Backstage at Tommy Hilfiger Fall Winter 2013

Sunday February 10, 2013 – Park Avenue Armory

In the world of fashion, few can claim to reinvent a style category that they themselves helped create. You can add Tommy Hilfiger to that short list with his latest collection, where he broadened the idea of ‘prep’ to mean Savile Row tailoring and bold patterns. For womenswear, TH took masculine attires and softened them into flirty, youthfully feminine silhouettes that gave nods to academia and Allie McGraw.

Oversized and miniature Prince of Wales patterns are beautifully incorporated into outerwear, either as a standout pattern on dress coats, trenches, blazers and perfectos, as part of a lining to beige tone and red trimmed parkas and trenches, or as a soft backdrop to a midnight blue cardigan. Several white numbers incorporated checkers and stripes into argyle patterns, sleeve cuffs, and pocket trims giving shirt dresses, peacoats, and button down blouses depth and dimension.

Deep navy blue argyle-perforated leather skirts, red pin stripe blazers and shorts, and cuddly white Steiff lining on coats and parkas delivered a powerful undercurrent of Americana. Knee-high leather derby boots were a ‘slight of the eye’ fetish interpretation of the school girl’s knee socks. The show’s climax came near the end when a series of black matte leather cable-knit sweater-dresses floated down the runway only to be bookend by a breathtaking black woven-leather argyle mini-dress.

With brilliant collections such as this one, it’s no wonder Tommy chose a library setting for his show; he’s clearly rewriting the American fashion lexicon.

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Photos courtesy of stylerumor.com

Vanessa Bruno Spring Summer 2013 Collection

Friday September 28, 2012 – Grand Palais

For Spring 2013 Vanessa Bruno unleashed her bohemian side, in very lovable fresh way. She delivered what she does best; clothes that you want to wear, now.

“I wanted simple clothes that can translate to a purified sensuality, a sort of soft bohemian chic, the simplicity of wearing a long chiffon dress with Spartan sandals” said Vanessa Bruno backstage.

Skin revealing necklines, slithery silk chiffon on draped dresses, and sensually ‘nude’ hue pieces will not only be big hits on the streets of Paris and New York but in Los Angeles as well, where the designer opened a store on Melrose Ave. nearly a year ago.

Shop Vanessa Bruno via Net-A-Porter.com

Vanessa Bruno Spring 2013 Video

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Photos and video courtesy of Stylerumor.com

Beauty by Clé de Peau Beauté

Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall 2012 Collection

Wednesday July 4, 2012 - Pavillon Cambon

Haute couture is one of those categories in the fashion world where the constraints of producing cost effective clothing are thrown out the window; where designers are given free reign to create clothes that spark the imagination; where restraint is frowned upon and where the glamourous and wealthy find the clothes that reflect their over-the-top personas. Keeping true to that credo, Saab reaffirms his position as one of the best courtiers to date with a Fall collection that was as much as about Paris’ luxurious refinements as it was about exploring the intrinsic beauty of Byzantine art. The Lebanese designer, who calls the City of Lights “home” for well over many years, took inspiration from the shores of the Bosporus strait and brought them into his Rive-Droite atelier, focusing on ornate beading, sequins, silks, tulle, lace, gold leafing techniques, jacquard prints and classical silhouettes with a sensual twist.

Head to toe lacey and sequined caftans, cocktail dresses, and gowns in blacks and off-whites seemed perfectly translated from sketch to textile, almost as if to redefine the limitations of what’s possible. The neckline was focused with delicate care, encrusting the lace so as to make the neck sprout out of the dress like a flower while tulle was tucked at the hems for added volume on a few long skirt numbers. Heavy beadwork and embroidery on light, airy pieces afforded for easy, fluid movement. Asymmetrical gold leaf imprimés on pink pastel and sky blue flowy, floor-length frocks looked heavenly.  Deep V neck lines along the backs of certain elongated looks acted as a sensual counterpoint to intricate sophistication on display around the bust.

While ready to wear and perfumes are what help designers pay the bills, haute couture  allows a dreamer to dream. With his latest creation, Ellie will leave many with a lasting impression that some dreams really do come true.

Visit eliesaab.com 

Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall 2012 Fashion Show Video

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Photos courtesy of Elie Saab

Backstage at Chanel Haute Couture Fall 2012

Tuesday July 3, 2012 – Grand Palais

Chanel takes you backstage at its “New Vintage” Haute Couture Fall 2012 show.

“Renovation, evocation, continuity and the opposite of all that: I took the spirit and attitude of Mademoiselle Chanel to create something contemporary,” explains Karl Lagerfeld. 

Blouses are made of white embroidered tulle with strands of feathers or a black bustier adorned with a large pink duchess satin bow, done in colors inspired by Marie Laurencin. Discover the amazing work of the Chanel Couture Ateliers as captured by Benoit Peverelli.

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Photos by Benoit Peverelli Courtesy of Chanel

Chanel Haute Couture Fall Winter 2012 Collection

Tuesday July 3, 2012 – Grand Palais

Chanel’s 1932 collection of unique jewelry served as inspiration for this year’s invitation cover; an updated collection that Karl Lagerfeld has dubbed as being “New Vintage”. As is often the case with Karl, the era that inspired it is never taken too literally. If he seems to dabble in contemporary musings (most of which seem to be ‘treated tweed’ – actually it’s embroidery), he does so by piecing together ideas from the 1930s’ and 1970s. Wide trousers are directly borrowed from Chanel in the 1930s, which gives off this look of luxurious nonchalance. Pant legs, stunningly straight and done in black or pearl gray tones, produce an ‘infinite leg’ effect. Top-wear saw silk blouses, torn organza, white tulle embroidered with strands of feathers or a black bustier, adorned with a large pink duchess satin bow, with “colors that are very Marie Laurencin,” says KL.

Subtle colors are the hallmark of this collection, with (large) luxury innuendos simply muted. Ash gray, gray, tea rose, petal ice, powder, glitter rainbow, flirt, storm, graphite, candy … all shades seem to have been created for Chanel as they are scaled to the millimeter in the quarter-tones. The scabbard, made entirely of thick-grain ribbons in gray and pink is purely mind-bending.

The “The Little Black Jacket” book, whose photos will be exhibited in Paris on November 8, features jewelry and the decor of today’s camellias; elements that embody the ‘New Vintage’ designed by Karl, and which recall the fundamentals of Gabrielle Chanel’s charter. Since 2009, Chanel couture buyers are continuously growing and are now much more international. If all holds true, then this watershed moment in Chanel’s history will be but a pale blue diamond in comparison to its great, pearly future.

Visit chanel.com for the full collection

Chanel Haute Couture Fall 2012 Fashion Show Video

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Photos and Video courtesy of Chanel

Makeup by Peter Philips

Music: Be With You / Hercules And Love Affair , Labyrinth (Club Mix) / Joakim , In The Grace Of Your Love (Pional Remix) / The Rapture

Chanel Cruise 2013 Collection

Monday May 14th, 2012 – Chateau de Versailles

“This is not about reality, this is a fantasy, we need to dream and this is what we are doing today” pointed out Karl Lagerfeld as he gazed upon the splendor of the Trois Fontaines gardens in idyllic Versailles, the venue for his latest Cruise collection. For this off-season show, the Kaiser decided to invite press from all over the world to the chateau of chateaux, that of Louis XVI, to showcase his “Marie Antoinette-meets-manga”  collection. And the location could not have been more ideal: on a perfectly clear, blue sky day, journalists were whisked to a royal castle on the outskirts of Paris, one whose opulence and grandeur is in perfect proportion to its infinitely long gardens and canals.

Guests arriving at the Blvd. des Reines entrance were greeted to a row of Nattier blue and gold cabanas, with its 3 row seating, flanking parallel to a centerpiece fountain. And like a scene out of Inception, the intimacy of the locale felt very much like a dream within a dream, whose narrative would be told through Karl’s interpretation of the fantastical and imaginary.

 But given the location, there was an undercurrent risk that a literal interpretation of French royal-wear could be considered kitschy. Many a designer have traveled down similar paths only to be told their collections were too costumey and not made for the real consumer. But were others have failed, those that have gone onto success have done so by way of whimsy. By attrition of exquisite detail and styling, KL delivered a playfully whimsical collection that made us re-imagine Mrs. Antoinette as a  contemporary fashion neophyte.

For next Cruise season, Chanel took us to the lands of the Aristo-punk. Girls were bursting with freshness and ingenuity in their puffed microshorts that crumbled like baskets of lace ruffles, which was sometimes paired with small denim jackets in Marquis sky blue or white leather. Manga-styled hair bobs, sans rollers, were done in pink or black raven tones and placed atop a subtle pony-tail. Pastel eye shadows, blush-red cheeks skewing toward soft pink, assorted jewelry made of molten glass and milky plastic camellias in marshmallow hues completed the looks. “What counts is the spirit of this court, not the reality,” said again Karl Lagerfeld, who always filters the ‘establishment’ through the  sieve of his own liberal interpretations.

 But Karl offered counterpoint to the excesses of ruffles and royal connotations by styling the girls to be relaxed, not constrained. Whether the girls looked like Mrs. Fontanges in fragile ivory chiffon, or a more serious version of Madame  Montespan, or even a Mademoiselle Maintenon in a youthful tweed number, there was this inescapable boyish-girl quality that was sublimely fresh. One by one, they descended on the pebbled path, appearing like an army of candy shop punkettes, either in knickers or black leather  jeans, in jackets with multicolored, foam-shaped PVC details, strolling in sneakers, and dare one say even, creepers. The new versions of the “Boy” bag, a hit for the house, helped bridge the divergent concepts.

 Seeing this level of high-low contrast conjured up thoughts of Gabrielle Chanel, who once exclaimed that “Luxury is not democratic.” Strangely that day, it was. In its own way, at least.

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Chanel Cruise 2013 Backstage Video

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Photos and Video Courtesy of Chanel

Elie Saab Fall Winter 2012 Collection

Wednesday March 7, 2012 – Espace Ephemere des Tuileries

When the name “Elie Saab” is uttered, it’s usually followed by the words “stunning”, “jaw-dropping” and “red-carpet dress”, all within the same breath. The Beirut-born designer, darling of Hollywood starlets pining for his Oscar worthy gowns, opted to dial the knob back toward glamorizing some everyday pieces with the deft craftsmanship of a Parisian couturier. Sharp bangs, straight hair, bold faces, confident strides and a progression of neutral to strong tones was the plat du jour. The first look, a peplumed shimmery black and grey tweed number with a croc clutch on Karlie Kloss, was followed by a brazenly blond Anja Rubik in a black belted black on grey crêpe de chine knee-length dress. Waist-cinched hoodless chinchilla parkas, airy chiffon blouses, mink cropped jackets in both grey and black, a V-line cleavage baring chiffon-on-crepe cigarette dress were universally chic. Matte beige suit and pant combos alongside belted trenches and asymmetrical zippered overcoats looked beautifully minimalist while providing shoppers options for more seasonably appropriate wares for winter.

A cobweb motif exposed a darker, more seductive sensuality through its incorporation as a print on a few looks or as lace mesh on body conscious dresses. Arms, sides of pant legs, shoulders and bosoms were given the lacy-lattice-like treatment, adding just enough mystery to this Elie Saab woman to make her dangerously interesting. A perfectly draped, front-slit forest green dress gave way to an Art-Deco inspired empire green number followed by a captivating matte-gold beaded gown on Karmen Pedaru. Looking back, it’s easy to fall in love with this collection for its heroic underpinnings. In one fell swoop, Elie has convinced us that the contemporary woman can be anyone, from the stylishly mild-mannered citizen, to the voluptuous workplace villain, to the fashionable futuristic heroine.

Watch the video on eliesaab.com

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Chanel Fall Winter 2012 Collection

Tuesday March 6, 2012 – Grand Palais

It’s like a dream, this is amazing” said Mouna Ayoub looking at the Chanel set in the Grand Palais. She is one of the few women that can have everything, but even she was amazed. In many ways, we all owe a small debt of gratitude to Ms. Ayoub, whose vast wealth is only matched by her penchant for Haute Couture. Because of clients like her, fashion houses can afford to treat the world to a collection that exemplifies the pinnacle of fine craftsmanship and unimaginable decadence.

Chanel is truly a multifaceted gem. Karl, no less faceted than the house of Coco, brilliantly explores every aspect of the brand by delivering a purely decadent runway show. The decor was composed of giant ores, smoky quartz and amethyst crystals, emerging from a bed of white gravel, and paired perfectly with a pulsating, energetic soundtrack remixed by Michel Gaubert.

For the past few seasons, Chanel has to toyed with idea of layering pieces, leaving the skin rarely exposed. This season was no exception. Womenswear saw softened drawstring tweed fabric on parkas. Things got even more interesting with dry tweed jackets and dress numbers which were worn with skinny pants, buttoned at the ankle; a clean way to refresh the current Chanel 2012-2013 winter trend of ‘super-layering’. Some of the looks offered afraser take on couture accessorisation, with loose coats in black tweed knotted with martingale belts, worn at the hip, fringed with red crystals at the edges; ditto on the black and white looks.

A toddler sporting the velour ‘Boy’ mini-bag rendered an otherwise fetish accessory into an adorable children’s piece. The jewelry looked raw and edgy with metal joints appearing to have been burned by a welder’s torch, which was then tempered by a gorgeous array of raw studded crystals.

Of course, the inspirations were of such variety that it felt as if there was a little something for everyone. And it appears as if this multi-pluralistic approach to fashion is paying off. “[They’re] buying as many accessories as they are buying clothes” says Bruno Pavlovsky, the house’s president of fashion activities. Starting today, the brand will provide clients with more choice, with the launch of its second Avenue Montaigne store. Already open, the 450 square meter boutique located at building No. 42 faces No. 51, where Chanel invested in a 600 square meter property that spans two floors. “On the first floor, eight fitting rooms can easily accommodate clients. At No. 42, the space was tight. Not enough room to accommodate everyone, “says Pavlovsky,, who was ready to fly to Tokyo to accompany the Haute Couture collection.

Presented in January, the same collection will bow for a second time in the ‘land of the rising sun’. The trip will be an opportunity to relaunch the aviation inspired pieces to even greater fanfare, and would be a first for Chanel. The trip will be capped with a series of photographs, shot by the Kaiser himself, which will go on display and focus on the jacket; the cornerstone of the Chanel empire dating as far back as the 1920′s.

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Photos and Video Courtesy of Stylerumor.com

Backstage at Tommy Hilfiger Fall Winter 2012

Sunday February 12, 2012 – Park Avenue Armory

Stepping back into the Park Ave Armory two days after showing his cadet inspired Men’s collection, Tommy Hilfiger unveiled a very chic and esquestrian tinged women’s collection. To compliment his sharp West Point military boys, the Tommy girl embodies a strong, classic American spirit that could just as easily transition from horseback riding in the countryside to stepping out at night on the streets of the Upper East Side. Based on the concept of “Town and Country” it was difficult not to think of Ali MacGraw strutting the Harvard campus in the 70′s hit, “Love Story”. This elite-collegiate style, once called “Sassy Class” by Candice Bergen, was a key theme from the first A-line skirt.

The first set of looks were a play on the tomboy silhouette but done in strong feminine proportions, a segue from the men’s collection though the use of black & plum melton wools in double breasted officer coats . Equestrian details are injected into silk dresses along with tromp l’oeil cable knits. A modern super slim burgundy cavalier houndstooth single breasted jacket is paired with a skinny pant version of a houndstooth matching jodhpur. A mustard colored motorcycle jacket and skirt pair with navy accents was one the most sublime looks midway through the collection.

“There is a timeless feel. The ambiance, these penny loafers riding boots and the equestrian helmets are so elegant” said french actress Elisa Sednaoui to a reporter.

A glance across the front row, past Uma Thurman, revealed Tommy’s daughter Ally Hilfiger alongside her boyfriend, who looked like that retro idyllic pair you’d find in an old photograph in your parents photo album. And Ali or Ally were a source of inspiration, to insinuate that Tommy’s collection was somehow nostalgic would be unfounded. If anything, this collection was more than just an evolution from the classic prep; something about this new Tommy woman felt effortlessly modern with a rich narrative that kept us enthralled to the very last look.

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Backstage and runway photos courtesy of Stylerumor.com
Celebrity photos courtesy of Tommy Hilfiger

Chloé Pre-Fall 2012 Collection

Chloé’s new creative director Clare Waight Keller delivered her first pre-collection for the label. This Pre-Fall 2012 has been Inspired by the images of 1960s and 1970s street style photographer Garry Winogrand, the designer played with textures and new proportions. Mohair, Houndstooth Fabric, rounded shapes are the highlights of the collection.

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See all the looks below:

Models:Jacquelyn Jablonski, Kate King.
Photos courtesy of Chloe

Tommy Hilfiger Holiday 2011 Campaign: House Par-tay

Tommy Hilfiger House Par-tay Video

It’s party time at the Hilfigers! In time for the holiday, Tommy Hilfiger just released an ad that will launch internationally tomorrow. The Hilfigers are an eclectic American fictional family who debuted in the Group’s Fall 2010 advertising campaign. The video features Jacquelyn Jablonski, Marcel Castenmiller, Max Rogers, Noah Mills clapping, dancing, cheering, wearing plaid.

“This capsule collection is more eccentric and fun that we designed as a mark. It’s great to bring something really unique and different to our customers worldwide. The collection consists of timeless pieces and exclusively with the preppy Tommy Hilfiger twist so important that consumers worldwide will love to give and receive during the holiday season.” Tommy Hilfiger

See the holiday prep collection and ad campaign shot by Craig McDean below

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Photographer: Craig McDean
Stylist: Karl Templer
Creative Director: Trey Laird
Models: Andre Douglas, Emily Baker, Francis Lane, Gracie Carvalho, Iselin Steiro, Jacquelyn Jablonski, Julia Hafstrom, Luis Borges, Marcel Castenmiller, Max Rogers, Noah Mills, Sam Way

Meet April, May and June

After the yellow Mimosa from spring summer 2011 and the metallic two-tone Peridot from Fall Winter 2011-12, Chanel unveiled their three new shade for Spring 2012.  Named April (fuchsia), May (tangerine) and June (shell pink), these shades are just what we were waiting for. Thanks to Chanel Make-Up’s creative director Peter Philips!

The collection also included a pearly white polish Called Attraction, it has been created especially for the show and will be available in May 2012.

April, May and June will be available from January.

Watch Chanel Spring 2012 Backstage Video below:

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