Meanwhile at Paris Fashion Week

J'adore Paris. It's the city of love, the city of lights, and the city of fashion! I always love trolling the internet for the goodies of Paris Fashion Week and boy are there some great ones. I must say this Fall 2012 Fashion Week season has been a really great one. I have had hope restored in the creativity of the industry. More color, and beautiful feminine clothing has graced the runway this season than there has been in a while.

 {all photos via Style.com}

 Still pretty new to the Ready to Wear scene, Louis Vuitton is not doing too shabby. Although I cannot say that this collection was my style exactly, I loved the execution, and I loved the inspiration. An actual custom steam engine chugged it's way down the catwalk and then each model, complete with her own bellhop carrying her LV bags, walked in three piece dress suits.

 Just like LV,  a lot of lines at Paris Fashion Week are sporting pants under a skirt. I'm not a huge fan of that look because I feel it does nothing for your figure, I do like how Mr. Lagerfeld executed it chez Chanel. The jewel encrusted lace skirt that wrapped around the sleek pants and plenty proportions of sheer...I seriously was swooning. And then many models also in gloves this year, but I love that Chanel has chosen Opera Length Fingerless gloves! I have never seen this. What a cool downtown edgy spin on the ultra uptown classy accessory!

 Elie Saab dabbled more with actual Ready to Wear this year than I have seen him attempt in at least 8 seasons, where I have seen more of his signature couture gowns. I seriously could not love this jumpsuit more. With his touch of that shimmering sheer fabric fit with a great pant, this woman is super chic.

 The line of Kanye West...yes THAT Kanye West, was surprisingly chic but not a lot of diversity, but he's new to the fashion scene...he has a lot of growth as a designer to make I suppose. I really enjoyed the leather looks he styled together. This leather vamp ensemble topped with fur I would so rock in NYC. I do wish he would've represented at NYC instead of Paris Fashion Week though, not sure I'm on board.

Sarah Burton has turned out another fun Alexander McQueen line. Many looks dealing with white and exploring this triangle shape, I was smitten for this cape with the gathered wide hem! Since the dress is cinched, it still allows you to look curvy and feminine and still fashion chic.

Paul & Joe played with lots of texture and rich colors which gets instant brownie points in my book. I also always enjoy men on the runways. I especially loved this last look color blocking along with mixing velvet, lace, and silk. They are dramatic and are all working together very well for a bold statement. Of course I would not be bold enough to rock a see through lace top braless, even with those pockets, but that's what models are for n'est-ce pas?

Valentino is no surprise to appear featured for fabulousness, but right out the gate, Look #1 is a leather cape. Seriously? Do you even need the rest of the line? It's amazing, and takes the cake. Bravo Valentino on my favorite caped look at Paris Fashion Week!

Vous aimez Paris Fashion Week my darlings?

And don't forget to enter the

Pureology Giveaway!

Get Ready for Fashion Week with Pre Fall 2012

The tents are going up and my sleep hours are dwindling down which could only mean one thing...NY Fashion Week is right around the corner! So allow me to apologize in advance as it will get harder and harder for me to be responsive. But fear not, I will have your Fashion Industry Insider information coming soon! For now here are some Pre Fall 2012 looks that have me dreaming...

 Alice + Olivia Pre Fall 2012

Blazers with pops of color and a chic beret.

 Matthew Williamson Pre Fall 2012

Long sleeve dress with a dramatic V neck.

 Nanette Lepore Pre Fall 2012

Leather blazer and power color combo.

 Prabal Gurung Pre Fall 2012

Geometric prints and awesome pockets.

Rachel Roy Pre Fall 2012

Colors, layers, and a skinny belt.

 Jason Wu Pre Fall 2012

Sweetheart neckline and a frilly dress.

And ok, ok, I get that these aren't Pre Fall 2012 looks but uh...look how pretty! 

 Zac Posen Spring/Summer 2012

Can you believe how gorgeous these dresses are? We had the red one in the office last week and I wanted to cry...or wear it on a date but unfortunately the former is more of a possibility right now. And this show stopping finale dress is a pure jaw-dropper. Fitted, fishtail, and silver grey.

 THIS is how you do a red carpet dress! 

Are you ready for NY Fashion Week?

Downtown Chic on a Cold Winter Night

It's a breeze to dress fashionable when it's 72 degrees outside...but how do you dress downtown chic when it is a cold winter night? Living here in NYC, I have mastered the art of layering and its a pretty fun game to play. Here is what I wore for an edgy look for dinner downtown in December...with a fur coat of course.

This coffee rouched Helmut Lang dress was transitioned to winter with a basic long sleeve shirt and leather leggings. Don't forget to throw in boots and a warm fur coat for good measure. Downtown chic always calls for leather, black, and boots... and isn't it lucky that so does a cold winter night?!

A funky hairstyle is also crucial, especially when you need to avoid the harsh winter winds. I french braided it to the side and the alternated pinning into a low side chignon. No plan, just braid and pin. Voila! Downtown chic and ready to brave the elements.

How do you layer for a cold winter night?

Art and Fashion: Private Giorgio Armani Event

I hopped over to a private art event at the Giorgio Armani boutique this week on Madison Avenue. It was a great turnout to see the art exhibition with Evelyn Tompkins featuring artist Marta Luz Gutierrez.

The artist, Marta Luz Gutierrez, did a full wall installation made up of many small canvases that worked together. And a four piece tribal band had the crowd going all night along with the wine and mojito bar.

Here is Marta Luz Gutierrez with her installation. Thanks Billy Farrell Agency for capturing the event. I always love mingling at the different fashion events throughout the city!

How did you mix art and fashion this week?

Do Some Good Today: Charity Fashion Show

I'm off to Connecticut today, taking the train in a cocktail dress as only the great Old Hollywood Stars do,  to volunteer backstage at a Charity Fashion Show for the Wellspring Trust foundation. The event is What's Your Worth as it features Worth Clothing. I am very excited and will report back.

Be sure to check it out and make a donation. The Wellspring Trust foundation raises support and awareness for African women and children through film making. There most recent trip resulted in a documentary from Nairobi, Kenya and proceeds will benefit the orphaned children of the Flying Kites Oasis program. This charity fashion show is not to be missed!

Remember mes cheris, 

giving to others is always in style!

Fashion 101: History of Turban Fashion

Turbans have long been a cycled trend of fashion that makes cameo appearances in our Western civilization. This Eastern staple is an accessory that lends an exotic hand in completing a look. But the history of turban fashion goes back further than Sex and the City 2 believe it or not! And in today's Fashion 101 you can discover just how far back our history books had us adorning our heads with this Eastern influence!

Source: flickr.com via Paula on Pinterest

Originally reigning from our more Eastern neighbors, the turban has long been worn for necessity as protection from sun and sand in the desert in addition to an important part of their religious costume. The forehead is always left exposed so that it may touch the ground during times of prayer and bowing. The colors and fabric ranges in accordance to class, education, religion, and occasion. For example, pink is associated with Spring and renewal and therefore is often used in wedding ceremonies in Northern India. And in Shi'a Islam wearing a black turban with a white cap symbolizes lineage from Muhammad and high education. Just as meanings of color vary by society so do the appropriateness of different turban styles.

Source: flickr.com via Pallavi on Pinterest

{merci JBTaylor}

The history of turban fashion began in the late 18th, early 19th century, when trade with India brought on the beginning of the turban as a Western fashion accessory. Being fore fronted by Marie Antoinette and even after her death, the turban remained an accessory staple in England and France.

{merci Duchess of Devonshire}

We have Paul Poiret to thank for the revival of turban fashion in the early 20th century. By 1910 the turban had made a complete revival and was a staple in evening wear and the ultimately luxe society position.

{merci KCI Digital Archives}

As any fashion trend, the turban has cycled its way through our modern era, making brief cameo's of fabulousness. The history of turban fashion is very consistent with glamour. Whether it is a classic 1946 film noir, a 1970's British Vogue feature, a 1980's tribute to Joan Crawford played by Faye Dunaway, or Sarah Jessica Parker herself reviving the turban a la Carrie Bradshaw for the 21st century… what goes around comes around. And the truth is our Western civilization will always be swept away by the exotic elegance of the East with the turban

{merci JBStyle and Mystyle}

Be sure to do your Fashion 101 homework by incorporating a turban into your own ensemble this week! Here is a great tutorial on how to make a turban from a fabulous head scarf.

Source: 100layercake.com via Jessica on Pinterest

How will you jazz up the 

history of turban fashion 

to match your style?

Royal Catwalk: London Fashion Week Recap

Bonjour mes chéris! Now that I have caught up on some errands I thought I would officially take the time to recap you on the runway rundowns from the last couple cities. Starting today with a London Fashion Week Recap. The Royal Catwalk in England's capital was a buzz with beautiful gowns and optimistic new trends for Spring/Summer 2012.

GREAT GATSBY
Something I noticed on the NYC runways (especially Tory Burch) that are also popping up in London is the revival of the Great Gatsby fashion. Dropped waist dresses of the 1920s, golf prep inspired ensembles, and the gilded glam that always accompanies art deco.

Here Christopher Kane gives you that Great Gatsby example.

TRIBAL
Vibrant color and emphatic patterns, get used to seeing these on the racks in surplus.

Burberry Prorsum gave a rich colorful display of this trend,

as well as David Koma but in a more architectural technique.

FLIRTY FROCKS
I love that this girly shape never truly goes out of style, but I haven't seen it this prevalent in retailers eyes for a while. The flirty flounce of the hem in a perfect figure flattering hourglass looks so great on the female silhouette. Not to mention in a soft chiffon, the fabric is as light as you will feel wearing it!

This Felder Felder showstopper is the perfect example.

COLOR BLOCKING
Keep that color blocking going and throw in some bright fun Spring colors to the mix. Not to mention mustard yellow which has quickly become the latest favorite Pantone.

This Roksanda Ilincic also features the lately popular paper bag waist that are on skirts in about every store. Caution: Only wear this if you are on the smaller side, this is one of those fashion pieces that are not kind to every womanly figure (trop domage bien sur!)

What will you pull from your

London Fashion Week Recap?

What I'm Reading in Fashion News: The Louboutin YSL Case

Sure enough as Fall creeps in life is getting busier and busier. New York is bustling with everyone back from their Summer vacations and now in addition to juggling job searching and blogging, I'm trying to squeeze in mes amis as well. Here is the fashion news I've read lately that caught my eye out of the chaos. New York Magazine ran a piece on The Louboutin vs YSL Case which has been going back and forth for a while, for those of you not up to date allow me to brief you...

Any fashionista worth her salt can spot those coveted red soled Louboutin's from a mile away. In the past 10 years they have really taken on a life of their own, although Christian Louboutin has been cultivating this trademark since 1992. In their 2011 Cruise collection YSL {Yves Saint Laurent} included a pair of red soled pumps that started an battle of the soles between the two companies.

{merci rubysview.com}

It is the never ending battle of fashion, what can a designer own? The biggest problem designers face these days, is low end, fast production store chains like Forever 21 rip off their latest runway designs and distribute them to the mass market. But since they have been tweaked just enough, it cannot be fined as plagiarism, the designers have little to no protection over their art. Christian Louboutin filed for a trademark for his red sole in 2002 but was denied until 2008 when it finally cleared.

Source: statementshoes.tumblr.com via Olivia on Pinterest

But YSL has featured red soled shoes now and again in their collections since the 1970s. They argued that the survey conducted by Louboutin was misleading as 96% of people confused the YSL shoes with the Louboutin brand because they were only shown a picture of the outsole rather than the entire shoe. YSL conducted a survey showing a woman walking around in the shoe and <5% mistaken it for a Louboutin shoe.

Ultimately, Judge Marrero denied Christian Louboutin's appeal to stop YSL from producing their red sole shoes. YSL was of course pleased with the verdict as stated by YSL's Lawyer David Bernstein, "We're gratified that Judge Marrero has agreed with YSL that no designer should be allowed to monopolize a single color for an article of apparel. As Judge Marrero indicated, YSL designers are artists, and like other artists, they should have the right to use the full palette of colors."

Where do you land on the 

red sole debate mes cheris?

Don't forget the garter tights giveaway is still going on!

Hurry over and enter!

NY Fashion Week Part Deux

Sorry for the delay in fashion week updates but I have been playing catch up since NY Fashion Week closed its curtains. My weekend trip to Boston was just what I needed to rest and revive myself after the sleek runways were rolled up at Lincoln Center. I will post more on Boston soon but in the meantime, here are the great looks that have me excited for Spring Summer 2012!

SKIRTS

L.A.M.B.  {all photos merci to Style.com}

Alice+Olivia

Skirts are taking front and center on many outfits as the latest standard 3 piece suit. They began popping up prominently in Spring Summer 2011 and have only grown their prominence as a way to create a complete look while still maintaining a feminine ensemble. Be sure to have fun with the prints and shapes to switch up with your favorite tops (don't be afraid of color)!

SHEER & FLIRTY

Anna Sui

 Bibhu Mohapatra

Cynthia Rowley

 Oscar de la Renta

Whether its short in the front, long in the back, lace and flawy or completely sheer baring some chic bloomers underneath the vibe for skirts and dresses are feminine feminine, feminine! So channel your inner Jackie O and have a ball as the beautiful woman you are. 

HIGH WAISTED

Oscar de la Renta

Jason Wu

Hike that wait line up because it is all about the long legs that this 40s and 70s silhouette provides! The high waisted shorts and high waisted pants that were dancing down the runways of Lincoln Center ranged in color and print and were typically paired with a chiffon button up blouse. So add your personal flair to that and go with it!

How will you interpret NY Fashion Week?