H&M CELEBRATES MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA COLLABORATION {VIDEO}

 Photo courtesy of H&M 

Last night H&M celebrated it's collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela at historic 5 Beekman in NYC's storied financial district. The star studded art and dance event was attended by celebrities such as Kanye West, Julianne Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mena Suvari, Helena Christenson, Slema Blair, Alan Cumming and Chase Crawford. The dance was choreographed by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker and the art installation were curated specifically for the event. I'm not sure how I'm going to cope without those plexiglass wedges in my life. . . Plotting on how I can get a pair on November 15th.  Click the "read more" link below for a video of the red carpet and the theatrical presentation of the collection. Thanks to Emily at Paul Wilmot Communications for the photos and video! Click on the label below for vintage H&M and Style Collaborations posts!

LADY DIOR WEB DOCUMENTARY + MARION COTILLARD

The venerable French fashion house of Christian Dior recently released the third installment in its seven series web documentary featuring French oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard. (I love a good run on sentence.) Episode 2, entitled Up and Up, my favorite thus far, is featured directly below.

Episode 3 features Marion wearing Dior designs from the 1940s and 1950s. She undergoes a metamorphosis, transforming from various Dior muses of times past. You'll learn design details of Dior's iconic Bar Suit, the forebear to today's peplum craze (e.g., the suit is cut to fall 40cm above the ground) and all about the Dior Bombshells. Episode 1 gives viewers a peek behind the scenes as artisans design, cut, fit and sew and Cotillard oversees in the Dior workshop.

Click on "read more" below to view Episode 1: Fantasia and Episode 3: Metamorphose. Watch this space for the next in the series.

ARLENIS SOSA + H&M

My love affair with H&M continues. Please indulge me while I share these fab photos of Arlenis Sosa modeling a selection of the retailer's Fall outfits and accessories. I came across these as I was conducting research for my latest project--more to come on that! These photos were featured in H&M's Fall 2012 trend update, photographed by Peter Gehrke, with art direction provided by Mikael Kangas. Designed with the working woman in mind, this sophisticated collection includes many of this season's trends: peplum is prominent, oxblood makes an appearance in the ruched long sleeved dress, a bedazzled Peter Pan collar is outstanding--all accessorized with chunky pumps in malachite green and a neutral taupe.

Click on the "read more" below to see more pics! Click on the labels below for vintage Style Collaborations and H&M posts!

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA + H&M

"The democracy of fashion has always been at the centre of our creativity, and the collaboration with H&M allows us to push this instinct further." - Maison Martin Margiela

True to form of the secretive fashion house, Maison Martin Margiela's H&M collaboration was as shrouded in mystery as the ultra discreet designer. A slow release of promotional materials culminated with the presentation of 14 pictures today, with six more photos of the collection to come next week. Described by H&M's creative adviser, Margareta van den Bosch, as "one of the most important and influential fashion houses of the past three decades", the label is known for its avant-garde creations, for embracing deconstruction early in the movement, and for playing with paradox.

At the vanguard of the fashion forward, the brand's allure is helped, in no small part, by the air of intrigue surrounding its super private founder. Never photographed, and never appearing from backstage at his shows (and corresponding with the media only via fax), Belgian born Margiela imbued his brand, not only with restrained and comfortable glamour, but with the inaccessibility and exclusivity that's associated with his persona. Nowadays, a number of new designers are at the label's helm, "focusing on young, realistic energy for the future". Nothing screams accessibility like H&M. Smart move on the part of the brand!

Maison Martin Margiela for H&M will be released on November 15th in 230 H&M stores worldwide and online. The collection will feature 45 women's garments and 20 accessories. It will also include 30 men's pieces and 15 accessories. Click read more below to see additional pictures from the collection. Click on the label below for vintage Style Collaboration posts!

STUD MUFFIN

 Lulu's "Did I Stud-her" Black Leggings, only $35!

I'm clearly well overdue for a Fashion Week post or three, but you know how it is . . . I was most inspired to post as I came across these tights again tonight. I own a pair and someone recently asked where they were from. Let me tell you, these are as much fun to wear as they look. I had the perfect opportunity to do so at Jay-Z's Made in America Festival in Philly this past Labor Day weekend. I felt like a rock star and you will too. Check out Beyonce rocking a House of Dereon pair here. This studded look was all over the Doo Ri and Emanuel Ungaro Fall 2009 runway, but the trend is still going strong. The best feature of the tights featured above is the price: only $35 at Lulu's! If you're willing to splurge, check out alternatives below. Enjoy!