Welcome to London Town!

My faithful fashion followers, we've moved from the Big Apple to Big Ben! Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors are so last week. Cue the entrance of such greats as Vivienne Westwood, Jonathan Saunders, Matthew Williamson and The House of Holland. Known for his youthful aesthetic, Henry Holland decided to give an interesting display this season by juxtaposing his youthful eye with garments that hold a bit more sophistication. Impeccably tailored pieces done in fun and unexpected colors were paired with quirky patterns such as this blue tweed sheath paired with patterned tights:

As usual, nail diva extraordinaire Sophy Robson was in charge of the manicured perfection that graced the runway this year (and for previous collections).

Take a moment to take a more in-depth look at the entire collection.

In addition to designing for the House of Holland, Holland is currently in the developmental stages on a collection of sunglasses due for launch in September. Keep a look out!

TTFN ~ Ta Ta For Now,

Marquis

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Love, Angel, Music, Baby!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the grand finale of New York Fall 2011 Fashion Week has come and gone and what a truly grand finale it was! The last major show of the week was L.A.M.B by Gwen Stefani and I must say that they definitely saved one of the best for last:

The show was broken down into sections each bearing its own distinct look. There were soldier girls, Rasta girls, Navajo girls and girls from London. With all of these different looks piled together into one collection one gets the feeling that Stefani is yet another designer who is of the belief that fashion should be taken a little less seriously. More fun should be had!

Be tough one day and soft the next. Maybe you’re feeling a little ethnocentric in the morning and by evening, have a change of heart and therefore wardrobe, into something a little more minimalistic. That is the beauty of this collection alone. All of this versatility can be achieved!

Take a look at the entire L.A.M.B. collection to see Stefani's diversity at work on the runway.

Stay close fashion week fans. Next stop ... London!

Cheerio 'ol Clothing!

Marquis

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Lets Party Like its ... 1994!

Inspired by the early nineties, Jeremy Scott created one of the more visually entertaining collections of the week. Scott is of the belief that fashion should be about fun and play, so much so that he frowns upon some of his more serious designer contemporaries.

There were some real pieces of interest shown for menswear in addition to the fabulous frocks and frills for the ladies. This was exciting to me considering that even as a man I find the vast majority of menswear to be, well, boring. Here are two of the coolest menswear looks that I am craving like candy:

And less we forget a little clothing eye candy for the ladies:

Love the furry shoes!

Its definitely worth your while to marvel at the entire collection.

Make sure you come back tomorrow for the swan song post for New York Fashion Week Fall 2011!

Love and Lingerie,

Marquis

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The Future is Now

Think tough. Think chic. Think monochromatic. Think unisex. Think Rad Hourani. A true futurist, the Canadian designer designs for people—class, gender, race and all other societal distinctions are forgotten in a way that everyone is equalized through his clothing.

This season in the world of Hourani, everyone was wearing matching black tights and some form of expertly handled wool. In addition to the clothing, he collaborated with Aldo on a chunky unisex heel* that I will be on the haute hunt for, to quote June Ambrose.

If you look closely and carefully enough you will notice that the collection consists of only six pieces that are manipulated in almost every which way imaginable —twisted and contorted, flipped and flopped, mixed and switched, until he had 26 distinct looks. Genius. Absolute genius. If you’re anything like me, and dress androgynously monochromatic anyway, you could invest in the tights, shoes, and three or four of the outerwear pieces and essentially be set for the season!

View the entire collection if you're ready for the future of fashion!

Wear something black,

Marquis

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* correction: the shoes posted are from the Spring 2011 collaboration of Hourani and Aldo, but they're still Rad!

Simply Beautiful...

As a member of the fashion industry I often feel that we are challenged to defend our affinity for beauty as more than, well, just an affinity for beauty. With our academic studies of design and merchandising we forget how to sit back and just enjoy clothes that are simply beautiful. No fuss over innovative techniques or avant garde aesthetics. Just simple, beautiful, wearable clothing. The Alice + Olivia fall collection is an opportunity to do just that.

Take this opportunity to enjoy the breath of fresh air that is a soft and feminine blouse paired with beautifully tailored trousers, or a simple frock that really makes you feel and look like a lady.

I invite you to to view the collection merely for its beauty. Come back and lets talk about it.

Double Kisses,

Marquis

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Hoorah for Herrera!

Darlings,

The Carolina Herrera show was so haute I am giving you this blog while the tea is still steaming! Take a look at the pictures for yourself. Señora Herrera crushed the competition with her gloves alone! She is without a doubt my favorite designer working in America. Her collections give you classic, chic femininity that is still relevant! She is the highlight of every New York Fashion Week for me.

The show opened with a beautifully crafted grey wool coat dress—feminine and clean. Then came look three and along with it we were introduced to the gloves. The gloves, darling, the gloves! They were these beautifully dramatic brown suede moments that blossomed in a loose flared fold at the elbow. The furs were another fashion moment all on their own, and her mingling of silks and embellishments into the collection were genius. I honestly can’t write another word. You just need to see it yourself! I now command you to click the above link!

Sequins and Suede,

Marquis

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P.S., to quote my friend Mikelle Street, writer of the blog Musings of a Gallivanting Boy, “Nobody wears Carolina Herrera like Carolina Herrera!”

A Diamond in the Rough

Staying abreast of Fashion Week has proven to be quite a challenge as the days go by. It is almost impossible to come up with a schedule that allows me to keep my sanity what with class, work and shows that don’t start on time (oops, did that slip out?).

Going back to review shows that took place, I was afraid that I was going to have to write the thing I dread—a bad review. Just as I thought I was going to have to defy my upbringing and not only say something negative, but immortalize it in writing, I came across it: the most beautiful collection that I have seen this week thus far!

Inspired by a trip to the National Museum of the American Indian, Adam Lippes created a collection imbued with the same spirit as the indigenous people of this land. In spite of adversity rearing its ugly head in the eleventh hour, the designer much like the Native Americans, refused to give up. You see, just weeks prior to the runway presentation, the small Uruguayan workshop producing the handmade knits from the collection burned to the ground. With lightning reflexes, Lippes hired a local knitting circle to reproduce the designs lost in the fire.

While the knits and footwear were enough to reveal the designer's inspiration, I would by no stretch suggest a Native American theme upon his work. In fact, outside of those two elements, there was no obvious theme outside of excellent craftsmanship. Normally I highlight my favorite looks from the collections but this particular body of work has some real standout pieces, for example these two pieces of outerwear:

And we all know I love a fur. Let’s not get me started on this raccoon coat!

Meticulous being his middle name, and carrying on with what seems to be a theme this season, the real star of the ADAM collection was the Chantilly lace t-shirt shown in both black and cream.

After reviewing Lippes’ work, I have determined that between the knits, the outerwear, the lace, and the overall styling, the ADAM collection is going to be a tough one to beat! View the show for yourself.

I wonder if anyone will out design Adam Lippe. We will have to wait and see!

Bon chic, bon genre,

Marquis

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Meditations from East to West

As predicted, I was definitely a fan of the Asian persuasion today. It all started a little later than scheduled with Peter Som at 10 AM, or rather 10:30 AM. I am not very tolerant of tardiness, however my mood quickly changed as the first model took the runway. This collection was well worth the wait. According to the designer, the collection was about being “effortlessly polished with a touch of the unexpected,” and that is what he gave us indeed. I responded positively to the idea of a floral for fall, presented by Som in the form of pansies, which appeared on the designer’s silks as if painted by Monet himself.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am no stranger to the sequin, nor am I bothered by the feather in the name of fashion. Som’s masterful application of these elements did nothing but solidify my position on his enrichment to our lives. My favorite look from the collection was a little pewter frock covered in tulle paillettes and oversized feather patches on the hips, which I suspect to be either ostrich or marabou.

The real gem of the collection was the footwear, which was a collaborative effort with famed shoe and accessory designer Charlotte Olympia. The heels were a modest height with bright green toes and poppy orange bows.

Peter Som delivered an energetic elegance where as Jason Wu’s collection was full of quiet sophistication. With such refined concepts and masterful execution at a young age, it is no wonder that a distinguished women such as First Lady Michelle Obama responds so positively to Wu’s clothing. For this collection, Robert Polidori's book on the 25-year restoration of Versailles inspired the designer. He described his work as “baroque meets sportswear”. He focused this season on tailoring, as well as such intricacies as the piecing together of lace, opening the collection with a charcoal overcoat draped over the shoulders of a perfectly tailored cropped jacket and black cigarette trousers. On the sleeve of the topcoat, as well as the sleeves of many other pieces in the collection, black lace detailing was applied.

I have been a fan of what has been happening in the world of dresses this season, but with such excellence in tailoring, how could I not choose a little jacket and trouser number as my favorite look?

I love this little tuxedo style jacket with black cigarette trousers. Elements of menswear made feminine are always super sexy to me. Also, I just love the bold combination of pure white and deep black. Sharp. Clean. Chic. You couldn’t help but feel this vibe as Wu’s ladies strolled down the runway to the sounds of Bach.

So far we have had energetic elegance from Peter Som and quiet sophistication from Jason Wu, but it took a lady to bring us the drama! Inspired by the work of artist Beverly Semmes, Doo-Ri Chung designed a collection of sweeping fabrics paired with tough and feminine over the knee boots that laced all the way up the leg.

Being a huge fan of draping and monochromic palettes, both of which Chung is know for, it is natural that she is one of my favorites each season. This time my favorite look came in the form of a draped silk jersey dress in a color that fell somewhere in between cobalt and navy.

After reviewing these collections, I think that it is safe to say that we have hit the trifecta. All three of these collections can be viewed in their entirety online. Make sure to check back in tomorrow for my next set of reviews as Fashion Week presses on!

Yours in couture,

Marquis

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Welcome to New York Fall 2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Fashion or Fumble?—Fall Fashion Week Starts Today!

Salutations to all my fellow fashion followers out there! As exciting as Superbowl XLV was - or wasn't - to watch, if you're anything like me your time was better spent dusting off the closest thing to couture from your closet in preparation for our version of a major sporting event—Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week! Today, instead of a trip to Cowboys Stadium, thousands of stiletto-clad mavens will converge on New York City’s Lincoln Center for the start of Fall 2011 runway presentations.

I know what you’re thinking: “I don’t live in NYC, nor was I invited to any of the shows.” Well fret not, for you have moi to keep you updated on all that will make your little haute heart go pitter patter! Be sure you check back throughout the week for my coverage of what’s hot, who’s not, spotted trends and other exciting moments!

You can view the full schedule of the show's here and live streaming of them here, where they also have a schedule posted. Time to sit up straight and take notes ladies and gentlemen, because NY Fall 2011 Fashion Week is here, and in the immortal words of the beloved André Leon Talley, “We have to see clothes!”

Cashmere and Lite Lunches,

Marquis

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Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I recently moved to NYC. As winter quickly approaches I would like to start preparing for the cold, but I don't own ANYthing suitable. I am a woman but have a more masculine fashion sense (i.e. I haven't bought girl clothes in almost 10 years). Where are some good places to shop/things to buy that I can stay warm for not a TON of money??

Signed,

Thin Blooded Southern Belle

------------

Dear T.B.S.B.,

First, you're going to want to try layering what you already have. Once it starts to get really cold your first purchase needs to be of several pairs of thermal underclothing - and that includes socks. As long as you have these on you'll never need as many layers on, which will help decrease the bulkiness of your outfit but still amp up your warmth.

Next, you're going to need to invest in a goose down jacket. Most brands that carry this type of jacket have a large selection of cuts, colors and styles, but look at going up one size to accommodate for layering. I would also advise to err on the side of caution and get one that hits at least to your knees. (Trust me on this. You'll thank me later.)

Last but not least, you'll want to purchase a few accessory essentials: namely, a scarf, hat, gloves and galoshes. My personal suggestion on the scarf, hat and gloves would be to stay away from dark neutrals like black and gray so its easier to be spotted in a crowd. The galoshes will be good for walking to work and running errands on the weekends. They'll preserve your shoes from unnecessary damage and its as simple as rinsing them off if they ever start to look a little weathered from the weather.

There are a lot of things I love about New York, but the winters aren't one of them. But if you can make it through this winter you'll have made it through one of the toughest cities, during one of its toughest seasons. If you can do that you just may earn the privilege of calling New York home.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: ShoppingSavage@gmail.com