Trompe L'Oeil

Your Fashion Word of the Week

Fashion Terminology

Trompe L' Oeil:

"Trick of the Eye". An Artist technique where realistic imagery is used to appear three dimensional. (Source)

Think Mary Katrantzou and Clover Canyon

Knife Pleats

Your Fashion Word of the Week 

Fashion Terminology

Knife Pleats:

A sharp narrow, fold. Also known as,  accordion pleats but that doesn't sound cool and chic like knife pleats does.

May Fab Finds All Under $100

Can't get enough of greys, whites and soft peach colors this May. 

Love the sophisticated and clean look the color combination creates when you wear all three together.

Fab Finds All Under $100 

MTM, Bespoke, Haute Couture - What's the Difference?

I can only assume you are confused too, so I am here to clear up the confusion with some 

Fashion Terminology

Pret-a-Porter:

Ready-to-Wear or Off the Rack

Garment intended to be worn with out significant alterations. They are available in standard sizes and are formed from patterns. No customization here! Garments are produced for High volume rather than High Fashion. Although many High Fashion Houses do have a pret-a-porter line such as; Saint Laurent, Chanel and Dior. Basically what we all wear, whether that is from Michael Kors or from Topshop and Zara. 

Made-to-Measure (MTM): 

Tailored to your measurements

A tailor would take a regular size garment, for example a size 6 dress and alter the garment to more correctly fit your measurements. MTM uses existing patterns and make modifications to them. MTM is usually referenced in regards to men's tailored suits and suit-shirts.

Bespoke: 

Custom-Made with Limitless Choices Just for you

A new pattern is made entirely based on your measurements, fabric choices, styles, etc. More than just your typical measurements are needed. The word Bespoke  was traditionally reserved for high-end mens' tailoring on Savile Row, Central London. But as it looks like it is now used for designers like Michael Kors, TopShop, Stella McCartney, where they are not Haute Couture, but as close as you can get for custom designs. Bespoke does not refer to how the garment is sewn together, only that it is made for a specific person and their desired outcome. 

Haute Couture:

Custom-Made, Hand Sewn from start to finish

Haute Couture is "High-End Dressmaking". It is custom made clothing, high-end fabrics and fashion, and most importantly entirely hand sewn from start to finish. Haute Couture was established in Paris, is protected by Parisian law, and is regulated by Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. The Chambre Syndicale has been around since 1868. 

To be a member you must;

       (1) Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings,

       (2) Have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen staff members full-time,

       (3)  Must have twenty, full-time technical people in at least one workshop (atelier), and 

       (4) Every season, present a collection of at least fifty original designs to the public, both day and     evening garments, in January and July of each year. (source)

Very few are able to legally and rightfully advertise themselves at Haute Couture, such as Christian Dior, Givenchy and Chanel. 

Things we learned from last night's #Metball

Either you are wearing a Crop top dress OR you are rocking the low-cut V!

Crop-Top Gowns

I seriously can not get enough of this chic street-style look in a gown style!!! 

 

Anna Kendrick in J. Mendel via Vogue.com

Anne Hathaway in Calvin Klein via Vogue.com

Although I like this look, I think it would be better on someone else. It is not as flattering on Anne or maybe it is the way she is standing.

 

Emma Stone in Thakoon via Vogue.com

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! She is a younger, red head version of Leslie Mann. 

Winner of Crop Top Dress Look....

 

Rihanna in custom-made Stella McCartney via Vogue.com

 She is amazing in this!!!  Just perfect! The Top part is all Rihanna and modern, while the bottom part is reminiscent of Charles James "Diamond" gown.

Deep V's

 

Gisele in Balenciaga 

 

Georgia May Jagger in Thierry Mulgar via Lucky.com

 Dree Hemingway in Proenza Schouler via Vogue.com

 

Leighton Meester in Pucci via Lucky.com

Winner of deep V....

 All hail Queen Beyonce in Givenchy

via Vogue.com and JustJared.com

OVERALL BEST_DRESSED!!!!

Queen B, Beyonce and Princess Rihanna!

#inqueenbwetrust

The #MetGala Theme Was What...?

So besides FIT & Parson's design students who knew exactly what the 2014 Met Ball theme... Charles James: Beyond Fashion really meant? 

OK I can admit, I had no idea! and from the looks at all the totally random (but beautiful) dresses, gown, and crop tops, I had no idea what the theme was supposed to translate too. So of course, I did a little search to find out more.

Charles James: Beyond Fashion

Charles James is known as on of American's greatest Haute Couture Designers. His gowns became popular with High Society Ladies in the late 1940's and mid 1950's.  "Personally draping and constructing the garments that bear his label, he is considered to be the only American to work in the true couture tradition." *

James's signature styles ....

"Swan"

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - "Swan"
Nancy James in Charles James "Swan" Gown, 1955
Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph by Cecil Beaton, The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby's


Swan songs  from last night.... 

Sarah Jessica Parker in Custom-Made Oscar de la Renta via Vogue.com

Tabitha Simmons in Dolce & Gabanna via Lucky.com

 Suki Waterhouse in Burberry via JustJared.com
 

 
Bee Shaffer in Alexander McQueen via Vogue.com

"Four-leaf Clover" 

           The Metropolitan Museum of Art - "Clover Leaf"  

Austine Hearst in Charles James "Four Leaf Clover" Gown, ca. 1953
Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photographer Unknown, © Bettmann/CORBIS


Dresses that embraced the look of the "Clover-Leaf" gowns from last night's red carpet

Haile Steinfeld in Prabal Gurung via vogue.com 

 Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in Ferre and Chanel via Vogue.com

Dakota Johnson in Jason Wu via Vogue.com
I absolutely LOVE this Look!!

 Jordan Dunn and Toni Garrn in Bespoke TopShop via Vogue.com

 

"ButterFly"

 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - "Butterfly" 

Charles James "Butterfly" Gown, 1954

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph by Cecil Beaton, The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby's

 Butterfly inspired gowns on the red carpet last night...

 

Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta via Vogue.com

 

Blake Lively in Gucci Premier via Vogue.com

Stunning... but I do feel like she has worn this look before.. doesn't this look similar to her Savages movie premier look? 

 

Lily Aldridge in Michael Kors via Vogue.com

 

Taylor Swift in Oscar de la Renta custom-made via Vogue.com

 

"Evening Gown"

 

Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978)
Evening Dress, 1948
Black silk satin and black silk velvet
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Millicent Huttleston Rogers, 1949 (2009.300.734)

 Working this Charles Jame's look was...

 Zoe Saldana in Bespoke Michael Kors via Vogue.com

I am not sure I love this but it does work with the theme and she still looks gorgeous in it! Making a classic look and feel so modern is nice. 

"Diamond"

Shining bright like a diamond where...

 

Dita Von Tesse in Zac Posen via Vogue.com

 

Kendal Jenner in Bespoke TopShop via Vogue.com

 

Allison Williams in Oscar de la Renta via Vogue.com

 

Reese Witherspoon in Stella McCartney via Vogue.com

Others dressed with the theme in mind but it appears they forgot everything and anything else...

WHY? and WTF?

Katie Holmes in Marchesa via Vogue.com

.... or as we have previously known this look, Disney's Bell

 

I am not sure why this looks so incredibly horrible and like a Disney character. I think even Suri would have said something about it, but maybe Suri is pissed at her mom and got a good laugh out of it. 

On the runway it looks rich and Spanish influenced, like something Frida would wear. Katie clearly screwed it up, lol!@

Hayden Panettiere in Dennis Basso via Vogue.com

I mean why did she even attend. Clearly she could care less,  and was also going for a Disney princess look. 

What do you think about last nights theme and what people were wearing??

*The Metropolitan Museum of Art