In Two Words or Less...What is Fashion?

If I were ever asked to give an example of what the fashion industry is, in two words, I would say Anna and Marc. These two industry icons represent the true essence of the industry. It is not the H&Ms of the world, as vital as they are to its growth, but it is these two individuals that make, create, sell and market what the industry is all about - art, talent, business and power. Without them, the H&Ms, the Forever 21s, the Targets, and the Old Navys' would not operate as they do. It is Anna Wintour and Marc Jacobs, along with a finely tuned group of other fashion masterminds that quintessentially represent fashion.

Photo: wireimage.com

Madonna, Malawi & Gucci

Madonna and Gucci are joining forces to raise money for Unicef and Raising Malawi. On February 8th, Madonna and Gucci will co-host a fundraising event to launch the opening of the biggest Gucci retail space worldwide. The new 5th Avenue Gucci boutique will incorporate a four-story, 45,000-sq.-ft. shopping space on the corner of 56th Street. As big as it may be, the 5th Avenue space will not be hosting the evening's festivities, instead a made-just-for-the-night structure will occupy the North Lawns of United Nations. The night will see Alicia Keys, Timbaland, and Rihanna perform.

Tickets start at $250 and go up to $100,000 but with the celebrity turnout expected, don't expect to score a $250 ticket. The night, dubbed "A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF", is reportedly expected to raise $2 million for both charities combined.

I'm glad to see the fashion industry getting involved in a meaningful cause. It is not the first time, yet it is great to see the merging of different talents/industries for the benefit of the unfortunate aspects of our world. Yes, they come together for the party as well, that goes without saying, but at the end of it all, if they are able to raise millions, then that is ultimately all that matters, party or not.

Photo:unknown source

Most Stylish Couple

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, besides everyone's difference, are Hollywood's most stylish couple (of the moment). Seen here at The 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles.

Photo: wireimage.com

It's Lucy and Carlos

Lucy Liu and Carlos Souza at Valentino's farewell dinner at his Chateau de Wideville. I love Liu's pink ballooned coat and purple satin frock. A great image....another one for the books!

Photo: style.com

Trend: Neat and Slick

I loved the perfectly coiffed hair at the Valentino spring 2008 Haute Couture show. The new trend in slick back, is not parted down the middle or to the side, but rather sectioned down the middle, with the rest of the hair naturally pulled back. I love the look. I also love the perfectly sculpted low buns, only I am sure this is not a 3 minute do-it-yourself achievement. Yet, it's a great ode to the pretty lady-like looks for the new season.


Photo: style.com

Valentino's Last Bow

And so it was on Wednesday, Valentino's last walk down the runway, his last show bow and looking sharper and dapper than ever. He looked impeccable in his pinstriped suit, definitely a model for how men should look today. His final couture collection, however, was another story. While it was very, very Valentino, I personally think it was a bit too over done. My favorite looks were the Easter egg colored day coats, and the Jackie O. suits, along with a handful of eveningwear looks. I could have down without all the frou - all the different colored floral pleated, draped and sheer ensembles. And so we await the fall 2008 collection, the first collection under the direction of Alessandra Facchinetti. It is always interesting to see how new (and young) designers interpret old houses.

I loved how Valentino had all his couture seamstresses from Rome in attendance. Apparently they were in tears as they watched each piece come down the runway.

Photos: style.com

Just Like a Page Out of a Magazine...

The true essence of Paris Haute Couture Week is not merely the shows themselves yet the frenzy outside the shows and all the perfectly coifed flowing locks swinging into and out of black sedans. This image of Claudia Schiffer (seen above leaving the Chanel show) says it all. It literally looks like the Ferragamo ads in which she plays herself in the midst of media chaos.

Photos: wireimage.com; unknown source

Givenchy Haute Couture Spring 2008

Glam rock/Gothic ballerina infused Riccardo Tisci's spring 2008 haute couture collection. I love the mix of hard and soft, like the dainty girly dresses à la Swan Lake mixed with the hard edges of pleats and cuts that have a serious rock undertone. This is definitely one of my favorite collections of the season. My favorite piece is the glittered out ball dress paired with lace up ballet inspired heels. I also loved the whole black and white color theme, especially the slim black pants with the high collared fitted white shirt - very Karl Lagerfeld meets Leigh Lezark.

Photos: style.com

Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2008

By now we all have heard about the giant, well actually gi-normous, exaggeratedly sized classic Chanel jacket that served as the backdrop, or rather the centerpiece to the spring 2008 Haute Couture runway. First it was Marc Jacobs' oversized shopping bags and now Karl Lagerfeld has fled the oversized for supersized props as the harboring attraction of the show.

Ok, it is massive, impressive and pretty fantastic, but the collection is pretty fantastic as well. Choosing to concentrate on the jacket, different variations in different color and fabric ways sashayed down the runway in ballet flats and stockinged legs, it almost all felt like a ballet production only instead of dance being the main attraction it was the clothing.

I think that this is one of the best Chanel shows I have seen within the past few seasons. I love how Lagerfeld chose to reinvent the original. It just goes to show the true meaning of a classic. When something works and is great, sometimes there is no need for change, sometimes things do last forever. They may adapt to time and change its form but they will always be what they were from the beginning - a classic. And this is why I appreciate the art of Karl Lagerfeld, because while he adds newness to Chanel he never tries to supersede the formula.

Photos: stye.com

The Final Show

For his last show, Valentino decided to be his own face. The invite features the designer sadly looking out a car window in what I assume is a reflection of his almost half a century career in the industry. His last Haute Couture show will be held Wednesday evening at the Musée Rodin where all the who's who are expected to attend. This will be the designer's final show bow after 45-years designing his namesake label. Alessandra Facchinetti, former Gucci designer, will take over beginning with, fall 2008, her first collection for the house. For those interested in going behind-the-scenes and viewing an edited version of more than 250 hours of footage can view Matt Tyrnauer's documentary, Valentino: The Last Emperor, which will premier at the Cannes Film Festival.

Photo: fashionweekdaily.com

Look Back: The Girls of the 80s

I recently came across this photograph of Stephanie Seymour, Cindy Crawford, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell taken by Herb Ritts in 1989. A classic image of some of the top supermodels of the time.

Marc Channels Al...

Viewing the images from the Marc by Marc Jacobs store opening in Chicago, I discovered that Mr. Jacobs has made yet another changing of the guards in terms of his appearance. The first major shock came when he stepped out at the Met's Annual Costume Ball - the weight loss, the chopped hair and a seemingly apparent surgery of some sort (read previous post) made him almost unrecognizable. However, he now seems to be channeling Al Pacino circa 1983 Scarface, with the small addition of an R.Kelley-esque diamond earring fest on both his lobes.

The three diamond studded ears, the single strand diamond choker, the open collared shirt and a two day old five o'clock shadow seem to be the outstanding features of Marc Jacobs' new look.

Was it really Scarface that inspired this look? Will we be seeing some Michelle Pfeiffer-banged bob-flowing dress - inspiration on the fall 2008 runway? Let's see how good change is. Make sure to view the new collection on style.com on February 5th for the Marc by Marc show and February 8th for the Marc Jacobs show.

Photos: wireimage;unknown source

It's a Posh Style

I love Victoria Beckham's tuxedo pant suit. The one button, fitted, open down-to-there blazer and underpinning completely takes out the element of menswear and transforms it into a sexy, seductive outfit. What I love most, however, is her head scarf, even though it has been the trend in Hollywood of late, as seen on Lindsay, Britney and Nicole, Posh gives it a new direction (up high on the forehead) and dresses it up. The black satin head accessory makes this outfit edgy without going overboard. Next time you don't know what to do with your bangs, pull on a black satin head scarf and channel Mrs Beckham.

Photo: wireimage.com

Most Stylish Tot: Suri Cruise

I think that Suri Cruise is definitely the most stylish baby. Firstly she is the cutest little thing but more so her outfits are always fashionably chic and age appropriate. Besides the fact that she loves the spotlight (note how she always looks straight into the camera in any one of her paparazzi shots), Suri is definitely ready for the red carpet. Oh and let us not forget her very own custom made Christian Louboutin shoes (the company's youngest client to date). If ever there was an award for best dressed baby, Little Miss Cruise would win hands down.

Photo: various sources

Marc Jacobs LA Windows

Overall my shopping jaunts throughout LA were pretty disappointing, everyone was on sale and not one window display was inspiring or enticing, except perhaps for Marc Jacobs' mannequins in shopping bags. Keeping consistent with his new ad campaign of Victoria Beckham in a bag, were his windows filled with giant over sized shopping bags and boxes with mannequins protruding from them. I think it was a fantastic way to get the whole world talking about Marc.

Venturing into the stores on Melrose, both Marc Jacobs, and Marc by Marc Jacobs, I was not too enthralled with the merchandise selection, especially with the Marc by Marc store which is slowly turning into an imported Chinese flea market. It's great to have trinkets priced at $5.00 but not when its starts to take up 75% of the store....I was truly disappointed.


Photo: fashionweekdaily.com

Spotted: Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson

My first celeb encounter during my West Coast trip happened approximately 30 minutes prior at Katsuya, a posh LA sushi eatery. Sitting, munching on my edamame, in comes Tom Hanks whom walked straight to a table occupied my a brunette with a head of gorgeous cascading curls (of what I could see from the back view). He embraced her with such joy and happiness and she embraced back with such deep passion you could see the love emitting from their aura. I know this sounds like a sappy love story but this observance was pure and inspiring, so much so that I had to approach them (after 3 glasses of Pinot Grigio (but that's between you and me)) and simply tell them that they are my inspiration. I want to be them after 20 years of marriage and two children. I fell in love, and not so from a style point of view, whilst they were both truly stylish, him in his slim dark blue denim and black blazer and her in a loose-cut black ensemble, it was their charisma together, their connection and their true spirit that has inspired me to believe in, what they say, true love forever (yes, sappy I know, but sometimes sappy is good). To Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, the true Hollywood power couple.

P.S. When I told them they were my inspiration they both blushed, very sincerely I might add, and Rita said..."Well, I love him!".

Los Angeles Trip

I will be taking a 3-day trip to LA to scope out the stores, visit the LA Mart and of course do the Pasadena Rosebowl Vintage Flea Market. I am most excited about the potential finds awaiting me in Pasadena. I will keep you posted.

Shopping: New Flats

While packing for my trip to Los Angeles I realized that my flats are rather old and boring, and seeing how I have not given up the legging I am in desperate need for a new pair of ballet flats. I found these chic satin embellished pair by Burberry that make a great day-into-evening shoe. Not that I will receive them for my tomorrow departure but I caved and made the sort of impulsive purchase...they are on sale what could I say, you could never have enough flats, or come to think of it, enough heels, bags, or jewelry.


Burberry Embellished ballet flats $276.50 at net-a-porter.com

Stylish Male Duo

George Clooney and Sean Penn, both hitting a high style note in their made-to-measure suits portray two different looks- one a clean cut gentleman and one a disheveled bad boy, yet both pass with an A+ in my books.
Photo: wireimage.com

Adidas by Stella McCartney

My new found favorite is the Adidas by Stella McCartney collection, even though it was launched in 2004 I only really just took note of it of late, starting with my first purchase, the kangaroo pocket washed hoodie. It is the most comfortable item within my comfortable/lounge/gym wardrobe. I find myself wearing it everywhere from Yoga classes to my occasional jaunts to the spa. I plan to revamp my workout wardrobe with the entire Adidas by Stella McCartney collection. It's the most stylish way to be comfortable and fashionable at the same time - hands down.

Visit style.com to view the spring 2008 runway collection.

Isabelli Fontana for H&M

H&M has increased their advertising dollars with the addition of a seductive and enticing campaign for their intimates collection. Isabelli Fontana, clad in nothing but satin and bedroom eyes is the star of this very sexy campaign. Victoria's Secret step aside, it seems as though this Swedish retailer is taking the lead for not only captivating advertising but lingere dollars as well. Think of H&M for your next lingerie purchase, I know I will be definitely purchasing this fantastic bustier.

New Year....New Accessories

As some of you may know, I'm an accessory hound, it's what makes an outfit and fashion would not be the same without the advent of accessories be it shoes, handbags, jewelry, scarves, ect...and to start a new year one needs new accessories. Grooming the 571 images, all of Candy Pratts Price's accessory feature on style.com, I scoped out my favorites, and what I think are must-haves for the spring.

Spring 2008: Best Shoes

Photos: style.com