Chanel Knows How to Have Fun

A review from Chanel, Valentino, and Alexander McQueen Spring 2014 Collections.

Part 2 of 2: A Continuation of Commercial Paris Collections

Part 2 of 2: A review of Stella McCartney, Elie Saab, and Saint Laurent Spring 2014 Collections

A close-up of a Saint Laurent SS14 red zebra and bow-tie sequined dress; a Stella McCartney patchwork lace dress; a red embroidered Elie Saab dress.

A continuation of Part 1 of 2: Paris Fashion Week is Full of Excitement. 

Part 1 of 2: Paris Fashion Week is Full of Excitement

PART 1: A Review of Kenzo, Chloé, Céline, and Givenchy Spring 2014 Collections.

From Left: A wine embroidered draped dress from Givenchy SS14; an olive pleated dress from Chloe; and the back of Celine blue pleated top

Paris Fashion Week is about to end, but that hasn’t stop Paris from showcasing some of the top labels from the fashion industry. Some made a very surprising presentation like at Celine with its giant strokes of art tailoring and Givenchy in its number of intense draped jersey dresses, while others kept their lines luxe commercial like at Chloe’s modern fabrics , Stella McCartney’s intriguing sporty silhouettes, and Elie Saab’s injection of lace that would look great from daywear to evening. Saint Laurent also infused its bias grunge aesthetics into metallics, deep v-cut colored dresses, and of course black leather looks. And all this happened in only two days that explains why Paris is still the center of Fashion. 

Christian Dior's Extreme Innovative Transformation

Innovation exploded at the Christian Dior show on Thursday with an extraordinary setting that will have plenty to talk about all season long. With just less than two years since Raf Simons has been at Dior – which seems more than that – he has already caught everyone’s attention whether it be in a bad or esoteric manner. From international actresses, supermodels, to important political figures and the Princess of Thailand, all made their presence at this fashion forward trendsetting show. 

Paris Spring 2014 Shows: Carven, Balmain, Nina Ricci, and More

A review of Paris Fashion Week Spring 2014 Collections: Carven, Balmain, Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne, and Lanvin.

Paris Spring 2014 Shows: Balenciaga's Conversation with Alexander Wang

From Left: Woven leather jacket and skirt; pink woven leather shoes; laser-cut back of white dress

Final Days of Milan Spring 2014 Shows

A review of Giorgio Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo, Missoni, and Dolce and Gabbana Spring 2014 collections.

Spring 2014 Milan Shows: Etro, Versace, and More

A review of Etro, Versace, and Tod's Spring 2014 collections.

Fendi and Prada Spring 2014 Collections: A Beauty of Art and Technology

A review of Fendi and Prada Spring 2014 Collections. 

From Left: Graphic Prada coat and yellow bejeweled shoes; Fendi spring 2014 laser-cut fur top and plastic organza heels.

Milan Spring 2014 Fashion Week: Gucci, Dsquared2, and More

From left: A Gucci mesh and metallic silk dress; Close-up details of an Alberta Ferretti spring 2014 dress.

A Moderate Finale for New York Fashion Week Spring 2014

A review from the Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein Collection, and Marc Jacobs Spring 2014 shows. 

From Left: Details of a Marc Jacobs Spring 2014 coat; Calvin Klein cotton tweed deconstructed seams; Ralph Lauren spring 2014 floral pattern trench coat.

An Approach to Minimal Femininity at Spring 2014 Shows

From left: Close-up geometric cuts of a Narciso Rodriguez brocade dress; A bronze metallic textured cropped top; A black chiffon with a ruched detailed bodice.

More Spring 2014 NYFW Shows: Tory Burch and Timo Weiland

Spring 2014 Shows: Victoria Beckham, Derek Lam, and More

Spring 2014 Shows| Prabal Gurung, Altuzarra, and More

Spring 2014 RTW Shows: Cushnie et Ochs, and Rag & Bone

Jason Wu's Spring 2014 Feminine Approach to Easy Glamour

Jason Wu is no longer a 23 year-old fashion designer who designed for young girls back in his days. His grown, and so has his label - matured in a very beautiful and empowering feminine manner. It all started with cute designs, then luxury aesthetics, edgy tailored pieces, provocation (who can't remember his Spring 2013 one), and last season he tried to give us his "most mature and Extreme Femininity" collection. He's always looking for ways to intertwine real femininity - sensuality, authority, delicacy, sophistication - with his luxurious silhouettes; it'd make sense why First Lady, Michelle Obama, had chosen Mr. Wu twice to wear his designs for such special occasions. And for his new Spring 2014 collection, the designer embarked on another triumphant journey of the female silhouette.......making relaxed daywear tailoring feel as glamorous and easy as life should be.

He wanted to create "a dialogue between construction and ease," and it most certainly was present here. The collection emphasized much more on daywear - strong jumpsuits, safari vests in chiffon that only covered certain body parts with its pockets, trench coats paired with lace corsets on back for structure, an intricate biker jacket, knitwear tops, and sleeveless suit jackets - without loosing Wu's signature. He even included one swimsuit and kaftans paired with see-through lingerie laced details. Lacing was his sensuality etched in other jackets and dresses, like one white strapless piece. His constructed shorts and pants were noteworthy of an order, making every look seem effortlessly well put together.

What took away the show here though were his sumptuous metallic embroidered numbers of chiffon dresses - halter neck and spaghetti straps - that came in various colors (gold, light green, light gray, white, blue, and black). They may have been the most relaxed yet tailored dresses Mr.Wu had ever presented for a collection, but their delicate cowl-like drapery on the back transmitted luxury. These dresses were not meant to wear at night, because Wu envisioned them for daywear as did his other looks, and he may be on track of setting a trend of metallic embroidered dresses as the new must have "it" dress for casualness. I mean, who said glamour begins at night, when daytime is when you shine the most? Mr. Wu understood all that very clearly.

NYFW Spring 2014| BCBGMAXAZRIA, Richard Chai, and More

Day 1 of New York Fashion Week:

Versace and Giorgio Armani Fall 2013 Couture| The Last

Giorgio Armani knows how to dress a woman with class. His Fall 2013 Couture collection was without a doubt one of the most beautiful collections we had yet to have seen from Mr. Armani. He opted to stay away from bolder colors and instead go for nude colors that would blend perfectly with his old Hollywood theme. The collection described everything about the Armani woman: sensual, sophisticated, luxurious, and of power.

He began his show with a series of nude numbers that could take your breathe away. His suits were cut with such a subtle manner, it was difficult not to fall in love with them; the construction of those shoulders portrayed superb authority. But what probably made his suits a stronger presentation were pairing them with a number of impeccable matching and lightly embroidered wide-legged trousers. Mr. Armani indeed reconfirmed he can cut a perfect pair of his signature trousers, because whether he fails or not in any season, his classical trousers always saves him from a harsh critic. One thing for sure is that if you ever decide to go for his couture trousers here - luxury cotton, silk lame, and organza - or his more affordable ones, be assure that you will have invested in the perfect pair of dress pants any women seeks for; a sophisticating at a high level included. 

He also introduced several handmade lace tops that imbued a sensuality with those hair styles the models wore. A full laced trench coat would be a magical fortune for any women who purchases it, as for his evening wear dresses were fit for a royal ceremony. The Emmy's are arriving sooner than you believe, and a dress from these collection (such as one pictured on the right above) wouldn't hurt anyone who seeks for a beautiful piece that could speak for itself.

The Fall 2013 Couture | Chanel, Valentino, and More