Paris Fashion Week AW11: My Top 5

Chanel, Elie Saab, Givenchy, Valentino, John Galliano

Source: style.com

Dior Haute Couture

Yesterday saw the start of the Couture shows, one of my most anticipated times of year. Admittedly, I'm always most excited about the Dior show, and this year was no different. I missed the elaborate setting that we saw in Galliano's last couture collection, however, in terms of the clothes, they exceeded the stunning pieces I fell in love with last January.

Beginning on a crimson runway, the show began with the kind of high drama and glamour that draws me to Dior. The New Look was revived in the elegant, hourglass shapes that many of the dresses took on. However, the skirts were multi layered and deliciously 'swishy', and increasingly reminded me of fifties, prom style dresses though of course with a couture twist. Exquisite jackets with the classic Dior nipped in waist, but refreshed with elaborate shoulder detailing and elbow length gloves, offered the chic elegance synonymous with the brand, and took us back to the sophisticated Dior lady of the 1940s.

The colours were sensational: dramatic yet very subtle with soft bleeds of black across red, and darker shades creeping across their lighter counterparts, creating a beautiful effect of light and shadow. Look 19 and 22 were perhaps my favourite colour palette with a delicate duck-egg blue and soft, sandy beige combination.  

I feel completely in awe after looking at this collection. What do you think?

All photos found at style.com

11.1.11

Felt like I kind of had to blog to today, not because I didn't want to (I did), but because I just felt there's some kind of strange, superstitious significance of the date and didn't want to miss blogging on it. I wanted to post an outfit or something personal today, but I've annoyingly left my camera charger in Devon, so no photography till my Dad remembers to send it.

I'm feeling pretty 'blah' today. Went to sleep feeling fine and dandy, but have woken up all groggy/headachey/rubbish. I've got to get through another tedious 750 words of an essay too, but thought I'd spend a little luxury time catching up on blogs first. Today, my inspiration stems from a post by Discotheque Confusion, who has drawn my attention to a cool feature over at Platform: 'I Saw You Standing'. Basically a fresher approach to street style, people are filmed standing on the street in all their uniquely, stylish glory. I don't think you'd appreciate this as much if you're having a bad skin day, because the up close shots aren't the most flattering, but the no frills, natural approach makes it all the more intriguing. There's no standard style equation that Platform seem to follow either, apart from everyone's style is individual and appreciated for being so (see Rita).

So while I'm tucked up in bed, I'm going through these files and wishing I had the energy to dress nicely today (I'm wearing a white, fluffy dressing gown which has seen it's better days).  I totally wish I knew Steven. He really reminds of me John Galliano in a moustachey, perfect British accent kind of way.

I Saw You Standing - Angelica from PLATFORM MAGAZINE on Vimeo.


I Saw You Standing - Steven from PLATFORM MAGAZINE on Vimeo.

aristocracy in black and white

My Fair Lady

This scene is just perfect in every single way and the costumes are just exquisite.

"It's my belief that they done the old woman in".

Christian Dior spring Couture 2010

I can't wait for John Galliano's next couture show for Christian Dior.

Sources: Youtube, Style.com

Cannes Film Festival 2010 - Kate Beckinsale

Kate Beckinsale looked stunning last night, in a soft lilac-blue gown by Marchesa, but it's her Dior outfit she wore later on that stole the show for me. The colours, the soft draping at the top - so gorgeous and perfectly teamed with some nude Brian Atwood heels.

Photos: Just Jared

It's all in the details.

I buy Grazia every week, and most weeks they have an editorial spread, which is surprisingly good for a weekly mag. My uni room has a wall tiled in DIY wall paper made from my favourite ad campaigns and editorials, and quite a few of them are from Grazia. One outfit I spotted in an issue, was a gorgeous dress from Dior's S/S 2010 collection. They styled it simply with a skinny, very long silver belt and it looked pretty, feminine, whilst still maintaining the glamour typical of Dior. I loved it. Then today I came across a photo of Rihanna wearing the same dress to the Kids Choice Awards, and it was ruined! She went with the shimmery socks originally seen styled on the Dior catwalk and even the same belt, but accessorized with chunky, diamond necklaces (the cross one mainly), which just looked tacky. It was the kind of ghetto styling that should never ever be paired with a Dior dress. Even the Brian Atwood heels were pretty disappointing for Rihanna. Just goes to show the importance of the finer details!!

The original

Rihanna's styling

What do you think?

Photos: style.com and just jared

Indulge in your Fantasy

Christian Dior Couture Spring 2010

I've been going over and over the couture collections the last couple of days, and one in particular remains prominent in my mind - Christian Dior. It was a collection that delivered drama and endless sophistication, glamour and indulgence from balloon enveloped hair to heeled, dominating riding boot. Galliano gave more of a performance than any of the other couture shows, and portrayed the fantastical way in which fashion can be used to create an escape into a uniquely beautiful world. 

It wasn't only the clothes which caught my eye, but the equally stunning make up. I still can't get over the porcelain perfection achieved on the models skin, contrasted with that matte, show-stopping red lip and heavily lined and wing-framed eye.

Chokers, bracelets, and earrings were blown up to portray extreme, vulgar displays of wealth and extravagance. 

Look at the detail on that jacket! Intricately detailed to give almost a frosted, ice-like effect that contrasts perfectly to the warmth of the pink.

Galliano's woman for this collection is clearly aristocratic, strong, dominating but also very seductive and sensual. The models wore the clothes as these very women, taking on a haughty, poised stance surveying their surroundings with a trace of distaste across their faces, in some cases a riding crop appropriately lurking under arm.

That last dress is one of my favourites worn by Alexandra Tretter. I love the overflowing cascades of fabric, in such richly luxurious colours. I couldn't help but be reminded of one of my favourite movies, My Fair Lady, where Eliza is transformed to attend the races. Doesn't this collection just exude that exact scene of society - fantastically glamorous but sadly, unattractively exclusive.

Watch the show here:

Did you love this collection too?