Freakin' Dirty

TGIF Happy Weekend everyone!
xoxo


source: fashiongonerougue

Alek Wek

The Financial Times‘ monthly luxury magazine, How To Spend It




styled: Damian Foxe
photographed: Andrew Yee

Feel the heat

Kate Moss
Vogue Paris June/July 2010



source:fashiongonerougue

Fashion For Holidays

Fashion Week: Milan

For Spring 2010, the Italians are showing us some love. The collections were romantic and demure - ruffles and tulle replace the tight-fitting styles we saw last February. Milan focused on the basics with recurring palettes consisting of beige, black, grey and white. Another constant on the runway were the short hemlines - short dresses, short skirts and short shorts were spotted on nearly every runway. Check out my top three picks from Italy before we head to the City of Lights for the last stop on the Fashion Week circuit.

Bottega Veneta

Thomas Maier presented a wearable collection with pieces made of cotton and canvas in muted shades of beiges and whites. Each piece was distinct and could hold its own, yet the collection was impeccably tied together and cohesive. The looks that went down the runway struck me as the perfect travel attire - chic and wearable, not to mention the oversize bags that would be perfect carry-ons. Maier surprised the audience by closing the show with three extraordinary (and red-carpet-worthy) violet and vivid red evening gowns.

Jil Sander

It was back to the basics for Raf Simons, the lead designer of Jil Sander. While the color palette was simple - black, beige and white - the pieces themselves were eye-catching with interesting and unexpected details including dresses that had scissor-cut patches hanging from them and wool sheaths with a sheer knit top-half. Simons' superb engineering and tailoring made this collection one to remember.

Fendi

Let me state the obvious here: Karl Lagerfeld is a genius. For Spring 2010, Lagerfeld is bringing out Fendi's romantic side (a side, I might mention, we have not seen in quite some time). The collection featured silk and tulle dresses in pastel hues - take note of the soft pleats and masterful drapery on these - thigh-grazing skirts and lovely cropped jackets. But Lagerfeld didn't just stop at clothes, he finished off the looks with a dazzling assortment of accessories - transparent clutches made of Perspex, and sky-high, ribbon-tie heels complete with a lucite platform.

Trend Report: Earn Your Stripes

Classic stripes are one of those eternal staples in your wardrobe that never go out of style. The stripe-top is easy to wear and very versatile: throw it on with distressed jeans for a more laid-back allure, or pair it with a mini and some statement accessories (see Olivia Palermo's look below) for a more polished look. While Christopher Decarnin mastered the sea-worthy stripes with his glittering Breton top for Balmain's Fall 2009 collection (a la Kate Moss), most of us can't quite handle that type of investment. Here are some alternative options that won't break the bank:

Kate Moss in Balmain's rendition of the classic look

          

   

Olivia Palermo in a Club Monaco version

Intermix ($210)

Brittany Boutique ($42)

L.L.Bean

My favorite: Sonia by Sonia Rykiel ($385)

Fashion Week Special: Chanel

It's no secret around here that I am totally and completely in love with Chanel. My love affair with Coco's eponymous line began as a young girl when I first laid eyes on my mother's black, quilted 2.55 handbag - and with a click of those interlocking C's, I was hooked. From that moment on, Chanel has never failed to inspire and surprise me. And the Spring 2010 collection unveiled by Karl Lagerfeld in Paris yesterday is no exception. Set in the traditional Chanel venue of the Grand Palais, models emerged from a barn and walked through the hay-covered runways clad in tweed jackets and thigh-skimming A-line skirts. Lagerfeld's impeccable attention to detail was apparent in every single ensemble - from the colorful knit flowers strewn across the jackets to the interlocking C-tattoos that graced the legs of the models. At it's best, fashion is a story, a narrative - and no one tells Chanel's story better than Karl Lagerfeld.

All photos via Style.com

Wardrobe Essential: Trench Coat

Lightweight, weather resistant and perennially chic, the trench coat is as stylish today as it was when Audrey Hepburn donned the piece in Breakfast at Tiffany's. But the classic nude coat goes back a lot farther than Holly Golightly and her days at Tiffany's. In 1901, Thomas Burberry, the inventor of gabardine, proposed the garment as the official raincoat for officers of the British Army. When World War I began, Burberry altered the coat slightly, adding new features such as epaulettes and shoulder straps. The coat was primarily worn by soldiers fighting in the trenches - hence the name "trench coat." Today, the coat remains one of fashion's most iconic pieces.

Now that you know the history, it's clear that this is one garment that's here to stay. The gabardine coat is a wardrobe staple that will take you from season to season. If you don't already own one, you should think about investing in one now. While the classic Burberry one may be out of your price range, there are many other affordable versions of the coat. Whether you pair it with your favorite pair of jeans and flats or throw it over a cocktail dress, the trench is certain to make you feel stylish and effortlessly put together.

Burberry

$1395

Elizabeth and James

$595

A.P.C.

$480

CLuce

$69.99

Old Navy

$49.50

Seeing Spots

It's official: black tights weather is upon us. But this season it's not just about the typical opaque, high denier hose we're all used to sporting - no, this season, the chicest legs will be stepping out in spots.

The happy, polka-dot hosiery was seen all over the Balenciaga Fall '09 collection (see above looks) and now they have made their way to the streets... and hopefully into your closet! Check out Bare Necessities to snag a pair of these. An update on last year's lace trend, dotted tights add depth and spunk to any winter ensemble.

Styling Tip: Wear with fitted dresses, skirts and throw on a bright shoe for some extra pop.