Balenciaga & Rick Owens @ Paris Fashion Week Fall 2011

A marriage of tropical flowers, gorgeous woven leather vests, and angular plays on fabric  made for a very strong Balenciaga collection, while my favorite master of the dark and leather Rick Owens showed a rich collection of nunnery meets angelic with layered pieces and long silhouettes...


BALENCIAGA

RICK OWENS

Images courtesy of Style.com

Gisele Bundchen in Balenciaga Ads

Gisele Bundchen's Balenciaga ads are finally out! Did you like the new ads?


Photo Source: Harper's Bazaar

What A Croc: Balenciaga

Who could predict back in 2001 when Nicolas Ghesquière launched a line of rough and tumble Motorcycle Le Dix bags that he would have a decade long hit, and counting, on his hands?? For ages I've been fascinated with the long standing adoration of Balenciaga's City bags (as referred to nowadays, though I'm still unabashedly confused as to when the "Motorcycle, Le Dix, Lariat" titles were dropped). Of course it helps that these utterly cool distressed Italian lambskin bags are offered up in a dizzying array of colors and trims each season, so those of us who can afford more than one will always be satisfied and wanting more at the same time (cue to various celebrities who own at least 8). Take for example Balenciaga's latest City bag reincarnation Croc City Classic which is all luxurious crocodile leather in a dusty overly feminine shade of lavender (I would've preferred a dark grey, or even green). It's a perfect stocking stuffer, and did I mention the whopping price tag of $17,500?? For that money I could actually buy my own crocodile and have it custom dyed in various shades of pink. Better yet just think of how many original lambskin City bags in different colors I could buy for $17,500, at least nine, plus my favorite current style, The Arena Cross City Classic. These bags aren't going anywhere, and I'd say we have a Classic indeed on our hands!

Rene Gruau Illustrated

I can't remember how many times I've come across Italian born Rene Gruau's iconic fashion illustrations without giving due pause to recognize the enormity of his influence on fashion and commercial design. Best known for his marketing images for Miss Dior perfume and the House of Dior, Gruau worked for a dazzling list of couturiers and magazines including Balmain, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga,Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar. I loved what he did with ink, and the quality and spirit of the colors he chose. Gruau's graphic love affair with fashion spanned over 50 years and his images aren't going anywhere!

Image sources: loulaland.wordpress.com, pessimiss.wordpress.com, anothermag.com, disneyrollergirl.blogspot.com, artophile.com

Miranda Kerr in Balenciaga Runway Show

Five months pregnant, Miranda Kerr walked on the runway for Balenciaga' Spring 2011 Collection at the Paris Fashion Week.

Paris Fashion Week: Balenciaga Spring 2011

Nicolas Ghesquière creations for Balenciaga's Spring 2011 collection was all about women who loves futuristic and rocker fashion styles. Balenciaga's Spring 2011 collection includes armor-like leather coats, sheer separates, rocker cuffs and shoes, sequined dresses and white dresses. Gisele Bundchen and Mirada Kerr were two of the models who paraded the Balenciaga Spring 2011 collection at the Paris Fashion Week.

Balmain, A.F. Vandervorst, Ann Demeulemeester Spring 2011: Paris Fashion Week Continues...

Paris Fashion Week continues its dark hold on Spring 2011 with some more stark, graphic, and 'gladiatorial' collections. In lieu of feathery fabrics and light pastels we have some fab chainmail touches, expertly tailored leather, and sharp geometric shapes with nary a hint of Spring neutrality. And I will say this about Balmain's line up: 1. It looks the same as last year's 2. Regardless of how many safety pins (which you can get at Duane Reade for $2.75 a pack) were used in the making of those expertly ripped 'Mary Shelley's Frankenstein' shirts and pants, you can bet the price tags will still be upwards of $15,000...

BALMAIN












A.F. VANDEVORST









ANN DEMEULEMEESTER






Images courtesy of Style.com