burberry Blog

Photo: Courtesy of Couture Lab

—Katharine K. Zarrella

It was practically a bestiary at London’s Couturelab boutique and gallery yesterday. Swarovski-sprinkled monkey skulls, a gold-beaded buffalo, and a fiery coral sea spider were just some of the haute experiments in embroidery that Jay Ahr designer Jonathan Riss presented at Evolution, an exhibition of 14 tapestries crafted from such unusual materials as turquoise, mandrille shells, and sequins. Riss creates both ready-to-wear and eveningwear, but he’s best known for the latter, often detailed with the kind of intricate embroidery on display here. “I’m the kind of person that likes to keep all of my treasures in a little box. But with these tapestries, I thought, if I can put them out in public, why not?” said the designer, who was in town from Paris not only for the opening of his show, but to shoot a new campaign featuring Poppy Delevingne.

It was art, not fashion, that was on display last night, but that didn’t stop the style set from stopping by. The campaign’s creative director, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, spent most of her evening admiring Riss’ marble elephant skeleton. “I want the campaign to be quite glamorous, young, and fun,” Roitfeld said, tugging at her vintage Helmut Lang blazer. “I don’t want to tell you what to expect because I want it to be a surprise!” added the campaign’s stylist, Mélanie Huynh. On deck for the stylist for the rest of the summer? A trip to Corsica, where she’ll go “hippie chic,” she said, in Pucci, Altuzarra, and Isabel Marant.

“Projects like these are a great way to nurture new creativity,” said Couturelab’s founder, Carmen Busquets, of Riss’ exhibition. “Couturelab doesn’t do ‘fashions’ or ’seasons.’ I want to create a community where value and creativity are sustained.” Judging by her store, which, two years ago, launched as a pop-up extension of the Couturelab Web site and has remained packed with handcrafted jewelry, hats, and homewares ever since, Busquets has done just that.

Just as the shop was emptying, a 16-year-old boy in a plum velvet tuxedo jacket passed by the storefront. “Did you do these, man? They’re sick!” he asked Riss, pointing to the tapestries in the window. The designer just smiled.

PRODUCT DETAILS Faux Leather Strapless Dress $24.80 – Sexy faux leather strapless dress with exposed zipper at center back.

Everyone was laughing this week at the parade of leather dresses on the red carpet Well, hello! It’s a trend.

Check out Angelina Jolie in leather!

But it’s also a fall trend and celebrities must be the first to break that news or they will be seen wearing clothes that someone’s worn before or something dated. The prices of Angelina Jolie’s Michael Kors dress and the Rag & Bone on Rihanna are waaaaay out of most price ranges but lo and behold, here comes Forever 21 with their version of what you would probably want anyway — a faux leather strapless little black dress. It zips up the back, come only in black and is sized S-M-L. $24.80 to boot.

Even more sexy, is the fact that the zipper zips all the way down. It is fully lined for your comfort. – 25″ approx length from bust to hem, 30″ chest, 25″ waist – Measured from Small – Shell: 100% PU, back: 67% rayon/ 33% polyester, lining: 100% polyester; Wipe clean with damp cloth or sponge only – Imported ProductCode: 2064318507 For store locations: Visit Forever 21′s Web site.

As a matter of fact, you won’t be able to escape leather or faux leather or anything that looks like leather this season because it’s the hottest thing since sliced bread. It was a landslide year for leather on the runways. Motorcycle madness, jeans, bags, boots, belts, bags, all in leather. So get out that scooter or Vespa — it’s going to be a kick ass Fall!

It’s almost unbelievable, but British beauty Kate Winslet had never appeared in a fashion campaign until California knitwear label St. John lured her in. The actress steps into a role previously held by Karen Elson, Angelina Jolie before her, and Kelly (daughter of founder Marie) Gray before that. Here, in this video debuting exclusively on Style.com, Winslet gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her Craig McDean-lensed photo shoot.

“It’s all metal—it feels like one big piece of jewelry,” jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth tells Style.com of her 57 Walker Street pop-up store, which opens today. The L.A.-based designer teamed up with architect Marc Fornes to transform the 1,800-square-foot BOFFO Building Fashion space, previously home to Nicola’s by Nicola Formichetti , into a glimmering and lavish retail shop to showcase her latest designs. The space is complete with golden latticework etched with stars from the ceiling to the floor and a living wall. “I thought it would be funny to mix something organic with something very modern,” Neuwirth explains.

She also planted moss and branches next to her new opal and sapphire creations, along with her signature long gold chain offerings. “A lot of them are pieces that people haven’t seen yet because I’m always creating one-of-a-kind things,” says Neuwirth, whose work is a favorite among the likes of Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon, and Iman. The store opens today and remains open for two weeks.
—Kristin Studeman

Photo: Evan Joseph

Fashion trends come and go, but one thing that’s timeless is the red-soled Christian Louboutin Daffodil pump, as seen on celebs like Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Hudson. But at $995 a pair, one can only dream.

Okay, so the leather is synthetic and does not feature a signature red sole, but it looks darn close. There are racier models in colors like red, gold, and sequins — there’s even a flame appliqued pump available. So, if you want to reach impossible heights, here’s your chance to emulate Jennifer, Kim, and the whole Kardashian clan!

With that said, I was surfing the Sears.com website and did a double take: The fabulous stripper-inspired, Mary Jane pump replica is on the site for a mere $61.95! Plus, the Bordello Shoes by Pleaser USA style is called…wait for it..Teeze!

By Sasha Charnin Morrison for Us Weekly. To read more of the Recessionista blog, click here.

PHOTOS: 11 spring style essentials

Available in sizes 6-12. Get them now at sears.com.

PHOTOS: The best style finds from the issue

Now the pressing question is, which one came first?

Buy it here.

I love this style of faux-fox from QVC. The vest is priced well at $79.80, and the greatest thing is that this silhouette is also available in red faux-fox and in chinchilla. Wear it with a pair of jeans, a nice knit and a slouchy hobo bag.

And did I mention that its sized from an extra-small all the way up to 3X?! And the other good news? This style is so chic and timeless, you can wear it over and over again, and it will never go out of style.

I have never seen a trend take off like this. Leave it to Rachel Zoe — who lives in sunny California, I might add — to find something that has captured everyone’s attention: the fur vest.

Paper-Cut-Project designers Nikki Salk and Amy Flurry bring a whole new meaning to the phrase “look good on paper.” The Atlanta-based duo has designed paper art pieces for the likes of Hermès and Cartier, and tomorrow their elaborate creations will accessorize the looks on the runway at Jen Kao.

“It’s a weird kismet,” Kao tells Style.com. “Right after my last season, I was thinking about doing a paper-inspired collection, and the next day, out of the blue, I got a postcard from them about possibly collaborating.”

Salk and Flurry then went to work laboring on the pieces to add a bit of fantasy to Kao’s “streetwear-inspired” collection. “My collection is a balance between beautiful and enticing and dangerous,” Kao says. Tomorrow, watch for paper headdresses and a shoulder cage made with Bristol paper, glue, and an X-Acto knife, that’s it. “I have been working on one piece for two weeks, it’s insane,” Flurry says. “These are taking that long, yes, but the end result is crazy beautiful and it drives us to do what we do.”

Even the paper cuts don’t stop these two. “Yes, I have several,” Flurry says, laughing. “More than paper cuts, you get a callus because of working with an X-Acto knife.” Well, pain is beauty, right?
-Kristin Studeman

Photos: Courtesy of Paper-Cut-Project

When your time slot arrives, you will have 15 minutes to shop in the designated area.

RULES

Keep an eye out for unwanted items. I have had great success walking around the dressing room area and the sales floor scooping up items people discard. The dressing rooms are key — I always offer to take any returned items to its proper place.

It’s a collection that I am in love with, that Blake Lively is in love with, and I am ready to jump into the window displays at the H&M on 5th Avenue and rip those limited edition clothes off the models.

I fear for those who are going to brave the crowds, but here are a few tips to get you through:

If you are not one of the first 320 in line, you can shop once the 16 groups have finished when the area is officially open.

LIMIT

WHAT TO WEAR

According to the peeps at H&M, the first 320 people in line will receive a colored bracelet. There are 16 different colors, and 20 people will get each color, which corresponds to a specific shopping time in the Lanvin area. Note: the bracelets are only needed for the women’s section — men can play at their own risk.

By Sasha Charnin Morrison for UsMagazine.com. To read more of the Recessionista blog, click here.

And, most importantly, enjoy!

On your mark, get set, shop!

STORES

I also make deals with other shoppers. Just ask, “If youre done, and not wanting that, may I take it?” Be nice! You do not have to be grumpy about it.

Then, in 2008, I barely survived the Comme des Garcons. I don’t know how I got out alive, but I did — and with a few superior pieces. Although, that was after fellow shoppers clawed at me and even knocked me into a rack filled with navy trench coats that toppled over. It was complete rude chaos.

WHEN ITS OPENED TO THE MASSES

Leave the necklaces and accessories at home so you don’t risk any snags.

Bring a mint or gum and a bottle of water: I always sweat and get parched with a dry throat at these events.

The beauty of this collection is that it is a mirror reflection of the main ready-to-wear collection produced in Paris. Its tailored with rich colors that give it a one-of-a-kind look.

At my first experience at the 2005 Stella McCartney for H&M launch, I literally watched two demonic fashionistas pull the legs of a satin pant apart at the seams.

The Lanvin collection goes on sale November 20th at select stores.

Check back often. Return to the store a few days later to see what’s been returned. Search through racks and ask salespeople. A lot of people realize the clothes don’t work once they get home, and thats usually when Ive had great success!

Instead each customer has a limit of two items of each product. So, no more than two sizes (shoes or garments) or pieces (jewelry or accessories) per customer.

Sorry, hoarders, you cant pile the whole magilla on your arms and then proceed to the check out line.

The key here is to dress so you can throw garments over your clothes to get a sense of how the pieces will fit you. I recommend a black tank top with opaque black tights or leggings or a black slip dress. Throw on ballerina flats or any shoe that you don’t have to waste time to lace up.

Also ditch your purse and use a trench or anorak to hold your wallet and keys.

Find out if a store near you will carry the collection at hm.com.

Michelle Obama and Janet Jackson’s belted looks have inspired women everywhere to rediscover their waistlines!

Ever since Michelle Obama belted her summer coat, women have been drawn to accentuating their waists and showing their form again. Janet Jackson also looked chic and pulled together at the recent Ralph Lauren spring/summer 2010 runway show. (I loved the mix of her belt with the refined croc bag, pencil skirt, oversized sweater and crisp, white shirt.) A fashion stylist once told me that if your waist is narrow or if you can define it, all of your proportions balance out.

Hannah Deely, our accessories editor, spotted these fab Croco embossed trouser belts from The Limited — and they’re only $34.50.

I love this accessory over a lightweight coat, a knit dress, a boyfriend sweater or even a blazer. Just make sure it sits well at your waist and you don’t pull it in too tight. Muffin tops are not the trend here. Always make sure you properly order your right size in the belt. (Limited makes it nice for us, as some belts are sized XXS to XL.)

If your midsection is your big problem area, a thick belt for your mid-waist slims out your stomach, giving you a smooth finish. If you’re on the thin side, a wider belt will completely swallow you, so try a thinner belt to add detail to your waist.

Buy it here.