I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Momine

Yeah, ok, that second batch are pretty out there.

1Athena1

One ready-to-wear collection I absolutely loved was from Emilio Pucci, Fall/Winter 2011. The creative director is Peter Dundas. IMO, he managed to capture the old Europe, the woman at her most feminine but casual and was just such a breath of fresh air. Pucci is an Italian house that made its name in the 50s or so, I believe, with resort wear:

I love the lack of pretense, the simplicity.

Dundas's fabrics are superb:

This is really a show you should see in motion. Pucci shows in Florence (recently opened a store in New York, I think) and always has really interesting movie soundtracks as music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtAnFwWGVAI

lassie11

Do real people ever wear those clothes or is it all "just" an art show? Lovely art, but art nonetheless.

1Athena1

Wabbit - I also considered some of Galliano's garments abusive from the labor point of view. And the man himself wore a fur coat! PETA used to demonstrate at a lot of Dior shows. Really, it takes a genius to stay in the business as long as that decadent human being stayed.

OTOH, Dundas celebrates women. So does Raf Simons, IMO.

1Athena1

I have also objected to the way in which women are made to wear unwearably high heels during runway shoes - Prada, herself a woman, got bad press because of it. Her shoes became so dangerous that models would be nervous before shows. I applaud Karl Lagerfeld - he puts his models in shoes that look like bedroom slippers or sneakers. Not pretty, but admirable.

Momine

Interesting, thanks for posting, Athena. I looked up Dundas, thinking he might be Greek with that name, but he is Norwegian. 

Wabbit

Athena ... I'm just hopeless    All I see is stuff that looks like people got dressed in the dark with mismatched pieces.  And floofy and gaudy.  I am obviously a conservative when it comes to clothing.  Slinking away now ...

1Athena1

No -wabbit - don't question your judgement. Your view is as good as anyone else's. Some fashion takes time to adjust to, but in other cases, your taste may just vary. I hope to post pictures that touch anyone at any point. Please stay!

American designers are different. I wil show you some at some point. They may be more what you are used to. I LOVE American fashion - it has that mixture of practicality, strength and chic that is unmistakable.

I am not a fan of how some colors are combined these days either. In the 60s, 70s and 80s you wore matching purses and shoes. That is considered passe, but some designers use mismatches more tastefully than others.

crazy4carrots

Emilio Pucci came into his own during the 60's, known for his very brightly-patterned, often geometric prints.  Some of them were gorgeous, some weren't!  But...they were easily identifiable.  And then of course they were copied -- and very badly!  If you see old videos of the TV show Laugh-In, they always remind me of Pucci's influence via the set designs.

Athena -- I well remember the matching shoes and purse dictum!  And guess what -- when I dress up, I still follow it!

1Athena1

Lindasa, I think many designers have gone too far in ensuring they don't mix and match. I love Dundas, but I don't like the color of the purse the girl with the green jacket, above, has.

ETA: In couture you still see better/more traditional color matching. Pics follow.

bluedahlia

I like the black lace one but I'd wear a slip.  hahahaha!  I weigh around 126 and still have bulges.  Those girls must be anorexic.

1Athena1

Here is Chanel's F/W 2012 Houte Couture show - once again, remember that in couture, because of the pricing and the fact that each piece is sewn for each client, these are clothes you would wear for a special occasion:

The above might be more what a lot of us are used to in terms of color and fabric matching.

I love the above color and fabric matches - would wear any of them. Also, this one:

Belinda44

Belinda44

It appears that Michelle Obama is high-waisted and doesn't have a classic hour glass figure.  I usually either love or hate her fashion choices.  I don't think severe empire waistline dresses are a flattering look for her. Here are some of her choices:

Belinda44

I love these two gowns the First Lady wore.  Both designed by Naeem Khan:

1Athena1

Agree 100 percent, Belinda. Those looks are awful on her. She looks bulky and uncomfortable. When she allows her figure to show and uses simple designs she does much better. She is already beautiful and striking. A woman like that needs to edit, edit, edit and let color and silouette do the talking. Not creased fabric and floral designs.

ETA: We crossposted - those other two gowns you showed are better, but she should edit even more for evening.

Belinda44

I've always been a big Chanel fan.  Love the "little black dresses."  I have one similar to this that has had numerous wearings!

And have always loved the Chanel jacket:

ETA...the dress I have is not Chanel....I wish!

And Athena, I agree...the simpler, the better for Michelle Obama.

1Athena1

Love those two looks, Belinda. In fact, Michelle herself would be great in Chanel. Pity she probably feels she can't wear foreign designers.

ETA: Yikes - but I think the last model had her belly buttom photoshopped out!

Belinda44

Loved this part of the "Sex and the City" movie.  A montage of gorgeous designer wedding dresses.  My fav is the first....Vera Wang:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZcFB3wMyfk

ETA: the Vera Wang:

pupmom

Another day another school shooting, this time at Longhorn Community College, outside Houston. Three injured, no info on how critically. At least one gunman is in custody. It appears to have been a shoot out between two angry men. :-(

1Athena1

Ok, Chanel just had its 2013/14 SS Couture show. Interesting. Lagerfeld and Raf Simons must have dreamt of each other. Karl is also very earthy, of nature, flowery and "green."

I like some of the dresses but I HATE those leggings - ugh. If you can get past them, here are some nice looks from the show:

Karl seems to be chanelling his inner Christo or something these past few seasons with those leg wrappings.

Here are some other looks - almost Laura Ashley-ish:

Haven't read the literature or reviews but this strikes me as very 1910s. Lagerfeld sometimes likes to use parts of Coco Chanel's life and weave collections around it.

bluedahlia

bluedahlia

Yorkie, the wild wild west!

pupmom

Blue, completely adorable picture! And yes, we're reviving the Wild West, UGH. But maybe I can get a horse, PLEASE!

Belinda44

Athena, instead of your Kate Spade bag, how about this ; )

bluedahlia

Ray got me a Contessa Da Vinci purse last Christmas.  Its the only good purse I have.

The Alexandria in red.

http://www.contessacollection.com/cdv/the-collections/

1Athena1

Lovely.

Belinda -LOVE it!

You said the word "budget" - man, let's not even go there.

Luckily, it's free to post....sooooo in honor of the Wabbit - and Lindasa - here are some collections that are a bit more classical in their approach to colors:

My favorite American designer used to be Calvin Klein, then Donna Karan and her very affordable line DKNY. My new favorite is Michael Kors, although I don't own any of his clothes yet (I do have his handbags). Kors, like many American designers, is aspirational, and his looks are tailored to give the aura of the Aspen experience, etc.... BUT while many European designers remain out of reach in their fabric and color, American designers have always struck me as earthy and democratic. So when they are expensive and tailored, the women who emerges is really a combination of the best of the Old World and the Best of the New. Ralph Lauren is like that.

But here is some Kors from SS'12 season:

Notice how the accessories are more color-matched.

I love this very American casual elegance:

1Athena1

A designer I do not like is Oscar de la Renta. To me, his clothes scream "look at me, I have lots of money (but, alas, NOT taste)":

Even a model as wonderful as Karlie Kloss couldn't stop making this de la Renta look appear like an air hostess outfit:

That's SS 203. Nothing as bad, IMO, as SS 2012 (oh, and the hair...)

.:

1Athena1

Belinda, that Vera Wang (another great American designer) is a dream.

bluedahlia

Love those Athena!

Can't resist posting these.  My DD's wedding photographer.  They're not ready yet BTW!