What happens when a girl from a gang collides with an American Indian? You get a fierce look from Rodarte’s Spring 2010 collection.

Case in point:

From the intricate weaving to the complicated draping to the clever use of scraps of material, the Mulleavy sisters’ ability to create couture-like pieces have once again left me in awe.  The collection, inspired by big, black vultures that faced extinction in the late 80s, was filled with elaborate pieces made with materials such as burnt plaid, cheesecloth, feathers and sandpapered silk.  The looks were dark with lots of blood red and burnt black.  The gross colour of the smoke-filled runway accompanied by the goth-inspired makeup and body art just added to the beauty of this collection.

For more of Rodarte’s Spring 2010 collection, click here.

Image Source: Style.com

It boggles me as to how Marc Jacobs just manages to nail it season after season – especially with the things he tries to pull off.

For the Spring 2010 season, he imagined ballerinas on the way home from a performance or showgirls going to Raido City for their rehearsal.  The resulting look had his models in pulled up stockings, tightly pulled back hair, geisha inspired makeup paired with everyday things – like fanny packs!

Marc Jacobs is truly an amazing stylist.  He is able to combine the romance of frills with the rigidity of sharp edges.  He is the master of playing with clothes and proportions to create a desired shape.  Linda Fargo, Senior Vice-President of the fashion office at Bergdorf Goodman said it extremely well, “He (Marc) has that way of always turning our world inside out – the corsetry on top of a little touch of men’s suiting but the men’s suiting was very feminine with the ruffles.”

Only you Marc, only you.

For more of Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2010 RTW, click here.

Image Source: Style.com

On Sunday night, 60 Minutes’ Morley Safer chatted it up with fashion’s most powerful woman, Anna Wintour.  In the rare interview sans sunglasses, Anna gave some insight to fashion in the current state of our economy, her role as Editor-in-Chief for US Vogue and the perks that come along with it.  Yes ladies, daily hair and make up and a 6-digit clothing allowance was mentioned…but then again, she is pretty much God, so why not? Queen Anna also addressed the most lingering question of all…what’s with the shades???

To read more about this interview, click here.

I like to think of Haute Couture as a dream, where the creative and imaginative cells intertwine.

This season though, in the shows where most of the pieces spoke of one tone, where cropped jackets and squared shoulders were celebrated, I’m not sure if those cells met.  The silhouettes were clean and simple; from Armani Prive’s Asian-influenced tight skirts and pagoda shoulders to Dior’s waist-clinching, crinoline-bouncing, full skirts.  Let’s just say that Chanel and Gaultier topped the list for me but other than that, very few designers left me sitting on the corner of my chair.

Chanel, Spring 2009 Couture

Chanel, Spring 2009 Couture

Christian Dior, Spring 2009 Couture

Christian Dior, Spring 2009 Couture

Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring 2009 Couture

Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring 2009 Couture

Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring 2009 Couture

Jean Paul Gaultier, Spring 2009 Couture

The details were there, but they were subtle.  Perhaps the most ingenuous of them all came at Chanel’s show, where Japanese hairdresser, Katsuyo Kamo cleverly constructed all the paper hats and floral ornaments.  Genius!

Image Source: Style.com

I recently had to do some runway research and came across none other than my favourite couture show in the history of time – Christian Dior Autumn/Winter 07/08.

John Galliano, or “God” as I more commonly refer to him as, creates the most lavish pieces (that may even pass for art) with such uniqueness. This show, celebrating Dior’s 60th Anniversary and Galliano’s tenth year with the fashion house, truly showed the creativity Galliano brings to our industry.

To relive the brilliantness he brought that season…

Christian Dior Haute Couture A/W 07/08 – Part 1

Christian Dior Haute Couture A/W 07/08 – Part 2

Christian Dior Haute Couture A/W 07/08 – Part 3

Christian Dior Haute Couture A/W 07/08 – Part 4

Video Source: www.youtube.com

Designers these days are always trying to find new ways to get their names out there. Viktor and Rolf became household names thanks to H&M. Stella McCartney spoke to an entirely different market with her collection for LeSportsac. Lela Rose boosted her name with Lela Rose for Payless. This however, I have not seen…

The special edition HP notebook is scheduled to come out next year. it will weigh less than a pound and be small enough in size so it can be carried as a clutch. The exterior of the computer has a red and purple peony print that matched those of Tam’s Spring 2009 designs. The notebook will also come with wallpapers, screen savers and other icons designed by Tam.

The truth is, when I think of brands, I automatically associate a look or style to them. Chanel, Chloé, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein…can you picture them? When I think of Gucci however, my mind goes blank. What is the look of Gucci? Do they have a signature suit? A girly look? American country? Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Don’t get me wrong, the collection definitely had some great pieces; the boyish suits, cute kaftans, nice prints and some elegant dresses, definitely a very sellable line. But it’s Gucci? Where’s the drama? Where are the more editorial pieces? Where is the “omph”?

Image Source: style.com