After spotting these images on fashiongonerogue I just had to share them. Stylist Vanessa Bellugeon used designs from Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and Chanel to create the looks on model Naomi Preizler for this shoot in the December edition of L’ Officiel Paris shot by photographer Alexander Neumann. Gorgeous!
I don’t think there are any words to express the admiration I have for designer Tom Ford. Everything he does is perfection in my mind. I really fell in love with the designer the moment I spotted the long white one shoulder gown from his 2004 collection at the Gucci flagship store on Madison Avenue, and I have continued to be amazed by his vision and beautiful work. It was the fashion equivalent to love at first sight.
Tom Ford began his career in fashion as a design assistant for Cathy Hardwick. In 1988 he took a position at Perry Ellis and worked under designer Marc Jacobs. After moving to Europe in 1990 he went to work at Gucci and was promoted to Creative Director in 1994 when Gucci was acquired by Investcorp. While in this position, he arguably became the most influential designer of the decade by putting the glamour back into fashion. In 2004 Ford parted ways with Gucci over issues with creative control. I mourned him leaving Gucci but knew great things were still to come from him. I rejoiced when he opened his own store (also on the Upper East Side of New York) that catered to men’s fashion. I wondered how he could possibly top his glamorous collections for Gucci but upon entering the store, I was stunned by the way he could create the same breathtaking fashion for men. It was the first time men’s fashion seemed more fun than women’s and although gorgeous, the looks were also masculine and refined.
When his film, A Single Man, hit theatres in 2010 I was there and once again in love with this man! He took all the beauty of his fashion and managed to put it to motion in a film. Of making a film he has said, “You don’t just get to design what people wear, but you design the whole world and whether characters get to live or die. There is a permanence to film that fashion lacks.” Most recently he launched his own cosmetic line available at Neimans or Bergdorff’s which includes the most stunning shades including my favorite shade of lip color Wild Ginger, nail polish in Pink Crush and fragrances Santal Blush and Neroli Portofino. To top it all off he recently launched his own women’s collection (on Kate below) and it is everything you could expect from such a fashion icon. Perfection.
In the November issue of People Stylewatch, Lauren Conrad gives us her tips for a great party including her playlist. She likes to set the mood with candles by placing tea lights in mason jars and scattering them around the house or hanging them with twine outdoors. She suggests serving fun drinks like mini cans of sparkling wine (Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs by Francis Ford Coppola Winery) over ice and placing fun aspects of childhood parties like party hats, cupcakes, pretty candy and balloons and incorporating them into the party. To keep guests entertained she suggests planning some kind of activity like making s’mores or carving pumpkins for Fall/Winter parties. I love these tips! Want more? You can check out Laurenconrad.com for more ideas.
While camel coats and trenches are BIG this season you can’t exactly call them a trend. A great classic trench or camel colored coat is one of the most essential wardrobe staples. Check out some my favorites, as well as styling tips that show a myriad of ways this item can be worn.
1. Soia & Kyo Vivi Zip Coat in Camel $395 http://www.revolveclothing.com
2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Jackie Cashmere Coat $698 shopbop.com
3. BB Dakota Dedrick Long Overcoat $145 shopbop.com
4. L.A.M.B. Mid Calf Belted Coat $770 shopbop.com
One of the best trends this season is outerwear in bright shades of red, pink, orange, yellow and green. During the Fall 2011 shows designers like Proenza Schouler, Victoria Beckham, Burberry Prorsum, Les Copains, Bill Blass, Celine and Blumarine featured bright outerwear in their shows. Bright jackets and coats look rich and bold and really make a statement. The color can make a simple black outfit pop or can be worn with prints for a more fashion forward look. It can also dress up jeans and a T shirt. I think there is a big misconception that a jacket like this is impractical because it “won’t go” with anything. To those who think that, I say throw caution to the wind and embrace this fall trend.
Helmut Newton is one of my favorite photographers. He died in 1994 after he lost control of his car leaving the Chateau Marmont in LA. He was best known for his nudes. I recently picked up Taschen’s Alice Springs Photography and noticed the similarity between her work and Helmut’s. As it turns out, June Newton, Helmut Newton’s wife, is the photographer and Alice Springs is a name she has been using for her photography since the 70′s. The book is filled with nudes similar in style to Helmut’s as well as portraits of some of the most famous fashion designers of our time including Hubert de Givenchy, Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent and Gianni Versace. After her husband’s death she started The Newton Foundation in Berlin which features a joint exhibit “Us and Them” featuring a photographic journal of their life together as well as June Newton’s deathbed images of her husband in LA.
One of the biggest trends on the Fall Runways was ladylike dressing. Think Mad Men style. (If you haven’t seen Mad Men, netflix it or buy season one; it really is THAT good). While this trend may intimidate some, it really is quite easy to pull off. The most essential pieces are a nice structured bag and a pair of pumps. Black or Nude are the most versatile. Then just think a feminine dress that might look vintage inspired like the Zac Posen above or a pencil skirt with a blouse or a blouse topped with a cardigan. As for accessories, a nice strand of pearls, simple studs, waist cinching belt and a pretty scarf are all good options to achieve this look. Pretty simple. While some of the pieces I included in this post come with a BIG price tag, these looks are everywhere now and can be had at a variety of price points. I love the Gap, H&M and Zara for finding runway worthy pieces for a fraction of the price.
High shine nail color was a consistent theme at the Fall Shows. The models walked the runway in the Chanel show wearing polish also by Chanel in Peridot, a unique shimmery moss green shade. Narciso Rodriguez models wore Deborah Lippmann’s Stormy Weather which would be a great alternative if you love dark shades and are still stuck on OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark. At 3.1 Phillip Lim the models wore CND’s shade, Desert Suede, which would be great for that girl who loves neutral polish and is still wearing Essie’s Ballet Slipper or Limousine. At Jason Wu’s show models wore CND’s Gold Chrome, a shimmery shade of gold perfect for the Holidays. I’m crazy about all of these shades and think they are perfect for Fall/Winter.
My favorite looks on the Emmy red carpet this year were Kerry Washington in a bright red Zuhair Murad, Kelly Osbourne in a stunning J. Mendel, Christina Hendricks in an “Old Hollywood” gown by Johanna Johnson which really was the perfect choice for her! Julia Stiles wore Georges Hobeika and accessorized the gown perfectly. Nina Dobrev wore a unique red gown by Donna Karan that looked amazing on her and the gorgeous Evan Rachel Wood wore a black stunner by Ellie Saab.
As for the Awards my all-time favorite show, “Mad Men” picked up the award for its fourth consecutive year for Outstanding Drama series. Modern Family picked up the award for Outstanding Comedy Series for the second year. I’m going to have to check that show out. No surprise here but Kate Winslet won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries for “Mildred Pierce” and her co-star Guy Pearce won lead actor. If you missed the fashion coverage you can catch it again on the following: Kathy Griffin’s Emmys Aftermath, Monday September 19th at 8/7c on TV Guide Channel or Fashion Police, Monday September 19th at 10/9c on E!
I just love shopping for a cause. With only 300 pairs of the Exclusive Nike Mag left, if you hope to snag a pair you better start bidding. Only 1500 pairs were made and once they are gone, they are gone. The best part of getting your hands on a pair of these futuristic sneaks is that the proceeds benefit the Michael J. Fox foundation for Parkinson’s research. Happy Bidding!
