Jaime King made an entrance in Bottega Veneta at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) gala in New York City. She wore a luxurious velour gown in a flattering silhouette. It had cap sleeves, a scoop neckline and an elegant train. She accessorized her black dress with an embellished clutch adorned with red, white and blue beadwork. Diamond earrings and a bracelet also accompanied her attire. Her hair was styled over-the-shoulder in glamorous retro curls and the bright red lip color accentuated her look.

 Image via People Style Watch

Salma Hayek wore a tri-color Bottega Veneta number to the “Puss in Boots” premiere in Los Angeles. Her one-shoulder dress was a combination of black, brown and cream in a light chiffon. It was gathered in the bodice with a skirt rich in texture. She accessorized with an embellished minaudiere, and black peep-toe heels. The hair was highlighted and lightly feathered to complement the style of her frock.

Image via People Style Watch

Photo Credit: Glamour/Matthias Vriens-McGrath

Image via Style Watch

Gwyneth Paltrow attended the relaunch of the Bottega Veneta flagship store in London.  The actress selected a little black mini-dress with beautifully detailed sleeves in a plush fabric.  An ornate neckline, hemline and sleeves made it very special.  She accessorized with grey peeped-toe ankle boots and a pink evening bag.  Her blond hair was sleek with a center-part and her makeup classic and pretty.  This look was chic and fresh with a mix of luxurious materials in both the dress and accessories.

When I say sweatpants you think, the gym.  That would usually be the correct answer, but we now live in an alternate universe where sweatpants are associated with luxury.  If designer Michael Kors has his way, you will be casually chic in a pair of cashmere sweatpants for $995.  I remember a time when the money crowd would rather be caught shopping the sales rack than be seen in public with sweats.  What’s changed?  Maybe all they needed were for said item to be made by top designers in the finest fabrics.  Kors is not alone, Alexander Wang was among the first to start this trend along with Isabel Marant for Spring 2010, then Rag & Bone and Bottega Veneta.  The trend appears to be catching on judging by the reported sales from designers and stores.  Will this be more than just a fad?  I doubt it, we have far too much history with sweats to fully find them acceptable for anything other than lounging or exercise.  It should go without saying that sweatpants should not be worn on a date, even if they are paired with Louboutins, your date will be left underwhelmed.  There’s a time and place for everything, and sweats may be fine for shopping, but not for fine dining.

The $1,000 Sweatpants  [WSJ]

Karate was the inspiration for the spring 2010 collection at Bottega Veneta.  The casual ease is evident in the pieces.  I know that we throw the word ‘chic’ around quite casually during these fashion weeks, but this collection is the epitome of the word.  A chic woman is effortless in her style; it appears as if she just threw something on, but her fantastic style always comes through.   The shapes were so beautiful, and the colors ranged from the purest white to the rich and saturated burgundy.  The Bottega Veneta woman will be very sophisticated come spring.