The French Connection

If you missed the big show, check out this video of our runway show, featuring 18 fabulous models and French-inspired looks from then and now...Oo la la!!!

Who Called It?

Editor's Note: This article was originally written in late May for the Chanel Resort 2010 collection. However, due to technological problems and general laziness, it remained sad and forlorn on my hard drive. Alberta Feretti's Spring 2010 collection reminded me that I still had this article, and no, I was not crazy because Edwardian is totally becoming a trend so hah! Hope you enjoy this article--better late than never!

Earlier this week, I wrote a post commenting on certain Edwardian predilections at the White House Press Correspondents dinner (with a heaping does of eye candy, of course). With the release of photos from Chanel’s Resort 2010 show, it’s official: Edwardian is in style!

Style.com

I’m pretty sure that Kaiser Karl was receiving my brainwaves while I was asleep because I swear this collection was made for me. It combines all of the prettiest things in the history of ever: Venice, Renaissance clothing, Edwardian clothing, and the 30s café scene.

According to Lagerfeld, the collection is based on Chanel’s time in Venice, where she summered throughout the 1930s. The collection draws inspiration from Venice’s past, from Baroque masqueraders to Titian’s sitters. The collection includes other elements too, such as outfits inspired by gondoliers, and a dress clearly meant to evoke Fortuny, the early-20^th century anti-fashion designer who famously based his creations around Venetian Renaissance dress. The collection is dominated by white, black, red, and gold—Venice’s city colors. Most of the models wear red tights and short frocks, evocative of the dress of the city’s nobility in the Renaissance.

But the most interesting thing of all is the Edwardian influence in the collection. From the opening dress to the stunning evening gowns, the draped cloth, empire waistline, and sensible shoes recall nothing more than Chanel’s rival, Paul Poiret. Poiret’s style was very feminine, colorful and ornate. When Chanel started designing in 1920, her goal was to move away from that ideal and celebrate the new, slender athletic woman. (Allegedly, when Poiret once saw Chanel in her usual black, he asked her, “Madame, for whom are you mourning?” She replied, “For you, monsieur.”)

This resort collection has the clear, straight lines that the house is famous for, but embraces the fantasy and fun of all that she rejected. My favorite piece, a white lace shift with ersatz draping, reminds me of the best of Alfons Mucha. It’s curious to me that in this collection Lagerfeld so willingly embraces everything that Chanel rejected. But I don’t care: this past decade has been a Magical Mystery Tour of the 20^th century. We might as well take a pit stop in the 1910s while we can. Empire waist, Asian prints and Louis XIV heels, here I come!

Gah!

Check out this amazing video that The Cut posted, showing the creation of a Chanel dress from beginning to end. It's so breathtaking and inspiring to watch great artists at work, don't you agree?

A Night on the Town

Fun and fashion rocked Washington D.C. last Saturday night at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, given in honor of the journalists who cover political events in the nation’s capitol. The dinner traditionally involves the President making a stand-up routine followed by a professional comedian. Celebrities, journalists, and politicians mingle, creating what has got to be one of the best parties of the year. Some of you might remember when, two years ago, Stephen Colbert bravely railed against President Bush’s and the press corps’s failures at this event. Fortunately, thanks to some new faces in town, the party definitely had the sparkle that has been so desperately lacking these past few years.(Ah, you thought I’d illustrate this story with a picture of our First Lady, didn’t you? Well, since I’m going to be editor next year, I’m going to post as many pictures of my boyfriend as possible and there’s nothing you can do about it, so hahaha.) (P.S. He’s going to speak at Sarah Lawrence’s graduation ceremony next week. I’m tempted to crash.)

Bold faced names at the event included TomKat; Donatella Versace; Ed Westwick and Chase Crawford; Alicia Keys; designers Kenneth Cole, Jason Wu, and Narciso Rodriguez; my darling Rahm Emanuel (I couldn’t come because of finals, you see, but thanks for the invite, sweetie!); and of course First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama.

For the curious, Women’s Wear Daily has a great slideshow and, as always, Jezebel has a largish gallery.

Michelle Obama looked modern and chic, as always, in a pink Michael Kors shift. Most of the guests went in the opposite direction, sporting classical evening gowns with long trains. Demi Moore wore an absolutely gorgeous smoky Grecian frock. Andrea Mitchell sported my favorite, Oscar de la Renta. But I have to say, there was an interesting little trend at this event. Senior advisor Valerie Jarrett and White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers, current D.C. fashion icons, both showed up in long, columnar gowns with an empire waist. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Barbara Walters both wore black lace. Could this be the beginning, as I’ve hoped since Chanel’s Spring 2009 RTW collection, of an Edwardian revival? Please say yes!

To help you with your studies, here’s a video of President Obama’s performance (about 20 minutes long) and Wanda Sykes’s performance (about 15 minutes long). Enjoy!
-Ceci Cholst

What I want NOW

Ann Demeulemeester lace up boots. If I won the lottery tomorrow right after paying off Vassar loans and giving a little something to my family/charity, the first thing I would buy are these boots... and maybe a Chanel bag. But that is beside the point. If I could buy one uber-expensive trendy item right now it would be these boots. I mean look at them!I could wear them for summer, for winter (with tights), every day! Unfortunately they cost over $1000, which is a bit more than I can afford. Here they are featured in Sea of Shoes. I have never been more jealous of a sixteen year old!

I am obsessed with Jourdan Dunn

The much anticipated May 09 issue of Vogue US is here. Shot by Steven Meisel it features models: Liya Kebede, Natalia Vodianova, Anna Jagodzinska, Isabeli Fontana, Lara Stone, Jourdan Dunn, Raquel Zimmermann, Caroline Trentini and Natasha Poly. Can we talk for a second about how unbelievably stunning Jourdan Dunn is? I mean, she is surrounded by all of these beautiful models and my eye goes directly to her. This is what Tyra is always talking about on ANTM, standing out in a crowd, smiling with your eyes. The english model has walked for Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy, and Jean Paul Gaultier couture shows in Paris as well as appeared alongside Naomi Campbell and Iman in Vogue Italia's all black issue.

Top Ten

WWD has come out with their list of the top ten collections of Fall 2009.

Burberry Prorsum
Chanel
Christian Dior
Comme des Garcons
Lanvin
Louis Vuitton
Marc Jacobs
Marni
Prada
Ralph Lauren

Watch the slideshow here.

I just can't help myself

The Chanel purse kit is just TOO MUCH. It combines two of my favorite things (classic Chanel purses and little kits) and something about it is just so fab. I don't know how this would translate to daily wear, but I'm definitely tempted to try it out. If only my tax refund check would cover a Chanel bag...

Oh, Karl

"The worst thing is when friends say, ‘Remember the good old days?’ Forget about the good old days! That just makes your present secondhand. What is interesting is now. If you think it was better before, then you might as well commit suicide immediately." --Karl Lagerfeld


via fashion toast

51 Year Old Runway Model

Gaultier’s 51-Year-Old Runway Star: Inès de la Fressange

Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Getty Images

French model Ines de la Fressange presents a creation by Jean Paul Gaultier for his Spring/Summer 2009 haute couture collection.

As always, this week’s Paris couture shows have been the stomping ground for stick-thin models with high cheek bones and clenched jaws.

But Jean-Paul Gaultier is not one to abide by rules. Despite the presence of singers Kanye West and Kylie Minogue, it was the former French supermodel Inès de la Fressange who stole the show.

As the voluptuous 51-year-old strutted down the runway, the crowd cheered this one-time French queen of the catwalk. Clearly moved, she turned to wave at old friends and slipped off a cream jacket in front of the cameras.

Mr. Gaultier, also caught up in the moment, chased the former supermodel down the runway and practically wrestled her to the ground during the final moments of the show catching her just before she fell.

Fashion models “are not just 14-year-olds,” Mr. Gaultier said later. “There are no [age] barriers to beauty.” The French designer explained that the curvy Ms. de la Fressange embodied the sexuality demanded his raunchy Spanish themed show, which also featured high-waisted pinstripe pants for women, suspenders and elbow-length gloves.

Ms. de la Fressange in the 1980s was the first model to sign an exclusive modeling contract with a haute couture fashion house — Chanel — and then went on to represent France’s symbol of femininity, Marianne. She described how she felt nervous backstage with the other models, “surrounded by all those sexy little things.”

Despite the warm reception from the crowd, she said her return to the catwalk was a one-off. “For me it was like a Sunday,” she said batting her eyelids. “This is not my job anymore.” -Max Colchester

What should Michelle Obama wear to the Inauguration?

Oscar de la Renta

Christian Lacroix

Chanel

Betsey Johnson

Peter Som

read more: http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/dressing-the-first-lady-1875632

Wishlist

what a great present for your favorite fashionista! get these books from amazon.com for $3-$7.