This season of Gossip Girl is being a rollercoaster. I loved last week's episode but 'Memoirs of an invisible Dan' was so dull! I could cope with an uneventful episode if, like they used to, Serena and Blair would change four or five times during the day but it seems this season we're not getting more than a change of clothes.

Serena, who I'm happy to say is still the best dressed, looked amazing in a Yigal Azrouel dress that she wore with amazing snakeskin YSL wedges and a Jody Candrian cuff was the perfect example of a day-to-night look. Once she took off the chunky cardi she was ready for a cocktail. I also loved her 'relaxed' look with the sequinned Haute Hippy skirt and the cozy tank top.

Blair had a hit and a miss this week. The hit was the Louis Vuitton Resort 2012 print dress with the chiffon hemline that she wore with a stunning Prada bag. The miss was her evening look –a Peter Som SS10 dress with a beautiful textured top that was spoiled by the ragged silk skirt that looked really cheap. It was less conservative than normal but I wasn't keen on it.

There's little else to report on the rest of the characters. Liz Hurley keeps looking hot but exactly the same as every week, the boys are looking good but not trying hard enough, not even Chuck. And Lily had two hits but she's got so little screen time we barely have time to enjoy them.

CWtv.com, Style.com

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]

friday salad

After weeks that in fact seemed like years to me I have managed to put together a little post to let you know that soVIPzone is still alive. I have been finishing my course and doing an internship at Luella so I haven't had as much time as I need to update around here. And, quite honestly, I have not been that inspired as of late.

Cruise and I have a love-hate relationship. That pointless mid-season created for rich socialites is very pleasing because it eases the paint of not seeing new fashion for six months but can be highly disappointed, as designers do not actually try to push the boundaries further. However, I utterly loved Yves Saint-Laurent, Yigal Azrouël (which I am worshipping lately) and Christopher Kane, whose short but very imaginative collection has me day-dreaming.

Another something that made me happy this week was seeing Emma Watson looking flabbergasting in the adverts for Burberry A/W09. I mean, Christopher Bailey and Mario Testino? Let me quote the poet: "I die".

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

I'm off.

to DIE for, vol. 2

And here I am again. Let’s resume and put an end to the S/S’08 dress special.

Following my habit of picking up my three favourite dresses, I chose the following. First, Versace’s surprisingly tasteful sky-blue gown. And I say surprisingly because if there is something Donatella usually lacks that is taste, which is the reason for my doubting her involvement in the collection. Next is Donna Karan’s pale pink dress. The beauty of it lays in the draped front and in the ingenious triangular black straps. The futuristic wrap-up dress with beading details by Marc Jacobs is my third favourite pick.

Looking at the rest of the list we find Oscar de la Renta’s blinding dress, where a flowery ingredient is brought it by a sort of see-thru cut-play. Right next to it is Celine’s über-cute dress. The cut, the neck and the penguins make it perfect for a shopping day in town. Tory Burch combines Diane Von Furstemberg’s S/S idea with bold colours, a very fun and playful choice.

However, this summer is time for maxi-dresses and it seems only obvious when looking at these collections. Consuelo Casteglioni’s refreshing touch at Valentino’s has provided very elegant dresses such as the one above in pale pink. Cavalli’s Cruise collection was remarkably good and very him, which is not a usual combination. He has managed to get quite a lot things going on in a dress without letting it go over-the-top. Now, when talking maxi, Carolina Herrera is also well experienced. I am very fond of that sofa-like print; it is just so east coast elegant.

The last set of dresses includes Philip Lim’s perfect approach to boho chic in a colour for all seasons; a bright blue Yigal Azrouël draped like a venetian curtain and calling out for attention; and a Jonathan Saunders' arty colour-craze.

Your thoughts?

[Pictures credit: Style.com]

I’m off.