Category Archives: FASHION

Vår 2012 Couture: grafisk

Siri Tollerød for Chanel Couture.

Menswear Fall 2012: skins

BalmainMaison Martin MargielaBallyEmporio ArmaniCalvin KleinAmiHermèsBallyEmporio Armani

Couture Printemps 2012: sorbet framboise

Maria Kashleva serves Amy Winehouse (I-Dream-of-Jeannie-edition) in raspberry sorbet for Jean Paul Gaultier.

Caveat Emptor: RTR Clearance

We’ve discussed the benefits and pitfalls of dealing with Rent the Runway before, but I had a not-so-great experience shopping their clearance sale and wanted to warn you. Periodically Rent the Runway liquidates their heavily-rented inventory with a clearance sale.  The dresses and accessories are previous rentals and clearly show signs of fatigue.  In fairness, RTR sort of discloses damages – for example below they indicate the garment has pick/pull flaws, but don’t show the specific item for purchase. All items are final sale, so you better know your size and be ready to accept whatever arrives.  Keep in mind most of these dresses are stretched from the myriad bodies that have inhabited them.  Whether you find the savings significant will be a matter of perspective.  A Proenza Schouler dress that retails for $1,525 sells for $455 on clearance.  But you are still shelling out nearly $500 for a used frock, and not lightly used at that. The accessories might be a better value if most of them weren’t completely fug.

My negative experience involved some crazy price fluctuations on a dress.  After some back and forth the issue was favorably resolved, but the entire experience left a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to shopping RTR’s clearance.  

menswear fall 2012: overcoat

GucciYup, that’s Adrien Brody for Prada.Bottega VenetaAlexander McQueenAmiDior HommeAndrea PompilioBerluttiDamir Doma

Pre-Fall 2012: Remainders

Alberta Ferretti Givenchy Jonathan SaundersLouis VuittonMaison Martin MargielaStella McCartneyThe RowPreenNina RicciMaison Martin MargielaAlberta FerrettiCushnie Et Ochs

menswear fall 2012: layered

TrussardiRoberto CavalliVivienne WestwoodMissoniFendiMoschinoJohn Varvatos

Golden Globes 2012: Gowns, Gams, & Guns

Jolie served in Atelier Versace.  She turned it out to pimp her directorial debut.  Don’t love the shoes, but when she tries even a little she easily steals the show.

The most improved nod goes to Heidi Klum in Calvin Klein Collection, who usually shows up to these events looking wildly out of place and heinously attired. Mila Kunis looked bored and made this one-strap Christian Dior boring too.  She can do better, but can’t seem to shake this recent ugly frock streak.  Let’s get the brides out of the way.  First, Jessica Chastain arrived in an ill-fitting Givenchy.  In recent awards seasons, Givenchy seems to lend out dresses willy-nilly and doesn’t bother to make sure they are tailored correctly.  For as many style successes as they have, they have an equal number of fashion failures.  Kate Beckinsale always brings the over-try, sponsored here by Roberto Cavalli and accompanied by Len Wiseman.Jessica Biel wore a matrimonial Elie Saab, obviously unable to stifle her wedding enthusiasm. Sofia Vergara showed us the source of the Nile in Vera Wang Sarah Michelle Gellar drowned in a big blue and white tie-dyed Monique L’huillier. Best grown women: Downton Abbey’s Elizabeth McGovern, Diane Lane and Madge both in Reem Acra.Vivienne Westwood dressed Andrea Riseborough who stars in Madonna’s movie W.E.The gorgeous Gucci girls = Salma Hayek and Evan Rachel Wood.God bless Melissa McCarthy; she tried in Badgley Mischka.  Take a cue from Octavia Spencer who looked incredible in a light lavender Tadashi Shoji. Modern Family’s Ariel Winter looks all grown up in Dolce & GabbanaShailene Woodley chose a lovely Marchesa gown, but unfortunately paired it with bad posture.  Claire Danes deviated from her usual favorites Calvin Klein and Narciso Rodriquez in favor of this embellish-backed J. Mendel number.  I’m ambivalent – love the back, hate the front. Michelle Williams wore Jason Wu.  She should stick to Prada or Miu Miu.  Is that burned out velvet?  Emma Stone also failed to impress in a mediocre Lanvin gown. Frieda Pinto wore lapis Prada and it won’t be everyone’s favorite, but I think she’s lovely.  Juliana Marguilies also chose a bold color statement with this sleek eggplant Naeem Khan.Laura Dern sparkled in an emerald Andrew Gn gown.Did you get the memo that Reese is reinventing herself as sexy?  Zac Posen painted her red and gave her hips.  Nicole Richie is quickly morphing into a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills.  At first, I loved this Julien MacDonald metallic dress, but the more I look at it, the less excited I am, especially over that messy hem. Where have you been Natalie?  We’ve barely seen you since you gave birth.  Weird dress by Lanvin. Madeleine Stowe celebrated her career revival in Vera WangCharlize Theron is like awards show pizza; even when she’s bad she’s not that bad, and here she’s pretty decent in Dior Couture.  If only she could wipe that smug-ass look off her (recently tweaked?) face. 

Pre-Fall 2012: coats + jackets

Daiane Conterato and Kel Markey for The Row.Alexander WangNina Ricci Yigal AzrouëlLanvinDerek LamGucciCostume National