middle (love, love, love Lara Stone, I seriously hope she doesn't 'slim down' like she threatened), you've got one of this season's big styling tricks, a voluminous, flowy top tucked into a slim, no-nonsense mini skirt. It's equal parts preppy and bohemian, and the print gives it a bit of a tribal edge. And on the right, I love Tisci's take on the asymmetrical draping trend. The mini length balances out the volume perfectly, and the juxtaposition of the soft fabric and diagonal swag with the hardness of that bejeweled shoulder is really breathtaking. Plus, I never thought I'd day this, but that is the prettiest washed-out bluish gray hue I've ever seen.
Emanuel Ungaro, Costume National, Jean Paul Gaultier: Lindsay Lohan + Ungaro = epic fail. Epic, epic, epic fail. This first piece, the pink mini-dress, was the only high point of that incredibly tacky show. I mean, heart-shaped sequin pasties? Really? Really now? You can see a bit of Ungaro on the banded draping on this dress, but aside from that his spirit was missing from this collection. There have been lots of these strapless, shapeless, long in the back short in the front dresses on the runways this season, but Costume National has my absolute favorite version so far. The ways it plays with sheerness and asymmetrical layering are so gorgeous, the pleating and textural contrasts give it so much visual interest, and the lightness of the fabric gives it some shape against the body when it moves, so all that volume isn't overwhelming. Jean Paul Gaultier makes me laugh. I mean, he 'tattooed' the model with their own names, for crying out loud. I like this dress because it's got a bit of his infectious, wild-child spirit in the deconstructed top and stripes, but you can really see the craftsmanship in the layered draping of the skirt. It's rebellious, but polished.
Viktor & Rolf, Viktor & Rolf, Andrew Gn: Viktor & Rolf did some crazy things with tulle. Like crazy, gravity-defying things. There were softer, more wearable versions, like this little dress on the left, with the flirty, flippy hem on the skirt and ruffles on the bodice, and there were edgier, more editorial pieces like this 'ball gown.' I'm not sure how the skirt on that is even staying together, but the combination of that elegant, delicately pleated bodice and the chain-sawed, deconstructed skirt is so ironic and so expected that somehow, it works perfectly. You have to appreciate Viktor & Rolf for taking such a light-hearted approach to fashion. You don't see a lot of grey gowns on the red carpet, but I'm seriously hoping that someone takes this Andrew Gn number out for a spin. It's fashion-forward, with the one-shoulder and woven/bejeweled detailing, but it's also very classic, with the neutral hue and simple silhouette. I think on the right person this could be a showstopper.
All Lanvin: I think Alber Envaz could send his girls out in trashbags, and I would still love it. Boy is a genius. GENIUS. He took the peplum/asymmetrical ruffle trends that have been circulating for awhile, and combined them into one of the best examples of both I've seen. That LBD is priceless--the lines are chic and refined, and the asymmetrical volume makes it modern and just a little bit cheeky. I like how Vlada gets all my favorite looks. A nude, gathered dress could look so wrong, but here it looks so right. The gathering at the waist is so flattering, and the skirt almost reminds me of last season's Balenciaga (in a good way), and don't even get me started on the asymmetrical sleeves. I love the textural contrasts on this green dress. It's a fresh take on the long-sleeved, body-con mini-dress, the slight draping at the hem makes it even more fashion forward, and I applaud Alber for putting out such a luxe look when so many designers are concerned with the economic downturn. I'm sure Lanvin is still selling like hotcakes or (insert some sort of outdated pastry reference here).
Isabel Marant, Ann Demeulemeester, Sophia Kokosalaki: This Isabel Marant dress is adorable and fun, but what I really want are those boots. They also come in black, which I might like better, but you can see more detail in the brown. They're the perfect combination of slouchy, boho, Western, and rock and roll, they're easy to dress up and down, and they have an awesome heel. They are going to be mine. I don't know how I'm going to find or afford them with the Euro-dollar exchange rate, but it's going to happen. Ann Demeulemeester has always been a little dark for me, but I'm dying over this collection, especially this look. It also came with a white mini skirt instead of the maxi, but I like the drama of this version. That jacket is perfect, the black belt/wrap detail breaks up all the white and brings the eye right to her waist, and the white column skirt is so, so chic. This with a hardcore pair of black platform heels = EPIC. I never thought I'd say this, but this Sophia Kokosalaki dress is one chic little leather dress. Leather can come across as trashy, but done in this fawn-taupe, with that inverted sweetheart neckline and that subtle pleating, it comes across as young, not skanky.
All Christian Dior: I have a love-hate relationship. As in I love the clothes, which makes me hate my bank account. Jean Paul Gaultier has been pushing the inner-wear as outer-wear thing for years now, and he's finally having his moment. That floral dress is the perfect day dress, flirty and fun, provocative but also innocent (definite Lolita vibe), and I think I detect a bit of a '40s influence? Love. These two gowns...I have no words. I think the purple might be a little much for a red carpet, even though Megan Fox could totally rock that, but the contrast between the fitted black and the flowing purples layers is so breathtaking. The white gown could totally be red carpet appropriate, and I think with that bustier-inspired top and the radial applique detailing on the skirt, it would be a fab Oscar gown.
Image Sources:
Givenchy: style.com, Ungaro: style.com, Costume National: style.com, Jean Paul Gaultier: style.com, Viktor & Rolf: style.com, Andrew Gn: style.com, Lanvin: style.com, Isabel Marant: style.com, Ann Demeulemeester: style.com, Sophia Kokosalaki: style.com, Christian Dior: style.com.
I dabble with lighter polishes (love Essie's Mademoiselle) and bright pinks, and purples (Parlez Vous OPI?), and even reds (I die for OPI's Cajun Shrimp), but at heart, I'm really a vampy polish kinda girl. Which is why I get so excited when fall rolls around. I feel mildly emo with dark polish in the middle of June, but once September hits, I'm all over it. I'm not really a fan of black polish--it's just so harsh, and it stains your nails this awkward color, so I tend towards darkened plums or reds, maybe a charcoal or a navy blue every once in a while. My current favorite is Black Cherry Chutney from OPI's Spring 2008 India collection. It's a blackened reddish purple, so it's dark but still warm, with the tiniest hint of reddish-purple shimmer. I love the shimmer because it adds a bit of glam and lightens up all that vampiness. And it's OPI, so you know it wears well. You can get it for $8 at amazon.com.
And I just had to throw in this shot of what might be my favorite dye job of all time. It's ombre. Her hair is ombre. NAVY BLUE OMBRE. I can't even....wow...and it'll even grow out nicely because the ombre's only on the bottom! Plus, you could totally do this in any color. I think the greyish navy works nicely because it's such a basic color with such a crazy hair style, but black or purple would be really nice too.
Image Sources:
OPI swatch: alllacqueredup.com, Katie Shillingford: jakandjil.com
Alright peeps, this is going to be short and sweet because today is going to be a little on the crazytimes side. But I couldn't let you go all weekend without hearing about Balmain and Balenciaga, so here we are. Enjoy!
All Balmain: This season Balmain is army meets cavewoman goes to the disco chic. Sounds crazy, looks fanfreakingtastic. I love the deconstructed ease of this first dress--it manages to look polished and ripped apart at the same time. This second dress shows that Balmain's long sleeve mini-dress trend from last season is still going strong, although this time around it's a little rougher, a little more post-apocalyptic princess than Studio 54 party girl. Do want. And how amazing is that boatneck sequin tee? It's the epitome of casual, sexy glamor.
Balmain, Balenciaga, Balenciaga: The Balmain jackets this season are still strong-shouldered, but with a bit more of a military bent this time around (see all those medallion-esque details?). And this might be the only time I'm ok with metallic leather pants. Balenciaga played around with leather too, in a fantastic streetwear collection that I can guarantee you will get ripped off within the month. Love the leather vest hoodie and leather jeans (leather jeans!). and the crazy shoes, and I even want a kilt now! Kilts are so cheesy, but when you do it in leather and pair it with a sheer, sporty tank, it's totally fresh and modern.
A.F. Vandervorst, Nina Ricci, Rick Owens: This first look is totally ridiculous for real life but so pretty for the runway. I love the juxtaposition of the hard silhouette underneath and the soft, Joan of Arc dress on top. It's a great play on the warrior princess trend. Nina Ricci will never be Nina Ricci for me without Olivier Theyskens, but even I have to admit that this chiffon-trimmed cardigan is pretty adorable. It's the right mix of dark and girly, and I really like how the chiffon on the cardigan falls over the skirt, which ties into the sheer trend nicely. Last but not least, I actually like something from Rick Owens! Shocker, I know. Yes, it kind looks like a silver trash bag, but it's surprisingly feminine for Rick Owens, and it moves so, so well. Very futuristic fairy princess.
Image Sources:
Balmain: style.com, Baleciaga: style.com, A. F. Vandervorst: style.com, Nina Ricci: style.com, Rick Owens: style.com
Somehow in the massive influx of shows from Milan Fashion Week, I missed the DSquared show. I know. I know. I'm disappointed in myself too. DSquared shows are always fantastically campy and amazingly styled and very ironic. Last year the girls carried Starbucks cups down the runway, this year evidently they had Budweiser 40s? Oh, DSquared. On a Paris note, here are a few of my favorite looks so far--I'm still mourning the loss of Olivier Theyksens at Nina Ricci, so pardon me if I seem a little less than enthusiastic about year's shows. I mean, no Olivier? Really? Really? WHY?!
Rochas, DSquared, DSquared: Rochas is in the midst of making what will hopefully be a very successful comeback. A few looks from their show were really special, like this floaty shirtdress. It's just the right amount of sheer, so it looks light and summer and you get a little of the exposed bra thing going on, but it's not so sheer that it's impractical. The juxtaposition of the buttoned-up top and flowing skirt is lovely, and the bright green belt is the perfect finishing touch. This first DSquared look is great for the styling. I mean, there's a cardigan, like two vests/anoraks, and a little leather jacket over that pair of boyfriend jean shorts. It shouldn't work, it should be ugly and bulky, but somehow it's the right mix of campy and androgynous chic. This gown has a bit of a Balmain/Nina Ricci (sob) vibe with the woven, sparkly detailing at the bodice. I love the shape, and it's just the right amount of bling for a safe, but interesting red carpet gown.
Gareth Pugh, Anne Valerie Hash, Rue du Mail: I have to be honest, I'm usually on the fence about Pugh's shows. Yes, he's fashion's little wunderkind and he's brilliant and all that, but his clothes aren't really all that wearable. At all. So it was nice to see a softer side of him as a designer this year, with lighter fabrics and softer shapes. I love the lines on this coat. It has so much volume and movement, but it's not bulky, the tie at the waist is super-flattering, and the satiny trim could make it look like a blanket, but instead it has a bit of a dreamy, fairytale quality. I want that Anne Valerie Hash blazer. It's a sparkly tuxedo jacket! Sparkly tuxedo! I have nothing else to say. If this Rue du Mail dress was all shiny pink, I'd hate it. But that panel of matte pink fabric takes this party dress from bucolic and boring to asymmetrical and interesting. It's a very sweet, girly take on the uneven draping trend for Spring.
Lost Minds University Tee, $88 at shopbop.com, Pencey Open Back Dress, $320 at shopbop.com, Madewell Braided Chain Necklace, $42 at shopbop.com: I realize that this Pencey tee is totally cheesy, but come on, it's from the Lost Minds University. Being in college right now and being totally overwhelmed with classes and work, I want to buy this shirt and wear it 24-7, because it's so true. And tucked into a high-waisted skirt or with a pair of boyfriend jean shorts, it wouldn't be that cheesy, right? I know I've been babbling about backless dresses and long-sleeve mini-dresses forever now, but this is one of the best combinations of the two trends that I've seen. The sleeves are the perfect length, the way the backless bit wraps around to the front is so sexy, and it's even got a bit of draping going on. Hello. This Madewell necklace is such a good deal. You get mixed textures, a decent amount of chains, and the ideal below the breastbone length for less than $50. The cost per wear for this baby would be like 10 cents. Because I'd never take it off.
Image Sources:
Rochas: style.com, DSquared: style.com, Gareth Pugh: style.com, Anne Valerie Hash: style.com, Rue du Mail: style.com, Pencey tee: shopbop.com, Pencey dress: shopbop.com, Madewell necklace: shopbop.com
