Resort/Cruise Collections 2011: Carolina Herrera, Narciso Rodriguez, Donna Karan

More from the Resort Collections 2011: More Pink, Black & White and 70's GlamCarolina Herrera Resort 2011:
The Venezuelan-born designer showed light elegant clothes (yes, it's what she is known for) for Resort 2011. Every piece was perfect...well, perfect for a Met Gala Opening, perfect for the Upper East Side socialites--both Mom's and Daughters--and perfect for the wives of those Goldman Sachs bankers who need a little "something-something" to go out on the town in. She showed gloriously printed dresses-both gowns and cocktail styles, as well as bright fuchsia pinks, canary yellows (my favorite being the above off-the-shoulder fitted gown with side pockets) and yes...a little Black and White. I can JUST see the gown above on Barbara Walters, Nancy Kissinger or even Princess Letizia of Asturias, the Crown Princess of Spain. These were timeless, a little 60s, a little 70s, a little 80s, yet somehow still NOW and very chic.

Narciso Rodriguez Resort 2011:Narciso Rodriguez, also went LIGHT, for Resort 2011. These were clothes with a soft "hand" showing effortless draping. He is going beyond his "semi-bondage/racer-back athletic girl", at least for Resort. So I guess, his "woman" loses her hard edge when she heads to her Caribbean vacation next February. Standouts include this soft-pink suit (above) with a perfect shapeless blazer and cropped trousers; A little white knee-length wrap dress (love the shoulder pads and dropped shoulder!) with black waist-tie and..

This turquoise "one-shoulder" kimono-inspired wrap dress with contrasting straps and ties. These are simple yet stylish dresses that would still turn heads in St. Barths...or Manhattan.

Donna Karan Resort 2011:
Karan sent out her girls--with the hairstyle du jour, the "Slick Back"--with all the items Karan devotees want, including this easy-breezy jersey tunic dress with elongated sleeves (I'm sure those will be cut down by 10" before they hit the department stores kiddies!).There were also lots of glam gowns such as the slate-gray one-shoulder jersey draped dress above. There was a mid-70's vibe to her collection with hints of Bianca Jagger and a bit of Shelley Hack, the "Charlie Girl" .
The jackets had the length of 70's jackets, the extended shoulders of the 80s but those pants--and styling definitely say 2011! This is what you wear when you are invited to celebrate New Year's 2011 in Aruba with Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs, Beyonce, Jay-Z and all those Ukrainian multi-millionaires who are paying for your flight there.
Happy Resort darlings.

Cruise/Resort 2011 Collections!! Chanel, YSL, Dior: Photos and Runway Videos!

Resort 2011 Buzzwords: Pink, Black and White, 70's and...
Jean Shrimpton and Sheikha of Qatar?

Chanel 2011 Cruise/resort Collection:Karl Lagerfeld gathered all his top models--including his favorite boy toy, Baptiste Giabiconi, and held his Chanel Cruise 2011 Collection in fabulous Saint Tropez with guests seated on the red wooden chairs framing the street-turned-runway. The theme was definitely 70s, very HAUTE Hippie Chick with a hint of Jean Shrimpton and a BIG DASH of Brigitte Bardot. Flowy caftans, silk jersey tapered pants, high-waisted denim and lots of barefoot models strutting down the Saint Tropez streets as if it were 6:30 PM and they had just spent all day at the beach and were now ready for cocktails and Caviar! Pink, mustard, white were the strong colors of the collection, as well as lots of soft prints. Of course, there were the tried-and-true Chanel cropped jackets for all the ladies who have Caprese Salads in Positano...as well as some rather risque crochet styles that would definitely be on any Russian Mafia Mistresses Shopping List for her February 2011 Cruise to Croatia!

YSL Cruise/Resort 2011:
Stefano Pilati, designer for YSL, is getting "softer" or so the fashionista editors are saying...I think he's just realizing that his "girl" might also have a "lovelier" edge. His collection was very pretty, very lady-like, and très elegant. The chic turbans were VERY Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser al Missned (above with First Lady of France Carla Bruni-Sarkozy)Pink was again very strong in this collection, and high waisted shorts--such as the ones above--are de rigueur--when going out on your Marrakesh Resort 2011 "vacation".
Black and White were very strong for YSL Resort 2011 and it showed up in this very Bianca Jagger-esque pantsuit above...As well as this pretty yet still directional blouse and dirnl skirt ensemble (black being substituted for golden mustard).

Christian Dior Cruise/Resort 2011:John Galliano went PRETTY in Shanghai for Resort 2011. Along with his Dior bosses--Bernard Arnault, and CEO Sidney Toledano--as well as 500 guests--he showed Dior Cruise/Resort 2011 in Shanghai, the "City of The Future". Not Paris, not New York City, not Los Angeles, not Milan. Yep, kids, if you want to play with the big boys and reach your new consumer, you show in China! Besides the 500 "invited guests", Dior muses Charlize Theron and Marion Cotillard (it's in the contract kiddies!), were flown via private plane to the Asian Capital of the new "No-Recession World" to showcase this multi-million dollar extravaganza! For Resort 2011, Galliano showed lots of PINK, a rose theme...as well as the famed Monsieur Dior Prince of Wales checks; updated in hot trench coats, and corseted cocktail dresses giving a nod to his last Haute Couture Collection. Speaking of Haute Couture: There are only an estimated 400 clients all over the world but the growing multi-millionaires in China are changing that--or so the Fashion Shows wish. Therefore, Galliano--in addition to his Pret-a-porter-- also showed Haute Couture pieces for Resort 2011, like this candy colored organza ball gown-- estimated to cost around $90,000-$150,000-- to entice the gorgeous "Real Housewives of Shanghai" ladies.

Check out the full Runway Videos of the Dior Resort 2011 Below:
Christian Dior Cruise/Resort 2011 Runway Video Part 1 :


Christian Dior Cruise/Resort 2011 Runway Video Part 2:


Christian Dior Cruise/Resort 2011 Runway Video Part 3: