Couture

Couture. Fashion at its utmost. At its finest. The epitome of quality, grace and craftsmanship. At least, that's what couture is supposed to be. And I suppose the embodiments of such traits can come in countless shapes and sizes, but still...jeans on the Chanel couture runway? Is it just me, or does that seem a little...well...less than luxe? Then again, as so many supporters point out, if people will pay hundreds of dollars for Balmain jeans, then why not thousands of dollars for couture? Regardless the excitement I felt Chanel lacked was made up for in spades by the craftsmanship of Givenchy and Dior and the energy of Jean Paul Gaultier. As for Armani? Well...let's just say I'll be interested to see if any of the pieces make it past the runway. The shiny, futuristic theme was beautiful, but a little too otherworldly to be very wearable. Here are a few of my pics from this season:

 Alexis Mabille

(Clean, simple, pure. Maybe a little too much so?)

Armani Prive

Jean Paul Gaultier

(I actually really like this jacket)

Chanel

Chanel

(Jeans or not, who couldn't love this finale?)

Dior

(Someday I will be glamorous enough to wear this)

Dior

(Way better than Belle's yellow Beauty and the Beast gown. WAY better.)

Elie Saab

(Reliable red carpet wear as per usual)

Elie Saab

Givenchy

(I've never been into samurai, but these are pretty amazing.)

Laguna Winter

Finished my last college final this morning. Feels amazing. Got a letter from my mom explaining the first step of the plan for my financial independence. Feels weird. Not bad, just weird. I'm in an odd limbo/pins and needles/denial/breathless anticipation stage in terms of my new job starting tomorrow. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it goes...

Meanwhile, I spent yesterday afternoon cruising PCH in Laguna and avoiding reality.

Correction: BOYS of Milan and Paris

This video literally made my day. Well, that and it's my last official day of college. YES. FREEDOM!

Thank you Justin Wu.

http://vimeo.com/19141843

Now I'm off to the beach. I love California.

Men of Milan and Paris

Ok so the couture shows are already underway so here's a recap of men's wear in Milan and Paris. Well, a recap of some of my favorites at least.

I'm really loving all the hats and, shall we say, a certain level of class? (hooray!) I'm not a men's wear expert - this season is actually the first time I've taken the time to wade through most of the shows. Still...Galliano seemed a bit more like theater than fashion to me, no?

 Dolce & Gabbana

 Dolce & Gabbana

 Balmain (a decidedly different take)

 Ferragamo

 Giorgio Armani

 John Galliano (umm...this is fashion?)

 Lanvin

 Yves Saint Laurent Stefano Pilati

Agnes B

 Trussardi
(the trash bag pants Derek has been rocking for over a year are popping up everywhere. I hate to acknowledge that he might have been right about that one...)

Trussardi

Bandeau in January

New bandeau top for LCS Designs. Because January felt like the right season for a bandeau?

(H&M Shorts)

G'Day LA

Wow. It's been almost two weeks since I last posted! There's been a lot going on lately and much delayed posts will be rolling in over the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, I spent all day yesterday in Hollywood backstage at the G'Day LA Black Tie Gala fashion show, part of Australia Week (and no, I didn't know that existed until yesterday either). My role for this particular show was dressing male models. Not kidding. Not a bad job, I'd say, even though I definitely just felt like their mother; buttoning their shirts, straightening their ties and sending them off to school...very sweet, but not the most conversational of chaps. Met some great girls too and ended up grabbing a bite to eat at Aroma afterwards (to the beautiful Bailey: I SWEAR there was money on that credit card - I don't know why it didn't work...).

Here are a couple of pics from backstage:

That was my charge, Ryan. Yes he got my number. No, he didn't call. Lol.

Chanel, Champagne and Vanderbilts

Over break I actually got a chance to curl up and read for a change. Devoured three books in a few days and wish I could do it again. Here they are with Lindsey-reviews:

The Secret of Chanel No. 5

I never thought I would know this much about a perfume. Stunningly though, the detailed events of the life of the world's most iconic fragrance captivated me page by page. Tilar Mazzeo delves into Coco Chanel's personal history and weaves the events that led to the birth of Chanel No. 5, it's development, and it's impact on French society and then the world, together with the story of Chanel's own life of passion, desperation and perseverance. It is a fascinating study of an inanimate object that became a cultural icon, first through the name of its creator, then as a beacon of hope and freedom during war, and finally as a representative of culture, mystery and a sensual sophistication preserved by decades of elegance and glamor.

The Widow Cliquot

This is a detailed account of the accomplishments of an 18th century entrepreneur, a woman who successfully launched an international champagne empire in a world where women were valued more as objects of society than as astute, innovative business powerhouses. Mazzeo's investigation into the life and progress of this extraordinary character details as well the birth of sparkling wine, it's rise in the global market (much thanks to the Widow herself), and the changing tides of war that shook Europe again and again as France stumbled through a century of revolution. It is a rich tale, with subtle, satisfying notes, founded soundly on a reverent appreciation for the crafts of wine and business.

The Life of Gloria Vanderbilt

 

A parade of beautiful images and photographs provide structure for this delicious dive into the turbulant, effervescent life of one of the century's most glamorous American icons. Wendy Goodman's text is marked by an admiration of Ms. Vanderbilt's unwavering strength and vulnerability. Through tragedies, fairy tales, broken marriages and career rebirths, Vanderbilt's poise and unquenchable resilience inspire and enchant.