Inspirational Dresses

I've been loving what Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli have been creating for Valentino since taking over the reigns of the prestigious house and this Fall's collection hasn't changed my opinion. Sometimes impractical but always beautiful their eye for detail is admirable. Just look at that embroidery on the the final dress I've posted here.
Sure it's not Valentino Garavani - the looks lack his grown-up glamour - but these pretty dresses certainly won't have Valentino turning pale.
In fact, considering his hue, that may well be nigh on impossible.

London, Paris, Milan

A picture heavy post to follow of a few of my favourites from the Spring/Summer 2012 collections, starting with the always influential Prada. Inspired by mid-century hot rod culture, Miucci Prada's pieces are always left of centre but never boring. I loved the pleated skirts, bare midriffs and clutches in this collection. And what vintage loving girl isn't partial to a novelty print?

Piccioli and Chiuri's latest ready-to-wear collection from Valentino was beyond dreamy. If I had money to spare and somewhere to wear, I'd be acquiring these frocks, for sure.

There is nothing like colourful clothing to brighten my day and I love the colourfulness and Parisian chicness of Carven.

In London Jonathan Saunders went all retro, providing a wardrobe suitably for a weekend away at Frank Sinatra's Palm Beach House in the 1950s.

Erdem's collection was as blue as blue could be, and in my book, that can only be a good thing.

And Christopher Kane's embellished and appliqued frocks had all the fashion editors sighing with delight.

And my favourite: Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton. Sure, I'm partial to colours that remind me of candy or pills, but the laser cut outs and the experiments with volume make every piece GORGEOUS. A final audition for the Dior gig? if that's the case, having Kate Moss close the show in white ostrich feathers certainly can't harm his chances.

Photos from Style.Com.

Red-Carpet Prints

Sarah Jessica Parker has been on the campaign trail for her new film I Don't Know How She Does It proving that despite saying 'I don't think about fashion all day long' in US Vogue recently (and I hope no-one does really, except the people that actually create it ... although wasn't SJP one of them for a while?), she is still one of the best dressed actresses out there. Both these print dresses are Prabal Gurung.

And backing up SJP's assertion that prints are so hot right now (and always will be in my opinion) Keira Knightley was spectacular in Mary Katranzou at a photo-call.

She also looked spectacular in Valentino Couture for the premiere of her new film Dangerous Method which looks very intriguing by the way. David Cronenberg directs, Viggo Mortensen plays Freud, Michael Fassbender plays his protege Carol Jung and Keira is the patient Carl has an affair with. Check out the trailer.

The Duchess

The Valentino exhibition was three rooms of awesomeness; two full with clothes and one devoted to photos and film. It was in the photo gallery that I spotted this image of Linda Evangelista from Vogue Italia (shot by Steven Meisel), which stayed with me not only because Linda is resplendent in Valentino, but also because of the pug dogs (Valentino Garavani lives with six, all with names starting with M) and the location, where Linda is busy doing nothing but entertaining pets and looking fabulous, looks not unlike the Rome quarters of the great designer.

I was motivated enough to look for the rest of the editorial, which was entitled 'The Duchess' and appeared in the magazine a couple of years ago.

I'm not really a fan of Steven Meisel's recent work - his photos of Halle Berry in the September issue of US Vogue are pretty same same - but I'm really digging this editorial. It is highly likely my pug bias is doing the talking though.

I particularly love the photo of Linda in the pillbox hat and long white gown, and the one with all the pug puppies and the amazing hat (is it a Stephen Jones?). I think Linda looks like a cross between Dovima and Countess Jacqueline de Ribes.

Oh, and while we are speaking of gorgeous dogs, here is a photo of my very own Elsie hanging on the beach where my parents live. Cute or what?

Up Close and Personal

Yesterday, during a one hour break between sessions at the Brisbane Writers' Festival (held at the lovely State Library of QLD in South Bank), I managed to slip next door to the Gallery of Modern Art and the Valentino retrospective. Oh happiness.
I'm still brimming with joy in fact, despite coming home to a very sick husband and an equally sick apartment. Seeing this level of workmanship and design up close and personal - the retrospective includes some of the most memorable dresses from the last fifty years - made the clothes on my back (and everyone else in the gallery) seem very ordinary indeed.
The intricate beading, the inspired design - from late 50's tulip skirts, to ethnic influenced 60's frocks, painterly 70's and 80's sheaths and suits and finally two rooms filled to the brim with the most stunningly beaded, draped and sculpted evening wear - all of it had me smiling from ear to ear.
I always say it is the little things in life - a delicious meal shared with a lover, a compulsive and touching book you have to read in one sitting, an afternoon on the couch with a dog in your lap and a funny movie on TV - that make life joyous. And the artistry of beautiful clothing is something I would definitely throw in that mix.
Let's face it - a lot of the big things are truly awful.

Unfortunately the GoMA store had just sold out of the exhibition program, so while I put one on order, I selected a few postcards for the time being.

I think Valentino's famed 1968 White Collection - of which they had many items on display, including Jackie's wedding dress from her marriage to Aristotle Onassis - deserves its own post. In the meantime, these postcards are of a few more recent frocks: Haute Couture A/W 2007-08 / Haute Couture A/W 1990-91 / Haute Couture A/W 2004-05 / Haute Couture S/S 2003.

Valentino Retrospective

My invite to the Valentino Retrospective Past/Present/Future - opening August 7 at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art -arrived in the mail today. Lucky for me I'll be visiting Brisbane twice in August and fingers and toes crossed that I'll be able to find a spare hour somewhere to gaze at some of the worlds most beautiful and expertly constructed frocks. Here are a couple of samples from the collection:

Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1960 and 1959 respectively.

Spring/Summer 2003

You will note that I wore my orange nail polish today in support of the Netherlands only to be saddened and frustrated by their loss. My cousins in Holland tell me that the whole country is in mourning, but my sadness was somewhat dampened by the arrival of my brand new Kindle - along with this lovely invite - in the post today.

Swings and roundabouts, hey?

Millinery Masterpieces

Yesterday I was gushing over the latest Christian Dior haute couture collection but I forgot to mention the divine hats. Stephen Jones, superstar milliner, designs for Dior and his creations are imaginative and gorgeous. Jones was co-curator of the 2009 V&A exhibition Hats: An Anthology and - excitement of excitements - this exhibition is coming to Australia at the end of March! The Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane is hosting it from late March through June and the displays are drawn mainly from the V&A's and Stephen Jones' own collections. Knowing how inspired Jones is by history, I can imagine that there will be many lovely, lovely hats on display. Here are some of his latest ready-to-wear creations.

The Queensland Art Gallery will also be hosting the Valentino retrospective - as seen in the Valentino doco - from August, so fingers crossed for some timely travel North later this year. And an afternoon off.

Frills and Sequins: My Best of the Globes

I seriously love awards season. I was truly excited last night at the thought of poring over the Golden Globes red-carpet, even though most actresses - armed with their stylists and ever fearful of bitchy bloggers - tend to play it safe these days. This was certainly true of this year's Golden Globes, where muted frills or tried and trued Hollywood styles were in favour. But there were a few ladies that managed to make me say wow.

Anna Paquin backed up her shining Victor & Rolf moment with a glittery gold Stella McCartney dress. In the past I haven't been a big Stella fan, so I'm surprised at how much I've been loving her most recent collection on the red-carpet. This dress is seriously sexy on Anna ... as well as the plunging neckline it also had a leg split which isn't apparent in this photo. This is a little bit of razzle dazzle 80s styling that I'd be happy to see more of.

I think Chloe's Valentino dress came very close to not working. It contains a mountain of frills which could have over powered, but I reckon her style confidence has helped her to pull it off. I also love the back of this dress. The loose bow and soft fall of the dress makes me sigh.

Versace on the catwalk doesn't fill me with the glee that Dior or Chanel or McQueen does, but then January Jones went and blew me away in the label at the Emmy's last September, and now Christina Aguilera did the same in this gown. This looks like it was made for her; her figure is WOW and the contrast of the futuristic bodice with the peachy pink fabric - which almost looks like jersey - makes this gown very unique. Loving her bob too.

Christian Lacroix's haute couture outings will be sorely missed, and Diane Kruger demonstrated why in this ensemble which shouted perfection.

And yes, I've deliberately chosen a pic with her BF Joshua Jackson because I think he is looking mighty fine himself. Who needs a clutch when your man bag is this gorgeous?

I don't know yet what will happen to Betty Draper in Mad Men series 4, but it looks like January Jones is pretty assured of a gold star red-carpet career. Black often bores me but this Lanvin dress is very chic. I love her glamorous make-up and headband too.

Maggie Gyllenhaal took tried and trued and twisted it just a little bit. This pretty in pink dress is RM by Roland Mouret.

And I couldn't forget to include at least one Aussie, and who better than Golden Globe winner Toni Colette. She chose to run with the sequins trend in this Elie Saab frock which did wonderful things for her figure and skin tone.

I read on-line that Chloe's Valentino frock was torn on the night, so a quick change for the after party was needed. So I know this isn't strictly a Golden Globe gown, but I did rather love it. Tulle and sequins in a tea-length party dress is a recipe for happiness in Louise's world.

Funnily enough the betrothed and I recently watched the first season of Big Love and really enjoyed it. I know ... I'm terribly far behind. I might get onto Series 2 now, for another squizz at Chloe's character with her long braid and prairie styling.