What Valentino Showed Us!

     It's that time again, the Spring 2013 Couture designs have been brought to life before our eyes this past week.  The week took flight with Armani Privé and came to a smooth landing when Pierpaolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri of Valentino graced us with their, rather graceful, combined imaginations and their dreamy creations.  Couture designers and ateliers believe that the art and concept of "couture" is to be kept secret.  Hence, why the minimal couture industry is kept a mystery until the unveiling of the garments, during the exclusive fashion shows that are few and far between.  Let's focus on the round of applause show that Valentino presented us with.

     Following suit, mystery and secrecy seemed to be trending on this mystical runway.  Chiuri and her partner in design, Piccioli, got many ideas from eighteenth-century garden design books, paintings, gardens themselves and more wondrous things.  Features included lightly stamping bonded wool with a design, different laces that were re-embroidered, chiffon dahlias, ribbon work and many more unique effects.  

     All of these details and effects are extremely feminine and come together to create an antique fairytale l that is desired by all.  This soft collection has been taken back to the times where simplicity and lace ruled the world.  I aspire to be able to create replicas of art and gardens through clothing.  This is a gift that is hand selected by he Himself and bestowed on very few.  This was truly a stunning collection of pure craftsmanship.

Beauty is in the eye of the creator.

Ciao, 

Annie

Golden Globes Did Wonders!

     I would like to apologize for the blogging road block that I hit last week.  I was coming into New York from a little town in the middle of nowhere and somewhere between the Meatpacking and my computer I got a little lost.  Alright, I started a new job and I suppose you could say that I lost sight of Combustion and moved onto bigger and better things.  But then that would be considered lying because I thought about blogging the entire time, but we all know what happens when I begin thinking!  Enough about me, let's move on to that thing that happens every year, ahh yes, the Golden Globe Awards.  This wasn't just any Golden Globe Awards, it was the rockin', slammin', rollin' and bangin' 70th year anniversary.  Let's see what these stars brought to the carpet this year.
     First up to bat we have the one and only Kate Hudson.  Her dress by Alexander McQueen and jewels by Jennifer Meyer.  Black was her color for the night because I don't think anyone else wore it better.  Simplicity ruled the entire outfit until we reached her neckline, then the golden fireworks went off.  A little belt to match and a keyhole the size of China and we are all set.

     Safe at first base we have Jennifer Lawrence from the Hunger Games.  She was wearing Christian Dior Haute Couture, a ravishing Salvatore Ferragamo clutch and Chopard jewelry to beat the band.  Looks like simplicity was her goal, as well.  This fire red dress (must be carrying on the Hunger Games theme), although stunning, wasn't what caught my eye.  If you look closely, the matching between her makeup and the shiny black belt really added a great touch.  You did good, Lawrence, you did good.

     Taking a lead at second base is the stunning Naomi Watts in a lovely burgundy dress by Zac Posen, a Salvatore Ferragamo clutch, and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.  The open back was a great feature to this dress especially when the addition of a long train is added.  It makes the back the center piece, the main attraction, the point of its existence (you catch my drift).  Watt's slender figure was also a leading cause in making this dress really show its true form.

     Rounding third base is Anne Hathaway in Chanel Haute Couture and Chanel Fine Jewelry.  Well, looks like Lagerfeld was her designer of choice for this Golden Globes.  Again with the simplicity, it just seems to be a reoccurring theme during this award ceremony.  This white two piece gown has a little flare to the bottom.  I was having a hard time deciding if this was a flare or slight mermaid and I came to the flare conclusion.  I mean let's be real, Hathaway isn't flipping down the carpet like Ariel.  She is gracefully gliding.  Also, one last thing, the little flare that we see at the bottom of the gown is also reflected in the bodice of the top half of the gown.  So, we couldn't possibly call it a mermaid because I do not approve of the mermaid top matching the mermaid bottom.  So, that's finished.

     Sliding into home plate is Sienna Miller in Erdem.  After gazing at this gown I came to the conclusion that I actually really like this piece.  Why?  Well, because it's so different than the simplicity that all the other stars brought to the carpet.  It jumps out at you but not so much that you think it's strange but just enough for you to keep starring.  The juxtaposition between the white and neon-ish colored flowered space is perfect and the high neckline and slit up the back is classy.  Happily, the slit isn't like some of the other's I have seen, you know, the ones where the butt crack is doomed to slip out of the bottom at any minute?  She stayed classy and it suited her.

     These woman all make a wonderful team, wouldn't you say?  Please, don't wonder or ask me why I am referring these exceptionally stunning women to baseball terminology, but I did.  And no, it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that I was infatuated with my college baseball team, so get that right out of your head.

I am back in action, sorry I took the past week and a half off!

Ciao,

Annie

Walk. Jog. Run. Sprint.

     I think all of us fashionistas can admit that we are always (and I use that term lightly) trending, in style, keeping up with the Jones (or Kardashian's), so to speak.  Having said all that, it is only natural for us to be "trending" while working out, right?  Women spend all this time contemplating their appearance for their various different roles they play in life.  Such as working, socializing, exercising and some even when their little fashion minds are dreaming.  Some are a little too concerned about their appearance and for all the wrong reasons, but I am not addressing those women right now.  I'm crediting those whose minds solely generate their appearances on the love of fashion itself.  

     Now, back to the part where I discussed exercising.  Exercise, that eight letter word that most people dread to participate in and that others spring from the sheets and start their day off with.  As I got to thinking about my blog for the day, I was pondering about athletic fashion.  I know there is a huge market out there for those few people (although, the urge for exercise is growing) who love to workout and look fashionable.  There is no reason to be held back from being trendy even when you have sweat dripping down your face (but, women don't sweat, they glisten).  My point of the day is that you can be fashionable when and where ever you please.  There is yet to be a law on clothing and until that day arrives, embrace it!

All of these articles of athletic clothing come from Lululemon Athletica, one of my favorite athletic wear companies.  

Work out for me!

Ciao, 

Annie

The Wonders of A Wife Beater!

     A form fitting ribbed tank top, generally white, looks fantastic on men that are "ripped", embarrassing on the scrawny fellas and unbearable on the hairy beer bellied men.  There you have it, the definition of a wife beater in my words.  Who ever came up with the title wife beater must have been the type of man to rip off his shirt and well, smack his wife with it.  Right?  I mean, how else could they have come up with that name?  None the less, these so called wife beaters have come a very long way since then.  In this century, women sport the wife beater more than men.  A turn for the best I think.  We just choose to call them ribbed tank tops, it's not as harsh and doesn't remind everyone of those toothless hairy men that you occasionally see on the jumbotron when you are watching sports center.

     In the summer time, a good old ribbed tank top is perfect with a pair of Daisy Dukes and some flip flops.  In the fall and spring, a printed cardigan with a classic ribbed tank top underneath always does the trick.  As for winter, my favorite is to wear my light ribbed tank tops underneath my oversized knit sweaters, just to add a layer in between me and the occasional loose strands of wool.  My all time favorite ribbed tank tops are the ones from Target.  They are long, thin and very comfortable.  J.Crew makes a tank that is a little thicker and look nice under an open cardigan.  They are perfect for all seasons so, take your pick!

Target

J.Crew

Stem

Gap

Wife beaters all around!

Ciao, 

Annie

The Top Trends of 2012!

     Happy New Year to everyone!  Now that we have officially entered 2013 we can put the ghosts of 2012 behind us and welcome the change and upcoming success.  A lot has happened in our little world this past year, especially when it comes to fashion.  Let's reminisce about our favorite and most popular trends of 2012.
     Pastels blew off the chart this past year.  They no longer stayed in their traditional Easter month, they traveled all the way into the cold and windy days of winter.  I am sure this will be something that will continue onto 2013.

      Gold was another 2012 trend that we all embraced at one point.  Many of us may have even ended 2012 with a gold bang! I know I was decked in gold glitter from head to toe and loved every minute of it.

     Statement pants!  This might have been my favorite trend of 2012.  Statement pants took off like wildfire.  Designers embraced them, street fashion embraced them and well, so did everyone who is anyone.  Simple on the top and eccentric on the bottom, doesn't get much better than that.

     As for the punks of 2012, well, we all kind of became a bit edgier, didn't we?  Spikes, studs and skulls entered in 2012 and became trendy quickly.  I feel like that look is dying down a little now but you always need those articles of clothing in your closet that add a little edge to your life.

     Why wear half a print when you can wear the whole thing from head-to-toe?  These top to bottom printed outfits stopped being strange and became chic in the year 2012.  So, thank you 2012 fashion changes.  Embrace it while you can because sooner or later we will be onto something new.

     And there you have it, some of the best trends during one of the most memorable fashion years.  I wish you all the best in the year 2013.

Happy New Year!

Ciao, 

Annie