Tribute to Elsa

Amidst the models, lighting and runways during the reign of the Couture Fashion Week in Paris was the amazing Tribute to Elsa exhibit; a series of 18 outfits designed by the renowned Christian Lacroix.

If you're like me and see the clothing on the runways as more then a quirky red-carpet outfit but as a wearable work of art, then you too must be in love with the legend that is Elsa Schiaparelli.

To condense the legend; she was an Italian born designer who entered the fashion world with the start of her business in Paris 1927 to closing her design house in 1954.

During this time she stamped the world with her outrageous and audacious nature introducing looks such as "Shocking Pink" (a name so deliciously explanatory of her surreal styling), her 1938 Circus collection, the shoe hat, lobster print and not to mention use of insects. With friends and callaborators such as Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau and Alberto Giacometti it would be inevitable that her designs would reach the artistic heights they did in a mid 20th Century fashion world.

The collection that featured offered all that embodied the late Elsa Schiaparelli to the extravegant, outrages garments splashed with Shocking Pink, Acid Greens dawned with feather, fur and enlarged pockets.

The whole exhibit really is a thing of visual euphoria celebrating the once ingenious designer with the outcome in my personal opinion, a perfectly expressed tribute to it's Queen with endearment.

Of course you wouldn't see me strutting down 5th Avenue in the changing blue taffeta blouse, but that's not really the point sometimes in fashion and in Elsa Schiaparelli's case, sometimes it's just plain art.

If you haven't already done so, then see the exhibit and designs as well as a behind the scenes video at:

http://www.schiaparelli.com/en/tribute.html


What's your opinion on Fashion and Art?

Vionnet - Fall 2013 Couture

Now getting back to the present; let's talk Vionnet's 2013 Fall collection. 

Dark and Demure could be the words that best describe this collection. With the Grecian sweeping capes and flowing fabrics (which are classic looks in the Vionnet wardrobe), the whole collection keeps a simple almost heritage theme. I for one love two tone looks on couture - it seems to encapsulate the female form better while making a garment fun and visually appealing.

However some of the designs fell a bit to the Garbage-bag green semblance. I know that may seem a bit harsh, it could just be the light after all but my favourite piece which uses a dark green leather does have a hint of synthetic plastic appearance.

With the blander use of colours and flatter falling lines, I'm looking forward to seeing who's wearing these on the red carpets as they may have that dangerous can-or-can't-pull-it-off line that celebrities love to flirt with. I'm bargaining most might not be able to do the line justice but I also love being surprised. 

If you can't tell, I'm not a fan of this collection - what do you think of it?

http://vionnet.com/news/videos/

Check out my Pinterest for my favourite looks!

Alexis Mabille Spring/Summer Collection 2013

Before we move forward, let's step back six months or so to pay homage to a truly gifted designer who released a magnificent collection this year.

http://www.alexismabille.com/en/couture/couture_printemps-ete_2013.php

Alexis Mabille's Haute Couture range captured the French Feminine Archetype amongst the layers of fine lace, chiffon and embroidery with a modern twist.

I'm usually not one for the "girlish" look but Monsieur Mabille has made this line simply a work of art that will bring out the lust for lace out in all of us. 

With most of the collection keeping to those soft and subtle baby pinks, peach, nudes and whites, I especially loved the vibrant splash of colours near the end complimented with an equally splash of risque` and vivaciousness. 

Details down to embroidery and added crystals to the already feminine overlay of veiling has the collected embrace the female body perfectly which I for one, would love to see more of. 

This collection can definitely be seen on the likes of Dita Von Tesse, but if anyone has spotted any of this beautiful line on the red carpet this year link it below! 

Click on my Pinterest page to see a few of my favourites! 

The Couch Movement

Welcome all fellow couch fashionistas out there! Lovers of beauty and fashion, flare and fun - who needs to sit besides the catwalk with squinted eyes desperately trying to find the envied models wearing the envied clothes we only dream of charging up our credit cards with! yes, envy is a key here.

That's right, we can still be at home studying the fashion arena filling it with our unwanted critiques and swooning gibe while kicking back in our generic tracksuits and affordable shoes.  

The fashion world is indeed after all, created for us to enjoy so please join me in following the fashion world armed with our opinions, opinions and more opinions from our own little worlds. If we can't join 'em, we can talk about 'em!

Enter the Couch Fashionistas!