Met Ball 2012: The Best Dressed, Part II
Courtesy of Prada, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, JustJared

As I said this morning I couldn't just post about my five favourite looks from this year's Met Ball. Last night I would have sworn I didn't like too many looks but after having a look at images of everyone I missed on the red carpet I changed my mind.
There seemed to be mixed feeling about Kristen Dunst in her Rodarte ensemble. But I loved the fact that it was unlike anything she has worn before and completely different from everyone else. I loved the colour, the cut, the lace detail under the blazer and the belt. It was perfectly styled and she looked ultra cool.
It kind of bothers me that no one ever puts Anna Wintour in the best dressed lists. I utterly adored this lobster Prada gown she wore last night. It was chic and fun and she looked so elegant. I simply love the fact that she always stays true to her style.
Bianca Brandolini went for a gilded Dolce & Gabbana number that obviously shone beautifully under the red carpet lights. This would have been such an exaggerated and over-the-top look on someone else but Bianca is so elegant and classy that she just looks like (fashion) royalty.
I was happy to see January Jones back in shape in an Atelier Versace gown. It has taken her a while to get her mojo back after the pregnancy but she is quickly getting there. The dress had such a different vibe than on the runway and I really liked the turquoise in the necklace, which gave the look a new dimension.

Courtesy of Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, JustJared

Giovanna Battaglia's Dolce & Gabbana dress put a smile on my face. It was so tremendously Italian and full of character but Gio wore it in such a young and chic way. And the braid and flower headband were such a great call!

Rooney Mara looked her edgy-meets-rocky-chic usual self. I guess none of us doubted she was going to wear Givenchy. I just wished she would have gone for a bit more drama or a different colour. But I loved the combination of lace and leather, Riccardo.

Cara Delevingne was one of the most fashion-forward attendees. I couldn't have loved her velvet Burberry dress any more. It was a stunning shape and I loved the detail of the collar and the studded Burberry gloves. How unfair is it that she gets to look so great wearing next season's clothes?

Who was your best and worst dressed? – Have I missed anyone on my lists?

Jason Wu FW12: Femmes Fatales & a Wardrobe for Giovanna
Style.com

When I clicked on Jason Wu last night to take a look at his FW12 collection I was confused for a second as if the link has taken me to someone else's line. But I was in the right place. Wu's latest collection is a lot stronger an tougher than what we have been seeing for the last couple of seasons. It was like his woman had suddenly turned into the heroine of a film noir – a femme fatale. It was almost like the perfect slick wardrobe for a Bond girl who travels from Europe through Russia (see the green leather coat with fur collar) to Asia.

I was very pleasantly surprised with the change of attitude in this collection. I loved the coats, which should always be a strong point on a winter collection. And I was again fascinated by the embroidered details also by Swarovski elements. Especially the boozy red sleeveless silk number where the embroidery seems to have been applied wanting a degradé effect.

I couldn't stop thinking of Giovanna Battaglia while I looked at the collection. Half of it seemed like a perfect choice for her – something she would choose and wear herself. So I picked the three dresses we are most likely to catch her in. I am particularly keen on the black polo-neck ensemble. I love the golden details on the sides.

Style.com, Courtesy of Swarovski

Courtesy of The Communications Store

Last friday Jen Brill and Lauren Santo Domingo hosted a lunch at The Caprice in New York to honour Antonio Berardi. They brought out some of the coolest faces in town –Derek Blasberg, Giovanna Battaglia, Hayley Bloomingdale, Leigh Lezark, Nina Garcia, Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou and Imran Amed among others were all there.
What I love the most about this event is the fact that the guests were served fish and chips, which they washed down with Peroni beer. And I love that because Berardi is all about the marriage of his Italian roots with his British influences from Saville Row.
Antonio Berardi continues his long standing partnership with style brand Peroni Nastro Azzurro. They have collaborated in the past on many successful initiatives in the past such as Valigia Peroni and continue to support his catwalk shows.
I had a chance to take a closer look at his SS12 collection at the TCS press day last week and I was amazed by the shapes. They're not the kind of ostentatious dresses with feathers and embellishment that catch your attention. It's the shapes that seem so complicated in the flesh. Click here to see the pictures.

JustJared, Style.com

This weekend I felt compelled to bring back the 'Best dressed of the Weekend' if only for Elizabeth Olsen. Her Chanel Haute Couture look for the premiere of her film in London is one of the best things I've seen on the red carpet as of late. I said we had to look out for her when I included her in one of my BTOTW posts in January and I am happy to say I wasn't wrong.
My second favourite is Hailee Steinfeld. I'm really digging this Clémence Poésy-inspired look. She's kept things age-appropriate but also very cool and forward. I love the mix of the Chanel jacket and he Jil Sander shirt. I guess Miuccia doesn't chose someone to be the face of her campaigns for no reason, right?
Karlie Kloss and Giovanna Battaglia are both in this week too with looks they wore to the same event. I am impressed that Karlie didn't go for a very 'open' dress as she usually does. This white number with the long fur gillet is extremely chic and needs no other accessory than her beautiful face and her flirty blue eyes. Giovanna is one of my best dressed people in the world. I really loved the silhouette of her white dress with the black detailing in the middle and how she accessorised it with simple hair and makeup, golden hoops and stunning feather pumps.

Courtesy of Givenchy

The Sartorialist, Garance Doré, Telegraph Fashion, Vogue.com, Barneys, Nordstrom

Every season after all four fashion weeks have closed down I love doing little roundups of everything I've been noticing. You know how interested I always am in what the editors and buyers wear to the shows. It's interesting because the pieces they buy are not necessarily what we'll be seeing in shops or editorials, it's something in between.
Over the past few weeks, specially since Milan, I noticed a particular model of shoes being worn by a lot of different people with very different styles. The Fendi Chameleon, it's called. What I love about it is that it's got a vintage vibe –a slightly 20's/30's vibe– but the chunky heel in a different colour makes it contemporary. It's a sort of female version of a brogue –the shoe you can wear with everything.
My favourite model is the one on the top middle picture –the brown one with a neon yellow heel that Elizabeth von Guttman paired with first with an Erdem dress and then with a Mary Katrantzou. I just love the pop of colour.
Giovanna Battaglia wore the silver model that added a touch of sci-fi to her look and Garance Doré went for a burgundy model, very much in keeping with the style of an original brogue.
Even Delfina Delettrez chose a pair, in a more muted metallic colour than Givoanna's, for her talked-about jewellery/wig presentation during Paris Fashion Week.
The shoes retail for about £650, which is quite an investment. Click here to buy my favourite model.

TFS

I think it was around this time in 2008 when street style blogs were only starting out that I first found this picture of Giovanna Battaglia (far right) wearing a fabulous pair of cropped yellow trousers to Paris Fashion Week. It was one of the first looks from an editor that really got me interested. Back then I wasn't even sure of who Giovanna was. Shame on me.

A year or so later, when Viviana Volpicella started to be on The Sartorialist and Garance Doré I enjoyed the same pair of trousers on my other favourite, Viviana, who wore them as more of a traditional piece of tailoring.

It was Giovanna who took them out of her wardrobe again this season, also to walk Les Tuileries in Paris. And I love how she updated the look with a simple shirt with details on the collar to keep it interesting and much more feminine shoes.

My only question now is still, who are they by? I suspect Dries Van Noten or Etro but I would really like to know because I love the fit and the texture. UPDATE: The pant is Marni. Thank you Viviana!

Cannes finally wrapped up yesterday with the annual amfAR event. Last year the Cinema against AIDS gala saw the most stylish attendees of the festival. This year, though, film stars really raised the bar and made it really difficult, even for fashion insiders, to outside them on the last day.

Carine swapped Tom Ford for Kanye West, quite a downgrade if you ask me. They both wore Givenchy but failed to steal the show. Kanye very much annoys me at this point and I'm disappointed at Carine for not finding a better date.

My favourite was Janet Jackson's choice of Haider Ackermann as genius beyond words. The shape suits her wonderfully, as do the colours and she looks a lot classier and more stylish than she normally does. Jane Fonda was the epitome of elegance at Cannes. She is possibly one of four women in the world who can look so exquisite in Roberto Cavalli. There's little need for more than the understated emerald earrings thanks to the leopard sequins.

Some other of my favourites were Clémence Poésy in Chanel, Anja Rubik in Pucci, Charlotte Casiraghi (who just looks incredible in anything) and Giovanna Battaglia in a rather daring number.

It was also nice to see Julia Restoin Roitfeld wearing a long gown (also by Pucci) and I have to admit I am even
a fan of Elisabetta Canalis' Cavalli
dress, it's super flashy but it somehow
works.

[Style.com, Zimbio]

It has been an intense weekend for the fashion world. First it was the Royal Wedding on Friday and last night the fashion equivalent of the Oscars (or the red carpet anyway), the Met Gala, took over New York City. This year they celebrated the opening of the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" exhibition.

This year I expected a lot of dramatic gowns with big trains and also a lot of feathers. And I was right to do so, at least the first part. Despite Daphne Guiness' big feather McQueen number (she always looks so great it's hard to be surprised anymore) and Sarah Jessica Parker's chic number also by the designer I would have to say it was Giselle Bünchen who wore the brand best. The tight body and pleated big skirt made this a moment we hadn't seen since the old Valentino days.

My other favourite was Diane Kruger in Jason Wu. She is one of the chicest women in Hollywood and it's a pleasure to see her wearing something that's not white or Chanel. The embellished top made jewellery unnecessary and the mad side slit on the skirt adds a sexy edge balanced by the long sleeves.

[JustJared, Style.com, Zimbio.com]

Funnily enough, it is at these kinds of events that fashion insiders get less attention because of all of the celebrity attendees. That is why it's hard to even find nice pictures of them to post.

Lily Donaldson, in Erdem, and Mariacarla Boscono, in Givenchy HC, looked ravishing. I always say no one can compete with a model in terms of fashion. I love the fact that they know how much see-through they can get away with and they take advantage of that. Lily looked very classy in the navy lace, a perfect look to go with her new marital status. And Mariacarla channeled Morticia Adams for the hair and make-up adding that big of Goth that Tisci loves in his clothes.

Giovanna Battaglia, NYC's newest neighbour, wore Marni to accompany Consuelo Castiglioni. I am in awe of this glamourous 60's look. You know I adore both her and the brand and every time the two get mixed they achieve perfection.

I don't care what people say about Anna Wintour, I think she's got great taste. Year after year she slips and yet another incredible Chanel HC dress, which is what she deserves to wear. I found this year's number quite cool for Anna, though. The colours and the art deco feel of the sequins made it a youthful look that really suited her. And I loved the fact that she added diamonds into the mix anyway.

I might've not liked Blake Lively's Chanel as much if I hadn't been bracing myself for a big disappointment. I have to admit she looked stunning and must've made Kaiser Karl very proud. I still haven't seen her carrying one of those fugly Mademoiselle handbags she advertises, though.

I guess people just invite Thandie Newton because she always looks great. I absolutely loved the way her Stella McCartney dress played with the sheerness of the pleated skirt, the black lace and the nude touch of the underskirt.

Less dramatic or surprising but beautiful nonetheless were Gwyneth Paltrow, in a bejewelled Stella McCartney, Miranda Kerr in Marchesa and Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein Collection.

I am especially shocked by how much into Miranda's look I am. There is something so obviously Black Swan about the dress (Mila Kunis would've looked amazing in this) but the fact that she wore the Nicholas Kirkwood lace-ups makes everything interesting. It's the red carpet equivalent of someone wearing a tutu skirt with converse, just genius!

It always makes me a little angry when people criticise Anna Wintour's style. She might not be the edgiest of people but I love how she always looks 100% occassion-appropriate. There's been a bit of talk about her wearing jeans at the Sony Ericsson open in Florida. Apart from the fact that it's amazing how she's managed to stay that skinny for this long there was nothing peculiar about Anna wearing denim. I personally find a lot more surprising that she chose to wear one of the famous banana Prada skirts to watch another of the matches. I know how much she loves Miuccia's clothes but it seemed too funky a choice for Anna. I was wrong. I love how she wore it with a plain white tee and a bohemian crochet cardigan and her signature bejewelled necklace.

Looking back at the people who wore the same skirt during fashion month I'd say Anna is the one who's worn it best. Julia Sarr-Jamois is probably second on that list because she looked very cool and Giovanna and Shala take third and fourth places because the first was unoriginal and the second was too easy, admirable as it might be that Monroque managed to wear it days after the SS11 show.

Giovanna in No. 21

I have had such a busy week I haven't really been able to blog properly everyday. I am still trying to catch up with the last London shows and start with Milan. So far, I am in love with Gucci's fedoras and fur (the whole palette, I loved) and Prada's sirens. I will get up to speed over the weekend and report appropriately but in the meantime I wanted to post this picture of Giovanna Battaglia at the Gucci party on Wednesday night. SHe wore a jumpsuit by one of my favourite designers, Alessandro Dell'Acqua, from his No. 21 line. How cool does she look?!

I'm off.

[Pictures: Style.com]

Giovanna Battaglia for Eddie Borgo SS11

Eddie Borgo already started a trend last season of making a renowned editorial name the face of her FW10 campaign. I was, then, amazed by how incredible Kate Lanphear looked in the adverts for the brand. This season, though, overshadows the last. Giovanna Battaglia goes back to her modelling roots wearing Borgo's SS11 jewellery. The Italian editor looks beautifully stunning (yes, I wrote that) in an aesthetic that´s both very Italian and very slick. It reminds me a lot of what she used to do back in the day. I'm not sure I'm happy about editors crossing boundaries so easily. As for Giovanna, she's got a green pass.

I'm off.

[Pictures: www.fashionologie.com]

Fashion Month Gems

Fashion month draws to and end today. It is safe to saw that SS11 has been one of the most exciting seasons I have witnessed. Minimalism and white strongly made their way onto the catwalks but it was interesting to see how some designers managed to take a baroque approach to it. Some like Jil Sander and Marni approached ready-to-wear as Couture, others such as Giambattista Valli and Givenchy tackled the trend by mixing the popular colour blocking with animal prints.
The biggest shift in the industry, though, haven't been the clothes themselves. New magazine titles such as Industry are physical evidence of the fashion editor and buyer's relevance to create or modify seasonal trends. And so we have seen every one of them taking advantage of their new celebrity status to show how they adapt trendy pieces to their personal style and how they can still wear what they want and have people talking about them.

Carine Roitfeld is possibly the best example of what I just mentioned. Regardless of what trends dictate, the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Paris has proved that one can be relevant without completely surrendering to these. We have seen her in a lot of Givenchy leopard some of which hadn't hit the catwalk yet. Lace up boots and khaki accompanied her black and camel based wardrobe. God, she even gave camouflage a try and succeeded! No one, of course, can summarise this better than her in this exclusive interview with Hilary Alexander for the Telegraph.

Giovanna Battaglia is Giulia's favourite industry icon. It is thanks to her that I've grown so incredibly keen on her style. As a former model, she knows very well what and how works and she likes to show this to the world in her elegant ways. She swaps Marni for Dolce & Gabbana in a heartbeat, something not many people can claim to. We haven't seen as much of her during fashion month but I am still hoping for those late posts from Jack & Jil and The Sartorialist to change that. My favourite thing about her is how she sticks to Fendi's monogram bags no matter what.

Now, there is a name that can never escape these kind of posts. Anna dello Russo has quickly become the queen, no, the goddess of fashion. She owns up to her extravagance and pomp just as easily as she admits to her profound "passion for fashion". No one is capable of carrying off anything from see-through lace dresses, to outrageous Phillip Tracy hats, feathers, bling and sparkle as well as off-the-runway looks. This month she has shined more than ever taking advantage of her designer collections and even participating in Ungaro's reinvention show as a model. As the old philosopher would say: "I DIE, she's beyond".

This video below, also one of Hilary Alexander's gems, makes me smile and flutter. And we hear all we already knew from her own mouth. Nothing fake about her.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Style.com, Jak & Jil, Mr. Newton, Vogue.co.uk, Vogue.fr,  Zimbio.com, fashion.Telegraph.co.uk, AdR Twitter, CarolinesMode.com]

When the gods descend

Right, so this is where I eat my words. I have spoken too much too soon regarding Cannes. Yes, Cate Blanchett looked alluring in McQueen; yes, Michelle Williams looked fantastic with in her silver mini-dress. But I didn't see this coming. Last Thursday, Tom Ford, Carine Roitfeld and her two very stylish offsprings (and with Giovanna Battaglia clinging to Vladimir's arm) made THE appearance at the amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS 2010 benefit gala in Cannes. I honestly have no words to describe this. Seeing Carine in Alaïa and posing next to Tom gives me goose pumps and her stare from behind her locks makes my knees shake. Julia totally rocked the event with a Mark Fast that proved she's very much learnt how to be fashion-forward from mummy while Vladimir and Giovanna, more classic but über-cool, both donned Armani.

Do you die or what?

I'm off.

[Pictures: Zimbio.com]

PS. Look out for Giulia's SS10 must-haves in a couple of hours!

pick your Battaglia

"Did you know Giovanna Battaglia's sister designs bags?", I recently asked Giulia. She replied in the shape of enthusiastic gesticulation and gasps that simply meant: "Duh-uh!!". It has taken me seasons and seasons of Fashion Week to notice what Giulia had noticed long ago —Giovanna, more often than not, carries a frilled leather bag in different shapes and colours. As it turns out these really cool bags are designed by her sister Sara Bataglia.

Giulia and I have become obsessed with Sara Bataglia's bags because they have this really classic aspect to them but the applique on the frills and the bold and metallic colours they come in give them an awesome edge. You would think Giovanna only wears them because they're siblings but someone of such a high fashion profile wouldn't do such a thing. She also has that 'classic with an edge' thing going on, so the bags only add up to this. The best thing about them is they retail at a very good price, something between 800€ and 400€ (about £600 and £300) depending on the size.

Personally, I find the bags fascinating because they remind me of the old leather and metallic skirts Roman soldiers wore as the bottom of their armours (a little ironic, as 'battaglia' means battle in Italian). Sara Battaglia's bags really capture their essence making them current. Just as Miuccia did for Prada in FW09. Stunning. Click here to see Sara Battaglia's blog (keep an eye on her website, coming soon) and check out the rest of her collection and here to get your own from Luisaviaroma.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Style.com, SarasFashionWorld.blogspot.com, JakandJil.com, theSartorialist.blogspot.com]

a haphazard post

I found it really hard today to find something relevant to post about. I thought of doing the Paris highlights or the Haute Couture ones, but neither seemed appealing enough. And then I remembered the conversation I had with Giulia this afternoon —we met at Starbucks in Marylebone for a random catch-up session. Conversation topics included classmates' accessories, fashion week plans and this video below.

Giulia and I are in eternal awe of Anna dello Russo. She is like this godly creature that has had the misfortune to be places on this ungodly world and she tries to embrace beauty through fashion to make the most out of this world. Just brilliant!

From dello Russo's video I continued clicking on a series of links that filled up the most part of my early evening. None of them are groundbreaking documentary pieces but all three have something special that made me love them. Plus, that's my favourite Giovanna outfit and I didn't know the scarf was Dries. And how hot is Garance's accent?!

I'm off.

PS. Apologies, youtube has gone all funny on me and I can't get the video window format to obey me!