Monthly Archives: July 2012

Couture Fall 2012 Roundup, Day 3

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Ulyana Sergeenko
Ulyana Sergeenko, the Russian street style star turned designer’s show was very Russian indeed. It seemed to mix sexy Russian with grandma-babushka-Russian. There were prarie-esq dresses, fur-skirts, heavy coats, rosettes, and head scarves. But there were also rompers, chic mohair sweaters, smart trousers, and knee high boots. The skirts were voluminous, the shoulders exaggerated, the Ulyana-Sergeenko influence clearly present. The sweater-tucked-into-huge-50’s-skirt look has become her signature, so for anyone who wants to look like her, here you go. 

Maison Martin Margiela
Margiela clearly had a lace-and-gem thing going on in this couture, but with that came things like a plastic coat or a jacket of baseball gloves, which don’t seem to match at all, but seem so effing cool you can’t help but want it all. Margiela is the essence of cool, but not in a downtown way. No, his cool is more refined, more sophisticated, and damn great. This was couture in the grittiest sense, and in the most refined-grittiest way possible.


Elie Saab
Elie Saab branched out this season- instead of just beautiful beaded gowns with a variety of necklines, sleevs lengths, etc. (which, don’t get me wrong, I love) he had pieces without embellishent, gold foil, and dresses with multiple colors on them (ok, so maybe that was just a few nude gowns with a bit of blueish teal, but hey) There was still a distinct color pallete-order, as there always in, but instead of just pastels, the show opened with balck, segwayed into nude, peach, robins-egg then teal blue, darker nude, and finally gold. There were a few turtleeck dresses, which I loved, for not only do they conceal an unsightly neck, but they look so chic!

Valentino

Valentino was beautiful in it’s simplicity; simple yet innovative silhouettes, clean lines, uncluttered by patterns. The patterns that appeared were sophisticated and elegent, and instead of seeming busy or cluttered, were only elegant.

 Openign with darker hues- beautiful navys and blacks, segwaying into lighter colors and their signature florals, all ladylike and whimisically beautiful, as Valentino usually is. The models were angellic, even Ruby Aldridge, usually so hard, looked like the sweetest of them all. The pleats were dainty, the embellishments sophisitcated, and the overall effect new, but quintessentially Valentino.

All photos Style.com

Currently Craving: French Fashion

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I looove French Fashion- Chanel, YSL, Balenciaga, Hermes, the list goes on and on. Being in Paris, I am surrounded by all these stores and more, and I can’t help from wanting everything! One of my favorite French companies is Carven- I love how girly, young, and fun the clothes are. I especially love the  Cotton Dress with Ruching (1) and the Biker Style Cotton Jacket (2) which is perfect for summer since its lightweight. You simply can’t be French without something Hermes, and the classic lacquered H bracelet in white (3) is super summery and therefore perfect. If you buy no other white, buy the Celine Cabas in Python White (4), need I say more? It’s Celine, it’s Python.

The Louis Vuitton Yellow Pouchette (5) and sunglasses (6) literally couldn’t be cuter, and the YSL Arty Ring (7) in that light turquoise/mint is so perfect for the summer. A Carven blouse (8) comes next- how cool is that print? and then we have the most amazing Lanvin iPhone case (9). I mean, come on. Alber Elbaz is just too cute.


It’s been rainy here quite a bit in Paris, so the Etoile Isabel Marant Skinny Jeans (10) would be fabulous to own. (side note- I also love Isabel Marant- her latest collection was too good). Repetto Flats (11) are pricey but amazing, and oohing says summer like a bubblegum pink YSL Clutch (12). (ok, maybe a lot of other things do, but let’s just pretend). Another great French brand is Sandro, and the color of this Shirt (13) is so light and pretty. Chloe sandals (14) and a Chanel Bike (15) are obvious essentials for Paris in the summer. Because who doesn’t need a Chanel bike?

Lesage, Paris

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If the name Lesage doesn’t get your heart beating, please leave now. This legendary house, started in 1924, when the embroiderer Michonet sold his house to Marie-Louise and Albert Lesage, is one of six remaining embroidery houses in Paris. The Metiers d’art, or craftsmen, are the ones responsible for the couture you see every season. The costume jewelers, feather workers, milliners, bookmakers, glove makers, fabric pleaters, and embroiderers are the ones who make the exquisite pieces you see on the couture runways (under the designers direction, of course).

 Chanel Sketches

Lesage is perhaps the most famous because of it’s work with Chanel. Yes, it is the house that embroiders Chanel. But Lesage has worked with many other legendary designers, Yves Saint Laurent and Elsa Schiaparelli being two (they still have samples from Elsa-all the way back to the 1930’s!)

They also work with new and emerging designers, Mary Katrantzou being the most notable. As a side note, I am obsessed with her, and was almost more excited to see a garden-print dress being embellished than a tweed being made.

Lesage has over 60 tons of materials, and only 60 employees. Everything is stored beautifully, right down to the color-coded thread in antique shelves. They also have an incredible archive- every time they make a sample it is put into their archive, so they have amassed quite the collection after almost 90 years.

One of the best parts was learning about how the designers collaborate with the craftspeople- designers will come and give the theme, and then the craftsperson will create samples based on the theme and what they think the designer is looking for. The designer will then pick their favorite, and a series of drawings and patterns and samples are made. Once the embroidery is complete, the pieces go back to their respective fashion houses and are assembled there. Pretty cool, right?