Lanvin Mens Spring/Summer 2012.

June 23rd– After a a couple seasons of delivering edgier, more futuristic collections, Artistic Director Alber Elbaz took a step forward for Spring/Summer 12′ by returning the renowned romantic label, Lanvin, back to a more raw expression of strength and venerability during Paris Fashion week. The house, founded in 1909, has always been known for its light colors and materials, which made this collection feel organic to the brand.

Elbaz commented after the show: “We wanted to go back to the essence of masculinity, which is leather, which is the uniform,” and inject that “with the fragility and emotion that has become our DNA at Lanvin.”

And that they did, with a collection filled with extra thin leathers, flowing silky materials and dusty hues dominating key pieces, with unexpected bursts of color. It hoped to convey men as both masculine and feminine without emasculating but by softening the rough edges of its military undertone. Incredible outerwear pieces highlighted by extra long Leather tunics, Lanvin’s staple sandal, and whimsical play with proportions ensured a clear understanding of direction.

Lanvin Mens Spring/Summer 2012. Courtesy of style.com

Over all, the message  ’boys can cry’ was successfully delivered with every look that walked down the runway reaffirming that the tears in my eyes when I saw those billowing trousers tucked into a pair of combat boots, were at the same time fragile as they were manly.

The best place to find the looks from this season in the United States will be Barneys New York, which is the largest wholesale carrier of the line, or you can check out the Lanvin E-store for purchase inquires.

Alexander McQueen Spring 2011 collection gives classic McQueen designs a more feminine touch.

At Paris Fashion Week Spring 2011 the Alexander McQueen show made a strong impact on the fashion world for the brand’s newest creative director . Despite the untimely death of world renowned fashion designer Alexander Lee McQueen in February 2010, McQueen’s successor, Sarah Burton, is able to carry on the McQueen legacy through the women’s wear collection filled with classic McQueen silhouettes with a little bit of Burton’s own womanly touch.

Actress Salma Hayek, whose husband Francois- Henri Pinault is a co-owner of  Alexander McQueen, made an appearance at the runway show.

Actress Salma Hayek arrived in style at the Alexander McQueen Paris Spring 2011 Fashion Week show. Photo Credit: Splash Images.

Floral and natural elements played a large part in this collection, which is a big turn from the aggressive, dark feel of past McQueen collections.

Floral prints were seen all over the Alexander McQueen Spring 2011 runway. Photo Credit: Socialite Life.

The models all had fresh faces with little make up and intricate woven braids that added to the show’s romantic, earthy feel. Even the runway that was covered in mossy, wooden planks played into the natural feel of the collection.

These feminine canvas coats were slashed at the shoulders for a more rugged look. Photo Credit: Socialite Life.

Soft, white canvas coats, which opened the show, highlighted the feminine physique with an exaggerated focus on the hips. Burton put her own spin on nature by featuring several pieces that were constructed entirely of black leather ivy leaves.

This Alexander McQueen two-piece suit highlights a woman's curves and hips. Photo Credit: Fashionoligie.com

Some dresses were elaborately detailed with feathers and other natural elements, like wheat. A butterfly print, which is similar to past McQueen designs, was even seen emerging from a dress made of hand-painted feathers.

A model walks the Alexaner McQueen Spring 2011 runway in a dress made of black, leather ivy. Photo Credit: Socialite Life.

The silhouettes of the collection also varied, while still remaining true to the well-known Alexander McQueen style. Some dresses were impeccably designed to accentuate a woman’s curves, while some were more soft and bohemian- like with cinch-waist belts.

This bohemian style dress is one of many that walked the Alexander McQueen Spring 2011 runway at Paris Fashion Week. Photo Credit: Socialite Life.

Although the death of such a fashion legend is still felt throughout the industry, and will always be felt, Burton did an excellent job of keeping the brand Alexander McQueen alive. The feel of the Spring 2011 show was certainly a bit gentler and more feminine, but the classic McQueen ‘fantasy’ was still seen through the designs.

Designer Sarah Burton walking the runway after debuting her Alexander McQueen women's wear collection. Photo Credit: Associated Press.

Although Burton is the new creative director for Alexander McQueen, she has been a part of the McQueen team for more than a decade. She spent the last 14 years as McQueen’s design assistant and right-hand woman as McQueen built the fashion house to what it is today.  Burton seemed to find the perfect balance between her vision of romanticism and McQueen’s knack for dark, visionary designs with the Spring 2011 collection.

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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Oh Mr. Lagerfeld, just when I think a Chanel show can’t get any better, you come along and surprise me again.

The spring Chanel show for Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday morning was spectacular, one of those once-in-a-lifetime fashion experiences, with a quaint French-garden setting and a full orchestra, all under the soaring glass roof of the Grand Palais.

When the first look came out — a black coat riddled with holes, and the models’ eyes were nearly blacked out with smoky makeup, I thought we were in for something dark and stormy, perhaps even another punk moment, of which there have been several this week.

But that was just the prelude to a spring awakening of pastel tweeds. Tunics or soft, three-quarter-sleeve jackets, some trimmed in floral print, topped short skirts in matching shades of blossom pink, sunshine yellow or salt ‘n’ pepper tweed. (For a bit of a Jackie O look.)

But there were also plenty of long skirts in keeping with the spring trend, one in a rose print with a smocked waist and others in dark, sheer layers, worn with belted jackets or sweaters.

For evening, a white cocktail dress with black embroidery brought to mind an ornate iron gate. Another dress, covered in peach-colored feathers, turned model Carmen Kass into a graceful bird. But there was also a little black dress for everyone–both long and short lengths–with sheer overlayers, jet-black feathers and embroidery.

As always, Lagerfeld included plenty of novelties aimed at the “Gossip Girl” set, including boucle cutoff shorts, paint-dappled gray jeans and jeweled or logo-ed barrettes fastened to the models’ sleek ponytails.

But this show was for all ages, which Lagerfeld made sure were represented on his runway, from a toddler to the fiftysomething model Inès de la Fressange. It was as if he were saying, “We are all one big happy Chanel family.”

And when the orchestra broke into “Bittersweet Symphony” and Lagerfeld took his victory lap around the runway, he did look for all the world like the patriarch of Paris fashion.

– Booth Moore in Paris

Source: LA Times Image

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The catwalk for the 2009 autumn collection at Paris Fashion Week was a happy themed one. Models were smiling up and down the runway, something previously never really seen in Paris.   

Stella McCartney‘s show was all smiles and full of supporters like her father, Sir Paul McCartney as well as her sister Mary both sat front row along with; Beth Ditto, Thandie Newton, Kanye West, Pink, Charlotte Casiraghi, Salma Hayek, and Francois-Henri Pinault.  

Amber, Kayne and Pink front row at the Stella McCartney Show in Paris at Stella McCartney's '09 Fall Paris Show.

Salma Hayek and husband Francois Henris Pinault Front Row at Stella McCartney's '09 Fall Paris Show.

McCartney showed delicate and beautiful cocktail dresses that put aside her typical sportier looks and let loose the “Stella Girl” as she put it. 

Also shown were jumpsuits, knit sweaters and elegant cocoon coats with skinny belts – everything well tailored and “grown up” while maintaining the style she is known for which is simply and easy going unfussy style with sex appeal.

McCartney mentioned backstage that she liked to take things apart and then put them together again, as a result she used spliced tulle and silk as well as black lace floating down arms which was actually an illusion of sleeves.

Stella Girl Dress at Stell McCartney's 09 Fall Show in Paris, France.

McCartney proves that you can make desirable fashion while maintaining your ethics as a strict vegetarian, such as herself.

Stella’s refusals to work with leather and furs have previously been rumored to hinder the style of her shoes and bags – this year she turns that around – if it was ever even true. Her new collection has knee high boots in faux leather and knitted silk. Stella has succeeded in creating must have items that even PETA will approve of wearing.  She has also rose above the previous gossip that she was “just a pop star’s kid” and developed real design chops and respect sans dear old dad.

Stella McCartney.

Stella has a variety of collections in 2009 from her Adidas designs to the two perfumes to both dressy and casual clothes. Her flagship store in London has had a strong year in profits and supporters keep multiplying.

For clothing, accessories and shoes that you can feel good about, both in how they make you look as well as knowing no animals were harmed in their process of being created – check out www.stellamccartney.com  and for discounted Stella (assuming you don’t need the newest trends) go to www.shopstyle.com