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Showing posts with label giambattista valli. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giambattista valli. Show all posts
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| Backstage at Giambattista Valli Fall 2015 Couture via vogue.com |
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
While couture shows are typically shown in Paris, Valentino decided to do something a little different and took their runway show home to Rome for a truly unique presentation. Guests received tours of the Eternal City curated by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli themselves, with each stop featuring Valentino creations from couture shows past. Then came time for the show, which was set in the Piazza Mignanelli as the golden sun set. The clothes were primarily black, gold, and (of course) Valentino Red, but the simple color palette did not mean that the clothes themselves were simple.
There was plenty of lace, brocade, and embroidery, and the gold fabrics seemed to be coated with gold foil. Models wore jewels and crowns of gold, triumphant celebrations of the city of Rome. There were plentiful references to the city, from the gladiator sandals to the pleated skirt styles and the imperial diadems. The eagle was also heavily featured, being a symbol of Rome. The opening look was a dress with a neckline that resembled an eagle taking flight. Feathers featured prominently in the collection, and several necklaces featured eagle shapes.
The celebration of the rich history of Rome was on full display, of course, but I was also detecting hints of northern medieval influences. Was it just me, or did some of the looks (in particular the all-black ensembles) feel like they could be costumes in the upcoming film adaptation of Macbeth? There were definitely some dark, witchy vibes going on, but ultimately this was a collection about the splendors of Rome, and Chiuri and Piccioli wonderfully succeeded in celebrating the beloved home of Valentino. As the models made their final walk through the piazza, they were met with a full standing ovation from the crowd. You don't have to be that into fashion to know that this doesn't happen often (the fashion world is fickle and always vaguely disinterested in everything). But really, this was one of the best Valentino collections in years. Maybe they should always show couture in Rome!
(all runway images via style.com)
What was your favorite collection?
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| Giambattista Valli Spring 2015 Couture |
Like a flash of lightning, Paris Couture week has come and gone, but the clothes presented over the four days will echo throughout the year. Though the styles themselves are rather unobtainable for the average shopper, the trends and styles that debuted in Paris this week will dictate many of the trends that trickle down into brands that sell at friendlier price points.
One look I noticed at a few of the presentations? The face veil. Usually black, netted, and cut at the nose, the chic headwear (facewear?) accessories are vestiges of a bygone era when women really got glammed up and wore way more hair accessories than they do now. Face veils (veil masks? I'm not even too sure on what to call them) remind me of women in the forties smoking long, slender cigarettes and wearing black gloves and possibly plotting the murders of their husbands. Very noir, and very fashionable.
Chanel, Giambattista Valli, and Ulyana Sergeenko all featured black netted veils in their couture collections. I must admit that it looks cool, mysterious, and sophisticated, though I do wonder about the tan lines those could create.
What do you think? Would you ever wear a netted face veil?
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| CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Chanel, Giambattista Valli, Chanel, Ulyana Sergeenko |
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| Giambattista Valli | Red Dress | Dolce & Gabbana | Ted Baker | Dolce & Gabbana | Stella McCartney |
For starters, this British bombshell is a top lawyer who specializes in international law, criminal law, human rights, and extradition. She's even represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and the former Prime Minister of Ukraine. She's also a member of a few United Nations commissions, including a committee that is focused on the Gaza Strip conflict. So yeah, she's much more than just someone's girlfriend or wife.
Recently Amal has been focusing her humanitarian efforts on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, using her new celebrity status to have a positive influence and spread awareness on an incredibly important issue. Like Watson (the No. 4 girl on our list), Amal isn't just a style icon: she's a role model.
But let's talk about her killer fashion sense for a moment. Amal brings a whole new definition to "dressing for success", as her colorful power dresses would make the cast of The Good Wife jealous. She always looks poised and ready to take on the world, but her off-duty styles show that you can work hard and play hard. It was during the Clooneys' whirlwind wedding in Venice, Italy, that she really won over the hearts of millions with her flawless honeymoon style. She hopped onto canal boats in couture dresses and flawless jumpsuits complete with wide-brim hats. Her style is high-end but easily adaptable for a more practical budget, and she shows that you can be glam and kick ass all at the same time.
The best fashion collections always seem to stem from the simple idea of representing the life of a girl through clothing. I love being able to picture a woman living her life in a fantastic and eccentric wardrobe, as was the case with the Giambattista Valli fall 2014 couture collection.
Models walked the runway with thick white scarves wrapped in whimsical bows around their heads and round sunglasses shielding their eyes. They had a mid-century air to them, as if they were fashionable housewives who had escaped to the Spanish Mediterranean coast for some much-needed rest and relaxation.
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| Giambattista Valli on his fall 2014 couture collection (via style.com/image source) |
Valli dressed his eccentric women in stripes, florals, and every other print in between. These girls don't care if their outfits are bold and loud; to be honest, they prefer it that way. They aren't attention-seekers, they just happen to find the spotlight focused on them. They love to garden and may or may not train parrots to speak passages of Hemingway. They are unique without apology (as it should be) and we love it.
I love that Valli allows his designs to be unabashedly feminine and strong. A full-skirted floral dress is as statement-making as it is girly, and the same woman who has an affinity for old-fashion florals can also rock the room in a killer lavender fur coat with exaggerated shoulders. The Valli girl really doesn't care about normcore or if she's trendy or even if she attracts men with her outfits (I hope Leandra Medine enjoyed this collection as much as I did!) She dresses for herself, celebrates herself with her fashion choices, and if you don't like it you can GTFO.
The quartet of colorful feathered gowns that finished the show were absolute showstoppers. In an increasingly minimalist fashion climate, it's nice to see that a colorful princess skirt can still capture the hearts of so many. These dresses were possibly the looks of couture week. I mean really, who can resist the allure of vibrant ruffle skirts, let alone four of them side-by-side? Even if you don't fall for a full skirt so easily, you can still marvel in the sheer manpower required to create such magnificent ballgowns.
I don't know who I trust to rock these gowns on the red carpet, but boy I hope someone has the guts to do so. These gowns deserve to be seen and admired by all.
Hair can be a beautiful thing.
It can be so malleable, manipulated into any shape or form we desire of it, transformed from a million strands of dead skin cells (let's call it what it is) to glorious locks of beauty and style.
Some days. Some days, hair will cooperate with the brush, the styling gel, the curling iron.
Other days...well, thank the lord people invented ways to cleverly evade a bad hair day.
Yes, what a joy it would be to have luscious waves every day of the year, but sometimes the elements prevent us from perfect Disney Princess Status Hair - the elements ranging from the fire of the flat iron not being strong enough to tame kinky (and not in the fun way) hair to the act of oversleeping.
Usually I resort to a ponytail or a messy braid (I always get compliments on my artistically "imperfect" side braid; little do they know it's simply because I'm not that good at braiding my hair) but sometimes there's not enough time to pull off an elaborate updo and other times I simply lack the energy.
What else can I possibly do to save my tresses from this mess(es)?
Well, 2014 Resort shows from Roksanda Illincic, Issa, Giambattista Valli, and others have brought about the return of the headscarf as a perfectly stylish solution to unruly hair. And the different interpretations of the headscarf prove that the look can work for any woman. Go upscale powerwoman and channel the Roksanda Illincic look; or downtown hipster by drawing inspiration from the Mother of Pearl outfit.
So the next time you find yourself waking up to out-of-control hair, why not tie it up in a pretty silk scarf!
It can be so malleable, manipulated into any shape or form we desire of it, transformed from a million strands of dead skin cells (let's call it what it is) to glorious locks of beauty and style.
Some days. Some days, hair will cooperate with the brush, the styling gel, the curling iron.
Other days...well, thank the lord people invented ways to cleverly evade a bad hair day.
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| Roksanda Illincic; Mother of Pearl; Issa; Giambattista Valli |
Yes, what a joy it would be to have luscious waves every day of the year, but sometimes the elements prevent us from perfect Disney Princess Status Hair - the elements ranging from the fire of the flat iron not being strong enough to tame kinky (and not in the fun way) hair to the act of oversleeping.
Usually I resort to a ponytail or a messy braid (I always get compliments on my artistically "imperfect" side braid; little do they know it's simply because I'm not that good at braiding my hair) but sometimes there's not enough time to pull off an elaborate updo and other times I simply lack the energy.
What else can I possibly do to save my tresses from this mess(es)?
Well, 2014 Resort shows from Roksanda Illincic, Issa, Giambattista Valli, and others have brought about the return of the headscarf as a perfectly stylish solution to unruly hair. And the different interpretations of the headscarf prove that the look can work for any woman. Go upscale powerwoman and channel the Roksanda Illincic look; or downtown hipster by drawing inspiration from the Mother of Pearl outfit.
So the next time you find yourself waking up to out-of-control hair, why not tie it up in a pretty silk scarf!
All the best from the fall 2012 couture shows
Couture is always exciting. Couture challenges designers to push the artistic boundaries of fashion to the edge. Everything is fantastical, dreamlike, surreal. Couture focuses on ancient techniques and futuristic technologies alike. Couture is magical.
You've already heard my thoughts on the Christian Dior show, but here are my opinions on the rest of Fall 2012 Couture.
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
Finally, a Valentino collection that doesn't look like the costumes for the movie adaptation of a Jane Austen book! While we are talking about past Valentino collections, I don't think people were this up in arms about the new designers after Mr. Valentino himself left, and today's Valentino collection is far removed from the foundations, unlike Raf's Dior Debut. But I digress... This show was darker than past collections, but there was something very regal about the cut-out velvet gowns and brocade coats in lemons and sorbets. (Oddly enough, Tim Blanks referenced Game of Thrones in his review of the show for style.com; perhaps the show is on every top designer's TiVo these days!) This was perhaps the most ornate Valentino collection created by duo Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli to date, and yet nothing is overdone. Everything is still very aesthetically pleasing and poised, which I'm sure is the point.
Giambattista Valli
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)
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