The Best She Cannes: Elle Fanning at Cannes 2017

The Cannes Film Festival is as well known for it's captivating movies as it is for the fabulous fashion. Throughout this past week, international stars broke out the couture for premieres and photocalls, but one in particular got it just right each time she stepped out. Though only 19 years old, Elle Fanning is quickly positioning herself as a style star.

She chose a custom Rodarte dress inspired by Degas ballerinas to the "The Beguiled" premiere. The lavender tulle confection was balanced perfectly by her hair accessory: a long black ribbon tying up her bun.

At the "How To Talk To Girls At Parties" premiere, she donned a Gucci dress modified from the Fall 2017 runway. With it's pale green color, deep halter, metallic leaves, and floor-sweeping floral embellishments, the retro glam look was kept youthful with natural hair and makeup.

Turning heads at the Opening Gala, Fanning wore a custom Vivienne Westwood gown that she collaborated with the designer on. Boasting an abstract unicorn motif and the regal corset structure that Westwood is known for, the look was gorgeous and unique.

Encapsulating the fashion fantasy of Cannes, Elle Fanning ruled the red carpet at Cannes 2017. What were your favorite looks from the French Riviera's famous film festival?

On Theme & On Point : 2017 Met Gala Best Dressed

The first Monday in May is reserved- in the fashion world- for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala fundraiser. More commonly known as the Met Ball, an annual theme is chosen by the co-chairs and celebrated with a night of haute couture. This year's theme was centered on a specific designer (which rarely happens): Rei Kawakubo, the founder of Comme des Garçons. Known for her avant garde and unconventional creations, it was interesting to see how celebrities incorporated (or steered clear of) the theme. Here are my best-dressed from the red carpet.

As one of Karl Lagerfeld's muses, Lily-Rose Depp was bound to wear Chanel. Her look was flawless, and the shocking pink color and wrapped rose branch embellishment made this elegant gown stand out. 

Lily Aldridge was showstopping in a Ralph Lauren cutout gown. What really made her look chic were the accessories: red Balenciaga pant-boots and sheer pink veil made by her hairstylist Bryce Scarlett.

Rihanna was one of the very few celebrities who wore one of Rei Kawakubo's designs. For this reason alone she gets major points from me, since paying homage to the theme is central to the Met's history. As someone who can seemingly pull off almost any fashion risk, she chose a piece from the Fall 2016 collection that brought attention to the intricacies and art of haute couture.

Going in a different direction, Ralph Lauren's simple but chic low-cut red gown looked fabulous on Rose Byrne, whose red curly hair gave it a retro vibe.

Speaking of hair, Zendaya's teased-out, long afro gave her look a gorgeous ethereal feel. The voluminous and printed Dolce & Gabbana dress didn't overpower her. When a celebrity can wear this look and not let the look wear her, you know she is one to watch on the red carpet.

Wearability aside, it's always inspiring to look to the Met's red carpet for over the top looks and aesthetics that push the boundaries of fashion. As Rei Kawakubo said, "for something to be beautiful, it does not have to be pretty". Who were your favorites from this year's Gala?

Cute Cutouts: The 2017 ShopMKC Fashion Show

ShopMKC (the multi-line retailer with brands in apparel, shoes, accessories and cosmetics) held a fashion show in Orange County to benefit the amazing Boys Hope Girls Hope nonprofit. This organization helps children in need to meet their full potential by providing homes, opportunities and education through college. The bustling event featured a runway show highlighting the many fashions you can find on ShopMKC's site. I noticed a major trend of these collections was the cutout. 

The print on this Prey Swim bathing suit is fantastic! This line is designed by Audrina Patridge.

Here it is in a gorgeous bronze metallic color. It's even reversible!

 The final look of the Prey Swim collection was modeled by the designer's own sister, Casey Loza.

This hot pink minidress by Naven was made even more fun with chic cutouts.

This blue one-shoulder dress had a modern feel with the side cutout.

The midi length of this dress was chic, paired with the side slit and architectural cutouts.

From flirty to feminine, cutouts can give any look that little something extra - and they don't always have to expose a lot of skin!

Black, White & Chic All Over: Anne Fontaine Spring/Summer 2017

Anne Fontaine's French fashion house began in 1994 based around the idea of the white blouse as the key to womenswear. Over the years it has evolved into a line of iconic ready to wear collections. I attended her Spring/Summer 2017 runway show and the vibe was simply chic. Almost entirely in black and white with pops of red and navy, this collection was full of elevated essentials.

The shortened bell sleeves on this coat were highlighted by the lace shirt peeking out from underneath.

The chic stripes on this dress are so flattering and reminiscent of classic Breton Stripe so closely associated with Parisian style.

This nod to menswear was balanced with slim tailored pants.

This pleated dress had such a cool surprise when the model turned to reveal this is actually a red sheath with sheer overlay. So chic.

Loose cropped trousers were beautifully paired with a sexy sheer lace top.

An off the shoulder blouse was paired with a gorgeous flowing printed skirt and flattering corset-style belt. The movement on this skirt was lovely. Check out the slo-mo, above!

This high-low hem dress with cutout sleeves is so chic the designer herself even wore this look to the show!

The cutout detail on this blouse is so striking. It was paired with a pleated leather skirt for a bit of romantic-edge.

Tiers of semi-sheer ruffles on the finale gown were met at the high neckline with floral palliates, offering no need for accessories with this stunner.

The designer takes her finale bow.

As you can see from this collection (the finale video is above), black and white is anything but boring! Her ability to take of-the-moment trends and transform their elements into timeless pieces is incredible. The ever-elusive French-girl aesthetic is attainable in Anne Fontaine's easy separates.

The Art of the Mix: Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2017

This past Sunday, I had the honor of attending the Roberto Cavalli fashion show benefiting En Plein Air, a foundation providing laser scar removal for patients with traumatic and surgical scars.

The beautiful Monarch Beach Resort was the backdrop for equally gorgeous clothes.

Roberto Cavalli's Spring/Summer 2017 Collection has stuck with me since it first debuted on the runway of Milan Fashion Week last September (I featured it in this post). The inspiration behind this collection was a pioneer with a rock and roll heartbeat. The bohemian luxe feel of this collection strikes the perfect chord. Here are just a few of my many favorite looks.

The show opened with a bang- featuring model Maryela Pinkston in a striped crop top and pants with matching lace-up details. The double-flare of the sleeves and bell-bottoms created a cool silhouette.

The sophisticated shape of this minidress sheath with arm slits was balanced by floral embroidery and styled with chunky platform boots.

The detail on this fringed ombre poncho was incredible- take a look at the slo-mo, above!

This multicolored coat is definitely a hero piece of the collection and on every fashionista's wish list!

Sexy embellished pantsuits paired with sequin scarves are standout separates that you can wear on their own paired with something more simple, or together for a total Hendrix/Elvis babe vibe.

There is no shortage of glam evening dresses in this collection either. This one was a lesson in artisanship: it is adorned with shells, beads, boning, feathers and sequins over the sheer base.

This vintage-inspired dress had a totally modern cut, making it sexy and romantic all at once. Just look at the movement of it in the video, above!

This elegant, red carpet-ready dress is gilded with beadwork creating the most incredible designs throughout the gown.

It's such a feat to create a collection so dedicated to the patchwork of textiles yet with such incredible movement. Take a look at the finale video above!

This collection truly is a testament to "the Art of the Mix" and what better things to mix than fantastic fashion and a cool cause? To learn more about En Plein Air or to support this foundation, visit https://enpleinairlaser.org/.

Orange County Fashion Week Recap

This week I had the pleasure of attending Orange County Fashion Week, where emerging and international designers showcased their collections, while industry insiders had the opportunity to network and celebrate. What's unique about OC Fashion Week is the coastal-cool feel with a global flair. 

Day One

The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach served as the beautiful location for Industry Night.

Designers such as Ionica Moldovianu (of Ionica), previewed the collections they'd show during the week.

Nasim Nelson, the creator of Lebrisa Designs, had her beautiful jewelry on display (I'm obsessed with her body jewelry) and I loved chatting with her about styling! Her gorgeous pieces have been featured in Sports Illustrated.

Renowned photographer Viktorija Pashuta kicked off OC Fashion Week with an enlightening symposium on fashion photography. She is also the Editor-In-Chief of the incredible BASIC Magazine. It was inspiring to hear her speak about her experiences in the industry.

Day Two

The second night's event was held at the Orange County Museum of Art, where I had the pleasure of speaking with Anum Tariq, the super talented (and sweet!) fashion illustrator who I've followed on Instagram for years (@anumt). If you aren't already familiar with her work, go check her out now! 

Fodada's coordinating adult and kid's clothes were so cool and the line funds free programs for Dads and their families.

Cash and Puppy's line of casual wear featured many mix-and match pieces for effortless dressing.

Charmaine Joie Couture's collection had a chic cocktail dress to suit anyone's style!

I loved Neon Beige's line of sexy athleisure wear. The sheer and cutout details make her pieces unique. CJ Franco, the designer, shared with me that she wanted to create pieces that she would love to wear also! Check out the finale video above.

Ionica's collection was timeless, with elegant pieces including the gorgeous black sheath in the video above. 

Day Three

Colorful designs with a multicultural inspiration were showcased by Tatiana Shebelnik.

Berenice Gonzalez showed gowns that were elegant with an edge.

Menswear in the Paris Homme Collection featured fresh colors and prints. One of the chicest moments of the week came when model Cole Woods strutted out in the blazer-hoodie, showing how fly unisex dressing can be!

Special-occasion dresses in a variety of chic styles were shown on the Dominique Mearns runway.

Saul Lizacri closed the night's event with a gorgeous parade of dreamy gowns with beautiful embellishments. The finale video, above- is a must-see!

Day Four

Ms. Morales Couture's high-end lingerie line started off the exciting final night of OC Fashion Week.

Colombian designer Pedro Pablo Pacheco showed his resort-ready line of breezy dresses and chic accessories.

Coral Castillo's breathtaking line of gowns with fitted tops and flowy skirts also featured incredible strappy designs on the backs. Notice her killer details in my video of the finale, above! 

With sensational venues, captivating guests, and fabulous fashion ranging from lingerie to athleisure to haute couture, 2017's Fall/Winter Orange County Fashion Week was a hit! This week, I loved spending time with fashion industry friends new and old who are all super talented at what they do! I encourage you to check some of them out:

Fashion Bloggers:

Kendall of My Styled Life

Alison of The Frugal Fashionista of OC

Jen of The Retail Princess

Vlogger:

Kriscia of Outfit of the Dreamer

Makeup Artist:

Stirling Gill

Models:

Maryela Pinkston

Cole Woods

Zoe Birdsell

Photographers:

Viktorija Pashuta

Angelito Vandam