Arbiter Elegantiae: Marc Jacobs

Showing posts with label Marc Jacobs. Show all posts

30.3.11

Fashion Forecast: That '70s Show

So pretty much every blogger of the fashionista persuasion has posted recently about Spring 2011's return to 1970s style. Perhaps this is why I've been so reluctant to cover the trend myself: it feels a little like white noise. However, it also would feel like a glaring oversight if I didn't at least give it a cursory nod in a Fashion Forecast.

In other posts I've mentioned the return to flared and wide-leg jeans, as well as the resurgence of crop tops and peasant tops. These respective trends are all part of the larger '70s trend. Big hair, flowing maxi skirts, and floppy hats all paraded down the runway this spring leaving us all with infinite ways to adapt the trend to our own personal style. The '70s style is great if you want a more bohemian edge to your look, or if you'd like to revamp your silhouette. I know I'm going to be rocking some sheer dresses to the beach this summer. Last year I actually managed to find a gorgeous Poleci silk blouse for a great deal. At the time I just loved the blue and white pattern, but now the flowy structure, sliced sleeves and '70s vibe are right on trend. I love it when that happens. All photos from www.style.com.

Badgley Mischka

Blumarine

D&G

Elie Saab

Fendi

Jason Wu

Marc Jacobs

Valentino

Fashion Forecast: Atlas Shrugged

Okay, so the Atlas Shrugged reference doesn't perfectly reflect the halter top trend, but I couldn't resist using it. If you're not familiar with the allusion, Atlas was a Greek hero or god or something who wound up with the unenviable task of holding up the world. I believe at one point Hercules (or Herakles if you prefer the Greek) had to take over this job in his seven... or maybe it was twelve? ordeals. You can tell I paid close attention in Greek and Roman Myth. Anyway, Atlas Shrugged was a novel written by Ayn Rand during the Cold War, which was essentially a really long rant about how great capitalism is and in defense of property rights. Believe it or not, the Iron Man comic drew heavily upon Atlas Shrugged for some of its material. Cracked has done an interesting article on it. I liked it because it suggested the shoulders, and as you'll know by now Spring 2011 is all over shoulders.

Again and again designers were showing this rather different look. In some cases they featured genuine halter tops, which fasten at the neck and not at the back, and in other cases they seemed to take a tank top design and cut further away from the shoulder area, accentuating that feature. It's a little hard to put into words but the pictures speak for themselves. I think it's a pretty cool idea as shoulders can be very sexy. However, this style does present a little bit of a challenge when it comes to your bra straps, and I'm not even sure it's something bustier ladies like myself can pull off, but I suppose that remains to be seen. Pictures, as per usual, are all from www.style.com.

Calvin Klein

Celine

Christian Siriano

Derek Lam - one of my favourite items from Spring. This dress is Bohemian and elegant; perfect for a Summer soiree.

Gucci

Helmut Lang

Lanvin

Marc Jacobs

Oscar de la Renta

Prabal Garung

Rodarte

Stella McCartney

Versace

Yves Saint Laurent

16.3.11

Fashion Forecast: Short Story

Again and again designers chose to clothe their models in crop tops. Before you cringe to yourself at the thought of bulging muffin-tops and exposed bellies, let me point out that this year's crop-top has several differences from the early 2000's "belly top". This new incarnation boasts a looser silhouette, and rather than being paired with low-slung jeans (with the exception of in Michael Kors' show) is worn instead with high-waisted trousers and skirts. As luck would have it, I actually bought a crop-top last April for a date, and it has turned out to be one of my favourite items despite my lack of a six-pack. Mine is more like Badgley Mischka's version than the others, and has a high boat neck in the front that drapes down to expose the upper back, with loose sleeves that just graze the inner elbow. Crop tops are a great way to update a look and still wear a t-shirt. If you want to get a '70s vibe (very big this year - more on that later), I suggest pairing the crop-top with high-waisted belted jeans. If you'd like something more modern a high-waisted fitted skirt will nicely balance out the looseness of the top (and is delightfully slimming). If you REALLY want to go '70s then have a go at the peasant top version that gathers at the bust and the shoulders. Anyway, without further adieu, here they are! Photos courtesy of http://www.style.com/.

Badgley Mischka

Blumarine

D&G

Dolce and Gabbana

Marc Jacobs

Michael Kors

Fashion Forecast: Purple Haze

Yes my lovely readers, it's another Fashion Forecast. I've already blogged about orange, red, yellow, and turquoise being popular on the runways, and next on the list of colours-of-the-moment is none other than purple. Much like the others purple was featured in the lines of Dries van Noten, Marc Jacobs, Fendi, Mulberry, and others. Unlike orange and yellow, purple is a colour that can be worn by a much larger variety of skin tones in a flattering way. Shades shown ranged from a light lavender to deep plums, so you can take your pick of what works best for you. All photos from http://www.style.com/.

Christian Dior

Diane Von Furstenberg

Dries van Noten

Fendi

Lanvin

Louis Vuitton

Marc Jacobs

Mulberry

Victoria Beckham

9.3.11

Fashion Forecast: Scarlet Letter

For Spring 2011 runways designers opted to use a decidedly bright palette. One colour in particular which stood out in many designers' collections was bright red, ranging from scarlet to crimson to blood orange. Reds infiltrated the clothes and accessories of Christian Dior, Carolina Herrera, Helmut Lang, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Valentino and many others. Below I've included examples of red in the various shows, all photos courtesy of http://www.style.com/.