Best of the Met Gala '11

Last night was the premier of the Costume Institue's 2011 Met exhibit, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. It has been a life goal of mine since I was a wee one to attend this event and each year I get a little sadder when my invitation becomes.. ahh, lost in the mail... (?). I pined when watching 2007's Superheros footage, I fell into depression when I of the Americana missed the 'American Women' last year... but last nights was possibly the most unbearable. Alexander McQueen was one of the first designers I began to truly love and recognize beyond uber name brands when I started really delving into fashion. I remember reading a early 2006Vogue and seeing this amazing black military-style jacket with elaborate gold trim - I promptly went out and used most of my meager high school funds to buy a similarly cut grey Ben Sherman jacket that I still have to this day. He was a visionary unmatched, one who, with all his dark idiosyncracies, could weave a fantasy creation of most any material that reminded us all why we fell in love with fashion - real, passionate, romantic, throw-yourself-in-body-and-soul fashion - in the first place.

From the previews I've glimpsed, the exhibit looks to be everything you could hope for. I'll be heading out the day it opens, this coming Wednesday, but I'm sure it won't be the only time I see it.

As for the Gala, the sartorial set turned out in all their glory to celebrate the person that was, for many, a dear friend and peer. Though this is traditionally one of the fashion year's biggest events, this time it was not just a theme, but a homage, and even those who were not wearing McQueen's designs were referencing him in breathtaking gowns by Chanel, Stella McCartney, and Rodarte. Below, some of the finest.

Daphne Guinness, Hamish Bowles, Hilary Rhoda (personal favorite - nothing like a great suit set) and ADR in Alexander McQueen

sister acts: Ashley Olsen in vintage Dior; MK Olsen in vintage Givenchy; Elle & Dakota Fanning in Valentino

Rihanna, Haylee Steinfeld, and Iman in Stella McCartney

Janelle Monae and Freida Pinto in Chanel; Saoirse Ronan in Rodarte (those SHOES! all I need, silvery sparkled Mary-Janes)

Stone Cold Fox

W stylist Alex White recently started her own blog, Alex White Edits, where she posts snapshots from her styling sessions and photos of favorite looks with handwritten comments. It's fun, but even better it gives things like behind-the-scenes sneek peeks from editorials: check this glitzy one of Lara Stone, shot by Craig McDean

White's Polaroids

The actual shots by McDean

t be honest, I think I like White's better than the refined McDean ones. They have a noir feel, darker and less contrived. But maybe that's just my nostalgia for Polaroid...

let's get old fashioned

it's Grace Coddington's 70th birthday (or was recently)!
and she's still just as fine. I met her once, at the Prada store during the first Fashion's Night Out. She signed my purse. I swooned.

young Grace, American Vogue

styled by Grace, American Vogue, Spring '11

kick one back for her, and the history of US fashion

Mermaids Paradise

I'll be honest, it's rough going trying to keep updated and stayed updated during Fashion Month. Especially when you're in school and have, you know, work and things to do. Thus I've been on a small hiatus until I could take proper inventory of each city's best shows and figure out what's been going on.

There were quite a few prevalent themes - polka dots, Navajo, menswear-inspired suiting - but my absolute favorite was Mermaids, something I originally picked up from an ornate, enamel and jewel ring in W last autumn that drew memories of Polly Pocket and all her lurid, flourescent goodness. It drew memories of this Harper's Bazaar spread I ripped out about 5 years ago - cotton-candy colored pink and blue streaks in some dirty blond, wind-tousled locks.... everything you'd wat from natural hair.Harper's Bazaar, circa maybe 2007?

It was fantastic, and I've been obsessed ever since. LUCKILY, the style set seems to have followed my brain wave - there were quite a few Ariel-worthy pieces floating around.
On the runways, Marc Jacobs reigned supreme. His sequined skirts and metallic sweaters were almost unapproachable: the urban bitch of the mermaid set, the girls who could wrap you around a finger (tail?) with a power suit that was as sexy as it was innovative.

Marc Jacobs

Prada followed in the same vein with skirts and dresses that fell in waterfalls of metallic-hued scales that draw to mind aquatic Amazonian royalty.

Expanding on the aestheically elaborate, glittery sequins and metallics were just as big. Diane on Furstenberg stole my heart - her collection was among my top % of the entire fall collective- and although most of her designs centered around 70s disco-westerns, she unleashed these two fabulous gowns at the end that simply made me drool for an underwater Studio 54.Diana Von Furstenberg

Along the same vein, D&G had sequins and lurex and metallics.. everything a self-respecting expositionist would want. The stars harkened fond memories of my favorite Barbie, who had a light-sensitive dress that sparked stars in direct exposure.

Dolce and Gabbana

Personally, I cannot wait to incorporate some serious glitz into my wardrobe. And, to be honest, I''ve been considering some flossy magenta lowlights. Drastic? I don't know what that word means...

all photos: Style.com

so it begins: ss11 lookbooks

It's January, so that means it's time for Spring lookbooks to start appearing (naturally...). While the runways were all about neon-infused 70s-meets-30s, I'm still wavering more towards the classic Americana. Where last spring was tough, hard, with studs and raw edged denim, this spring is yielding both a softer palette and shape. It's the Ralph Lauren influence rather than the Balmain.
Below, a few of my favs that have surfaced. Madewell, of course, was pared-down sportswear excellence. It was hard to chose a favorite among the spectacular loose blazers, high rolled shorts, and button downs (top pieces 1, 2, and 3 of my wardrobe) in honeyed khaki and navy. Recent import ASOS was wonderful too - tons of colorful stripes and flowing maxi dresses that cause me to lament my shortness.

Wildfox Couture White Label

ASOS

Madewell

Topshop

My one departure: I'm terribly in love with Prada's vibrant swirls and stripes. Since I definitely do not have the funds to get my hands on the real deal, I'll be searching for a diffusion. And definitely some round sunglasses.

follow-up: Tom Ford SS11 video

As previously mentioned, Tom Ford has been slowly throwing tidbits of publicity for his womenswear collection like little treats to an obedient (and attention starved?) fanbase. The pictures of the tight-lipped show surfaced a month ago and now at long last we can see them breathe; the video, set to also-model Karen Elson's 'Pretty Babies', flashes between the recognizable struts of the modeling world's giants and backstage preparations, with flickers of Ford's own smiling handsome face as he emceed the show. Ford claims to have shied away from his 90s uber-sex vibe, but the video proves otherwise for the fashion obsessed, who are always hungry; brief enough to whet the palette but just short enough that we're right back where we started - eyes wide, hearts racing, begging for more.

Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony

Chloe Sevigny's much-anticipated line for OC debuts Monday - I burn, I pine, I cannot afford. A few shots have been floating around for a few months but now the full collection is available for preview and delivers exactly what we all hoped for; in trademark Sevigny style, there are girly frocks with peter pan collars, tough boots and stacked heels, and vintage-inspired graphic ts, all layered. Part of me is happy to avoid the certain avalanche of women who will flock to the boutique at ungodly hours of the morning to wait in line for these and part of me is dying to be back in the US to do just that (I think the latter wins out).
All I want for Christmas is....

the climax: Tom Ford

And the moment you've all been waiting for kids (right?): pics from the super secret Tom Ford runway show. As expected, they give a glimpse into a hell of a collection with all the Tom Ford glitz and sex. And the women who modeled them! nothing shy of Amazonian and, it goes without saying, legendary; Ford used models all the way to age 70 (Lauren Hutton, still bangin') reflecting a small slice of fashion history. Personal delight: the show opened with my main lady, Beyonce. Especially loving the Joan Smalls afro, and I personally can find no fault with Daphne Guinness. Beyonce

Lauren Hutton

Daphne Guinness

Joan Smalls

all photos: Harper's Bazaar UK

bundle up

As I prepare for low-20s temps in northern Europe I can't help but long for the entire wooly knitty wonderful collection from Spanish store Oysho, a place whose entire stock could potentially be sleepwear but isn't, quite. I'd never heard of it until encountering a branch in Sevilla and was immediately hooked - it's as affordable as it is super comfy, and there's nothing more appealing than clothes that look like you could wear in bed all day and not have to change to leave the house. Their lingerie is girlish and pretty, the knitwear is appropriately chunky, and everything slouches, folds, or softly drapes: perfectly made for layering and snuggling. It makes me love winter. And long for a fireplace and hot cocoa.

Here, a few looks from their too-comfy-for-words AW'10 lookbook.

ADR - the obsession grows

I am very content with the person that I am.
However, if I could be any one other person in the world I would not hesitate to steal Anna Della Russo's body/wardrobe/apt/life.
It's her intermittent typing in capital letters and the affinity for headwear and the fact that she has another separate apartment for clothes.
Plus, you know, she's the editor of Vogue Nippon (the coolest one, let's be honest) and definitely does not look almost 50.
Oh, and we both love leopard print. It consumes half my closet, it consumes her entire bedroom.

We're like, soul sisters.

Thus her new perfume release marks the first time I have truly wanted to buy something solely based on the person who endorses it, with the exception of Olsen-twin clothing circa 2000. She just released the promotional video, shot by Juergen Teller and set to Kanye's 'Runaway', and I want it. That is her apartment she is in. Those clothes were gifts from Pucci and Roberto Cavalli. She is awesome. The cute little gold shoe bottle isn't helping either.



gimmegimmegimme

Prada, mi amada

Prada just released their ad campaign for SS'11 and it's everything you'd hope for (read: movement making). No doubt this will create a trend for boas and striped sunhats in the same way they brought back A-line skirts and the 60s fem silhouette. And again with the hair! The bouffant of AW'10 is now the finger wave of SS'10. Can my hair do this? Will I make it? yes and yes.
Miuccia never fails to deliver. Enjoy.

Navajo loco

Over here in Spain, there's a giant horseriding trend. It's marginally inherent in the dress - Spain has as much a history of cowboys as we do - and there's a large quantity of stores dedicated to traditional polo (the sport, not the brand) wear and many more who've taken those to the masses. They don't tout Spanish leather for nothing - stores and street markets run with tassled suede bags, saddle-clasp belts, and hundreds of woven bracelets. I've secured a gorgeous chesnut backpack and a red, white, and blue wallet, both relatively cheap and really well made. Zara, which is based in Spain, really took the heritage theme and ran with it this season, showing horse-printed blouses, tall buckled boots, jodhpurs (which I bought in creamy tan with a dark brown accent), and elbow-patched blazer in every pattern, material, and color. If all the super soft tan leather wasn't a danger enough, they've just updated their stores for winter with tons of Navajo-inspired knits and outerwear. I'm struggling not to spend the last of my money. Mango, also Spanish by birth, did it to a lesser degree (fewer trendy pieces, but better-made ones) and has me pining for shearling and this baby soft suede button down that I want to cry over.
I'm hoping to nab a fur vest before I leave, and possibly some shearling-lined heeled booties; tearfully, these prices JACK up in the States.

wool and faux fur vest: Zara. shearling and leather jacket, suede shirt: Mango ring: etsy.com

Revival - Lanvin for H&M

I'm trying to get this going again... it's not easy from here. the life of an abroad college student is just so trying...


I'll jump right in with Lanvin for H&M, which debuts today in stores and whose riotous runway took place a few days ago. Chandeliers, Anna Della Russo and a poodle (obsession), and little Alber looking as adorable as created a champagne ambiance - bubbly, sparkly, lighthearted. Everything we've come to expect from the ruler of cocktail-hour-dress compacted into a diffusion line. Personally, I might just avoid H&M altogether until everything is sold since I can't afford to spend the money on it but absolutely will be powerless to resist given an opportunity.
Here, some of the best shots of the show.

there was some seriously amazing makeup combinations. Some coordinated beautifully with the accessories, while others, especially the wide array of vivid lip colors, stood out solo.

note the great coordination of the teal lips, nails, and bracelets.

this only adds to my utter obsession with ADR. Of course appearing with some form of head wear, the poodle just adds to her signature eccentricity