What happens in Milano...

... definitely doesn't stay in Milano. It goes around the world. There are still two days left from Milan Fashion Week but we have already seen a lot of the biggest names turn things around on the catwalk. The SS11 trends have radically changed to opulent minimalism focused on cuts and details rather than flamboyance. It's the traditionally more pompous brands like Versace which are the biggest surprises. The colours were strong but clear and red was king even though Donatella's nudes seemed even more appealing. We also saw a lot of stripes and Versace's famous Greek motifs adding dashes of colour to otherwise monochromatic dresses. I particularly liked the extra long fringe details, the cutout shoes and the just-below-the-knee pencil-skirted dresses.

While the new collections that will dictate next summer's trends keep coming down the catwalks of the world's fashion capitals, its attendees, the fashion elite, unconsciously set another handful of trends that the rest of the industry's adepts will follow later as well. The best example of this is the cropped trousers and stilettos combo that the team of Net-a-Porter have already tweeted about. A few months ago people couldn't believe that the infamous chunky heels and wedges would be kicked out of the spotlight by their skinnier sisters but everyone from our favourite style icons to Vogue's popular editors are embracing the stiletto. Good news for Prada and Marant!

I have always been and will stay a faithful Etro fan. It is one of those houses that strongly holds on to their spirit season after season yet never fails to provide contemporary takes on their staples. However, their latest line felt incredibly restrained. We did see plenty of ethnic prints and fringes but their SS11 collection had a much more sophisticated city vibe. The prints were versatile and so were the maxi dresses. It was as if veronica Etro had envisioned her bohemian muse paying a visit to the big city. Very refreshing.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Style.com, Net-a-Porter.com, Zimbio.com, SaksFifthAvenue.com]

the week in news: 12.07.10

I haven't done a news post in a while because I could never find more than two seemingly important events happening on the same week enough to fill some blog space. Thankfully, this week was different. We had a store opening, an editor turned model and my generation's reality show wrap-up. Take a look.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Zimbio.com, RDuJour.com, Fashionologie.com, Style.com, JustJared.buzznet.com, HypeBeast.com, Vogue.co.uk, Telegraph.co.uk]

CFDA 2010 awards

I feel like I haven't posted in years and today I am so inspired I could make about 12 posts. Alas, I am only human so I'll stick to a chronological order to relevance so neither of us go mental. Let's start with the CFDA awards from Monday night. This year I was quite excited for one of my favourite new designers, Joseph Altuzarra, to win the Swarovski Womenswear Designer of the Year award. But, apparently, it had to go to the more unoriginal Jason Wu. I was also disappointed by Marc Jacobs' win as I feel slightly iffy about him, both as a person and as a designer. However, the fact that Richard Chai and Alexander Wang won the Swarovski Menswear and Accessories awards, respectively, made me very happy.

Fashion wise it wasn't a super exciting edition. I was happy to see the Olsens on their first official appearance at the awards as CFDA members but, even though they looked great, I always expect them to outshine everyone else. Something that didn't happen this year. My list of best dressed at this year's event even surprised me. My favourite above all was Vogue's Tonne Goodman, who won the Eleanor Lambert Award, in a Michael Kors outfit that pretty much epitomised classic East-coast style. Jessica Biel showed she can actually get it right every so often. She looked absolutely stunning a 30's glamour version of Diane Von Furstemberg's classic wrap dress. I can't explain why I like it so much but I look at it and it just feels right. Iris Apfel totally made my day by wearing one of Nicolas Ghesquière's Balenciaga jackets from SS09. I simply love the fact that a lady of her age can be so fashion-forward and still look appropriate. I really wish she was my grandma.

What I always love about both the Met Ball and the CFDA awards is the fact that designers attend with their muses dresses in their designs. I thought Hayden Christensen in Richard Chai was absolutely genius, they both look so not-bothered. Pretty relaxed as well looked Altuzarra and Vanessa Traina, in a custom-made dress from the SS10 collection turned black for the occasion. Zac Posen looked better than his companion once again. He is a bit of a roller coaster when it comes to collections but he can dress, there is no doubt about that. And then we have Dakota Fanning, who gave Marchesa such a spin it didn't even look it had come from the hands of Georgina Chapman.
I'm off.

[Pictures: Style.com, Zimbio.com, JustJared.buzznet.com, Tommy Ton for Style.com]

the week in news: 31.05.10

It feels as if I'm starting to create some kind of weekly section made up of fashion news. I really don't intend to do so but I love giving my take on some of the things going on at the moment.
This week it was announced that Olivier Theyskens is the new creative director for Theory. It makes me happy that he is going to be designing again but I doubt it will be for too long. He did an amazing job at Rochas back in the day and then again, for a shorter time, at Nina Ricci. Unfortunately, he is known for his very exquisite (or expensive) taste, which ultimately ends in his departure from the house. Now, pair this up with a seemingly affordable brand like Theory and you have a bit of an issue. However, if he can tackle that problem, Theory is in for an amazing makeover.

A bit less exciting but equally stylish is the news that the Olsens are launching an eyewear line for Elizabeth & James. I don't know if you are as sunglasses-obsessed as I am but if you are you'll understand how amazing this can be. Ashley and Mary-Kate are two of the people with the best taste in sunglasses and that can only translate into awesome pieces for their line, like the cat-eye ones above.
I'm off.

[Sources: WWD.com, Fashionista.com, Style.com, NYmag.com, Style.com]

shoulder doubt

I was a bit surprised to see Mary-Kate in this black jacket below not only because at first it looked like a bad excuse to wear a bin bag but because I thought the Olsens were past the big-shoulder trend. After looking at her for a while, though, I realised the jacket in question actually looks super cool on MK because it's kind of deceiving (it fooled me) as it has that grungy feel to it but it must be, of course, very pricey. Also, the shape of the shoulders doesn't follow the statement shoulder trend per se. They have more of a sculptural, balloon-y form.

I had a look around some e-tail sites to see what kind of jackets in the line of MK's I could find. I found some awesome pieces that, far from ascribing to the boring Balmain shoulder craze, the jackets below are edgier and actually have a personality.

1. American Retro @ Harvey Nichols, 2. Rick Owens @ Harvey Nichols, 3. Maison Martin Margiela @ Browns, 4. Maison Martin Margiela @ Browns, 5. RM by Roland Mouret @ Net-a-Porter, 6. Rick Owens @ Net-a-Porter.

I'm off.

[Pictures: RDuJour.com, store websites]

Collage Sunday, 16.05.10

For this week I am going a little into FW10 trends. Funnily enough, I despised gold and leopard for a long time when I was younger but I've come to understand that they are not genuinely tacky but misunderstood and worn by the wrong people in the wrong way. They're both going go be quite big next season (loving the lamé everywhere) so why not try to be ahead? Carine, Emmanuelle and Mary-Kate are.

Happy Sunday!

I'm off.

[Pictures: Style.com, Jak & Jill, Garance Doré, Net-a-Porter.com, Cartier, JustJared.buzznet.com, Celebrity-Gossip.net]

the curious case of the shabby yellow jumper

I can't quite figure out why Ashley Olsen is so attached to her yellow cable jumper. As you know, I already started to develop a certain fascination toward this peculiar habit a few weeks ago. I also noticed how Ashley never wears it in the same way —tucked-in, over the shoulders, as a dress... Maybe there is some kind of "truth or dare" challenge going on between her and MK where Ash has to wear a specific garment in as many ways as she possibly can. Or perhaps it's her fashionable version of a security blanket? Haha, oh the world of my mind.

[Pictures: JustJared.buzznet.com, Celebrity-Gossip.net, Mojolkhomme.com]

In any case, I have started to wonder if maybe I should get my own yellow jumper? I'm not sure I'd be able to look as awesome in it every day as Ashley can but it won't hurt to try. What do you think?

I'm off.

the Olsens put my distress to an end

I always run out of inspiration when I am on holiday. The utter lack of anything even remotely similar to stress relaxes me to such extent that my brain shuts down everything but the vital functions. Anyway, it is thanks to my favourite duo in the world that I have brought myself to make a new post. I love how Ashley and MK mixed romantic and sheer for their last appearance and how they added a little gothic to the equation. I am not a fan of Mary-Kate's oversized jackets but I am certainly loving Ashley's see-thru and bows —doesn't she look like a 21st-Century Coco Chanel?

I have a fixation with anything Olsen but lately I have also developed a certain fascination towards Ashley's yellow cable jumper. She has been seen using it as a cape, a scarf and a comfort blanket as well as giving it its traditional usage. It made me think of a biker jacket-shaped jumper I can't seem to stop wearing. Do you have a preferred clothing item you love wearing?

[Pictures: Celebrity-Gossip.net, OlsensAnonymous.blogspot.com, Liberty.co.uk, RalphLauren.com]

I'm off.

MK's Céline bag

I would love to find out whether the Olsens get the best bags from the season sent to them in advance so the rest of us can try but fail at being fashion-forward enough or do they simply spot the best pieces during fashion week and then spend a week purchasing all of them so they can wear them before everyone else does? This is Mary-Kate leaving her apartment with the black leather structures Céline bag of the season (love it with the beige canvas too).

Does anyone think this wet hair style we saw Ashley sporting a few days ago will become a trend? If so, how do you keep it? Do you carry a water spray in your bag? And, is the dripping not annoying?

[Pictures: JustJared, MatchesFashion.com]

I'm off.

sunshine

There is nothing like a little dose of Olsen-ness on a grey London morning during fashion week. I had been waiting for this moment since Coco's Tea Party predicted (quite accurately) that Ashley and Mary-Kate would be attending this year's Elle Style awards. MK looked pretty awesome and rock'n'roll in her black Lanvin but it was Ashley (surprise, surprise) who truly left me perplexed. The vintage Lacroix and the Fendi shoes made such a dazzling combination. Just leave Justin and marry me, please? Please?

[Images from celebrity-gossip.net]

I'm off.

welcome on board of CHANEL airlines

I will be your steward throughout this flight. I'll do everything in my hand to make your journey as pleasant as possible.
The genious Kaiser of fashion presented a couple of weeks ago his collection of masterpieces for Chanel: the Cruise 2008 collection. Cruise is the freshest invention from the kings of design in order to make us look our best when we take that well-deserved break from our hectic lives of entrepeneurs in the middle of the winter. So let's say we go for a weekend to Bahamas, this way we can buy the most fashionable swim suits and shorts but also the greatest trench coats and gowns and outfits for an escape to a cooler place.


It is absolutely maginificent how many different styles and therefore outfits and possibilities of matching garments we can find for women. From jeans with very "Lagerfeld" shirts to gauze cocktail dresses or the signature tweed ensembles. Whatever you choose to wear there is something very clear: the sixties are back! Chanel is one of the lead designer brands in the world not only for its outstanding ability of renewing itself not jeopardicing the original concept of Coco, but also for the capacity of using the hair as if it was like any other accessory. This time, since it's the 60's, it comes down quite long and in rather a messy way. I can't help thinking of Charlotte of Monaco, she always looks so chic even with flip-flops or having her hair done "à la i-just-get-out-of-bed". As Lagerfeld always says, don't expect baggy pants from him; and he knows how to keep a promise. The waists go up and the width stays skinny; but, although skinny won't come off the throne, bell-bottomed jeans come back —yet once more— to "fever-night" our lives. The german designer has very much restricted the color palette to grey, black, white and blue. This restriction puts the collection in sort of an hiatus on time, making out of it an espectacular compilation of timeless pieces that will last forever.
There is, though, a particular outfit that I specially loved. Since the collection was presented on a plane hangar in Santa Monica, CA, and the models came out of Challenger 601 jets, there is also a certain airline vibe. This takes shape in a look masterly described by Nicole Phelps form Style.com as a "cross between a captain's uniform and a first-class passenger travel outfit". This means a navy suit with hues of red, blue, green, white and black on the sleeves of the blazer. Now, for my most desirable item from the Cruise collection, I must highlight the über-original suede peep-toed boots in greyish blue and black and with a bunch of wrinkles at the top which confer them more of a casual touch.

Now, to get it over with the ladies-wear, we'll talk about the trends of this summer that have survived and united the Cruise collection together with the way in which Karl Lagerfeld introduces his very own phrase of color. Along with the basic color that we have already talked about, army green plays quite a significant role on this collection, giving a different tone to the rather serious ensembles. Green is not, however, the only color to use. I know I said there wasn't colorful clothing, and I was not lying; but the Chief of the french brand brings it in through accesories. We do can find some tops with plenty of hues of bright nature, but necklaces and bracelets and hair bands or simply sunglasses or belts are in charge of this task and —I have to say— quite successfully. Plastic, which is due to spread through bags and shoes this summer, will still be one of the main fabrics on the ladies' beloved accessories and it will also show up as detail of some of the cocktail gowns to update them.




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Having the women's and men's line inspirated-alike seems to be becoming the next craze among designers. Frida Giannini started it and everyone seems to be following.The color palette for guys is exactly the same as for girls, but the whole concept to the collection is much more casual and made for the day-to-day life to be chicly dressed in sportswear.
First of, it is funny finding the exact same outfit to the airline-inspirated suit for women as it is also funny to find some other correspondances between the ladies' and men's wear.

However, as much shared inspiration as both collections have, grey is, by far, the protagonist for men; it comes in different shades and joins navy blue for the perfect dressed-up casual look. Jackets cover most of the outfits in the shape of blazer-cutted garments which lay over simple stripped shirts and plain white tees. Cargo shorts join cigarrette, classic pants in navy and grey sometimes also with very fine stripes. I particularly loved all the looks for the male body because they reach the perfect symbiosis point of classyness and modernity. Straight lines predominate, waists —as it happened with girls— go up (not so happy about that!) and tops get fitted to mark more our muscles —those who have some anyway; it all doesn't stop the entire set of clothes from being extremely fresh and —I'm sure— absolutely comfortable.
So it is all about keepeing it simple and clean and relaxed and culminating it with great sneackers in the same colors of the garments and, of course, adding your very own details to share space with the espectacular art of Herr Lagerfeld.


But now, before I take my leave, I feel in my duty of talking shortly about the terrific avalanche of celebrities that attended the showcase. We're talking Demi Moore, Lindsay Lohan, Diane Kruger, Victoria Beckham and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (notice her particular perfection and style)



































I hope you had a nice flight. Thank you for flying with Chanel airlines and we hope to see you again on board soon!

I'm off.

one out of TWO

They say twins are linked from the very moment of their birth. And it is true indeed. It is scientifically proven that the two human beings who come out of the same feminine cell share a lot of parts throughout their lifes. They could probably answer exactly the same to a question, even doing it at the same time. They can like the same music, the same colors, the same films. This rule, however, does have an exception. I don't know about the millions of twins from all over the world, but at least this particular TWO differ in something: picking up their clothing. Too bad, though, only ONE succeeds in this task. Her name is Ashley OLSEN.
Who could have imagined that this so mignone girl and her look-alike sister Mary Kate would have gotten this far. In "Full House" we thought it was only one Michelle, when there were actually two of them. And it was that role as very little girls which rocketed their carrers to starring and producing movies and TV shows and even launching their own clothing line "MaryKateAndAshley". Sadly, this experience into the fashion bizz was as economically successful as a compilation of awful creations made reality.




This is why I couldn't believe it when a few years ago the Olsens started poping out on red-carpet events looking superbly chic and stylish. Unfortunately, MK fell into the hole of anorexia and probably lost part of her sanity on the way. Ashley, on her part, managed to stay sane —at least apparently— and develop the style skills to get to Vogue's top five best dressed of the week just a few days ago. And this happened with her wearing an outfit which was supposedly very casual and random —so go figure how she looks when she does think about it. However she does it, the point is she looks A-mazing 24/7.
Before we proceed, I feel the need to point something out: we are talking about a girl who is 5'3'' tall (1'60m) and pretty petite. OK, this said, I can resume my speech. The thing is that the 2-minute older sister —maybe that's the key to mental health— is going in and out of SUV's and stores and Starbucks all the time. And thank God! because we get to enjoy her great usage of the women's wear. Nevertheless she is not one of those celebrities who won't wear a garment, bag or pair of shoes twice, no —and that is what makes her even more special—, she uses and re-uses her bags and accesories to death. Who hasn't seen the black crocodile Fendi bag or the dark little Chanel one or the now über-trendy Way Farers? This is the secret to look good all the time: having the rare but fantastic skill to mix everything up and make it work. Of course —let's not be cynic— style runs through her veins, otherwise she wouldn't be able to do this. She knows classics never get demodé and that basics match with everything, especially if these basics have colors in common (white, black, grey, khaki, sand colors...) And then there is the more than obvious key that budget is. I'm not saying that you can't look really perfectly and stylishly dressed with ready-to-wear from any department or even thrift store, but money plays quite an important role in this world —the fashion world.
One way or another, my already beloved Ashley is soVIPzone's most stylish and best dressed celebrity of the season. I invite you to track her every and daily step and see for yourselves. In the meantime, take a look at my preferred outfits from the oldest Olsen sister.

I'm off.