So, I Have Been So Consumed With The McQueen Exhibit...

Pieces From The Balenciaga Exhibit at the De Young

  I am leaving on June 25th to NYC, to see the McQueen: Savage Beauty, exhibit... Oh, yeah, some friends are in NYC too, but the trip was pretty much determined when the news broke that there would be an exhibit at the Met. That being said, I have been super neglectful of the Balenciaga And Spain exhibit at the De Young in San Francisco. I am nearly as excited to see that, as I am for the Met's show. I leave Wednesday night for SF, and get to see this show as well!
  This exhibit focuses on the designs of Cristobal Balenciaga, and the influence he took from his native Spain.The show is broken up into six areas of influence, Spanish Art, Regional Dress, The Spanish Court, Religious Life and Ceremony, the Bullfight, and Dance! I imagine with Pieces from The Costume Institute at the Met, and some awesome selections from Hamish Bowles (who is the guest curator), this exhibit will definitely be a can't miss, and really educational! If the set up is close to the set up of the YSL exhibit I saw at this venue, I will be feet, if not inches away from some of the most inventive, and well constructed clothing in history!

I Love... Jewelry That Says Something Bold!

Mine! I Adore This Necklace, And People Freak Out
Every Time I Wear It!

  Clothing should be simple... That is the mantra of most of the worlds great designers... The reason we are still bombarded by people who, when asked, reply "Coco Chanel" is their favorite designer, is the fact that she got women of her era out of corset, and gave them clean simple sports wear... So, while Coco Chanel's company has taken a decidedly more ostentatious route, the basis for their ready to wear remains the little Black Dress, but even Coco herself loved a great statement accessory.

Lanvin $2250
at Net-a-porter.com

  I am in love with a huge bauble, for a man or a woman. In "The Devil Wears Prada", Nigel is seen a few times rocking a huge nugget of stone on his fingers, and the best selling necklaces at high fashion companies are the large scale, editorial ready, armor like pieces, ask Alber Elbaz at Lanvin. His H&M collection pieces were among the first items to sell out... I fortunately got my ands on the pearl, and crystal flower one for my best friends Christmas present (she is a very lucky Girl...). Regular Lanvin pieces are fantastic, and can be purchased at Net-A-Porter, but at $2250, can be a little pricey, but without breaking the bank, or waiting for hard to come by collaborations, there are statement pieces out there. I found my favorite piece at a discount/$5.99 store.

Tinley Road Necklace
$18.99 at Piperlime

  If you search "Statement Necklaces" on Google, suggestions for everything from Etsy to Anthropology comes up, but Piperlime.com seemed to be a good bet! with prices starting from $14, they have a great selection. I will say though there were a lot of satin bib selections. Stay away from those... Even the high end ones started looking cheap really quickly!
  From jeans, and a T-shirt, to the classic LBD, a great necklace really can turn a look from Snores to cheers! Have fun!

Vogue Italia, Get Ready For Emily Soto!

  I have recently had the great privilege of working with Emily Soto, a local San Diego Photographer... I met Emily in November at a large event I coordinated. She was working the "Step and Repeat", and almost immediately I emailed seeing if she ever needed a stylist. It took a while, we both have had a LOT going on, but finally last month, we set up a shoot. It was one of the best experiences I have had in SD.
  Emily studied Hospitality, and tourism management at Western Carolina University, and after getting her BA, moved into fashion, and communications. After feeling no creative outlet she discovered her love of photography, and her husband Vic, who is also a super talented photographer.
  All that is great for her resume, but what stuck me as amazing, aside from her brilliant lighting techniques that add an almost cartoon like beauty to the shots, is her willingness to collaborate! She doesn't just want a stylist there to put outfits together, she lets them direct some of the shoot as well!
  "I love conceptualizing shoots, developing creative teams, and seeing the results." Fortunately for me, she has included me in that creative team a couple times! I look forward to our next shoot, and sharing the proof of her talent with you! What is your goal, I asked her, "So many goals, but I have to say my dream is to shoot an editorial for Vogue Italia." Emily, keep it up! You are on your way, and I am excited to be along for the ride!

All Images From Emily Soto

EmilySoto.com

Anna Wintour Supports Gay Marriage... And Talks About It!

  A Prada decked, Anna Wintour is joining in the Human Right Campaign's new video campaign called "New Yorkers For Marriage Equality". Anna filmed her 30 second spot to air along with NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Barbara Bush, and Sean Avery. It is a really cool move for Anna to show a political view, and personal side to her self! "As far as I am concerned, having the right to say I DO is as fundamental as having the right to vote." Nice work HRC, getting someone who gets fashion people off our behinds, and gets us moving! I know I am guilty of not doing enough to benefit causes causes I care about... Having an icon speak for it is a really great motivator! Thanks Anna, and HRC!

Customize A Classic!

Longchamp Le Pliage Image
from Lonchamp Site

  I have always loved Longchamp bags, there is no better carry on than their Le Pliage totes. I have recently been seeing really cool color combinations floating around Point Loma on the USD and PLNU girls, and had to stop and ask where they got them. There are so many different combinations to go with!
  The Main part of the bag is 1 color, you can have a stripe going vertically up (see the image at right), you even pick the length of the strap, and color of the hardware! I am gonna go, Taupe with  lavender stripe. Obviously I am 6'3 so I need the biggest bag, and the strap will be shoulder length. I think I am even gonna go with a Monogram, just to make it, no mistakes, MINE!
  The other great thing about this concept is the only real extra you pay for the service is $60 for shipping! Down side? You pay $60 more for shipping, and you have to wait about three weeks. They are made in the Paris factory, so there is travel time involved! Check out the Longchamp Website, and start creating your own classic!

Visionaire #60, "Religion"... Want...

Visionaire #60 by Ricardo Tisci

  For those of you who don't know, Visionaire Magazine is an Art and Fashion Magazine, that comes out 3 times a year. It features unique designs collaborated on by that issues editor, usually a well placed person at a fashion or luxury goods company. Memorable issues for me would be the extremely rare #18 Louis Vuitton portfolio issue called Fashion, or #24 issue called Light, which was a series of slides in a Tom Ford designed black laquer light box. Well, issue #60 is called Religion, and was edited by Ricardo Tisci, in collaboration with Givenchy, and is available for pre-order now!

Lea T. in Visionaire #60

  Religion feature fashion "Saints" such as Carine Roitfeld, photographed by Karl Lagerfeld, or Givenchy house model Lea T. shot as a veiled martyr styled by Giovanna Battaglia, and shot by Pierpaolo Ferrari. The issue has an asking price of $425, which is nearly $200 above it's usual starting price. Howevere it is not uncommon for issues, especially coveted ones such as the LV, or Tom Ford ones to run upwards of $5000! I would think of it as an investment and jump on the pre-order list at VisionaireWorld.com... I have a feeling the way Tisci's career is moving, and all of the talent featured in this issue, it's gonna sell out, and be on the list of coveted issues! So, now you know!

Met Costume Institute Gala Best Dressed List!

Ricardo Tisci and
Mariacarla Boscano
in Givechy

  As I have mentioned, last night was the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala, celebrating the opening of Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty! While I would love to say that I was there, and post some pics from the actual exhibit, I can't do that. What I can do though is talk about my favorite people, and the amazing clothes they wore... For those of you that don't know, this event is rather like the Superbowl of fashion... The best and the brightest are done up in their finest, and considering who they were celebrating, and who threw the party (Stella McCartney, and Sarah Burton of McQueen),  "Best and Brightest" are the perfect words for it!
  First up we have Mariacarla in Givenchy Couture (right), she is obviously Ricardo Tisci's muse, and favorite model... As a matter of fact, she was his date for the event! Possibly the LUCKIEST girl in the world... And this dress is one of my all time favorite dresses form the designer!

Carolyn Murphy, and Tom Ford
in Tom Ford

Well Mariacarla is the 2nd luckiest girl last night because Miss Caroline Murphy got to attend the party on the arm of the HOTTEST man in the industry! Tom Ford was her escort, and although a little reminiscent of his collections for YSL the Tom Ford dress was really beautiful.Carolyn has always been a favorite girl of mine, and there has never been a secret about my feelings for Mr. Ford...

Karen Elson in
Alexander McQueen

Karen Elson in an Alexander McQueen dress she wore for the finale in his runway show for Spring 2004, one of my favorite productions! The "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" themed show was set up as a dance hall contest, and Karen collapsed at the end in the paillette encrusted gold gown! Goosebumps even thinking about it!

Naomi Campbell in
Alexander McQueen

Naomi Campbell was a close friend to Lee, and she showed up at the event wearing another McQueen design! This one looked to me like it belonged in the Spring 2009 collection... Or Fall 2011... I couldn't find it anywhere in my resources, but I want to say it was one that hadn't been produced... Just Speculation though... If you guys have a definitive answer on this let me know, but I am loving it!

Madonna in Stella McCartney

Madonna in  looked remarkably "un-Creepy" in her star spangled (The back and train of the dress is encrusted in crystals, in the shape of stars! Really a pretty dress from the back too!) 30's style Stella McCartney dress. She has recently taken on a crypt keeper feel, and maybe because you can't see the tendons on her arms, or her legs are covered she has a healthy glow about her... I really think Stella did a great job accentuating Madonna's positives...

Daphne Guinness In
McQueen

Last but by far NOT least is Daphne Guinness... By Far my favorite character from last night! As I mentioned yesterday, Ms. Guinness readied herself in the Windows of Barneys New York, and came to the event in this head to toe feathered gown! With her own personal styling, and the feathered corsetry, this piece is Mind Blowing! This is honestly what I had expected from more people! This was a McQueen showing, and Daphne paid the artist tribute in FULL!

Also worth an honorable mention in my book are Christina Ricci in Zac Posen, Beyonce in Emilio Pucci , and Rihanna in Stella Mcartney...

All Images From Style.com!  

Daphne Guinness Dresses For The Masses!

Daphne Guinness Photo
from PatrickMcMullan.com

  Today is a very exciting day for the anyone who loves fashion. The Metropolitan Museum Of Art's annual Costume Institute Gala is tonight, celebrating the launch of the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibit (which I will be seeing in July! I can't wait!!!). The people who make my world move will be there to remember the talented artists work, and Daphne Guinness, one of his closest friends will be dressing for the event in the windows of Barneys New York's Madison Ave storefront! Don't think this is going to be some burlesque show, "I am not Dita Von Teese, nor shall I be..." Guinness said in her New York Times write up on the occasion. She will be dressing behind screens, and be coming out occasionally  to show the progress! I love this idea, and can't Wait to see what she, and the other guests will be pulling from archives!
  The windows will also showcase the collection of McQueen items purchased from the estate of the late Isabella Blow, which Daphne picked up, keeping the collection in tact. The show will begin at 5pm eastern time, and run until she leaves for the event! I wish I were there to see this, even if I am not on the guest list for the party... YET! You can see her rituals at The Barneys Window Website! This is something you don't want to miss!