Rihanna covers the latest American Vogue
TFS

I haven't been this happy about the cover of American Vogue since Emma Stone was featured back in the July issue. And I am so glad that Rihanna is partly responsible for my joy. Her last American Vogue cover was so awkward and the Vogue UK one that followed wasn't much of an improvement, which is a shame because I think Ri-ri would be a stylist's dream as she is super chameleonic but her personality always comes through. And they've finally managed that in this shot by Annie Leibovitz.

The signer models a red-hot Valentino (cooked) lace dress from the Resort 2012 collection. It looks absolutely amazing with the matching lips, the smoky eyes and the short hairdo she's sporting these days of which I'm a great fan. But, mostly, I love the fact that this cover reminds me of a Vogue Nippon story featuring Daria Werbowy back in 2009. If Vogue can keep this sort of slicker and edgier feel on their upcoming covers I would totally start buying the magazine again.

Best Dressed of the Weekend: Red, peplums & The Olsens
JustJared

It's always a good weekend when the Olsens are out in the open. This time they attended the Fresh Air Funds Salute to American Heroes in New York. They went for a kind of Ying and Yang look – Ashley in a ivory The Row dress with the ruffled detail at the front and Mary-Kate, also in The Row, in a black combo of silk shirt and skirt. I loved MK's (Fendi?)shoes and her choice of croc The Row bag.

Charlize Theron is currently on her press tour promoting Snow White and the Huntsman and Prometheus, which has turned out to be quite a treat. She's been choosing all the right dresses for the red carpet – especially her Dior in London – but also for travelling – here another of my favourites. Her latest hit, by Lanvin, was only last night at the MTV Movie Awards in LA. I loved the simple strapless red with the season's super trendy peplum.

I'm not sure anyone in the world hasn't heard about the Queen's Jubilee. I must admit I missed much of it but was happy to see that Kate Middleton – should I call her Duchess of Cambridge? – went not only for red, which was compulsory, but for McQueen again. The combination of the pleats in the skirt and the flat top was super chic and I liked the fact that, if very subtle, there was also some peplum action going on here.

Shoe Porn Friday: Christian Louboutin's "Bow Bow"
ChristianLouboutin.com

I have been crazy about these shoes ever since I saw them on Annabelle Dexter-Jones at the Chanel Artists Dinner. I love how girly and classic they are and how the PVC not only makes it look as if the bows were floating in the air but how it adds a contemporary note to the shoes.

The "Bow Bow" shoes are not the only pair that Christian Louboutin has created using this modern material. It looks like quite a few pieces of the line he created to commemorate his brand's 20th anniversary. We have also been seeing quite a lot of the "Un Bout 100" model, which Kim Kardashian loves. I am also a fan of the "Just Picks 100" – a more daring model.

They're all the perfect shoes to dress up a casual look for a relaxed dinner or to inject a Marie Antoinette vibe into a cocktail dress ensemble.

Do you love them?

Michael Kors FW12: Red, checks & amazing coats
Style.com

I feel like Michael Kors' collections are getting better and better every season. Or maybe I am more and more of a sucker for preppy East-coast styles. Perhaps both. The truth is I absolutely love the FW12 collection. We see a lot of alpine style fashion in the winter collections but it's usually approached from a 'weekend getaway' perspective: a city girl who goes to the mountains and wants to be comfy but chic, blah, blah. This time it looks like Kors has flipped the tables. This looks more like a super sophisticated woman who lives in the country and decides to show everyone in the city how it's done.
The coats are, as you can see, my favourite. And I would always love a thick knit and flannel pant any day of the week. There is an ease to everything, like you can throw anything on and you know it will look and feel great.

Shoe Porn Friday: The whole Charlotte Olympia collection
ModaOperandi.com

I appreciate that it's sort of cheating to have more than a pair of shoes in this post. The fact is that Giulia and I spend all week sending each other shoes that we think would work. Or Giulia just sends me an email with 'Shoe Porn Friday' as subject, the picture of the shoe and a line that often only reads "I DIE". That's when I know it's the right shoe.

This week I got an email from Moda Operandi about the Charlotte Olympia's Pre-Fall 2012 collection and I automatically copied the link and emailed it to Giulia. This week the response was equally as enthusiastic but less precise: "Anastasia sandal or polly pumps!!!! Die for all!" And that's exactly the reason why I didn't choose one.
I must admit my obsession is with Charlotte Olympia's smoking slippers –can you stark making men's, please?– so I was happy to find this new model very appropriately named "Charlotte's Web". I love the fact that there's so much red in the collection. It's exactly the shade that goes with your winter wardrobe and it still adds that kick a dark outfit needs.
Click here to see the whole collection –you've got until February 1st to get yourself a pair!

Is it me or is Cannes lasting longer this year? Not that I'm complaining because it means more amazing fashion moments to enjoy.

Last night one of Rachel Zoe's girls, Zoe Saldana, walked the red carpet is what was the most occasion appropriate dress. Everything about this Armani Privé says French riviera to me. I love how it's all about the white and red stripes, which reminds me of the Chanel's breton stripes Lagerfeld has often done in red. It is a gown with a beachy feel to it, don't the red stripes seem to be made of sand?

Penélope Cruz, who already had several Cannes hits, is back on tour promoting 'Pirates on the Caribbean'. For the German premiere in Munich she also wore Armani Privé. We had seen a very similar number in blue on Anne Hathaway at the Oscars but I actually like this cut and colour more. It seems to have been altered to the smallest millimetre to fit Pe perfectly and she wears it in a way that needs to jewellery whatsoever. I wonder who's styling her?

[JustJared]

Day one of the Cannes film festival started with all the right fashion choices. Cannes is a lot of fun because we always get to see an arrival day look for the photocall at the marina and an evening gown for the red carpet event.

My two favourites of the day were Rachel McAdams and Uma Thurman. Rachel first wore a Maxime Simoens cocktail number that read a lot better on the catwalk that it did against her pale skin and golden locks. To make up for it she wore an extraordinary Marchesa dress of red lace and nude chiffon. It's rare that a Marchesa dress blows me away because they are often overused but Rachel wears is with great flair. And I loved the sort of retro weaves on her hair!

Uma had two hits in a row. The first with one of the season's famous Dolce & Gabbana white dresses. A very simple and very sexy number that fit her like a glove. The second, also in white but by Versace. I loved the cut-outs of the original dress but I loved the kind of old Hollywood glamour that their absence gave the gown.

I was also very keen on Fan Bing Bing's choice. I first noticed her at the last Christian Dior Couture show and I loved her kind or oriental take on Dita Von Teese's style.
Salma Hayek, however, had not only one miss but two. Both signed by Gucci.

[JustJared, Zimbio]

Alexa for Net-a-Porter

Net-a-Porter is introducing a change to their seasonal printed magazine. For their SS11 issue, available to buy online on February 16 for £7, they have featured for the first time celebrity stars. Alexa Chung, shot by Kang Z Feng, and Anna dello Russo, shot by Giampaolo Sgura are meant to epitomise this season's two biggest trends —the minimalist garçon look and the pompous style. I absolutely love both shots but especially Alexa's, who is wearing that Erdem dress I first fell in love with when I saw it on Michelle Williams. And it goes in line with today's first post. Red, it seems, is the colour of the day!

I'm off.

[Picture: Courtesy of Net-a-Porter]

Collage Sunday, 14.11.10

Red is one of those colours that never really goes out of fashion. However, for FW10 is is very much in. Everyone from the big French houses like Chanel and Givenchy to the fashion-forward rebels the likes of Ann Demeulemeester and Margiela to younger designers like Kamola and Dsquared2 have made red one of the strong points of their winter collections, be it on full looks or as dashes of colours. Even Vogue Italia gave a red Giorgio Armani the cover of their latest issue. If, like me, you are also a Christmas fanatic you'll find that red is not only the chicest way to a bright winter ensemble but also the merriest way to get into the the season's spirit. —Happy Sunday!

I'm off.

[Pictures: Kamola.co.uk, TFS, Style.com]

Inside out

We're back! Sorry for the few days absence but Giulia and I felt like taking a little break after the very intense fashion month coverage. From now on we'll be reporting on the rest of the shows we loved as well as on anything relevant for FW10. Today's post comes from the hand of two very close people to me —my sister Paloma (left) and my favourite Spanish fashionista Paula (right). They were kind enough to attend the SS11 Ana Locking show during Madrid Fashion Week as Giulia and I couldn't make it because it coincided with LFW. Big thanks to my sis for taking the pictures and to Pau for writing the review of the collection.

Red light panels, loud electronic music, and then, there was light. Ana Locking opened in Madrid Cibeles fashion week, to a show filled with psychedelic designs, transparencies, asymmetrical shapes, and magical lace. INSIDES was the name given to the collection, and it was that exactly which inspired the prints and the colours, pictures of the insides of the human body viewed through a microscopic lens, introducing abstract compositions that reminded of innocent and beautiful sites of terrestrial nature.
The weight appropriate models, as Cibeles fashion week rules establish, marched down the runway with dresses in various warm colours, and lace dresses and skirts that belong in the closet of Goddess Dello Russo. Above all, the show was rather provocative, the lace and transparencies were truly a pleasure for the eye, as were the dresses and trousers that flowed as if drawing the shapes of the wind. There was a certain juxtaposition, in pairing up the trousers, and the lace skirts and dresses, with clean cut blazers displaying a bare back, and held together with leather belts, which broke the sobriety of such a classic garment. Locking portrays a woman comfortable in her own skin (or insides in this case), with low back and necklines, provocative and sexy, yet subtle and elegant enough, to wear anywhere, from a yacht party in Corcega, to dinner at sunset in Ibiza. Ana Locking dressed the outside with the insides, combined lace and leather, used asymmetrical lines and clean cuts, and merged science and fashion, to a final triumphant result, giving us all yet another reason to keep Madrid Cibeles Fashion Week on our radar.

Check out Ana Locking's website here. You can also follow my sister and Paula on twitter to see what they get up to.
I'm off.

[Pictures: Ana Locking, soVIPzone]

What happens in Milano...

... definitely doesn't stay in Milano. It goes around the world. There are still two days left from Milan Fashion Week but we have already seen a lot of the biggest names turn things around on the catwalk. The SS11 trends have radically changed to opulent minimalism focused on cuts and details rather than flamboyance. It's the traditionally more pompous brands like Versace which are the biggest surprises. The colours were strong but clear and red was king even though Donatella's nudes seemed even more appealing. We also saw a lot of stripes and Versace's famous Greek motifs adding dashes of colour to otherwise monochromatic dresses. I particularly liked the extra long fringe details, the cutout shoes and the just-below-the-knee pencil-skirted dresses.

While the new collections that will dictate next summer's trends keep coming down the catwalks of the world's fashion capitals, its attendees, the fashion elite, unconsciously set another handful of trends that the rest of the industry's adepts will follow later as well. The best example of this is the cropped trousers and stilettos combo that the team of Net-a-Porter have already tweeted about. A few months ago people couldn't believe that the infamous chunky heels and wedges would be kicked out of the spotlight by their skinnier sisters but everyone from our favourite style icons to Vogue's popular editors are embracing the stiletto. Good news for Prada and Marant!

I have always been and will stay a faithful Etro fan. It is one of those houses that strongly holds on to their spirit season after season yet never fails to provide contemporary takes on their staples. However, their latest line felt incredibly restrained. We did see plenty of ethnic prints and fringes but their SS11 collection had a much more sophisticated city vibe. The prints were versatile and so were the maxi dresses. It was as if veronica Etro had envisioned her bohemian muse paying a visit to the big city. Very refreshing.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Style.com, Net-a-Porter.com, Zimbio.com, SaksFifthAvenue.com]

the cherry on top

Milan Fashion Week wrapped up yesterday after four days of non-stop hit collections. I was in awe of the usuals (Zegna, Jil Sander, Burberry) but what made things even better was the fact that Domenico and Stefano at Dolce & Gabbana and D&G really showed why they became so popular in the first place. Going away from the usual Italian stereotypes of gold sneakers and stuffed shirts and ripped jeans, the Italian duo keeps finding inspiration in the country's traditional clothing and putting it through their funnel to bring their clothes to the present. For the D&G line, which I haven't liked since I was 16, they gave us a picnic orgy of gingham and espadrilles. They created mono-colour outfits that played with patterns, prints and texture. Everything was extremely wearable, fresh and, yes, desirable.

Dean and Dan at Dsquared2 were my second surprise of the week. I normally find their collections really fun and clever but too stuck into their own cliched Italian-ness. For SS11, however, their found inspiration in the classic 'American Gigolo'. Personally, I think they couldn't have chosen a theme that suited them better. The 80's vibe works amazingly with the really modern colours of the tucked-in t-shirts and tight straight-legged jeans. Their collection also had that kind of cocky attitude they always add to their clothes but this time it was a cool kind of cockiness when men slick their hair back and leave undone a few buttons on their shirts for the walk of shame they will enjoy.

And now we're on to Paris. It's only getting better. Which was your favourite collection from MFW?
I'm off.

[Pictures: GQ.com, larapixie.blogspot.com]

ramshackle catch-up

In the last two weeks I have been to Barcelona and back, spilled a ridiculous amount of water on my laptop, been laptop-less for a week, read two whole books, got back my laptop and got a job for Luella at London Fashion Week.

During the full one-day lock-in due to snow, this is one of the things I managed to do. Me and one of my mates created this unordinary snowman and tried to hit the other snowmen down in the garden resulting in purple hands.

Well, maybe picture perfect is a bit too much considering Scarlett's hair. Overlooking that fact, the picture is quite fashionably spot-on. There is colours and there is black, long and short, hidden and displayed shoulders, even a tuxedo. But even though they all looked pretty much flawless nothing could outshine the Balmain. The green and the little bit of shiny simply synchronized perfectly with Jennifer Connelly's emerald eyes and onyx hair.

Katie, Katie, Katie. Not only she bloomed into one of my favourite and most fashionable celebrities of the last few years but she cannot seem to get it wrong. Whether it is red carpet soirées or family trips to the beach she knows exactly what to wear and how to pull it off. As of late, she seems quite keen on adding a certain retro look —30's, 50's, 60's.

And now, to bring this randomness salad to an end, a few looks from the Style.com parties section. Red seems to be in wherever I look. I love the Lacoste jumper and I wish I could get my hands on the suit. But of course no one can win to Mr. Pilati, specially is he is wearing black.

[Pictures credit: Style.com, JustJared, moi]

I'm off.

PS. Thank you all for your good wishes for Christopher!

GUCCI goes to the olympics

Nothing makes a grey rainy afternoon more pleasant than a good film and and endless storage of popcorn. However, there is always something that can make a round afternoon; that is a fashion discovery. My Saturday afternoon was a round one. As I surfed the net trying to find anything from belts to shirts that I could desire yet not possibly afford I came across one of the latest Gucci podcasts —one of those rather senseless videos I can't stop watching because even though they're empty they make me feel exclusive for some good three minutes. It was then that my afternoon, even my whole day, felt enlightened!

8-8-2008 is a limited edition made in Italy specially designed for the Beijing Olympics of this summer. There was no specific reason for it not to be another hideous assortment of commemorating crap, which only made it better.

The limited collection includes a digital, red rubber strap watch (the first digital watch by Gucci), a travel bag and messenger bag made in the characteristic "Guccissima pelle" this time in red, a female and male version of sneakers in patchwork of suede, patent leather and gold trim, and an outstanding bicycle. Yes, a red bike with sort of a retro vibe and two side bags in the same signature red leather.

I personally do not care much for the Olympics but this makes things completely different. Now I long to be the proud owner of those amazing shoes. Nonetheless, all items except for the watch will ONLY be sold in Hong Kong and mainland China!! I have not yet figured out how I am to get my hands on my beloved footwear, but I am working on it!

Check out the rest of the collection here.

What's your favourtie item?

[Pictures credit: Gucci.com]

I'm off.

power GIRLS

I am back with a celebrity post, something I haven't done for a while even though every once in a while one or two show up. As the weather changes the rich and famous search for new ways of looking stylish before the paparazzi while not passing out under the hard LA sun.

My winners of the moment are Heidi Klum and Lauren Conrad. As you may have noticed I am feeling quite fond of colour lately and they have pulled of very simple, colourful outfits. Heidi goes for grey skinny jeans, a white tee with beach-inspired prints in various hues, and purple flats with gold embroidery. If you ask me, the perfect touch are the sharp-cut bangs and the kick-a** orange sunglasses.

As with Lauren, it struck me that she was not wearing a dress or a skirt but red jeans! Hell yeah, girl! I have to say she looks specially hot in those and I thought the v-necked plain white tee was the perfect top for the jeans. Also, I would've never expected those huge red shades à la Kanye West but she rocked them too; and I am so glad she had her hair in a pony-tail, so she stops fixing her bangs every two seconds.

Anne Hathaway leaves me well impressed every time I glance at her candid outfits as of late. This time, however, it is the role in her last film that impressed me, or rather, her looks in it. I have always been a big big fan of though girls with good looks (Buffy TVS, Bond's girls...) and it seems Hathaway has just joined them in my very personal soVIP hall of fame.

Lastly, I wanted to include LiLo because I was enjoying much her looks up until this one when she decided to go back to her old boring self. Coco from Coco's Tea Party already pointed it out on her Hit and Miss of the week but it felt just right to put it out there once again. And, no, I don't like her as a blonde! (Notice the Miu Miu bag, Victoria Beckham wore it first; will it be the it bag of the season?)

[Pictures credit: JustJared and GossipGirls]

I'm off.

PS. None of you knew about this but I applied to London College of Fashion for next year and I just heard from them: I GOT IN!! :D I'm deliriously happy!!

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.

COLOUR for us

I have lately become aware of the fact that I rarely post about menswear, a bizarre thing considering I am a guy who obviously has to dress and hence be updated about the men's fashion world. Well, I have the intention to post more regularly about the trends and inspiration oriented to men, specially those which influence me the most at the moment. However, I am also aware of the fact that most of the readers (at least those who comment) are girls so I would like to hear some feminine opinions about male fashion; what you like better on us and what you think it's totally wrong.

Summer is always the time for colour but I am not quite the fan this season. I love very settled colours, but mostly in the winter when I can play a lot more with them. This year, I found utterly interesting how designers have introduced the brightest of hues through jeans. This made me question my almost complete elimination of colour in my summer wardrobe and threw me for a little web tour to find some good proposals like these for the season. Well, I have.

Red is quite the boss this season, but it usually is like that. I actually bought some very amazing red jeans from TopMan last year. I am very glad I did. After having a look at most of the male collections, I couldn't keep Gucci out my head; I love the way Frida Giannini has played with red in different garments and materials, mixing it up with a lot of black leather and that black and white pattern you have surely noticed too in the women collection. My other favourite using red is Purificación García, a Spanish designer not very widely known even in her country. However, I often visit her shop either in Madrid or Barcelona and I find very interesting how she plays with colour in a subtle way, making very stylish and urban-chic proposals and including sort of a Spanish preppy touch that I have to confess I'm very fond of.

From Gucci are also other more daring hues of jeans —orange, lime green and yellow. That particular shade of orange has me going crazy wondering whether I should buy something similar if it decided to come my way. My goal for this new season was to keep it very very simple, all very clear colours, loads of plain tees, only changing the outfit including different cuts of trousers, playing with belts, shoes, socks and hats. I wanted to wear all that with my beloved classic blazers —rolled up sleeves— and different kinds of foulards and scarves. As a matter of fact, I became fascinated only this morning when I found this Dries Van Noten scarf which would give life to any ensemble.

What do you think?

[Picture credit: Men.Style.com and Purificación García]

I'm off.

Katie's WAY

Yesterday evening I found myself changing channels on my telly wondering if anything worth speding a few of my minutes was on. Unsurprisingly, every single station and its show was duller than the previous one. And then I came across a regional channel airing antiques. Exactly, "Dawson's Creek" was on and I ought to admit I couldn't refuse watching for a bit. Katie appeared and I was not blown away like I used to as a child, I wasn't certainly blinking either, but the reason was different this time. How can an average cute girl turn into an elegant, sexy fashion icon? The ways of style are mysterious.

Not long after giving up my little hope on television I decided to give the Internet a go. My gossip sources were obviously first. She was there again, only in a very dinstict version of herself. Mrs. Cruise is promoting her new film "Mad Money" and, therefore, giving all sorts of interviews and making endless outfit changes. I can't make a decision whether I love more the red for Letterman or the camel for Regis & Kelly. Being that coat the masterpiece that it is, there was no way she would only wear it once so it was also the choice for her Good Morning America appereance too. It's spectacular how she manages to achieve the perfect chic look, like the old Hollywood stars effortlessly spreading glamour everywhere they went.

[Credit photos: JustJared]

I'm off.

anyone up for a BREAK?

I have never been able to begin to understand why most people hate Winter, and let alone their ridiculous obsession with the sticky warmth of the Summer. For me, the cold season is not only a time of "bad" weather, but the time to experiment with the enless posibilities of winter-wear. However, Cruise collections tend to leave me in a state similar to that of a little kid in a candy shop.

Out of all these collections, there has been one which I found particularly espectacular, that's because of it's simple way of reinterpreting the brand's winter view and being able to turn it into a perfectly viable look for an escape to an island.

If Frida Giannini's view for the F/W 2007 collection was a mountain getaway for rockstars, this is no different, except for the scenery. Black and white are, again, the clear dominant colours; they get mixed with glimpses of citrus brights and the most beautiful red.

The full skirts, fitted tops and leather biker jackets make the retro inspiration in the sixties undeniable and the driving gloves in leather are the perfect touch to culminate the looks.

The most beautiful feature of the collection is also the most innovative made in Gucci. Graphic bamboo and coral prints dance with the richest embroidery and make the catwalk show an unforgettable celebration of the best italian design.

[Pictures credit: style.com]

Click here to see the entire collection.

I'm off.