Masterpiece Runway at Carven, Dries and Dolce



Dolce and Gabanna

The Fall/Winter shows are coming to a close and, like Ms. Jolie with a multi-cultural newborn, we have been frothing at the mouth with desire at some of the displays from the masters. 

We are hawk-eyed when it comes to fashion and so were quick to spot a very interesting trend; the painting. 

Ultra baroque in design, Dolce and Gabanna spearheaded this look in Milan. Ornate flowers and blushing cherubs adorned full skirted dresses and sweaters, whilst Carven heralded the Renaissance painters with the most beautiful a-line mini skirt. Dries Van Noten tackled the look in a different way by referencing Japanese iconography. 

This is one trend we can get on board with, paintings are boring on a wall; bring them to life on your body.

Dolce and Gabanna

Carven

Carven

Dries Van Noten

 

Most Wanted: Carven's Leather Bolo Tie

Carven's leather bolo tie makes for a quick addition of cool & confident quirkiness to even the most basic pieces, making it a must-have in our books.

Carven's Leather Bolo Tie-about $200, at Net-A-Porter.com

Best of Paris Fall 2011

Paris is & has always been the highlight of every season and Fall 2011 was full of tremendous fashion. The kind of fashion that makes us take note at what we not only want for ourselves but what we should be filling the shop with as well. Here's a look at the city's most exceptional outings...

Chloe


Chloe's Hannah MacGibbon has clearly got a new found thing for snakeskin this season and her plays with leather & various skins mixed with the house's signature forever-cool Parisian girl nonchalance made for a slick parade of beautifully crafted pieces that looked simultaneously precious, energetic, and somehow quirky while all generously easy on the wear.



Miu Miu

Every season needs a touch of retro flair and while Miuccia Prada has channeled the 40's many times over, her reworking of the era for Fall 2011 came with a restrained sophistication that felt achingly hip. A strong shoulder line, abbreviated proportions, graphic collars and an obi-like pouf panel at the waist made a case for straight forward, confident glamour.



Balenciaga


All of the elements Nicolas Ghesquiere has been toying with over the past few seasons rigorously came together to create one of Balenciaga's most wearable collections in ages, and one of it's best. Adding a new midi-length to the line-up along with a vibrant classical floral wallpaper print worked to freshen up his articulated techno-chic propositions.



Rick Owens


Last season we saw Rick Owens elevate his distinctive tribal urbanite to an intoxicating sci-fi goth-couture hybrid and Fall's layered styling of signature cashmere knits managed to elicit the kind of elusive heady glamour not often associated with his brand of modernity.



Carven


In just a few seasons Carven has quite possibly become one of our favorite contemporary brands due in major part to the simple fact that everything about whats for grabs is flawlessly appropriate, impeccably styled and uniquely on trend. And that in itself is quite a feat considering the abundant market we now think it dominates(sartorially, that is). Every single look was right-on, just like our other favorites from Paris.

Other stand outs full of enough must-have product to literally break your bank many times over included Alexander McQueen, Celine, Lanvin, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Limi Feu, Undercover, Valentino, Veronique Leroy & YSL.

A look at every single favorite Paris Fall 2011 runway look here

Best of Paris Spring 2011

As always, fashion season's don't get as exciting and inventive anywhere else as they do in Paris. Here's a look at our Spring/Summer 2011 favorites from the city of light, ones that are destined to inspire our future buys.

Celine(and above)



What can we say, we like many of you, can't get enough of what Phoebe Philo is doing at Celine and Spring's effort was once again, right on the money. Her focus on the confident woman is still there, but it was the collections take on the yetti coat's free-spirited rawness that felt fresh this time around. And while her covetable leather separates and crisp takes on the white button down made an appearance, we're especially keen on her new fluid pant.

Yves Saint Laurent


Stefano Pilati's Spring 2011 YSL collection was a calculated play on rejuvenating the house's codes with a seductive finesse that felt aggressively Parisian and sexually charged in it's severity. Here, charm came via the details: contrast flamenco ruffles, open backs, graphic cut-out waists and dropped shoulders.

Balenciaga


The sci-fi teddy boys that Nicolas Ghesquiere sent out for Spring 2011 had all the provocative and beautifully executed Balenciaga-isms one could hope for. This made for a less daring sense of the avant-garde, where the overall looks can be taken apart for an exciting range of rethought classics, from fitted tux jackets to crisp white button downs, fashion this realistic rarely looks this bold on a runway.

Rochas


Every season needs some vintage flair and Rochas romantic look at 70's Parisian maman chic felt fresh with it's powdery, muted colorway and relaxed fluidity. The pajama separates and fuss-free and unadorned bias cut goddess dresses with a 40's vibe that closed the show were a powerful display of Marco Zanini's vision of soft, subtle luxury.

Carven

Carven seems to have come back out of nowhere with a couple of smart, well-priced collections that present an insouciant Parisian girlishness that's at once arresting and realistic. Rethought relaxed separates came with just the right amount of Lolita loucheness and crisp preppiness, making Carven and it's $400 price points all the more desirable. Spring 2011 had the easy urbane wearability of a 3.1 Phillip Lim collection mixed with the attitude of Charles Anastase's coquettish girl.