Fashionable in 2008: The Chanel Cruise Collection
January 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Having barely said goodbye to 2007, 2008 fashion have been in stores for, in some cases, at least a few weeks now. That gives us an edge as per what to expect in 2008. By looking at some of the runway styles, we can get a taste for what’s in store for the rest of us.
For women, the Chanel Cruise Collection is featuring really short shorts with big shirts made from a chunky, patterned material. For the men, say hello to one-piece suits/jumpers. Basically, we’re welcoming the 70’s with wide-open arms.
And (as seen below), wide-legged trousers are coming back, too. (Personally, I’m ecstatic about this.) They’re wide enough and long enough to cover the season’s platform shoes.
Dresses from the Chanel Cruise Collection are mostly high-waisted, puffy and short, though there are some very classic, elegant styles in their, as well. Like the spin on the little black dress.
Look for the styles of the Louis Vuitton Collection next.
Natalie Portman Designs Vegan Shoes
December 28, 2007 | 2 Comments
Natalie Portman has teamed up with a New York shoe shop, Te Casan, to create a vegan shoe collection. I can’t find anywhere that says what the shoes are made of, since vegans abstain from all animal products, they are “non-leather,” like the red patent leather shoes shown in the picture above. I wonder what they’re made from — plastic, maybe?
In any case, orders for the shoes will begin January 15, and the collection will be available in stores in February 2008. Five percent of all of the profits from these shoes will go towards a charity.
I don’t know anything else about them, like price or anything, but check back, and I’ll get that to you as soon as I know. The thing about these, is you don’t have to be a vegetarian or a vegan to appreciate them, just an animal lover.
Giorgio Armani Opens New Boutique in Tokyo
December 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Italian designer Giorgio Armani opened a new Armani boutique in Ginza, Tokyo. The boutique is huge: 12 stories with 2 basements, making it one of the world’s largest Armani shops. The Armani Ginza Tower carries all of the Armani clothing and accessories, and it even carries Armani’s furniture and the world’s first Armani spa.
The building, which is designed in a chic, modern manner with bamboo motif “Japanese touches,” is located between the Sukiyabashi crossing and the Ginza Yon-chome crossing and is surrounded with other designer boutiques.
Armani visited Japan for the store’s opening and also showed the new Spring and Summer 2008 collection, which had just been unveiled in Milan, Italy.
Calvin Klein Adds Women’s Performance Gear Line
December 26, 2007 | 2 Comments
Calvin Klein announced Thursday that G-III Apparel Group Ltd, a division of Calvin Klein, will be producing a new women’s clothing line called “Calvin Klein Performance.” The line will release some women’s biking, tennis, yoga and running clothes in Spring 2008, and everything will be out in FAll 2008.
The goal of the clothing line is to enhance women’s athletic clothing with materials and designs that match today’s women’s lifestyles. The line will include pants, capris, t-shirts, shorts, hoodies, tank tops and tennis skirts and dresses.
The President and Chief Operating Officer of Calvin Klein, Inc said, “As we continue to expand product categories to provide the Calvin Klein consumer with a wide range of lifestyle apparel options, the addition of women’s performance apparel fills an important niche.”
The clothes will be released in the United States as well as in some parts of Mexico and Canada.
Fashion Icon Coco Chanel Miniseries
December 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
What happens when you combine fashion history with television? A “Chanel” miniseries, that’s what. Lifetime plans on airing a show which follows the story of Coco Chanel, starting with her growing up in an orphanage outside of Paris. However, the focus of the show is on Chanel’s reinventing herself, after she re-established herself as a fashion trendsetter in her 70s.
Chanel, who died in 1971, was named one of the most influential people of the 20th century by Time Magazine.
Director Christian Duguay said he wants to make the miniseries into something meaningful. “There’s no point in doing it if it won’t educate people and entertain, but in an original way. It’s a love story, it’s a rags-to-riches story, it has some strong social statements about women and about how the world has changed.”
Shirley MacLaine will be playing Coco Chanel in her later years, and Barbora Bobulova will be playing her in her early years. The two-part miniseries will be airing sometime in 2008.
Calvin Klein Makes Beauty A Part of Fashion
December 21, 2007 | 2 Comments
Calvin Klein has decided to use the colors found in the clothing products in their makeup line. ck Calvin Klein creative director, Kevin Carrigan, said, “We wanted to link makeup back to fashion.” The beauty line will launch in the U.S. in January.
Basically, the beauty collection utilizes the colors that were found on the runway. Fuchsia used in a shirt could be turned into a lipstick. If that fuschia has a cellophane overlay, the lipstick might have a touch of gloss so both the color and the texture match. Navy in a shoe could become a navy nail polish.
Carrigan went on to explain, “It’s about updating the face to go with the outfits they’re wearing.”
Most of the products will cost about $20.
Vivienne Westwood Returns to London Catwalk!
December 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment
After ten years away from the London catwalk, Vivienne Westwood is returning! She’s planning on showing her women’s wear line, “Red Label” in February, the 10th through the 15th. The clothes she’ll be showing are for the Winter and Fall 2008 collection.
The last collection Vivienne showed was in 1998, and now she says, “The sales of all our lines are increasing and we decided that Red Label, which is successful worldwide and is so popular in the U.K. should have its own show.”
As you can see below, Vivienne’s logo is a “royal ORB” with a cross on it. It’s bejeweled, and is very appropriate for this fashion icon, who has been called the Queen of British Fashion. In addition to fashion, Vivienne has designed watches, an eyewear collection, and some tableware.
Two other designers, Matthew Williamson and Luella Bartley, did something similar. They were out for several years, and then returned back to the show in fall of 2007.
A Truly Ugly Dior High Heel Sandal
December 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment
I hate this shoe. I love heels, but hate sandals. I think what happened is whoever came designed this shoe from Christian Dior by John Galliano was trying to please everyone. The result is obvious, atrocious. I can’t imagine a scarier thing to put on one’s foot. Besides, where would you wear it?
This gold and leather sandal has… balls attached to it. Big balls, medium balls, and little balls. The problem is I think the balls are the only part I don’t like. The rest of the sandal is quite cute
The sandal costs over to $1,000. The only thing I could reasonably see anyone wearing it is for a costume party or for dress up. But then, it would have to cost less than $10.
Back to the Basics: Black and White
December 19, 2007 | 2 Comments
Black and white is in! Clothing and accessories alike are back in black - with white.
Accessories like sunglasses are best this season if you forgo the “colored” glasses. Similarly, pin-striped or patterned black and white hats are uber cool. Boots are the season’s footwear of choice and black boots go easily with almost anything. Likewise, a black handbag or purse like Hayden Panettiere was seen with is great, and if it has white stitching, it’s even hotter.
Pieces of clothing, like shirts, dresses and skirts are all the rage. Dolce and Gabbana, John Galliano and Gucci are all using black and white patterns in their designs. Like the black and white Chanel outfit above.
The thing about black and white is it classic, and it never goes out of style. One thing: if going the stripe route, vertical stripes are slimming.
Stella McCartney’s Fragrance “Stella”
December 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Earlier this year, Stella McCartney was named “Designer of the Year.” Stella’s self-named perfume is just one of the many reason why she won that title.
Stella made her name for being passionately against fur and creating feminine looks using floral designs from wispy cottons that even the celebs like: Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kate Moss. The femininity found in her clothing has translated to her perfume, but added something as well.
Stella said, “I wanted to capture the fragility of the high summer rose when the petals are just about to fall off. It’s not about skipping around the country in a frilly skirt on a summer day.” The contrasting scents of rose and amber fused to make a rich and sensual “intense femininity.”