Burberry Prorsum fw11

It is probably fair to say that Burberry's show during each London Fashion Week is the highlight of the event. That's not to say everyone else isn't as good but no show is as big and covered as Burberry Prorsum. For fw11 Christopher Bailey chose a new venue in Kensington Gardens. If you attended or watched the show online you were probably as amazed as I was with how beautiful the park looked even on a grey rainy day. To compensate for this Burberry delivered a collection mostly based on coats. Bailey has clearly realised the power he acquired over outerwear when he became the king of shearling and he's not going to let go easily. This time he reinterpreted the trench in thick woollen fabrics and and bold shades of orange and cherry red as well as the brand's iconic checks. The collection was very much in line with the menswear shown in Milan a month ago . We also saw exquisite white jackets and coats covered in rabbit fur and tied to at the waist with leather bows. It was a softer more gentle collection than last winter's yet it retained that feeling of empowerment that wearing a Burberry coat gives.

As it could be expected, plenty of celebrities turned up to watch the show from the incredibly long front row. I was, of course, thrilled to see Rachel Bilson and Kate Bosworth arrive. I wasn't too keen on Bilson's long Burberry anorak for the event but she'll have to be excused, for she lives in ever-sunny LA. Bosworth, on the other hand, casually strolled in and posed for pictures in an unbelievable gold studded pencil skirt accompanied by that biker jacket we all want watching the colour of the skirt. She was, as I see it, the best dressed of the event. Even outdoing Lily Donaldson and Alexa Chung. The last attendee to report was, of course, Anna Wintour. Being a Brit at heart, she could hardly miss this!

I'm off.

[Pictures: Courtesy of Buberry]

Vanessa Bruno's corals

This week I am starting to experiment that first feeling of anticipation that one gets at the beginning of the new season. I am thrilled that bold colours are everywhere for S/S11 moving on from last year's neutral/khaki domination (which I enjoyed but got tired of). While I put together a special Spring post, which is coming up, I looked at some recent celebrity looks from LA —the only place where people hate FW collections. Rachel Bilson hasn't appeared on soVIPzone for a bit but she's back in style. She was seen out and about yesterday getting ready for a TV appearance in a very lady-like classic ensemble. I love how the dress and the Chanel bag keep things quiet and the shoes and necklace help add an edge. but I particularly like her Vanessa Bruno coral jacket. I have always been a massive fan of the brand and of that colour (which my beloved friend Maria excellently wears every summer) and this upcoming season the two have come together. Check out the whole Vanessa Bruno line over at Net-a-Porter.

I'm off.

[Pictures: JustJared.buzznet.com, Net-a-Porter.com]

A guide to: white & ombré hair

A few days ago I was thinking if how incredibly exciting it was to watch Lady Gaga at the beginning. The anticipation of her next change of hair or her next outrageous outfit was unbelievable. After only a few months, a year maybe, that excitement has kind of worn off. I am not uninterested in what she wears or what says but I no longer feel that anticipation which predicted something unique coming up.
And then I saw this picture. Gaga had been in London doing some work with Nicola Formichetti and she got a very refreshing makeover. Call me crazy but this white ombré hair looks great on her, almost natural. I feel like she should follow the hair's direction with her clothes and she'll be on the right path. I think it's time for Lady Gaga to shock by starting to create her own personal style.
But it was the hair I was most excited about. I have been a fan of fake white hair forever and I have this frustrated feeling inside that I should dye my hair green or bright (smurf) blue, at least, once in my life. And so I went through my picture archives to find out how people have been experimenting with the different versions of ombré and white hair in the last few years.

Colour ombré
It got extremely popular a few seasons ago both in and out the runway (by Proenza Schouler). The most popular version was that of the picture from The Sartorialist of the girl with the peroxide blond hair and the pale pink highlights. It is probably the most "natural" way you can use unordinary colours on your hair but it can also go wrong (see below). The other two examples show how you can also let the fake colour take over the natural one by creating a degradé from the root to the ends —metallics look particularly good like this.

White
As I said, I am a big fan of white hair. I envy old people and their white locks because shows you've lived and you're proud. But letting nature work its magic is not the only way to achieve this. The most famous white-haired person (apart from the Queen) is Karl Lagerfeld. I am unsure of the natural colour of his hair but he has often said he uses a chemical to keep it white because it also helps tame his locks in a ponytail. George Lamb's is exactly the way I'd like my hair to look. Instead of dying it back to how it used to be ('Just for men' lol) just embrace it and introduce it in your look. We have obviously seen it on AdR as well (in the shape of a wig) and on older fashionistas like Iris Apfel.

Natural
Within the boundaries of hair dying there are some options that without looking natural still can pass as common. That's the case of peroxide and bleach blond dyes —as seen on Abbey Lee, Mark Ronson or Kate Lanphear. They key is to keep the roots colours (to avoid looking trashy) and the cut clean and simple. The most natural option for ombré hair, though, has to be the one that celebrities the likes of Rachel Bilson, Alexa Chung or Elisa Sednaoui have been sporting lately. It could simply de described as brunette meets blonde. I love the effect it has so much I have been recommending it to a dear friend of mine lately. Hope she listens.

I'm off.

[Pictures: JustJared.buzznet.com, Jak & Jil, Zimbio.com, The Sartorialist]

everybody loves Hervé

Correct me if I am wrong, but I do not quite recall this happening in the recent past. The Hervé Léger craze of mini-dresses started out as something unusual that pleased the eye but soon turned into a common piece in every Hollywood starlet's wardrobe. However, far from serving as a device to look young and stylish, it just brings out the tackiness within and enhances the wrong curves in most cases. Only a handful of celebrities were able to pull it off, while the rest of them who tried failed tragically. Have a look.

Thoughts?

[Pictures credit: JustJared, Gossip Girls, Mischa-B.com]

I'm off.

be my HERO

Like everything you bite your nails waiting for, this year's Costume Institute gala at the MET left me quite disappointed. Just like when you walk out of a well-named restaurant feeling full yet unsatisfied. I can't say whether my disappointment is caused by the lack of originality or risk choosing gowns or by the very few attendants who actually took into consideration the gala's theme —Superheroes.

Only my darling Anna Wintour and fashion-sprout Christina Ricci were able to bring together the theme yet pull of an extremely glamorous look at once. The boss of bosses in a Chanel Haute Couture words cannot manage to describe; the latter, in a wonderful Givenchy loaded with gauze, showing a heart through. Just magnificent.

However, it can not be said there was nothing that caught the eye. I believe the best way of giving the Superhero theme a go was by including loads of crazy colours in your outfit, no matter how you did it. Kate Bosworth did it with sequins made in Chanel HC, models Coco Rocha and Anja Rubik did colour trusting one of its masters —Pucci, and Zac Posen and Co. ruled the night in the brightest shades of blue and yellow.

Additionally, I am particular fond of these three picks. I was literally astonished when I first came to see Katie Holme's Armani utterly packed with red sequins and coped with blinding-blue Louboutins. A crazy choice, perhaps, but one that I adore. To her right is GG's latest addition, Michelle Trachtemberg, in a very rich version of a greek goddess by YSL. Not so much Superhero-ish, but beautiful all the same. Last in the picture is designer Max Azria, a gentleman I now admire for this obvious but unconventional way of proving how easy it was to stick to the theme of the event.

I was particularly happy to find several very elegant-looking gentlemen who put their trust on those who master the art of suits and tuxedos to dress them that night. They are Marcus Wainwright and David Neville (from Rag & Bone) in "themselves", Jason Lewis in Dolce & Gabbana, Chace Crawford in Calvin Klein Collection, and Steve Colb in a grey suit whose designer I long to know.

Last, the biggest disappointments of the night. First, the Olsens. Ashley and Mary-Kate managed to look good in their Diane von Furstemberg's but due to the high standards they've set for themselves, we can't but be completely bored. And, seriously, why is it that Ash looks like a sexy grown-up woman while MK looks like a haggard goblin!?! On second place, another disappointment was Ms. Rachel Bilson who not only got it terribly wrong with the gown but also with the hair. What a mess! That Calvin Klein looks like a hybrid between a mermaid costume and a Michael Phelps swimsuit.

- Your thoughts?

[Picture credits: JustJared, Style.com and GossipGirls]

I'm off.

PS. Comments will be answered shortly. I am loaded with work!! AH!!

friday cuteness

I was happy to wake up this morning to find these two ladies out and about in very well put-together ensembles.

First Rihanna, who leaves her popular umbrella in the winter closet and pulls off one of my favourite pieces of S/S 2008 a —sheer flower-printed Stella McCartney jumpsuit. I have to say I am impressed with Rihanna lately; as much as I don't agree with her style, I admire some of her choices, like that other jumpsuit in purple she wore during Paris Fashion Week. Night called for black and she went for shorts and a cropped tuxedo jacket, dressing it down with a rather low v-necked tee. Is the matching purple lining of the jacket and in the t-shirt intentional?

My other joy of the day is Rachel Bilson. I am totally in love with her and the amazing style she has been walking around for a few months now. This time, she lets us know she, too, can experiment (event if it's not too wildly). First, with a cute short-sleeved shirt with skinny jeans and beautiful leather belt and shoes; secondly, with navy jeans, a printed loose top and purple bag. I am looooving the green Way-Farers!

Thoughts?

[Pictures credit: JustJared and Gossip Girls]

I'm off.

she's got the FEVER, too

She has been the latest one to surrender to the bang fever. How I see it, it doesn't look awfully disastrous on her but having such a small face, the bang reduces it even more. Maybe a little shorter would be better.

What do we think?

[Picture credit: JustJared]

I'm off.

night, black and beyond

I was desperate for some action! I have been endlessly going through the Spring collections, trying to remember every single ensemble so I am ready in a moment like this. However, I am not. Last night, at last, a proper fashionable event occured in the city where la mode is protagonist for the week. The opening of the new Gucci store was the perfect ocassion for Madonna to hold a benefit gala for her own  charity Raising Malawi. Only her Ladyship can gather such a big number of celebrities. Only I missed it.

Ignoring that February is still young and cold, most of the attendants wore outfits out of the Spring collections. However, night-time avoids being eclipsed by imposing its ever known etiquette: black. Only a few dared to disobbey, and for that I love them.

When Drew Barrimore signed that contract with Gucci jewlery she probably didn't realize how restricted her wardrobe choices were going to be. This summer's Gucci collection is, overall, a bore. After the contract expires, she'll have nausea everytime she spots a yellow garment or a big flower print. Apart from poor Drew, I have to admit I was impressed by all the good choices of the night. All my dearest ladies have apparently very-well understood that simplicity is just so in this season. I did not know haircuts could perform a whole image metamorphosis, but this is certainly the case of umbrella spokesperson Rihanna. Her emerald green was perfect; it suited her skintone and was the adequate night-alternative to black. Also, I loved the make-up and hair. But who could be more chic than expert of chicness Katie de Cruise. I think those shoes were totally out of the equation, but so was Tom and, really, I have no need to look at her feet. Red, clean and simple, there's nothing else to it. My last black-skipper of the night was my darling Gwyneth. Pink and its whole palette are a match for her skin and smooth style. For me, this dress was the mini aftermath of last year's Oscars gown. Any thoughts?

beyond

Rihanna was also very right indeed when she opted for Yves Saint Laurent for her Cosmo party. YSL's summer collection is probably my favourite; my outfit today is actually inspired on it — grey jeans, bright blue cotton sweater and black blazer. The only faults I found on Rihanna's overall are that awful military necklace (YSL's season flaw) and the out-of-place sandals. But she is forgiven. Sophia Bush, which is keeping fashion bloggers quite expectant lately, made her final debut last night with a beautiful grey Lanvin? gown. I hope my deeply admired Coco will now include her in her tea parties' list.

Now, to end, remember a few posts back when I busted Rachel Bilson being a copy-cat and wearing Ash Olsen's jacket?
Well, it's happened again. Rachel thought she could get away with it, being in Rome, but oh no! This time, she wore Christian Louboutin's tacked botties. Also, her manière of wearing it, with dark jeans, reminds me of MK's at Sun Dance Festival. What do you think?

[Credit photos: JustJared and Vogue]

I'm off.

a FIGHT for my love

They just can't get enough. Of me. That's the only part the song missed, maybe on purpose in order not to give away what today is a secret no more. Rachel Bilson has decided to fight Ashley Olsen for my love. Her first move has been copying one of my favourite jackets form the Olsen.

Who will win my heart in the end? Will Rachel start war? Or will everything end in a little fashionista quarrel?

Give me a hand. Who do you think wore it best?

[Photos credit: Olsen-Fan and JustJared]

I'm off.

fashion SPROUTS

If there is a reason why I keep going into gossip and celeb blogs, this is it. I love watching the transforming process some celebrities go through and how some of them blossom, turning into truly fashion icons. Whether the reason for the change is a personal view on clothing or a very talented stylist, I do not care. I can appreciate both things as a result of experimenting with fashion, because this is what it is all about, getting to the point where you've found your style.

For the past few weeks —maybe months— this amazingly cute actress has been popping up in blogs everywhere because of the stylish turn she's experienced. Rachel Bilson became extremely famous from her role in The O.C., where Mischa Barton got most of the attention and the good clothing. And something similar happened outside the show. Once the series was over, however, she started this process I've been talking about. The result is this lovely and —I hope— endless list of perfectly composed outfits based on beautiful simplicity and smart clothing. The last pictures of her going to Barney's in NYC coped it all. Behold.

Now, my "surprises" of the day have been MK Olsen and Josh Hartnett. I've always been a fan of Mary-Kate —although it is her sister who has me enchanted— but her last ensemble is definitely one of my favourites. 

Nevertheless, if surprises is the topic for today, I cannot skip this. I confess I have been keeping an eye on them since the first time I found out about The Jonas Brothers. Three bros; a 20-year-old, a 18-year-old and a 15-year-old one have proved that you don't need to wait for eternity to look stylish. I assume they have a professional working behind them, but this is only a guess, I'm not certain. Whichever way it is, their looks don't stop atonishing me. I would define their style as sort of a Brit preppy meets American East coast meets ethnic-retro-cool. It's simply unexplainable, but you can't stop looking.

[Credit photos: JustJared & Dlisted]

I'm off.