Why Milan Fashion Week Gave Me Back My Soul

Is this blog post title a little too dramatic? Well deal with it, that's how I feel. As my devoted blog readers (aka my mom) knows, London Fashion Week absolutely crushed me. BORING, BORING, and some more BORING.  I was so close on having a wardrobe meltdown, in response to the terribleness, but then something happened. Milan Fashion Week happened. SO MUCH BEAUTY AND SO MANY DETAILS. As I happily sat at my desk and clicked through style.com,  I couldn't help but feeling as if humanity was restored to the world. Okay, maybe that was a bit dramatic.

Here's how Milan made me feel:

That may have been too dramatic as well.

Now I don't know about you, but I'm kind of bored with the typical format of these Fashion Week blogs so to spice it up-  and this might end up terribly so bare with me- I would like to summarize my feelings about Milan Fashion Week in the tune of The Sound of Music's "My Favorite Things."



Maxis at Pucci and florals at Prada
Bottega Veneta has texture galore
Crop tops go girly at Blumarine's show
These are some things from Milan Fashion Week

Dolce & Gabbana has sequined dresses
Aquilano Rimondi's detailling
Fendi has clean lines and tailored pieces
These are some things from Milan Fashion Week

Girls in pastels with studs at Versace
Iceberg has funky prints and awesome jackets
Gucci's art deco looks are uberglam
These are some things from Milan Fashion Week

When I think of
London Fashion Week
It makes me really sad
I simply remember Milan Fashion Week
And then I don't feel so bad

So that was really silly- and more difficult than you'd think- but as I always say,

FASHION IS FUN.

I highly recommend that everyone checks out Prada, Bottega Veneta, Blumarine, Dolce &Gabbana, Aquilano Rimondi, Fendi, Versace, Iceberg, and Gucci.

All of these collections have everything I look for in fashion: innovation, femininity, fashion-forward thinking, glamourous, versatile, classic...EVERYTHING. I know this blog post may be deemed "lame" for it's lack of pictures..so here you go!

PUCCI

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PRADA

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BOTTEGA VENETA 

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 BLUMARINE

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DOLCE & GABBANA

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AQUILANO RIMONDI

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FENDI

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VERSACE

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ICEBERG

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GUCCI

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Next Up: PARIS

xx

It Ain't Over 'till It's Over

The end of Fall/Winter 2011.

Overall I was, dare I say it, disappointed.

Mega disappointed.

They say that the best is saved for last, but fashion week proved that  the saying is frequently false. 

Exhibit A: Chanel.

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I know that a major trend of fashion week was 90's revival, but Chanel took the idea of 90's revival and, in my opinion, made it ugly. Coco Chanel is currently in her one of her fabulous lady suits, rolling in her grave.  Of course Karl added some Chanel elements to this collection, but this is pone of the first times I wasn't wow-ed by his creation. Everything was too dark, too unfitted, and too blah. And not even dark in a chic way, but dirty. Of course there was some really fabulous skirts and capes, some of the looks were just...very primitive.  And the finale look was rather boring! I've always thought that we should all live life by Lagerfeld, but I'm just not impressed by his latest collection.

Exhibit B: Louis Vuitton. 

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I'm so confused because Marc Jacobs created a relatively good collection for his own line. But this genuinely scares me. It isn't fashion, but scary costumes. I think the whole military-doorman inspired collection was a good idea, the execution was off. Way off.  I would love this if it was couture; but this Louis Vuitton collection is ready-to-wear.  It's definitely a creative collection, but a little too creative for ready-to-wear.  And the proportions were definitely out of whack and not flattering in the slightest. And also, Mr. Jacobs, you should not try to suffocate your models: that's not nice at all.

Exhibit C: Valentino.

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I'm not saying Valentino was horrible, because there are some looks that I really do like, but Valentino did NOT "wow" me. Maybe it's because there was some minimalism in this collection,  or maybe because the looks were rather primitive, but Valentino's collection was not as glamourous as it should be.  Also, in my humble opinion, there were way too many nudes for FALL. It's a fresh perspective obviously, but it's way too Indian Summer.

THE END OF FASHION WEEK DID HAVE A REDEMPTION:

Alexander McQueen.

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The McQueen design camp never disappoints; season after season, they always provide abstract, yet wearable, pieces that makes everyone coo and, most importantly, think.  Although a very few of the pieces are ready-to-wear, I love this collection because of the innovative ways to incorporate fur. The silhouettes in this collection are absolute insanity.  And this collection is always keeping up with the black and white trend theory.  I'm really happy with Sarah Burton's work at Alexander McQueen thus far; she has truly maintained Alexander's artistic perspective on fashion. I feel like this collection would get a negative review from the mass media, but for aspiring fashionistas- it's a hit!

xx

Her Skin Type Maybelline

So I've been a terrible blogger lately and have simply not had the time to discuss INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEKS. In my opinion, IFW (look at me and my acronyms) is where it gets interesting; as an American, some of the looks I question but that's what makes fashion fascinating. It's dynamic and culture specific. While Vivienne Westwood's collection kind of made me anxious  and Mugler almost brought me to tears of sadness, I wonder if I would love it if I was from somewhere else.

So without more procrastination, here's some of my favorites from IFW!

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Well Antonio Berardi had basically everything and anything you could want in a collection: fur, extreme jackets, lace, pants, dresses, shimmer. Needless to say, I loved it.  While the show wasn't entirely cohesive, the progression from white to colored to blacks was effortless and logical, which made the show feel more cohesive. I loved how this collection and outfits that would actually look good on people who are not size 00: the chunky coat would be flattering on almost anyone. Some of his sexiest dresses, on the other hand, would look so feminine on a Kim Kardashian figure. And, for the record, I am head over heels obsessed with the textured tuxedo. And this toughie blazerish dress ensemble. It was just awesome

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I'm going to be really short about Dior. John Galliano has made a fool out of himself and I believe that the damage is irreversible. That being said, Dior had a heavy dosage of ruffles, and I kind of enjoyed it. This collection, in my mind, was very Florence Welch mixed with a very other randoms. The colors were appropriately "fall/winter" and there were a lot of separates that will make for an extremely chic season. Like there's this orange fur coat that I kind of need. Oh and I loved how many hats there were!  But most importantly, the ending was hoping and inspiring- just what Dior needs right now. 

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For now on, I am referring to this Lanvin collection as "Tim Burton's Tea Party". Why? This collection started off as, for lack of a better word, "normal": everything was rather plain and simple: simplistic silhouettes and not many accessories. But then, everything changes and, in my opinion, for the better because minimalism is annoying. Silhouettes became more interesting whilst the proportions were out-of-whack. Although some simple pieces still walked the runway, like this canary dress, Tim Burton's Tea Party was invaded with feminine pieces that had a darker and more artistic flare, hence the nickname.  Even though I refuse to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas because it's really scary (my mother can attest to that), Tim Burton is so artistic, individualistic, and eery. Which is what I thought of this collection. But unlike The Nightmare Before Christmas, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection: it was chic, thought-provoking, and art. Just what fashion should be.

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Essential question: Can Prada ever do wrong? This collection screamed 1960s retro and let's be honest, who doesn't wish they lived in the swinging sixties? The people who actually lived then. To describe this collection in one word, besides "retro", this collection was "fun". Good 'ol fun!  The repetition of the drop waist belt  added some funk to what would be a rather typical jacket or outfit. The fur was so care free and I'm really upset I don't own at least one of these! AND THE SEQUINS?!  Amazing. I was so pleased when I saw all of the sequins! I think in order to wear this collection, you need confidence. I think this is one of those collections where people who don't love ridiculous avant gardish fashion will cringe, while the others with coo.  I  AM OBSESSED WITH THIS COLLECTION. That is all.

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I think what I really love about Balmain is how they are rather consistent with their silhouettes and looks altogether. While I know that being too consistent is a bad thing, Balmain is like comfort food: if you want long sleeved minis that have a hint of edge, you go to Balmain. That's just how it works. This collection; however, I really enjoyed. Of course, there were the trendy long sleeved minis that I love oh so much, but I really loved all of the tuxedo  sets and jackets that strutted down the catwalk. I love the metallic striped pattern that they displayed: it reminded me of Chanel with a twist. Whenever I think of Balmain, I always think of fabulous and really sharp: fabulous because all of the sparkle and sharp because of the rigid silhouette. Never change, Balmain.

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Nina Ricci's collection is the girliest collection, I think, of this season. Needless to say, I absolutely fell in love with it! The blacks, pinks, and blues of the collection reminded me of a 1950's Barbie, which I thought was fabulous. For fall, designers usually stick with blacks and darker colors so the change in color was incredible.  Like so many collections, I love Nina Ricci's use of lace and sparkles! And I loved this one look with a jester collared and trousers. Speaking of trousers... can I get these velvet trousers? Also, the final was FABULOUS! I wish I could wear it. I feel like a non-pregnant Natalie Portman would look stunning in this collection!

xx

Tibi RTW Fall 2011

So yesterday I went to fashion week and it was awesome! 

Last night, Tibi ruled the runway. Sleek looks of red, white, gold, grey, and navy strutted its way down the catwalk. There was a lively vibe; high energy music played  and the lights were fully turned on as the supermodels did their thing!

According to the program's description, this collection was heavily inspired by "the sleek and modern simplicity of the 90s". What I loved about this collection was how it wasn't scary grunge inspired; however,  it was more like Clueless 90's (with more class)...and who doesn't love Clueless?

ANYWAYS, BACK TO TIBI!

The show was stocked with amazing separates and party dresses. What I loved most was how there was something in this collection for everyone: the preppy, the trendy, the indie. the androgynous- EVERYONE!   The fun shapes and silhouettes was mixed perfectly with the lace, appliques, and Rococo style prints.

My favorites you may ask? Well, since my pictures won't show off how awesome these looks are, style.com here we come (but more of my pictures later).

I LOVED....

• The shearling biker jacket mixed with a beautiful chiffon floral dress. The juxtaposition of tough versus girly was so sick.  Mixing fabrics is so awesome.
• Mid-calf grey sweater dress. The simplicity of  this was to die for. A perfect staple and the cable-knit design gave it some pizazz. How incredible would this look with a little jacket and booties? Really incredible is the answer!
• Spider Lace pant and blouse duo. At this moment the collection got interesting and I eventually fell in love. I was happy to read  in the program that this was not a playsuit, or else the print would have been TOO striking for the streets. Anyways, I loved this! The lace was super fun and on their own, these two pieces can really pull an outfit together and make it look unique. And we all secretly want to be unique.
• Spider Lace shirt dress: Once again, obsessed. I think the fitted silhouette with such a fun design is different; we are usually bored with flowing dresses and overbearingly bright prints. But because this is fall, we are given something classy and wearable. I'm already thinking of amazing accessories to finish this look off with!
• Teal Crepe dress: I am so smitten with this color- GORGEOUS! As we are all aware, longer skirts are making a comeback. What I loved about this one was the mixing of fabrics. The silk and chiffon combo made a long dress exciting, which is difficult to find because the world is obsessed with minimalism.
• Gold and navy Jacquard dress: In my mind,  a  gold and navy duo  is such an unappreciated color combination but, when used, is absolutely fabulous. Color blocking was  taken to a new level here; the different fabrics made it more subtle but I think it looks fabulous and elegant. The knee hem is also classy.
• Gold and navy blouse and trousers: Besides it being the best color combination- oh yeah I went there- I love the blouse and trousers can look absolutely fabulous on their own as well as together! When I look at this combination, only one word comes to mind: regal. It's probably the pants and the blouse's collar, but it seriously reminds me of a fabulous English kingdom. Obviously, this look can be toned down with simple staples which I think is good for those who aren't as willing to make a statement,
• Jacquard box pleated dress: This is the part of the show when I fantasized about a nonexistent cocktail party I was hosting. This dress is so much fun and so youthful which, being a teenage girl, I love. I liked the hint of navy, which was smart or else this dress would've been TOO gold. Obsessed.
• Full-skirted V dress: In my cocktail fantasy, I am flat chested and wearing this dress! So gorgeous! I love how this is more or less the grown up version of my prior favorite. The show was filled with a lot of cutesy dresses, which I love, so it was awesome to see something a bit more mature, which ultimately gave the collection a bit more of an age range.
• One shouldered swan feathered dress: Obsessed with this red dress! I really love the whole idea of one shouldered dresses, so this is perfection. I usually think a red and black combination is a bit too harsh but I think the little black in the print made it not harsh, but ridiculously fabulous. The bodice almost looks like some kind of ruching or draping, either way I think it looks great with the full skirt.  For the record, this model handled the shoe malfunction like a champ!

• Rococo race back and pleated skirt dress: I was really close to running onto the runway and stealing this; someone would HAVE to wear this to my fake cocktail party. I love how the prints on the bodice and skirt aren't identical, but work together so. It was the perfect amount of print and umm remember when I said we should all get used to white? Yeah...
• High neck pouf dress: Another great look featured at my "cocktail party". The white/grey color mixed with the chiffon appliques was the perfect blend of understated and ah-maz-ing. This dress is 100% fun and I think anyone who wears it will feel and look incredible.  I'm glad this isn't just a typical "sweetheart" neckline; the high neckline takes away a little bit of the cutesy quality (not too much because it's adorable) and makes it edgier.

  final verdict on this collection= fabulous. absolutely fabulous.

And because you're not sick of this blog post yet, some pictures that I took!

Olivia Palermo and Vanessa Hudgens...no big deal.

I loved seeing what the other on-lookers were wearing; some were  uber fierce and out there, while others were not. Needless to say, he was my favorite.

Just some struttin'.

SO MUCH MEDIA.

Thank you,  Amy Silovic

Oh, and I was asked to shoot some segment questionnaire so  here's my first picture of myself on my blog? MILESTONE.

Once life becomes less stressful, I will be giving a full update on New York's Fashion Week so get ready!

xx