Catwalks of Karl Lagerfeld

1. Fendi >>> Spring 2008 

Took place on the Great Wall of China.

Photo courtesy: Wmagazine.com ~ Stephane Feugere

2. Chanel RTW Fall 2010

:::Iceberg Facts:::

Weight : 265 Tons   Height : 28 feet 

Composition : "SINCE" ~ Snow and Ice   

Origin : Imported from Northern Sweden 

Location :  the show took place at The Grand Palais where the temperature was kept 28 degrees fahrenheit  

Sculpting: the iceberg was carved by 35 ice sculptors from around the world in only 6 days

Photo courtesy of NY Mag

3. Chanel ~ Paris Show ~ Spring / Summer 2012 
Karl Lagerfeld commision Zaha Hadid to design the catwalk with a nautical inspiration.  Zaha transformed the Grand Palais into the pure scene displayed below.

Photo courtesy not-for-them.blogspot.com

4. Chanel ~ Paris-Bombay 2011/12
"The scent of jasmine escapes from the Galerie Courbe of the Grand Palais; unusual for Paris in the month of December. Industrial metal rafters heave under the strain of immense crystal chandeliers. Aging brick walls are covered in pale grey marble fashioned into the façade of a Mughal palace. A dream-like fantasy. Baskets laden with mangoes, roses and pistachio nuts bask in the golden glow of candlelight. A silver toy train chugs steadily along yard after yard of electric track mounted on a princely banquet table of such lavish proportions never seen west of Jaisalmer."

Photo and Text courtesy http://chanel-news.chanel.com

5.Chanel~Spring-Summer 2012 Haute Couture

Tuesday, January 24th, in the Grand Palais, aboard a meticulous replica of an aircraft cabin, something of the carefree spirit of the sixties was in the air with its mythology of air travel in those Pan Am years. Mischievous-looking air hostesses, refreshing clean lines and a warm elegance welcomed in 2012 with smiles all around. No Business Class here; everyone is seated in First Class – this is democracy according to Chanel!

Photo and Text courtesy http://chanel-news.chanel.com

Oscar Night

The World's most beautiful people in the most beautiful gowns.  We all watched the gowns come town the RED CARPET... here are some of my favorites:::

Breathtaking Jessica Chastain wears flawless Mcqueen.  She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Help.

Gwyneth Paltrow wears pure white for the occasion, and a show stopping cape ~ Tom Ford has achieved perfection!

Taking old Hollywood glamour to the next level ::: 

PENELOPE CRUZ wore a custom tulle Giorgio Armani gown

MADAGASCAR SPIDER SILK

This is the largest piece of clothing ever made from spider silk.  The cape pictured below took 4 years to manufacture and used more than a million Madagascar spiders.  These spiders in particular produce gold filaments that shine like GOLD.

Photo courtesy to www.abovetopsecret.com

Photo Courtesy to www.hungaree.com

This piece is curently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  This isn't the only place with spider silk though.  Last year an 11 foot spider silk scarf was exhibited in several New York and London museums. The scarf took over 70 people to craft and they used the same machinery as those in 19th century France.  This craftsmanship is also what drives crowds to see these wonders, it is very intricate work that has been rare to find in our fashion world.  Madagascar spider silk is almost weightless, it doesn't feel like anything and it is incredibly strong, even stronger than Kevlar which is used by the military.  Which has caused the military to take a second look at this textile, they are currently doing research and development of a synthetic version to be used in military clothing.

Photo Courtesy to www.hungaree.com

The cape and the scarf were covered by Vogue when they went on display were designed by a textile team called Godley and Peers.  They run a complete operation in Madagascar, however they are not at this time looking to mass produce anything in Madagascar silk they are always looking for new types of textiles.
To acquire the silk is a simple process, according to The Guardian : "The spider is clamped by a sheet of wood with a half-moon aperture for its abdomen.  In each hand-powered contraption are 24 females.  Handlers pull and spool strands from each spiders multiple spinnerets.  A gossamer thread is made from 96 twisted strands."  The spiders are then released and go back to spinning for themselves.  Regardless PETA says this about the cape "Using silk that spiders would normally have used to catch insects to feel themselves is as bizarre and unappealing as it is anti-environmental."  Well I must disagree, these products are works of art and though a mass production could be very harmful to the Madagascar spider community as it is now these are pieces that will go down in history and I am grateful for them.

Photo courtesy to www.news.ripley.za.net

Resource courtesy to Piper Weiss, Shine Staff

FENDI - Fall 2012 RTW Milan Show

I am obsessed! Lagerfeld nailed this Fendi show.  Lots of different fabrics, colors and furs all mixed together to get that perfect balance of gothic beauty.  Lots of separate pieces that  form layer upon layer keep the audience looking for more and more, there is no end to these looks.  Belts, upon jackets, upon vests, and dresses, fur collars, tights, and doubled skirts ~ There is so much to look at and yet the styles still look so effortlessly simple.  The drop shoulder silhouette is timeless, I can't wait till this trend hits the market at all levels.  The simple touches of dark red and plum just add another level of dimension.  The models are covered head to toe with fabric, yet they are still so sexy! 

Photo Courtesy to Style.com ~ see the rest of the collection HERE

Geometric/MOD

The new Geometric/Mod pieces are to die for!  I love to have these high contrast pieces in my closet, they take me back to the 70's while making me feel completely contemporary::: It is important to have unusual items in your closet to spruce up a drab outfit.  THESE ARE THOSE ITEMS!!! A killer mod belt, heel or clutch can save an outfit from disaster ESPECIALLY if they are as chic as the photos below.  A good print is also a fashion savor... it can take a boring pair of trousers to the next level, however these prints must be well thought out and perfectly accessorized.  A pop of color can also intrigue the eye, it needs to be high contrast and minimalist to achieve this geometric/mod trend.  ALWAYS REMEMBER ::: TOO much geometry can also be the death of something beautiful... the point of this trend is minimalism excited --- don't over do it with too much to look at.

Photo Courtesy to BCBG Maxazria --- get these great items at BCBGMAXZAZRIA

TRIBAL TREND ~ SHOES

We've seen it on the runways for months... now those adorable pumps, flats, wedges and more are available in stores!!!  Just in time for *SPRING*  Check out these tribal inspired shoes to mix and match with your current wardrobe...

AVAILABLE AT SAKS 5TH AVE.

Theodora & Callum :::
Mustique Printed Linen Wedge Platform Sandals

 Burberry Prorsum:::

 Raffia and Leather Printed Wedge Loafers

Burberry:::

Raffia and Leather Ballet Flats

AVAILABLE AT BLOOMINGDALES

Belle by Sigerson Morrison Flats - Andromeda 

Theodora & Callum Espadrilles - Archive Peep Toe

Tory Burch Pumps - Regan High Heel

AVAILABLE AT ZAPPOS.COM

7 FOR ALL MANKIND ::: Ruby

AVAILABLE AT FOREVER 21

FOREVER 21 - Woven Espadrille Wedge Platforms

FOREVER 21 - Laser Cut Thong Sandals

Breaking the Rules

Marc Jacobs breaks CFDA guidelines and uses underage models at his New York Fashion Week show!

Photo courtesy to the Examiner

Marc Jacobs, a member of the CFDA, which set the age limit to runway models to 16 used two underage models at his recent New York show.  "Models Thairine Garcia and Ondria Hardin, both 14 (pictured above), strutted their stuff sporting Jacobs’ bizarre Dr. Seuss-inspired hats and frumpy, oversized outfits." (www.examiner.com)  Jacobs said "I do the show the way I think it should be and not the way somebody tells me it should be".  While this age limit is not a written rule it is a guideline that many agencies and designers follow.  Many of them have gone so far as to sign a pact saying they will not use models under the age of 16. Ford Model agencies, the agency that supplied the models, is not one of the agencies that signed this pact.  They, with Jacobs, believe that each model is a case by case study of maturity to determine if they are able to handle the scrutiny of runway modeling.  They also argue that there are child actors and models under the age of 16 that model for print advertising all the time.