Red Fabulous!

Since 2004--Macy's and the American Heart Association have partnered and created the "Go Red For Women" movement. This year, they will commemorate American Heart Month (February) with the annual Wear Red Sale at Macy's--a collection of exclusive red dresses designed to benefit the cause--as well as red-inspired in-store events.


I am honored to been asked to take part in this fabulous--and worthwhile cause---and help in the National Launch alongside actress Elizabeth Banks and Star Jones.



The National Launch will be held at Macy's Herald Square on Friday, February 3rd and we will all be there to launch National Wear Red Day at a fabulous ceremony. I have had the absolute pleasure of being involved with Macy's for years--hosting many of their fabulous in-store events across the US (and even Puerto Rico!!) as well as being the MC and special celebrity judge of Seattle's "Project Red Dress", and even showing how amazing Macy's can be for all women during my MSN webshow "The Victory Project".



I will provide style tips to prepare women for National Wear Red Day and highlight Macy's Wear Red Day Sale. Macy's will introduce three new red dress silhouettes, designed and produced exclusively by I-N-C International Concepts, Alfani and Charter Club, each available at select Macy's stores and macys.com. Ten percent of the purchase price of each dress sold between January 29 and February 25 will be donated to the American Heart Association.

Visit GoRedForWomen.org for more info. and to find a Go Red CONNECT event in your area and view the most up-to-date list of events. Also, from February 1st through Valentine's day, fans can go to Macy's Facebook Page to send a VIRTUAL HEART--for every heart shared from that page through Feb. 14th, Macy's will donate $2 to the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement!! And, if you TWEET #heart@Macys from Feb 1st through Feb. 14th, Macy's will also donate $2 for EACH TWEET!!! So, mark your calendars!!!

I hope to see you on Friday, February 3 at Macy's Herald Square in New York City!!

DETAILS:
What: Go Red For Women, Macy's, American Heart Association National Launch Ceremony & Event

When: Friday February 3, 2012

Where: Macy's Herald Square, New York City

For More Info: Click HERE

And WEAR RED!!!!!

Sculptural Mastery



In order to show movement and the sculptural aspect of each garment, fabrics were simple, clean and rich: silk organza, gazar, crepe, chiffon and georgette. There was also a simple color palette of red, ivory, black, and lime green (definitely becoming THE COLOR of the season, also seen at Atelier Versace and Armani Prive).


Lots of Gold...seen in belts, neckline, waist and torso pieces. It gave a modern Spartan Goddess look to some of the structural column gowns as well as the light-as-air chiffon pieces. Cut-out's also played a starring role in the collection.


And in terms of accessories--well there's the ubiquitous fingerless driving gloves that we have seen in many an Haute Couture collections this season. The shoes: sky-high stacked pumps in matching colors with gold accents/details--Oh and the heel: 6-7"!


There were enough styles and silhouettes in this Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring 2012 runway show to satisfy both Lady Gaga and the UBER elegant Sheikha Mozah of Qatar--as well as Queen Rania of Jordan---all clients who've bought (Sheikha Mozah and Queen Rania)--and been lent his gorgeous designs (Lady Gaga). Oh and did I mention that 1/2 Iranian 1/2 English Supermodel Yazmin Le Bon (Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran's wife), ended the show with a gown weighing 110 POUNDS!!?? Scroll down kids...




90's Supermodel Yazmin Le Bon ends the Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring 2012 show, with a red gown weighing 110 pounds of silk crepe and metal center front accent pieces. Those model-handsome boys behind her? They were her "Gown Guards". I just want to know how I can hire them for me...


Click Below for Video of Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring 2012:

Haute Sea Creatures


Continuing with Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, the Italian Master--Giorgio Armani-showed his Armani Prive Spring 2012 Collection. It featured 44 looks all in varying shades of green. Now, something must be in the air--first Karl Lagerfeld showed his Chanel Haute Couture Collection all in varying shades of blue, now Armani--but in green this time. What's next? Next season, another designer will show their Haute Couture Collection in all shades of purple?? (or maybe I should for my next NIKOLAKI collection!!).


Present for the showing were a bevy of Armani-ites--from Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev's wife and part-time model, Elena Perminova and Miroslava Duma, former editor of Russian Harper's Bazaar and Russian fashion icon--to actresses like...

Jessica Chastain--who in fact, got word of her Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress as she was sitting down for the show. She had the nerve to answer her cell phone as the Armani Prive show was about to start: Mon Dieu!! Thank goodness she did (there were shrieks and claps being heard right before the beginning of the show). Well, I have a very strong feeling that Chastain might be wearing Armani Prive to the Oscars. I might even bet money on it.

Green Sea Creature: Armani Prive Spring 2012

Now, onto the show: The all-shades-of-green collection was called "Metamorphosis". Something about a woman who changes from being calm and elegant and slowly "comes out of her skin". As one can see from the photos in this posting, the varying shades of green--from hunter green, apple green, to chartreuse--were beautiful. In terms of fabrications, Armani and his Couture atelier always deliver stupendous modern fabrics with sci-fi elements such as metalized silk satins, gazar, organza and oversized paillettes and beading.

Shoulder Chic: Armani Prive Spring 2012

The show began with the incredible craftsmanship of Armani's suits; those architectural shoulders that slant ever so slightly upward and probably required hours upon hours of draping and tailoring to get it just right. His skirts were side-draped and folded in an original way, bringing life to the otherwise same-old same-old pencil skirt.

Princess Beatrice Is Calling: Armani Prive Spring 2012

Haute Milliner Philip Treacy, created the twisted miniature fascinators to help bring to life Armani's Metamorphosized "creatures of the sea" and there were some fingerless driving gloves that Madonna would LOVE. Here are more photos from the collection and take special note of the final gowns in this posting--these have Academy Awards Red Carpet written ALL OVER them! Hello Jessica Chastain!

Click Below for Armani Prive Spring 2012 Runway Video:

Welcome to Chanel Airways, Would Like Some Warm Nuts?


Today, the House of Chanel and its GOD--I mean--designer Karl Lagerfeld, showed the latest Chanel Haute Couture Collection, for Spring 2012. Chanel's shows have always been a spectacle--who can forget that Underwater World Lagerfeld created for Chanel's Spring/Summer 2012 Ready To Wear show with Florence Welch singing last October...

Or the Gigantic Bronzed Lion in the middle of the Grand Palais for the Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2010 show (above photo). Well, this time, the set was an airplane cabin. A Super First Class airplane cabin, mind you. The seats were all diagonally situated (for better view down the aisle) and each guest's invitation, according to Cathy Horyn of the New York Times, had placements like "2A" and 6B" on them.


Lagerfeld flies a lot so maybe this was an "Homage" airline travel--but I think it had more to do with Blue, the sky and all shades of the color. There were about 60 exits, almost all in blue--different shades of blue. It was as if Lagerfeld had Wikipedia'ed "Shades of Blue" and then demanded garments in all those shades!


The collection was beautiful, very client-oriented (not so many --Colors: Blue, all shades of it. Plus some white and almost-black (I think people call it "midnight blue"). Silhouettes/shapes: the Drop Waist is a Chanel staple and it was evident in this Spring 2012 Haute Couture Collection. Almost ever look had horizontal pockets.


$40,000+ Chanel Haute Couture suits in wool-silk boucle had the ease of $100 denim jeans, as each model sauntered down the airplane cabin aisle with their hands half-perched inside the pockets.


Details included portrait-style collars; billowing bell/blouson sleeves--raglan and set-in-armholes; fitted sheath and shift dresses; varying lengths--above-the-knee or ankle-length. The bead-work was exquisite, as always--all hand-done and all Lesage, I am sure. Take a look at some of these marvelous ready-for-a-First Class Suite Flight--clothes:






Click Below for Full Runway Video of Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2012:

A Lesson in Couture...


Only one season after showing his first ever Haute Couture collection, and designer Giambattista Valli has finally achieved the "Couture Stamp of Approval" from the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Coutuire Parisienne and is now the "one to watch out for". He has certainly shot up to the "Head of the Couture Class", especially since last season's collection was such a hit--with both editors, fashion critics, as well as the well-healed clients. Speaking of clients:


Who can forget how GORGEOUS Princess Caroline of Hanover's daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, looked in that baby blue Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown (bought not borrowed!!!) at her uncle's Monaco Royal Wedding--almost stealing the spotlight from Princess Charlene. And Sarah Jessica Parker in the same Haute Couture gown but different color (it was the runway sample!).

And of course, there's Spanish aristocrat/Fashion Doyenne Nati Abascal, who has worn Giambattista Valli Haute Couture (photo above) and...

Even Laura Vecina, now Duchess of Feria got married to one of Nati's beautiful sons in a Custom Giambattista Haute Couture design (above photo). Now that we've gotten the clients out of the way, let's talk about his new Haute Couture collection for Spring/Summer 2012.


Yesterday, he showed his Spring 2012 Haute Couture collection, and from the photos, it was a "Return to the Classical Couture". Seeing every exit/look made me think: "We've found the Heir to Valentino, Ungaro and Yves Saint Laurent!" The clothes were sublimely elegant, restrained yet modern. No tricks, not so many "bells" or whistles, but just beautiful well-made clothes destined for the aristocrats of Europe and South America. While Donatella's Atelier Versace has "Girlfriend of a Russian Arms Dealer Billionaire" written all over it...Valli's client is well, more Victoria Crown Princess of Sweden and Sheikha Mozah of Qatar.


Colors ranged from pure white, silver gray, deep black and shots of fuchsia, pink, magenta and red. There were lots of prints, from delicate stripes to exuberant water-colored flowers. Fabrications were luxurious (Hello? It's Haute Couture!): hand-embroidered laces from Switzerland, French silks, and crocodile skin.

Bravissima!!


Haute Couture Fashion Week began today in Paris with a bang. In my last post I highlighted the latest Couture offering from the House of Dior and it's designer Bill Gaytten. Now, it's time for Donatella. Donatella Versace of course. Atelier Versace actually opened Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week with its first runway show since 2004. Between then and now, they've only been showing them via "Look Book" images on the Versace website. So, yes, the Haute Couture arm of Versace has not stopped, in case you were wondering. Now, more than ever though, it realizes the importance of showing these glorious one-of-a-kind garments--especially for new clients (Hello Russia!) and as an extension of the Marketing and PR of the Versace brand.


Donatella showed only fifteen looks (even though officially the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parsienne states there should be a minimum of 35 runs/exits, I think Miss Donatella got an "exemption"), that can only be described as "Versace Gladiator Goddesses". They were corseted, boned, stiffened and sexi-fied to the 9th degree!


One by one, all of the worlds current top models--Karlie Kloss, Daria Strokous, Arizona Muse, Lindsey Wixson--came down a set of golden stairs, very carefully (take a look at those 5" high Gladiator pumps!). Until all fifteen were done, then Donatella Versace took her bow.


The Collection: The color palette went from slate gray, neon lemon, tangerine, soft lilac, gold and canary yellow. The fabrications were intense and very Couture-worthy. One gold leather bustier dress (worn by the fabulous Arizona Muse) was laser-cut to look like lace. There was caviar beading so delicately woven into gowns, I could almost hear the cries of needle-breaking desperation from the Italian seamstresses.


In terms of shapes and styles, there were fitted gowns, strapless gowns, gowns with sleeves, mini corseted cocktail dresses, a jacket or two, sexy asymmetrical back-baring numbers and even some Couture shorts and jumpers. Some styles featured an asymmetrical side-front hip-enhancing detail. One would think this would not benefit a woman's figure but alas, in the Atelier Versace's draping and pattern-making team's hands, it looked fresh and modern.


Look for some of these $100,000+ garments on the red carpet--come Grammy and Academy Award time. I assure you. Take a look at some more of Atelier Versace Spring 2012:






Click Below for Video of Atelier Versace Spring/Summer 2012: