Chanel Haute Couture is the Best Medicine

I felt flu-ish all day yesterday, and have woken up this morning feeling no better. But at least I had the Chanel A/W Haute Couture collection to flick through whilst I ate my cornflakes, so the day has started off pretty well.
I thought the entire collection was beautiful (and I loved the gold Lion), but the sequin embellished looks in the second half of the collection really captured my heart. The detail is insane, especially on Freja Beja Erichsen's final look. This is what Haute Couture is all about, and although the Givenchy collection has stayed put as my favourite I can't stop thinking about these three Chanel looks...

Beautiful, no? I think the red number is my personal favourite, and I hope Grace Coddington marked that look whilst watching from the front row - I'd love to see it in Vogue. From what I've read online this morning the boots don't seem to be going down so well. I personally don't mind the cobweb-effect style in the top image, but Freja's blue and gold pair are a little Britney Spears circa 1999. What do you think?
And finally, Chanel has dictated just about every nail polish trend for the past few seasons (as I type I'm wearing a budget version of Chanel's greige S/S 10 polish) so it would be foolish not to look at the models hands. As well as some gorgeous bracelets Karl's girls were wearing a deep terracotta colour on their nails.

Track down that shade now to be sickeningly ahead of fashion. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention - Jessica Alba sat in the front row. I told you she'd made it to the top! I bet it's Dakota Fanning next season... She's the next big thing.

What did you think of the Chanel Couture collection?

images from style.it

Get Your Wedding Planner to Givenchy

There are times when you realise how embarrassing your celebrity obsessions are, and one such moment came to me last week when the news broke that Zoe Saldana is engaged to her boyfriend, Keith Britton. The excitement I felt for Zoe was really rather lame, considering I don't even know her, but she is sure to have the most stylish wedding of the year. So my fan-girl happiness is justified, right?
Zoe wore the breathtakingly beautiful purple Givenchy S/S 2010 Couture gown to the Oscars this year, and as soon as I heard the news of her engagement I immediately thought of Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci. He needs to make her wedding dress!

Tisci is one of my favourite designers working today, I can't get enough of his work, and the Givenchy A/W 2010 Couture collection is easily my favourite Haute Couture collection of the season so far. The lace detailing on the evening dresses is exquisite and I adore his use of fringing and feathers. Ten out of the eleven looks Tisci showcased would make wonderful wedding dresses (the black feathered dress is more red carpet) and they would all look gorgeous on Zoe.

Eager Givenchy fans will know that Tisci recently dressed model Lara Stone for her wedding, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Zoe is his next celebrity bride. Surely if she wasn't originally thinking of Givenchy for her wedding she is now. Let's just hope she shares her wedding snaps...

Would you like to see Zoe wear Givenchy Couture? And what do you think of the A/W collection?

images style.com

The Alba Makeover is Complete

Regular readers of the blog will remember how shocked I was to see Jessica Alba wearing a beautiful Antonio Berardi mini in January this year. Before the Berardi moment Jessica faded into the background, along with all the other Jessica's in Hollywood. Her style was bland, predictable and uninspiring.
But since the beginning of 2010 Jessica has worked really hard to make a name for herself in fashion. I believe she has been working with Rachel Zoe, which would explain the sudden transformation, and her casual attire has garnerd just as much attention as her red carpet style. Jessica is pictured in Grazia almost every week now - firm evidence she's become a popular source of fashion inspiration.

Today Jessica's transformation was completed, as she attended the Christian Dior Haute Couture show at Paris Fashion Week. Any celebrity can get seated on a front row today, but landing a Couture invite shows you have real fashion power.
It looks like people have actually started to care what Jessica Alba is wearing. And I don't think a celebrity has worked their way into the fashion industry this successfully since Victoria Beckham reinvented herself as a designer. But a kind piece of advice for Jessica: just because we're interested in your wardrobe now does not mean we want you to start designing clothes, just stick to wearing them please.

Have you become a fan of Jessica Alba's style this year?

image Getty via picapp.com

Taking the Maxi Skirt into Fall

My jersey maxi skirt has been my best friend this summer, I've worn it time and time again. And rummaging through the summer sales (which if I'm honest have been a big disappointment this year, no?) I've stumbled across so many maxi dresses and skirts that I've been tempted to buy.
The maxi is so easy to wear in the summer, as you can just throw it on with a simple tank top and statement jewelry, but in the winter it gets a little more complicated, as nobody wants to look like they're stuck in the previous season. The Marc Jacobs A/W collection, however, offered a great solution to wearing a maxi in fall, simply by pairing it with chunky knit jumpers.

The Marc Jacobs collection (which remains a firm favourite of mine for A/W) saw the oversized knits worn over velvet and sequined evening dresses, but you could just as easily wear a maxi skirt in this way. It's obviously not the best idea to layer your floral printed summer styles - they can be kept in storage until next summer - but if you have a basic black, grey, khaki or navy maxi it can move into A/W with you.

I'll also be on the look out for any vintage maxi skirts in heavier fabrics, such as velvet, to wear in this way too. As the new season is all about poise, sophistication and womanliness this Marc Jacobs styling is perhaps the most casual (and comfortable) A/W will get.

Will you be taking your maxis into A/W with you this year? How will you style them?

images from vogue.co.uk

Hit and Miss of the Week: Models & Vampires

There has been a great selection of celebrities out and about this week. Twilight mania continues on from last week, with Rachel Roy catching a screening of the latest film in New York wearing a beautiful printed coat, and Paloma Faith attending the UK premiere in a fantastically over-the-top ensemble.
Showing no interest in vampires this week were models Elle Macpherson and Heidi Klum, who both put together outfits that showed off their perfect (and very long) legs. I loved Heidi’s skirt but I’m still undecided on Elle’s PVC trousers. So see what you think…

Heidi Klum: Hit

I know that opinion was divided over Heidi Klum’s bob haircut, but I really like it – it’s grown on me. This week Heidi was in New York making an appearance on Regis & Kelly, and I think it’s a great outfit for a bit of Talkshow action.
Heidi doesn’t exactly need any help in the leg department, but the cut of this pencil skirt makes her legs look even longer than usual. A very clever move. And the subdued nude blouse counteracts the amount of leg on show, keeping the outfit sophisticated.

Rachel Roy: Hit

Fashion designer Rachel Roy and her daughter attended a screening of Eclipse this week in New York. I love both of their summer outfits, such a great use of print. Rachel’s cost is absolutely beautiful (I assume it’s her design, but I haven’t been able to find out which collection it’s from) and the greige shorts keep the look on trend. I personally would have swapped the ankle boots for heels, but overall I love this look.


Elle Macpherson: So-So

For as long as I can remember I’ve suffered from major Elle Macpherson hair envy. Those golden locks are so perfect, and she constantly looks like she’s just walked off the beach. For the press launch of Britain's Next Top Model Elle chose a tight-fitting pair of PVC trousers. Normally I can only handle leather/PVC on Angelina Jolie, who somehow has the magic ability to always make it look right. I don’t think Elle looks bad in this outfit, but it is perhaps a little too try-hard, and the trousers are very shiny. I can’t decide whether it’s a hit or a miss. What do you think?

Mischa Barton: Miss

I desperately want to be able to give Mischa Barton a hit, but her style is just not working for me at the moment. This jacket could easily look good if she wore if over a tie-dye summer dress or something delicate and frilly. But worn with the cut-off denim shorts and white shoes (you know I loathe white shoes) it looks a little clumsy. And not that I want to sound cruel, because I think people give Mischa such a hard time, but her hair is starting to look a little bit Britney Spears. I know Mischa can do better than this!

Paloma Faith: Hit

This is Paloma Faith arriving at the Eclipse premiere in London. Wacky as ever. This outfit has a distinct Helena Bonham Carter feel to it, it’s very theatrical and very well thought out. The dress is a little too dressing-up-box for me but I adore the acsessories. I wonder her Vuitton trunk is filled with bottles of Fiji water, Andre Leon Tally style…

Rachel McAdams: Hit

I’ve always been a big fan of Rachel McAdams. Just like Natalie Portman she keeps her private life private and that air of mystery makes her much more interesting. Her casual style isn’t anything to scream and shout about, but Rachel has good taste.
This printed skirt is a lovely choice for a sunny day, and paired with classic espadrille wedges, a black t-shirt and a pendant necklace it looks lovely and fresh. I’m lusting after her baby blue Miu Miu bag too.

Who would you give a hit this week? And which celebrity gets a miss?

Images Getty/Famepictures/PacificCoastNews at picapp.com

Catching Up With Lake Bell

I've had a major style crush on Lake Bell for a long time now, but I haven't posted about her in ages. Lake generally stays under the radar, but her red carpet style is completely flawless, and she's always included in the annual 50 Best Dresses of the Year list. I expected Lake to blow up in the way Zoe Saldana recently has, but I quite like the fact she keeps quiet. Sometimes it's nice not to share your style inspiration with the rest of the world.
Here's a quick catch up of some of Lake's most recent outfits. It's best to stock up on inspiration, as there might not be any new Lake pictures for a while.

For the Shrek Forever After premiere in LA Lake kept it casual in a pair of tailored black shorts and a lemon yellow shirt. Obviously yellow isn't for everybody, but switch to a white or blue shirt and you'd have a great workwear look for the summer. There are still some great zip-detail Elizabeth and James shirts in the Net-A-Porter sale that would work perfectly for a reinterpretation of this outfit.

At Coachella this year Lake stuck to an on-trend denim playsuit, dressed up with a tan belt and across-the-body bag. I love the beachy hair and the overall relaxed vibe of this look. It reminds me of Kate Hudson, and that is never a bad thing. I wish we got more candid shots of Lake.

This is my favourite Lake Bell look so far this year. The LBD makes her legs look amazing and the necklace is a great use of statement jewelry. The heels are a great choice too, and I always admire a celebrity clutch-less on the red carpet. I think that shows complete confidence, as they don't need anything to hold onto...

At an In Style magazine event back in January Lake went for a monochrome strapless Lyn Devon dress. Keeping her hair, makeup and shoes so simple is a smart move as you just notice how great Lake looks. But she could have pulled off a splash of lipstick.

And finally wearing a Narciso Rodriguez dress at the New York premiere for It's Complicated (love that movie). The body-con shape of this dress really compliments Lake's figure, and the up-do is really beautiful. I wish Lake would wear colour on the red carpet more often. Fingers crossed she has lots of red carpet events lined up for the rest of the year.

What do you think of Lake Bell's style? Which is your favourite outfit?

images from ZumaPress/Getty Images/ Newscom/PacificCoastNews all via picapp.com

The Miu Miu Cover Girl

My subscribers copy of ELLE always used to arrive so late that for a while I really disliked the postman. But the August issue arrived on my doorstep bright and early yesterday morning and I read the whole magazine in one sitting. Lily Allen is obviously popular with ELLE readers as this is her second cover in under a year. Lily has had a her fair share of magazine covers over the years, but I don't remember liking one as much as I like the August cover; and this is probably down to the lilac Miu Miu A/W dress she's wearing.

In my not-so-professional blogging opinion I think the lilac lace dress is definitely the key look in the Miu Miu fall collection. It's the piece that comes to mind first when the Miu Miu collection is mentioned. You may remember Carey Mulligan wore this dress to the Met Gala in May - albeit a slightly altered version. Because it's already walked one of the most important red carpets of the year I would normally predict the dress would head into an early red-carpet-retirement to avoid any 'who wore it better?' situations, but as Carey wore a paired-down version of the look I think it could still make another appearance. Who would you like to see it on next?
And, of course, the mustard yellow Miu Miu dress appears on Eva Mendes' July W cover. I swear if my magazine man doesn't have W and US Vogue today I might actually throw a tantrum in his shop. It feels like I've been waiting forever.

What do you think of Lily's ELLE cover? And which Miu Miu dress if your favourite?

ELLE UK is out out Saturday 3rd July

Lily image: Photography by Rankin / Courtesy of UK ELLE Magazine
W image justjared.buzznet.com and catwalk images from style.com