Copy Cat-Walk: Elle Fanning

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Once upon a time there was a little girl who happened to be Dakota Fanning’s baby sister. This girl grew up awfully fast and, with only 13 years old, she attended to Paris Fashion Week for the Chanel Couture Extravaganza runway show at the grand palais. Enough? Never, that same year (2011) WMagazine had her photographed along with her sister for a special article called: “Sister Act”. Ever since then, she has only continued climbing the ladder of success, participating in several audiovisual productions and, on top of all, becoming a true fashionista. Who am I talking about? Elle Fanning, of course.

VOGUE UK

She’s pretty amazing, isn’t she? With only 14 years old she dresses up as many of us would like to. For this Tuesday’s entry, we’re going to analyze Elle’s look when attending the screening of Ginger & Rosa at L.A. last week, which awarded her a place into VOGUE UK best dressed celebrities from November 5, 2012 to November 9, 2012. Here’s the link! (http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2012/11/5/best-dressed---09/11/12/gallery/11).

So much for an introduction, don’t you think so? Let’s get started!

Who is Elle Fanning?

Elle Fanning is an American actress who started acting at age 2, playing the role of her sister’s younger version in the mini-series Taken.  You may have seen her in I Am Sam (2001), Babel (2006), The curious case of Benjamin Button (2008) among others. Her most recent participation was on the film “Ginger & Rosa”, where she plays Ginger.

What is she wearing?

Elle is covered in Dolce & Gabbana, from the tip of her toes to the top of her head.

Just Jared

The shoes don’t show very well (boomer), but thanks to JUST JARED (http://www.justjared.com/photo-gallery/2754170/elle-fanning-ginger-rosa-screening-with-christina-hendricks-10/), here’s another picture where we can actually look at them: Beautiful pointy white lace shoes! Perfect for the classical look. Why are these a good option? Because they pump up every look. You could be wearing blue skinny jeans, a plain random color t-shirt and a little jacket and voilà! Add the shoes and you’re extra chic.

The skirt is perfect for her because, well, she’s still a child. It’s very formal and, see how it goes right under the knees? That’s alright if you’re her height (1.70). Never use one of this without high heels, never! It accentuates the waist and makes it look smaller due to the falling of the fabric, which sort of opens at the end.

The chemise is pretty basic: white, in what appears to be silk, baggy sleeves, smaller collar details: perfect. The master stroke? The ribbon. What a ribbon! It’s “T” shaped and falls beautifully on her chest, giving an unusual taste to the whole thing. It invades “all that white”, which makes our brains believe she’s thinner, like all there is is the ribbon, or the white that remains uncovered.

Final detail: the headband. WHAT A HEADBAND! A beaded accessory that completes any outfit.

How to copy?

High cut skirts (up to the waist) that open op all the way to the end. Wear it with a chemise and remember, no patterns! Just plain colors. Match wisely, here’s a page where you can actually see if they match or not: http://colorschemedesigner.com

Pumps with pointy or round ends are perfect for the outfit. Remember, if your skirt goes right under your knees, high heels are mandatory.

Instead of the ribbon (which can be easily imitated), you can also wear a brooch, preferably one that contains a big jewel and it’s metal platform, nothing else.

The beaded headband can be found at any mall, really. Wear them with your hair down, a pony tail, a braided bun (or just the bun)… there’s a world of possibilities, try them all and see what favors you the most!

And that’s pretty much it, crazy diamonds! Easy, huh? Remember to shine all over and dream on! (Though I do know I shouldn’t tell you to do so because you do it anyway). Until Thursday! Ciao!

Copy Cat-Walk: Poppy Delevingne

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Fashion is a portrait of us. The way we dress says so much about who we are, you wouldn’t believe all the messages we send to others with a pink blouse instead of a black hoodie. Do you know that when we have a conversation, what the other person understands is 16% speech and 84% body language, facial expressions, voice modulation and clothing?

Every celebrity (you name it) has its own personality, which makes him or her outstand among the rest. The Rich & Famous always know how to impregnate their look with their personality, that’s what makes them so easy to remember. Think of Lady Gaga or Cher. Their clothes are crucial. Are your clothes a reflection of your Psyque?

“Copy Cat-Walk” is a brand new section of “I’m Too Editor’s Choice”. Here, our favorite looks (modeled by our beloved celebrities) will be dissected so you know how to include some of their key elements to your closet. Are you ready?

For the premier, our opening dissection will be done to Poppy Delavigne in CHANEL (of course).

But first things first:

Who is Poppy Delevingne?

British model, socialite and CHANEL ambassador.

What is she wearing?

Short black long sleeved straight cut dress made of transparencies and lace, with a black “body” underneath it. Wearing the whole thing instead of two-piece underwear (traditional or not) is way better. You’re showing too much skin already, so when wearing something like this, cover the part of yourself that attempts to be covered.

I love transparencies (as many of you may know) and this is not an exception. They make us look so elegant and classy yet contemporary at the same time! My favorite part is the length of the skirt. I adore little dresses, skirts and shorts! They stylize our figure so much! We look taller and thinner and with some killer legs. The shoes are the right pair because they’re covered all the way, leaving only the legs exposed (no “feet skin” is shown).

Dresses like this are everywhere and even if they don’t have the transparency, the design is really good and favors almost everybody.

So, what do you say? Do you already know what kind of dress you’re gonna wear for your next party? I do!

Have a wonderful day, crazy diamonds! Shine all over & dream on! 

Lotta love x

P.S. Photo taken from Vogue.fr

Giambattista Valli: “I want a woman to feel the cut of the scissors in the clothes.”

“I discovered the flou and the language of Paris.”

Giambattista Valli

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Are you familiar with this name? Well, I must admit I wasn’t until a couple of months ago. The first time I saw one of his designs was, obviously, on a page of a VOGUE Magazine, and since then, I just kept tripping on images of his beautiful designs almost every time I flip a page of a fashion magazine. It’s natural if a few of us are not related with this label because it’s only seven years old. Wow, right? So recognized in such a short period of time! Well, that’s what talent grants you, my friends.

1) Look A

Valli’s designs are complex (generally composed by more than one layer and more than two textures) and very womanly. The dominant colors of the Spring-Summer 2013 collection are golden, white and red. The effects? Transparencies. Texture? Fabric flowers. Cuts? To the waist.  Generally I try to vary the sort of clothes I choose for the top three, meaning I usually pick looks composed by pants, chemises, blazers, skirts, sweaters and dresses. This time, however, I chose what I think summarizes the best Valli’s style: Dresses.

Ready or not, here we go! The Top Three:

2) Look B

1) Look A.  “SPRING IS HERE!” or so it seems to shout to the world. The first look is this fabulous, classy and super girly white flowered dress. The faux- V-cleavage makes the upper part of the model’s body look longer- as if needed. I love the fact that is a fake cleavage because if it had that cleavage instead of the circular neckline it actually has got, it wouldn’t be as elegant; I mean, the skin would be just a little bit too much. The frills a the waist help dissimulate any abdominal bump existent, helps your waist look smaller and your hips look wider. The cut at the front of the skirt differences it from an average pencil skirt, giving it movement and a kind of relief that makes it unique –plus, it makes the walking easier-.

2) Look B. Hello, tsarine! I picked this dress because it makes the transition from season to season easier; meaning the designer still keeps some details from Fall-Winter on this piece. Examples: Long sleeves and the baroque look of the faux red jacket. Also, the color combo; I don’t know why white and red remind me of Christmas time. Anyway, the whole thing is beautiful: Look at the red flowers detail! That lace is exquisite. The white fabric is ideal for this season, why? It’s very thin and fresh, plus it reflects the light of the sun giving us a precious nacre glow. The pin-up shorts underneath the dress are an excellent idea, because we can still use the transparencies to our favor- a woman’s legs are the hell of a weapon- and look super graceful and zero improper.

3) Look C

3) Look C. Roses. The first thing I thought when I saw this dress was: “Roses”. Look at it closely; the detail of the skirt makes it look like the petals of one of the most romantic flowers that ever existed. The lace gives a sensual air to the whole piece, and the transparencies, again, keep it from showing a little bit too much. Transparencies are perfect for eye-illusions; they mock our senses badly. For example, take a look at the lace part just under the draped skirt: it’s got a pointy end and leaves uncovered the upper part of the legs. Frontal pointy ends in skirts aren’t very recommended, and even less when they show that much of our legs, but hey! You know what! Here’s transparency to save the day, turning a not-such-a –good-idea to an oh!-wow-I-must-have-it.

It sort of reminds me of Valentino and Elie Saab, what do you think?

Well, I hope you enjoyed meeting a label that promises to turn into a legend in the fashion world.  I certainly did.

Oh! I wanted to apologize, I know I promised to write three times a week but I find it impossible with such little free time. I learned my lesson: only make promises you can accomplish, be careful not to overestimate yourself- believe me, it happens more often than you may think-. What I can promise is writing the best posts on every Thursday, ok? Again, I’m truly sorry. I am.

So, after the moral learning of the week, all that’s left is to say goodbye- for now. Shine all over and dream on, crazy diamonds! See you next Thursday? Lotta love.

P.S. Follow me on twitter: @alanandall

P.S.2 All the photos were taken from Vogue.fr. Here you go!

http://www.vogue.fr/defiles/printemps-ete-2013-paris-giambattista-valli/7144/diaporama/defile-2175/10367/pag

Dior: L’Haute Couture has never been so neat

“Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty

that is attractive without zest.”

- Christian Dior

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So, it’s been a while since we have spoken about Haute Couture, and I know I said I would stick to Summer-Spring 2013 but it’s just that I can’t possibly go on to the next season without talking about Christian Dior. I mean, let’s just be honest, when someone says “French Maisons” what do you think about? Yes, Chanel and Dior.

As a matter of fact, those two marked the beginning of fashion as we know it today, always honoring one of the main commandments in the industry: simple is better. “Oh! But we have talked a lot about designers mixing textures and styles in a very Baroque way!” Well, yes, rules were meant to be broken, but here’s the thing, you just don’t go ahead and break them, you have to know how to do so. As in pretty much everything, we have three groups on the field: the conservatives, the moderates and the liberals.

Obviously, do to the constant changes in today’s world, the liberals have the biggest number of designers enrolled, why? Because there are so many tendencies somebody has to cover, it would be a total waste to leave the public unattended. Of course, some of us are more, well, “old fashioned”. Some people will always need something timeless, and as we all know, the only ones that can fit in the profile are classics.

I must admit that another thing that kept me from writing about Dior was the scandal they had with their previous creative director: John Galliano, whose anti-Semitic attitude won him out of the Maison. I didn’t know what to expect from the new designer on board, Raf Simons, since I somehow picture the departure (very justified departure) of Galliano as Lagerfeld leaving Chanel. But clearly my fears had to reason to be, because Dior as a whole knew what it was doing, and Raf Simons is taking us back to the designs of the very founder of his kingdom: Christian Dior.

Christian Dior believed the clothes would help a woman stand out only if she had the right attitude, I mean, it’s such a shame when the clothes end up wearing you instead of being the other way around! Designers as Dior or Chanel wanted the person itself to be the focus of attention, not what they were wearing, the clothes just have to pump our personality, not overshadow it.

Wooh! I that was a long introduction, but hey! You had to know the context! Now, are you ready to see Dior’s newborns? Here, from the Haute Couture Fall- Winter 20120-2013 collection of Christian Dior, we have my Top Three.

1) Look A

1) Look A. Talking about timeless… look at that! And of course, it had to be black, the true color. Tell me if you wouldn’t look at yourself in the mirror while wearing this and say: “Mirror mirror, on the wall, who’s the classiest of them all?” There certainly is no-need for an answer when a picture is worth a thousand words. The long V cleavage matches perfectly with the open cut of the pleated skirt. It’s versatile and will never let you down. The black long sleeves that practically act as a second skin stylize the arms, and the cut just under the ribs help dissimulate your belly if any. There’s no texture and the thickness of the fabric makes it even more uniform. Perfect. Want to look like Grace Kelly, anyone?

2) Look B

2) Look B. My God! Look at that beautiful skirt! I love every waist-high cut, because it doesn’t just make you look taller, it also makes you look slimmer. The “thinner” effect is strongly supported by the puffiness of the skirt, which makes the upper part look teeny tiny.  The texture, color selection and pattern of the skirt make you think you don’t need anything else but a plain pair of shoes and a plain t-shirt; and well, that thought would be accurate, look at the outfit! The t-shirt is very delicate and generic. The fabric? I’d dare to say is silk, but I’m not so sure.

3) Look C

3) Look C. This was the star of the collection, and what a star! Shining brighter than the sun, huh? Again, long sleeves. The upper part of this dress is pretty much the same as the upper part of the previous look. ¿The lower part? Pretty much as the first look, but longer. Yellow is one of my favorite colors, but you have to be careful when wearing it, because well, brighter colors can make your body look bigger than it really is. Especially this dress, so tight at the waist, shouldn’t be worn by anyone who hasn’t got plain abs. Has it been black, like the first one, well, you might trick the audience, but with such color, no way.

So, what do you think? Has Raf Simons honored Christian Dior’s name? Totally. As you saw, all the pieces were eternal, completely immune to any trends or fashions; they’ve got a style of their own that know how to compliment any woman. Compliment and complement, because remember, fashion is a mere accessory to your personality and it helps you define yourself only if you have something to define.

My! Look at the time! I’ve got to go, but hey, crazy diamonds! Shine all over and dream on! See you next week? Lotta Love.

P.S. Follow me on twitter: @alanandall

P.S.2 All the photos were taken from Vogue.fr; go ahead and take a look!

http://www.vogue.fr/defiles/automne-hiver-2012-2013-paris-christian-dior-2/6443/diaporama/defile-1784/9268/pag

Jean Paul Gaultier- L’Enfant Terrible is here to steal the spotlight

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"Dressing is a pleasure; clothes are not a joke.”

- Jean Paul Gaultier

Why Jean Paul Gaultier? The real question is why did I wait until now for Jean Paul Gaultier?! This grand couturier has dressed personalities such as Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard and Lady Gaga, and I must admit the last celebrity is the actual reason I dedicated this week’s post to l’enfant terrible.

1) Look A

You see, last Sunday I was watching E! and some TV show comparing Gaga’s and Madonna’s styles popped up. Towards the ending, they showed Gaga in a beautiful JPG gown, all black with a gorgeous collar with golden details and huge feathers framing Gaga’s face. It was outstanding, you know why? Because it was classy yet risky and gothic at the same time. I really believe it has been the best outfit Gaga has come out with ever, and believe me, I’m a huge fan of hers and, of course, of clothing. Anyway, then I remembered when I was checking out the new prêt-à-porter fall-winter 2012-2013 at Vogue.fr, the first post was dedicated to him, which I totally should have interpreted as a sign to write about him ASAP!

But oh, well! No more “What ifs”! Let’s cut the blah blah blah and start with what we all care about: The Top Three.

2) Look B

1) Look A. Is that a dress? No! it’s a black velvet jumpsuit with a faux heart neckline that’s got covered the rest of the chest up to the neck and most of the arms with an extraordinarily vaporous fabric. Don’t you love the effect? It makes the femme fatale outfit actually pretty classy! It gives a sort of black wings to the model. Gaultier is an expert on making glam black angels. Jumpsuits are generally pretty good on making you look taller and slimmer, no mention the little black vest reduces the amount of clothing seen underneath and makes you look thinner still (if you have a little waist, if not, use a longer vest, one that finishes right at the hips). See the big necklace? Stay away of those unless you have a long neck, otherwise it will disappears and the neck is one of the most beautiful characteristics of human beings.

3) Look C

2) Look B. What a dress, ladies (& gentlemen, if any)! Transparencies, transparencies everywhere! I love the contrast of textures and the iridescence of the fabric! The color lies somewhere between a dark-greenish blue and a yellowish green, and though I’ve never seen it before, I think it’s a perfect fit for this season, don’t you? The imperial cut (tighter right in the middle of the ribs, under the breasts) makes the skirt fall beautifully, due, in part to the lightness of the material used on its making. This kind of dress favors almost any women. Do you see what he did with the sleeves? How they’re a little bit more open? Well, it serves the purpose of making the arms look thinner and longer. The geometry employed on the design is delightful and, in a way, adds symmetry to the body, which, believe it or not, potentiates our beauty (or so its said).

3) Look C. Talking about geometry, look at that! Transparencies and black and velvet and leather: Gaultier (if you have any questions, look at the pattern right where the legs begin, you’ll see his name written pretty clearly). What can I say about this work of art? Maybe just, if you’re planning on wearing it outside a gala or a red carpet, you should probably put something underneath; I mean, it’s a little bit too much skin. Oh! Just not something black, please! Wear something salmon or peach or nude or yellow, it’ll look way better. Even white or gray are acceptable, just stay away from black because you’ll totally mess up the details. The triangles upside down help the upper part of the body look longer, and the velvet at the end of the skirt is a faux end, so it actually looks shorter than it is. The section of the chest is perfect, because it sobers up the whole thing.

So, now you know! Whenever you want to steal the spotlight and look like Marilyn Monroe in her rock star mode, go for Gaultier! I’m crazy about his designs and his outrageous style, what about you?

Oh, I know! You’re shining all over and dreaming on, crazy diamonds aren’t you? Well, go on lighting up the world and ‘til next post! Lotta Love.

P.S. All the photos were taken from Vogue.fr, do you want to see rest of these pieces of art?

http://www.vogue.fr/defiles/automne-hiver-2012-2013-paris-jean-paul-gaultier-2/6483/diaporama/defile-1807/9327/pag

GUCCI VS PUCCI: The Italian War Is On

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Whenever any friend of mine tells me off because I don’t happen to know a certain song, haven’t seen a certain movie or never heard of certain book, I throw at their faces the following sentence: “Oh, really? Well, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between Gucci and Pucci!”

My sister’s answer to this statement was by far the most reasonable: “Gucci is written with ‘g’ and Pucci with ‘p’” The funny thing is that it takes just a letter, it only takes one letter to go from a luxury brand to haute couture. Another fun fact: they’re both Italian.

Gucci’s whole name is “House of Gucci”, and its creative director is Frida Giannini. Even though Gucci is VERY recognized in the fashion world, it is not couture; it’s a luxury brand like, for example, Louis Vuitton. Pucci is the abbreviation for Emilio Pucci, and it is qualified as haute couture (even though here I’ll show their prêt-à-porter); its chief designer is Peter Dundas.

So, those where two dissimilarities between Pucci and Gucci (the letter and the classification), but hey! What about the style? That’s the real thing, because its what makes you tell a Gucci from a Pucci just by sight. In order to define the approaches of Pucci & Gucci I’ll compare eight looks (four each) from their collections of Fall-Winter 2012-2013. For all the comparisons, I took two looks that, even when using the same elements, were also defending their signature. 

Are you ready? Go!

1) Skirt & Chemise

Similarities: The skirts belong to the same style. The chemises have transparencies and turtlenecks. The two mannequins are covered in black.

Differences: The Gucci skirt is made in velvet and has got some kind of belt made of the same textile, while the Pucci one is made of leather and has an aperture on the left side. The Gucci chemise has puffed sleeves and the transparencies are covered with lace, while the sleeves of the Pucci one stick to the arms and the transparencies on the chemise are very clean, small and simple.

2) Slacks & Chemise

Similarities: Vaporous fabric for the chemise.  

Differences: Where do we start? The Gucci slacks go all the way to the floor, are super loose and start on the hips, while the Pucci ones start on the waist, have no drawings on them and finish around 15 cm before they get to the ankles. The Gucci chemise has velvet details, puffed sleeves and ties, while the Pucci one appears to be completely plane. I love the sweater on the Pucci look, btw.

3) Cocktail Dress

Similarities: The length of the skirt. Vaporous fabrics. Adjusted at the waist. Black.

Differences: The Gucci dress’s got a V cleavage covered in frills, lace and puffed sleeves. The Pucci dress’s got a halter cleavage and a v-neck combined, an aperture in the vertical middle of the skirt and sleeves that work as a second skin. It is also very plain and the details are on the seams, which give the illusion of geometry.

4) Night Gown

Similarities: Diamond cleavage. Round neck to hold it together. Black.

Differences: The Gucci dress is completely made of vaporous fabric, with feather details. The Pucci dress possesses a sold fabric and is open right in the vertical middle of the skirt.

So, what do you think? Pretty easy, huh? Gucci is more romantic while Pucci is super sophisticated. I personally prefer Pucci because it’s simpler and you know what they say: “less is more”. Nevertheless, Gucci’s pieces are also a work of art, just a little more nostalgic. It all depends on your style, which would prevail in your closet?

I hope you enjoyed spotting the differences as much as I did, have a wonderful day! And what will you say the next time someone calls you ignorant about something? Exactly: “You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between Gucci and Pucci!”

Shine all over and dream on, crazy diamonds!

Write to you later!

A.C.

P. S. All the photos were taken from Vogue.fr. Here’s the link for the Pucci diaporama:
http://www.vogue.fr/defiles/automne-hiver-2012-2013-milan-emilio-pucci-1/6160/diaporama/defile-1520/8838/pag, and this one is for Gucci’s:
http://www.vogue.fr/defiles/automne-hiver-2012-2013-milan-gucci-2/6145/diaporama/defile-1505/8810/pag . 

Valentino: prêt-à-porter? Prêt –à- aimer!

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Ok, so we’ve examined pure couture so far, what do you say about some prêt-à-porter? I say TOTALLY.

Look 1

For this week, I’ve chosen my dear Valentino, and let me tell you that even though his couture is genius, the prêt-à-porter is totally breathtaking. Valentino is simply the best, I mean, if you had a million different ceremonies and parties to attend and you only had a Valentino Boutique nearby, you could totally rock it in all the events with the help of the Italian creations. Don’t buy it? Check this out!

In 60 looks, the designer shows us how amazing clothes that even wearing when walking down the streets or buying something at the 7/11, would make us feel like we’re on the runway. The colors Valentino uses in this collection are beige, black, gray, red and white, with pinches of green. He uses mostly leather and silk, along with recurring transparencies and embroidery; in other words: stylish eclectic.

Being honest, what I love the most about this collection is that it doesn’t look just wearable during fall or winter; it also would be super chic during spring or summer; it’s killing combo: versatility and flexibility, is a huge plus nobody should ignore. But enough with the talking! Lets check the Top Three, shall we?

Look 18

1) Look 1. Black and white never die! This is the proof that classics will always be classics. The skirt up to the waist ending at the knees makes the body look longer. The hood is gorgeous and it’s perfect for any kind of body, because due to its shape, it will always look as if the part of the body underneath is slimmer. The leather is super sophisticated and the game between the collars of both, the chemise and the hood, make the neck look longer. Hello, high fashion heroines!

2) Look 18. This coat has to be like the coolest thing ever. The patterns are beyond beautiful. The collar is perfect for giving the illusion of a longer neck and, due to the divisions (the upper part of the coat and the squares at the lower), it makes the model look taller. The division at the upper part is super smart, because it’s just below the ribs and it’s sort of the new waist. A perfect piece, five stars.

Look 25

3) Look 25. Ever since I looked at this dress, I wasn’t able to take it out of my head, I mean, could you? The flowers! The flowers! It is also in leather. The division of the body is right at the waist and again, the collar makes the neck look longer. I must admit that the detail on the shoulders isn’t my thing, but in this dress it just seems like it belongs there. Whenever using this kind of detail at the shoulders, make sure they start like in this Valentino dress: right at the edge, more in the arms than in the shoulders. It’s could be inside Lady Gaga’s wardrobe, an elegant Lady Gaga, and I LOVE Lady Gaga.

So? What do you think? Valentino for Christmas? Please, please, Santa, please.

That was it my little fashionistas, hope you enjoyed the blog and loved the looks as much as I did!

Shine all over and dream on, crazy diamonds! ‘til next Thursday!

 A.C.

P.S. The photos were taken from vogue.fr http://www.vogue.fr/defiles/automne-hiver-2012-2013-paris-valentino/6246/diaporama/defile-1605/9011/pag Go ahead and take a look! It’s like eating a whole box of chocolates but without the calories!

Elie Saab: Turning Women into Goddesses with the “Zip” of a Dress

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This week’s blog is dedicated do Elie Saab’s work because reading the latest VOGUE, I happened to find out that this Lebanese is sprinkling some of his magic powders over Latin America, beginning with Mexico at Saks Fifth Avenue. Even though there will only be prêt-à-porter and accessories, it’s a good start, right? Quite disappointing, though, be cause Saab’s real strength is gowns, the most beautiful and dreamy dresses anyone can imagine.

The thing about this designer is that every single creation of his is pure magic. I really don’t know how he does it, because, lets just be honest, before him and Valentino brought lace back, it was only related to grannies, table cloths, curtains and lingerie. Somehow, he manages to take lace and ribbons and sequins and turn them into a perfect combination that contrasts delightfully with the contemporary and, at the same time, nostalgic romanticism of the clothes.

His Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection was shown during the first days of July in 47 wonderland looks (by looks I mean dresses) in salmon and beige and aqua and golden and chocolate brown and baby blue and golden and beige and green and golden that pretty much confirm all I said before. Do you want to take a look?

Here you go! Ladies and (maybe) gentleman, my Top Three:

*Note: We’ll see in the following images that Saab loves to cut the figure exactly on the waist (with what seem to be colored leather belts) and to use vaporous fabrics to create a mystic yet classy effect. This killing combo is practically his trademark.

Look 40

1) Look 7. OMG! Coco Chanel used to say black was one of the few true colors and I can’t but agree. I like very much what he does here separating the collar from the cleavage. The collar is straight and goes from shoulder to shoulder and this is what makes the figure look symmetrical and exact. The cleavage, which is kind of heart shaped brings back the curves, enhancing natural womanly characteristics such as hips and breasts. The way the skirt falls is actually very helpful, because due to its wideness at the end, the upper part seems smaller. This dress is simply stunning, wouldn’t you feel like Charlize Theron in “Snow White and the Huntsman” wearing this beauty?

Look 23

2) Look 23. This one has the same collar than the one before but zero cleavage, just pretty lace with sequins everywhere and a golden belt to shape up. The lower part falls right into the body, with the cloth almost kissing the skin. The somewhat straight skirt makes the figure look taller and stylized. Isn’t it like something Ariel from the “Little Mermaid” would wear? I love the color and the best about it is that it goes with any skin. The pattern on the lace is so tenderly wavy its almost like dipping into calmed waters at dawn. I’d feel like Poseidon’s daughter in such a thing, seriously.

Look 40

3) Look 40. Look at this picture and tell me if Saab’s work of art isn’t the brightest dusk you’ve ever seen, it’s amazing. I just love how, just below the collar (straight, like the ones before) the chest is showered in some kind of golden splatter made of all kinds of textures.  Long sleeves are always elegant. The material of the lower part of the gown is heavier, so the skirt falls open, kind of like an A shape, still not as opened as look 7 or as closed as look 23. However, being the bottom wider than the top, it makes the top look smaller just like the seventh look. I love golden, but you see, it sort of scares me because it’s so strong, it’s really hard to use it without becoming cheesy or tacky. That’s why I chose this look, because it marvels me how Elie Saab is capable of using it, and still, make me feel like I’m watching modern Anastasia walk down the runway.

So here they were, my top three. As you may see, it’s obvious not every city has an Elie Saab Boutique because his creations are made to be worn at cotillions, galas, red carpets… Anyway, it isn’t a reason to avoid admiring his creations and falling in love with them; and dreaming, dreaming badly.

I hope reading this post made you realize that we all live in our very own fairytale, it’s just that sometimes we forget it because we aren’t wearing the right dress. But hey! Remember, the dress is just the core, and with the right attitude, even a bag of potatoes turns into the finest look (please don’t experiment with potato bags).

Shine all over (& dream on), crazy diamonds! ‘til next Thursday!

A.C.

P.S. The photos were taken from vogue.fr (http://www.vogue.fr/defiles/automne-hiver-2012-2013-paris-elie-saab-2/6475/diaporama/defile-1803/9319/pag) Take a look and travel to a fairyland!

CHANEL now, CHANEL then, CHANEL here & everywhere

Read it here! : ) http://wp.me/p2X2CO-2S

My first post on this blog will be about the greatest fashion French haute couture: CHANEL, my personal favourite (does it show?). Not only because the maison itself it’s a synonym of grace and sophistication, but because the founder (Coco) was and always will be one of the best role models for us all and well, she’s sort of my idol.

As most of you know, July is the month when designers present their creations for the fall-winter season. “But we’re in the middle of summer!” you may say; well, yes, but we have to know what’s in and what’s out in order to be ready for when the fall reaches us. There’s a lot to know: colours, textures, types of shoes, heights of skirts, chemises and their sleeves, etc. Though every designer has its very own style (obviously) they all share certain characteristics that dictate the tendency of the season. Who settles them? That’s a wonderful question, I wonder if they have some sort of ultra elite meeting to agree on the basics…

Karl “The Genius” Lagerfeld presented for CHANEL this year’s fall-winter season on July 1^st in 66 wonderful runway looks that include the classic CHANEL suit, coats, baggy pants, scarves tied in XXL bows, belts to the waist, pointy bicolour shoes, lots of squares, transparencies and GLOW. It invites women to feel like a fallen star when walking down the street, I mean, its almost impossible for someone wearing one of these pieces to be ignored. 

    The following are my Top Three from the runway, based on what I call “The CHANEL Basics”:   Equilibrium, chic formality and contemporaneous classicism.

1) Look 13

 1) Look 13. Why? Because it stylizes the figure (equilibrates) making it look curvier and longer, mainly thanks to the four divisions of the body: one below the ribs (the jacket), other one at the hips (the pockets), one approximately four centimetres over the knees (the edge of the skirt) and the last one, at the end of the jacket’s sleeves, what’s there? Another sleeve, more open and in what seems to be leather, which really lifts up the look, believe it or not. Also, it’s important to realise the balance of the composition: the light and smoothness on the second sleeves, the tights and the tips of the shoes, neutralize the opacity and roughness of the fabric.

2) Look 19

2) Look 19. Oddly enough this look reminds me of Ana Karenina, there’s something about the fuzziness it transmits, I guess, which brings to my mind those little round fluffy hats the Russians use when it’s cold. Besides, don’t you love the colour? It’s so bright! That’s important because most designers keep it gloomy for this time of the year, but why should we limit ourselves? Again, there’s this division of the body: one at the waist (the belt), one at the hips (the jacket), and one around ten centimetres over the knees. The stability between dark and bright colours is still there, but now the tights are what calms down the strength of the pink. The same with the texture: furry VS smooth.

Look 45

3) Look 45. This one I just love because, just look at the collar! Isn’t it just sweet? It carries that naivety all women posses, like, it brings me back to childhood; and the palette, so soft, so delicate, it just reinforces the previous idea. The creative thing at the collar is that it’s really open to the shoulders but not into the cleavage, which keeps the poise. The buttons right in the middle of the upper part of the body bring symmetry, and the belt on the waist makes anyone look fitter, because it’s naturally the smallest part of the upper body. Plus, the thing Lagerfeld does with the bagginess at the chemise and the texture of the skirt, makes the waist look smaller than it really is. Also, the open sleeves kind of make us think the body inside the blouse is smaller than it really is, which gives the illusion of being slimmer. Note: if you’re short (As I am) NEVER wear a long skirt if it’s not up to the waist, unless you want to look like a shapeless dwarf (believe me, experience speaking).

As you can see, CHANEL is one of those styles only strong women can wear, because otherwise, the clothes end up wearing you due to the vigour of the textures and the sharpness of the cuts. “But some girls look so naïve and delicate in CHANEL!” Yes, innocence can be very powerful, ask the Disney princesses!

Finally, I’d like to say it’s kind of magic how CHANEL is so European, like, a women wearing CHANEL out of Paris look like a delicate rose in a beautiful jar, but women wearing CHANEL in Paris, look like a rose in an open field: right where it belongs.

I hope you enjoyed reading the post as much as I enjoyed writing it. Any comments (good or bad, bring them on!) will be appreciated.

Shine all over, crazy diamonds! See ya.

A.C.

P.S. The photos were taken from vogue.fr (http://www.vogue.fr/defiles/automne-hiver-2012-2013-paris-chanel-2/6451/diaporama/defile-1789/9283/pag), go ahead and look to the whole collection! The ninth and the eighteenth look blew my mind. Pamper your eyes!