Don't ask, just do it

Once i read about a model who went in to a lot of high fashion stores, tried on the most expensive haute couture clothes, and then in the fitting room took amazing photos of her self. You are not allowed to take any kind of pictures in fashion stores, because they are so afraid that some will copy their concept. Anyways, this model took picture of her self in Dior and Chanel couture, and some times she was kicked out of the stores because they found out what she was doing. And some times she just got the most amazing pictures lying in a fitting room surrounded by tons of tulle, silk, pearls and jewelry. 

With that in mind, every time I go in to a very high fashion boutique i try to sneak to take a picture. I did it in Lanvin and I also did it in Chanel in Rue Cambon. You don't ask, because you know that the answer will be a clear no. So just do it when there's no one around. Which is very difficult in Chanel, since there are tons of sales advisors. 

Donna and Francis

In Donna Karan's New Yorker-with-a-view-to-central-park-apartment she has a huge Francis Bacon painting. I read somewhere that she's a big fan of his work. Personally I think his paintings are a bit creepy, but his color palette is just divine! And when I saw Donna Karan's pre-fall '10 collection it crossed my mind that the colors palette of that collection (and many before that) has a clear reference to the colors of Francis Bacon. The older I get the more I love Donna Karan's clothes. Not because I'm getting older, and that I think she makes clothes for older people. But because as a know more and more about the fashion industry, I become more clear to me how good she actually is. She is just fantastic at making really extremely beautiful clothes. And not only is she a great fashion designer who really know what suits a women's body. She also has an outstanding eye for colors. The way she mix colors and put them together in new an different ways just make me so happy every time I see her collections. She is for women what Armani is for men - perfection. 

Michelle rocked the year

I'm a big fan of Michelle Obama. She will be remember as the Jackie Kennedy of our time when it comes to first lady fashion. She is very well dressed, and she has a fabulous attitude towards fashion and that great style do not always come with a high fashion label. She wears every thing from Oscar de la Renta to H & M. Michelle Obama will be remembered as one of the fashion icons of this decade. 

Smoke and ice

The Austrian brand Helmut Lang is known for the minimalistic and almost clinical style. The fall 2009 collcetion was no exception. The clothes made me think of how smoke and ice would look like on fabric. Not the Alexander McQueen way with tons of very visual prints, but in a more hidden way as a part of the clothes. As if smoke and ice were woven in to the fabric. 

Lots of inspiration in one collection

The pre-spring fall '10 collection by New York based Devi Kroell was a (in my opinion) beautiful mix of lot my favorite designers. I saw some Donna Karan in the long gown as well as the cocktail dress. Some Armani in the suits as well as YSL. And also some Dries Van Noten with the prints.  

Bauhaus, Lanvin, and Le Corbusier

The Lanvin jewelry have over the past few years become collectibles for women all over the world. They started the whole statement jewelry wave. With over size necklaces, bracelets, earrings, cuffs, and rings Lanvin are one of the most innovative brands on the market. Repeatedly they create new shapes and colors and pushes the boundaries for the choice of materials for fine jewelry, with not only classic pearls and diamonds, but with plastic, chains, screws, metal, and plexi glass. All in all it gives a very hard look that is soften up with lots of pearls and silk ribbons. 

In my parents living room they have two Le Corbusier armchairs. And that made me suddenly think about Lanvin and how some of the jewelry very well could be from the Bauhaus era. In my eyes the inspiration is clear. The shapes from the Bauhaus time is very recognizable in the big Lanvin necklaces.  

Chanel loves China

I always look forward to the Chanel shows, because you can always expect the unexpected. Karl Lagerfeld push the limits for every Chanel show, and pushes the boundaries for what a fashion show can be. Once Karl Lagerfeld had a show on the Great Wall of China. There are just some event only Karl can pull of. 

This time  the Chanel pre-fall became a chinese affair, with the show held in Shanghai. The settings are of cause amazing, and the clothes as well. But I must say that the accessories department lacked a lot. Especially when you think about that the accessories are the thing a house like Chanel sells the most of. Who on earth would wear a hat like that unless you actually live in China. And the boots look like something Madonna would wear from the fall '09 Louis Vuitton collection. Which I personally don't see as a positive thing. 

Of cause Barbie is wearing Louboutin!

Barbie and Christian Louboutin are the perfect couple. She is slim, tall, stylish and for ever young. So if Barbie wouldn't wear Louboutin I don't know who would! For 115 euro this lovely Louboutin Barbie can be yours. Well it could be. It's totally sold out. 

 

A mess in Lanvin

I myself work in Tommy Hilfiger. And for me it's very important that the store is always clean and tidy. So for me it's a virtue that when ever a customer is done with trying shoes or clothes we clean the place up immediately. So when I was in Lanvin in Paris some weeks ago I was very surprised to see that on the first floor the shoes were just laying around the shop. I think that's kind of disrespectful to such expensive shoes as Lanvin. And also a bit disrespectful to the customers that comes in to such a luxurious high fashion boutique where you would expect every little detail to be perfect. If not, then at least that the staff would clean up after them self, and not just leave shoe boxes all around the store. 

Another thing that disturbed me was that when you just leave shoes there directly from the stock, there are no alarms in them. So hypothetical speaking it would be very easy for any one to just slip the shoes down your bag. I'm sure they have cameras, but still... Not good Lanvin! 

Lanvin and Chanel in a backyard

Every time I go to Paris one of the most important stops is the Lanvin store in Rue Faubourg st. Honoré. Just in between La Perla and Hermes is the boutique situated. Across it is the Lanvin shop pour homme. Last time I went there my feet where killing me because I had walked around in Paris in four hours in Lanvin high heeled boots. But I wanted to wear my Lanvin shoes when I went there, so after me and my friend left the store we went in to a backyard next to Lanvin where I changed my shoes in to some flat Chanel gold shoes. Not the most comfortable shoes in the world, but at least they where flat! Lovely to be standing in a dark backyard in Paris next to Lanvin and La Perla and change shoes. It's all about appearance. 

Mirror mirror on the wall

Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all. Dior I guess.