A Bit of Gucci for You

And for me too! To celebrate the recent purchase of my Gucci wallet (a belated birthday gift from me, myself and I), I thought it would be nice for everyone to have a little bit of Gucci in their lives.

As luck would have it, the house unveiled their Fall 2011 ad campaign this past weekend. With the sensual Joan Smalls and Abbey Lee Kershaw, it's wonderfully vibrant and heavily saturated with bold colors. And as StyleCaster so cleverly observed, it's leaning towards a Tom Ford-esque aesthetic, with the "glossy red lips and lush furs," and that overall seventies vibe. Not to mention it's just plain sexy.

I'm not going to lie, this makes me love my new Gucci a little bit more.

Looking forward to Vogue this fall!

Paris Fall 2011 Couture: Givenchy

The last of my Fall 2011 couture posts, I promise.

Isn't it all so beautiful? The whole collection is only 11 looks, but I imagined more because they're so intricately embellished and provocative with the tulle cutouts. I think this should be at the top of everyone's mind when thinking about great representations of couture - dressmaking and high fashion design at its best.

Givenchy Fall 2011 Couture

Paris Fall 2011 Couture: Elie Saab

A bed of clouds on the skyline of a starry twilight. Cheesy image, yes I know.

Such is why I will never truly be a writer.

I just had to think of something, though, to describe how remarkably ethereal, lustrous and elaborate this couture is. I think I absolutely loved every piece on that runway. Which is why I encourage you to give it a look-see yourself. What I especially love is the consistency of this collection, how dramatically each gown builds on the last, yet the momentum never gets boring. It completely works on every level, right down to the inconspicuously beautiful bridal gown of the last look.

Elie Saab Fall 2011 Couture

Paris Fall 2011 Couture: Armani Privé

Bellissimo, Signor Armani.

What more could you ask for in a couture collection? Spot on tailoring. Irreproachable refinement. Opulent patterns. Luxuriously rich silk and silk velvet fabrics. There's always a level of sophistication that is hard to match whenever I see Armani.  

Armani Privé Fall 2011 Couture

I love the black with accents of floral color palettes and patterns!

Versace for H&M

Ohmigosh, yes please!

Donatella is an absolute minx when it comes to all her Versace collections (Atelier Versace will probably be the sexiest couture you will ever see.) Such pure genius to develop a collaboration between the two.

Here's the 2 minute version for those of you with a longer attention span.

Paris Fall 2011 Couture: Christian Dior

How unfortunate to have an outstanding house with its prodigious designer no longer behind the helm.

It's a sad departure, I think, from the splendor, fantasy, theatricality, and refinement that have always been Galliano's MO. Which isn't to say that I don't enjoy the whimsy of this collection (by Bill Gaytten.) Obviously I'm no expert critic, but I don't really get what direction this couture collection is heading in. Shouldn't Dior couture be anything if not cohesive and cutting edge?

Whatever. There's a cubed, bright yellow fascinator. I'm sold.

Christian Dior Fall 2011 Couture