Tyler made black and white fresh again in a polka-dot Givenchy dress and Roger Vivier sandals. The actress attended the design house’s haute couture fashion show during Paris Fashion Week.
“On their way to the gardens of the Paris Observatory, where Kris Van Assche presented his latest Dior Homme collection, guests passed antique telescopes and old photos of the moon, reminders that man’s reach has exceeded his grasp from the moment he first stood upright. So perhaps it was appropriate that the show itself offered another such reminder. The soundtrack provided by Justice had a stop-start quality that could have been interpreted as a metaphor for larger issues—like the way that Van Assche’s creativity ebbs and flows in such a random manner. You can sense the ideas trying to get out, but something happens between brain and hand.
So the attempt to give the lean silhouette a little volume interest by inflating the backs of jackets went awry because the results were so leaden. (The multi-pleats of a cobalt blue jacket looked like the curtain covering the screen at the old Rialto.) The cutouts in a white cotton shirt and a black leather jacket might have been construed as a new lace if they weren’t so simplistic. And the Zsa Zsa zing of the giant stones that studded gold sequined jeans was simply a bling too far. The overwhelming impression was that Van Assche was simply trying too hard. Even the glasses the models wore were overwrought. The solution is obvious: Take a deep breath and relax.”
MILAN, February 21, 2008 – Finally, at the last gasp of Milan, it fell to Donatella Versace to rush to the rescue of the imminent Sunday-night Academy Awards. And who better, in a week when there was scarcely a floor-sweeping gown on a runway (unless it was made of, er, tweed)? There were no apologies for a drop-dead dress from DV, of course. There were 11 of them, in fact, with two liquid nude-colored bodice huggers running neck and neck for outstanding achievement.
The fact that Versace can turn it on like that is a surprise to no one. More of an eye-opener is how far she has moved away from the bling-vulgarity stereotype that dogged this house until a couple of years ago. Mostly, this collection was about carefully considered structure—short dresses and coats with flying volumes in the back—rather than front-loaded sexiness. Some of Versace’s most glamorous—and on-trend—cocktail dresses even hit to mid-calf (a one-shouldered draped midnight-blue number and another in a combination of matte and wet-look black were stunning).
Though most of the pieces were single-colored and unembellished, there was also a breakout of print along the way. Versace had commissioned the Dutch artist Tim Roeloffs to work on a photomontage of urban cityscapes, musclemen, dogs, Versace china, and the house ad campaigns, and then collaged the results onto violent purple, fuchsia, and yellow dresses. Result: very Versace. You couldn’t help thinking the late, great Gianni would have loved it.
– Sarah Mower (Style.com)
Remember our post in March highlighting Balmain’s Fall 08 looks? Well, plenty of celebrities are latching onto his stylish creations - such as this dress worn by Christina Ricci on May 6th as she continued her press tour for Speed Racer, landing at the film’s Tribeca Film Festival premiere in a frilly keyhole dress and Manolo Blahniks.
How can you forget this dress from Balmain’s runway, worn by Kate Hudson on April 14th as she bared her legs follwing the U.K. premiere of her latest film Fool’s Gold.
The actress complemented the dress’s splash of shimmer with metallic peep-toe pumps.
I just can’t agree with Nicole Phelps’ comment on Style.com. I thought the line was clean, stylish and very wearable. What else would a fashion consumer want? I agree that the houndstooth jacket is a bit loud, but that’s why I like it - because it is unique. That’s what being fashion-forward is about!
Here’s what she wrote about Requiem…
“But an oversize yellow, black, and white houndstooth looked garish, and the dirndl skirt they cut it in verged on dowdy. The couture feel they often refer to in interviews just wasn’t there.”
Check it out for yourself
PARIS, February 27, 2008 – ”The show began, as usual, with boy-for-girl tailoring: Double- and single-breasted pinstripe jackets were worn over pleated miniskirts and flat patent oxfords; starchy white collars, not unlike the designer’s own, peeked out from the jackets’ lapels, this time with big bows replacing skinny ties. Austerity is too strong a word, but the tricky cuts and heavy-handed styling sometimes associated with the collection were absent. In their place were smartly wearable pieces like a belted vest dress that hit mid-calf; a narrow, fitted sheath with raised leather ribbing; and a jacket with a rounded eighties-ish shoulder and a built-in corset.” - Nicole Phelps Style.com
