Lanvin, Ladurée and Mac - tree things I love

I went to Paris about a month ago with my french class, and of cause I spend a lot of the free time we had on going shopping (mostly window shopping). It was the trip where I got my Lanvin evening pumps. Any way, my friend and I we went over to the fabulous mall Gallery Lafayette where I became very happy when I saw the fantastic windows! Because in all of Gallery Lafayette's windows were tree of my favorite brands displayed: Lanvin, Ladurée and MacBooks. Lanvin with its beautiful clothes. Ladurée which is a marvelous French patisserie had their lovely light green boxes in the window side my side with a lot of equipment from Mac. In my opinion this was the most perfect match. If I was to decide then every woman should wear Lanvin, eat pink cakes from Ladurée and all use MacBooks! I'm sure that the world would be a better place then.  

Fashionable nuns!

                      Christian Dior haute couture 2006

Is fashion finding religion? Lots of shows for the winter season seems to have a religious atmosphere. On many catwalks were the models holding rosary beads and walked to chants. There were an almost medieval touch to many of the huge designers collections. As Bruno Pieters explained it, "Nuns were not an inspiration - more the result, I think." But it's of cause not the first time designers change religion into fashion. One of the most outstanding examples of that would be the haute couture collection John Galliano made for Dior in the spring of 2006. 

Fashionable nuns and priests, why not? 

The pictures clockwise: Giambattista Valli (winter 2009), Fendi (winter 2009), Bruno Pieters (winter 2009), arcbishop Timothy Dolan.

The venue is everything

To have a beautiful fashion show, the clothes isn't everything. Most of the time the clothes speak for itself, but very often the venue and the settings of the show gives the collection that little bit extra. The set designers had glorified days a year or two ago, before the whole world got itself in to a huge financial problem. It's clear to see that the fashion show sets today is much more toned down which I find very beautiful. The chosen venues are very simple and clean. One or two years ago when the bigger was better, the feeling is today less is more.

 Another thing that is changed in the fashion world about the shows, is not only the settings, but also the people who are invited. Some seasons ago the fashion houses almost competed about who had the most Hollywood ladies on the front

row. Today that is change, so that the famous people is no longer such a big a part of the shows. On the front row sits now the people who actually knows about fashion and work in the business. Here is some pictures of some of the venues from the Chanel, Vera Wang and Marc Jacob's shows. Chanel's show in Grand Palais in Paris. Vera Wang's white settings in New York. And Marc Jacob's orange carpet also in New York.  

Ukrainian high fashion?

As always is John Galliano on another level than most of his fellow designers. I would say that a collection like this, as so many before it by John, is a show that can only work in Paris, and only John Galliano can pull it of without making it a total disaster. What John does best is telling us a story, and tell it well, so that you feel the atmosphere and the history that surrounds each and every piece of the collection. John Galliano has a fantastic talent for seeing high fashion in the smallest things and create something beautiful out of it. This year it was the ukrainian culture that Galliano laid his eyes on. In some way it's very hard to wear, but I have now several experienced that when I go the Galliano shop in Paris on Rue Faubourg St. Honoré, the clothes seem so wearable. Because when you take away all the makeup, and the lights, and the skinny models, you can see how well made the dresses are made, and how one can actually wear it. Perhaps not a hole set, but just one piece used at the time is fab. Another amazing feature to this years show was the light on the catwalk. The set designers made a tunnel of light made by laser, so that all the dust in the room fell trough the light and looked like snow, which is perfect for a winter show! It was like a fairy tale. Very magical as a Galliano show always is. 

My Lanvin shoes in London!

Look! My shoes! Lanvin just opened a store in London. But i bought these beauties in Paris four weeks ago. Now they are just behind Alber Elbaz him self, and Yasmin Le Bon (supermodel). 

Why can't you just be normal?!!!

It has been too long since I have had a post about my beloved models of crap! So here is the queen of crap - Agyness Deyn! 
 

Danish art and french clothes at its best

My big sister opened up some days ago a exhibition on the danish museum Glyptoteket about Thomas Bang, a danish avantgarde artist with some rather unusual art installations. When I saw it I came to think about Dries Van Noten. I think the two of them would make a great couple. Thomas Bang had a piece with a lot of silver balls, which made me think of the Dries Van Noten spring 2009 collection were a lot of jewelry were big silver balls around the models thin and gracious necks and wrists. I like it. 

Marilyn Manson meets fortune tellers meets geishas meets circus...

Alexander McQueen may be the last designer standing brave (or foolish) enough to present a collection were nothing was spared because of the times we live in now. McQueen is a show man and recession will not stop this crazy man from pulling of a grand show in Paris. The clothes was for most of the part, dramatic satires of Christian Dior, with parodies of his old new look themes, and also Chanel's tweed suits. On top of that I thought the collection reminded me about a blend of circus, Marilyn Manson, fortune tellers and geishas. What a mix! Alexander McQueen is a master when it comes to shapes and cutting them right. And he stayed true to his craftsmanship throughout the hole collection. What irritating me quite a bit was the makeup, that I actually thought was extremely ugly. But all in all McQueen made me happy. 

Eccentric men!

Some of the most talented designers look like men from who you would never expect the most beautiful clothes in the world. They look a bit crazy, and funny at the same time. But under the odd surface lies huge talents. Here are a few of them, Marc Jacobs, John Galliano, Victor and Rolf, and Alexander McQueen (the bunny).

When leather is lovely

A large group of female flying ladies took off at Hermes. With the soundtrack from Casablanca the scene was set for the show in Paris yesterday. With lots of fur and leather, all in dark colors Jean Paul Gaultier went very old school with the pilot look, but in a fantastic way. I think that Gaultier is one of the very best in the industry to make beautiful clothes out of leather. I mean who else can make a jumpsuit out of leather that you actually wanner wear. It's clear that Gaultier knows his craft, and know how to use it in the most elegant way. This was sure a collection that ladies like Carla Bruni and Victoria Beckham should take a closer look at. 

Glove hats

Dolce et Gabbana... Sometimes great, sometimes not so great. I would say that their fall 2009 collection had both good and bad moments. The gloves on the models heads was a bit odd, but still a bit cool. Not so wearable, but what ever.  That is not an issue when it comes to high fashion. It might should be an issue because of the times we are living in financial. The glove theme reminded me about the old Parisian fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. But Milan is always very glamours, and with the huge dresses at the end, the Dolce show was no exception, with prints of Marilyn Monroe. 

Go neon!

Neon is back, or so says Michael Kors. And I am so ready for it. I would totally go for this neon fur look for next winter, 2009. I mean come on, check it out, it looks so cool. 

Pink coolness

Take a look at this beauty. I mean, how cool are these! I am going to Paris on Thursday and I'm really looking forward to see my darling Paris again. It's my city you know. For me it's now more or less a tradition that every time I go to either Paris or London, I have to buy a pair of Louboutin shoes. I now have now 3 pairs, and I have now my eyes on this pink pair of coolness. 

Summer for winter?

I'm a bit confused here. It's no secret any more, that the seasons now are almost only separated by the fact that the summer collection have bikinis. Because of the increasing in the temperatures it's very common to se fur coats at the summer collection as well as the winter collection have lots of thin dresses. Derek Lam's winter 2009 collection was no exception. 

A Donna Dress

Donna Karen does it good! Her collection for winter 2009 was really a pleasure to watch. This is a fab dress. 

Victoria my star

So New York fashion week has been going on for quit some time now. Victoria Beckham, who every one thought would crack very fast as a fashion designer, surprised the fashion industry last summer by making a really graceful but small collection. For this winter collection 2009 the collection was a bit larger, but still as graceful. I am a huge fan of her work as well as a fan of her style. I think that the long gowns would look fabulous on the red carpet on women like Angelina Jolie or Hillary Swank. You Go Vicy! 

Valentino without Valentino

Alessandre Facchinetii only got two seasons at Valentino after the good old man left the building. So for the haute couture spring 2009 the house of Valentino were without an head to take all the credit. So a team of designers were to take the Valentino legacy and make it look as if nothing were ever happened. And so it was, that a team of accessory designers made an outstanding collection in the spirit of Valentino. As always the Valentino red was a theme throughout the hole collection. Lots of beautiful outfits made of the most luxurious fabrics in the most elegant colors. A lot of layer-on-layer dresses made me think that the Michelin man is now totally in!