We're not even halfway through season 5 of Gossip Girl but even without watching the rest I would dare say this is the best look! Serena wears one of the best pieces from Mary Katranzou's SS11 collection for Blair's shower. I can't tell you how excited I was to see this. It was something I didn't see coming (which is brilliant!) and also something that suits Blake's character so well. Not to mention how occassion-appropriate the dress was. I also have to say that I loved the accessorising –the über-long pearl necklace, the patchwork Louboutin heels (which wouldn't work in another scenario) and the super cute messy pony tail tied up in a pink bow. This is the best Serena has looked in all of this season! Hopefully we will get to see her in some of the incredible pieces Katrantzou created for FW11 and (my favourite) SS12, that would just make me so happy!

I am so ecstatic about this look I will not even mention how overdressed Serena's day outfit was. Ha!

Style.com, JustJared, CWtv.com

I think I've figured out what's wrong with Blair's styling as of late. All the necklines of everything she wears are very off. All the garments also happen to be quite loose around the waist so perhaps they're trying to give her a 'pregnant look' to go along with the plot? I wish they looked at Beyoncé or Nicole Richie for examples of how to dress pregnant. Even Victoria Beckham!

I really disliked B's day look in this episode. It was way too fussy even though the pieces individually were quite nice –I loved the Alberta Ferretti dress and the Moschino jacket but not together! And I wish they stopped doing head pieces! The evening look was a lot nicer, fun and very Blair. It gave her an odd flat chest but at least it was sexy and different!

Last week I eventually decided against posting about Gossip Girl because I didn't have time to do it for Wednesday/Thursday and, to be honest, the fashion wasn't that notable anyway. This week's 'The Big Sleep No More' episode isn't particularly exciting fashion-wise but at least there's a couple of changes of clothes for every character. Even Serena!
Blair had a big big miss and quite a hit in this episode. The miss was her day look. I don't know if they're getting too much inspiration from the Duchess of Cambridge but it's not working. The headpiece is completely out of place and even though I love the Dolce & Gabbana dress the thick black tights really spoil the vibe. I did appreciate the details, though. I love the Roger Vivier 'Diligence' bag and the cuff and the Phillip Lim shoes are super chic. The hit was her evening look –an embellished cocktail number by Oscar de la Renta that needed no extra accessorising. Alas, this better look is only in the episode for a short time.
My only question is, why isn't anyone wearing a coat? This is supposed to be New York in November.

CWtv.com, JustJared, Style.com, RogerVivier.com

Once again Serena (and when I say Serena I really mean the show's stylist, but you get the idea) was the best dressed this week. Not because she's trying particularly hard but because everyone else is looking so rubbish. Especially Charlie/Ivy. I have no words for her day look. It's like she's trying to be Serena on a budget and with a flat annoying face. I am only hoping that the cute M Missoni cardigan she wore this week is the beginning of slightly better fashion choices. Her evening dress I could have not minded were it not for the tacky flower details at the bottom of the skirt. Could someone put in a request for a wonder bra for her?
Serena's day look was very her. I am starting to get a bit tired of these boho city looks, though. Start wearing winter wear, it's bloody November! Serena is a huge Mulberry fan, I gather, and this week she's trying out the 'Harriet' bag, which she paired with a stunning statement necklace and a pair of studded burgundy Brian Atwoods that I loved. Her Moschino evening moment was so sexy. Not many people could pull off that many details on a dress but she looks very elegant and young. I simply love it!

JustJared

This year's VMAs red carpet has been a little on the low side in terms of fashion –these are my favourite looks.

Beyoncé's pregnancy announcement has kind of overshadowed the show itself, which us UK residents will be able to watch on MTV from 8pm. Queen B looked incredibly beautiful in an asymmetric Lanvin dress. I loved how the hair was perfect for it and her huge emerald bracelet cuff was the best way to finish up the look. She later performed in a Dolce & Gabbana tux, also looking stunning!

Katie Holmes, who has been out of best dressed lists for a while, is my second best dressed. It's no secret that an Alaïa dress is the most effortless way of looking sexy and chic. I really liked Katie's hair and I actually thought her shoe choice made the look very interesting!

Zoe Saldana wasn't at her best last night but she still looked better than most attendees in her Barbara Bui dress. I loved that she paired it up with snakeskin wedges. It was a simple and chic summery look.

Britney, who was paid tribute last night, also looked amazing on her own way. She wore a Moschino romper/playsuit with a zig-zag sequin pattern layered with chiffon. It was really mini and pretty see-through, so still quite Britney but more demure than what we're used to. Never mind the shoes!

JustJared

Designer Dreams (and hotels)

We are pretty much in holiday season and that means a lot of planning to do: who's coming, which company to fly, what to wear and, most importantly, where to stay. Now, I know this is not e very realistic post but I had a look at some of the hotels and resorts around the world entirely designed by famous fashion houses and their creative directors. This current brand-driven world we live in has given cause for many of the well known fashion houses to translate their vision into luxurious urban hotels and exclusive resorts in exotic destinations. We have chosen our favourite five, all completely (Italian, duh) different from each other but each perfect for a different type of fashionista in need of a stylish holiday.

The Bulgari Resort in Bali is exactly my kind of place. I love that sense of feeling stranded and being far away from any remotely westernised city. This complex of Italian/Balinese style hangs 150m over the see on a cliff, which gives its main pool and 59 villas absolutely breath-taking views. Every villa has its own private courtyard garden and a dining lounge but food is also served in the two pool-side restaurants. A lift connects the complex on the cliff with the private beach club downstairs and guests can enjoy the beauty salon and fitness centre at the spa. One single 1300sq-meter 3-bedroom villa with its own built-in bar, dining and living area, swimming pool and full service quarters. And I don't know why but it looks like the kind of place where one should wear loads of Bottega Veneta, no?

If I'm not mistaken, Palazzo Versace is the oldest all five hotels in this post. It's located just outside Brisbane, in the Golden Coast of Australia. Even without the bright medusa and green motif mosaic at the front door it is undeniable that everything about this place is 100% Versace. Now, all the gold and turquoise and blinding-white may seem a little overwhelming were it not for the immense windows that surround the main building and its beautiful view over the pools and the sea. The furniture is obviously all by the fashion house, which has added its own boutique to the hotel so guests can literally blend into the deco. The three restaurants, spa and fitness studio give the final touch to what looks like the most old-school glamourous experience one could get these days.

Moschino's hotel in Milan has a much more relaxed atmosphere than the ones before. Different bold designs can be found in every corner; from the massive tea cup as a coffee table to the hanging-dress headboards or a wolf put to bed ready to eat you every single thing adds up to the modern but elegant dreamy feel of the hotel, which they describe as "where the ordinary world is described with a stroke of surrealism". The building is also pretty much around the corner from Corso Como and Corso Garibaldi and it includes, of course, a spa and a restaurant, 'Clandestino.Milano'.

I would've never expected to find a Missoni hotel in Edinburgh, but it was a pleasant surprise. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe coming up in August is the best occasion to treat yourself to an amazing dose of the ever-famous colourful stripes and triangles (towels and bathrobes, hello?) in a very urban interpretation of Italian style. The hotel, situated on the popular Royal Mile, provides all its guests with in-room Nespresso machines and contains two restaurants and a trendy cocktail bar. With my best friend directing a play at the festival I have the perfect excuse to see first-hand what Rosita Missoni has been up to in Scotland.

And, of course, there had to be one in Dubai. Armani has chosen the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, to hold his first hotel. It includes 166 guest-rooms and 144 Armani residences as well as 5 restaurants, an ARMANI/Privé nightclub, a private member's club (ARMANI/Club) and an Armani/Spa. All stylishly furnished by ARMANI/Casa's minimalistic ways. The complex also offers, of course, Armani/Dolci, Armani/Fiori and Armani/Galleria so guests can decorate their rooms or take a little bit of Dubaian Armani with them.

Which one would you die to go to?
I'm off.

[Pictures: hotel websites and Style.com]

(mini)Aguilera is cool

Changes! As you might have noticed soVIPzone's layout has changed a little today. We felt like the blog would be more exciting if we had a bigger space for images (now that I can sort of use photoshop...) and, after some HTML retouching, voilà!

Also, I decided to give kidswear a try. It isn't very likely that you'll be seeing it often around here but it is refreshing to do something different once in a while. Last night when I saw those pictures of Christina Aguilera's son, Max, I was surprised by how cool he looked. Let's face it, he doesn't have the best beauty and style genes... But Max looks awesome in his paint splattered tee, ripped jeans and red converse. So I started wondering what kind of stuff designers were making for children. There is plenty to choose from, whether it's Marc Jacobs, Phillip Lim, D&G, Armani or Moschino. And they're all bang on trend.

D&G Junior Blue blazer, Little Marc Jacobs stripped ballerinas, Phillip Lim ruffled top and skirt, D&G Junior printed silk dress, IKKS denim jacket, Moschino maxi tee, Phillip Lim pink top and paper bag skirt, IKKS checked scarf and blazer, Phillip Lim ruffled tank, Little Marc Jacobs Chambray dress, D&G Junior checked jacket, Phillip Lim trench coat.

I'm off.

[Pictures: JustJared.buzznet.com, AlexandAlexa.com, SaksFifthAvenue.com, BergdorfGoodman.com, BlueandCream.com, TuttiBella.com, Asos.com]

classic is never démodé

It is finally here. Even though we are already three days into Paris Fashion Week I thought a recap on Milan was in order. I have left out many designers —those who did not innovate enough or whose creations simply did not appeal to me. In any case, S/S 2010 seems to only have recession in the back of its head. Most designers have gone back to basics —blazers and all types of tailored pieces filled the runway and they did so with pleasantly surprising twists to them. Have a look.

This was, by far, the biggest surprise. I would have not expected Ferragamo to put together such an excellent collection of timeless pieces that feel so cool and fresh.

I want to wear Marni for the rest of the summer. The cuts are so clean, the colours so softly elegant and the fit so comfy-looking that, could I afford it, you would not catch me wearing any other brand.

This was very much a flash collection, it did not even reach the traditional circa-30 looks. But sometimes less is most definitely more. And a restricted palette can make everything all the more interesting. Zegna left their textures speak.

Trussardi perspired coolness from the hip twist on formal wear to the native American inspiration dominating the second half of the show. It is urbanwear but distinctive, and I love it.

The only thing I kept thinking while looking at the Missoni collection was: "This is exactly what Chuck Bass would wear if he went to Oxford". I believe that statement to be self-explanatory.

Another surprise. Not a big big one but surprise all the same. I never like Moschino, I have always thought it to be very cheap-looking and tacky. This collection changed my mind. Even when the detailing (be it embroidery or print) might seem a little too much, it is a very new-looking collection that will possibly redirection the brand somewhere more tasteful.

I have been staring at all these looks for a couple of days trying to decide whether I like it or not. It is innovative, fair enough. But is McQueen getting too relaxed on his golden throne and thinking he can get away with anything?

Too many layers for any Italian, Spaniard, French or Greek. And I love grey to pieces but this collection does not seem very realistic when it comes to the season it is for. Now, Miuccia has played most skillfully with different materials. I am specially fond of those cottony nets.

Funny how such an Italian brand can feel so oddly British. This takes me back centuries to dodgy parts of London when burglars stole expensive garments and wore them to pretend they were posh. Only Zegna makes burglars look pretty damn stylish.

And here goes my first disappointment of the season. This Gucci collection was too diffuse, too white, too old Gucci. I did love the fit of the trousers, all of the shoes and those prints Frida Giannini uses so well.

Not groundbreaking but at least Bottega Veneta stepped out of their comfort zone and showed plenty of pieces men of any age and nationality would love to throw on their back.

D&G was not innovative or fresh but at least they changed their black and blues for beiges and browns. It is better than nothing.

[Pictures credit: Men.Style.com]

I'm off.