Pining for Something I Can't Have

There are many things that you can find in every city you go to, no matter what part of the world you're in. But there are things that still remain exclusive to certain countries—at least for now. Unfortunately, one of those things is COS, a high street brand created by the genius' behind H&M. I've only recently discovered COS, but every time I see new looks from them, it's torture because I can't purchase them. I love the clean lines and modern edge which is all topped off by the fact that the line is delightfully affordable. Currently, they only ship to select countries in Europe, but I'm hoping and praying they'll start catering to the US market. Until then, I'll just have to satisfy my cravings with pictures...unless someone abroad wants to mail stuff to me...anyone?

Runway Rundown: Spring 2012, Paris Part Deux

Paris was the ultimate culmination of fashion week. New York was fun, London was quirky, Milan was a party and Paris was divine. Here are my faves of the week, part 2.

YSL

Alexander McQueen
Breathless, extravagant, dark…it's beautiful, every single piece of it.

Chanel
It normally takes me a while to warm up to Chanel collections. I tend to not like them the minute they hit the runway, but after a while I end up loving them. But this one was different, Karl's under sea set charmed me, and the clothes, with their playful prettiness, girly silhouettes and textured florals were a hit in my eyes from look one.

Elie Saab

Louis Vuitton
After the fetish party for fall that I never quite warmed to, Louis Vuitton's spring collection is more up my alley. With a pastel color palette and modern twist on classic 60s silhouettes, it tugs at my Mad Men loving heart strings and I have to admit it's love, sweet love. The oversized skirt suits, sheer cotton-candy like fabrics and creative accents are refreshing and flirty. Marc Jacobs, you killed it this season and I've added myself to your fan list.

Miu Miu

Valentino
Even on a minimalist silhouette, no one does red like Valentino.

Balenciaga
Nicholas Ghesquire manages to surprise me season after season with his ability to present collections that are thoroughly modern but still pay tribute to the classical house of Balenciaga. The oversized color-blocked jackets layered over languidly draped skirts and blouses have silhouettes that present the familiar wonder that Cristobal himself was able to produce, but with a modern, unique touch all their own.

Celine

Carven
I've been drawn to Carven's tomboy girlie girl designs for the past few seasons. There's something about the pristine mini dresses that just makes me smile. This time Guillaume Henry has delivered once again, with a candy-colored collection that follows in a similar vein as past collections, but puts a new twist on the concept. Bold brights and modern cutouts add a new sense of flair to the looks.

All photos: Imaxtree

Runway Rundown: Spring 2012, Paris Part Un

I want to write a lengthy, eloquent, flowery review for every single show I loved at Paris Fashion Week. But realistically, I loved too many and my brain has officially turned to mush halfway through. I was able to pull together some quick blurbs about some of them, but for others I'm just posting pictures. Pretty pictures of gorgeous clothes, still absolutely satisfying. Odds are people weren't reading the text anyway.

Here's part 1, part 2 to come tomorrow—stay tuned!

Chloe

Christian Dior

Dries Van Noten
If you haven't already noticed, I'm obsessed with prints and there aren't many who do them better than Dries Van Noten. Rather than the abstracts the brand normally presents, this season the landscapes were more straight to the point, but done in muted almost grayscale tones with the occasional flash of color. It was a refreshing new look that I'm seriously digging.

Isabel Marant
The cool French girl we all love is back for another season. The expert layers, slouchy knits and delightful sporty chic contrast of textures is back again. There's no wonder fashion's most fashionable clamor for her stuff season after season.

Givenchy
At Givenchy, the prints were done away with in favor of juxtaposing textures that gave depth to otherwise basic colors. I wanted all of it, especially after seeing a photo of Carine Roitfeld wearing one of the skirts…the day after the show. Amazing! The layering was exquisite: complex, but light and sleek. I bet the pieces were even more impressive up close.

Giambattista Valli
If I could have an entire closet full of Giambattista Valli, I'd be a happy happy girl. From ready-to-wear to couture, his designs are always exquisitely constructed and absolutely luxurious. No surface is left to chance and its all executed with a precision not often seen these days. For spring, the colors were muted with a variety of exquisite textured fabrics in a series of pearlized and metallic finishes. As usual, Giambattista's expert attention to shape and contrast made each piece special, somewhat edgy, but in a high-end way.

Lanvin
Moody, edgy, sleek, streamlined, tailored perfection. 'Nuff said.

Pedro Lourenço
This wunderkind has officially made his way to the top of my faces to watch list. I adored his spring collection and its contradicting yet harmonious use of a variety of textures and innovative fabrics. Glitter skirts, metallic fabric and neoprene on slim, yet oversized and slouchy silhouettes? I'm totally there.

Stella McCartney
Loved the different prints in similar colorways contrasted together for a seamless look. I also loved the baroque accents and sheer panels creating unique paneling and silhouettes. Solid collection, as always.

Vionnet

All photos: Imaxtree

Aquilano.Rimondi Spring/Summer 2012

So, I'm not sure how I missed this, but um—whoah, hubba hubba. Dear Aquilano.Rimondi, where have you been all my life? Spring 2012 was perfection. I die over every single gorgeously textured, expertly crafted, masterfully contrasted piece. It's love, true love.

All photos: Imaxtree

Runway Rundown: Spring 2012, Milan

Prada
Oh Miuccia, you've done it again! Who knew car prints could be so chic? For spring, Prada played on the Italian love of cars with a vintage-inspired car print on the candy colored ladylike pieces. There was also a play on contrasts with chunky, boxy jackets and coats topping off the sleek dresses underneath. Man Repeller joked that the collection would be the uniform for her birthday, but with the toys boys love printed on these pieces, man repellers these pieces are not.

Fendi
Karl, that was fantastic. The construction was impeccable on the luxuriously slouchy, yet masterfully constructed pieces. The muted color palette was easy on the eyes and understated, but beautiful. I can see all the pieces making their way into my wardrobe: the blazer with cutout shoulders and the sheer sweater with thick knit detailing, not to mention the dresses with unique tailored detailing. It was original, yet classic at the same time.

Marni
Marni, Marni, Marni, what is it about you that makes me want you every season? Is it your clean lines, adept utilization of contrast and texture, or your masterful print work? Oh wait, it's all of the above. For spring, Marni hit it right on the mark with a bold collection that hit all the sweet spots, but managed to feel new.

Jil Sander
Sleek and innovative, the characteristics that Jil Sander exudes season in and out were executed with perfect precision for spring. The signature structured pieces were present, complemented with sheer detailing and prints that felt familiar, yet new at the same time. I loved all of it, now if only I was tall enough to wear it.

Emporio Armani
It was back to basics at Emporio Armani, although only in the color palette because the pieces were anything but. Luxurious is one way to describe the expert construction that transformed the neutral palette into something rich and full. Who needs color when the pieces are this glamorous? I particularly loved the use of contrasting edges to add depth and texture to the garments, while the slim silhouettes oozed sophistication. Oh, and that cutout collar? I need it in my life.

D&G
Well, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana sure know how to say goodbye. I'm mourning the end of D&G and its flirtatious and whimsical collections, but it's hard to stay sad when their final season is so good—or does that make it even worse? Either way, I smiled from start to finish. The silky scarf prints were used in innovative ways, so that even if they dominated the entire collection, each look managed to feel fresh and new.

Dolce & Gabbana
I wouldn't have thought that one of my favorite collections from Milan would have lifted its inspiration from the produce aisle, but I never wanted to eat vegetables more than after the Dolce & Gabbana show. The innovative print combined with the womanly silhouettes had me from look 1. I can't wait to get my daily serving of veggies now!

Moschino
Moschino's tribute to the bull fight felt a bit literal at first, but hey who doesn't love a matador—well except the bull of course. With the sport disappearing—Catalonia just had its last bull fight—its apt that the brand pay tribute to the elegance of the costume. Intricate detailing felt luxe while the slim lines were undeniably sexy, topped off with a cheerful pop of yellow this collection won me over.

All Photos: Imaxtree