Ravishing Red Dresses

Darlings, CC is super smitten with these sexy scarlet dresses from the Fall 2012 collections!

Runway coverage via style.com exept where otherwise credited.
Alberta Ferretti
Antonio Berardi
Fabiola Arias, via nymag.com
Felder Felder
Giorgio Armani
House of Holland
Jason Wu
Jonathan Cohen; this and next via nymag.com
Maria Grachvogel
Matthew Williamson
Michael Kors
Monique Lhuillier
Rolando Santana, via nymag.com
Sachin + Babi
Sophie Theallet
Which red dress do you find most ravising?
xoxox,
CC
P.S. Be sure to visit Couture Carrie tomorrow for CC's shopping suggestions!

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK: SPRING 2010 PART I

nyfw started a while ago (sept 10th), but i've been so busy that i haven't had enough time to post everything and make collages and whatnot! anyway, here we go: the first post of a series of posts devoted to the four fashion weeks (ny, london, paris, milan). it's weird looking at summery/springy clothes now that we are heading into colder months where i live but i'm still thoroughly enjoying the collections and can't wait to see more. i hope you enjoy this too.
♥ me

jenni kayne- i really like jenni kayne's aesthetic and i usually always enjoy her shows. i loved the bright yellow and black used in this collection. i didn't like some of the house slipper shoes though, but i'm going to overlook that. all of the looks i chose from the show are amazing, from the clothes to the shoes. these are all work appropriate and party appropriate as well, depending on your taste.

vena cava- sophie buhai and lisa mayock said they were tired of everything ripped and distressed. at the same time they didn't totally get away from the edgy look in their show, adorning their models with big, 80s looking black glasses and unflattering purple lipstick. however they did produce some really awesome clothes to frolick around in while basking in the summer sun! the clunky shoes in the show are growing on me the more i scowl at them.

prabal gurung- *exhales a satisfied sigh* ya'll KNOW how much i love me some prabal gurung! this is only his second major collection and oh my god, this boy is one of my favorite designers already! i experienced pure enjoyment clicking through these looks and i would be more than happy to wear them. this suits my style so well. it's so chic, classy and a bit whimsical--yet every piece has such a great freshness to it. i don't feel like i've seen this somewhere before. you go prabal! we will DEFINITELY be seeing these looks on the red carpet.

monique lhuillier- someone else who never dissapoints me: monique lhuillier. the people at style.com say these piece wasn't cohesive, but this collection made perfect sense to me. i loved the clunky shoes, the variety of texture, color, print, and embellishment (all while still keeping the collection classy). this collection reminded me of a younger and more accessible version of oscar de la renta. these pieces are great for the red carpet, or special occasions like spring/summer weddings, cotillions, really special dates and whatnot.

elie tahari- i loved the bucket hats and soft colors. every look was styled perfectly!

preen- the people at preen are always ahead of the curve and have so many other designers copying them for their original and yet not sickeningly trendy designs. the pink ruffly dress is just crying out for a red carpet appearance. i would also love to see every other ensemble featured here on the red carpet and i think that the black and nude dress would look great in editorial work.

nicole miller- nicole miller JUST qualified to get a collage, i was kind of on the fence with this show but i realized that her designs from spring 2010 were young and fun and you didn't have to think too much to enjoy the show.

luca luca- everything was so wearable and pretty! i felt that the show was a bit watered down though and that more attention could have been put into it, but i'd love to wear everything in the show.

jason wu- he never dissapoints! i loved the explosion of color and the youthful, frothy, fun feel of the collection. i'd love it if my wardrobe only contained jason wu items. isn't that curry yellow dress so divine? all of these pieces are so nice.

cynthia rowley- i loved the cool color palette of black, white, purples and blues and the feminine feel of all the clothes. tres chic!

costello tagliapetra- ok, i don't understand why ali stephens is blonde and why every model and their cat is dying their hair blonde but what i do know is that i liked this show. i really liked the varied color palette, the lace up heeled booties, the soft silky fabrics, different necklines and scrunchy waistbands on some of the dresses that made them look really fun and cute.

extra fashion week commentary:

wayne- this collection featured a lot of laidback pieces. fuzzy vests, jersey minis, an oversized metallic leather jacket and bags, and opentoed flat sandals as well as slicked back wet hair. the pieces were nice, and perfect for the cool and young but it was nothing groundbreaking and reminded me of what we've been seeing at alexander wang and a very dumbdowned version of preen.

rachel comey- very nice show that catered to the young and carefree. lot's of jumpsuits, prints, loose shapes and cute tea dresses.

helmut lang- i know every fashion blogger and their dog is going to love this, but seriously...fashion designers and their makeup people are beating the bleached eyebrow thing to death, and this collection didn't show my anything new. short, tight, slashed mini dresses/skinny jeans/clunky shoes/pale skin...whatever.

L.A.M.B- gwen stefani is still so coooooool! she and her casting panel picked the most beautiful models! they all looked so original and pretty and different without being cardboard cutouts of eachother. the collection didn't blow my mind but it was nice to see! and gwen looked great walking the runway at the end!

bcbg max azria- i did enjoy viewing this show...but i was expecting more. unfortunately...this is not collage worthy. :/ but kudos to the azria anyway, because i'm sure lots of youngins will be wearing your very sheer and very tight pieces!

yigal azrouel- this show reminded me a lot of preen. it wasn't very inspiring...

william rast- denim, denim and more denim.

ruffian- the makeup was so, so pretty and the shoes were amazing: strappy and high with red platforms! there were definitely some really cute looks and the models all looked so beautiful...but again, nothing groundbreaking. the fall show really blew me away though if you guys can remember.

rag&bone- only models could look good with wet, tangled, disheveled hair--greasy faces, baggy sweatpants, blazers and untucked shirts.

juan carlos obando- this show was REALLY interested and featured models with heavily contoured faces, their faces and legs had sandy dirt on it, their clothes were dyed in deep browns and purples and seemed to have bleach stains. then, of course, were the beautiful "twisty, pleated dresses" which style.com says is obando's signature.

gary graham- i really loved the presentation. the models looked so awesome in their smoky backstage dressing room setting, standing in superhigh heels with carelress layers that included old school trousers, jackets and poofy dresses.

erin wasson x RVCA- this show was definitely an improvement from her past ones. i liked the more hippie than rock chick vibe (that's getting a bit played out...even though i still appreciate the look when done right). still not collage worthy though :/

cynthia steffe- shaun kearney at cynthia steffe managed to produce a cute, young, very girly collection full of pastels, uber short hemlines, ruffles and frills. it was very cohesive and very wearable, so i would imagine this would sell well...but i want to be excited a bit more! no doubt about it though, this was a great collection.

cushnie et ochs- this collections was very body conscious...think: showing as much leg as possible without showing your private areas, or think showing as much boob as possible without showing the nipple. yes, that body conscious.

charlotte ronson- the collection had a tough french girl vibe. some individual pieces were nice but i didn't like the styling.

alabama chanin- this is the first i've seen from alabama chanin, and the head of the line:natalie "alabama" chanin is a vogue fashion fund finalist. the clothes were simple, clean and they are made from recycled quilts and sewn in the U.S.A

part II coming soon!

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK: FALL 2009 PART I

this is the moment you've all been waiting for right? hold on...this is going to a bumpy ride.
♥ me

p.s. i just realized i tagged all of this fall 08. please ignore that. >.>

Monique Lhuillier- monique lhuillier is one of my favorite designers because she really knows how to make dresses. when a woman puts on a good dress she basically becomes a goddess. so that's what lhuillier essentially is...a goddess maker. ahahaha, that probably didn't make any sense, but what i'm trying to say is--lhuillier put on an amazing show. at least in my opinion. it was darkly whimsical with ripped/stretched stockings, and a beautiful color palette (greys, purples, navy, blacks...all of my fave colors). the models were accessorized with pearls that didn't look an ounce country clubbish and shiny baubles placed randomly. the title of the collection was modern ballets russes. i think it was named perfectly. i hope to see some of these looks at the oscars or on the red carpet in general! the five looks you see above are my absolute favorites, they're just dripping with character and mystery.

Tse- Lots of beautiful clean knits. this collection was amazingly simple but i fell in love with it anyway. who woulda thunk it? i loved the color palette: pumpkin orange, creamy white, greys, blacks, and beautifully bright plum. you could wear these looks everyday. they make me want it to be cold all of the time just so i could wrap myself up in these looks. and i don't like the cold.

Bibhu Mohapatra- i would describe this as a mix of quirky cute and elegant fluidity. i loved the fluid silks and chiffons used in the collection as well as the dusky blues, purples, greys, greens and tasteful embellishment. i don't remember ever seeing anything from this designer before but i was pleasantly surprised by the fresh outlook given in this collection. these clothes make me want to take a second look, even after having seen them multiple times while making this entry.

Jason Wu- one word to describe this collection is sophisticated. i loved the palette of light to rich dark blues wu used as well as the mix of floaty fabrics as well as heavy constructed fabrics. this collection really was fit for some super graceful duchess or someone to that effect...like...i don't know...michelle obama. :)

Yigal Azrouel- this show was so fun to look at. this show was definitely for cool girls only. every model had straight, sharp hair, darkened eyes, and a fierce pout. the color palette heavily relied on dark greys and blacks with a few colors or prints thrown in. i could wear the second look from the left every single day. it's so perfect--slim pants that elongate your legs, shiny high heeled boots, a simple grey tank and the best leopard print coat ever. tao okamoto (the model in the middle...i hope i spelled her name right) is quickly becoming one of my favorite models. i love her chic haircut and the way she wears clothes. she looks great in that dress. the last look to the far right reminds me a lot of lanvin but i love the crisp white paired with the darkest black. contrast is beautiful.

Rag & Bone- from the instant i started viewing the show i was amazingly pleased. rag and bone did the perfect play on basics. everything was wearable but never boring. i loved the leggings (not included in all the looks for the show) that seemed to be a mix of leather, spandex, and jersey and the flouncy mini skirts and the high messy buns on the models. the whole vibe was perfect! oh, and shorts with tights has never looked so good.

Hutson- from the people who brought you Obedient Sons & Daughters here is...Hutson! i'm loving the feel of this new line from the hutson couple. it has a very ysl-esque + chanel-esque + awesome-esque feel to it. i love the intelligent lady like ruffles and the sky high heels that i would not be able to walk in but would love to own anyway. the second look from the right is what gives the collection it's chanel-y feel. it featured a jacket/coat cut in a mini dress style with an empire waist and flap pockets. and i don't know if that coat is faux fur (it probably is)...but even if it's not i really want it (i'm feeling guilty!). look at the beautiful shape and the lovely construct of the sleeves and it hits at exactly the right place and it's so plush and soft. sighhh.

karen walker- walker featured cool shirts that were short in front and long in back, expertly made trousers, mini frocks and bucket hats as our fall forecast.

ruffian- i loved the sheer dotted stockings, the red lipstick and the straight hair on all of the girls. all of the clothes had a very young ladylike feel to it. every model looked her age in the clothes but at the same time looked very polished and intriguing. i want to wear pretty much everything in this collection. these are pieces that a teenage or 20-young 30 something eloise would wear (from the children's book eloise at the plaza).

ohne titel- this show was just exciting enough to get a collage devoted to it. i loved the heavy use of black, the skinny pants slashed at the knees and the amazing embellishment that managed to look space age but wearable all at once.

Abaete- this show had a slow start but i loved the looks that went down the runway as the show went on. i'd really love to own the dress to the far right.

ADAM- i wasn't expecting to like this show but the young upbeat looks drew me in. and doesn't iekeliene stange (model third from left) look great with blonde hair? i was pleasantly surprised when i saw her stomping down runways with her lighter locks. one of my fave pieces from this collection was the beautiful dress tao (model to the far right) is wearing. i love the colors and the cut.

Alexander Wang- i loved the bags and shoes in this collection. they are absolutely lust worthy. as style.com said: alexander wang's rock chick has grown up. all of the models were styled with major edge but a bunch of polish and well placed maturity was dashed in as well. and it gave a good effect. i also really like the idea of the bra cupdresses. they are very sexy and stick to the ideal of the alexander wang girl.

ADDITIONAL FASHION WEEK NOTES

Jenni Kayne- the looks were definitely for a smart girl that wanted to look decidedly sexy. there was a lot of use of embellishment, of texture, of fur, and of loose tops and tight bottoms or tight bottoms and loose tops. i liked the feel of this collection as lot, especially the pairing of the looks with gold baubles for necklaces and huge black eyeglasses. however, the collection wasn't outstanding. i'd give it an honorable mention. :)

Lyn Devon- lots of basics (pantsuits, blouses, breezy dresses) souped up with bright colors.

Acne- lots of clear plastic pants, amazingly high shoes and grungy looking models. it was ok, but not great. (london)

Vera Wang Lavender Label- it was decent, but not delightful. i want to be excited by new fashions! i don't want to feel de ja vu.



Rachel Roy- she said that she wanted this collection to have a decidedly strong feel, and it did. it used a lot of sharp asymmetrical cuts and all of the models wore sharp dark YSL-esque bobs and (YSL-esque again) black lips. she used lots of pastel colors, such as powder blue and pale lemon yellow (the color of the inside, not outside of the fruit) and lots of black and sheer panels. one of my favorite looks from the collection was an incredibly fierce black corset top with a black peplum paired with black straight legged trousers, several of her asymmetrical cocktail dresses and the last look worn by kinee diouf. a black gown look, with a sheer top and sequined skirt.


Peter Som- 16 looks of dissapointment...and I usually love anything that Mr. Som does. i disliked most of the looks save for a scant few (two to three looks). there was a lot of fur, brown or colored in a strange hue, lots of mixed prints, and socks with strappy/chunky high heels. maybe my expectations are too high?



United Bamboo- it was a pretty boring show in my opinion. it has straight laced schoolgirl + art girl. lots of wools, tweeds, sheer black sleeves and silky prints in dark muted colors abounded.


Staerk- very monochromatic and edgy. an appearance from fatima of america's next top model fame surprised me--she actually looked good in the runway picture. i never liked her on the show, but that hasn't stopped her from pursuing her modeling dreams. the shoes in the collection were black pointy toed heels, some with silver tips to complement silver brooches pinned onto various ensembles.



Shipley & Halmos- very practical. all of these pieces i could wear daily. the clothes are all made very well, but at the same time i'm not excited. one reason is because they were blatently inspoired by various balenciaga collections (they just toned the look way down), and because the looks were so normal. i did like all of their models though.



BCBG Max Azria- the gold and pewter metallic wet look leggings were such a great and young touch. i'm expecting to see these a lot soon on hip girls. there was great use of velvet and silk which gave a very louche look to the collection. yet all the girls were style to look completely comfortable and cool and not one bit pretentious. the look was effortless. however, i couldn't see too many looks that wowed me.



*overall notes: leather high waisted shorts seem to be very popular for fall. they won't be flattering on all--how do i know this? even the models looked bad in them. also, i am seeing so much more asian models on the runways! yay, diversity!



part II will be up before you know it!