I want it all!

Yes I want it all, the fame, the fortune and all (oh gosh High School Musical, that was BAD!! Remind me never to do that again!), but most of all, I want the clothes! The clothes from Jean-Charles de Castelbajac F/W 2010-2011 Collection!
I was just doing what I usually do on the internet which is look up tons and tons of designers, photographers, models and musicians to "learn my stuff" and I got the idea to do on JCDC's site. I watched the video of the show there and oh wow, I want to see it again and again and AGAIN!


The shoes! Just look at the shoes! Who else than JCDC could pull that off? Huh? NO ONE! I love them, oh goshy joshy I love them!












This one reminds me of Snow White's evil Stepmom.

I don't think you really need me to see the obvious inspirations : medieval times, religious representations and old fairy tales. Personally, I'm in love :)
Thank you Jean-Charles!

(all pictures are property of JCDC's site)

Eastern (twisted) minimalism

Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti RTW Spring 2011
After looking at pictures of Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti's RTW Spring 2011 show on WWD, I just HAD to run to my blog and publish something about it. It was just exquisite!
The cuts, the colors, the vibe... It was all brilliant! Contrarely to what we keep seeing on these season's runways (chic, bourgeois minimalism in neutral colors), the show was full of hot yellows, vibrant greens, bold blues and vivid oranges which were all brilliantly tamed down by clean cuts and shapes. Plus, something that seemed completely off this season was ever-so present : PRINTS. Prints e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. Most of them tropical, exotic almost as if they came out of a brightened Gauguin painting, others a bit more discreet in black and white.
What I loved was that it was just so different from everything else we've seen this season, so UNEXPECTED almost as if Alberta Ferretti hadn't seen any of the shows or been aware of the new trends (which is impossible,let's face it). No, Alberta probably saw all this, I guess she just decided not to take notice of it.
The whole feel of the show reminded of Jean-Paul Gaultier's old shows, very wild and exotic. They were some sort of "souvenirs", marks of his travels. I guess the Eastern vibe is the cause for this.
Actuallt, come to think of it, it also reminded me of Versace a few seasons ago and of Dries Van Noten's everlasting love of prints.
If you really want to make a bond between this line and this season's biggest trends, I guess you could see a form of minimalism through the clean cuts, but then it would be a second degree minimalism which didn't include getting happy colors out of your closet. And that, is just a nice thought to wrap your head around you know? Being able to be chic without having to throw away everything that isn't black, white or beige out of your wardrobe.


(all images belong to Women's Wear Daily's site)

On our way to tolerance

Two days ago I bought Crystal Renn's Hungry at WH Smith on Rue de Rivoli. I've always been interested in model's journey from normal life to, well, model life I guess! I had prepared myself for some sort of diary but really, it has nothing to do with that! First of all, the book was full of statistics, results from searches, of numbers, studies... It was more than a book, it was a very well put together mix of facts and feelings. I learned a lot about, not only the closed minded modeling world (I'm not putting the whole industry in the same boat, and I'm only talking about the physical part, not creative part) but also the definition of fat/overweight/obese that's not at all what it should be. I'm not going to repeat everything I read so I'll stop there, but really it's a very interesting book. I think why I like it is because it's a mix of personal point of view (how Crystal Renn became severely anorexic for example) and proven facts (like the fact that not AT ALL 65% of Americans are fat).



HUNGRY by Crystal Renn and Marjorie Ingall, $25.00, 27,50 euros available at WH Smith.

Moving Armani

I was particularly touched by Giorgio Armani's interview in British Vogue's September issue. Vassie Chamberlain, the brilliant woman who wrote the piece, was really able to capture a feel that, I think, added to the meaning of the interview. Armani's words seemed touching and deep, not babbled but thought of; he gave the idea of a rested, nostalgic, fashion loving man. He's also very charismatic. He's the kind of man that I admire, the kind I want to meet, he makes me think of the image I have of the first haute couture designers.

Sweethearts

Shoes, as it has many times been told, are not anymore accessories: they're now completely part, and sometimes the biggest part, of women's wardrobe. They can add edge to a simple outfit, rock an elegant evening gown, boost a bland dress... in short, they're essential. And what I love about shoes I see these days, is that they don't have to follow trends to be beutiful or admired; they SET the trend. Shoe designers do what the feel and their work always finds a way to settle in te moment's vibe.
Shoes I fell in love with this season are detailed, gorgeous, unique and bold. Like the Balenciaga jewelled high heeled loafers. The heel details are great; the idea of color blocking the heel and not the shoe was brilliant.
In a totally different vibe, Giuseppe Zanotti's lace up embroided boots. One word : goergous. They're unique, sexy yet girly... They're AMAZING! And here too, the heel is more than ever part of the shoe composition and balance with the detailed flowers running down the leather point.


Chloe loafers top, Balenciaga high heels loafers bottom.


Giuseppe Zanotti


(Both images from Vogue British, Sept.2010 issue)

Definitely loving it!

I think I really fell in love with Miu Miu the moment I saw their new collection, last year when the big print trend came on. They were the one to launch the idea of an ALL-print look and it worked! The line was exquisite, the colors divine, the cuts breathtaking and the idea, genius simply. And they did it again! The dresses from f/w 2010/2011 are... oh my god! It totally embraces the very feminine fifties vibe that's going on right now while still edging it up to a 21st century feel. The vibrant colors like bold navy blue and bright mustard yellow are like a pow in the face. All the details, the flowers, the pockets, the belts, the bows, all these are futuristic yet entirely feminine; and most of all the cut of the dress is really REALLY flattering!
Miu Miu pants have been doing quite well too for that matter! Seen in British Vogue and French ELLE, their cut is totally new and refreshing. It's a sort of modern minimalism. Miu Miu has a way of inventing fresh, new cuts while staying in tune with what's in and what's next, and that's why I'm in love with the brand.






Miu Miu ad campaigns for F/W 2010/2011