Valentino

These prints have very little in common with the classics. This year, designers painted stripes with a bold brush, used variously-sized polka dots head-to-toe, and paired plaids with floral blouses.

The key is to break every rule your mother taught you: Mix and match patterns. Select stripes in contrasting colors, pair the polka dots with stripes and spice up florals with any geometric design. Just make sure the contrasting patterns have a consistent theme, use the same color palette, or same motif.

Prada and Jil Sander presented some of the best collections of the season. Sander sent out a floor-length gown contrasting vertical black-and-sheer stripes on the bodice with the skirt’s pink-and-white horizontal stripes. Prada took a white blouse with a navy monkey print and paired it with a black-and-fuchsia striped skirt. That same skirt served as the foundation for a blue-white-black-green striped top.

Continue reading The Fashion Statement: Stripes, Polka Dots and Plaids

The Fashion Statement: Stripes, Polka Dots and Plaids originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What to get the stylish woman who has everything? (And let’s just say you’ve exhausted gifts like precious gems, haute couture and yacht excursions to St. Barths) Well, then, what about a super collectible, really expensive fashion coffee table book? Here, a list of some of the priciest tomes out there.

1. Couture Fashion Drawings by Hubert de Givenchy, published by the house of Givenchy, Paris, in 1980: This is signed by the late designer himself and includes hand-colored haute couture fashion sketch plates from the period of the ’70s to the ’80s including original fabric swatches. The book was part of the Estate of Nan Kempner, a New York socialite who died in 2005. Price tag? $9,000

2. Valentino Garavani (hardcover) by Suzy Menkes, Matt Tyrnauer and Armando Chitolina, published by Taschen in 2007: This is the coffee table book version of Valentino: The Last Emperor, a documentary film by Vanity Fair writer Matt Tyrnauer. It’s an homage to Valentino’s legendary career and includes images from his archives, drawings, advertisements, portraits, documentary photographs as well as newspaper and magazine articles. International Herald Tribune‘s fashion writer Suzy Menkes interviewed 20 of Valentino’s closest collaborators and friends, including his life partner Giancarlo Giammetti. Price tag? $4,500

3. Russell James (hardcover deluxe edition with Gisele Bundchen photoprint) with forwards by Heidi Klum, Donna Karan, and Sharen Turney, published by teNeues in 2009: Who wouldn’t pay big bucks to Gisele in the buff? This book highlights the work of Russell James, a photographer who is well-known for his nudes and fashion portraiture. The volume is encased in a clamshell box and contains one of only two numbered and signed limited-edition large prints that show his study of human beauty. Price tag? $3,250

Continue reading The Fashion Statement: Fashion’s Priciest Coffee Table Books

The Fashion Statement: Fashion’s Priciest Coffee Table Books originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Let’s begin with the ethereal, exquisite bag above, the Valentino Crystal-Embellished Feather Clutch. These little birdies outdid even the Judith Lieber Enchanted Stardust Clutch with their whimsical glamour, and the feathers are so elegantly and daintily assembled, the clutch eclipsed the ballerina charm of the Valentino Tulle Rosette Bag. We love the coloring; it’s as if each perfect feather has been gingerly dipped in the blackest of ink. The pale pink satin structure and lining complete the dream-come-true wonder of this masterful handbag which commanded $4,170.00.

Continue reading The Luxist Top Ten Handbags of 2010

The Luxist Top Ten Handbags of 2010 originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.