Grace Kelly and Edith Head

Posts Tagged ‘Dior’

Grace Kelly and Edith Head

04.09.2011 | Author barbaraanne

By BarbaraAnne:

“Jeff: The Lisa Freemont who never wears the same dress twice?
Lisa: Only because it’s expected of her.
(She does a model’s turn.)
Lisa: Right off the Paris plane, think it will sell?”

As the most copied dress in Kelly’s history-making fashion repertoire, yes, I think it sold. Edith Head created a work of genius for Kelly in Rear Window (1954).

With the deep V-neckline cut in the front and back of the black fitted bodice, Edith Head introduced the Y silhouette one year before Dior’s 1955 haute couture collection. The soft, flowing movement of the chiffon-and-tulle skirt provided contrast. Black branches embroidered at the top ended in a narrow patent leather belt. A white scarf, pearls, gloves, and black sandals completed the outfit. Kelly glided through Jeff’s apartment like the princess she would become.

Filed under: Style

Posted in fashion | Tags: Dior, Edith Head, Grace Kelly, Rear Window, Style | No Comments »

Galliano & Dior: Behind the Curtain

03.01.2011 | Author barbaraanne

By BarbaraAnne

Is the establishment outraged by anti-Semitism only when it appears in front of the curtain? John Galliano as Mel Gibson, News at 11? The President of Dior fired him immediately saying, “I condemn most firmly the statements made by John Galliano which are a total contradiction with the essential values that have always been defended by the House of Christian Dior.”

Really?

What “essential values” did Christian Dior display when he designed dresses for the wives of Nazi officers and French collaborators during WWII? The same values as Coco Chanel? It was only after the War that the French Minister of Fashion enlisted cotton magnate Marcel Boussac to finance Dior’s landmark 1947 haute couture collection, the “New Look.” Economically, France had to begin competing again in world markets.

Natalie Portman had to say something, and she said what her lawyers told her to say. She will still continue to make money from her perfume contract. Dior will still show Galliano’s designs next week because they want the money. In other artistic media, we rank Karajan as one of the greatest conductors who ever lived, and he was, but he played Bruckner symphonies IN FRONT of Hitler. He was an actual card-carrying Nazi.

So we worship the art, but forgive the past. We worship the artist, but are only outraged when their anti-Semitism goes beyond the boundaries of discretion — when it is in such bad taste, they get caught. Plausible deniability is the name of the game.

That is the game Galliano lost. He will have to pay a price, maybe go to jail — for bad taste. That a designer at his level was this careless is what shocks me. That he is an anti-Semite allows him to join most of Europe. The academic papers, convenient editing of memory, historical revisionism, private dinner conversations, immigration law, and countless silent forms of anti-Semitism continue to prosper.

I am a Jew. I know the steely eyed glance, which lasts only a second, but which communicates quite clearly that the person looking at you thinks you are a little mouse. They wouldn’t think twice about stomping you out if they could.

John Galliano will hire a publicist and “reform.” But for those of us around the world who are truly not racists and anti-Semites, this is a sad day. One of our heroes revealed he was really a monster. One of our geniuses pulled back the curtain.

Filed under: Angst

Posted in Cover Stories, News, fashion | Tags: Angst, anti-Semitism, Dior, haute couture, John Galliano, WWII | 1 Comment »

2011 Oscars: Red Carpet Favorites

02.27.2011 | Author barbaraanne

By BarbaraAnne

I live for red carpets. Well, maybe for the people wearing the haute couture gowns who walk on them. Yes, I do care about some of the Oscar winners, but I’m generally on the losing side of my most passionate picks, like Toy Story 3 for Best Picture. It doesn’t have a chance. But here are my picks for best dressed. If anyone feels I’ve forgotten someone, chime in! We have Helen Mirren in Vivienne Westwood, Halle Berry in Marchesa, Jennifer Hudson in Versace, Natalie Portman in Rodarte, Nicole Kidman in Dior, Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang, Julia Ormond in Anne Barge, and Hailee Steinfeld in Marchesa.

Posted in Red Carpet, fashion | Tags: Academy Awards, Anne Barge, Dior, Marchesa, Oscars 2011, Red Carpet, Rodarte, Style, Vera Wang, Versace, Vivienne Westwood | No Comments »

April in Paris

02.24.2011 | Author barbaraanne

By BarbaraAnne

Club members must wear something! How will they host fundraisers for the Louvre, meet Prince Charles, and attend exclusive dinner parties? In the Paris haute couture shows, legendary designers fulfill their genius, as their musings are meticulously brought to life by Paris ateliers. Weeks could be spent blow drying ostrich feathers for one dress, so a lover can say, “You’re not a human being anymore, you’re a style concept!” Bernard-Henri Lévy complimented Daphne Guinness over dinner and made world news.

Here are a few of my favorites. I gasped over Armani (picture 1), Dior (pictures 2, 3, 4), and John Paul Gaultier (pictures 5, 6) this year.

Filed under: Style

Posted in fashion, runway | Tags: Armani, Dior, fashion, Gaultier, Paris haute couture 2011, runway, Style | No Comments »

Paris Fashion Week: To-DIE-For Dior!

01.25.2010 | Author SMS

I looooooove Dior. The blossoms, the colors, the over-the-top gurly gurl fashion. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. And this year at Paris Fashion Week, John Galliano has done it again.

There are no words to describe Dior couture, so I will let the video do the speaking for me. The shoes are divine! And the hair… GORGEOUS! I love the balloon “rats,” that’s just ingenious! Dior has most decidedly kicked off fashion week with a BANG! Or maybe that was just a balloon popping. Either way, I’d hate to be a designer in a position to follow Dior, there’s just no comparison.

It just don’t get better than this, folks.

Filed under: Style

Posted in Hair, News, fashion | Tags: Dior, fashion, Fashion Week, Hair, John Galliano, Paris, shoes, Style | 1 Comment »

Shoppin’ in Yer Jammies!

11.29.2009 | Author SMS

11.30.09 UPDATE: More last minute Cyber Monday goodies for your shopping pleasure!

Beyond the Rack is giving away a FREE $40 Janie Besner scarf with every $50 purchase! Today only!

Rue La La will give you a $10 credit if you join (it’s free!) before December 24!

ideeli is giving you FREE shipping today only!

——————————————————

Crowds? HAH! Parking spaces? PSHAH! Screaming kids, scarce salespeople, muggers in the parking lot? AS IF!

Smart fashionistas do their holiday shopping from home while wearing their favorite silk jammies, listening to Duffy croon something sultry and sipping dry, red wine from cut lead crystal. And they save money when they shop so they can afford Dior jammies, a killer sound system, a fabulous Barbaresco and of course… Baccarat.

All the Sales, Offers & Coupons Cover Stories have been updated, and they include all the best Cyber Monday and holiday sales! I’ve included my fav from each category below simply cuz they are just too good to miss. Just act fast though, some of these fab deals are only good through Monday. And don’t forget I’ve only listed my personal favs from each category, you’ll need to check out the individual Cover Stories to get the full shopping effect!

Hot Bath, Cosmetics & Fragrance Sales, Offers & Coupons elfmini Shoppin in Yer Jammies!

The best offer in this category is really easy… E.L.F. has a GREAT offer for a FREE mini makeup kit with any purchase. What a great stocking stuffer! The link below will take you there:

FREE 27 Piece Mini Makeup Kit With Any Purchase! Use code LOYAL thru 12/31

Hot Fashion & Accessories Sales, Offers & Coupons

My fav offer in this category is also a no-brainer but I plan to use this particular one for myself! C’mon, I’m deserving! I’ve been very go gusto Shoppin in Yer Jammies! od this year! Hey, 25% off a new bag from eBags is just too good to pass up!

OK, so picking my fav offer in this category may have been easy, but choosing which bag… not so much (though the Gustto pictured at right sure is talkin’ to me).

Cyber Monday Super Deal: 25% Off Any 1 Item at eBags.com!

Hot Hair Products Sales, Offers & Coupons hairplus Shoppin in Yer Jammies!

Now’s yer chance! I’ve been hearing all kinds of good things about Verseo’s Hair Plus but not actually wanting my hair to grow any faster than it already does, I’ve never tried it. If you have been wanting to try it yourself, I don’t think you’ll beat this deal anytime soon:

Save 35% off all Verseo products! Use coupon code friday2009. Hurry! Sale ends Tuesday, December 1st!

And please let us know what you think!

Hot Jewelry Sales, Offers & Coupons

So, ummmm… do you go to hell if you Christmas shop for yourself? It’s not like a sin or sumthin’, is it? What if it’s something you really need? Cuz I reallyreally need this. I really do. Yesh.

diamondcompearlnecklace Shoppin in Yer Jammies! OK, if it is a sin, is it only 80% of a sin if I use a 20% off coupon? I don’t know if I can afford any more ticks in my “Sin” column. I might be forced to do a good deed or sumthin’.

Christmas Sale – Save 20% on All Jewelry + FREE Shipping! Coupon Code: CXM09 at diamond.com. AND they let you make your purchase in MULTIPLE PAYMENTS! How kewl is that??? Prepare to be there for awhile, it’s impossible to stop looking. And looking. And drooling. And looking.

Another new update at Style & Angst is a new entry in Reviews of Stuff I Scored. Find out why I returned an absolutely GORGEOUS Rocco e Dante bag. I still wanna cry over that one.

And now I’m off to update the Private Sale Designer Boutique Schedules. Another great to place to find luxury goodies for yourse… err, for holiday prezzies, at a virtual steal!

Hee! I punned =)

Filed under: Style

Posted in Beauty, Hair, Jewelry, Shopping, fashion | Tags: Baccarat, Barbaresco, cosmetics, Dior, Duffy, fashion, Hair, handbags, Jewelry, private sale designer boutiques, Rocco e Dante, Shopping, Style, wine | No Comments »

Dressing Well and Feeling Damn Good About It!

09.27.2009 | Author SMS

Jimmy Choo Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers

Wrought with angst about shopping for designer goodies when there’s a recession going on? There’s a solution, ya know. Mosey on over to any of the several fashionista charity auctions and do something good for yourself and society. Sleeping soundly in those brand new Dior PJs just got a whoooooole lot easier!

Here’s a few online fashion charity auctions that are ongoing, but if you search Google, you’ll find lots of scheduled events routinely put on by celebrities and the like. Keep in mind though, doing good doesn’t come cheap.

Clothes Off Our Back: Founded by actors Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford, the Clothes Off Our Back charity auction, which auctions celebrity attire and the like, donates to a number of children’s charities. Often immediately after big red carpet events you will find gorgeous celebrity gowns to bid on here… never mind that no mere human can actually fit into them.

charitybuzz: Charitybuzz holds auctions that benefit a huge list of charities. Auctions include chances to hang out with celebrities (e.g., lunch at Le Cirque with Liz Smith and Tim Gunn… I recommend the milk fed suckling pig, just try not to picture Wilbur on your plate); designer fashions (a Donna Karan gown), jewelry (a Chopard diamond and amethyst watch), and experiences (VIP tickets to Fashion Week); as well as fun beauty excursions (a makeup session with Bobbi Brown‘s make-up team), amongst a host of other options.

charityfolks.com: Charityfolks.com auctions items donated by celebrities, musicians, sports stars and designer brands, among others, and donates to a wide variety of charities. You can choose to bid by charity, celebrity or category. They are currently involved in running the fabulous auction that coincides with “The Wizard of Oz Ruby Slipper Collection,” a tribute to the 70th anniversary of the classic movie organized by Warner Bros. and Swarovski. Click your heels together and repeat after me, “There’s no place I can’t go in Jimmy Choo ruby slippers, there’s no place I can’t go in Jimmy Choo ruby slippers, there’s no place… ”

Filed under: Style

Posted in Red Carpet, Shopping, fashion | Tags: Bobbi Brown, celebrities, charity, Chopard, Dior, Donna Karan, fashion, Fashion Week, Jane Kaczmarek, Jimmy Choo, Red Carpet, shoes, Shopping, Style, Swarovski, Tim Gunn | No Comments »