Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!

Mojud Stockings ad ~ 1951

Monday, October 29, 2012

Project Runway Season 10 Finale

We have been so busy at Figure 8 Studio I almost did not get to watch, much less review, my favorite fashion show but the night of the finale I put everything on hold.

This season I truly loved all the finalists.

Christopher was a personal favorite. He was consistently strong from the beginning and very creative with his fabrics. However, I was sad that he struggled towards the end. I also did not particularly care the way he turned into an ungracious meanie after Dmitry was announced the winner. It was extremely unflattering. I am hoping it is due to his immaturity and hope to see more from him.



Second from the left, Christopher's XRay dress, he was the only one to design his own fabric.

I loved his jacket and the finale dress.





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I feel Melissa really evolved. I'm glad that she listened to the advice about editing the jacket by removing the cuffs and by adding the blood orange dress for a pop of color to her collection.





She is a master at working leather. I really loved the draped collars. The makeup and hair on the models was top notch.

I did not care for the hobbled white dress.









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Dmitry at times I felt needed editing, too many fringes, too much crystal. I didn't get the white pants with the crystal encrusted bib sheer top. I loved the cut of the pants and feel with an edited top those pants may have been the highlight of his show. I also did not care for the fringed jacket.

Dmitry's cut out jacket was probably my favorite piece the entire season. I am glad he repeated it in white although it did not have the same dramatic effect for me in that color.





I am also on the fence about the white cut-out dress. I think it could have looked better shorter but perhaps it was intended to appeal to a mature client.



I did not care for the make up used on Dmitry's models. I felt it took attention away from his designs. Maybe it was his way of injecting youth to his line.

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I adored Fabio and his designs! He started out as my second favorite but towards the end I thought he was going to win.

His collection was a breath of fresh air. The best critique I have read about them is that the fabric flows over the body like water. Pieces I would be honored to own and I do not wear pastels. They are luminous, comfortable yet sophisticated. I also like that the pieces look like they could be easily mixed and matched. Fabio makes me want to see more from him.











He called his collection "Cosmic Tribalism" but I saw 40s inspired in these pants which I loved.











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I am sure it was very difficult for the judges.

Congratulations Dmitry.



Monday, October 8, 2012

My Big Fat September Vogue Issue



It is already October yet I'm still trying to get through my September issue of Vogue Magazine. They say it is the biggest one ever. 916 pages. 4.5 lbs! Im glad we replaced our mailbox to a sturdier steel one from the old aluminum one with the deteriorating post which would have certainly toppled over from the weight.

Vogue's September issues of 08, 09...seemed pitifully slim compared to this one. It was almost as though the fashion industry was ashamed to flaunt opulence and style within such an economically repressed climate.

The Washington Post published an article titled "Vogue’s September issue: Boosting the spirit and economy in one fell swoop"

I almost squealed when I opened the foldout cover which includes two additional vintage Vogue covers, one from November 1, 1949 "Fashions For A Man's Eye", the other from December 17, 1892.

It is replete with ads, as the September issue should be. I mean, how else could designers show off their collections? I prefer full page instead of tiny thumbprint images on one page.

L'OREAL's "Flashback Forward" depicting fashion decades. I wore a similar green dress at a fashion show in NYC in the 70's, thankfully without the furry sleeves.



With mom and two girlfriends toasting at Club Leviticus in Manhattan wearing the dress.
Makeup is vibrant. Sephora with a new collection of Crimsons by Stila, Hourglass & Makeup Forever.

The trends; bold beaded treatment, big chubby rhinestones from Prada, Nina Ricci, Givenchy and others including Louis Vuitton. Bold hats by Louis Vuitton, Marc Jabobs. Exotics; Alligator, Leopard, fishnets, rich dyed velvets from Ralph Lauren, Lanvin, Brahmin, Louis Vuitton.

Prada



Chloe Sevigny for Miu Miu



Isabella Rossellini for BVLGARI, her skin as luminous as ever!



Ewan McGregor for Belstaff.



Peplums are back per Etro, Lanvin, Dior, Burberry Prorsum; modeled by Chelsea Clinton and others.

Lanvin's Peplum revival





Remember jumpsuits? Both Escada and Valentino each had one featured.

Purple iridescent disco platforms from Via Spiga.

One of my favorite collections is Etro with its signature paisleys, laser cut net gowns. Here are some shots from the runway that were included in the issue's ads.



I'm in LOVE with this coat.





The other, Louis Vuitton who opened the collection with a train station complete with steam engine.











About halfway into my issue I paused to read and was touched as author Ann Patchett shared her Eulogy for Rose. The Sense Of An Ending.



“Two days before my dog Rose died, I put her in the stroller and pushed her down the sidewalk,” author Ann Patchett wrote. “When my friend Norma bought Rose a dog stroller the summer before, I hadn’t wanted it, but feelings of idiocy were quick to give way to Rose’s obvious pleasure.”

Hear her talk about Rose in this interview. 'Dog is My Co-Pilot' Anthology of Literature Inspired by Our Four-Legged Friends

On that page, you can also read "This Dog's Life" the story originally published in Vogue magazine March 1997, the first time Rose appeared in Vogue.

I hope to finish it before the end of the week!.

★  ★  ★  ★  ★  ★

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