Cheryl Cole loves leopard print: Here's some other pieces she should wear
JustJared

Cheryl Cole isn't necessarily a celebrity you would go to for inspiration trying to get dressed in the morning. She also doesn't seem to be trying too hard to get away from her (ex)WAG status or style, which can sometimes be kind of interesting(?).

This past week she has made some good choices while visiting the city of light – apart, perhaps, from the Phillip Lim jumpsuit look that she ruined with a pair of trainers. She seems to be totally into leopard print at the moment, which can be tricky to work with. However, I loved her in the A.P.C. sweatshirt. It gave a casual touch to the look paired with jeans and nude stilettos. but my favourite has got to be the Ksubi dress, which actually looks great with the Charlotte Olympia heels, very slick and contemporary.

And so I decided to find out what the offer of leopard print was for this summer and chose my favourite pieces, some of which would actually look great together such if combined with neutral and nude colours.

Are you a fan of leopard print? What do you think of Cheryl's looks?

Clockwise from left: Current/Elliott cropped denim jacket, Just Cavalli jersey t-shirt, Tibi printed steen dress, Current/Elliot cropped skinny jeans, Markus Lupfer merino wool sweater, Dolce & Gabbana canvas and leather bag, Just Cavalli denim shorts, J. Crew calf hair slippers. 

Giulia's favourites from the KCD SS'12 Press Day
Know Wear

A few weeks ago Giulia and I attended the KCD SS12 Press Day. It was, by far, the biggest press day we've ever attended and also one of the best ones! Their selection of designers is as impressive and high profile as it is diverse. You could actually find a look for any given occasion –from a ball to a sleep over– among the racks.

There was so much to go through, in fact, that we decided that the best thing to post about it would be this one. I can always trust Giulia's exquisite eye to pick out the best pieces from every rail. I was especially excited to see the Prabal Gurung collection up close, you know how much I loved it. We were also very impressed with the newly launches Pierre Balmain, which offers such great rock'n'roll pieces at a lower price than the Balmain main line. And we were happy to come across the stunning Pedro Lourenço collection, full of incredible cocktail numbers.

Click below on read more to see the rest of Giulia's picks!

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!

Don't you love it when celebrities really make an effort for their film tours? I do. I can't wait to see the new X-Men film for many reasons. For one, I am a big fan of the saga and, well, January Jones might have something to do with many others.

January, however, is not looking her best these days on the red carpet. And being pregnant is not an excuse as Jessica Alba has proven. Thankfully, Zoe Kravitz is there at every premiere to make up for Jones. She has always had a certain fashion flair but I've never taken much notice. Until now.

I am really into everything that she's worn so far. Specially the super modern Alex Wang silver velvet dress. There is something very 90's Calvin Klein about the silhouette but the fabric and the colour make it super interesting and I love the attitude Zoe wears it with.

And I might just be going to the totally obvious but she strikes me as a very Wang girl. In the same way that I think she would look so cool in many of Phillip Lim's and Proenza Schouler's designs. I didn't think she'd risk going full-length, given her shortness, but I am glad she did because one can only wear so many cute mini-skirts or cocktail dresses.

So I am hoping for plenty of looks as successful as the above. It's not every day that a true New Yorker gets to show off around the world.

[Style.com, JustJared, Net-a-Porter]

From left: Phillip Lim, Matthew Williamson Escape, Hervé Léger, La Perla, Diane von Furstemberg

As I've mentioned before I've recently become quite a big fan of the editorial work of Elle Ukraine. I haven't been able to get an actual copy but thanks to the Internet I can follow.

I really liked the 'Sleek Swim' story from their June issue because rather than showing crazy poses on the sand in unrealistic beach looks they have picked fashionable swimsuits that are still wearable. Two of them, one by Hervé Léger and one by Diane von Furstemberg, feature cut-out details, which I love. I've always preferred full swimsuits to bikinis and I've always hated trikinis because they look rubbish and the term not only sounds like a joke but it doesn't make sense.

I find these choices with cut-outs on the stomach super sexy and extremely elegant. That's why I had a look at the options Net-a-Porter is selling this summer. I understand that they are not the best for tanning but I'm hoping some stylish women give it a try...

Would you wear one?

[FashionGoneRogue]

Collage Sunday, 20.02.11: Phillip Lim 3.1

It's so hard to keep up to speed with posting about fashion week while one has a day job and attempts to make the most of the shows in London, which is why I am using this Collage Sunday to finish on the NYFW posts (for the moment anyway) and to be able to focus on London from tomorrow. I've been a big fan of Phillip Lim for years and I always love his simple approach to silhouettes and cuts. His FW11 collection was, as I see it, one of his best ever and most definitely the best from the last couple of seasons. The mixture of textures —wools, silks, leathers, furs, knits, PVC, you name it— and of colours —muted greys, beiges and navy contrasting with apple green, mustard and azure— added the edge minimalist cuts.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Style.com]

Unusual suspects

Jessica Biel's promotional tour for the A-Team has left me completely baffled. Not only she managed not to horrify us on a daily basis with her appearances outfits but she even looked fantastic two or three times. The clear winner was the red Giambattista Valli dress she wore for the London premiere (where else?) and that she accompanied with the wild hair trend Coco spotted a while ago. It was a beautiful and simple look but, for the first time with her, it had a bit of an edge thanks to the hair. During the time before and after the British premiere she was also seen in amazing outfits the likes of the Phillip Lim one below which proved she can look different but good. I am just hoping she keeps it up so we have to avoid more of her embarrassing red carpet moments.

It was precisely because of Biel's unexpected turn that I started wondering whether Eva Mendes would experience something similar. This morning she attended the Regis & Kelly show in a (Dior/de la Renta?) dress as part of a look that is one of the best things I've ever seen her wear. The sunglasses were to-die-for and the shoes totally spot-on. Like Biel, I have disliked Mendes' style for longer than I can remember, which is probably why I'd be so fascinated with her undergoing a Biel-type style makeover.
I'm off.

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

Ticking the boxes

I am not sure there is such a thing as set standards for Cruise collections. Personally, I feel there are certain things that always must be present —a maxi skirt and dress, a cocktail dress, an LBD, a tailored cotton trouser, a well cut blazer, shorts and a slightly loose knit jumper. Then, of course, they are to be played with and more interesting pieces to go with them are to be added but I feel a good resort line must include all of the above to be considered so.
Looking at the Cruise 2011 collections shown so far I have to admit I am a little impressed with the improvement. I suppose designers are also learning what to make of these odd and season-less lines they must produce. Since we can't speak of trends per se, for that is the whole point of these collections, I looked at colour. Along with white and black, orange has been very present in most collections. It works in a multitude of tones, it looks fresh but it's not too wild, and is apt for any scenery.

YSL and Michael Kors are two of my favourite Cruise 2011 collections. The first felt very fresh, as Stefano Pilati rarely uses any colour, let alone bright ones. The designs were along the classic lines of the French house but had a very cool edge that I personally loved. Kors, who usually plays it ridiculously safe, really surprised me with his line. The clean lines and simple clothes were full of East-coast coolness. I want more of that in his regular collections!

Oscar de la Renta's show was odd. The first half of the collection was all over the place, with sloppy combinations of garments, colours and prints while the second was this explosion of glamour. Gowns in the best colours, prints and shapes walked the runway until the end. My favourite was the white polka-dotted one above.

I found Rachel Roy's Cruise 2011 collection absolutely stunning. There was a lot of maxi dresses and skirts and some very cool layering and see-through-ness. She really made her collection look completely new using wardrobe staples and twisting them with very chic hands.

Which collection did you love?
I'm off.

[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]

Met Gala 2010: The great, the bland and the fugly

Last night Anna Wintour, Oprah Winfrey and Patrick Robinson hosted the Costume Institute's Met Gala, "American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity". Celebrities queued to show how they could pull off designer dresses with personality, which seemed very refreshing after last year's blandness. However, I missed the Olsens and the Roitfelds this year.

The great

It just feels natural when you see Jude and Sienna together. The picture looks kind of retro because Sienna has long hair again like she did back then when her and Jude were together for the first time.

Chloe Sevigny in Proenza Schouler, January Jones in Yves Saint-Laurent and Carey Mulligan in Miu Miu prove how short dresses with the right colours and details can be edgy.

Restrained is usually elegant, Diane Kruger proves it in her white Calvin Klein. Less successful at it were Maggie Gyllenhall in Louis Vuitton (could do without the tacky bow and a dash of colour) and Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte for Gap, who could have gone for a different choice in shoes not to be so Rodarte matchy-matchy.

Anna Wintour in Chanel Haute Couture, Margherita Missoni in Missoni and Chanel Iman in Michael Kors.

These all look a lot like Rachel Zoe choices... I doubt she dressed Marion Cottilard, though. Thandie Newton in Vivienne Westwood, Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior and Anne Hathaway in Valentino all look beautifully apt for the gala but there is a bit of a yawn factor in all three. And too many sequins... I guess Rach "died".

The bland

Sarah Jessica Parker in Halston was so disappointment. Pretty, yeah, but we expect much more from a woman with such a fashion-forward education. Rachel Weisz wore a custom made Oscar the la Renta, which colour looked amazing against her skin but which a cut that was borderline tacky. And Eva Mendes just doesn't learn. She wore a Dolce & Gabbana that totally overshadowed her.

Carolyn Murphy (in ?), Eva Longoria in Marchesa (synonym for not trying) and Jessica Stam in Rachel Roy all looked boring and sloppy in every possible way.

The fugly

It is upsetting that Jessica Alba looked that bad in Sophie Theallet for Gap because she had been getting it so right so often lately. I really hate the colour of the satin dress. Malin Akerman looked as if she got ready for another dress and not the Temperly London that she wore. And the dress was a completely wrong choice for this kind of event. Rosario Dawson tried to pull a Saldana and failed tragically. Her Giambattista Valli was as disappointing as the bow on it was ugly.

Kristen Stewart needs to either deal with the fact that people want her picture or find a new career. She wore a more than decent Chanel Haute Couture that, had it been combined with the right hair and make up and a nice smile, would have looked amazing. Vera Farmiga wore a Sophie Theallet for Gap dress that looked like a bad cross between a flamenco dress and a Mexican dancer. Bless Jessica Biel, she never has the slightest idea of what's going on. She wore Ralph Lauren Collection. And Justin looked way better.

And, to top it all off, these three catastrophe's (I bet Anna pursed her lips a couple of times last night). Rachel Roy in her own design, Joy Bryant in Marchesa (if Rachel is still working with her this might be her worst job ever) and orange trannie Lisa Marie Falcone in a God-only-knows-what.

I'm off.

[Pictures: JustJared.buzznet.com, Zimbio.com]

happy birthday to moi

Every year the world celebrates the date of my birth my marking the 21st of March as the kick-off of the Spring. I'm not sure about other parts of the world but here in London it still feels too grey to get into the SS10 mood (as much as my beige Lanvin's scream to get them out). However, I have been present-hunting for weeks and these are part of the (hundreds?) of the splendid pieces I have found in my touring of my three favourite spots to shop —Browns, Liberty's and Matches.

Left to right and top to bottom: Dries Van Noten linen jacket @ Browns, Burberry Prorsum biker jacket @ Liberty's, 3.1 Phillip Lim plaid jumper @ Matches, Comme des Garçons appliquéd blazer @ Browns, Acne check shirt @ Matches, Christopher Kane atomic tee @ Matches, Liberty of London check shirt, E Tautz striped jumper @ Macthes, Burkman Bros patterned shorts @ Liberty's, Comme des Garçons trousers @ Browns, Linda Farrow for Dries Van Noten sunglasses @ Liberty's, Balenciaga graphic tee @ Matches, Dries Van Noten printed scarf @ Browns, Lanvin straw hat @ Browns, Bottega Veneta suede derby shoes @ Browns.

[Pictures: BrownsFashion.com, LibertyofLondon.co.uk, MatchesFashion.com]

Feel free to drop me an email asking for my address. No one will blame you for wanting to thank me for my amazing contribution to fashion by means of a piece of designer-wear. ...I jest, of course, or do I?

I'm off.

king of the heel

So I finally got around finishing checking the details section of Syle.com and giving my first go at photoshop. And, boy, did it take long... Try and ignore any flaws your eyes may spot and concentrate on the shoes. FW10 offered a variety of heels, but it seemed quite evident that the stiletto is back to reclaim its place as king of the heels. We only saw a few wedges or chunkier heels courtesy of Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Marni and Prada. The key is on the shoe details rather than on the shape. Concerning materials, we saw plenty of the usual croc and ostrich but also embroidered leather (Christopher Kane), shearling interiors (Burberry Prosum) and metallic flower applique. These are our favourites.

Top to bottom and left to right: Bottega Veneta, Burberry Prorsum, Christopher Kane, Fendi, Emilio Pucci, Lanvin, Phillip Lim, Givenchy, Miu Miu, Prada, Rodarte, Prada, Prada.

[Pictures: Style.com]

I'm off.

NY highlights

This New York Fashion Week gave the feeling to be more aware of the times we live in. It was interesting seeing designers tackling with the issue of being practical while having their ideas remain on the garments. As usual, the coat took over the catwalks in its many forms —fur and leather still made an appearance but most designers went for the more unexpensive wool and tweed or the ever-classic cashmere. FW10 trends will be monopolised by layers more than ever. Some combinations that might have seemed nonsensical in the past become the protagonists of this season (see Rag & Bone). Velvet, which is a constant in menswear, made a big-time comeback in the shape of dresses (see Altuzarra) that looked somehow like shabby medieval gowns. However, if I were to choose my favourite trend it would be, by far, the maxi skirt and oversized cardigan combo. I have never been much of a boho chic fan but there is something mysteriously sensual about a woman that's not so keen on showing off her curves (see Richard Chai).

[Picture credit: Style.com]

Which one was your favourite collection from NYFW?

I'm off.

renew or die

The sale period is over! —fashionably speaking, of course. It is now time to gear up for SS10. Here are soVIPzone's favourites from the just in sections of our preferred shopping sites.

Chloé cropped suede jacket @ Net-a-Porter

Balenciaga "paper bag" @ Matches

Azzedine Alaïa draped dress @ Matches

Balenciaga linen shorts @ Matches

Stella McCartney sequined jacket @ Net-a-Porter

3.1 Phillip Lim mini skirt @ Matches

I'm off.