KENDALL JENNER AND MARY J. BLIGE WEAR LA PERLA HAUTE COUTURE TO THE 2017 MET GALA

Kendall Jenner and Mary J. Blige attend the 2017 Met Gala clad in two creations from the La Perla Haute Couture Collection designed by Creative Director Julia Haart. Jenner donned an all-over crystal draped gown in dégradé shades, complete with a barely-there painted macramé bodysuit. Blige debuted La Perla’s latest innovation: latex lace. The corseted column gown in stretch tulle, latex lace, and silk cady perfectly links La Perla’s lingerie heritage with its future in haute couture.

Created from 85,000 hand painted and placed crystals, Jenner’s La Perla gown is a culmination of over 160 hours of work, spanning 5 cities and 26 craftsmen. Each hand painted crystal is placed en dégradé, creating a flow of color from Diamond into Jet Hematite and finishing off in Jet Black.

“I was inspired by Rei Kawakubo’s concept of ‘un-fabric’ and her ability to create movement out of seemingly immobile materials. So, I created my own ‘un-fabric’ by affixing stones to a single thread, creating a beautiful and liquid suspension that mirrored the qualities of a fine silk.” – Julia Haart, La Perla Creative Director

Inspired by Rei Kawakubo’s concept of ‘un-fabric,’ Creative Director Julia Haart created hand-sculpted latex lace as the principal feature for Blige’s provocative column gown. Starting with a corset that features a built-in La Perla bra, the black stretch tulle is adorned with scalloped latex lace and hand-placed boning detail.

“I am so honored to be attending the Met Gala with the legendary Mary J. Blige. Her strength and femininity inspired me to create a gown that is both tough and feminine – strong and sexy.” – Julia Haart, La Perla Creative Director

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SCAD FASH presents "Shoes: Pleasure and Pain"

Some shoes are made for walking and others, for display. Form was over function most certainly at this exhibit. 

SCAD FASH presents "Shoes: Pleasure and Pain," an exhibition organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, that explores the creativity, cultural significance and transformative power of shoes. The exhibition displays more than 200 pairs of shoes, from ancient Egyptian slippers embellished with gold leaf and the seductive signature red soles of Christian Louboutin heels, to cutting-edge designs created by contemporary designers experimenting with new materials and the latest technology. SCAD FASH is honored to be the only southeastern venue for the exhibition.

In addition to the extraordinary range of historic footwear, "Shoes: Pleasure and Pain" features platform boots worn by Elton John, Princess Diana's shoe lasts, and David Beckham's soccer cleats. Styles by numerous celebrated designers and labels such as Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Nike and Vivienne Westwood, as well as two iconic pairs of shoes from film history — the famous red ballet slippers from the film "The Red Shoes" (1948) and the Swarovski crystal slippers featured in Disney's "Cinderella" (2015) — are also included.

"Shoes: Pleasure and Pain" is curated around five themes: "Transformation," "Status," "Seduction," "Creation" and "Obsession." Designers' sketches, shoemaking materials and historic fashion illustrations provide a deeper understanding of the exhibition's themes. Debuting with the exhibition is "Touching the Sole," a special interactive tactile display that enables visually impaired visitors to engage with replicas of many of the shoes displayed.

The exhibit runs through August 11th and is a must see! Click here for TICKETS.

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Comme des Garçons Fall 2017 Ready-To-Wear

“The Future of Silhouette.” That's about all the evidence that Rei Kawakubo revealed about Comme des Garçons Fall 2017 Ready-To-Wear collection... and that's okay! It's really more than enough information. Rei Kawakubo is an artist and fashion design is her medium.

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Gucci Fall Winter 2017 Fashion Show

“It’s a big trip in my personal garden which is mine but also Gucci’s, and it expresses all the ideas of me, all of my obsessions,” Alessandro Michele.

Looking at the first unified Gucci fashion show, the Women’s and Men’s Fall Winter 2017 Collection. Inspired by the Alchemist’s Garden, creative director Alessandro Michele’s lineup included ruffled gowns and suiting strewn with floral prints, T-shirts scrawled with artist Coco Capitán’s writing and accessories laden with animal hardware. Full review and collection on VogueRunway.

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Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet Fall 2017 Ready-To-Wear

alice + olivia’s Fall 2017 collection is inspired by Salman Rushdie’s novel The Enchantress of Florence. The collection draws from the vibrant rich settings of Mughal India and the romanticism of Renaissance Florence, depicting the story of a woman creating her own destiny in a man’s world.

Stacey Bendet has created a rich wardrobe for the global woman, a woman, who like Rushdie’s enchantress, has “forged her own life, beyond convention, by the force of her will alone.”

Comprised of an eclectic mix of pieces and a sharp color palette of reds, pinks, and jewel tones, Bendet has created a serene fantasy with notes of magic realism for this collection. In Rushdie’s novel, as in Bendet’s collection, characters are brought to life through painted stories. The Enchantress print features a representation of Rushdie’s Lady Black Eyes but with an a+o twist of #staceface wearing her signature large black shades. Intricate gold metallic beading evokes images of Rushdie’s Akbar Empire, while a leather skirt in Botticelli’s Primavera painting is representative of Renaissance Florence. Live at the a+o show, body painting artist, Trina Merry, brings the Enchantress to life using the human body as a canvas.

The collection juxtaposes feminine pieces like lace tops with dramatic bell sleeves, sequin and silk slip dresses, and ruffle skirts with utilitarian separates such as patent leather bombers, camo pants, boxy jackets, camo jackets, and cargo pants. The a+o girl will mix and match these statement pieces, pairing sequin pantsuits with statement tees, embellished floral tops with patent leather skirts and combat boots, sequin embellished mini-skirts with leather varsity jackets, and lace-up thigh-highs and embellished cigarette jeans with tweed jackets with pearl detailing. Each look embodying a woman who is both fierce and feminine.

The quintessential a+o statement jackets and shirts are emblazoned with powerfully bold statements such as “Queen” and “Be The Change You Wish To See In The World,” messages Bendet feels are both representative of the book’s message and the world right now.

Accessories further the urban glamour aesthetic through unexpected features. Handbags are a mix of faux fur totes, intricate foiled printed leather clutches, and black patent leather crossbodies in modern shapes. Shoes have a sexy edge featuring combat boots with heavy hardware accents in plush fabrics, lace-up thigh-highs, and patent leather booties.

Bendet continues building on the world of a+o with her second delivery of eyewear. The collection features shapes including oversized metallic aviators in silvers and rose golds, and signature round-frames.

Images courtesy: Alice + Olivia

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Thom Browne Fall 2017 Menswear

Thom Browne Fall 2017 Menswear

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PORTS 1961 PRE-FALL 2017

An off duty, relaxed scene is evoked in the Ports 1961 Pre Fall 17 collection, drawing on domestic objects and the everyday as its inspiration. The collection melds together the comfort of familiarity in carefree arcadian elements with the modernity of the brand's signature multi-function pieces. Felted winter blankets are reworked as outerwear coats while the well known polka dot of oil cloths is reinterpreted as oversized nylon bags. Commonplace still life photographs of seasonal flowers in vases brought from home, appear unexpectedly on crisp poplin shirts. A fresh perspective can be seen on the recurring theme of stripes, which in turn become familiar checks as they make their way through the collection. Inviting homespun knitwear, soft textures of brushed wool and double faced cashmere combine with warm hues of currant, caramel and turmeric to evoke a sense of gentle luxury.

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