Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli has proven himself to be the master of youth couture. Each collection is energetic and fresh and above all else, fun! Valli takes fashion design and construction seriously, but he knows that ultimately fashion is about having fun. For Fall 2015, the groovy sixties provided major inspiration, from the oversized round sunglasses to the mod shapes and electric colors. The dress-over-pants trend is sure to continue into fall thanks to Valli's stylish options.

What I love most about Giambattista Valli collections is that you can always understand the kind of "girl" he is looking to dress. This season, the Valli girl (not to be confused with the trashy Valley Girl) is a fun-loving socialite who frequents galas and modern art museums. She's hip in a quirky way. She may not even realize how cool she really is. She wears things because they are pretty and fun, and most importantly she wears clothing for herself. She couldn't care less what others thought about her eye-catching ballgowns of colorful tulle. She probably listens to old records and she has a Warhol in her living room. She's cool, but she doesn't care that she is.

Regardless, we all want to be her.

Ulyana Sergeenko

Ulyana Sergeenko is always good for some vintage Hollywood glamour. For Fall 2015 the theme was definitely starlets of the '30s and '40s, with luxurious silks and furs, long hemlines, and vintage accessories (caged veils, cat-eye sunglasses, and minaudieres) dominating the show.

What I love about Sergeenko's collections—as well as the general appeal of the fashions of the 1930s and '40s—is that they ooze sex appeal without being overly-revealing. There were plenty of plunging necklines and elements of intrigue, but even with this gorgeous dress and its sheer top, the skirt is so magnificent that the model hardly feels half-naked; the top is translucent but that isn't the point. These looks are sexy but they aren't overt, and it's something to appreciate in a time of miniskirts and crop tops. Rihanna is a fan of Sergeenko's designs. I can see her rocking these old-school glam looks with her signature edge.

Atelier Versace

The sixties really were all over Fall 2015 couture, and the Atelier Versace show did it in glorious style. With each model rocking a wavy, center-parted hairstyle adorned with a handmade fabric flower crown, this was the runway collection for the high-end music festival forest nymph. There's no doubt Donatella was feeling majorly inspired by Coachella and Woodstock, but there was a mythological etherealness as well, as if Versace were creating costumes for a modern-day version of A Midsummer Night's Dream (Titania would be alllll over these dresses).

I always appreciate Versace looks on the red carpet, but sometimes I find the brand's runway shows to be a little too severe, too sexy, too...well, too Versace. I really enjoyed this softer approach. These dresses really are beautiful.

Also, seriously, can you imagine if this was what Coachella fashion was actually like? That would be a dream come true!

Valentino

(all runway images via style.com)

What was your favorite collection?

After the end of Gossip Girl Blake Lively took some much-needed time out of the spotlight. She married Ryan Reynolds, had a daughter, and started a lifestyle website. But after a while Lively is ready to get back into the swing of things and has gotten off to a great start promoting her new film, The Age of Adaline. She's stepped out in a number of outfits, from fun retro-style jumpsuits to totally glamorous gowns. 

See my favorite looks of Lively's from the past week:

What do you think of Blake Lively's many red carpet outings? 

There's only so much you can do with a pair of flat sandals, right? 

The gladiator sandal begs to differ, and as you've probably noticed the ancient shoe style is making quite the high-impact statement this spring. Whether you're traipsing about Coachella or just off to Sunday brunch, gladiator sandals add a new level to the simplest of outfits.

They were all over the Spring 2015 runways jazzing up lace minis and decadent, feminine pieces. That's how I recommend wearing these shoes, but sky is really the limit. Cut-off shorts, mini skirts, peaking out from culottes or a maxi skirt. The only thing I would stay away from while wearing knee-high gladiator sandals is pants.

April is another busy month—Easter, Coachella and Stagecoach, the last month of classes, and so on—but I'm someone who functions well with a lot in my Lilly Pulitzer agenda, so I'm looking forward to another lovely month of activities and events. Plus, something really exciting is happening on the 21st of this month...I'm turning twenty-one! I am so excited to finally be able to check out all the cool bars and lounges that Los Angeles has to offer and try some sophisticated drinks.

With all that on the schedule for the month, I'm looking for some breezy-chic pieces that are versatile and perfect for spring. A nude crop top paired with flowy printed pants and slip-on mules is a perfect weekend brunch look, but the top can easily transfer to the evening when paired with a skater-style skirt and heels. I've been wanting mules ever since I wrote this post about them a while back, and the Madewell pair is perfect and simple—exactly what I look for in a pair of shoes!

I also fell in love with this Madewell pinafore dress; it's all about denim everything this spring, and a button-down pinafore alludes to the also on-trend button-down skirt as well as the denim overall, though this dress is more feminine than any pair of overalls (and therefore much more my style). 

What's on your wishlist for April?

Stumped on what to wear on Valentine's Day? Well, Saint Valentino has got you covered with not one but a few heart motif looks from the pre-fall collection.

If you're planning on a romantic candlelight dinner with your significant other, this red and pink heart print 70s-style frock will woo your date all while being incredibly festive for the Hallmark holiday.

However, if you're loving the single life and the most of your plans are storming the theatre for some Fifty Shades of Grey with all your gal friends, Valentino has the perfect look for you, too! A cute heart sweatshirt will say "I love conversation hearts" better than a chalky candy, but a pair of fashion-forward, man-repelling denim wide-leg culottes will signal all prospective suitors that you are single and have no interest in mingling.

So whether you're a Valentine's Day romantic or a Galentine's Day celebrator, get inspired by Valentino. The one bummer, these looks aren't out until summer.

Happy Valentine's Day and happy hunting! 

It seems that the fashion Powers that Be are really into destroying their clothes. Distressed jeans, patchwork details, paint splatters, you name it. Frayed edges are just the latest in a long list of distressed trends, but know that there is an art to this look. One cannot simply throw on a western-style fringe jacket and call it a day. No, this season's fringe is more of an artful undoing than flapper girl. Undone edges, I'd call it.

Like this Proenza Schouler dress below, where it looks like the dress is simply unravelling into perfect fringes as if it were taken off the loom midway through. Or the tweed looks at Chanel Haute Couture, where what would once be your grandmother's tweed jackets dissolved into 90s-style crop tops (Grams definitely would not approve, but it does look pretty cool).

If undone edges aren't your thing, just add a bit of fringe here and there for the Spring 2015 take on the texture. Like the neckline of your dress or the hem of your tissue skirt, like Sportmax and Valentino have opted to do. 

No matter how you fringe it, there's more to life on the fringe than suede and flapper dresses. Go for a modern, urban twist on the style and you will look 100% certified fresh.

Chanel | Sportmax | Thakoon | Valentino | Osman

What do you think of the new take on fringe?

Valentino is one brand that is never afraid to embrace the feminine. With Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli continuing to be inspired by Romanticism and the ancient world, femininity is at the forefront of the Valentino aesthetic. 

For Spring 2015, Chiuri and Piccioli took to the sea with an oceanic collection full of starfish, seashells, and dreamy sea blues and coral pastels. The Spring 2015 ad campaign accentuates the theme of spring by placing an ensemble of models in an oceanic paradise, where they lounge in the sand and travel through the jungle in stylish fashion. 

Perhaps it's the cotton candy hues of the clothes, but the photographs have a Sofia Coppola style to them. There's a dreamlike quality to this idyllic island where women sunbathe in gauzy Valentino gowns, and the film The Virgin Suicides, in particular, comes to mind when I see the models leaning against one another and revelling in their perfect girls-only oasis. I'm quite impressed with photographer Michal Pudelka's ability to both capture the beauty of the clothes and highlight the mood of this season's Valentino girl.

Here are some of my favorite images from the campaign:

I can't believe I'm saying this but the holiday season is just around the corner. Halloween is this Friday and then, while you're still nursing your hangovers (or, you know, stomachaches from all the candy) on Saturday morning you'll stumble into Starbucks only to be greeted with peppermint and yuletide spirits (But let's be honest, I cannot wait for the peppermint mocha to make it's long-awaited return). 

Once you get used to the idea that as of November 1st, the holiday season has begun, you'll realize with horror: Shit. This means I need a holiday party dress! Because between family gatherings, office luncheons, and Christmastime galas (what? A girl can dream!) you're gonna need a new sparkly dress or two. And last year's tired version will simply NOT suffice! So what style dress should you be looking for?

How about a maxi (or midi) dress with a sheer organza skirt? These dresses have been everywhere lately, from the runways of Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino to the stars of street style.

Valentino | Anja Rubik | Stella McCartney | Hanneli Mustaparta | Erdem

Semi-see-through organza skirts are fun and festive for the season, and it's a nice way to show some leg while still covering up and staying warm(ish).

These dresses/skirts are perfect for a fancy holiday party or formal event, but I also love when they're styled with sneakers, floppy hats, and other casual accents for a dressed up/dressed down vibe.

Are you hoping to try a sheer skirt this holiday season?

Wow, Valentino. Just wow.

Under the reigns of design duo of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, Valentino has become the go-to brand for luxurious and romantic bohemian clothing, full of lace maxi skirts, earthy suedes, and models in milkmaid braids. There's no doubt that Chiuri and Piccioli have succeeded in making the Valentino brand all their own, but in the process I have sometimes felt as if their collections have become repetitive, all variations on the same theme, and together not as all inventive as the presentations that Valentino Garavani designed for his namesake brand.

The 2015 resort presentation was not a departure from the aesthetic that Chiuri and Piccioli have established as staples of the present-day Valentino, but rather a revitalization. 

With some inspiration from an archival print from a 1973 collection, as well as the works of the iconic artist Frida Kahlo, Valentino delivered a truly extensive collection full of clothes for the fashionable, adventurous woman.

The clothes were not only beautiful but practical. They aren't just for sitting around and looking pretty, they are for exploring jungles both urban and exotic, for traipsing through cobblestone streets in seldom-visited villages, for seeing all that this world has to offer in fabulous style.


The first half of the collection was full of these practical but fascinating looks, with army jackets decorated with butterfly motifs (another staple of the Chiuri-Piccioli-run Valentino), comfortable gladiators and flat espadrilles, and billowy fabrics and shapes perfectly made for moving around.

Then the earthy tones and Khalo-esque touches quickly transformed into technicolor, geometric print dresses that recalled the pop art of the 60s and 70s. These were the looks that were inspired by that archival 1973 print, which was considered quite "visually disruptive" and continued to be so here, but in the best of ways.

If there's anything that modern fashion has taught us, it is that the rules were meant to be broken. Patterns can clash for the ultimate effect, for example, and in general things that are supposedly visually displeasing can make for great sartorial statements. The highly-saturated looks are sure to land on magazine pages and make statements on the red carpets. They may even find themselves on a bold street style star or two. Surely they are the standout pieces from the collection, if only because the colorful patterns are so clearly attention-grabbing.

In a season of resort shows continuing to demonstrate the increasing importance of the pre-season collections, Valentino delivered a knock-out presentation that was just as strong as any major ready-to-wear collection. I sincerely hope these magnificent clothes get the attention they deserve come winter.

Balenciaga

Cacharel

Chanel

Lanvin

Louis Vuitton

Alexander McQueen

 Valentino

Alexis Mabille

Alexis Mabille is always good for a fantasy-inspired show, full of glimmering gowns and dramatic capes and cuts. The designer used jewels as his inspiration, allowing him to take full advantage of emerald greens, ruby reds, and sapphire blues. Maybe I've just been looking at this Game of Thrones "What Would They Wear?" Blog too much, but I wonder if Mr. Mabille has the HBO masterpiece on his TiVo. Daenerys Targaryen would totally work that shimmering blue dress; Cersei would be sassy as usual in that ruffled cream cape confection; Sansa would look princess-like and innocent in the midnight-blue dress with the bow on the shoulder.

Chanel

For Karl Lagerfeld, fashion can be quite the conundrum. Fashion is all about giving people something new, something fresh, but it is all rooted in the past. For the Chanel Fall 2012 Couture Presentation, the theme was "New Vintage" or a blending of future and past. In true Lagerfeld fashion, the clothes were only part of the presentation: the invite was a pink and grey sketch of Mademoiselle Coco done by Lagerfeld; the space was designed to look like Chanel's original salon de couture (source); the guests sat at white wicker chairs and tables with macarons and other vintage delights. But the clothes were the true stunners. Pink was the color of the night, and girls walked out in sequined skirts and glittering grey tights (and the sure-to-be most-wanted-accesory, sequined knit hats slung back on the models' heads. "New Vintage" indeed. 1930's silhouettes abounded, and yet, as usual, Lagerfeld made everything appear to be almost futuristic! My personal favorite? The dust pink sequin dress with fuzzy pom-poms protruding; I hope the right person wears that dress and kills it!

Elie Saab

Titled In Constantinople's Wake, the Elie Saab show was the usual tour de force that I always look forward to. Sure, perhaps Saab's love of sequins and sparkle can grow to be predictable, but he knows how to create something beautiful each and every time. I enjoy the designer's use of color stories as he transitions from one hue to the next and thus allows the show to evolve with each passing frock: first black gowns in lace, then contrasting ivory and peaches, then soft blues, and finally to golden-tinted neutrals. There are so many red-carpet looks here, as usual, and I cannot wait to see these gowns in action, but perhaps my favorite is the blue with gold brocade, vaguely miltary-esque dress (second from left). There is something so strong about it, and yet the glimmering details soften it, making in a dress of perfect balance.

Ulyana Sergeenko

Ulyana Sergeenko is Russian. If you didn't know that already, you would have figured it out by the time you looked at her debut couture show. Long winter military coats, fur hats and gloves, babushkas: Miss Sergeenko is very interested in her homeland. The street-style star turned designer has proven herself, for her way of dressing certainly carries over to her way of designing. She shows strong silhouettes and makes her style be known, but there is a whimsicality of the collection that makes it lighthearted and, to be honest, fun! Details are exaggerated and proportions are played with (she pairs a fur cap and gloves with a military-inspired bodysuit). Many fear that the theatricality of couture has been lost, now that Galliano is out of the game (for now, at least) but perhaps Sergeenko is the new torch-bearer of fun fashion.

Valentino

If Christian Dior's main inspiration was flowers, then butterflies are that for Giambattista Valli. Valli has been a favorite of mine and I think his is absolutely perfect for couture, and although his couture label is young, it is one of the strongest around. Butterflies were everywhere -hair, belts, even lips- and nature reigned today. Valli is not afraid to be bold, as evidenced by the strong pallet and structure of the clothes presented. The standouts? That forest fairy queen cape and gown (can't you just see Titania of A Midsummer Night's Dream wearing that?) and the sculpted asymmetrical peplums that bring new life to the season's biggest hit. Like his inspirational insect, Giambattista Valli is soaring.

What were your thoughts on all the couture shows?

(images from style.com)