MILAN FASHION WEEK: VERSACE SPRING SUMMER 2011

Versace showed its Spring Summer 2011 line at Milan Fashion Week this past Friday. The show was also live-streamed via Facebook to over 200,000 fans. The collection featured bold colors and interesting cut outs; and emphasized the idea of opposites while playing with proportions. All this while retaining the sexy silhouette that has come to be recognized as a Versace signature.

The collection's pieces included fringework of varying lengths, macramé juxtaposed with rubber and shiny pvc on matte fabric. High waisted skirts contrasted with short jackets offers conservative coverage while displaying a line of flesh. According to Versace, the shoulder is the new erogenous zone and is featured prominently throughout the collection; unlike seasons past, the shoulders are softened! Prints feature the Versace Greek fret design, but it is used as a decorative device and not as a logo.

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LANVIN + H&M

H&M approached us to collaborate, and see if we could translate the dream we created at Lanvin to a wider audience, not just a dress for less. I have said in the past that I would never do a mass-market collection, but what intrigued me was the idea of H&M going luxury rather than Lanvin going public. - Alber Elbaz, artistic director of Lanvin

Lanvin, France's oldest couture house (founded in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin), will partner with H&M to launch a capsule collection this November! The collection becomes available on November 23rd, but will be revealed on November 2nd in a special preview film. Read the press release on the collaboration here. Moroccan-born, Israeli designer Alber Elbaz joined Lanvin as artistic director in 2001 and has rejuvenated the storied brand with capacious usage of ribbons, bows, pearls, raw edges, and metallic embellishments! Guys, never fear, his menswear collection does not include any of the aforementioned. Click "read more" below to hear Alber Elbaz speak about the much anticipated collection and click the label below for vintage Style Collaborations posts!

NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD + KEITH HARING

“I watched this documentary called The Universe of Keith Haring, and though I know his style, I hadn’t seen the breadth of his work. I couldn’t stop thinking about how amazing and prolific he was and how great it would be to incorporate his graphics into my designs,” Kirkwood explained. “So I ended up approaching the Keith Haring Foundation. I had to really sell them the product, but I think they’re pretty happy with the end result.” - Style.com

Recently I wrote about my somewhat fulfilled ambition to pursue more artistic endeavors. I was prompted to do so after viewing Rihanna's "Rude Boy" video which is highly referential of the works of artists Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. I noted that this blog is an outlet for my artistic aspirations, but, in truth, any creative talent that I may have manifests itself most profoundly through my wardrobe* and home decor. With that background, try to imagine my delight as I flipped through the September issue of Harper's Bazaar which highlighted shoes created by artiste extraordinaire, Nicholas Kirkwood, and that which are heavily influenced by Keith Haring! Genius. The collection becomes available worldwide February 2011. I would most assuredly wear the shoe top left in the pic above, but am madly in love with the peep toe on the right. Click here to see additional images of the collection and, click here to see more of Nicholas Kirkwood's designs!

*Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, business, business formal and business casual attire are specifically excluded.

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MERCEDES-BENZ NEW YORK FASHION WEEK - SPRING 2011

It's coming! Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week for Spring 2011 fashions is fast approaching. Unfortunately I will not be attending any shows this year, but that won't stop me from covering. I did, however, get an invite to view Bally's Women Spring/Summer 2011 presentation in Milan for Milan Fashion Week, but, oy vey, me jetting off to Milan on such short notice is unlikely to happen. Thankfully, a few invites to Fashion's Night Out events have been trickling in! I hope to make it up to NYC to attend Assouline's event at The Plaza and the Bulgari event featuring Patti Smith. A good friend has also invited me to join her at the Ports 1961 event. Now all I have to do is get it together and hop on Amtrak. We shall see. If I don't make it to NYC, I will be sure to support Philadelphia's efforts. I attended last year's Fashion's Night Out event at the mall in King of Prussia, and while it ain't nobody's NYC, folks put forth a magnificent evening (read: lots of champagne and swag)! Click here to see events scheduled to take place at this year's Fashion Night's Out event in KOP.

Click "read more" below to see the full schedule of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week - Spring 2011 to be held September 9 - 16 at New York Fashion Week's new home at Lincoln Center. Click on the labels below to see past coverage of New York Fashion week, both inside and outside the tents at Bryant Park!

TECH CHIC: OSCAR DE LA RENTA iPAD CLUTCH

Oscar's "Mosaico" iPad clutch in embroidered lambskin, $290 at Oscar de la Renta!

Chic new toys require even chicer accessories. Available online in a multiplicity of colors and materials, and two price points, Oscar de la Renta's iPad clutch is befitting of the sexy gadget it's meant to protect. With this smart accessory, the couturier confirms that which is already well established--his design skills extend beyond fashionable garments, and translates well to accessories, even for hi-tech devices! There's red python, embossed crocodile in black, pearlized rose python, pearlized taupe python and embroidered lambskin Mosaico in both marigold and red (see above). Each iPad clutch has a snap closure and ultra suede lining. Get yours online at Oscar de la Renta and tell him I sent ya!

Click "Read more" below to see pics of Oscar's iPad clutch on the runway. For vintage Tech Chic posts, click the label below!