Emma Stone At Her Best!

     From Blake Lively to Emma Stone.  I admit that I'm kind of on a gown kick right now.  If I got anything out of Spring 2013 runway shows its that I realized how obsessed I am with cocktail dresses and floor length gowns.  Next pick is Emma Stone, she's got a great sense of style that changes like the wind.
     At the 2011 Golden Globe Awards Emma Stone rolled out in this slinky little peach gown.  As soon as I laid eyes on this I knew it had to be the great Calvin Klein.  The simplicity was too "Klein-ish" to be hand crafted by anyone else.  Although you cannot see them in either of these pictures, Stone slithered down the runway in Ferragamo nude python peep toe pumps.  As for the gown, I generally disagree with the matching of the skin tone look but between the blonde hair, the nude lips, the peach dress and the light skin tone...it's so fabulous.  The open back is just another stunning touch.

     Jumping a year ahead to the 2012 Golden Globe Awards Stone hit the red carpet in a custom made Lanvin gown.  This deep plum tulle siren gown with raspberry paneled side inserts and stunning shoulder embroidery briskly swayed across the carpet.  Of course the deep V neck caught the attention of many but to say the least the eagle winged belt was the real attention grabber.  

     And for the 2012 People's Choice Awards Stone continued the belted gown look.  This green and navy tree printed Jason Wu dress with tear drop cutouts was breathtaking.  Surely not overdressed for the occasion, but the understated hair pinup and subtle makeup really pulled it all together.      

     Bow-frinkin'-tastic!  Where should I even start?  I suppose with the neck because it's jumping out at me.  At the 2012 Oscars, held at the Hollywood & Highland Center, Stone appeared in a Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown.  Stone must love the synched waist look because almost all of her gowns follow this style, but who wouldn't when you are a size two?  To top off this blossoming nuber she wore Brian Atwood heels and carried a Louis Vuitton clutch.

     For the 2012 5th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon, what a mouthful there, Stone innocently appeared in an angel like Eli Saab cocktail dress.  Divine, and yes I would go as far as saying she outdid herself.  The beadwork was so intricate and carefully placed.  Again with the open back, she must love her perfect spine and shoulder bones.  Again, who wouldn't if they looked like that?  The quarter length sleeve was something different and lovely to see.

     2012 seems to be the year for Emma Stone.  Her and her stylist have picked some memorable gowns that keep us all in awe.  I can't wait to see what's next.

Stunned at Stone!

Ciao, 

Annie

     

The One And Only!

     Can we first focus on the unusual eco-friendly "runway" set up that we saw in the hall of the Grand Palais.  It appeared to have been made from solar panels that lay side by side with the occasional wind turbine that sprouted up in forest like form.  Karl Lagerfeld wanted to use these turbines because he said they were "beautiful modern architecture".  I think Karl was looking to connect the idea of future technology with fashion.  He used fun and playful accessories like large Lucite handled bags and wide brimmed molded plastic hats.  In my opinion, these are all extreme but somehow, maybe just because it's Chanel, it worked.  There were 80 looks that paraded down the runway from denim, the original Chanel tweed, long sophisticated evening gowns, linen, to beachy numbers.  There was so much going on in this collection that I decided to break it down into three sections, the ones that stood out the most to me.
 

     First, pearls, pearls, pearls and more pearls.  I noticed that the signature braids and chains were not a focus at this fashion show, but pearls were.  Leave it to Karl to change things up, throw a curve ball, mix and match...you get it.  Out of the ordinary, they were used to adorn dresses, cuffs, jackets and more.  But, holy shit, they were also used as necklaces.  Huge chokers with pearls the size of golfballs heavily adorned the necks of these tiny models and it was to die for.  This little pearl collection, within the large one, consisted of the wonderful, black and white.  These styles were stiff and gave the models bodies a break, allowing them to breath a little, unusual I know.  This look is unique, just like finding a pearl in a clam.

     Onto the cropped tweed half jackets.  Ok, unless you are a tiny little fairy with no mid section, these were a bit funny, if that's not a sin for me to say.  I know the cropped look has been in for a while but I feel like it's out dated now but, Karl has proved me wrong.  If you look carefully you can see that all the collars were slightly different.  We saw an oversized lapel, puritan collar, mock turtle necks and more.  There was an unusually wide variety of colors used in these baby jackets, but I liked it.  Ok, so they are starting to grown on me a little.

     Lastly, the feather burst of colorful fabric hanging off of well, everywhere.  I know it's atypical but I actually love it.  It's so curiously different that it's just fabulous.  The shag that hung off the delicate black sheer fabric give you something to ruffle over.  The extreme pants and tunic with furry cuffs shouts, "lions mane, gone colorfully wrong", but who cares?  I'd roar while wearing it and look chic doing so.  There really isn't much to say about this, just look, quietly and observe it.

       Chanel makes a statement all the time.  It's over the top and that's why everyone loves it.  But alongside the innovations, there was a set of skilled hands that touched each and every garment on this runway.  Lagerfeld did a wonderful job reinventing the ever so simple windmill with three-dimensional embroidery and collections of fabric.  Fashion changes with the times and this world is only getting more technological and modern as it goes on.  Good future thinking, Karl.

Ciao, 

Annie

Stella McCartney!

     As Paris fashion week came to an end Stella McCartney flooded the runway with an eyelet and sheer heavy collection.  The bright mood was set by the vibrant whites, yell-ange mix, shots of Kelly green and the obvious, black.  This collection consisted of sheer madness...pun intended.  Stella added sheer extensions onto the bottom of some of her garments, that gave it a more dramatic feel.  But why?  Who gives a shit?  She did it and it looks fabulous!

     Continuing the "revealing what's underneath the garments, as if no one knows" trend, eyelet was another fabric choice.  Eyelet extended trousers paired with a full eyelet cap sleeve top was an interesting look.  Don't worry she added slips where necessary.  McCartney didn't embrace the no pants, no tops, less clothing the better Spring 2013 trend.  The fabric choice for this collection gave it such a light and fluffy feel.   Even though layering was a major motif,  I didn't really feel that heavy weighing vibe because the fabric and color choice lightened it up so much.  

     I just have to comment on the last dress seen on the runway, the blue and sheer number.  Although, it looks like blue Smurf hair growing from the models chest and lower part of the body, there is something fabulous about it.   The high neckline along with the bright white outlines and sheer center cutout really screamed.  I don't know what it was screaming, but it was loud and got it's message across.  This is the epitome of a Spring collection, to me.  Truly wonderful!

Sheerly amazing.

Ciao, 

Annie May

The Middle Ages of Paris Fashion Week!

     Fashion Week has changed destinations, just a Euro Star ride away from London straight to Paris.  Just a few days into PFW and we are already traveling back into the Middle Ages, with a modern day fashion twist, of course.  

     Gareth Pugh's Spring 2013 collection opened with this veiled face, tall, rectangular headdress that billowed behind the model when she walked and a deep black high necked gown.  This set the stage for the rest of his collection.  It was a pure example of extreme modern fashion with jutting necklines, frayed hems, tattered and torn drapery and intense headdresses.  

     Generally, with fashion, you can picture someone wearing the garment, right?  After all, that is why clothes were made.  But for some of Pugh's designs, unless you are a gothic vampire getting ready for a bloodshed, I cannot imagine anyone wearing these sever bellbottomed pants with rebel looking pointed trains.  But hey, there are some far fetched people out there!  Looking past the extreme of all extremes, the majority of this collection is chic, made of delicate fabrics and represents such meticulous hand work.  I think Pugh should make arrangements with the cast of True Blood!

See no evil!

Ciao, 

Annie May

   

My Fav Thus Far!

     With all the stunning looks that I have seen throughout this Fashion Week I have to say that Badgley Mischka's collection stood out to me like a elegant aged weeping willow tree alone in a forest of birches.  What the hell does that mean, anyway?  I just thought that it was so soft and light compared to the other designs we have seen thus far and it caught my eye.
     It's boho chic meets elegant safari.  Who knew the two would clash so well?  The soft colors are brought out by the shimmer and glimmer that is created by the heavy beading and sequining.  And the show began on a safari and slowly ended up in the Gotham Hall ball room.  I mean, fabulous, really!  How can you pass up a designer who creates a collection that is vacation, work and special occasion friendly?  The answer is...you can't!

     After this collection, I totally want to become a Spring 2013 Mischka-nista!

Whisked away!

Ciao, 

Annie May