Paris Fashion Week – 2010 Fall/Winter Collections: Louis Vuitton

Show: Louis Vuitton
Location: Halle Freyssinet
Date and Time: Wednesday March 10, 2010 – 2:30pm

Marc Jacobs brought a little fifties-style to the runway with the 2010 fall/winter Louis Vuitton collection which included tweed suits, printed wool and chiffon dresses. The Mad Men-esque pieces were prim and proper many nipped at the waist. And then there were the bags... I can't forget to mention the bags. There were fantastic redos of some of Vuitton most popular bags including the Speedy. They will end up on many must have lists.




Also worth mentioning were the swimsuit-edition models who walked the runway... Elle Macpherson, Bar Refaeli, Laetitia Casta and Adriana Lima.

(Photos courtesy of: Getty Images Entertainment)

Paris Fashion Week – 2010 Fall/Winter Collections: Elie Saab

Show: Elie Saab
Location: Espace Ephemere Tuileries
Date and Time: Wednesday March 10, 2010 – 10:30am

Lebanese designer Elie Saab is definitely one of the kings of the red carpet. If you doubted that you could look to his fall/winter 2010 collection he sent down the Paris runway Wednesday morning. What it was... a parade of elaborate evening wear. What it wasn't... overly embellished or over-done.




The collection was simply another impressive and elegant collection that we will see popping up on the red carpet in just a few months.

(Photos courtesy of: Getty Images Entertainment)

Paris Fashion Week – 2010 Fall/Winter Collections: Alexander McQueen’s Incredible Final Presentation

PPR, Alexander McQueen’s parent company, has indicated through the past weeks that business would continue on without its founder and creative director. Always one of the highlights of Paris Fashion Week McQueen was scheduled to show this week... however given the situation the company decided to forgo a formal runway show and instead have a private showing of the collection which took place Tuesday. The final showpieces, which were created by McQueen just weeks before he took his own life, were presented in a salon at the headquarters of luxury titan Francois Pinault. The soundtrack for the show consisted of haunting operatic and classical music that McQueen had been listening to as he created and fitted the 2010 fall/winter collection. The presentation itself was obviously quite solemn.

In his final presentation McQueen continued to experiment and express extreme creativity. The elaborate creations were a combination of old-world romanticism and modern technology. Models walked with golden feather Mohawks and wore sandals on their feet that were wreathed in gilded roses. The garments were incredibly elaborate. Many of the pieces had digitally captured works of art which had been weaved right into the fabrics. The collection is indeed extraordinary... here is a look at a few of my favourite pieces:




Reportedly tears were spotted in the eyes of some viewers as the elaborate finale dress entered: an incredible coat of gold feathers that ended in a froth of embroidered tulle. (below right)



The collection is truly memorable. The end of the show notes for McQueen’s final collection read: “Each piece is unique, as was he.”

Such a true statement. R.I.P. (Lee) Alexander McQueen.


“People always ask if I think about a concept or the show or the front row or whatever first. No! F**k off! The client comes first! The collection is driven by what clients want in different parts of the world, so I want them to be able to see it straight away and to judge it for themselves. Well I just think that which celebrities are wearing it, what reviews say—none of it matters if it’s all there for people to make their own minds up. I’m 40 now, but I want this to be a company that lives way beyond me, and I believe that customers are more important to making that happen than press. When I’m dead, hopefully this house will still be going. On a spaceship. Hopping up and down above the earth.” -Alexander McQueen in Love Spring/Summer 2010 Issue

(Photos courtesy of: Getty Image Entertainment)

Paris Fashion Week – 2010 Fall/Winter Collections: Valentino

Show: Valentino
Location: Halle Freyssinet
Date and Time: Tuesday March 9, 2010 – 5:00pm

The 2010 fall/winter Valentino collection was filled with truly feminine creations... far more feminine than we are use to seeing from the famed label. The flowing collection came down the runway in creams, whites and reds. The details... well there was beading, lots of lace... and tons and tons of ruffles.




Of course I should also mention the show started nearly an hour late. Vogue's ever-fabulous Grace Coddington was booed by the photographers for being so late when she finally arrived.



(Photos courtesy of: Getty Images Entertainment)

Paris Fashion Week – 2010 Fall/Winter Collections: Chanel

Show: Chanel
Location: Grand Palais
Date and Time: Tuesday March 9, 2010 – 10:30am

What you really have to know about the 2010 fall/winter Chanel collection is that Karl Lagerfeld imported a 265-ton iceberg from northern Sweden to the Grand Palais for Tuesday’s runway show. The floor was a pool of water and the big ol’ chunk of ice stood 28 feet tall. It was a truly incredible sight and a very cool idea to present a collection of knits and tweeds.

To help combat the chilly winter theme there was lots of fur and faux fur… this is Karl Lagerfeld after all. There were fur coats and fur on jackets, miniskirts, pants and boots. Taking the icy theme to the next level there were even icicle heels and snowball bags.




(Photos courtesy of: Getty Images Entertainment)

Paris Fashion Week – 2010 Fall/Winter Collections: Yves Saint Laurent

Show: Yves Saint Laurent
Location: Grand Palais
Date and Time: Monday March 8, 2010 – 8:00pm

Stefano Pilati had hit the mark and brought a beautifully tailored Yves Saint Laurent 2010 fall/winter collection to the runway Monday afternoon. There was nothing sexy about this collection... the look was described best in the show notes as a collection filled with “new tailored sportswear”.




(Photos courtesy of: Getty Images Entertainment)

Paris Fashion Week – 2010 Fall/Winter Collections: Giambattista Valli

Show: Giambattista Valli
Location: 7 place Vendome
Date and Time: Monday March 8, 2010 – 2:00pm

Monday in Paris continued on with a gorgeous 2010 fall/winter collection from one of my fave designers. Giambattista Valli was one of many designers to bring a little retro to the Paris catwalks with their 60's inspired collection. As with most Giambattista Valli this collection was all about the elaborate details.




Coats, gowns and a variety of dresses all featured interesting texture and total volume.

(Photos courtesy of: Getty Images Entertainment)

Paris Fashion Week – 2010 Fall/Winter Collections: Stella McCartney

Show: Stella McCartney
Date and Time: Monday March 8, 2010 – 10:00am

Stella McCartney started off Monday (day 7 of Paris Fashion Week) with a little fun. Before models walked the runway the awaiting audience was treated to a Ludacris song... "Sexting" which parodies the now infamous Tiger Woods voice mail that he left one of his mistresses. Clothes that hit the runway after the amusing song were both sexy and subtle. Memorable pieces included: cashmere coats, clean jackets with no embellishments, Sixties-style shifts and tops, ribbed knits and jumpsuits .




Stella's former Beatle father Sir Paul McCartney attended the show as did actress Thandie Newton and singer Beth Ditto.

(Photos courtesy of: Getty Images Entertainment)

The Best Dressed And The Worst Dressed On The 2010 Oscar Red Carpet

There is no doubt about it. The annual Academy Award red carpet is the most watched fashion event across the globe. While it is one of my craziest nights… I am typing like a mad man preparing best and worst dressed lists to get up promptly… it is also one of my favourite nights. I just love watching the red carpet… seeing which actresses will wear the most glamorous designer gown… seeing which actress will earn the title of "best dressed".

Every year I watch and select my best dressed and worst dressed ladies for Sympatico… so who made the best dressed list this year at the 82nd annual Academy Awards?



Jennifer Lopez looked incredibly glamorous in a stunning pale pink Giorgio Armani Prive gown with Swarovski crystals; Best Actress winner Sandra Bullock looked absolutely stunning in a floor-length metallic and lace Marchesa gown; The incredible Penelope Cruz looked outstanding in a deep burgundy satin dress by Donna Karan; One of my all time fave red carpet celebs Demi Moore looked incredible in her pale and dramatic Versace gown; Anna Kendrick looked absolutely glamorous in a off the shoulder Elie Saab couture gown; Amanda Seyfried looked like a princess in this icy strapless Armani Prive creation; Vera Farmiga wore one of the most dramatic in a fabulous fuchsia ruffled gown by Marchesa; Last year’s Best Actress winner, Kate Winslet looked elegant and sophisticated walking the red carpet in a metallic Atelier Yves Saint Laurent gown; Kristen Stewart looked absolutely gorgeous in a navy silk organza Monique Lhuillier gown; Cameron Diaz was simply dazzlilng in a champagne Oscar de la Renta strapless gown.

To check out my best dressed picks for Sympatico and my full thoughts on their glam gowns click here!

Now... who made the worst dressed list at the 82nd annual Academy Awards?



Fashionable favourite Sarah Jessica Parker walked the Oscar red carpet in a confusing pale yellow Chanel haute couture gown and a frizzy bouffant do; Avatar actress and red carpet fashionista Zoe Saldana wore a questionable over-the-top Givenchy haute-couture tie-died gown; Charlize Theron wore a strapless Christian Dior dress with croissant style rosettes on the breasts; Diane Kruger wore an awkward and frilly Little Boo Peep Chanel gown; Carey Mulligan dissed Anna Wintour’s advice and opted for a black Prada gown with embellished charms of knives, forks and scissors; Deborah Ann Woll underwhelmed in a dull and drab lilac gown; Winning Director Kathryn Bigelow wore a tired Mother of the Bride gown; The eccentric Maggie Gyllenhaal wore an interesting Dries van Noten gown with a summery print; Little Miley Cyrus wore a plunging Jenny Packham dress that she just couldn’t fill.

For my complete worst dressed list on Sympatcio and to find out why I dissed these gals click here!

And that’s the wrap on the red carpet for another Oscar year. Hard to believe!  What did you think about this year’s Oscars?  More importantly what did you think of this year's Oscar red carpet?

(Photos courtesy of: Getty Image Entertainment)

Paris Fashion Week – 2010 Fall/Winter Collections: Givenchy

Show: Givenchy
Date and Time: Sunday March 7, 2010 – 8:30pm

Finishing off Sunday at Paris Fashion week was the 2010 fall/winter collection from Givenchy.

Givenchy brought us an updated nineties collection that included masculine cut jackets, gorgeous camel coats, tuxedo suits and slim fit pants.




Many of the models walked with red gloves... adding a bit of chic to the sometimes questionable presentation.

(Photos courtesy of: Getty Images Entertainment)