Disney face-off: Who wore the Mickey ears better at Barney's ‘Electric Holiday’ launch?
Courtesy of Barneys, Getty

Last night the Walt Disney Company launched 'Electric Holiday' at the Barneys New York Madison Avenue store bringing together the worlds of high fashion and the fantasy of Disney. I don't know about you but I think this is pretty much what Christmas should always be like.
As part of the holiday project the store's windows have been completely redone and were unvelied last night featuring 'Electric Holiday', a video starring Minnie Mouse on a fashion adventure in paris and with cameos from all the most famous faces in fashion. All of which we have all been going crazy about for the last few days. I was especially happy to find out that Juergen Teller, Bryanboy, Guido Palau, Pat McGrath, Nicholas Ghesuière, Emmanuelle Alt and Suzy Menkes are all featured and looking awesome as Disney characters. Each of the traditional Disney characters were dressed by some of the best designers in the world for the film: Mickey Mouse in Balenciaga, Goofy in Balmain, Daidy in Dolce & Gabbana, Minnie Mouse in lanvin, Snow White in Nina Ricci, Tina in Proenza Shouler (!), and Cruella de Vil in Rick Owens – duh.
Lots of amazing guests attended the event to see the unveiling of the project but I must admit my favourite ones were Sarah Jessica Parker and Bryanboy who really got into the Disney and fashion spirit and sported Mickey mouse ears with their chic evening looks. Who is your favourite?

Marc Jacobs Resort 2013 face-off: Hailee Steinfeld vs. Anna Wintour

Three days ago for 'The Dark Knight Rises' premiere in LA Hailee Steinfeld chose to wear a sequinned Marc Jacobs number from his Cruise 2013 collection. It was, in fact, the same dress Anna Wintour wore to the CFDA awards a few weeks back.
Hailee went for a 'total look' including Jacobs' clog-like sandals and tube clutch accompanied with simple makeup and hair. Anna, on the other hand, added her signature Manolo Blahnik sling-backs and jewelled necklace. She also added a skinny red belt. I personally find Anna's take a lot more feminine and effortless. What do you think?

Fragrance campaign face-off: Kristen Stewart vs. Blake Lively
TFS

These two super anticipated campaigns are now out. I must say that I usually am never particularly keen on fragrance campaigns because there's always too much going on, they're too mainstream. However, this doesn't go for the Florabotanica (great name too) and Gucci Première campaigns.
I have thought from day one that Kristen Stewart is the most brilliant match for Balenciaga, by Steven Meisel. She looks cool and relaxed in Balenciaga clothes and gives everything her own spin. And I love her in the new perfume ad because not only the artwork is beautiful – they should make wallpaper – but I'm happy to see Kristen wearing the same Balenciaga SS08 dress from my favourite collection. It is, incidentally, the same look Jennifer Connelly wore 4 years ago on the campaign for the house.
Blake Lively has been making such perfect fashion choices over the last few days that I feel like it's the perfect time for this to come out. She always looks better when she channels a bit of old Hollywood glamour from the 50's – wavy blond hair, beauty spot, long-sleeved dresses with open back. All notes Gucci and Mert & Marcus struck for their Première ad. It's incredibly beautiful because it's simple.

Chanel SS12 face-off: Lily Donaldson vs. Jessica Biel
TFS, JustJared

I'm a complete sucker for these silly things, you will have noticed by now. I love commenting on how different people wear the same dress, even if it's completely irrelevant.

Lily Donaldson covers the July issue of Vogue Russia in the same Chanel dress Jessica Biel wore to the MTV Movie Awards about two weeks ago. This number for the SS12 collection is a bit of a tricky one because of the volume and length of the sleeves, which can look boxy.
I'm not sure about Lily's hair, although it does work on the cover, but Biel made the same mistake. She would have looked a lot better with her hair up – it usually works better with long-sleeve, closed-neck dresses – and she should have gone for a strappy sky-high sandal or stiletto. Her Barbara Bui shoes added a nice colour but the ankle strap cuts off her leg making her look shorter.
It's a shame because I love the scalloped effect that the texture of the knit dress creates. Kate Bosworth would have rocked the hell of out this piece!

What do you think? Vote below.

Tom Ford face-off: Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Daphne Guiness
JustJared, Style.com

Daphne Guiness was one of the attendee's of a private dinner Tom Ford hosted last Friday to celebrate the kick off of London Collections: Men and to be master of ceremonies, which I imagine is one of his favourite things.
Daphne obviously wore one of Tom Ford's designs for the occasion. But I was surprised to see it was exactly the same model Gwyneth Paltrow wore earlier this year for the Oscars. It would have been fine had Gwyneth not been crowned best dressed by everyone – why would you want to compete with that?
The truth is Guiness looked more like a dark queen (a crow on her shoulder would have been a good accessory) while Paltrow was more like the queen of light. I think Daphne fell short with this look even though I liked her touch of the golden chocker. What are your thoughts?

June cover swimwear face-off: Vogue Deutsch vs. Vogue US
TFS

Yesterday American Vogue released their June cover and editorial centred around the London Olympics. Hope Solo, Ryan Lochte and Serena Williams shot by Annie Leibovitz jog on the beach for 'Team USA'. Vogue Germany also released their June cover featuring the beautiful CArolyn Murphy shot by Alexi Lubomirski.

I don't even know where to begin with the American Vogue cover... The picture is so gimmicky and unnatural i just can't deal. It's almost like the conservative version of a Men's Health cover. I just don't understand how it was so difficult to come up with a fun and clever concept for a sports issue, especially if you consider that so many of the new collections are so heavy with sportswear elements. The colours are also a bit dull (even the sea!) and the swimsuits (very Michael Kors) are super dated.

Vogue Deutsch, however, celebrates their love for summer, curves, fashion and stars with a stunning shot, great styling and amazing colours that really evoke the new season.

Keira cover face off: Interview Germany vs. Interview US
TFS

I used to find quite odd, even annoying, finding recycled covers or editorials on international editions of magazines. After reading a bit about it and trying to look at the covers with an open mind I actually realised that some of the new versions were a lot better than the originals.
It has happened again. For their May issue cover Interview Germany have borrowed the Mert & Marcus story from April's Interview US. I was a big fan of the original cover – especially of the cheeks – but I didn't love the colours.
I really like what the Germans have done for their cover – the post is a lot more relaxed, the detail of the cigarette and the trench coat with the collar up give it a sort of 'femme noire' vibe. And the layout is unexpected and super colourful, which contrasts with the black and white picture.

Dolce & Gabbana cover face off: Vogue Japan vs. Vogue Turkey
FashionGoneRogue, Style.com

I have mentioned a few times over the last few weeks how I could see all the upcoming magazine covers being plastered in the amazing Prada SS12 collection. So far there has indeed been a lot of it but there have been those who have wanted to change things up a bit on their new covers. This is the case of the February's Vogue Turkey and Vogue Japan's March issue. What are the chances of going for exactly the same piece?! Both Bianca Balti (styled by Anna dello Russo) and Karolina Kurkova (by Daniela Paudice) don the same sext bejewelled number from Dolce & Gabbana's SS12 collection. I instantly recognised the ultra-mini dress as I still remember being in awe of how Magdalena Frackowiak wore it on the runway.
I can't really decide which cover I like better, which is unlike me. I like how Karolina's look is quite simple and only accessorised with Prada (ha!) earrings but I also like Bianca's 'Italiana' cover and the genius "Latin Lover" headline.

couleur face-off

Just by glancing at Kate Bosworth one knows she is very much clued in when it comes to trends. Her outfit of soft lines and muted colours paired up with neutral-coloured shoes and bag epitomises the look of the season for SS10. Looking at any shops it seems evident that these colour palette will take over the upcoming season but let's not forget the other significant trend of the season —military khaki. Which one will you be sporting for SS10?

Below, clockwise from left: Chloé cotton suit, Chloé silk-crepe blouse, Marc Jacobs satin top, Jason Wu chiffon skirt, Vanessa Bruno Athé shorts, Elizabeth and James embellished skirt, Missoni wrap top. All from Net-a-Porter.

Below, clockwise from left: Splendid jersey top, Balmain tank top, Elizabeth and James silk shirt, Balmain cargo shorts, Stella McCartney camouflage shorts, Alexander Wang asymmetric skirt. All from Net-a-Porter.

[Pictures: JustJared, Net-a-Porter]

I'm off.

clog face-off

I am still unsure about Chanel's clogs for the upcoming SS10, they are a very high and tacky literal version of the Swedish originals. Plus, I very much question their precticality. Marni (FW10), on the other hand, created a very cool and contemporary version of a clog better suited for a fashionista. They added a wedge in wood or rubber and a back strap for a better walking performance. In any case, they won't ever be the most popular shoes but I can see Aurora Sansone and Viviana Volpicella getting Marni's version dusty at the Tuileries. Would you wear clogs at all?

[Pictures: Style.com]

I'm off.

M vs. M

If you regularly check soVIPzone you know I am quite fond of comparing womens and menswear. I think it has something to do with the fact that women's clothes are always the main focus in fashion and we are somehow alienated. So I'm constantly trying to prove that we deserve our share of attention too. And this is yet another reason to support that. Isn't it fascinating that Marc Jacobs has done exactly the same for men and trousers in FW10 as Miuccia Prada did for women in SS09? I do think so. Now, whether we'll see any men actually wearing this double leg or not is a different question.

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

I'm off.

now is then

I was determined to post the Paris Fashion Week menswear highlights tonight but alas my stomach's state of emptiness prevents me from refocusing my attention from food and onto blogging. Instead, you will find this shorter post about one of the aspects that I found more fascinating about the FW10 Dries Van Noten show. I couldn't get the FW07 Balenciaga collection out of my head while looking at these pictures. Coming from Dries, however, I took this obvious reference as a genius twist on Nicolas Ghesquière's FW07 collection rather than as plagiarism —a generosity gesture so men can wear DVN and feel like wearing vintage Balenciaga. All at once. Behold.

[Picture credit: Style.com & GQ.com]

I'm off.

BCBG face-off

This is the first fashion face-off I have ever posted on soVIPzone.

On the left, Camille Guaty in SS09 BCBG Max Azria at Stella McCartney's party in LA. On the right, Paloma Carvajal (my sister) in the same dress paired up with mirror leather Jimmy Choo shoes and Purificación García patent leather clutch attending her own graduation.

Who does and doesn't do it for you?

I'm off.

to be or not to be... a MAN

Everyone knows fashion is more of a women's world, there is no wonder about that. But how unfair is it that only because of that overlook-able fact we men must wait around for a year in order to get those trends in our sizes. Whether you are looking for gladiators, a boho look, new hippy or neon you might as well wear last year's clothes with wit and find a good amount of patience. Then, of course you can be lucky enough to be a pocket-size guy with extraordinarily small feet so as to find your beloved item among a pile of unwanted womenswear. Something which seems highly unlikely all the same. However, we shall not be fully disappointed as Milan fashion week is well on the move, showcasing what seem to be the innovative ways of transporting S/S'08 womenswear onto the male side of fashion. Upset as that fact could make us, it can also be taken as a better way of approaching the now super fresh trends. Designers have time to let their ideas mature and experiment with them for some months. And it looks like that is precisely what has occurred. S/S'09 offers all we could wish for specifically adapted for us —oh what an honour.

Balmain's new hippy comes via Gucci for next summer.

It's also Gucci that brings in Prada's graphic fantasy and colours.

Hermès oriental touch is courtesy of Asia-lover Giorgio Armani.

Neon as seen in Blumarine can also be found at Salvatore Ferragamo and Calvin Klein Collection for next summer.

Cropped tops for men are introduced by Prada, just like Jil Sander did.

In this case, Etro uses their own trends and patterns for their womenswear'08 and menswear'09 for the summer season.

[Pictures credit: Style.com]

I'm off.

UPDATE: I have just changed the header, it needed some refreshing. What do you think?