Alternative Red-Carpet Dressing with Valentino FW12

None of these dresses are of the traditional red-carpet variety: there are no garish colours, no strapless sweetheart necklines, no silk-chiffon bows and definitely no heels. Saying that, they each have insane amounts of  'red-carpet' potential, especially if worn by the right person. Think along the lines of Elizabeth Olsen, Carey Mulligan, Dakota Fanning, Rose Byrne and Florence Welch and you're on the right track. The difference between these lovely ladies and the likes of other Hollywood starlets (anyone from Gossip Girl or 90210, for instance) is that they aren't afraid of 'worst-dressed' lists and can therefore think outside of the box when it comes to fashion.

Not that any of Valentino's dresses would land anyone on a worst-dressed list, of course. The demure necklines, full-length sleeves and ankle-skimming lengths from Valentino's Fall/Winter 2012 collection are for the more brave of the bunch. Valentino has always, and will always be worn on the red-carpet - it's just that these dresses require that extra something.

Photos from style.com

Couture?

Haute Couture is often considered the pinnacle of fashion; it represents excess, elitism and craftsmanship more so than even the (not so) modest ready-to-wear collections. At least, that's what I thought. Obviously, the majority of us would never be able to afford a couture gown (unless we married into royalty) but to me, it always used to represent something completely unobtainable. It's a symbol of wealth - the fashion houses are never going to make a profit from couture collections because only the richest of the rich can afford to buy them and even then they probably would commission bespoke, one-off pieces anyway. With this is mind, couture should be the most ridiculous and excessive show of fashion, not a sombre and boring display of mindless expense.

As you have probably gathered, I'm thus far entirely unimpressed by Couture Fall 2011....

Left to right: Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier and Chanel

Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier and Chanel all showed collections as dry as Ghandi's flip-flop - ok so there were a few good looks but on the whole, each designer didn't exactly pull it out of the bag. Last season, I was equally as uninspired, maybe I've got the whole idea of couture wrong? Regardless, I was really quite disappointed by all three - especially given that the ready-to-wear collections are usually so brilliant. Dior was interesting as it was the first show without Galliano at the helm and sadly, it was really quite obvious; it all felt very amateur and lacked that great sense of Galliano decadence.

The only collections that I liked so far have been long-term couture favourites: Givenchy and Elie Saab. Last season, I would have died for every single Elie Saab dress because they were all absolutely stunning and Givenchy, well, Riccardo Tisci is just a God, no? This season both collections felt very 'high fashion wedding' but they were gorgeous nonetheless...

Elie Saab

Givenchy

Tisci can do absolutely no wrong in my eyes - every collection from the past year has been nothing short of amazing and although Fall 2011 is quite similar to last season, I still love it.

I know I went off on quite a tangeant but I just don't feel as though Couture is anything to get excited about anyone, is anyone else of the same viewpoint or I am just being slightly ridiculous? What has been your favourite Fall 2011 Couture collection so far?

photos from style.com

Couture 2011 Round-Up: Good, Better, Best

Forgive me for being insensitive to the current economical climate but Couture is supposed to be about beauty, wealth and decadence. I may be being a little fashion-blind but there were few collections this season that even whispered those words. Chanel was a massive let down for me so I don't even want to talk about it (I usually love Chanel, so that's saying something) and the rest, well, was rather uninspiring. There were, however, a few saving graces.

I'll start with the good, Valentino:

Valentino wasn't extraordinary but it's the craftsmenship of the pieces that stood out to me. They clearly have been beautifully made and constructed but sadly the bland colour scheme let the collection down a bit. I thought these dresses were particularly gorgeous - they're perfect for the upcoming Oscars - but otherwise I wasn't that bothered, sorry Valentino lovers!

Up a notch from Valentino is Givenchy:

Last season I fell completely head over heels for Riccardo Tisci's collection for Givenchy so he had a lot to live up to. I don't think 2011 packs quite the punch as 2010 but it is still undoubedtly a stunning collection. I love the flashes of colour and the sheer/feather combination and think that the white theme is really strong. I could see every single one of his dresses worn on the red carpet but these were my favourites. The first dress is out of this world, no?

For the grand finale and my personal favourite - Elie Saab:

If you click on the image it will enlarge and you'll see just how perfect these dresses are. Every single piece in Saab's collection was red-carpet perfect, I really couldn't fault him. Admittedly the dresses are a bit safe in terms of fashion but there's no denying that they're completely absolutely stunning. I'm usually not so disappointed at Couture Week but I think Elie Saab saved it for me, without him this post wouldn't be possible!

What do you think of Couture Week in comparison to ready-to-wear? Do you think it should have been more outrageously decadent or are designers right to present something representative of the economical climate?

PS. If you haven't already, please pick me to win an internship with Elle, it only takes a second and I'll be forever greatful!

photos from style.com

Chanel Spring 2011 featuring Freja

 Chanel and Freja Beha Erichsen are a match made in heaven. The latest campaign featuring Freja, Stella Tennant and the gorgeous Baptiste Giabiconi makes me feel warm inside. I absolutely love the muted photography and don't even get me started on the clothes because they look amazing. Karl Lagerfeld has managed to make something that would ordinarily be a bit naff and cliché (palm trees and wicker chairs strike me as more Duran Duran than Chanel) into something beautifully edgy. Thas ma boy!

photos from fashiongonerogue.com

CFDA: Battle of the Gossip Girls

The annual CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund Awards usually pull a good crowd, it is one of the biggest events on the fashion calender, after all. However, it seems that no amount of Gossip Girl styling could help the stars last night. I'm a massive fan of the show (mainly because I fancy Ed Westwick) and they usually all look so dapper, but these looks didn't do anything for me...

I would ordinarily say, "don't get me wrong they both look great", but they don't. Blake, in Chanel, needs a new (preferably black) bra, a classy up-do and a quick shoe swap with Leighton and then maybe she'd look great but sadly, she missed the mark. I love Leighton's Roger Vivier ankle-boots but the Prabal Gurung dress and hair aren't doing it for me. She suits super short mini's and statement hair and this look is just far too prim. However saying that, Leighton in this instance, is the better of the two.

Now for the boys...

I'm never going to pick Chace over Ed so we all know who I think looks better, I'll let you decide on that one! I wish Ed would take a leaf out of Chuck Bass' book on the red carpet, he'd look so much more handsome, if that's possible?

Who do you think looked best at the CFDA Fashion Fund Awards? 

MOCA Gala: Chanel Queens

The MOCA Gala, held in Los Angeles last night was awash with trendy celebrities and free Chanel handbags. That's right, free bags. If every museum gave out free Chanel clobber, I'd be a complete history/art/science buff. And have a very nice wardrobe. Anyway, Kate Bosworth and Kirsten Dunst showed us mere mortals just how good Chanel looks on the red carpet (as if we needed reminding)...

 I'm not a fan of colour so I absolutely love the monochrome and they both wear it so well, Kirsten's 20s vibe is stunning and Kate, well, what a babe.

Who do you think wore Chanel better? I literally don't think I can choose between them, they both look stunning. For more information about MOCA, click here.

Photos from justjared.buzznet.com

Dazed by Ashley Smith

I was worried that Ashley Smith would become another of those 'flash-in-the-pan' models who hang around for one season then fall off the fashion radar quicker than you can say Chanel. Clearly I had nothing to worry about...

From left to right: Giles Deacon, Balenciaga, Chanel SS11 Shows

I wrote about Ashley back in May because her editorial for i-D blew me away and when I said Lara Stone had better watch her back, I meant it. She's already walked for the big boys and is scoring covers all over the show but it's her editorial in the October issue of Dazed and Confused that's caught my eye this time.

I've gone off Dazed in recent months but this issue is definitely worth a buy - as well as the lovely Ashley, they've well and truly re-vamped Daniel Radcliffe, with pretty impressive results. Love him or hate him, you can't ignore the fact that this is one of their most powerful cover for quite some time.

Will you be buying the latest Dazed? Having now proved that she can ace editorials and the runway, what do you think of the boob-alicious Miss Smith? I can't wait to see what she does next.

Photos from thefashionspot.com

Hear Me Roar

If you went to the Chanel show in Paris yesterday (don't tell me if you did, I'll only hate you for it) then this is the first thing you would've seen - very Chanel, non? Only Papa K would have a 40ft lion in his den for fun but boy do we love him for it. 

The collection was so incredibly beautiful that even the lion was left in the shadows; I fell in love with his SS10 Couture for the simple palette of white and silver but AW10/11 was altogether more dark and luxurious. The jackets were beautifully cut below the elbow, the dresses tiered at the empire line and the evening ensembles embellished to heaven and back - it was pure, glorious Chanel.

So aside from the boots, this collection is a massive winner - it also makes me want to chop all my jackets to elbow length just so that I can wear a stack of glittering bracelets, anyone else? What do you think of Karl latest offering, I'm dying to see front rower Jessica Alba in either of the evening dresses...

photos from style.com and The Telegraph

J'Adore Couture

To my own amazement I rarely follow the Couture shows, I just have one of those irrational 'I can't afford any of this' fears and therefore avoid it altogether. However, last season I (like many others) got suckered in by Chanel's Couture Collection and finally started paying attention - albeit several years too late.

This season is no different; the shows haven't even gotten into full swing (I'm super excited about Chanel) and I'm already smitten. Christian Dior was a massive surprise as it was totally opposite to the AW10 Ready-to-Wear and it was just so colourful...

Aside from the massively obvious floral references, I saw a little bit of Marc Jacobs SS10 and a little bit of Taylor Momsen's hair from The Grinch years - either way I actually kind of liked it. It's way too colourful and flouncy for me to ever consider wearing (if I won the lottery, it might happen) but I can already see most of the dresses being worn on the red carpet.

But it's Givenchy that's been the stand-out collection so far, I mean these dresses are seriously beautiful...

Inspired by the uh-mazing Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and her three obsessions: religion, sensuality and the human anatomy, Riccardo Tisci has really put himself out there as a serious couture contender. I'm usually quite dubious about feathers and embellishment but Tisci's got the balance perfectly, who wouldn't want to wear either of these pieces?!

I can't wait for Chanel, Papa K will undoubtedly present a blinder of a collection and when he does I'll be the first to gush. On a more serious note though, who can actually afford to buy this stuff? I'm pretty sure I'd have to sell my house to afford one piece, let alone every season...

photos from style.com

The Chanel Show

Not Chanel as in the tweedy, quilted variety but Chanel as in the Iman variety. Apologies for my hiatus over the last week - I have been crazy-busy with photoshoots, writing and other more menial chores which details I won't bore you with.

Having scanned several fashion AND gossip sites I found nothing interesting enough to share with you but this image from Lula of Chanel made me smile. She's such a cutey and I love this outift on her - it makes a change from her model standard black leggings and leather jacket.

I managed to catch a similar pose from her at London Fashion Week SS10 backstage at Nicole Farhi - with the lovely Coco Rocha in the background (how amazing was the Royal Opera House for a venue aswell?)

Check out my original Nicole Farhi post here along with my other SS10 backstage coverage. Once again I'm sorry for the lack of posts - I promise I'll pick up the slack and get back in the game!

Chanel Iman, cute or what?

top photo from models.com, bottom photo by me

Tag Team

The lovely lady over at Electric Feel 'tagged' me yesterday and although I'm completely at a loss about what this actually means (I think the idea is to answer the questions and then tag the people you want to answer them), I thought I'd have a stab.

FAVOURITE

Band/Artist:

This is a tough one because it changes every other month but right now it's Mumford & Sons

Video:

This incredible Australian Vogue editorial With Catherine McNeil and Abbey Lee

Australian Vogue in HD from Greg Kadel Studios on Vimeo.

Movie:

I have too many to narrow down to one, so here's a top 5: Shawshank Redemption, Clueless, X-Men, Mean Girls, Snatch

Book:

I wish that this wasn't, but unfortunately it is - Twilight (ahh cringe, cringe cringe!)

Designer/Label:

Prada/Balmain (but I love Marc Jacobs, McQueen and Chanel just as much!)

Festival:

Definately Reading but Glastonbury is an extremely close second.

TV Show:

Skins, ANTM, The Hills, Miami Ink

Icon:

Ooh another toughie. I'm gonna say Grace Coddington as a career icon and MK & Ashley as style icons.

The last two questions were pretty lame (Favourite City and Favourite Memory) so I left it at Icon. I'm not going to tell anyone else to do it, but, if I were going to I'd chose The Virtue of Style, That Girl Lucy and Cindy Whitehead because I love their blogs!

Skye High

Sunday afternoon - dinner is in the oven and I'm imagining the excitement that will soon surround Somerset House. I worked, for the first time, at London Fashion Week last season and it was just incredible. I'd attempted, although very unsuccessfully (think stairs + 5 inch platforms = me on my ass, cringe!), to worm my way into a couple of shows the previous seasons but alas! I had no luck.

It's really exciting to be working there again; the shows, the street style and my favourite part, the models. I love seeing what they wear between shows and, if they look half as cool as Skye Stracke does here, then we're in for a treat!

She's got such a natural pouty mouth and looks gorgeous being both fierce on the runway and on the street. I'm hoping she'll be in London and will bring those to-die-for leopard Laboutin's.

With Taryn Davidson after a casting in NY

Chanel Haute-Couture 2010

I'm also really intrigued to see what the Gaga wears to her shows of choice. Whose street style are you looking forward to seeing throughout the various Fashion Weeks?

photos from thefashionspot.com

Frabbey

Aka Freja Beha Erichsen and Abbey Lee Kershaw.

My two favourite models backstage at my favourite couture show, what more could a girl ask for?! I've heard so many rumours about them being a couple and dear god I hope it's true. They look super cute together and this photo is perfection personified!

I know it's a bit late to be posting about the couture shows but this was too cute to pass off.

photos from thefashionspot.com

Karma pastel-Chanel Chamelion

Having been at my Dad's since the weekend, I've subsequently fallen off the blogging bandwagon. In what can only be described as the ultimate bachelor-pad (think no food, lots of beer, 60" plasma, XBox 360, PS3 and several other things that require serious tech knowlege to even turn on) I've lost track of life itself and Bang Bang has suffered the consequences.

In true slacker style, I'm going to post some of my favourite looks from the Chanel Spring 2010 Haute Couture (somehow fashion is the last thing on my mind when all I can see/hear is aliens shooting other aliens). I think I like the collection although it'll probably be a grower, there were several 'stage' looks and few 'red carpet' outfits, but overall, I thought it very pleasant.

Am v. intrigued by lack of black or gold and think the silver embellishment with the pastel colours is gorgeous. Will get back to real life at the weekend (apologies) but until then, over and out.

Freja Beha Erichsen

Anja Rubik

Frida Gustavsson

Abbey Lee Kershaw

Karmen Pedaru

The big boss man, Karl Lagerfeld

The silk/satin draped dress is stunning and the embellished damask is crazy beautiful. What are your favourite couture shows from the last 5 years?

photos from style.com

Anti-Climax

Apart from Mariah Carey's scary looking boobs, I didn't really notice anything exciting at the Golden Globes.

I'm a bit blase about the whole thing because I usually am disappointed and always wonder what went wrong. There were a lot of ruffles (big SS thing) and lots of black and white - the usual, but it was hard finding anyone that really stood out (although I did love Drew Barrymore in Versace). It was only when I looked at images from the after-parties did I see a bit of colour and boldness.

I'm not a huge fan of these looks, but I think that's because they were worn, in my eyes, by the wrong people. I love the dresses though. The Lloyd Klein is so beautiful but would have suited someone a bit edgier and the Chanel is just a bit too green.

I salute them for doing something a bit different, even if it was at the after party.

AnnaLynne McCord in Lloyd Klein

Isabal Lucas in Chanel

I love Ashley Olsen in Erdem, the colour is perfect and I think it's a shame the bottom half of the dress didn't live-up to the top half, therefore I felt it only necessary to show the best bit!

Who do you think got it right?

photos from justjared.buzznet.com

Off Duty Mum (and Dad)

When a woman has a child, her fashion life generally spirals downwards. When there's sick and poo to clean up every 5 minutes, there's no room (or money) for Prada or Chanel.

Of course celebrities are like a completely different breed of human, they're superhuman. Not only do they manage to juggle several children but they maintain an impressive wardrobe. I'd be blessed if I looked like any of these women on a good day, let alone after having had kids.

Victoris Beckham in Laboutin's

Gwen Stefani in Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony

Nicole Richie pumpkin buying with Harlow

Natalia Vodianova attending Chanel SS10 with Neva

My next choice pains me a little. I'm really not a fan of Tom Cruise and this photo of him doesn't help (the hair, the tan jacket -bad times), however, Suri is so adorable that it kind of makes me forget he's even there. She's way ahead of the trends with pastel pink ruffles and although it's wrong that she even knows what heels are, she's still a kid at heart.