{F A S H I O N} Taking It To The Streets

“The best fashion show is definitely on the street. Always has been, and always will be.”

— Bill Cunningham

Bill Cunningham said it best: "The best fashion show is definitely on the street." I couldn't agree more, and that's why I can't get enough of The Sartorialist and all the fabulous men and women Scott Schuman captures along his travels. I always say that everyone has his or her own unique creative footprint, and the choices you make with your fashion even in your everyday life is such a fun way to express that footprint and leave your mark on a given day. Come people-watch with me on the streets of Paris, New York and Milan. I hope it inspires your individual creative confidence!

Images via The Sartorialist

{F A S H I O N} Haute Couture Week 2017 in Paris

                                                                      Image via CHANEL 

It's hard to believe that Paris could get any more beautiful than it already is, but during Haute Couture Fashion Week the city appears to get an extra dose of effervescence. I look forward to this show every year—the dreamy collections are packed with more inspiration than I know what to do with. I find myself tacking up dozens of looks onto my inspiration board and filling piles of manila folders. 

So, why are the haute couture shows so invigorating? I want to experience fashion that excites me and makes my heart race—like hearing a powerful song for the first time or a new taste you can't get enough of. And, that's exactly what these runway shows do. Each of the following collections are emotional. They're about perception and visual fantasies. I hope you'll get as lost in them and as endlessly inspired as I do.

                                                           VALENTINO: Subtle Impact

This collection really spoke to the power of simplistic forms expressed through a very curated range of colors. It begs the question, what do you want to say without saying anything at all? Highlights for me were the subtle pleating details and long statuesque silhouettes—the entire collection felt very architectural. Bravo Pierpaolo Piccioli! Hard to believe it's his first time showing at Couture Week! 

                                                             ELIE SAAB: More is More

From jaw-dropping jewels and billowy feather accents to strategically embellished patterns displayed on sumptuous fabrics, Elie Saab's couture collection is beyond stunning. What a story teller! There is truly so much to love about each perfectly put together ensemble, and what struck me most was Mr. Saab's effortless use of accessories—everything from belts, headbands, sunglasses, and to-die-for statement earrings. Man after my own heart!

                                                SCHIAPARELLI: Wearable Architecture

When I first laid eyes on this collection, I immediately felt that each look acted as architecture for the body. As the models moved down the runway, structures and formations came to life and morphed with each step taken. The color pairings are are pure magic and I'm just loving all the geometric shapes!

                                                                DIOR: Fantasy at Play

Haute couture is theatre. It's about making a statement. The creator imagines a women in the piece, pondering where she will go, who she will see and how she feels in it. Here, Dior's Maria Grazia Chiuri took us on a journey through a whimsical garden set at the Musee Rodin where her imagination revealed free-flowing, ultra-feminine masterpieces straight out of a modern-day fairytale.

                                                           CHANEL: Classic & Current

Last, but certainly not least—Chanel. True to form, Karl Lagerfeld did not disappoint. From meticulous embroidery and unexpected sequin moments to archetypal tweeds and chunky wools, the collection is flawless. Like a beautifully composed song, this couture line really moved me and reiterated for me the importance of making an impact and leaving a lasting impression.

{I N S P I R E D} Nocturnal Animals: Fashion Meets Film Meets Interior Design

Photography by Merrick Morton/Focus Features

With Paris Design Week just recently in our rear view, I'm thinking back fondly on my time studying in Paris alongside my studio-mate Tom Ford. I'm so happy for him and his film Nocturnal Animals. (If you haven't seen it yet, you really must!) 

The film itself is truly a work of art, from the writing and storytelling to the directing to the cinematography and especially the acting. But it's important to note a main character aside from the ones played by Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon. And that is the interior design. Shane Valentino reworked the interiors of a Scott Mitchell-designed house to include art, furnishings and materials that are as fashion-minded as Tom himself but austere enough to underscore the emotional, hauntingly beautiful storyline.     

{I N S P I R E} Come On Baby Light My Fire

I'm very affected by seasons, and one of my favorite things about winter in New York is coming in from the cold and cozying up to a roaring fireplace with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa. From the always colorful and luxurious Designers Guild to the masterful masonry of Lew French and a modern chalet by Pearson Design Group, just looking at these beauties helps to cure some of this frost bite!

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