Beauty

Here you are seeing Sean Lennon performing for London’s latest major event. Just last week, Karl Lagerfeld whooped it up as only he could do by bringing the Chanel label’s pre-fall ready-to-wear collection to London. The collection was called “Metiers d’Art” and was held at Phillips de Pury and Co. headquarters. The show was slipped in between a celebrity studded dinner, with an after-party equally as glitzy. Chanel embossed black taxis were seen sporting guests in the likes of Kate Moss, Tom Ford, Sean Lennon, Lily Allen, and Naomi Campbell. Sean Lennon was responsible for the runway soundtrack (gotta get my hands on that!) and the line was highlighted with a mix of punk, tweed, leather, with the odd ruffle. And for a bit of Chanel trivia, the Chanel madam herself, Coco Chanel was known to have a lover in London. He was the Duke of Westminster, who supposedly engraved the city’s lamp-posts with interlocking C’s to prove his love for her. Does that symbol sound familiar?

Pictured here is Tom Ford (former Gucci Director, now on his own label) with Karl Lagerfeld (right). Let’s have a taste of Karl’s latest, shall we?

Pictured here is a classic example of what was referred to as ‘the odd ruffle’. Karl’s collection for Fall was a mix of dark tones in grays and blacks sometimes on their own, sometimes complementing each other. Here is a flouncy bubble skirt with a thin-ribbon sashed hemline enhanced with a little ruffle flounce in a gorgeous organza. I am LOVING the sashed waist as well, and the playful little flouncy sleeves.

Here we have a gorgeous long coat that I have a hunch is becoming Karl’s signature. I’ve seen this length coming in a few collections in a row now. This wool blend coat is accented with teensy streamlined ruffles that give what would be a simple and basic piece just enough hootzpah. Toss in a feathery furry scarved neckline, and this basic black coat is transformed into something elegant, AND sassy.

Ah! Again we have the long coat, this one at floor-length. Karl worked magic on this herringbone adding that flouncy ruffle along the hemline, neckline, and cuffs. Adding ruffles to a herringbone fabric, an otherwise masculine look, gives this long coat enough feminine touches to make a bold statement. This coat says, do NOT mess with me in a very elegant way.

My last favorite set in this collection is this sassy little ensemble Karl created for evening. This set is for the woman who can’t be bothered with skirts and dresses at cocktail hour. Here you are looking at a beautifully beaded halter top, paired with sateen skinny pants and a dark sateen blazer. Very chic! Here’s another where the statement is clear – I wear the pants here, boys!

Want some fashion advice? Get it from the best – Nina Garcia the Queen of Fashion over at Elle Magazine. Today and over the next few days I am going to give you some excerpts from Nina Garcia’s The Little Black Book of Style. I have talked about this book before over here, when it was first released, but now that it’s been out for a bit, it’s worth a deeper look. For the cost of lunch, you can pick this book up and have at your fingertips Elle Magazine’s primo fashion genius, uh director, gives you some quintessential tips on how to dress with decorum, and even more importantly, how to make your fashion dollar go from season to season. You will find in her inspiration from the greats in the fashion industry, as well as everything you need to know on the must-haves, and how to wear them.

Nina talks about investing in the bones for your wardrobe throughout the book, and those bones are what we are going to be covering.

“The bones of your wardrobe are those essential staples that go with almost everything, never go out of style, and are enduringly chic. They are meant to be the black canvas onto which you can add layers….these staples transcend time, trends, and travel. They can go from day to night, season to season, and they can still be worn five years from now.”

What are they? Let’s have a look…

The Little Black Dress. Capital L, Capital B, Capital D.

This is the ultimate blank canvas…mysterious, chic, understated, and provocative…it will flatter you, but it will not detract from the rest of you. It lets your hair, accessories, and your personality take center stage. And the slimming effect – let’s not forget the slimming effect.

This Diane von Furstenberg Bateau neck wrap dress is a classic example. For $300, your fashion dollar can stretch for years to come. Throw a cardigan or cropped jacket on this for day, and hang that sweater up for evening. Perfect! One is never over or underdressed with a little black dress – Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel, Creative Director)
The Cashmere Sweater.

“In all kinds of weather, and for any kind of occasion, throwing on cashmere makes you feel instantly luxe. A cashmere cardigan is perfect over anything – a dress, T-shirt, button down shirt – but also incredibly sexy when worn alone. A cashmere turtleneck is perfect when paired with just about everything – jeans, trousers, and skirts.”

This Michael Kors Cashmere turtleneck sweater is again, also a very solid investment. I do not believe in God. I believe in cashmere. ~Fran Lebowitz (Author)

The Trench Coat.

“A classic trench can work in any kind of weather and goes well with almost anything (or almost nothing if you are feeling very film noir). But the best part of the trench coat is that it makes you instantly mysterious. Wear it with big sunglasses if you want to really channel your inner detective, spy, or fugitive”.