Fall 2011 Shows: More Art Deco and Snakeskin Than You Can Shake A Stick At

I was entering into the fashion doldrums after viewing the Fall 2011 collections. Most of the shows left me feeling bored or utterly disinterested. Either there no new ideas (the 70's again, lots of orange, minimalism to dull effect) OR the collection was too conceptual and not wearable. I love me a good concept or two, but...this is fashion. What good is your idea if one doesn't desire to wear it? After a bit of this I clicked on Hermes, and after that my faith in the power of fashion was restored. At Hermes, look after look sauntered down the catwalk and headed straight into my imagination. Although according to Style.com the inspirations were said to be Asian, with notions of travel, long robes, jade jewelry, etc, I couldn't see anything except 20's art deco from where I was sitting. This is an era I feel is finally getting it's longstanding due in fashion this season. Favorite looks from this collection posted below. All photos in this post from Style.com.

The biggest trends on runways this season were the masculine feminine mix, Asia, and snakeskin. Religious garb seems to have evolved from Celine'sminimalism, just ask Alber Elbaz at Lanvin, who referenced the priesthood in his collection, especially with his hats:

Alber Elbaz preps his models for the priesthood at Lanvin.

Ralph Lauren referenced China for his collection. He was one of many designers with references to Asia.

I loved Missoni's use of snakeskin.

Said or unsaid in the liner notes, the influence of 20's drop waist silhouettes and art deco style geometric prints, were everywhere:

Marni: No Waist, Geometric Print, don't tell me there is not a 20's influence.

Prada, of course, scored the fashion double whammy with Art Deco and snakeskin.

Versus by Versace proves it's still hip to be square

Also of interest is a return to a certain type of formality, pulled together, perfectly matched, prim and proper, suits. Maybe old lady, yes, but I love it. As far as new ideas, this old one seems as fresh to me as ideas go. Both Donna Karan with her Grace Kelly inspired collection and Jean Paul Gaultier totally seemed to understand this. I felt as if it was a reference to an old-fashioned sort of glam that I would like to see returned to fashion. How far can we take this era of casual dress, jeans and t-shirts?

It was go granny go at Jean Paul Gaultier.

And lets not forget Stella McCartney, who reinvents power dressing with her version of the masculine/feminine mix:

Stella truly gave us the bold shoulder. I love the strong but at the same time soft silhouettes she created.

All in all after show after show referencing the 1970's fashion we finally did find some fresh, new ideas in the mix. The trends I am most excited about are the snake, the geometric prints, and hints of Asia. I can't wait to see these items referenced for the market next season.

'Our Destiny Remains Our Choice'

Obama remains as poignant as ever during State of The Union Address...

Photo of Obama during the State of the Union address from NPR.com, Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images.

It's no secret that I admire Obama and deeply respect the way he has commanded many of the hurdles during his presidency. Last night was no exception. During his State of the Union last night Obama made a number of profound statements that really spoke to me. These statements spoke of the current economic changes underfoot. According to today's New York Times one of the many things Obama did during his State of the Union was "challenge Americans to unleash their creative spirit...and come together around a common goal of outcompeting other nations..." Hell yes. It's about time someone said it.

Among all the hullaboo about jobs going to China, I can't help but think about how much we underestimate our abilities to create suitable employment for ourselves. It may not be the same types of jobs Americans have held before, but they are still respectable ways to make a living nonetheless. What I see rather than manufacturing is the emergence of the sole entrepreneur. This trend will be our comeuppance to out-compete China. While China is known for it's legions of cheap workers, it is also known for being short on innovation. This is the area where us Americans have a chance to succeed.

Photo of 2010 Bust Craftacular from Loop of the Loom blog.

This is a concept that can cross all social boundaries, classes, and education levels. You don't necessarily need a higher education to develop a skill and sell it. It can be as simple as making baked goods and using a website to advertise them. I will never argue higher education doesn't help, but I don't believe it to be necessary to succeed with this business model. This year I went to the Bust Craftacular, a one day craft fair that takes place in New York City in December, and saw many examples of this type of business model. Here, people who created things as simple as illustrated cards, soaps, and beaded jewelry sold it for a low over-head. Many folks left that day profitable. When I looked around that day I saw jobs that won't be outsourced to China.

I see the potential of employment for all if we stop focusing on what we have lost in manufacturing and learn to innovate. Instead of competition I see that more workers in China create a larger market for us to sell our products. Besides craft fairs, we almost every household now has access to the internet, our most powerful global selling tool. Obama is right, it is America's creativity that will save the day. Lets embrace the advantages globalization give us, and not what we have lost. It will be America's creativity be what that picks up the pieces of our fractured economy. I know we can do it. To quote Obama again, "Our destiny remains our choice".

I had this photo sitting around for a while and created another color story with, this time with Pantone chips. Photo is from NPR.com, I unfortunately do not have the link any longer.

2011 Golden Globes

Nothing makes me swoon more than beautiful actresses strutting down a red carpet in even more beautiful gowns. Overall this season the actresses made terrific chooses with gowns. Silhouettes were a bit closer to the body this season and colors followed recent runway trends with the majority of the dresses in nudes and blushes (yawn on that). Fashion editors the world over heralded the display of emerald green, there was also blues and oranges worn to great effect. Notable dresses are below with pictures and a bit of my commentary. The photos are from justjared.buzznet.com.

Catherine Zeta-Jones in Monique Lhullier. Great choice of color.

Megan Fox, I saw Transformers, and must admit I am starting to like you. Great Armani Prive dress. The fit is sophisticated, yet fresh, and I love this soft color on you.

Yvonne Strahovski in Pamela Rolland. One of a few actresses who chose blue. I love this soft grayed-down shade.

Love Katey Sagal's color choice for her custom Douglas Hannant gown.

Honorary member of the Secret Society whether she likes it or not, Tilda Swinton wore Jil Sander. Oh Tilda, you always delight and surprise. Nothing epitomizes the mood of current fashion sensibilities more than your minimalist cream and white gown. I love the play of the idea of a crisp white shirt turned into a dress. Tilda, will you marry me?

Olivia Wilde breaking the mold with one of the only full skirted skirts of the night. I love her Marchesa dress and her adventurous Christian Louboutin booties.

Nicole Kidman plays it safe in Prada sequins. I love the choice of cream as opposed to blush.

Close up of sequins. I know what you're thinking, and I, too, wish I could see that shoulder detail better.

Sorry Natalie. While I commend you for wearing the unusual and unexpected, I am not sure how I feel about your Victor and Rolf dress. That being said, tell Laura and Kate I said hi (more honorary members), and keep daring to be different. Better dress next time!

I love the color of Kyra Sedgwick's Emilio Pucci dress. I also love everything else about it, including the stunning way it accentuates her figure. Well done!

Julianne Moore wore a most controversial dress by Lanvin that I will defend to the death. I love her adventurous choice. She absolutely glows in this powerful color. The jeweled necklace balances the powerful shoulder beautifully, and I love the contrast of the jewels against the satin. It hugs her figure beautifully. My only gripe is the wrinkled skirt, which makes her look a bit disheveled, and makes you wonder if Alber Elbaz thought the dress all the way through. Still, that is the fault of the designer's fabric choice and not Julianne's.

Close up of the jeweled neckline. I still like it, even up close. And no, I don't care what you think.

I hate to rant and rave about Angeline Jolie since everyone always does, but I must say I simply loved her Atelier Versace dress. It was again refreshing to see such a powerful color against the sea of nudes. I love how she played on her sexiness in such an understated way. Although the dress offers a lot of coverage the neckline, powerful shoulders, and accented waist all play up her assets. Bravo Angie!

Scar-Jo in Elie Saab. Yawn. Getting sick of this Old Hollywood vibe she always has going on. Still, I the dress is quite pretty. I love the gentle flutter of the sleeve.

Dame Helen Mirren in Badgley Mishka. Great choice for her figure.

January Jones in Versace Atelier. Bravo for stepping out in red, the only red dress I saw that night. However, I have mixed feelings about this dress. I find the overt display of boobs a bit vulgar, but love the bandaging and fringed skirt. January, is there any way to see this dress without your boobies sticking out? Thanks. I'd appreciate that.

Shabba Ranks: A Trailer Load Of 90's Fashion

So maybe you remember him better as Mr. Loverman. However you remember him, you gotta love this video I found. What I enjoyed best are all the hot 90's trends featured in it. There is enough day-glow and underwear as outerwear in in this video for an average girl to wear from now straight into 2020. I was literally hard pressed to pick a favorite outfit, but forced to make the choice I'd say it has to be a toss up between the peach spandex body-con shorts outfit and the green sequin hot-shorts. Keep your eye on the black outfit with the gold coin embellishment. That is what I see reinterpreted for 2011. Oh, and Mr. Ranks? Love the hair.

Color Trends: Spring 2010

Bringin' Home the Bacon

It looks like painters weren't the only people inspired by the Francis Bacon exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art last season. It looks like the fashion world also took notice of his garish oranges backrounds and flat neutrals. All of the designers who used this palette used it to wonderful effect.

Color Trends from Spring 2009 were right out of a Francis Bacon Painting. Clockwise from top left: Study For Human Body by Francis Bacon, a look from Lanvin, Oscar De La Renta, Carolina Herrerra, all Spring 2010 thanks to Style.com for photos.

Nude As The News

Almost as important as what colors were chosen in each runway show was the lack of color designers presented. This may be an interesting affect of the recession, where in order to get the most wear of your clothes, they need to almost disapear on the skin as to escape to much notice. The best version was Phoebe Philo's for Celine, but of the many other catwalks where this was spotted, from Lanvin to Carlos Miele.

Clockwise from top left: Carlos Miele, Calvin Klein, Celine, Lanvin, all Spring 2010. Thanks to Style.com for photos.

Cold As Ice

Oh my...is it getting cold in here, or is that just me? Because Spring 2010 collection was feeling a little chilly. With lots of stark black and white, and colors iced to the barest hint of color, leaving you feeling cold. Most popular was the softest lavendar, shown by designers like Michael Kors and Versace. Francisco Costa at Calvin Klein and Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy also joined into the fray, introducing their own variations on the trend.

Clockwise from top left: Calvin Klein, Versace, Michael Kors, Givenchy , all Spring 2010. Thanks to Style.com for photos.

True Blues

One of the colors that seemed to show up again and again in every shade and tonality was blue. The first place I noticed it was at Ralph Lauren, whose dust-bowl inspired show had me literally singing the blues. Celine, who otherwise had an almost completely nude palette, took exception to this by inserting a azure dress into her mix. Oscar De La Renta also couldn't resist this ubiquitous hue. He chose a radical shade of teal to complete his collection. And Lanvin also couldn't resist the same hue. With colors trending warm as of late, maybe we're due for a cooling off period?

Designers were definitely feeling blue this season. Clockwise top left: Oscar De La Renta, Celine, Lanvin, Ralph Lauren, all Spring 2010. Thanks to Style.com for photos.

It's Electric

Although ice the ice age prevailed designers couldn't resist injecting random shots of heat into their collections. These shots provided quite a blast too, with shots of bright yellow and pinks which were simply blinding.

Clockwise top left: Badgley Mischka, Lanvin, Oscar De La Renta, Paul Smith, all Spring 2010. Thanks to Style.com for photos.

Power To The Panty

Clockwise, starting top left: Lady Gaga,Marc Jacobs Spring 2009, Alexander Wang Spring 2009, Dolce and Gabbana Spring 2009. Thank-you to Style.com for photos.

Lets talk about the most important trend I saw on the Spring 2010 runways this season. It was women's undergarments. From Marc Jacobs, to Alexander Wang, to Dolce and Gabbana, many designers put women's briefest assets on full view. What to make of these under-takings? Well, I can't help but find an interesting connection between the underwear looks and pop stars like Lady Gaga and Madonna as of late. These stars insist on always keeping their panties on full view, and the runway is now starting to catch up. With stars baring everything these days, from seeing Britney's vag in the tabloids, to keeping on top of celebrity Twitter posts, maybe there's one more thing we don't need to keep undercover anymore: our crotch. Alexander Wang's and Dolce and Gabbana's underwear seemed to take on more of a spanx-bodyshaper sort of look. I think the undershapers are so common place now that designers are thinking that they are not just to be worn under your garments, but out in full view for the world to see, accept and appreciate. Do you think these undergarments don't have a connection with real-world fashion? Well, summer is here sooner than we think, and so like these ladies' bare legs, it remains to be seen. I think we will be surprised the way the real world re-interprets this trend.