I love the way this collection layered classic, preppy pieces like a sweater vest, over flowing, boho styles, creating titillating combinations that delight the senses. (Photo: Vogue.com)
There are few things I love more in fashion than seeing two styles that are usually kept in separate realms or genres of clothing come together to form something altogether unexpected and incredibly satisfying to view. The Chloé Pre-Fall 2019 collection not only struck me with all of its crisp, gorgeous, 70s-inspired pieces that match my aesthetic perfectly, but also in the way that it so naturally paired prim, preppy charm with free-flowing, breezy boho beauty.
While the flowing, print-laden styles synonymous with bohemian fashion have never really piqued my interest, this collection made me realize that there is so much more you can do with it, like pair a flowing, printed dress with a structured blazer, or throw on a lush, velvet dress over a clean white blouse and slacks duo. There is so much playfulness and freedom in these combinations- including the rich juxtapositions of deep colors and lively prints- that it excites and delights the senses.
The details of these outfits weren’t lost on me, either. The tiny, box bags have so much charm paired with the snakeskin block-heel boots and fluttering neck bows. Some of my favorite looks included high-necked lace collars that may have enticed Shakespeare himself, which is what caught my attention in the first place.
Everything about this collection screams “eclectic,” which is exactly what we’re all about- new and exciting marriages of styles, thoughts, ideas, art forms- there is no limit to what we can create and I appreciate that this collection reminded me of that.
Check out some of my favorite looks from the collection below:
Christmas is right around the corner- like 2 or 3 days away depending on what you consider to be the “real Christmas”- and that means you still have a couple of days left to find the perfect Christmas/New Years outfit to make everyone in your family (even those annoying distant relatives) think “man they look good- they must have their s*** together!”
If you’re looking for some inspiration to punch up your holiday outfit ideas, your search ends here! I’ve dug through the trove of outfit inspiration to end all outfit inspiration- the Fall 2018 couture collections! If you want to make an impression that will last a lifetime, get your pen and paper ready to furiously take some notes. You’re going to need them! Check out some of my favorite trends that would definitely serve you well during the holiday season:
Comfy, Chunky Knits
Winter is knit season, so what better addition to a cozy winter ‘fit than a good sweater? Except, this time, take your idea of a comfy knit and turn up the intensity like 3 or 4 notches. What have you got to lose by going bigger? Chunkier? Bolder?? The answer is nothing, so go for it!
Source: Sonia Rykiel Couture Fall 2018 via Vogue.com
Shimmery, Red Sequins
Your Christmas ornament should be flattered- get it? Because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Enough with the jokes! Red sequins will add so much festive fun to any look, you’ll feel like a party on legs! Anything with this much shine will also look incredible next to a well-decorated tree, so break out your Kira Kira app and get snapping!
Source: Left- Maison Francesco Scognamiglio, Center- Alberta Ferretti Limited Edition, Right- Zuhair Murad via Vogue.com
Get Into Green
We’ve given red a shout out, so we thought it would only be fair to do the same for the season’s other most iconic color- green! We’ve already spoken about why green is a huge color this season, but if that isn’t reason enough to get this color into your life, just consider how spirited you will look in green with red accessories!
Source: Left- Jean Paul Gaultier, Center & Right- Valentino via Vogue.com
Sugarplum Pink
The Nutcracker Ballet’s very own Sugarplum Fairy is taking note of these gorgeous gowns. Shimmery, feathery, light, sheer and romantic- these dresses are dreams woven into reality! Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t wear a soft, Spring-y shade. You totally should! And look like a total cutie doing it!
Source: Fendi Couture Fall 2018 via Vogue.com
Sleek Black
The Little Black Dress has never looked so good. While every woman needs a good LBD, you should have a GREAT one with fun details like a dramatic slit, some funky bows, or a full, cupcake skirt that’s just too fun to pass up. Plus, you can add pretty much any accessory to a black dress, so go nuts and really make it your own!
Source: Chanel Couture Fall 2018 via Vogue.com
Oversized, Dramatic Silhouettes
Make sure that when you show up to the Christmas celebration everyone turns and thinks to themselves “She. Has. Arrived.” with a dramatic dress that’s only a little bit extra. Okay, a lot extra. But look at how fun these looks are! It will all be worth it!
Source: Left- Valentino, Center & Right- Giambattista Valli Couture Fall 2018 via Vogue.com
Prim Pleats
Posh, pretty, preppy pleats are the perfectway to dress up your holiday outfits- just look at how sharp and shimmery these are! If you want to look like an angel, or a mermaid, then this trend may be just the thing you need and were lucky enough to stumble across!
Source: Azzaro Couture Fall 2018 via Vogue.com
Even if you didn’t find what you were looking for, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! No matter what you wear to celebrate, you’ll look amazing! What are your plans gearing up for the new year? Let me know in the comments!
So, as you all may know, fashion moves at lightning speed. Collections are released almost a year ahead of time, everyone furiously writes about them for approximately a day, then they are forgotten, grains of sand blowing away in the winds of time. It is often this aspect of fashion that makes me the most sad.
A truly good collection should last longer than that, or at least cut through the cluttered “runway show” section of my memory. Many good collections do- they live on in collages I create, or articles I write. But one managed to slip my mind, a collection that combined a cheery, retro, ’60s aesthetic with a potent dose of fantasy- Moschino Fall/Winter 2018.
How could I have forgotten about it? Not only does the collection feature plenty of Jackie O hairstyles, prim pillbox hats and rainbow bright, matchy-matchy ’60s skirt suits, it also let loose a gaggle of adorable alien girls painted in nearly every hue of the rainbow. Like, honestly, how freaking cool is that? I’m actually pretty much obsessed with the retro-futuristic vision of aliens, so the fact that I had to be reminded of this truly bonkers collection by scrolling through Google Images is concerning to me.
Jeremy Scott, the creative director of Moschino, got his inspiration for this collection of intergalactic go-go girls from a conspiracy theory: JFK told Marilyn Monroe about the existence of aliens, a fact that she was going to bring to the press, which is what led her to be killed. He used this as a jumping-off point for his own bananas theory: Jackie Kennedy was an alien all along and killed both JFK and Marilyn Monroe. Whaaaaaaaat. How much more fun can a collection get?
Besides the obvious shining moment of the head-to-toe painted models, the collection also boasted some fun comic-inspired prints and vintage-looking satin evening dresses stitched together with glam sequin pieces to create some kind of retro-futuristic Franken-gown. All of these details brought so much fun and light into the collection, which I enjoyed from start to finish. While I’m not usually a fan of Scott’s collections (gimmicks don’t appeal to me) this one just happened to speak to my own personal aesthetic. So, if you also forgot about this gem of a collection, do yourself a favor and get re-acquainted with some of the best looks below:
While everyone is moving their attention towards the incoming Pre-Fall 2019 collections, I’m still caught up on Spring/Summer 2019. There were so many amazing collections, and many of the smaller ones did not receive the recognition they deserve. One of my favorite small collections from the season was Malamute Spring/Summer 2019 which brought us a cultivated collection of fun, preppy looks mixed with impeccable knits all inspired by Christopher Nolan’s movie Memento which explored the thread of memory and repetition.
Although this was Mari Odaka’s ninth collection with Malamute, this collection was the runway debut of her stunning knits and gorgeously-tailored dresses that perfectly suit the female form. The looks that shone the most, in my opinion, were the retro-looking linen dresses with fringe across the bodice- they had such a charming, western vibe that was hard not to admire.
Other standouts included two fitted knit dresses and plenty of distressed denim outfits to inspire my off-duty wardrobe. And the red details sprinkled throughout the looks really served to bring everything together into one refreshing collection of western-inspired looks to lust after. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more from Odaka’s Malamute in the years to come!
Check out a few of my favorite looks from the collection below:
The Chanel Pre-Fall 2019, Métiers d’Art show was a momentous event that transported viewers back to ancient Egypt with a catwalk that appropriately took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Temple of Dendur exhibit. Models slunk across the runway shimmering in all manner of gold and adorned in accessories that nodded to ancient Egyptian culture (see scarab beetles galore, pyramid-shaped purses, round hats and elaborate collars.)
A shendyt-inspired skirt and large, sweeping collar/shoulder silhouette gave this classic Chanel Tweed suit an Egyptian twist. Plus those gold tights- wow! (Photo: Vogue.com)
While the clothing certainly looked striking on screen, the pieces are best appreciated up close, as to observe the great amount of handmade detail that went into them. The gold-woven tweeds were made with tulle, sequin and metallic ribbon, while some gauzy gold materials are an elaborate mesh of tiny golden beads and each knit is encrusted with shimmering paillettes to imitate ancient Egyptian jewelry. Each look in the collection is an impressive work of art that deserves appreciation.
While ancient Egypt has had its influence in popular culture throughout the past century, this collection has brought many interesting aspects of Egyptian style back into the limelight, including skirts with a slight rise in the front in imitation of the Egyptian kilt-style wrap skirts. One of the styling choices that interested me the most was the layering of the classic Chanel tweed suits over the ankle-length wispy, white skirts that nodded back to the styles worn by Cleopatra and her women.
The collection also managed to meld aspects of 1980s NYC (Chanel’s showing in New York was a first for the brand)- with wide, sweeping shoulders, oversized blazers and loud prints that echo back to those popular in the ’80s, which were also a celebration of graffiti art.
While this collection was a triumph of artistic endeavor and luxurious craftsmanship, it didn’t pique my interest aesthetically. Although the liquid-y, gold tights were gorgeous, I’m not the biggest fan of gold in fashion, as I believe it can easily look cheap, tawdry and make any well-meaning outfit look like a costume. I do believe some of the gold details in this collection cheapened the looks, but perhaps that is because I didn’t experience the show in-person and was not able to see the work put into each piece. Pictures can only show so much!
Overall, I do think it was a success. Fashion should transport and delight the senses, just like any other art form- and even if this collection doesn’t interest me on a personal level, I appreciate what it has done in bringing ancient Egypt back to life.
Check out some of my favorite looks from the collection below:
The beauty in myth is that they all serve to teach us a valuable lesson- Icarus let his hubris launch him into the sky, only for him to come crashing back down, a beautiful, blazing glory. While Clare Waight Keller used Icarus to inspire the Givenchy Pre-Fall 2019 collection, it did not fly too high for its own good. In fact, it too, has a valuable lesson to teach- the art of layering.
In the Fall and Winter seasons, it may be tempting to put style aside and just focus on keeping warm, but this collection serves as a reminder that Winter fashion is just so damn fun, so why not take advantage of it? One look sees a cinched dress pulled over a high-neck collared top for a prim, pressed style. Another pairs a soft, slouchy knit sweater with a crisp, pleated skirt. Every outfit plays with your expectations of color, pattern, line, material- begetting looks that are chicly unique.
Perhaps one of my favorite looks sees a structured, super-cropped jacket paired nicely with a long, classic-looking, yellow dress, creating a stimulating juxtaposition of length. Plus, the collection employs one of my all-time favorite shoe looks- a tall, slouchy boot coupled with a long, flowing dress.
While myth and legend can serve as muses for the most dramatic of collections, Givenchy’s newest collection is understated and sleek- a modern crash course in how to put together a thoughtful outfit. I was struck and inspired by the smart use of length and layers, married gorgeously with architectural lines and varying delightful textures. This collection proposes a thesis we should all heed- when consideration goes into the choice of each piece in an ensemble, the results will be nothing short of elegance. Excellent tailoring helps too.
Check out a few of my favorite looks from the collection below:
All photos found on Vogue.com courtesy of Givenchy.
Millennial pink- that powdery, light, almost-salmon pink that projects a sense of innocence, purity and ironic prettiness- has been all over the runway and in every fashion magazine and blog for the last couple of years. It’s chic, yet playful- polished, yet accessible. Then, what Man Repeller dubbed “Gen Z” yellow came along- a more, bright, fun and laid back shade that gave millennial pink a run for its money. Now, a new color has arrived that may just dethrone them both and become the new *it* color.
Green- a natural, fresh shade that begets an attitude of renewal and growth- the perfect shade for this generation of movers and shakers. Green has been burning up the runway, and not just any green- a light, lime, almost-neon green, an eye-popping shade that will imbue any ‘fit with a chic trendiness and a streetwear-cool vibe.
All of this to say, you need to get this color in your wardrobe ASAP because it will be the next big shade. Here are some of the best “futura” green (hey, every new trendy shade needs a name, right?) looks seen on the Spring 2019 runways:
It was easy to fall in love with Pierpaolo Piccioli’s latest collection for Valentino- a sharp, red collection rife with snappy pleats and plenty of Valentino’s signature ruffles. And while the fashion world reels in the wake of the Dolce & Gabbana controversy, Valentino’s show was a rousing success, leaving the crowd awestruck at the finale, as red petals rained from the ceiling.
Valentino’s crisp Pre-Fall 2019 collection emphasized the beauty in imperfection and featured plenty of pretty pleats and ruffles. (Photo: Fashionista.com)
Shown in Tokyo, a first for Valentino, this collection celebrated the intricacies of Japanese culture by honoring the concept of wabi-sabi, or finding beauty in imperfection, and kintsugi, the art of repairing broken porcelain with molten gold, a theme that Piccioli feels is very timely.
“Western culture is about symmetry, perfection, static beauty, while wabi-sabi is more close to the idea of harmony, of inner grace. Time goes by and it adds, it doesn’t take away. It’s really interesting for this moment—in the past, beauty was perfection, but I really feel beauty is about diversity, that this idea of wabi-sabi is very modern in this moment.”
The show itself thrived off its many juxtapositions- the bright red printed against a deep black, the neutral makeup with the blue lip, the extravagant quality of the clothing and the plainness of the industrial warehouse venue. Every aspect of the collection served to bring to light another feature, making the clothing a joy to bring the eyes across.
And while much of the collection was rendered in a pure and piercing red, there were many moments of softness and pause, like with a short baby-blue dress and another soft, millennial pink ensemble. And while there were a ton of frills and downy jackets that floated down the runway like a puff of smoke, the looks were almost always grounded with some sturdy-looking shoes- another detail to fascinate the gaze.
Check out some of my favorite looks from the show below:
All photos found on Fashionista.com, courtesy of Valentino.
If you are in any way connected to the fashion realm, then you’ve probably already heard all about Dolce & Gabbana’s latest blunder with their Great Show planned in Shanghai, China. An enormous fashion show was planned, boasting over 300 models with thousands of Chinese stars and Key Opinion Leaders (their term for influencers) set to attend. Unfortunately for Dolce and Gabbana, the universe had other things in mind.
Leading up to the show, Dolce and Gabbana released a series of three promotional videos on Chinese social media and their Instagram that featured a Chinese model attempting to eat oversized Italian cuisine with chopsticks, all while a male voiceover attempted to tell the model how to eat the food in a very patronizing, and semi-creepy-sexual tone. As you might expect, this did not go over well, as Chinese people took to social media to denounce the videos as racist because they relied wholly on stereotyping and infantilized the model and Chinese people overall by suggesting that they would not know how to eat foreign foods if presented with them.
Enter Stefano Gabbana- the decidedly filter-less cofounder of the label that has a long history with taking criticism poorly… really poorly. In response to someone letting him know why the campaign was racist, Gabbana responded by saying that China is a “country of s***” and that Chinese people eat dogs. Apparently he didn’t get the memo that blatant racism isn’t good for PR.
In another amateur bad PR move, Gabbana later claimed that those comments were not made by him because his account was hacked, even though, as the much-revered Instagram fashion blog @diet_prada pointed out, Gabbana posted screencaps of the very same Instagram DM conversation on his stories. Mixed messages much?
After enormous outcry and an onslaught of entertaining videos of Chinese influencers destroying their D&G goods in a variety of ways, Dolce and Gabbana’s dreams of holding their “Great Show” died, leaving us with a half-assed apology video and a ton of questions like “Why do we even still put up with them?”
That’s right, folks- the fact that Dolce & Gabbana is problematic isn’t news. The infamous duo (but mostly Stefano Gabbana) has been offending various audiences for years and here are a few of the best (worst) examples:
1. Internalized Homophobia and War On IVF Children
In 2015, Dolce & Gabbana showed their blatant homophobia when they stated that they do not believe that gay people should be able to have and raise children because it went against nature. To make matters worse, they also referred to children conceived via IVF as “synthetic.” Yikes!
Elton John, who had two beautiful sons with his husband through IVF clapped back- “…Shame on you for wagging your judgemental little fingers at IVF – a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfil their dream of having children.”
2. #DGHatesNaples
In 2016, Dolce & Gabbana created the #DGLovesNaples campaign, where they photographed a slew of models dressed to the nines in D&G with Naples locals. While the idea seems charming in concept, it was deemed offensive in its execution because it often showed the models photographed with Neopolitans in stereotypical roles like pizza maker or peasant.
When the Neoploitan people pointed out why they didn’t appreciate the campaign, Stefano Gabbana responded in the only way he knew how, by further insulting them, saying he will never visit Naples again and that Neopolitans are “the disgusting of Italy.” The D&G PR department should really consider taking Gabbana’s social media privileges away.
One of the images from the Dolce & Gabbana Napoli campaign that featured a Neopolitan pizza maker.
3. Even More Racism
In a recent interview, Stefano Gabbana admitted that after he and Dolce are finished, he does not want a Japanese designer to design for the label. And this comment came soon after the label staged a show in Japan to court the Japanese public. Gabbana really has a terrible track record for showing basic human decency.
4. Body Shaming Lady Gaga
After Lady Gaga’s dynamite halftime performance in 2017, Stefano Gabbana took to social media to criticize her choice in showing her stomach, later retracting his comment and issuing an apology: “I know it’s strange, but finally something real not retouched! The truth, reality. Yesterday I criticized it too, but I thought about it and I was wrong!!!”
While some may credit him for issuing an apology, that doesn’t change the fact that he found the need to comment on Lady Gaga’s stomach to be more important than commenting on her abilities and her outstanding performance- a common issue for women in many industries.
Lady Gaga put on a spectacular show during the 2017 Super Bowl halftime show, yet received a ton of unwarranted comments about her body, rather than her kick-ass performance. (Photo: Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
5. Fatphobic Sneakers
How could you go wrong with a pair of sneakers? If anyone could find a way, it’s good ol’ Dolce & Gabbana. They released a pair of sneakers with the phrase ” I’m Thin & Gorgeous” printed on them, something that many people found to be a subtle way of pushing a fatphobic message.
So what did Gabbana do when faced with criticism? You guessed it- he made matters worse with more hateful comments like:
“u think is better to be fat full of hamburger??? Stupid” and
“When idiocy distorts reality!!! incredibile!!!! Next time we’ll write LOVE TO BE FAT AND FULL OF CHOLESTEROL.”
The infamous sneakers that boasted the questionable phrase “I’m Thin & Gorgeous.” (Photo: Dolce & Gabbana)
You can’t make this stuff up, folks. If you decide to support Dolce & Gabbana, then that’s your decision, but in my personal opinion, jerks like Gabbana don’t need anybody to stroke their ego. Just let it die.
On November 22, Miu Miu re-staged their Resort 2019 show in Shanghai, China.
Everything I love in a good summer outfit- light, sheer pants, sunny colors and chic shades. (Photo: Vogue.com)
It seems like the fashion industry has been all about courting the Chinese market lately, with some good and not so good results. While Dolce and Gabbana decided to cancel their show due to public outrage over Stefano Gabbana’s racist comments, the Miu Miu show went on without a hitch and reminded us of how much we loved the collection when it first premiered back in June. While the winter is just gearing up, let’s revisit the sunny collection and remind ourselves how warm and pleasant life can be.
Like all good resort collections, the Miu Miu Resort 2019 collection premiered plenty of soft colors and flowing silhouettes for easy, yet uncompromisingly elegant wearing. And while the clothes were fabulous, they weren’t the stars of the show. Miucci Prada called in a cast of influential celebrities including Game of Thrones’ Gwendolyn Christie, Rowan Blanchard, Uma Thurman, and Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink. Prada made the decision to include them at the last moment in a flash of spontaneity, a move that played perfectly with the fun and spontaneous vibe of the collection.
The collection was whimsical in that it combined the casual coolness of oversized cardigans and sporty jackets with pretty little dresses embellished with sparklies and hemmed with luxurious feathers. Almost all of the floaty, sheer pieces were even layered over playful briefs and bandeau combos for some fun juxtaposition that played into the overall carefree vibe. Plus, the collection brought new life to the shorter than short hot pants, the perfect choice of bottoms for a fun and free vacation.
Check out my favorite looks from the show below:
Cover photo from Marie Claire Australia. All other photos from Vogue.com.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
