Hitting the runway with outerwear, capes, shaved rabbit fur in lighter hues, Phillip Lim created a sensible line within in the realms of what a girl wants.

Backward suspender skirts and trousers, beautiful capes and coats in different prints kept me wanting more. Saddened me a bit since I live in the land of no coats or minimal coats but some pieces I would still splurge on to wear when the temperature drops below 55 degrees.


Jumping on the trendy bandwagon, the celebrities were out in full force at the Proenza Schouler show.

High-waisted graffiti print jeans, a collaboration with J Brand was first out on the runway. Leathers, furs, revealing sheer skin, dark and sexy with a hint of school girl. Old style toggle coats with plaids updated to the 2010 standards. Try and find these in retail land - I’m guessing "sold out" will be the theme around town...

Cheap and Chanel are hardly uttered in the same sentence. Yet, Chanel’s temporary tattoos by Les Trompe L'Oeil Temporary Skin Art ($75 for five sheets of 55 designs) are now available. Designed by Peter Phillips, Chanel’s creative director and as seen in the Spring 2010 RTW collection, the tattoos feature pearls, chains, sparrows, flower blossoms and of course, the famous Chanel logo.

They are now available for a limited time here, at Chanel.com Chanel boutiques and makeup studios. These temporary skin arts, which are synonymous with any other temporary tattoo are applied the same way and easily removed.    

I am not sure how I feel about these but I doubt you will see me sporting a Chanel temporary or a  real Chanel tattoo ever. Even if I did think a dragon tattoo on an Asian at age 14 was a good idea.

In other Chanel news, the Coco Before Chanel DVD is out. It follows Gabrielle before she became a fashion icon. I really enjoyed this movie. Exaggerated from Chanel's biographical material, its a truly feminizing piece that screams: love is not always everything.

Robert Polet, Gucci Group chief executive, announced today that the McQueen label would not retire and that the Fall 2010 collection scheduled for Paris Fashion Week on March 9th will still occur. A new designer has not been named yet.

I’m getting married!!!!

To my dog.

Day 4 - Dasha is off at Obedience School and I don’t know how much longer I can take. 10 more days away from that beautiful FACE?! So, when she returns I will marry her, since marriage keeps your partner by your side forever...

I know, this is a horrible leap from bestiality to wedding dresses but yesterday Net-A-Porter launched their bridal boutique. Carrying, of course, wedding dresses, veils, accessories, shoes, bags, jewelry, lingerie and even bridesmaids and mother of the bride dresses. Designers such as Temperley London, Lanvin, Vivienne Westwood, Chole and Rick Owens would make any bride squeal unless she was a dog.


The selection is small and the styles vary but it is their second day. Something to watch or keep in mind if wedding bells are in the future. Net-A-Porter Bridal Shop

I’ve been a very naughty girl. McQueen’s passing and my trip to NY has resulted in zero posts during NY Fashion week. I shall make up for it with this fascinating, riveting post.

Ready?
            
Yigal Azrouel didn’t disappoint me. He brought suits on the runway with an edginess yet still kept it wearable for the everyday office woman. His lines were slimming and definitely not boring. He threw in leather, pinstripes and embroidered details upon black, greys and earth hues.

Jeremy Laing evoked the spirit of his country’s natural resources. Light weight fur coats made of beaver, raccoon and muskrat pellets, along with a trapper-esque style hit the runway. Not denying his deconstructive style, he made his pieces less complicated but kept the hard lines and layering. I was a huge fan of his last line but I find this season’s pieces a bit too reminiscent of what I escaped from - country living. Despite this I love the textures, fur pieces, and tight legging styled pants.


Alexander Wang also went the suit route. He decided that his women couldn’t always wear a lightweight tee to work although comfortable. Deconstructed suits with surprise slivers of skin, layers, and a bondage theme. My one gripe, although on the rise; velvet. I hate it and he used it a lot. Although, this wont stop me from shopping his velvet-less pieces for work. Oh, and I hated the hair.... greasy and stringy to work?


Still looking forward to Proenza Schouler and 3.1 Phillip Lim.

Dressed in black with a McQueen skull scarf and a McQueen Skeleton carry-on, I am aboard my flight to NY.

Alexander McQueen sales have surged. His samples have been called back. Quoted from Wall Street Journal:

An urgent message from Alexander McQueen’s director of communications was sent out this morning, requesting that all samples from the late designer be sent back to the headquarters. The email read:

Dear friends and colleagues,

I hope you will understand that in regards to the recent demise of Mr. Lee Alexander McQueen, our immediate priority is to secure all items and garments from current and past collections. We are therefore stopping all trafficking of samples.

I therefore ask you to please send back to us all items that are currently in your offices.
Should some items or garments be out on shootings on outside locations, I ask you to pay the most strict attention in terms of securing these items, and to please send them back asap.

It is our responsibility to keep Lee’s legacy safe and protected.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

So many questions: Did he commit suicide? Why? Will his Paris show go on? Will Gucci appoint another Head Designer? Will his prices soar?

McQueen never disappointed in surpassing the offensive. From his nickname the enfant terrible, his fall 1996 Highland Rape Collection which included dazed models walking the runway with ripped clothing and the locations of his fashion shows: Vaults of the Conciergerie in Paris where Marie Antoinette was detained before her beheading. A fashion bad boy who didn't bend to the expected originality. His last season was reported to be his best by many fashion writers.

All Alexander McQueen boutiques will reopen tomorrow at their usual time. Without Lee, there will be no more outrageous prints or offensive runway shows - What happens next?

No one will  be able to fill his shoes - translate his visions into the pieces of art we were invited to wear. As far as I'm concerned without Lee McQueen - the line is over.

In honor of his genius and the Spring/Summer2010 line - here are a few pieces from the Accessory look book.


His collection is going to go fast. I have already decided to put myself in dire financial straits to grab more pieces of this legend, some of his last creations before he parted ways with this world.

The 40 year old was found dead in his London home.

"Police did not directly comment when asked about how McQueen died, but said officers were called by the ambulance service at 10:20 a.m. (1020 GMT) to an address on Green Street, in central London, and found a 40-year-old man dead. They did not name him but said next of kin had been informed."

Other news outlets have reported it was suicide.

I am in shock. I had always made fun of the people who actually felt sadness for celebrities or people they didn't know. But when I saw the headline on CNN, my jaw dropped, my heart sank, and my eyes filled with tears. I had dreamed of shaking this man's hand, to be in the presence of a truly gifted, fashion genius one day. Now I just hope that he is at peace and that is legacy will live on through the art he has given us.

Snow may have some fashion-week attendees turning in their Christian Louboutin's for some designer snow boots but the show must go on. Officially starting tomorrow, runway shows started on February 10th. The city's snow day has pushed some fashion shows till tomorrow but the shows I am most interested in are happening Friday to Wednesday. Yigal Azrouel,  Jeremy Laing, Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, and 3.1 Phillip Lim.

Will Yigal be able to transcend the mainstream and incorporate his traditional layers without slashing his garments?


Will Jeremy Laine make me squeal with avant-garde sihoulettes in geometric and sharp nuetral colors? Making the deconstructive the new classic... One of my favorites right now, just bought two beautiful dresses from Laine and they do not disappoint on.


Will Wang's designs represent a new sport or further the All-American feel in basic whites and tans?


Proenza Schouler's previous line was amazing. Im not one for colors but the hues of blue and the splashes of green and yellow told the story of surf, skate, scuba and an understated loudness that I'd wear any day.


Lim's line reminded me of red lipstick - I want to see more "new suits" and dresses that flow with Picaso-esque pieces added here and there.


Which designers are you watching?