From Menswear to Couture

Our favorite times of the year always include the runways. Menswear just completed and some of our favorites include the pops of color at Bottega Veneta, the layers at Balmain, perfect coats and skinny trousers at Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana’s sequined jackets, the brilliance of Dries Van Noten, the Amish and David Lynch inspirations at Louis Vuitton, and I’m always a sucker for Lanvin and YSL.

The Thierry Mugler show, renamed Mugler, had a lot of hype with Nicola Formichetti , but as someone else had pointed out, it took three people to create that. A lot of the hype surrounding the show was from the soundtrack, a new release and remixed song from Lady Gaga. After all of the hype, I and many, were thoroughly disappointed by what was brought to the table. The masculine take on pearls were the highlight to me, but the rest could be thrown in the garbage to be honest. It was more spectacle and show and in the end bland. Not that I was expecting anything different.

Now to the glorious haute couture. Monday started off terribly boring and as the week progressed everything got more exciting. Galliano’s drama for Dior was ever present. Although it seems he’s been designing the same thing for quite a while now, his detailing is beautiful and the silhouettes are referential to the New Look and innovative within themselves. Chanel was a crystal dream, but do I really need to speak upon Lagerfeld’s behalf? Armani Privé was more futuristic than Mr. Armani has ever been, but no matter how far he goes in the future, it still seems slightly tired. Maybe it’s safe to say Anne Hathaway won’t be wearing Armani Privé at the Oscars. She’s co-hosting, so I’m sure she’ll have numerous changes, but it’s probably a safe bet that it won’t be in one of these.

Moving on. Valentino continued to grow with slightly less ruffles and lighter designs while Elie Saab rolled out another show of beautiful, yet yawn-inducing gowns, all with red carpet potential. Academy Awards viewers, if you pay attention to the red carpet, please place money somewhere that an Elie Saab gown will make it on the red carpet more than once. At least they’re pretty and not Oscar de la Renta. Finally, my beloved Givenchy. I don’t  care what anyone ever says about Givenchy, but the detailing is so intricate and exquisite, there’s more to appreciate than really meets the eye. One of the dresses with the red, hand-cut sequins took roughly 6,000 hours to create. The Japanese-influenced collection makes my mouth salivate and is such a fluid evolution from last couture season. Swoon.

[Photos: Style.com]

Dolce & Gabbana S/S 11

Clavicles? Check. Overly bronzed? Check.

I am simply not a fan of this direction for the campaign. Some say it’s better than Madonna’s previous two seasons, but I sort of liked what she brought to the table. To be honest, I didn’t even enjoy these two on the runway. I would have much preferred, and I’m surprised it didn’t happen, Natasha Poly as the face of the new campaign rather than Izabel and Alessandra. Such is life.

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CNN: Dolce & Gabbana Revealed

CNN has an interesting segment titled REVEALED, this time covering Dolce & Gabbana, specifically focusing on the two’s relationship. My first glimpse was in a story for GQ quite a few years ago and was mesmerized by the two, Domenico and Stefano, ever since. They have been working with each other for three decades and you see that neither can work without the other. There is a very delicate, yet strong relationship that is present. The two no longer have the sexual or romantic relationship, yet their love for one another is stronger than ever and see that they need one another for their work and are very much like family.

In the segment you will see three different pieces. These include the preparation of their menswear label for Autumn, their shared weekend house in Portofino, and then 20 years in menswear. Check it out now HERE.

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More Madonna for Dolce & Gabbana

Now this is more like it. We’ve been scouring the Internet for these and the only place that seems to have a preview is WWD and VAINstyle.com. We’re still not completely thrilled with the continuation of a housewife Madonna, these are quite better than the street shot that was previously released for the Fall campaign. Madonna looks quite lovely and I’m glad they finally took advantage of the great pieces we saw on the runway. I’d like to see them use her once more with a different storyline and feel. The whole Fall collection was rather sexy and you have the queen of all sex and scandalous activity and they just use her to maybe be an Italian cougar. Whatever the deal, she is looking rather youthful, am I right?

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Dolce & Gabbana’s Sexy Menswear Campaign

I’ve never been to a tailor at this point in my life, but I would seriously appreciate Adam Senn, Noah Mills and Sam Webb, Arthur Kulkov and Evandro Soldati showing up in their underwear while this occasion took place. We would wrestle and I’m fairly certain some measuring of sorts would take place, but the events can honestly go any which way.

Steven Klein shoots another Dolce & Gabbana campaign, this one being true to the companies image. Now this is a campaign I can get after. I’m much more apt into adopting Fall’s velvet trend in a suit jacket, but I’d rather the trend to quickly brush by and not trickle past an H&M or Zara. Any lower and we’re treading in treacherous waters of the 80s and early 90s that no one should be doing the breaststroke in. No one.

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D&G Fall 2010 Campaign

You couldn’t have done better, Mr. Klein? You have Madonna and you basically repeat last season’s sub-par campaign that I actually liked, and then you go ahead and make it so…BLEH. Needed a fresh start with a Fall campaign rather than just continue this story that makes her look quite matronly and less, well, Madonna. There were so many lace and floral pieces, leotards,  and amazingly tailored jackets that could have been chosen. I hope there are additions to this campaign that elaborate more and if not, better luck next time.

Scarlett for Dolce & Gabbana Makeup

I remember when Scarlett first began to model after she hit it big and she had all of those Louis Vuitton campaigns. She’s transitioned this far and has been the face for Dolce & Gabbana’s makeup and fragrances for quite a few seasons. She always give that va-va-voom and is such a seductress. I wonder why she wasn’t approached for any of the Marilyn films that are coming up in the next year or so. The latest Spring/Summer campaign isn’t anything particularly new and different, but she’s such an old Hollywood beauty, it’s ridiculous. Where she is swathed in black satin, she looks a bit whorish, but really who doesn’t with blue and green eyeshadow?

Who saw the MTV Movie Awards? Right, no one, but I’m sure we’ve seen photos of the red carpet at least. She strutted the awards in a green lace minidress by none other than Dolce & Gabbanna. I love this little sex kitten.

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Madonna + D&G = MDG

Madonna and Dolce & Gabbana hit it off again, this time collaborating with Madonna’s name in the product. Madonna has previously worked with the company in advertisements and has dipped into the fashion world with her fast-selling line at H&M, so why not with D&G sunglasses? In the campaign, her ‘Madgesty’ is photographed along with Tyson Ballou by Steven Klein. Madonna and Steven have an extensive line of collaboration together, so it’s no wonder she continues to use him.

The campaign is sexy and reminds me of if you walked in on people either making out or just a sex tape. Either or. She may have pulled the Lindsay Lohan finger in mouth move, but it’s still hot nonetheless, not to mention the sunglasses are actually pretty sexy themselves. Dirty, sexy, provocative, Madonna…seems about right.

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Scarlett Talks Beauty and D&G

There are two celebrities that I can accept doing fashion campaigns. Both of these celebrities are both faces for Dolce & Gabbana and this one in particular is obviously the very striking and beautiful, Scarlett Johansson. I’ve always thought she was a striking woman and a very talented one at that. Doesn’t this video give out a Marilyn Monroe-esque look to her? She’s a very intelligent woman and I want to see more of her in films and not just an upcoming summer blockbuster. Give it to me, Scarlett. Give it to me hard.

Oh So Coco

It’s Coco Rocha in April’s Flare! It’s sweet and fun all in one. Yes, I just rhymed that shit. I love the McQueen, the ostrich skirt is wonderful, the chalk  is a good backdrop, take away the D&G denim, the red Lanvin and feather headpiece and dammit, I just love Miss Coco, soon to be a Mrs. She always seemed like such an intelligent woman, and I do forget she’s only a little over a month older than I am, so I feel we could be the best of friends. Once again I’m in fantasy and here’s to a perfect spring shoot!