A Look At The Paris Couture Shows

The Couture shows were in Paris this week and I was particularly in love with Chanel, Christian Dior, Elie Saab and Givenchy.  Each designer is so distinct in their aesthetic, but there were some common threads that connected them all.  Here is a look at my favorite looks.  Pictures from Style.com.

 When you think of fall you think of more muted palettes but this season I was really shocked to see such an abundance of color on the runway.  John Galliano was obviously influenced by flowers, which is an inspiration that can seem generaic, but instead of doing floral print after floral print, he created something alarmingly beautiful.  The dresses look like flowers but in no way are costumes, like Bjorc's swan getup.

 I love myself some sparkle and these metallic creations are aaaaaaaaaaamazing.  If I had a red carpet event to attend I would be all over that Givenchy number in the top right.  A close second would be the Elie Saab short sleeved dress in the front.

 There was of course no shortage of the fall stand-byes; lots of neutrals, blacks and burnt reds, but they were all kept fresh with some metallic, feather and fur finishes thrown in the mix.  The Givenchy feather dress in the bottom left is just crazy great.

Red was another hot hue for Fall 2010 and it never looked so good. Elie Saab did it best (on top) mixing textures and fabrics and creating shapes that flatter all types.  Read how to bring these trends into your home on the 9-5 blog.

Gossip Girl In Paris

I don't know if everyone has seen these pictures, but everyone's favorite duo is looking beyond stylish in Paris and I cannot WAIT for the next season.  Thanks Popsugar for the photos.

 What do you like better, those bright blue Tibi pants or Ed Westick? I know, when Ed Westick is involved it's hard to think about pants.

Resort 2011 Roundup

 For work I covered the amazing collaboration between Oscar de la Renta and Lee Jofa in conjunction with Oscar's Resort 2011 collection (check it out if you haven't) and I've already given you a rundown on the Gypset fashions Karl Lagerfeld debuted for Chanel's cruise line, but here are some of the shows I haven't gotten to you.  I'm trying to be more selective in the looks I show, which to be honest, wasn't that hard.  Far and beyond de la Renta and Chanel were the best, but hi, they are also couture.  So there's that!

 

DVF was... black but on a less somber note it was also completely wearable, completely chic and timeless with that youthful edge we've come to expect from Dian von Furstenberg.

 

I did really love Lanvin's classic collection of suits, fashion forward swimsuits and some undeniably girlie pieces.  That white dress on the bottom left is kind of the best thing I've seen in a while. Killer.

 

It's no secret that my sun rises and sets with Tory Burch; one day I'd like to say that about Hermes and Chanel, but for now we are here, and I don't hate it.  Her collection was inspired by a recent trip to Rajasthan, so with that being said, there is definitely and ethnic, other world aspect to her collection, which I enjoy, I just don't understand howww the styling of this collection turned into a homage to derelict from Zoolander.  Again, I'm trying to only pick things that I like, and I totally respect her for turning out the most interesting of what I saw on Style.com, but just take a gander at some I didn't include.  

 

 

I just love the patterns and the colors; this feels like a resort collection should feel, you know, like you've packed your bags, checked into a exotic hotel under an new alias and plan on telling everyone you were born in the Swiss Alps. I'm not quite sure what is going on with those boots though. Its as though Ugg and Minketonka had sex and you know what happens when cousins procreate...

 

 

 

She also showed a few looks for the girl to who resort means actually going to the Swiss Alps. These I can't really get behind as much.  The one on the top left kinda looks like something MJ would be into while the one on the right looks like something MK would wear in the middle of July.  I don't know any girl that is a little MK and a little MJ but at least they look Tory Burch.

 

Issac Mizrahi is a master and I thought his collection was really just spot on.  He designs for women across the ages and I thought these were particularly great examples of All American style.

Thanks so much to Style.com for all these pictures and to all the photographers! There are plenty more shows to peruse so be sure to check them out as well!

The Last Time I Saw Abbey Lee Kershaw...

(And by last I mean first and only) She was toting a lunchbox full of crayons and engaging in a mortal brawl of a bar fight.  After seeing the way she held her own with five giant bouncers she' coo in my book.  Take a look at her on the cover of Vogue Nippon August 2010 cover. 

The Met Ball Fashion Roundup!

Tonight is the Costume Institute's Met Ball, which is fashion's biggest night and signifies the spring social calender is in full effect.  That means really nothing to most of us except now we get some great eye candy.  You know what else means nothing to us? The theme of the evening is American Women: Fashioning a National Identity.  It does sound actually really interesting and I totally want to check it out, but tonight its all about the red carpet.  Here are some that weren't total snoozes, for better or for worse.

                             

 

Jessica Szohr wore Versace and normally I hate her on principle because she dated Ed Westwick, but tonight I hate her because this dress is ugly.  Zoe Saldana recovered from that unfortunate Oscar debacle in a one shoulder Calvin Klein dress.

                             

 

Anna Wintour and her daughter Bee Shaffer stuck to neutral; Wintour in Chanel and Shaffer in Balenciaga.  I like the bottom of Bee's dress but I feel like the top is a little too old for her.

 I love Margherita Missioni and she always looks great in her namesake's line, but the top of this dress is all kinda of crazy.

 Oscar de la Renta custom made God's gown for this evening.

                            

 

Joy Bryant's Marchesa dress is just stupid.  I love Marchesa, but this not so much.  Claire Danes looks good in her Burberry gown.

 Tory Burch

 How hot is this couple? Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Steffani in L.A.M.B.  The line that is normally know for a rock and roll, cali-chic aesthetic looks grown up and classic with this dress.

                                    

 

Gap sponsored the evening. I know, what was the company that makes our tee-shirts doing sponsoring a red carpet fete?  Well, apparently they didn't know either and enlisted some A-list designers to dress the stars. I don't hate Kirsten Dunts Rodarte for Gap number (her shoes I do hate) but I loaaaathee this Sophie Theallet for Gap frock that Vera Farminga is in.  Its like a bad saloon girl outfit.

 Tina Fey ina jumpsuit

 So, I'm going to say something now that's probably going to get slack, but I think J.Lo was the best dressed for the night.  She looks absolutely stunning and it makes us forget about that nipple grazing grammy number.  The dress is by Zuhair Murad.

                              

 

Chloe Sevingy wore Proenza Schouler, which was fine, not sure if it would be the best choice for this event, but its Chloe Sevingy and I'm not really sure why she is famous.  Padma, Padma, Padma.  You are so pretty, you just had a baby and your bod is rocking, but why are you wearing feathers on your tits?  Roberto Cavalli.

 Now if this isn't the picture of a happy couple than I don't know what is!

 Taylor Swift wore Ralph Lauren and looked stunning. I love the look head to toe, completely the All-American look.

 Mila Kunis in Vera Wang with Vera Wang

                                        

 

Carey Mulligan in Miu Miu and Kerry Washington Thakoon for Gap

                                

 

The Sex and the City girls showed up in full force. SJP wore Halston (but you already could've guessed that because you read this) and Kristin Davis, who looked banging.

                                   

 

I like Elizabeth Bank's look, but its too wintery for the oppressive humidity we are experiencing. I really hope Rachel Zoe didn't dress Eva Mendes in this Gucci number, because she ain't looking good in it.

Rachel Weisz looked great in this hot pink Oscar de la Renta gown.

Erin Featherston looking like an oscar from the 70's.

 Calvin Klein and Carolina Herrera in her own creation

 Oh god. Captain awkward Kristin Stewart in a fierce Chanel dress.

Gisele Bundchen in an evil Pochohantos Alexander Wang gown.

 BFFEAEAE143!!!!!  Stella McCartney, Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson all in Stella McCartney.

 Yup, that really is a light up dress.

 Blake Lively you are physically perfect and look amazing in your Marchesa creation.

 Anne Hathaway looks beautiful in her Valentino gown.  It looks like Hathaway has found her designer.

                                 

 

January Jones looks like a sex doll for the sixties while Marion Colliard looks like she is sixty.

I just thought Jimmy Fallon looked really cute.

America voted Christina Hendricks the best looking woman but she wasn't living up to that fame tonight.  She looks smoking in the dress but her make-up and hair is all wrong she looks evil.

Look whose back together! Sienna Miller in Emilio Pucci and Jude Law

Rachel Bilson looked cute in Louis Vuttion

Babe alert.  Bar Refaeli in Rag and Bone sans Leo.

 Jessica Stam looked great in wearing Bulgari Jewelry and even Karl showed up before he retired to god only knows where.

Love Mrs. Bloomberg's gypset inspired gown.

And even Lindsay Vonn showed up.

Zac Posen took a break from peddiling polyester to rejoin the fashion elite, seen here with Doutzen Kroes.  Soooo, who do you think was the best dressed and who do you think was the worst? Comment below. SPANKS.

{All photos from NYmag.  Hire me and I'll stop ripping off your photos.}