There is Something about Chanel...Watch the Spring 2011 Runway Show!

As promised yesterday, here is more runway footage from Paris Fashion Week: this time it's 24 minutes of Chanel! This show was huge: a live orchestra with 80 musicians (seriously!), a garden with fountains, hundreds of people in the audience including Rachel Bilson, Keira Knightley, Vanessa Paradis (Johnny Depp's lady love and one of Lagerfeld's muses). We even got the youngest runway model ever: a cute 2 year-old all dressed in Chanel!

-Christelle-

Fashionista Alert: Watch the Full Length Lanvin Spring 2011 Runway Show... Here!

This is the next best thing to a front row ticket at Paris Fashion Week...18 minutes of Lanvin: the full show, some unedited backstage footage with the models getting ready, Dita Von Teese stopping by to say hello, and Alber Elbaz (whose H&M collection will be revealed on November 2nd) talking about his inspiration... as if you were there.
As for the collection, the color palette is quite muted for spring but the long pleated skirts, pantsuits and elongated jackets are fluid and very spring like. Flats even made an appearance on the runway for a more relaxed look.

And there is MORE runway footage coming tomorrow! Can you tell when I'm excited?

-Christelle-

Viktor and Rolf's Collection Will Make You Want to Get Married...or Poke Your Eyeballs out!

I'm not sure who Leigh Lezark is but this outfit reaches new levels of awesome...when Japanese tourists look at you as if you were from planet Romulus and when even Parisian pigeons snob you, you should know your outfit is truly scary. In all fairness, Leigh was on her way to Viktor & Rolf's spring runway, and a collection fit for Pierrot the clown, was awaiting her:

You see, Lisamarie has been bugging me for a while: she does not approve of my free love lifestyle and would like to see me getting married - any guy would do, really - as long as she can wear a bridesmaid dress... and I believe I've just found the perfect bridal gown and the perfect bridesmaid outfit for her. So perfect, in fact, I'm already crying - yes, laughing hysterically will do that to you! -

This is possibly the most ridiculous bridal dress ever made.

How many collars do you need? As many as your sleeves!

Pictures: Imaxtree

-Christelle-

Clothes You Don't Need to Unfold (or Buy): Martin Margiela's Bizarre Spring Collection is Here!

I'd buy anything that doesn't need to be ironed or unfold - or so I thought - until I reviewed Martin Margiela's spring runway. I know it's supposed to be avant-garde and stuff... but seriously, who would want to wear this? Apart from Lady Gaga? Yeah... exactly my thoughts: no-one!

Why would you want to unfold this, anyway? Leave this at the store!

pictures: imaxtree

-Christelle-

Elie Saab Couture Will Make You a Lady in Red, in Green, in Gold!

Another day, another Couture runway in Paris: Elie Saab presented another beautiful couture collection for fall 2010. It's even more goddess-like than Givenchy's collection, Saab relies heavily on draping to bring whimsy to his creations. There wasn't too much color in Paris this week, but I loved the injection of red, gold and light green here -of course I love these colors: I used them to decorate my entire living room!-

Pictures: Imaxtree

-Christelle-

Givenchy Haute Couture Collection is as Good as Gold.

Givenchy's latest Couture collection is perfect for Oscar night a goddess: gold sequins, white lace, delicate embroideries, feathers and except for the odd crotch revealing dresses... I love this collection. Unfortunately all that gold does not come cheap so whoever said my love doesn't cost a thing was wrong! My love is expensive but if you could find in your heart -or your wallet- the euros to buy me one of these beautiful dresses, I would love you forever. And ever. And JLO is an idiot.

Pictures: Givenchy

-Christelle-

Chanel: Bold, Beautiful and Crazy!

Chanel presented a strange collection yesterday. Lagerfeld's designs were either superb: the cream sweaters and wool dresses look amazing, or frankly crazy. I have no idea where the Chewbacca look-alikes and polar bear costumes fit in a classy collection. I'm completely dumbstruck.

I loved:

The not-so-good:

-Christelle-

Paris Fashion Week: Viktor & Rolf Make a Big Statement!

I needed to share these pictures from the latest Viktor & Rolf's Parisian runway show. Not all their designs are so avant-garde, but I can't help wondering sometimes what is the point of creating such extreme - and ridiculous- fashion. Well, this will make a nice wardrobe for Lady Gaga, I suppose.

Who needs skinny models to wear this?

-Christelle-

Hair styling secrets from the Vivienne Westwood Gold Label show at Paris Fashion Week courtesy of Sam McKnight and Pantene!

I know you're concerned that I'm about to give you step by step instructions on how to get this makeup look that you will feel compelled to follow and than wear out in public but I swear, I won't!  Instead, Pantene Pro-V's Ambassador, Sam McKnight, will share his secrets of androgynous hair styling from his stint at the Fall/Winter Vivienne Westwood Gold Label show during Paris Fashion Week!  Vivienne's show explored the world of fairytales through principal boy tailoring, peasant blouses, cloaks and and billowing satin dresses executed in an elaborate multi-hued and printed palette.

Vivienne's muse for the season was Prince Charming and wanted a fairytale prince look for the hair - so Sam delivered a slightly masculine look - bobbed hair with a waffle texture.

Here's how to get your very own prince look:
- Comb Pantene Pro-V Classic Mousse through the hair to add texture then blow dry.
- Part hair in the centre and roughly divide into five sections, taking hair from the upper layer only, about 2 inches above the ear. Braid each of the five sections tighly, starting a couple of inches from the roots.
- Once braided, mist each section with a protective layer of Pantene Pro-V Volume Flexible Hold Hairspray.
- Using a flat iron, work along the braid, from roots to ends, pressing the braid between the plates of the iron to dry.
- Undo the braids and brush through, then gather hair into a loose ponytail, low on the neck.
- Fold the ends on the ponytail under and tuck under the hair at the nape, pinning with bobbypins to secure strongly.
- Finish the look by smoothing over with Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine Mousse on hair from the parting, to flatten the hiar on the top of the head.  Allow loose tendrils to escape giving the appearance of beautiful imperfection.  All the products used can be found at the drug, grocery or mass-market retailer closest to you and are a reasonable $5.99 each.

A no commitment, no cutting bob, how awesome is that!?!

I probably wouldn't recommend the painted on mustache, but hey, that's your call!

- Lisamarie -

Quentin Veron Would Rather Wear Fur and I Would Rather Wear PETA People.

French designer Quentin Veron came up with this provocative design for his fall 2010 collection, with an obvious reference to Peta's campaigns. God, I hate Peta, for many, many, many reasons and while I'm not particularly keen on fur, this picture definitely made me chuckle. Funny enough, some Peta activists were handing out flyers during the Montreal Fashion Week: I took one and then used this useless piece of paper to discard my gum. That's actually more respect than they deserve.

FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images

-Christelle-

Paris Fashion Week: Where Was The Love?

There was very little color during Paris Fashion Week. Chanel used an abundance of white and silver with occasional pastels, while Armani Privé presented black and white designs based on a lunar theme, and Givenchy, despite using a few vivid colors, kept its collection mostly monochrome.
I'm not going to lie, I wasn't too crazy about any of these collections, and even if I had a few gazillion dollars to blow, I'm not sure I'd buy much. The garments -in terms of craftmanship- however, are as amazing as ever.

Chanel does white and silver. 

 

  

 That would be quite a wedding!

 Armani Prive goes to the moon...and back.

 

Hmm no. Givenchy makes a see-through mess .

 

I actually like this outfit even though it looks like Lisamarie when she forgets to shave.

At last! A gorgeous Givenchy gown, worn by Nadia Vodianova.

-Christelle-