Several gals wore leather on the Teen Choice 2011 red carpet (OK, it was BLUE!). It was a nice and balmy 70-something degrees in Universal City yesterday but that didn't stop the "Leather Fashion Brigade". Let's take a look:
Blake Lively in Gucci Resort 2012: Blake chose a very fitted sheath pale orange leather dress from the House of Gucci and their Resort 2012 collection (yes, kids, we are still in 2011!). I think she looks great. Nice accessories, nice pointy-toe pumps. Very 1950's chic. A Tippi Hedrenup-do would have taken it from "Nice" to FAB-u-Lous!
Elizabeth Banks in J Mendel Resort 2012: Actress Elizabeth Banks also wore leather--and very nicely. Gilles Mendel is one of my favorite designers and of course: LUV his J Mendel line. The dress is edgy and fun at the same time. The tangerine color is perfect for the BLUE Carpet and I'm also a fan of the asymmetrical leather panel "cascades". It just turned this otherwise "basic" leather dress into something far more interesting.
How NOT to do Leather:
Choreographer (and Yelling Queen) Mary Murphy of "So You Think You Can Dance": No. No. And No. Oh Mary. She looks like the Hostess at a Hofbrau somewhere in a seedy part of Munich or like she works at a Meat-Packing Company somewhere in Kansas City. Who. Told. Her. To. Wear. This? And then with those 2008-looking peep-toe boots. Step off the blue carpet and go get me a flank steak...and some German Beer!!!
Ice, Ice Baby: Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
Elie Saab is criticized for making collections that are safe and often repetitive. Often you could interchange one season for another and not really tell the difference. This collection is no exception in that Saab sticks to his trademark of sending out beautifully crafted gowns and cocktail dresses that look as if they are floating down the runway.
I, for one, have no problem with his aesthetic and I am sure his many clients in Dubai and China don't mind it either. Yes, while watching the video you do get a bit glassy eyed from all the continuous hand beaded concoctions, but the House of Elie Saab is certainly giving all there couture clients (and Red Carpet Actresses) plenty of options, and letting them feel comfortable that their dress will be unique from the others.
Ballerina Chic: Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
For Fall/Winter 2011 (Yes, this is Saab's version of Fall! No fur and wool for this client!) there were a few themes that stood out in the collection. Elie made thebeading lighter and more transparent with breathtaking beading on the most delicate chiffon that he draped and pleated across the body. Also, there was a Ballerina feel to his cocktail dresses with short skirts that were pleated and full. This might be a Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture trend alert.
Caplet Queen: Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
Probably the most standout trend of the collection was the open backson many of the dresses. Unfortunately not apparent in the photos (make sure to watch the video below), the gowns and cocktail dresses had stunning backs that were completely open, delicately draped or open with delicate shear caplets.
Below are more looks from the collection:
Bronze and Beaded: Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
Blouson Couture: Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
Blue Shear: Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
One Shoulder Goddess: Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
Click below to watch the entire Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011 Runway Show:
Lanvin Creative Director Alber Elbaz and Menswear Designer Lucas Ossendrijver began with the idea of creating a uniform for the "everyman". "Nothing is sexier than a Man in uniform" stated Elbaz and I couldn't agree with him more! Could you imagine the TSA Agents dressed in these ensembles!! Now that would keep me alert at the airport!
But being that the uniform theme was just the jumping off point, these outfits are really meant to inspire the man on the street and that is something I definitely think we will be seeing especially in the Chic boroughs of Paris and New York. I'm loving the Suit Jacket with shorts ensemble above!
Colored Crew: Lanvin Menswear Spring/Summer 2012
The middle section of the show gave us some great colored suits (a definite Spring 2012 Trend!) in interesting fabrications that weren't your basic menswear tropical wools. Loving the nipped in waists and slim cropped trousers (another Trend Alert!)
Military Mash-up: Lanvin Menswear Spring/Summer 2012
And finally, the show closed with a mix of military tailoring and Boho Chic prints that had the perfect balance of structure and fluid ease. Bravo! This is definitely a collection that will be an inspiration in menswear for seasons to come.
Click Below for an edited video of the Lanvin Menswear Spring/Summer 2012 Collection:
Euro Prepster Meets Mykonos Pool Boys Meets Finnish Fishermen...Welcome to Dsquared2 Menswear Collection Spring 2012
The EuroBoy Express: Dsquared2 Menswear Spring 2012 Collection
The Milan Menswear Spring 2012 (yeah, that's NEXT YEAR!) Collections are happening right now--and so it is my duty to give my readers some of the Beefcake-y, HOT, OMG Look At His Six-Pack...Ooops, I mean, respectable Fashion Insider Two Cents on the highlights of this current season. Up first, the Dsquared2 Collection from those kooky Canadian twins, Dean and Dan Caten.
Would Like Cucumber Water: Dsquared2 Menswear Spring 2012 Collection
Now, usually, I try and stay "professional" and not be that person--when reviewing a collection--and say the dreaded "Oh I TOTALLY would wear that..." or "Oh that's soooo UGLY, I would NEVER wear that!" as we all know that's NOT THE POINT. Designers are not really showing that for YOU and YOU may not be their "market" and so on and so forth. But...I TOTALLY would wear A LOT of this Spring 2012 Collection!!!! Totally.
Thank Goodness Mommy and Daddy Left Me Some Money: Dsquared2 Menswear Spring 2012 Collection
From the moment I first saw the runway images, I pressed PRINT on my Computer Printer and now, they are on my wall as my "inspiration" for all the various "looks" I will be (trying) to give on my upcoming trip to Europe! Especially the three looks above. Even David Paul, my NIKOLAKI partner-in-crime said "Oh Dear Nick, that is SOOOO YOU!" Now, yes, A) I wish I was 6' 3" , and B) had a size 28" waist like these 19-year-old models but alas, I am not. I will, however, still somehow try and use these as a "jumping off" inspiration point. Love the cropped brightly colored pants. I would wear them. The leather sandals. Check. The Riding shoes with fuchsia pants and double-breasted jacket look. Check.
LOVE!!!
However...you probably would NEVER catch me wearing this little ensemble:
Welcome to Santorini: Dsquared2 Menswear Spring 2012 Collection: One Question--Will I get six pack abs if I purchase these???
The boys from Dsquared2 showed their typical hot-and-sexy looks for Spring 2012, adding lots of color, some "Euro Trust Fund-er" looks as well as playing with their "Is He a Gay Mountain Climber? Or Isn't He?"leitmotif. This time around, that section was covered by Finnish-looking sons of fishermen ready to catch some fish, drink some vodka and then have a good time later...with whomever is within 5 feet of them. Whomever...
Fish and Vodka: Dsquared2 Menswear Spring 2012 Collection
Tim Blanks, of Style.com, summed up the collection this way in the introduction of his Review of the collection: Dean and Dan Caten are twenty-first-century vaudevillians, incapable of presenting a new collection without couching it in a saucy variety show. Today's revolving stage coughed up some sexy Scandinavian fisherman, a buffet of Mykonos beefcake, a couple of lower-the-temperature Roman ragazzi, a handful of droogy rockers, and Kazaky, four dizzy queens from the Ukraine whose post-Gaga get-outta-my-way-bitch shtick involved a gravity-defying dance routine performed in skintight leather pants and sky-high heels. Phew! Oh, there were some clothes shown, too.
Click Below for the Videos of the Dsquared2 Menswear Spring 2012 Collection:
Blake Lively in Gucci Resort 2012: Blake chose a very fitted sheath pale orange leather dress from the House of Gucci and their Resort 2012 collection (yes, kids, we are still in 2011!). I think she looks great. Nice accessories, nice pointy-toe pumps. Very 1950's chic. A Tippi Hedren up-do would have taken it from "Nice" to FAB-u-Lous!
Elizabeth Banks in J Mendel Resort 2012: Actress Elizabeth Banks also wore leather--and very nicely. Gilles Mendel is one of my favorite designers and of course: LUV his J Mendel line. The dress is edgy and fun at the same time. The tangerine color is perfect for the BLUE Carpet and I'm also a fan of the asymmetrical leather panel "cascades". It just turned this otherwise "basic" leather dress into something far more interesting.
Choreographer (and Yelling Queen) Mary Murphy of "So You Think You Can Dance": No. No. And No. Oh Mary. She looks like the Hostess at a Hofbrau somewhere in a seedy part of Munich or like she works at a Meat-Packing Company somewhere in Kansas City. Who. Told. Her. To. Wear. This? And then with those 2008-looking peep-toe boots. Step off the blue carpet and go get me a flank steak...and some German Beer!!!
