Recently in Runway Category

Please forgive me for bringing up Facebook again but each day I find myself reconnecting with long lost friends from as far back as junior high school! Of course with that comes nostalgia for what once was and what may come back again. Like Madonna; not Madonna as you know her now but Madonna as I knew her in 1983. When she dressed me up in her love (all over, all over) with white lace and black studded belts and booties. Oh what I wouldn't give for my old studded belts from high school though this time around I won't wear the black lace fingerless gloves. Apparently Christopher Decarnin of Balmain has heard my prayers (along with the prayers of every woman/man who grew up in the '80s) because his Spring 09 collection is a luxe interpretation of Madonna's street wise fashion from her humble beginnings (funny how she had more style when she only made $10 a night as a bouncer at a sleazy bar as opposed to now that she's worth hundreds of millions).

I'm dying, really dying for the studded Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain sandals on the left. If I can get my hands on them I promise I won't wear acid wash jeans with them. I have been discussing the thonged toe with my fellow shoe whore Sasha Fierce. We both agreed that it matters not if they cut off the circulations of our big toe-- these are worth it! But I am not worried as these are Zanotti designed and his shoes have never hurt me, yet. Available at Bergdorf Goodman this Spring.

10. Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton Ready To Wear- Forget what we've said about his bags or his personal life; MJ revealed his exceptional talent with LV's RTW collections this year.  Fall 08's darted, pleated and sculpted line shows MJ's newfound maturity (or sobriety) and announces he is a force to be reckoned with.  He is perhaps the most influential designer of the decade even if he does have a penchant for wild bags that drive us nuts!

9. Miuccia Prada- Each season Miuccia Prada evokes strong emotion in all of us.  It matters not whether you love or hate her; all that matters is the unwavering passion she continually brings to her designs. I mean seriously now, who else can convince rock stars to dress like  Sicilian widows?

UPDATE: From Oscar de la Renta's team: "the collection is a little bit of a departure for Oscar, but it's totally his idea. He wanted it even more edgy. He just totally gets the era we are in and loves fashion and keeps moving. One of your commenters wanted to know about the shiny fabric. It is called liquid gazar and Oscar is crazy about it. Mr. Balenciaga was the first to use gazar extensively and Oscar having worked with him has always favored it. It is a type of silk fabric, usually stiff, but this is a whole new treatment. It looks like leather but is actually very smooth and silky in the hand. At first I thought I'd stumbled on the Balenciaga or Alexander McQueen page-- black liquid suit, red eel skin motorcycle jacket, all with heavy metal studded boots? Oscar, are you going through a rock star rebel phase like me? I was excited for myself but worried about Oscar's core customers; then came look 4-- a sapphire cashmere cardigan cinched with a python belt and worn with fluid wide legged pants.  Okay, the world is still spinning on its axis-- there is the Oscar touch!  But I do love that he is shaking things up with leather and heavy metal details.  The genius of Oscar de la Renta is his ability to go overboard, without going overboard.  He surprises you, then slowly reels you back in lest you didn't like the surprise.  How I wish I could have made it to NYC to sit in the audience when those knee high studded boots sashayed down the runway (but motherhood is still my full time job and I just couldn't make another trip)!  I would have bum rushed it backstage to try them on (the Oscar folks are quite tolerant of my insanity!). The embellished hats I could do without but the studs, give me more! Here are a few of my favorite looks. Calling Mindy the minute it is a decent hour. I have to have those boots!

Guest Blog by Julia DiNardo of Fashion Pulse

We couldn't help but noticing fringe was swaying all over the spring runways, from Julien MacDonald and Vivienne Westwood to Emanuel Ungaro and Elie Saab. We witnessed the use of fringe ranging from trim, aptly used at Hermes to complete all-over fringe delicately made into dresses, best exemplified at Jil Sander and Alexander McQueen. Most of the fringe we spotted were more spaghetti-like strands, very fine, thin, and layered, although some designers opted for heavier versions of the stripped fabric. From clothes to shoes to bags, what's not to love about it? How could you not adore a fringed shoulder Kelly bag?  (Jump for cheap and chic fringe options!)

Brigid Catiis, Ruffle Playsuit with Scalloped shorts; Velvet Leaf, Juliette Dress in Pink Silk; Velvet Leaf, Beatrice Romper with Hand Painted Silk Ballerina Skirt

I attended the GenArts Fashionably Natural Event as a part of LA Fashion Week, mostly to check out the scene but I actually was very interested in seeing what eco-friendly designers had to offer. Besides, if I was going to go to an LA Fashion Week event, I wanted it to be very LA and this was definitely VERY LA. First of all, it was presented by Maggie Gyllenhaal, who is a known environmentalist. And all the girls in attendance were in super personality driven outfits. A huge tent was erected on top of the Peterson Auto Museum's rooftop parking, which was almost as impressive as the tents put up on Bryant Park (I said, almost).

Images from WWD.

I've grown-up with an affinity for Issey Miyake because my mother has had a long-standing penchant for his clothes. There is something so effortlessly chic about his loose silhouettes and geometric detailing that I absolutely love. This must tie back into my ongoing wish of one day becoming my own version of Rosalind Russel's character Auntie Mame, but I can totally see myself, one day, being an eccentric grandmother with my fingers covered in over-sized baubles wearing an off-white geometric-collared Miyake coat:) I was so excited to go to Miyake's show in Paris this season. It was so wonderfully zen from the music to the set (which had moving panels) -- see the short video I took to see exactly what I mean! Jump for more thought on the collection and some photos I snapped at the after-party after the jump!

Images from WWD

I JUST returned from Paris Fashion Week so I'm still getting over my truffle-fois gras and champagne-flavored macaroon hangover (I stayed at my best friend's apartment who just moved to Paris and she lives right by a Dalloyau shop -- this is not safe for someone with a penchant for indulgence -- not even the skin and bone models I spent my days watching could stop me for stopping in everyday!). That said, I'm happy to report that I've come back with more than a few beauty and fashion tidbits and there is no better place to start then with the Jean Charles de Castelbajac Spring/Summer 2009 Collection. His collection exemplifies what makes Paris Fashion Week so exciting -- the shows are true productions! From live performances (Gaspard Yurkievich had a whole orchestra, choir, singer and conductor at his runway show!), to the set everything is meant to excite -- unfortunately all that excitement comes at a 1-hour-plus late running time price! JC/DC's collections are always fun and vibrant and ALWAYS, ALWAYS set to great music, but this season took the cake. Read more after the jump!

Move over Dior gladiator shoes, there is a new gladiator in town and she's reached towering heights in style (with belts to match, natch). YSL's urban girl pushes the fashion envelope wrapped in barb wire and see thru shirts but still manages to retain a mysteriously sexy allure. But it's not all about the bad girl with midriff baring tops, Pilati balances the collection with soft trench coats and chic little black dresses. Once again, YSL had me at first glance. I never thought I'd fully embrace the brand after the departure of Tom Ford but have to say not only have I embraced it, I crave it and obsess over it. I built my Fall wardrobe around a silver peplum jacket and have a feeling Spring '09 will also be about three little letters--Y.S.L.

What about you? Love YSL the Ford years or do you prefer YSL the Pilati years?

Guest blog by Julia Dinardo of Fashion Pulse

We recently discovered that for Spring 2009. It's chic to have your zipper out (not down, mind you). From zipper detailing that resembles pleating to blatant down the front or down the back exposed zippers it's in to reveal, not conceal. You can choose faux or functional, but most importantly: forget the invisible zipper and go for a zipper with thick, metal teeth that walks the fine line between punky, edgy, and just plain fabulous. We first spotted the zipper sensation at the 3.1 Phillip Lim show(below), executed so artfully that we had to do a double-take before we realized that the draped, ruffled effect was really lined with zippers! Next up the Proenza Schouler (above) boys sent down the runway a concentration of exposed, center-zippered garments from jumpsuits to dresses and skirts. Our absolute favorite was this look that combined a cropped sleeveless leather-like vest with a minty, parachute material skirt; adorned, of course, with an in-your-face zipper down the front! Accessories also partook in the trend, like these amazing bootie/peep-toe/pump hybrids at BCBGMAXAZRIA (below) and the oversized carry all at Alexander Wang.

No runway trend is complete, however, without us finding some items that will most certainly help you get the look for extremely less. (Jump for our Luxe to Less options!)

If Vera Wang designs for the woman I aspire to be when I grow up, Matthew Williamson designs for who I am right now. They are completely different which tells me I may be a bit schizo but I can't help who I love! During the show, I kept thinking to myself-- "Wow, I'd wear that!" So it was a bit neon bright and reminiscent of Miami Vice 80's but take the short puffy sleeved fuchsia jacket and tone it down with white pants or jeans and it'd work in 2009. Actually, other than the 80's colors, most of the collection was futuristic and streamlined-- a look that Kelly and I both loved (we didn't get to sit together at this show so could not whisper about each look as it came down the runway. Watching fashion shows alone is no fun especially when the sour faced girl next to me tried her best to look bored!). Skinny pants (in both lightweight leather and cotton) take center stage again for spring (yay!) as do micro mini skirts which means you can show off your shoes properly! Williamson is known for his love of embellishment which he indulged on a few of the dresses-- all of which he cinched with big belts, bohemian chic juxtaposed with black leather studded belt is so fabulous! (Jump for more!)