FIRST LOOK: Maison Martin Margiela for H&M

 

The swedish giant H&M has long been known for providing high fashion for low prices. When Hennes (its name until 1968) first started as a womenswear store 65 years ago, I don't think the founders ever thought it would reach the world (literally), and got to the US in 2000, opening the first store in NYC. They were the pioneers in making runway to real way happen in a REAL way, having Karl Lagerfeld to create a collection for them in 2005, continuing with Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, Lanvin and Versace, just to name a few.

 

Nowadays, the plan is to open in Bulgaria, Latvia, Malaysia and Mexico, among others and what better way to continue that expansion than with a collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela, the french maison that has make the unimaginable (sort of) wearable and has an amazing uniqueness in its designs.

 

French Elle has printed the first look of the tightly kept collection, making november 15th look even further away. Start planning what to wear this dress with!

Happy bday Tom (Ford)!

Few designers have the guts to just design what they like and dress who they want for a red carpet without having to beg stylists to make their clients wear their gowns. Apparently, birthday boy Tom Ford is one lucky guy, keeping his line still very unattainable both for the average (but fashion savy) crowd AND for the female silhouette. It can reach sky high prices but oh-what-a-reward it is to hold his fine fabrics and textures with perfect cuts that fall just on the right spots (please note: no muffin tops allowed).

Who will ever forget Gwyneth Paltrow wearing that gorgeous ivory gown with a matching cape in this year's Academy Awards. Among all the sparks and glitter a red carpet may demand, Gwyneth (and Tom of course) managed to steal the show with it's elegant simplicity. A match made in couture heaven. Below, two of my favorite looks from his Autumn/winter 2012 collection and one more look at Gwynie's.

Weekend essentials

With summer getting its last rays of sunlight, we must take advantage of whatever chance we get to get out of town even if it's just an hour away. Here are my basics for a getaway, whether if it's to the mountain or the beach:

1. A large handbag. Us women could fill a suitcase as a daily purse, so XL is just an overweighted person's size, never our handbag's, especially when traveling.

2. Head, neck, you-name-it-scarf. Do I need say more? No bad hair days allowed.

3. Comfy shoes. You never know where you might end up, so either for day or night, wear an outit lifting pair.

4. Lightweight jacket. Just in case. Global warming has reached high levels.

And then came Grace...

Collaborations seem to come everyday along withe the daily news and today is no different. Grace Coddington, Vogue's USA creative director has designed a capsule collection with Nicholas Ghesquiére for Balenciaga and they named it after her beloved cat, Pumpkin (what a lucky cat). The collection includes an orange canvas"papier" bag with Grace's drawings of Pumpkin himself modeling the label's designs from the past decade.

If it's too expensive for you, feel better knowing that 20 percent of the proceeds to the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons.

Trendspotting

It's been a week since my last post, I feel kind of empty but let's make it up for the time lost. I've been around town and the web looking for more runway to real way and it's amazing how the big massive retailers are coming up with everything straight from the latest shows. Definitely fashion never sleeps! But more on that later... For today, I've listed my top 5 must-have trends of the next season (just a month away btw).

1. The oversize coat

Raf Simons made his last collection as the head of Jil Sander one to remember
and wear comfortably.
This season is all about HUGE coats and minimal clothes under them.


2. Brocade parade

Fall calls for darker looks and what's better than some gold thread to brighten things up? Massimiliano Giornetti for Salvatore Ferragamo got the clue.

3. Matchy matchy

The patterned pants are not over yet, being joined this season by their soulmate the matching jacket as shown here at the Miu Miu runway.

4. Color me furry

I guess one of the pieces that each year makes an striking come back is the fur jacket... Just a little more colorful this time at Emilio Pucci's show.

5. Out of this world

Ever the pioneer, Nicholas Ghesquiére surely knows how to revamp the sweatshirt with spacial motives and metallic complements, both being THE garments of the season.