Chloe’s Fall 2010 collection was a nostalgic visit to the 1980’s during the 21st Century.  The collection reminded me of Catherine Deneuve and Jacqueline Bisset, these women personified sophistication in the ’80’s.  Chloe gave us sophistication, and so much more.  Several jumpsuits came down that catwalk in knits and silk, and a couple had me rethinking my stance on that one piece wonder.  The eighties was the height of power dressing for women, and Hannah MacGibbon has restored its luster.  There was a sea of neutrals on this runway, camel, tan, taupe, beige and brown, but each piece was extremely strong. 

Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2010 runway show was a reunion of the supermodels in Paris.  Laetitia Casta, Bar Refaeli, Adriana Lima and Elle Macpherson walked the runway, and they looked fantastic.  Curves were in fashion this season in Paris.  These clothes were made to fit the bodies of real women; they had a grown-up femininity about them, nothing girlish.  We could have been transported back into the 1950’s with the longer hemlines, beautiful coats and elbow length gloves.  Yes, the 1950’s in Paris or was it Italy?  The fountain in the middle of the runway was the perfect backdrop.  Romance was in the air, and in the pieces.  Lovely plaids and prints were in abundance in fall colors.  The music was dramatic, and the scene cinematic; we were at the movies.  It was not all about the supermodels and scenery though, nothing could take away from those gorgeous shoes and bags.  The accessories were befitting of the Vuitton name.  Flats played a large role in the show, and the collection still managed to maintain its sensuality.  The bags were the jewels displayed in all their majesty, and they will be the best friends to every Louis Vuitton woman in the fall. 

Celine brought chic and luxury to the runway with its Autumn/Winter 2010 collection.  Phoebe Philo created pieces that every young professional woman will yearn for come fall.  The color palette was simple and clean; black, white, cream, and camel, but that was where the simplicity ended.  It was elegant and modern without the harsh lines.  Leather  was featured heavily, but it was soft and appeared to have movement.  The use of lace and silk brought a vulnerability that would have been missing around all the leather and modern shapes.  It was not an overly conservative collection, several of the blouses were updated with tails, and some of the sweaters were sprinkled with sequins.   Celine proves that beautifully made clothes can rival mini skirts and skin any day of the week.

John Galliano proves he is a master of showmanship in his Fall 2010 runway show.  At first the models looked like exotic princesses fresh off a Disney screen, but upon closer inspection, they appeared more like femme fatales.  Is it possible to covet practically everything he sent down the runway?  The answer is a resounding, yes!  Each piece was crafted beautifully, it was nothing short of Parisienne grandeur.  It pays to be a showman.  The first two looks were of two of the chicest coats I’ve seen this season; they were not only chic, but at the height of sophistication.  My reaction to this show was instant, I was pulled in.  The looks were exotic, the music was tribal, but that could not disguise the influence of Paris in this collection.  Most of the fabrics were light and airy, a sharp contrast to the cold winters, but desireable nonetheless.  All the textures and patterns struck the right cords.  He gave us a mix of autumn colors in pumpkin, mustard and gray, as well as white, pink and black.  Let’s give Galliano credit for a production that was worthy of Broadway.  Everything was done to perfection, right down to the elaborate hair that could have rivaled most hats, and the makeup that gave the models olive complexions.  We cannot forget the hats that were as stylish as every other piece in this collection.  Every woman wants choices when it comes to her wardrobe, and she will have plenty of stunning options at John Galliano for fall 2010.

My fantasy dress pick for the 2010 Oscars would have been this Balmain Fall 2010 runway look worn by Kate Hudson.  Alas, neither the gown nor Ms. Hudson were present last night.

1. Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab

2. Carey Mulligan in Prada

3. Penelope Cruz in Donna Karan

4. Cameon Diaz in Oscar de la Renta

5. Sarah Jessica Parker in Chanel

6. Queen Latifah in Badgley Mischka

Red Carpet:

1. Rachel McAdams looked so lovely and ethereal in her Elie Saab gown last night.  It was made from a beautiful floral print that made us nostalgic for spring; it reminded me of a watercolor painting.   Rachel got high marks for the fit, fabric, its charm and her ability to wear it with incredible ease.

2. Carey Mulligan’s Prada dress was the perfect choice for the budding starlet.  It was young and avant garde while maintaining a sweetness.  The beading and embellishments could have gone tragically wrong, but she pulled it off beautifully.

3. Penelope Cruz got it right with this Donna Karan gown.  The rich color was perfect for her hair color and complexion.  I loved the asymmetrical pleating at the top.  Cruz has become one to watch on the red carpet, and last night was no exception.

4. Cameron Diaz rightly wore Oscar de la Renta to the Oscars and she glowed.  With Cameron, it was the whole package, the dress, hair and that winning smile. 

5. Sarah Jessica Parker can hardly do any wrong on the red carpet.  She looked stunning in Chanel Couture last night.  The gown reminded me of Audrey Hepburn look in “My Fair Lady,” that alone would have landed her on this list.  She embodies a certain grace that complements whatever she wears.

6. Okay, there are actually six picks on my best dressed list.  Queen Latifah makes the list because she was gorgeous in Badgley Mischka, and I could not let that go unacknowledged.  The fit of the gown was perfect, I loved the one shoulder and that the embellishment came across her body at just the right angle.  She looked beautiful and her posture says that she felt beeautiful as well.  That is the job of the right dress on the right star at the Oscars.

The first thing you noticed about Balenciaga’s Fall 2010 collection were the colors, a beautiful sorbet of flavors.  Like a sorbet it cleansed the palate of the shows that came before, there were no sparkles or bling to distract us from the quiet beauty.  Next fall we will be treated to orange, lime, blueberry and lemon.  All of these colors were once reserved for spring time, but this year they will help to usher in the cold.  Yes it is a departure from the old rules, but the future of fashion requires us all to break the rules.  Not only were the colors yummy, but so were the designs.  It was a collection of simple clothes made beautifully from the finest fabrics with the utmost care.  There was a space age theme that permeated the entire collection, namely the fabrics that were of a quilt like nature with raised texture.  It was also reflected in the models’ hair; they had an androgenous look that was extremely sci-fi.  The shoes had heels that were almost robotic, both beauty and innovation converged to make a work of art.  With that said, it was a youthful collection with fun stripes and graphic prints to make the Balenciaga girl futuristic chic.

The Olympics may be over, but that did not stop Balmain from going for gold.  Their Autumn/Winter 2010 collection revealed plunging necklines and micro length hemlines.  Both gowns and short dresses had slits that stopped almost at the hip bone.  Metallics are a house favorite, and it was served up hot this season.  It was signature Balmain.  The models strutted down the catwalk to old school hip hop.  Embellishments were plentiful, and there was great attention to detail.  Beautifully beaded gowns, dresses and pants made their way from the runway, and into our fantasy closets.  Pairing the gowns and dresses with laced up boots was a good call, it managed to give the collection an edgy vibe instead of merely a pretty aesthetic.  There was only one military jacket on the runway, yet I could not shake a military presence throughout the collection.   Exaggerated shoulders updated the looks to 2010, and it may have been those shoulders that had the models at attention.  The Balmain girl will be excited about her options this coming fall because she will be shimmering gold.  Though before fall, she might have to make a stop on the red carpet for the Oscars on Sunday; there were a few dresses in this collection that were meant for that runway.

Gareth Pugh’s Fall 2010 show had the audience in anticipation for the show to begin, the lights flashed as though they were lightning from the heavens.  Each look could have come straight from the future in intimidating black leather and chains, even if the leather were buttery soft.  Dare I say I felt a bit of fear and apprehension upon seeing the collection, but in the best possible way.  You know the way you get around the bad boy because he’s a little dangerous.  Well that’s the feeling I got from this collection, pure excitement and adrenaline.  At first I thought I would be bored with the lack of color, but that was not the case.  There was so much visual interest in the designs and fabric choices that the absence of color was a non issue.  Beautiful texture was all around and the origami folds, a work of art, especially on that fabric.  Some of the looks even managed to take on a futuristic Zen quality, but don’t be fooled because they look like they could still kick butt.  Weaving the linen and cotton fabrics in with the leather between looks softened the edge, and made the collection more approachable.  Though most of the pieces were  all black, the touches of gray brought a ray of light.   Arm length leather gloves and over the knee boots capped off this runway show.  It was so good that it was bad, and so bad, they even had a real life Bad Boy in the front row, Sean P. Diddy Combs.

Versus is the revived diffusion line from Versace, designed by Christopher Kane.  The fall 2010 collection was on fire.  Delicately pleated mini skirts in scarlett red, midnight black and caribbean blue took center stage.  The collection was eerily reminiscent of the 1950’s, even though the skirts were far more modest in their coverage back then.  One look had a cardigan thrown around the shoulders and it further highlighted the 50’s.  Some of the looks reminded me of the cigarette girls at the theater in the 1950’s as well.  Those were the sweeter looks.  Along the way, a darker side emerged in the form of bondage; strips of ribbon made up the upper half of a few dresses.  Black leather gloves reaching the upper arm paired with a black pair of knee-length boots and short black dress cried out dominatrix.  Among my favorite were the graphic T-shirts which were a nice complement to all the skin shown.  Christopher Kane revisited the past and brought back a very sexy future.  The collection makes up with femininity what it lacks in modesty.  There is something inherently sweet about the Versus girl, even as she takes control.  Who wouldn’t want to be a Versus girl come fall?