MFW: Alberta Ferretti and Bottega Veneta

Here's some glamour done well from Milan Fashion Week.  Alberta Ferretti and Bottega Veneta both used bold colors and simple shapes to create gorgeous free-flowing dresses that are sure to be popular on the red carpets this season.  What do you think?

Alberta Ferretti

Favorite Beauty Looks from NYFW

3.1 Phillip Lim

OBSESSED: Erdem Spring 2012

LFW: Christopher Kane and David Koma

I adore these two collections from London Fashion Week.  Christopher Kane's digital flowers are sophisticated but modern, and David Koma's cutouts are absolutely amazing.  I love how edgy the outfits are, and the simple makeup gives the models a very understated look.

Christopher Kane

LFW: Unique for Topshop, Acne and Roskanda Ilincic

OK, I am finally going to commit to discussing some of the spring collections that I loved this season.  Starting with Unique for Topshop, which I picture is something Cleopatra would have been into if she was 17 and trendy.  While a lot of the collection was not necessarily my style, I appreciate the interesting reference, and I like key pieces like the Elizabeth Taylor sweatshirt and the Egyptian cat dress.  Topshop also stayed true to this season's theme of pastels, and the shades of pink on the dresses is a really pretty look.

Acne and Roskanda Ilincic also showed some pretty strong collections, and although they are incredibly different, there are still some striking similarities.  Both made use of the full skirt trend and incorporated florals into their clothing, but they did it in very different ways. Acne, which tends to be the cool, edgy girl's wardrobe went a little harder with lines and fabrics while Roskanda created a wardrobe for a very feminine and sophisticated woman.  Acne digitized its floral prints for a more modern look and Roskanda went more traditional, but regardless of the differences, I think they both showed awesome collections.

Unique for Topshop

LOVE: Alexander Wang Spring 2012

Nicki Minaj at New York Fashion Week

As some of you may have seen, Nicki Minaj made her way around NYFW and attended shows like Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera and Prabal Gurung. While she might have seemed a little out of place sitting next to Anna Wintour, she definitely made a statement.  Check out these great photos of her zany style from front row.

OBSESSED: Prabal Gurung Spring 2012

Prabal Gurung's spring collection was absolutely stunning.  I adore the cutouts and the patterns he incorporated into his designs, and can we talk about how stunning Karlie Kloss looks?  These clothes are sexy and chic, and I feel like these are the kind of clothes that make women look good, not just the kind of clothes models make look good.  Clearly, I'm in love, so what do you think of the collection?

The Art of Mixing Prints from Mary Katrantzou and Michael van der Ham

At London Fashion Week, a huge trend was combining and meshing patterns, and two designers I think did an amazing job were Mary Katrantzou and Michael van der Ham.  Both created dresses that are bold and vibrant, and while I think mixing prints can be risky and result in an overwhelming and sometimes tacky look, these two designers managed to create chic and edgy outfits that are eye-catching, elaborate and unique.

Mary Katrantzou

NYFW: Backstage and beauty

LOVE: Band of Outsiders and Derek Lam Spring 2012

Band of Outsiders is one of my favorite collections from NYFW.  I would wear every piece in it, and I am not going to lie, it made me want to run out and fine one of those flat-top hats.  The floral dresses are to die for, they are so pretty, soft and flowy, and I adore the more structured, collared dresses.  As for Derek Lam, the clothes are wonderfully simple, and I really like the details and the structured jackets and the white dresses.

Band of Outsiders

NYFW: Backstage at Anna Sui, Carolina Herrera and Rag and Bone

Anna Sui

NYFW: Minimalism at Helmut Lang, Theysken's Theory, The Row and T by Alexander Wang

Three collections that I think used minimalism in great ways this season were Helmut Lang, The Row and Theysken's Theory.

While some of you might argue that Theysken's Theory isn't minimalistic, there are definitely aspects in the dresses where they are simple and edgy.  I think Theysken's Theory is my favorite collection out of these three and definitely my top five of NYFW.  I would wear just about everything in the collection, and I love the edginess and wearability that Theysken combines so well.  

Also, The Row's collection was an interesting display because it was all white and creams, and while it was simple in color palette, the details were stunning.  It never ceases to amaze me that the Olsen twins are the masterminds behind this collection, and I think they continuously show a style maturity and elegance far beyond their age.

Helmut Lang's collection was as usual amazing.  I loved the unique shapes and the black and white pieces below are loose but still manage to give a woman shape.  I think it's incredibly wearable and just radiates cool.

I think Alexander Wang presented a much more grown up version of T this season.  While it's still the wearable sportswear/street wear that made the line so popular, it seems to me to be more chic but still edgy.  I am really liking the white palette and the grey cut out dress.

Helmut Lang

LOVE: 3.1 Phillip Lim

I am loving the clean and simple look that 3.1 Phillip Lim went for this season.  The collection has great street wear in addition to some wonderful minimalistic dresses that could be worn out on the town.  I would love to have some of those simple dresses paired with leather jackets and boots.

NYFW: Street Style (part one)

So as always, fashion week has been pushed to the side for school, and I am feeling slightly overwhelmed at the fact that I have still yet to look at all the shows from NYFW, I haven't looked at any from LFW and Milan Fashion Week is almost here.  I am trying my hardest to get all caught up, so bear with me, please.  Anyways, here's the first part of the street style images I collected during NYFW.  Enjoy!

OBSESSED: Rodarte meets Van Gogh

Rodarte is definitely one of the shows I look forward to the most, and with each season, I am continuously impressed.  While I felt that last season would be hard to top, I adore how the Mulleavy sisters channeled Vincent Van Gogh and incorporated some of his most famous works into their outfits.  While normally I wouldn't be a fan of the heavy eye makeup, I think it works for this collection, and the models don't look overdone because the rest of the makeup is very natural.

NYFW: Suno, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan and Narciso Rodriguez

So, first and foremost, my favorite collection of the four below is definitely Suno.  I love the prints and the shapes of the clothes, and let's just say I have already given my heart away to that polka dot dress.  It is absolutely gorgeous, and if someone doesn't wear that on the red carpet I will probably cry.  OK, not really, but please, someone wear it!

I might be one of the few who think this, but I thought the spring Marc Jacobs collection had more high points in it than the fall, although I think some of those dresses channel Prada's fall looks, which makes me detract a few awesome points from the outfits.  I like the plaid dresses, and the weird textures/fabrics going on in his collection that make me want to see them in person.  AND the shoes!  The shoes are amazing, I'll post on them later when I drool collectively over all the shoes at NYFW (not literally of course).

Donna Karan seemed to be channeling Africa, but I feel like her collection would work better in the fall than as a spring collection because of its orange, brown and black color palette.  I am also not sure if the necklaces the models are wearing are totally awesome or just weird and rooster-like (maybe they can be both).  My favorite pieces are the two patterned dresses that cross by the neck and form a V.  They are totally stunning and seem really flattering.

Narciso Rodriguez's collection is pretty with layered pieces that create a color blocking feel, but it's the white dresses at the end that had me going "aww pretty."  Personally, I think they are the show stealers, as I wasn't that crazy about his collection, although I do applaud is minimalistic approach to looking chic.

What are your thoughts?

Suno

LOVE: Oscar de la Renta Spring 2012

I adore Oscar de la Renta's spring collection.  The full skirts are to die for, the yellow trend is present and  I am totally feeling the hair.  It's semi-reminiscent of the '80s, but it's chic, sophisticated, fun and bright.  Also, I love how Oscar casts such great models in his shows, he really had them all: Karlie, Lindsey, Daphne, Frida... the list goes on and on.  Oscar, you never cease to amaze me.  Now all I need is one of those first three dresses to dance around in and those gold shoes!

NYFW: Jeremy Scott goes west

I am loving Jeremy Scott's cowgirl meets LA theme this season.  I also think (aside from the menswear) that he kind of toned down his craziness this year and replaced it with outfits that seemed fun but in a more grown up way?  I am not sure how to describe it, but something feels different in this collection.  His signature wacky style is still present, but it almost feels more refined.

I am loving the cactus dresses and the sunglasses prints, as well as the AMAZING shoes the models are wearing.  Where can I get a pair?  They are too cute.  Also, I really like how Scott had his models' faces painted with faux freckles.

NYFW: Monique Lhuillier, Zac Posen and Jenny Packham

Sorry for falling behind in my fashion week posting, I, of course, got hit with a test and a lot of reading halfway through New York Fashion Week.  I thought I'd post about these three designers, and then throughout the afternoon Thursday, I'll try to get on top of the more recent shows.

I'll start with Monique Lhuillier's collection that really sort of surprised me this season.  Lhuillier is known for her princess dresses and red carpet after red carpet looks, and I felt like this season she went for a look with harder edges.  Although she did throw a few large evening gowns in at the end, I enjoyed her use of the black leather-looking straps on the dresses that played with hard versus soft.  I also liked her solid black dresses with the little details on the side and back.  Could Lhuillier be turning over an edgier leaf?

Zac Posen, who decided to return to New York to show this season, definitely knows glamour and likes to play with the curves on a woman's body with his clothes.  I liked the constructed look of his evening wear and how he styled the models.  Overall, it was very Zac Posen and very pretty, especially the dress with the lace and flower bottom.

This season Jenny Packham designed for princess.  OK, let's be honest, I think she designed for Kate Middleton.  Can't you just put Kate's head on almost all of the models and think to yourself, "Yeah, that looks like something Kate would wear."  I love the collection, though.  It's pretty in a simple and elegant way without being over the top.  Fingers crossed that the Duchess of Cambridge rocks some of this come spring.

Monique Lhuillier