Bill Gaytten bows out & Raf Simons takes over as creative director at Dior

Change over at Dior 

Bill Gaytten has shown his last collection for the Dior label.  He had taken over as creative director, after he replaced John Galliano, in February 2011, after being Galliano’s right hand man for 17 years. The two designers had a completely different vision and design, in fact, after Gayyten took the reins at Dior; he gave a refined feminine elegance to the label compared to Galliano’s fantasy like gowns.


Pictures below from the 2013 Cruise collection by Dior

The 2013 cruise collection was very much like his A/W 2012 collection for the house; from the colour palette, to the silhouette to the pleated skirts. His designs were reminiscent of the founder Christian Dior, full skirts paired up with lady like blazers that sit right at the waist, long gowns and pretty dresses. He will now continue as creative director at John Galliano.

The new creative director will be Raf Simons, who was appointed in April after his departure from Jill Sander. The designer’s first collection will be at the Paris Couture Fashion Week in July, where we will find out how his minimalistic designs and use of bright colours, will be incorporated into the French fashion house’s identity.  In an interview, he said

 “… for me the strongest impact is the first 10 years of Dior and how to link that to the 21st century. Mr. Dior was very innovative during a short time span. And it was in the middle of the 20th century, a period I am very interested in, whether it’s linked to fashion, architecture or art. So I find it very challenging to rethink couture.”

Pictures below from his last collection at Jil Sander

This will be his first ever Couture collection, one which everyone is eagerly waiting for,  all eyes will be on him!

Art & Salvatore Ferragamo | 2013 Resort Collection at the Louvre, Paris

Fringes, leather, knee high boots, weaving, crocodile and snake skin prints

The Florentine house showcased its 2013 Resort Collection inside the artistic walls of the magestic Louvre in Paris, the first designer ever to showcase a collection in the museum. The catwalk was set in the Denon wing of the Louvre and the Sainte-Anne exhibition of Leonardo Da Vinci, a  modern show, reminiscent of native America. 

Creative Director Massimiliano Giornetti, chose to revive the link between the brand and Leonardo Da Vinci showcasing Salvatore Ferragamo in art, with a pale theme of very natural colours. The collection confirmed why this collection is called resort, because, you are one with nature, in beautiful surroundings, and this collection was simply that, coupled up with the vision of running off into the sunset on beautiful bike. 

The talented designer, used a modern twist paired up with old traditions, with the skilled workmanship in the weaving of the jackets, the fringed skirts, crocodile and snake skin prints, all complemented by natural feel.

Knee high boots in different leather materials, from suede to crocodile, colours were pale, from a faint grey, to a light rose pink and sandy shades of brown. Make-up artist Tom Pecheux used brown and red for the eyes and left the lips pale. The hair was styled with luscious, beautiful waves and textures, a sophisticated woman walking in St. Tropez as described by hairdresser Luigi Murenu.

Massimiliano Giornetti said this about his avenue of inspiration for this collection ... 

"A woman whose eyes resemble the crystalline water of St. Barts and the radiance of a morning in Eivissa. Elegant and independent, she has a penchant for luxury and an inherent sense of multifacted style that she shares with Salvatore Ferragamo's purest DNA."

This collection is luxury and richness in a very raw and pure manner. 

Photos from Vogue.fr and Salvatore Ferragamo

Gucci's 2013 Resort Collection takes us back to the 60's and 70's

Long gowns, chunky necklaces, bright hues, floral prints, and bejewels 

Gucci Resort 2013

The house of Gucci and Frida Giannini took us back to the shapes and silhouettes of the swinging sixties and the disco seventies ... short shift dresses, midi skirts, skinny flare trousers, large sunglasses, floral patterns and blazers. The colours in this collection are beautiful, and not to bright, from a raspberry pink, to a beautiful emerald green gown, yellow and blue. 

The bejeweled necklaces blended in perfectly and the straight boyish silhouettes, are elegant and very wearable. 

This collection picks up from her last collection, with the seventies theme and the suits. The Flora print is always a Giannini favourite, bringing it in time after time. 

Beautiful collection!

Laura
xoxo

Chanel Cruise Collection 2013 ... a pastel palette you would want to eat

Karl Lagerfeld chose the gardens of Versailles as the perfect location for Chanel's 2013 Cruise collection. 

As a backdrop you had the majestic and beautiful green gardens and the chiming water sound from the fountains under the sun. 

It was the prefect setting!

It was definitely inspired by golden baroque architecture and Marie Antoinette's days of grand dresses and her immaculate colourful desserts - and also inspired by Louis the XV's mistress Madame du Barry, who he’d dress up in men’s clothing. Karl Lagrefeld said “She was the most beautiful woman in France, and the first fashion icon,” referring to Marie Antoinette. He said. “Marie Antoinette didn’t like her.” 

 

The show was dominated by a pastel palette, you would want to eat, it reminded me of macarons and sweets ...blues, greens, yellows, purple and pinks, lace, ruffles, denim suits, classical Chanel tweed jackets, detailed gold embroidery, the new Chanel boy bag and the creepers which added a very contemporary touch to the look. 

He said he mixed rock 'n' roll with baroque, making it more modern - something that Coco Chanel would design

 

    

 

The hair looked like candy; pink, purple, blonde, sleek - fringed bob cut wigs . The make up was orange-pink eye shadow, petal rose blusher and a the Chanel logo beneath their eyes, like a  teardrop or a beauty spot. The all adorned a bow to complement their pony tail which contrasted prefectly to their wigs. 

The outfits were complete with the jewellery, the pearl necklaces, extravagant broches, pearl belts, floppy hats, gold choker necklaces and the bags, new Chanel Boy Bag in many different colours and materials ... my favourite piece.

The boys looked like refined peasents, one of them was carrying a quilted chanel bag in the form of a watercan

Karl always manages to amaze me, bravo! Bow!

For the full collection see the video here or all the photos from the collection here