What to Wear on New Year’s Eve 2012

What to Wear for New Year's Eve

New Year’s Eve calls for a fabulous outfit and you still have some days left to shop! 
The sparkling shade of gold has party splendour. It is a flattering hue for every skin tone. Add embellishments, big-cat printsvivid bold colours and statement accessories – and let glamour be your talisman!

Here are some shopping suggestions:

New Year's Eve2011-12

This look works best for a fun beach party or a night at a fancy club!

Metallic gold ruched bandeau beach dress by LanvinDolly metallic leather slingback pumps by Charlotte Olympialeopard-print calf hair clutch by Valentino and lace 18-karat gold-vermeil earrings by Monica Vinader.

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Welcome to the New Year 2012

Looking stylish for a New Year’s Eve dinner party at a friend’s house or a fancy restaurant!

Darya hammered-silk wrap-effect dress by Tory Burch, Harper suede platform pumps by Rupert Sanderson, Marano glitter clutch by Anya Hindmarch, oversized beaded clip earrings iconand Swarovski crystal cocktail ring, both by Kenneth Jay Lane.

Kiss Me at MidnightAnd last but not least, the perfect outfit for a romantic New Year’s Eve celebration!

Asymmetric lace dress iconby Stella McCartney,Vamp glitter platform sandals and Cayla glitter-finish clutch, both iconby Jimmy ChooGold-plated and leather cuff by Gucci.

LoL, Sandra

The Gold Economy

Gold Economy

If yesterday’s post about Chanel’s pre-fall 2011 show put you in the opulent mood and you feel like indulging yourself in some luxurious fabrics, there is no need to wait until next fall.
This F/W 2010 has been already about brocade, gold or red fabrics, embellishments and embroideries.

Alexander McQueen, Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana and Oscar de la Renta, the forerunners of the festive trend, offer beautiful looks that work perfectly for your X-Mas or New Year’s Eve party.
A jacquard coat or blazer is an investment piece that can elevate your look to a complete new level of style.

I love my Alexander McQueen red goddess gown with beautiful golden embellishments that I wore recently to a gala in London together with a belt by Matthew Williamsonicon, some sandals by YSL and a vintage Chanel clutch.
Happy Holidays!

LoL, Sandra

GoddessWorshipMcQueen Dress

Chanel Pre-Fall 2011: Paris-Byzance


Just when you finished off your wardrobe for this winter and have started thinking about next summer, I am challenging you once more with something very beautiful for next year’s fall.
Who said following fashion was an easy task?!

This Tuesday was a very snowy day in Paris but the guests who enjoyed the atmosphere in the Chanel Haute Couture salons were transported to another era, time and place. Karl Lagerfeld was inspired for his pre-fall 2011 collection by Byzantium, one of Coco Chanel’s major inspirations when she was the first to launch a line of costume jewelry in the 1920s.


The Paris–Byzance Métiers d’art show broadcasted Chanel’s specialist craftsmen that the French house has gathered under its umbrella: Desrues the costume jeweler, Lemarié the feather specialist, Lesage the embroiderer, Massaro the shoe-maker, Michel the milliner, Goossens the goldsmith and Guillet the floral accessory specialist.


In a decor reminding of an Ottomanesque chill-out room with 400 metres of squined fabric covering the walls, Lagerfeld revisited the bold colors and antique golds. Byzance and its splendor embellished every look from belts adorned with square glass beads to gold running through burn-out tweed and embroidered silks.

The make-up was kept in the same color family with one star product: The cream palette is combining five different golds and is said to be limited to only 1500 pieces.

This collection is for the modern Theodora empresses who might be Chanel’s clientele of today. Celebrating Chanel’s strong heritage is surely a smart move and one key to remaining a powerhouse in the decades to come, especially with the opening of a second Chanel boutique in Istanbul.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chanel

A Noble Farewell


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When I was in London recently, I visited the new headquarters of net-à-porter which are absolutely stunning.

The best part was my exclusive preview of Alexander McQueen’s exquisite F/W 2010 collection.
The late Bristish designer’s final work is a piece of art, to be taken literally and owning such a statement collector’s piece is like owning a piece of fashion history.

 

 

Have a look at my favourites and see how much work and dedication the genius put in his creations. Which one would be your cultural heritage fashionwise?


Look 2

Incrusted harness dress with bulletted duchesse skirt. The printed jacquard was inspired by 3 paintings from Heironymous Bosch entitled “Earthly paradise”, “Garden of Earthly delights”, and “Musical Hell”. The harness has an all over metal sequin embroidery inspired by Byzantine Mosaics.

Retail price £12,420.00


Look 3

Duchesse dress draped with minimal use of seams and darts to form two exaggerated pockets on the side. The embroidery is a metal based embroidery inspired by the 17th century Dutch wood carver, Grinling Gibbons. The embroidery combines bullion, threadwork, metal sequins, metal flowers, metal beading.

Retail price £7,640.00


Look 5

This is the last dress that Lee McQueen draped on the mannequin. The print is inspired by the 15th century artist Stephan Lochner’s 3 church paintings of the Inunciation. Print is on silk duchesse placed following the drape of the dress. The underskirt is made of gold painted goose feathers. This dress has a bustier as part of it’s construction.

Retail price £7,165.00


Look 12

This dress is a combination of the angel wing print translated on Duchesse and chiffon. The print is inspired by the 15th Century Flemish church painter, Hugo van der Goes. The duchesse part of the dress is very sleek with a train creating a stiffness which is softened by the airy chiffon skirt that seems as if revealed. The embroidery is a silver and light gold bullion embroidery backed unto organza.

Retail price £7,165.00

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Here are some photos of the beautiful display and me enjoying every detail of those divine creations.

LoL, Sandra