Runway beauty trends for NYFW

This is a hopeful forecast of some of the artistic beauty and hair that will be seen on this week's series of runway offerings for S/S 2013. Fingers crossed that at least a handful of designers will dig deep into their penchants for elaborate, dramatic beauty to give showgoers a real treat on the runway by way of dazzling runway beauty. I mean, dazzle us with great clothes and accessories too, but...give us a little extra.
For a little inspiration, here are a few shows that had amazing, one-of-a-kind looks that makes their collections utterly unforgettable.

A)Alexis Mabille's S/S 2012 Couture show featured models whose faces were painted to match the exact color of the gowns that they were wearing, replete with a giant, similarly colored paper flower propped atop their manes. According to Style.com, Mabille was inspired by a photo of a model with a pink umbrella over her head through which the sun's rays cast a pinkish glow onto her face.
My immediate reaction upon seeing these photos was to believe that Mabille was actually influenced by the talking flowers in Alice in Wonderland. Granted that is one of my favorite movies, so I am definitely biased, but it makes me happy to believe that that is where the real inspiration came from.

And how about B) Chanel's Resort 2013 collection and C) Chanel's F/W 2012 RTW shows? The setting for the Resort collection was in the much-storied and magnificent palace of Versailles where - appropriately enough - models were decked out in pastels with Easter egg-colored bobs, rich peachy-pink eyeshadows and Chanel insignia beauty marks as throwbacks to the opulent days of Marie Antoinette's court.

 (Above photos c/o style.com)

And the ready-to-wear show was no less beautiful, with models sporting eyebrows bedecked in an array of glittering materials, including beads and sequins, while maintaining an otherwise sparse, minimalist facade.

(Above photos c/o style.com)

D) Bernhard Willhelm F/W 2012 RTW show was magnificent in its employment of gender-bending beauty theatrics that showcased models embodying Jekyll and Hyde two-faced versions of themselves, with one side firmly grounded in reality and the other side...not so much. When all elements of the show work together to create a beautiful tableau, then I'm hooked line and sinker.

 (Above photo c/o glamour.com)

(Above photos c/o vogue.it)

But perhaps the label that consistently produced elaborate and dramatic beauty looks was E) Christian Dior when John Galliano was at its helm. Galliano loved the big and the bold, as he took iconic beauty looks (50s glamour, sex kitten, etcetera) to new, exaggerated heights. And the results were nothing short of spectacular. The following pictures were from, respectively, Dior's F/W 2008 RTW show, the S/S 2007 Couture show, the F/W 2010 Couture show, and the S/S 2010 Couture show.

(Above photos c/o style.com)

I hope and pray that during this fashion week that designers will send out some beautiful hair and makeup eye candy along with their seasonal wardrobe offerings.

Fall 2012 Couture influenced nail art

Now that nail art is seen as an acceptable and fashionable form of artistic expression (it seems to have almost completely stripped itself of its formerly tacky connotations: crazy aunts, ghetto mamis, guidettes, white trash vixens, etcetera), it seems as though everything has potential to inspire a 10-finger masterpiece, from sunsets to Disney movies to Andy Warhol's artwork, and there is no shortage of people ready and willing to create tiny works of art, using their hands (and feet) as their tableaus.

From Flickr, to blogs, to YouTube uploads, the internet is a goldmine that showcases the talented individuals that are taking nail art to an elevated platform.
My favorite nail blog is The Daily Nail, as my mind is blown every single time I read a new post. The blogger decided to, in October 2010, dedicate every day to a new manicure. This reminds me of Julie Powell's culinary journey a la "Julie and Julia". The author (and amazing artist) is inspired by a range of interests that translate into some very, very cool manicures. From movies to books, songs, food, characters, culture, etcetera, every bit of pop culture is represented.  My favorites manicures of hers include sixties-inspired  "In the 'Mod'", the Smurfs "Blast from the Past", Dr. Seuss "Dr. Seussical" - plus many more.

Should you now have the itch to do some more nail art exploring, here are a few links to get you started on your search:

1. Hey, Nice Nails!

2. Pretty in Polish

3. Chalkboard Nails

4. Cute Polish 

5. Pixie Polish


Everyone draws inspiration from somewhere for nail art. My inspiration comes from the Fall 2012 couture shows. With hundreds of glorious, custom-made pieces brimming with ornate, one-of-a-kind details, the treasure trove of outfits from couture week would give me more than enough fodder to do a few manicures. Following are some of the looks that are begging to be recreated via nail art. (Gown photos c/o nymag.com)


1. Christian Dior's electric green ballgown

Possibly using Rescue Beauty Lounge's Abi nail polish?

2. Valentino's royal purple Baroque dress

Possibly using Essence's Purple Magic polish?

3. Armani Prive's glittering pastel gradiant gown

Possibly using Essie's shades of Lilacism, Bangle Jangle and Cascade Cool?

4. Zuhair Murad's vibrantly hued, three-dimensional blossoms

Possibly using Nails Inc.'s polishes in St. James, Portobello  and Floral Street?

5. Alexandre Vauthier's metallic hardware

Possibly using Deborah Lippmann's Boom Boom Pow and Like a Virgin polishes?

Cannes - What will the celebs wear?

The Cannes Film Festival, like the Met Costume Institute Gala and the Oscars, is where actors and directors are expected to bring their A-game and dazzle us when it comes to their fashion choices. The annual event, held in the French Riviera and which plays host to a variety of talented and much-respected directors and actors, is a stylish feast for the eyes as those invited to attend most always turn heads in their stunning garb.

It is day three of the Festival, and Diane Kruger - who is one of the Festival's judges - Freida Pinto, Jessica Chastain and Eva Longoria have each paraded down the red carpet in at least one showstopping number. Here's hoping for the rest of the week to follow suit. Diane Kruger, to me, is the epitome of the ideal fashion muse. She is the ultimate chameleon; never following a particular trend and thereby keeping everyone interested in how she effortlessly pulls off everything that she wears. If I were a designer, Kruger would be my go-to spokesperson, no questions asked.

Whenever there is an upcoming awards show, I like to play a game with myself where I try to guess which runway dresses will be worn on said award show's red carpet. I play this game during Fashion Week, too, as when I see a photo of a designer dress that I like coming down the runway, I mentally run through the upcoming events where it could possibly be worn, and by what celebrity.

Without further ado, a compilation of gowns that would make great additions to the Cannes Film Festival:

1. Valentino Spring 2012 Couture

2. Dolce and Gabbana Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

 

3. Oscar de la Renta Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

4.  Elie Saab Spring 2012 Couture

5.  Emporio Armani Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

6.  Giambattista Valli Spring 2012 Couture

7. Gucci  Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear

8. Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2012 Couture

9. Elie Saab Spring 2012 Couture

10. Christian Dior Spring 2012 Couture

11. Chanel  Spring 2012 Couture

12. Chanel Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

13. Carolina Herrera Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

14. Bottega Veneta Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

(all photos c/o style.com)

Fall/Winter 2012 - My favorite runway pieces, part two

(all images c/o style.com)

And away we go!

No. 8 - Sachin + Babi dress
The perfectly symmetrical tiles and the small sheer panels of the sleeveless top mesh exceedingly well with the flared a-line black skirt. A look that can effortlessly transition from day to night without much else needing to be added or removed. A++

No. 9 - Sachin + Babi black dress
Much like the Sachin + Babi dress featured in the aforementioned text, this piece makes me want to give a hearty round of applause to the design duo for having created it. The dress itself is lovely, with the leather t-shirt top and a-line, semi-sheer skirt overlay. However, the dress's appeal also lies in the fact that I believe any woman could wear this outfit and completely customize it to her style.

No. 10 - Prabal Gurung peacock dress
The first time I saw this dress, I was reminded of peacocks due to the intricate, feather-shaped lazer-cut shapes in the iridescent blue fabric. I love the small sparkly bits that thin out toward the edges of the dress, seemingly like stars in the sky. I also like this dress because it keeps prompting me to spew metaphors into its description.

No. 11 - L'Wren Scott cape
First off, I've almost never met a cape I didn't like. That having been said (typed) even if I wasn't a fan of capes, there is no way that I'd not like this fantastical, resplendent, furry, royal-hued number. Just imagine the street cred you'd obtain (and fun you'd have, no doubt) if you strutted around in this all day long. It looks cozy too, so it could probably double nicely as makeshift down comforter.

No. 12 - Kevork Kiledjian leather dress
Inspired by the Helmut Newton aesthetic, this dress epitomizes sultriness - no uber-short hems or bared skin necessary.

No. 14 - Juan Carlos Obando mint ensemble
The mint hue of the jacket and skirt indicates a summery vibe, yet the fur keeps the outfit firmly grounded in autumnal territory. The satin flats and full-length sleeves hint toward daytime wear, yet the sternum-exposing blouse and waving skirt hem veer toward after-hours wear.The choice is left to the wearer as to which occasion it will be best suited for.

No. 15 - Juan Carlos Obando t-shirt dress
A t-shirt usually invokes a casual, laid-back appeal, but the wave of the skirt hem as well as the silky finish and slim fit of the dress makes it perfect for a variety of occasions. I'm ticking them off in my head as I type...birthday party, happy hour, date night, basketball game...
Maybe not a basketball game, but who knows?

No. 16 - Jil Sander color palette
What a perfect trio of colors. Palest icy blue, light taupe and Pantone shade 230 combine together to create a beautiful vision in pastel. I am in awe of how delicate thr near-invisible neckline appears. The satin, pointy-toed heels rounds off this ballerina-esque look quite beautifully.

No. 17 - Jil Sander gown
Calvin Klein may have made "the nude dress" popular, but Raf Simons has perfected it. If Grace Kelly were with us today, I suspect she would have gravitated toward this gown.

No. 18 - Hermes suit
I can't even put into word the amazing qualities of this suit. I just keep looking at the photo as if a plethora of adjectives will fly at me, but no. I guess that's the sign of something great - speechlessness (typelessness?)

No. 19 - Christian Dior ballet-esque skirt + lace-embellished top
Frothy, in a word, sums up this punch-colored ensemble. The delicate, semi-transparent skirt is complemented by the structured, lace brocade top. I can see someone like Poppy Delevigne doing her thing in this outfit.

No. 20 - Markus Lupfer sweatshirt + miniskirt combo
I appreciate that Markus Lupfer acknowledged the fact that seasonal runway offerings don't have to follow by-the-book rules for lengths and fabrics. I love wearing cardigans and shrunken sweatshirts over shorts and dresses during summer, so it's a pleasant reprieve to see the pairing of similar styles in his line.

No. 21 - Viktor and Rolf suit
The silky shirt plus the seemingly jersey-like quality of the fabric and the slits in the pant hems lend this look a feminine air while the slashed, pillowy edged sleeves add a Shakespearean element into the mix. An inspired, new take on a timeless classic.

No. 22 - Viktor and Rolf 2-in-1
A cape and a wool trench in one. Be still my heart. Why choose between a cape and a trench at all? Finally a 2-in-1 I'd want to wear. High fashion : Viktor and Rolf :: Loungewear : Snuggie

No. 22 - Luisa Beccaria lace frock
So sweet.

No. 23 - Manish Arora dress
Because this would be a treat to wear. I'm about 99.343% positive that I would smile for the entire period in which I was wearing this frock. The Manish Arora line is always full of fun, vibrant prints. I first learned of the brand through the MAC collaboration a while back, and I've been a fan ever since. Also, those booties.