Fashion Week Fave: Louis Vuitton RTW F/W 2013

I've covered some of the trends of the recent fashion weeks, but I wanted to stop and take a breather to really appreciate one of the most inspiring of the ready-to-wear Fall/Winter shows.  In Paris, Marc Jacobs once again brought the drama to his collection for Louis Vuitton.  It's hard to pinpoint exactly why he excels as the head of this fashion house, but his ability to fully realize who "the girl" is (read: the target consumer) for this particular season, is aspirational yet identifiable at the same time.  Marc's pieces were not only aesthetically beautiful, but the motivation behind them was thought-provoking.  He mentioned that the most fabulous place that a you can get all dressed up to be is your own hotel room or home.  Why not lounge around in berry lips and silk pajamas that could just as easily be worn out with an embellished coat and a bit of attitude?

In fact, it was these very embellishments that brought a cohesive theme to many of the collection's most stunning pieces.  Feathers fused to the edge of menswear-chic jumpsuits and trenches added movement and femininity.  On mid-calf coats and dresses, fur placed on the hems and throughout the lining added a lush touch of glam that skewed cool vintage versus gaudy.

Marc Jacobs' vision of relaxed elegance continued with the luxe coats over lingerie-inspired underpinnings.  The mid-length jackets came in shades of checked taupe and cobalt with ombre sequin details at the hem which really juxtaposed the seemingly contradictory theory of at-home special occasion dressing.  The cowl neckline on his 40's-style shimmering coatdress with fadeway plaid at the top was impeccable.

And it wouldn't be a Marc for Louis Vuitton show without his muse, Kate Moss.  She stunned in her rare runway turn by confidently flaunting a sheer embellished sky blue gown suitable for a woman who knows she can take the town's most posh events by storm, but would most prefer the most exclusive of them all: her own boudoir.  

I was very inspired by this collection for Fall/Winter 2013 and will be trying to incorporate elements of retro relaxed-glam into my wardrobe.  Did you love the collection as much as I did?  

European Fashion Week Trend Report: Part Two, Velvet Underground

One textile that filled the runways in London, Milan and Paris over the past few weeks was velvet.  The use of velvet in collection after collection proved that this trend will be everywhere come Fall/Winter 2013.  Velvet all on it's own can seem an overwhelming fabric for many people to pull off, but so many styles can be achieved with adjusting the amount and placement of velvet in an ensemble, along with the textures used in the rest of the look.  

Alberta Ferretti showed a bright blue scalloped skirt with a sheer top for a flattering and feminine look. This isn't your traditional BVD (Black Velvet Dress) at Haider Ackermann: the column gown had a modern softness that was so chic.  Maison Martin Margiela displayed a very downtown hip vibe with gold and gray velvet panels on a knit sweater and black mini.  Jil Sander showed how you can add a touch of the plush textile with accessories like a slate colored velvet belt.  For Marios Schwab, who showed many velvet looks in his Fall/Winter collection, even boots and capes in bordeaux velvet look stylish paired with an embellished top to balance out the texture.  Rochas had perhaps one of my favorite velvet looks of the season.  This look featured a 50's silhouette with an A-line chocolate velvet circle skirt and a belted tweed vest for the epitome of updated ladylike cool.

I saw so many beautiful and fun examples of velvet in the European Fashion Week collections {there were even too many to post here!} so please check out my Pinterest board at: http://pinterest.com/angelhowlett/velvet-apricot-at-european-fashion-weeks-2013/ for more velvet inspiration!

European Fashion Week: Trend Report Part One, Orange Sorbet

The past 3 weeks of the respective European weeks have shown us a variety of textures, themes and visions for where the Fall/Winter 2013 season is heading for fashion.  We've seen everything from renewed grunge at Saint Laurent to royal Versailles-ready costume gowns at McQueen.  In the next few posts, I will discuss a couple of the prevalent trends as well as my favorite show from Fashion Week at London, Milan & Paris. 

First, let's take a look at color: an apricot sorbet hue caught my eye as it popped up on the runways in various monochromatic styles.  While orange seems like an obvious choice for Fall/Winter campaigns, this new hue for 2013 is less saturated and more pale, making it much more flattering on a variety of skin tones. 

At Max Mara, a sporty mixed-media take on the color was shown with a matching bag.  Gucci gave the apricot look a modern silhouette and complimentary leather boots.  Belted and with the perennial high-slit, Gianfranco Ferre's take on pale orange was feminine yet strong.  In London, Richard Nicoll showed a versatile peachy leather sheath that can easily go from day to night.  Mugler displayed a crop-top style shown with a high waist for a fresh take on the tangerine dream.

This wearable tone is sure to be big in the coming seasons.  Will you add some apricot sorbet to your fashion palette?