Beauty & Fashion Tips - Rags & Rouges Style Tips

We started in yesterday with some of the top 10 moments in the fashion industry. We talked about anniversaries, the Shoe Temple, designers and so on. Today we are going to do more of the same. Let’s start with another of my favorite moments in the fashion world, one that made history in 2007.

Fendi’s Long Walk. And this is all I am going to say about that….
Plane ride from New York to Beijing: 13 hours and 30 minutes
Cost of the star-studded event: $10 million
Total looks: 88
Length of the catwalk: 1500 miles
Number of attendees: (including Kate Bosworth, Miss Universe Riyo Mori, and Ziyi Zhang) 500
Watching Fendi make history by hosting a runway show on the Great Wall of China: Priceless

In remembrance of….Sadly, we have had to say good-bye to some of our dear favorites. Here are luminaries whose contributions spanned decades, influenced society pages AND feminism at the same time, invented garment construction, and were iconic in old world glamour. In fact, one of our very first posts here at Rags was to say good-bye to one of our personal favorites, Liz Claiborne. Last year, fashion said farewell to the following:

Brooke Astor (March 30, 1902 to August 13, 2007)
Pat Buckley (July 1, 1926 to April 15, 2007)
Liz Claiborne (March 31, 1929 to June 26, 2007)
Gianfranco Ferre (August 15, 1944 to June 17, 2007)
Isabella Blow (November 19, 1958 to May 6, 2007)

Another big moment last year in fashion came from a supermodel hissy fit. Well yes, every year there is always at least one. Naomi Campbell is the girl we are talking about for this one. You probably remember her cell phone related violence and corresponding community service sentence. Well, she tried to make her community service sentence as memorable (and *cough talked about*) for everyone by serving her community service sentence in a $130,000 gown by Dolce and Gabbana. I’m STILL shaking my head on that one.

We had some new designers hit the fashion houses last year. New designers, old houses, a lot of face-lifts in the industry. Last year new Creative Directors were:

Peter Som for Bill Blass
Esteban Cortazar for Emanuel Ungaro
Alessandra Facchinetti for Valentino

Ouch, speaking of designers. 2007 marked a big plunge for Anne Klein and many have called it her rise and fall. This was more particularly related to Isabel Toledo’s short-lived career. Isabel Toledo is one of the only designers in fashion history whose debut collection for Anne Klein was also her last. She introduced a modern sportswear line for Anne Klein and after only two seasons the division was kyboshed. THAT’S gotta hurt. I think with Anne on her resume though she will do quite well, as I recall it was not HER talent but the company troubles that shuttered that line.

Balenciaga’s Boots Were Made for…..WHAT exactly? These ones made headlines as well. People talk about Louboutin’s shoes like they are dinner conversation. But the famous Balenciaga boots really had people buzzing. These came from one of Nicolas Ghesquiere’s (for Balenciaga) most recent collections and by all looks and standards they gave the usual oohs and ahs. But the real issue about the boots that had people talking was that they actually take up to AN HOUR to put on. Honestly, my five year old gets dressed faster than that (but not by much). Oh yes, you wear these babies and you will turn heads. But make sure you put a good long day into ‘em (which might hurt) because that’s two hours in and out you’ve just lost otherwise.

Hope you enjoyed our Fashion Flashback ladies!

You know, fashion changes so much, this is after all what makes the industry and the art so very interesting. At least for me anyway! We have already taken a look at the most important aspects of the fashion for last year – fashion and beauty trends from 2007. And they were all lovely! But what happened in the business?! Believe it or not, designers come and designers go, but they all cater to the masses and when one house changes creators for another, it’s big news. This year the industry saw a LOT of changes, and a lot of revolutionary outcomes as a result. The runway down the Great Wall of China is the kind of thing I am talking about. Now THAT took some serious artistic genius, and THAT is what I love about fashion. So what was big, who was big, who wasn’t, and how is this going to affect us this year? Let’s have a look at the first five (in no specific order)…..

The designers worked for the MASSES this year! And I just loved it. Who wouldn’t? Pick up a dress by Proenza Schouler at Target, and you can STILL tell people you are wearing Proenza Schouler. Noone needs to know the difference, right? Yes, many big names really worked for the people this year and the fine (but sadly, oh so very *not straight*) boys of P.S. fed their hungry fans pieces going for $39.99 for the Go Target brand. And these also caused quite the frenzy overseas at Colette. Kate Moss followed suit with the Topshop line and Vera Wang did the same for Kohl’s. In fact, you can no longer purchase Vera at Kohls as the line is completely sold out. You snooze you lose! The big winner here for the masses was Roberto Cavalli. His fans lined up outside H & M for 24 hours just to snag some of his mass marketed pieces.

I know, you all just love to hate her, but I have to mention her, I just HAVE to. Mrs. Becks, Victoria Beckham, or Posh, call her what you will (I am sure many of you have your own names). Busy girl! No wonder she doesn’t have time to eat! Yes, she made waves in the industry this year as well. Why? She authored That Extra Half an Inch, a book we have featured here. She also established herself as the designer of dVb (denim by Victoria Beckham), she’s married to the cutest man from Europe…what else what else…well, there is the whole Spice Girl reunion thing as well. Catch her on the cover of ELLE this year, and this spring, yes, she will be the new face of Marc Jacobs. Man, I don’t really like this girl, but MAN I’d really like her LIFE!

This year was Henry Holland’s Opus as well. Apparently you weren’t anybody in the industry unless you became immortalized on one of his T-shirts. What, it just takes a cheeky saying and some cotton to go big? I could so do that….He was better known for slogans such as “Do Me Daily, Christopher Bailey”, “Wham Bam Thank you Stam”, and “Flick your Bean for Agyness Deyn”. Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters went crazy knocking these babies off and they just FLEW off the shelves. The most famous one? Holland’s own opus he wore at the show for his Fall 2007 collection: “One Trick Pony”. Wow. WAY too much information.

Happy Anniversary! This year hallmarked some big milestones for some of our faves. Valentino celebrated his 45th year in the biz at his teensy little chalet in Rome. The affair hosted 500 VIPs and ran for 3 days. Someone remind me NOT to throw out the Valentino card next year! John Galliano for Christian Dior celebrated his 60th and of course in the industry, it is all about out-doing the last designer so he swept Valentino’s soiree to pieces by hosting a sunset party at Versailles. His runway show for the party included supermodels Gisele, Shalom, and Linda and included an orchestra, gospel choir, and well, he could not forget the flamenco dancers. (well, that would just be rude). Ralph Lauren was another classic that celebrated an anniversary, and this was his 40th year in the design biz. No flamenco dancers for Ralph, his was definitely a much more downscaled affair to remember, and was quintessential Ralph Lauren. Classic, elegant, and gorgeous. His was held in New York Fall Fashion Week for the spring collections, and came in the form of a candlelit gala at the Conservatory. The party was as much Ralph as anything could be — manicured gardens, champagne, and timeless elegance as only Ralph can do. Yes, Happy Anniversary and wishes for many many more for ALL of these design gods.

Saving my favorite for the last today!! WHEEEE!!! Believe it or not SHOES actually made statements this year, when Saks Fifth Avenue opened their own store exclusively for shoes. But no no no girls, this was not just any shoe store. You may call it, Shoe Temple. Yes, if my time comes before this exquisite architectural foot shrine closes, please bury me underneath the Louboutins. This “store” is so big it has its own ZIP CODE. Yep, 10022-SHOE. And I am not even joking. It holds 10,000 square feet of space and is home to over 100 THOUSAND pairs of shoes. And yes, you will find plenty of Louboutin, Gucci, Manolo Blahnik, Yves Saint Laurent, Giuseppe Zanotti, Givenchy, Prada, and Roger Vivier to name a few. I want to win a trip to New York just to see this store. And yes, I’d have to buy new shoes for it. Just so I could say, those are the shoes I wore in the Shoe Temple. And just for maybe just a day, I would look, not touch, and just be the happiest girl in the world. Ok, y’all know I’m gonna hafta touch at least one pair…but thats IT. I simply must! And no, I’m not kidding when I say you must refer to this haven as the Shoe Temple.

Photos: Elle Magazine

Is it any surprise that most of our most beautiful celebrities this year also made the best-dressed list? No, me either. Which is why these are the same ladies that keep popping up in our celebrity trend spotting features as well. But there is a reason these names keep cropping up, because these ladies really know how to pull off beauty AND style and make it look so easy all at the same time. And speaking of these names, it struck me when writing this that WOW having the name KATE in Hollywood (or any version thereof) really helps with the style factor!! Just an odd coincidence though….the name Reese seems to be working well as well.

Let’s look at our top 10 Celebrity Trend Setters for 2007, and again, in no specific order. And you know, I can EASILY see a few of these names appearing on next year’s list as well. They are just THAT beautiful. *sigh*

We are starting off with Cate Blanchett, who never plays it safe and always wows the crowds. She is most famous for wearing her Balenciaga right off the runway and this is the same woman who considers Missoni maternity attire. Here she is doing just what she does best, the wow factor. Blanchett is arriving in Armani Prive at the Rome Film Festival for the premiere of Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

An article on trendsetters just wouldn’t be the same without mention of one of America’s most famous style icons. This girl can pull off anything from old-world glamour to rock punk edge. And, as we well know, she has transferred this style to her own LAMB line and her very first line of fragrances which apparently just can’t stay on the shelves. Here is our Gwen Stefani arriving at the NRJ French Music Awards in one of her more famous looks, black and white stripes.

Speaking of Balenciaga, we have the face of their Spring 2008 campaign, Jennifer Connelly. Again, here is another girl that pulls off those harder-to-wear gems with panache. One example of such ensembles would be the sculptural floral piece from their ’08 collection, and another is the Balenciaga she is wearing here at the Met’s Costume Institute Gala.

And our second Kate of trendsetters is Katherine Heigl who made the A-list but fast this year with her Emmy award winning performances. The red carpet WAS Heigl’s runway and she has been photographed in everything from Zac Posen to Valentino. She is also the best presenter in this year’s biggest beauty trends (as we have mentioned) with bold lips and soft waves. And here she is in an eye-popping red ensemble at the SAG Awards.

Kate number 3 is none other than the previously mentioned Kate Bosworth who we showcased in a stunning bikini just yesterday. She’s been flogged publicly for some weight issues which she has just as publicly made changes about. With a few extra pounds here (as if anyone can notice) Kate Bosworth is showing she can wear anything, even those horrid bubble skirts, and make it look like it is the only trend worth wearing. Kate is showing up here also at the Met’s Costume Institute Gala in a shiny Prada piece.

Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! Reese was the word this year when Reese Witherspoon made waves at the 2007 Academy Awards in this gorgeous number by Olivier Theyskens. This was the post-divorce Reese that appeared at the Oscars and many other red carpet events with dazzling *nothing can get me down* smiles. Maybe it was the magic of Nina Ricci by Olivier Theyskens that had her smiling, or maybe it was the fact that she became my sister KATE’S new best friend this year (which will get anyone smiling!), or MAYBE, it was just good southern grit that kept this style queen’s pretty head above the crowds when her world crashed around her. So inspiring!

Ashley Olsen was best known in 2006 as the fly glasses and baggy sweaters girl that was scarily close to making the best dressed homeless look list, but this year she changed all of that. But who wouldn’t when one of your best pals is Christian Louboutin. *sob* With her style changes she is much less grunge and much more lady as we can see here at the 2007 Golden Globes in Reem Acra. And no, her sister didn’t quite make the list. But THAT’S what happens when you have an eating disorder girls! But seriously, would it kill the girl to smile??

Our Kate #4 is the lovely Kate Moss who has made headlines this year with her breakup with greasy Pete Doherty. But this hasn’t stopped the supermodel from always looking nothing less than gorgeous. And busy! This year Kate launched her new line Topshop, chopped off some bangs, and made menswear the latest trend. Here she is in one of her own pieces at a Fashion Rocks fashion show and concert.

Kate #5 is none other than the also known as Mrs. Tom Cruise, our girl Katie Holmes. Here she is looking stunning as ever at the Bambi Awards in Germany. Am I aging myself by remembering what a sweet little girl this one was on Dawson’s Creek? Who would guess that in 2007 she would be making best dressed lists all over the world. Moving from mildly dowdy in 2006 to elegantly chic in 2007 was an effortless switch for this young lady. Amazing what a good haircut (and an A-list hubby) can do for you! Of course, when your Italian casa is next-door to your BBQ pals the Armani’s, THAT doesn’t hurt either.

And last but not least I leave the poshest trendsetter until last. I know she is not many people’s favorites, but this does not stop her from being idolized by many for her uncanny ability to turn heads. Love her, love to hate her. It doesn’t matter if she is in Herve, Proenza Schouler, Leger, or her own dVb line, she is always gorgeous.