I am really happy with this year's edition of Cannes film festival. Most people have made a good effort and it's paid off. Rachel McAdams and Penélope Cruz almost restored my faith in Marchesa. And I also started to believe that Pe can actually dress. Her Givenchy and Stella McCartney moments were definitely highlights of the festival.

Some other of my favourites have been slightly less talked about. Spanish actress Paz Vega rocked an Azzaro jumpsuit (a spin off of Carey Mulligan's Azzaro dress from last year's Cannes). I was impressed with how well she wore it. I loved the choice of shoes and the hair but I would have made the trousers straighter. Jane Fonda looked über-elegant in a blue gown and an amazing diamond and sapphire necklace. Clotilde Courau had one of those classic moments of a simple number with a trail in a champagne hue and Elizabeth Olsen showed not once but twice that I wasn't wrong in predicting we could expect great things from her.

The absolute star of the show for me was Fan Bing Bing. She has not only the best designer liaisons but an exquisite flair for fashion. She pulled off everything from a personally designed gown with Oriental motifs (which apparently took 4 months to make), to a couple of Versace Atelier (my two favourites) and  some Elie Saab Couture. Simply outstanding. I really hope she gets a role in a big period drama soon so we get lots of brilliant red carpet moments like these.

[Zimbio]

the canny jumpsuit

So far, the best adjective to describe this year's Cannes festival in terms of fashion is inconsistent. There have been great moments by Cate Blanchett and Carey Mulligan, and even a more unexpected Beckinsale one (in Balmain today). But there have also been pretty bad moments courtesy of Eva Longoria and anyone else who wore the boring new Gucci Première. And to add up to the inconsistency, Elsa Pataky, a Spanish actress, surprised everyone looking dashing in a ruffled Fendi jumpsuit. The cleverest part of this choice was the fact that the jumpsuit in question had ruffles both at the front and back, something pretty handy when you're photographed from either side at will.

Also today, I found Cate Blanchett on the new cover of W magazine. In the spread inside, which is not to be missed, Blanchett donned another jumpsuit of a similar features this time by Chloé. This got me thinking about the tricky nature of jumpsuits and how much easier it seems to pull of in a jersey or silk of this champagne-meets-khaki kind of hue. I found two other similar, more casual jumpsuits by Halston and Stella McCartney that confirmed my theory.

What do you think of the jumpsuit trend? Would you wear one?

I'm off.

[Pictures: Wmagazine.com, Net-a-Porter.com, Style.com, BergdorfGoodman.com, Zimbio.com, Vogue.es]

JUMPSUIT fever

After having a look at the pictures below you will most probably agree that jumpsuits rapidly moved from being that garment which required enormous courage to be worn to the trendiest and most fashion-forward item to wear.

Last summer (2008) Stella McCartney gave us the best possibly made jumpsuit in a sheer flowery print. So I was not extremely surprised when I repeatedly found a reinvention of the piece in her Spring/Summer 2009 collection. However, they follow a different line. The light materials keep being a constant but the colour from flowers is substituted by a creamier, softer palette. Instead of the playful ruffles, lapels as part of a sexy version of a suit. In opposition, there is the very closed at the neck blue satin version.

A dear love of mine for the summer, Etro, excluded their famous crazy prints from the jumpsuits. In a palette very much à la Hermès they make this piece of clothing look comfortable and chic and bohemian in the exact adequate doses. It is sort of a downtown safari look that can work for both a casual beach day or a sophisticated night out.

Chloé chose the detailing in the crafting of jumpsuits as the way to introduce richness in them. Pleating and draping merge in waists and tops and the slightly cropped trousers add a timeless casualness.

For other examples from more S/S09 collections have a look at Diane von Furstemberg's funky fairy look, YSL's tailored piece with short trousers that may look like a skirt, and Alexander McQueen's head to toe jumpsuit jeweled look.

Will they finally filter down to the high street so that we can see them out?

[Pictures credit: Style.com]

I'm off.

jeopardized VIRILITY?

For those of you possibly expecting posts about Haute Couture, my apologies. I am not as big a connoisseur I should be to write about such an exquisite thing and there are plenty of blogs out there providing very good quality reviews about everything going on in Paris. Instead, I will still post about the recently shown French men collections for at least what is left of this week.
In opposition to this summer’s male fashion, summer 2009 brings into the picture numerous new cuts and ideas that, outside the fashion world, might translate into outrage or mockery. I myself confess I was struck with a cocktail of interest and denial as I flipped through these collections. Eventually I realized this was a good thing —innovation in menswear is rarely found and even if some things are not to be seen in high street windows they are a step forward fashion-wise.

Once again, women trends for the current season can be found in summer 2009, just like you could see in “to be or not to be… a MAN”. Following that stream we find jumpsuits. Salvatore Ferragamo and Veronique Branquinho presented two quite interesting short jumpsuits. They look surprisingly good on the models, but I’m afraid they wouldn’t as much in a more realistic body. Another more shocking female garment transported onto menswear is the mini-dress, redone by Raf Simons.

Also closely related to women clothing are leggings, which were on for quite a while and now seem to be object of contempt. Well, they are making a comeback next summer, only the legs they will cover will be rather hairier. Veronique Branquinho, Lanvin and Comme des Garçons have them full length and slightly looser than those for girls. The fresh aspect is they are worn under short pants —used to make a colour or fabric contrast and to add dynamism.

However, there are those who chose to keep leggings closer to the original concept. That is, on their own or under slightly longer tops. This is the case of Comme des Garçons and Maison Martin Margiela’s shiny sequined ones.

A more likely proposal within the leggings universe is knee-length ones also worn under short pants. Givenchy’s seem like a chic way of innovation without crossing the boundaries between fashion-forward and madness. Raf Simons leaves short leggings on their own, which doesn’t strike as surprising provided it was them who made dresses.

Last on the list is the skirt. Embarrassingly enough, the first thing that popped into my mind when I laid eyes on Comme des Garçons’ skirts for him was Kevin from the Backstreet Boys. He has been the only man I have even seen wearing a skirt. This time, they can be found in all lengths and especially in black and white.

[Pictures credit: Style.com]


Now I wonder, is it really necessary to bring in previously used womenswear trends or transform their garments into unisex? Can’t innovation in menswear take place on its own?

And also, does this redirection of fashion jeopardize our virility?
What do you reckon?

I’m off.

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.

just for FUN

It is a deliriously sunny, warm day here in Barcelona. The previous sunny days were simply preparing the territory for an outstanding Saturday morning, so I felt it was my duty to go out and enjoy a good breakfast beneath the sunlight. I did so as I chatted on the phone with a friend, read a little, and had a close look at what people were wearing for this specially nice weather. And I was struck with an awful sort of surprise, those who were not still wearing their dull dark-coloured jackets or sweaters (I do not know who they survived, by the way) wore shorts and tank tops. Now, seriously, isn't there anything to do but go to the extremes with the slightest climate change? Whatever happened to the Spring wardrobe? The bad or lack of use of colour seems most incomprehensible to me, with all those florals and bold colours showing up everywhere!

Because all of this, people's lack of fun and colour for dressing today, I write this post. There is a brand that came my way not long ago and that I've been finding interesting lately. It's called 55DSL and it was initially created as an experimental spin-off from Diesel to later establish itself as an independent brand. "The line was originally inspired by radical sports – snow, surf and skate – and these remain anchored in its DNA. But as the brand grew, it embraced the fusion of sport and urban culture that is the foundation of today’s street style.", this is how the brand describes itself. I know that to most of you, fashionistas of the world, this will not sound very promising, but I ask you to have a look first.

I personally find very interesting the manner in which they play around with the named extreme sports inspiration, you can see it yet it's not so evident. Then, I'm quite fond of the colours they've used and the fits of the clothes as well as that very cool degradé (like Prada's). I don't know about you, but in the summertime I usually find myself searching through my closet trying to find something that it's not so tight nor too loose in which to feel comfortable and stylish. I reckon 22DSL has achieved that point.

I really like the colour jeans, I was surprised to find them in pink for guys! What do you think of them? and I am also in love with the checked shorts and the bunnies t-shirt!

Also, I found this jumpsuits and dress for girls. I have been wondering for a while whether I'll see any girls wearing jumpsuits about town, but looking at these has made it easier for me to picture them on the streets. I quite like the grey one because it looks like the kind of garment that you could wear just like that plus some Converse or stylish it up with a belt and some heels.

[Pictures credit: 55dsl.com]

For more information about 55DSL, click here.

I'm off.