ADR AND VERSACE FOR H&M

The hyperkinetic but always fabulous Anna Dello Russo just posted this backstage video on her website.  I found her plastic covering a bit disturbing, but agree that Versace for H&M and ADR are made for each other.

Initial previews of the collection feel overpriced to me, given that this is a fast fashion retail outlet, not couture.  But others may find it worth it, if only to get a feel for the frenetic fashion energy that is both Versace and Anna Dello Russo.

What do you all think of the collection?

LANVIN'S FALL 2011 VIDEO

I had been enjoying the double trouble Lanvin campaign in the magazines.  I didn't realize there was actually a video, shot by Steven Meisel, accompanying it.




It won't win dance awards, but it is rather amusing, particularly when Alber Elbaz joins the fun towards the end.  As always, we can also simply appreciate Lanvin's feminine glamor.

MISSONI FOR TARGET

Just out: sneak peaks of Missoni's much-anticipated collection for Target.

(All photos from Target advertising campaign)

Missoni for Target ad campaign

Now we can all get striped up in Fall colors -- down to our travel bags, and even, ta-dah! -- biking around town.  How cute is that bike.

Behind the Scenes from photo shoot
Source: Target campaign shoot

Their housewares are also very fun and cute, in signature patterns and colors.  Word is that Margherita Missoni has a lot of these in her apartment in Paris.  If it's good enough for her, it should be good enough for us.

For those with babies and little girls, their children's collection was divine too.

The collection appears in the stores on September 13th.

TARGET: GO INTERNATIONAL COLLECTION

Who doesn't love designers at Target prices?  (Tar-jhay to the pretentious, hopeful the outfits' humble origins will elude detection).

Target's designer collaborations over the past 5 years have been so successful that Target has re-issued some of its best dresses for a limited time, currently available now.

Re-issued Target collaborations
L-R: Thakoon, Tracy Feith, Alice Temperley, Libertine

Cute and affordable!  Best of all, fuss-free.  Who wants to dry clean in the summer?

I came away with the Thakoon batik dress and the Tracy Feith white, corset sundress -- so Dolce and Gabbana! -- before they got sold out.  Target Collaborations often do, sometimes getting resurrected on eBay.  There are more dresses from Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Jovovich-Hawk ... the list goes on and on.  Beware that some of the fabrics looked quite cheap, so I opted for the weightier, cotton ones.

I also grabbed the floral Tracy Feith below (featured in Elle) -- reminiscent of bygone East Coast summers when Kate Spade or Lilly Pulitzer ruled.  Very preppy with pearls and a floppy hat.  Not that I'd wear it that way.

Re-issued Target collaboration: Tracy Feith

But what I am really very excited about is the upcoming collaboration with Calypso St. Barths!

Target collaboration: Calypso St. Barths

Target collaboration: Calypso St. Barths

As Iman famously said, "I never met a caftan I didn't like."  Neither have I.

Calypso goes live on May 1st.  There may be nothing left by May 2nd.

LOVE-LY ON VALENTINE'S DAY

Valentine's Day is around the corner.  What mood are you after?  Are you trying to evoke sentiments of Juliet in your Romeo?

Warm, fuzzy feelings are kindled by soft, flowing fabrics.  Think georgettes, silks and chiffons.  It is amazing how a little ruffle here and there elicits the protective instinct.  Leave the slick, structured, power shapes for another time.  (Mood killers.)

Magenta chiffon dress,
tiny ruffle and lace detail on shoulders

Don't believe in the psychology of clothes?  A few chilly days ago, I put on a vintage coat straight out of a Hitchcock film.  The gallantry surprised me.  Doors were held open.  Even the barrista at Peet's Coffee etched a foam heart on my cappuccino.

Soft fur, wrists peeking out of 3/4 sleeves
lend femininity to this vintage coat

Of course, if "helpless" isn't your thing, finish it off with vampier details. A black, over-the-knee boot sends a strong message, as does a wide, leather belt for a more body-conscious silhouette.  Honesty is preferable to the old bait-and-switch.

If you are past the romancing stage, go full steam ahead on the sultry and glamorous looks.

Prabal Gurung
from gilt.com

STRUTTING INTO THIS DECADE

Happy New Year!

Along with our resolutions, we reflect on this decade's style. What still looks modern from last decade and what should we retire?

KEEP ON WEARING: Platform Sandals and Booties 

Even clog bottoms, as Chanel surprisingly showed the fashion world last spring.  Ankle to mid-calf platforms still modernize any outfit.

Chloe, beige clog-bottom sandals

Balenciaga
open-toed, platform mid-calf boots

STORE OR DONATE: Uggs and Crocs 

Unless you're a kid.  Okay, perhaps I never quite got Ugly Chic.  (I swear I did not coin that term --fashion rags over 5 years ago did.) I understood Punk, Goth, and Grunge as personal style expressions and oddly artistic.  Yet, the classic Ugg boot and Crocs struck me as utilitarian, not Statements.

Classic Short Ugg boots

Crocs

KEEP ON WEARING: Tailored silhouettes 


Runway Minimalism last year influenced the return to a simpler shape and form.  Folds, drapes and some embellishment in the fabric can still feel modern, but bows, ruffles and studs get a rest.

Burberry Prorsum silk dress with intricate twists

STORE OR DONATE: Boho Chic

A few hippie accents still look good, but too much flower child belongs to another Decade.

Ralph Lauren, Fall 2010

KEEP USING: Ladylike bags

Bags held by their handles or slung in the crook of the elbow still exude posh glamor.  

Mulberry pink ostrich Bayswater bag

STORE OR DONATE: Logo shoulder bags 

Particularly longer strapped ones.  They look dated.  But wait some decades and they'll turn Vintage.

Coach logo shoulder bag

The main push towards modern dressing in the past decade is Eclecticism.  Mix up designers, from high-end to low-end.  Throw in some Vintage or Flea Market finds.  This drive towards individual style is perhaps the most important development in Fashion this millenium. It remains the key to Modern Dressing.

* Let's not split hairs, for those of you who love precision.  Most would insist the decade began with the year 2010 rather than 2011.  For the purposes of Fashion, we are still very early on in this decade, however you count it.

DARK NIGHTS

I discovered a new designer while looking through a boutique in San Francisco.  (The boutique also has a sister shop in New York.)   It seems I am a little late in discovering Jasmine de Milo as several celebrities have already worn her designs.  Her aesthetic is simple and very sophisticated with an artistic twist.  Now that's a credo one can live by!

(All photos from the boutique, Elizabeth Charles)

Waist cut-outs plus a twist

This is a T-back dress, really cute from behind

Asymmetrical neckline
Very flattering, high waist trousers

These are some great looks for the after-6 pm holiday parties.  The last 2 looks can even go from office to office party on the same day.   The dark palette carries gravitas to the looks that guarantee you won't be ashamed in front of your boss, even if you've had an eggnog too many.

LANVIN COLLABORATION WITH H&M

The latest buzz in designer-meets-fast-fashion collaborations is the upcoming Lanvin collection for H&M.  The looks become available on November 23rd.  Everything is currently top secret but the first teaser photo has been released:

Lanvin collaboration with H&M,  from H&M

Guess what?  It looks very Lanvin!  And I love the use of the grey-haired model.  Style knows no age.

Designer, Alber Elbaz, says he never wanted to compromise and go mass market.  However, the notion that H&M was actually going luxury excited him.

For the first time, I am also excited to check out H&M!  I often end up hoping for better quality fabrics and construction from their outfits.  However, the prices are certainly tempting for fast, trendy items.

JASON WU 2011 SPRING

OK, the Fashion Editors have voted and they were all raving about Jason Wu's latest collection.

JASON WU 2011 Spring - JASON WU Collections on ELLE.com

While pretty, I wasn't quite moved by its originality as I was when Phoebe Philo put out a minimalist, neutral collection for Celine last Fall that changed the direction of fashion.  Still, his signature "Look" with the cinched waist - popularized by First Lady Michelle Obama - was evident in several of the outfits.

Jason Wu Spring 2011
The Look Michelle Obama popularized

We can expect the First Lady to carry off many of the outfits quite nicely. Some of my favorites from the collection:

Your opinion on the collection?

LITTLE WHITE DRESS

When ladies don't know what to wear, they often reach for the Little Black Dress.  But in the summer, the easiest go-to outfit is actually the Little White Dress!  It's cool, refreshing, and feminine.  White looks good on any skin color and can especially highlight a summer tan.  It's infinitely versatile - accessorize or not, it still looks crisp.

The return to minimalism is a welcome direction in fashion.  We are back to more tailored classics, as opposed to trendy, which means we can use them for years to come.

Calvin Klein and Celine, under Phoebe Philo, (see the blog Neutral Territory) showed clean, wearable lines in their white dresses.

Calvin Klein Spring/Summer 2010

Celine Spring/Summer 2010

More romantic types may prefer more frills, like this flapper summer dress from J. Crew.

J. Crew dress (from www.jcrew.com)

Younger trendsters with slim legs can pull off these flounced mini-skirts popular these days.  Chloe's multi-tiered eyelets add visual interest and texture to an otherwise plain white tank top.

Chloe skirt (from www.polyvore.com)

I bet most of you already have some crisp, white staples in your wardrobe.  Time to give it another whirl this summer!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

This is one of the biggest holidays in the United States.  Most people will be having poolside barbecues or heading to the beach.  Whatever your plans are, enjoy yourself and stay cool!

A great easy look to sport is the white summer dress.  (I will blog more on these summer staples later).  No embellishments required except your sunglasses or a big floppy hat to keep those UV rays away.

Donna Karan (from www.polyvore.com)

I love this full-skirted Donna Karan ramie and elastane blend dress.  The handkerchief hem is interesting and the fabric is cool and comfortable.

Enjoy all those watermelons and fireworks today!

STELLA'S STUNNERS

The verdict seems to be out from fashion editors: they also loved Stella McCartney's Resort Collection.  Editors from Vogue, NY Times, Women's Wear Daily, etc. all raved about it.  McCartney refused to use the word "Resort" though and preferred to refer to her collection as "Spring."

Here's a quick share on a video (from The Huffington Post) from her runway show delightfully held in a garden.  You can see the pretty floral dresses and whites which I would just love to wear all spring/summer!  The very clean, sleek ponytails were also a perfect complement to the collection.



If you have problems playing the video, click on the link:  Stella McCartney Resort 2011