Baby Its Cold Outside, But Spring has Sprung!

Its trying to snow here in central Canada.

I'm not so impressed at all, despite the allure of warm earthy tones, boots and fabulous hats. Fall and winter are amazing for fashion, but fashionistas, brands and department stores are always looking ahead. Although Spring 2010 was not my favourite for most labels, Spring 2011 is showing much more promise. Nearly every line featured the new spring staples: white and shear, but most designers were not afraid to simultaneously infuse their lines with saturated colour, funky florals and feminine lace. Stella McCartney's Spring 2011 line offers all of these things (although I'm not so sure about her florals). Overall, if I were to find any of these items under my Christmas tree, maybe I wouldn't mind the snow. Spring always comes around eventually.

Posted by: Carla

Les Arts Decoratifs

Should you find yourself in Paris with nothing to do over the next few months, the museum of Les Arts Decoratifs is holding an exhibition on fashion (ready to wear as well as couture) of the entire decade of the 1990s. Although the uninitiated may remember the 1990s as a black hole in fashion, the museum (and I) see this period as one of the watersheds of modern fashion. This is when some of the most laudable designers we see today got their footing and began their style evolution.

Included in the exhibit are Azzedine Alaia, Balenciaga (Nicholas Chesquiere), Chanel (Karl Lagerfeld), Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior (John Galliano), Lanvin (Claude Montana and Alber Elbaz), Gucci (Tom Ford), Viktor and Rolf, Helmut Lang, Vivienne Westwood, Prada, Ann Demeuleester, Alexander McQueen and Issey Miyake.

The collection offers a glimpse into the artistic stylings of these designers, showing visitors their creative evolution through the 1990s, and elucidating how designers paid homage to their predecessors. Divided into categories of artistic styling and geography, the exhibition also hopes to show how these designers became front runners among their peers.

Posted by: Carla

The Evolution of Marc

April 9th should be a day that women, as well as men, take up as an international holiday. It should be a time of celebration and remembering that dressing well is important. On this momentous occasion in 1963, Marc Jacobs was born and the face of fashion changed forever.

Although there have been critics, cough Oscar de la Renta cough, Jacobs' star has been on the rise since he graduated from the famed Parsons School of Design. Between designing a line of sweaters whilst still in college, working for Perry Ellis immediately after, and teaming up with long-time partner Robert Duffy to create a design company, Jacobs also started his own label in 1987. In the past decade, it has become an unwavering staple in many a Vogue-reader's closet. His celebrity following is a veritable who's who of A-list Hollywood, and the stories that he tells with his collections could almost be surpassed with those whispered in the gossip rags about his personal life. (2002 makeover anyone?!)

His influence is everywhere. Three major labels: Marc Jacobs, Marc by Marc, and Louis Vuitton (where he has worked as the Creative Director since 1997). Three powerhouses. All successful brands, all spearheaded by a man that makes wearable, to-die-for clothing.

Jacobs is credited with turning Louis Vuitton into a major player in the fashion game, as opposed to the sidekick it once was. He created the line's first ready to wear collection, which in turn snowballed into further expansion for the French line. As if that weren't enough, he also has a successful line of perfumes.

I love him, you love him, we all love to love him. Why? Because beauty will always find admiration. And Marc Jacobs makes beautiful clothing.

Here's a few pieces from Spring 2011, both Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton. The designer let the '70s reign supreme in both lines, but MJ was focused on glamour while LV saluted Asia. Neither collection was particularly groundbreaking in terms of what Jacobs is capable of (that pink pantsuit in the MJ line was dreadful), but here are some standouts nonetheless.

Marc Jacobs

 
Louis Vuitton

 

Posted by: Kiran                                                                                                                                         

Spring 2011 Accessories: The Clutch

The clutch bag has always been a staple, but lately the small bag is making a comeback across the board. Spring 2011 offers up an array of shapes, sizes, colours and designs. Some are great and some are just plain strange (think Carrie Bradshaw and her swan bag). Either way, just like a great pair of shoes, a clutch can be a little piece of art that you get to carry around, and just happens to carry a (small) amount of your stuff in it. What could be better?

My favourites for Spring:

 Chloe

Burberry

Jen Kao

Jil Sander

Louis Vuitton

Marc Jacobs

Nancy Gonzalez

Sang A

Sang A

Valentino

Viktor and Rolf

Posted By: Carla

Mark Fast Ready to (Rock!) Spring 2011

While the big names in fashion continue to shine in Paris and New York, Mark Fast seems to be the unlikely hero to come up swinging out of nowhere. His work is raucous, youthful, edgy and barely there (can anyone say Serena Van Der Woodsen?) Marie Claire and InStyle have both featured the designer’s dresses on recent covers, as have a slew of European publications. Not bad for a designer whose work has been hitting runways for less than 2 years. Although his work has, on occasion, received less than favorable reviews, the attention he’s received in the magazine world shows his knit-work and cutout designs (which we saw on nearly every runway in Spring 2010) are a sought after resource for a marketable cover. 

Fast is definitely a person not to be underestimated, but rather, to be paid attention to. He might end up a one-trick pony as I'm sure many expect, but I'm holding out hope for a new fashion heavy-hitter. 

Some of my picks from his Spring 2011 line: 

Posted by: Carla

McQueen Still King

February 11th 2011 will see the first year anniversary of the untimely passing of one of the most lauded designers of this generation: Alexander McQueen. However, the torch has been handed over to new creative director of the brand, Sarah Burton, who does not disappoint with the Spring 2011 line. The pieces are classic McQueen, but show growth from previous accessories, they continue to offer something fresh. Burton has added her own flavor to the line - not an easy task, even for someone who worked with McQueen for years until his death. The pieces show a juxtaposition of fecundity and the macabre, freshness and decay. They toy with the idea of new life of the brand and the dark side that seems to have haunted Lee McQueen himself. Burton has proved that real art lives on. 

Posted by: Carla

Dries Van Noten Ready to Wear Spring 2011

While the fashionistas of the world are trying to balance the unbearable winter winds and the desire to still remain chic, their favorite designers are already looking ahead to the spring/summer collections of 2011. Designer Dries Van Noten presented a menswear inspired line that focused on slouchy trousers, tailored jackets, and a variety of flower prints tops and bottoms that flowed away from the body.

Van Noten noted 20th century Belgian artist Jef Verheyen as a source for inspiration, and his influence can be seen in the variety of colours Van Noten incorporates into the collection.

Although designing for decades, Van Noten only makes ready to wear. Here are some standouts:

Posted by: Kiran

Lanvin + H&M = LOVE

Cash-strapped fashionistas rejoice! Lanvin and H&M have teamed up to create a collection that seems quite fitting for the fashion forward-affordable chain. Lanvin, Rodarte, Zac Posen and Anna Sui have all offered affordably fashionable lines with Target, which is great if you live in the US. The best and most exciting part about the Lanvin/H&M bromance is that the line will be available in Canada! This includes accessories and shoes. The line hits stores November 23rd worldwide, but comes to North America on November 20th. To kick off the festivities, Lanvin hosted a couture show in New York Thursday night and will be auctioning off 6 sketches of the designs with proceeds going to Unicef. Be sure to grab your sleeping bag and a thermos of hot chocolate to wait in line for these less than designer priced gems, and in the meantime enjoy some of my picks from the line. 

Posted by The Carla