ONESIXTYNOTEPAD: GIVENCHY

Showing posts with label GIVENCHY. Show all posts

HAUTE COUTURE S/S 11 HIGHLIGHTS.

The dry spell for Haute Couture may very well just be over. For once in a long time, it has finally found a promise to remain relevant in this day and age of fast-fashion.

No appliqués or embroidery rained on Armani Privé this spring, but instead it shocked us with a forward-looking collection that is deliciously psychedelic with its electric colours and high tech fabrics, a drift from the usual Haute Couture palette. With the mirror effect on the organza and the out-of-this-world Philip Treacy head gears, the Armani girls are a God-sent breath of fresh air delivered straight from the 11th planet. For a risk that could have gone sour, dismissed as being contrived, this risk is supported with the no nonsense craftsmanship expected of Haute Couture. The collection wasn’t busying itself to look futuristic. It just simply was. Moreover, it still maintains the essence of Armani through the recognizable silhouettes unlike the tragedy that was Valentino Haute Couture Spring 2010.

On the other side, Givenchy pulled off a ballsy move casting only Asian models for its show. It is also interesting that the house decided to be inspired by Japanese culture and Japanese art - hence, the Samurai hats and the compulsive crane motif embroidery. What’s more brow-raising is that the inspiration comes not from traditional Japan but from the modern day land of Takashi Murakami, Kazuo Ohno’s Butoh dance form and Hello Kitty. Whether Givenchy is inspiring a new ‘Asian cult’ with this collection or merely riding on the wave of the current pulse in fashion, it is certainly doing something right. More importantly, it is paving the way for Haute Couture by drawing inspiration from more contemporary sources.

Last on the list of favourites for this season is Christian Dior. Inspired by Réne Gruau illustrations, the collection showed a lot of variety. And above, all the silhouettes also seem younger and fresher from the usual cuts that can only be imagined on trophy wives of super rich oil moguls. The collection is aspirational without being stuffy. And simply, it’s fun.

What is heartening to see is that Haute Couture may be finding its way back to its helm as the pinnacle of fashion by being the source of inspiration not just through its unparalleled craftsmanship but through its exploration of higher concepts that ready-to-wear cannot afford to. Boasting thousands of man-hours and counting the appliqués on a dress is not going to be enough to preserve this venerable art form. On the contrary, being at the forefront of fabric technology and standing at the edge of globalized culture like Armani and Givenchy respectively may just be Haute’s Couture ticket to saving itself from sinking to the depths of obscurity.

Nabil.

COUTURE FALL 2010.11 HIGHLIGHTS.

Chanel Haute Couture F/W 10.11 Paris

I heard Karl tends to lose things—along with his car keys, I think he misplaced his sanity too—come on, we only care about the giant Styrofoam lion or the huge imported iceberg more than anything else! There’s so much hate for the Chanel Couture this season. I guess us minions have to walk by a Chanel Boutique in order to appreciate those pieces.

Givenchy Haute Couture F/W 10.11 Paris

You know it’s a hit when the new owner’s wife of Harrods bought the entire Givenchy Haute Couture collection. Tisci tops his collection once again with ten spectacular looks. Tisci showed modern couture; wearable, intricate and beyond exceptional. Alongside with seasoned models, former assistant to Tisci modeled for couture collection this season. The house of Givency gets props for the progressive approach for casting a transgender.

Christian Dior Haute Couture F/W 10.11 Paris

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again— we’ll never live to see another amazing collection like we did in 2005. I didn’t like the literal translation of flowers on a human form. Some of the pieces were adorable sans makeup but it feels like déjà vu. Don’t the sight of the finale gown makes you want to puke tulle?

Images Source: Daylife, The Fashion Spot.

Dinie.

GRAMMY AWARDS 2010.

Can we discuss the Grammys, please?

The Grammys was all about gaga so, lets fill our head with more Lady Gaga trivia. Besides having both clits and penis, what else do you know about Gaga? Did you know that Akon discovered Lady Gaga? I know right, so tragic. As if that Armani Prive wasn’t tragic enough, I had to disappoint you such devastating information.

The bolder Gaga gets with her outfits, the more tragic she looks. At first it was ‘Oh wow Margiela so chic’ now it’s more like ‘oh wow Margiela shit’. That was hideous, you look like a mobile steam boat restaurant from east coast food centre floating on the red carpet of the Grammys.

And of course our personal favorite, Miss Sasha Fierce. Yo Beyonce, I’ma let you finish but you need to stop stealing clothes from Rihanna’s closet. Rihanna had the best closet of all time! No seriously, you need to stop playing dress-up with Rihanna’s wardrobe. You need a dress that fits not a dress that’s ‘fierce’! Let me break it down for you: A dress that fits mean a dress that is of size ten and above. A size two Atelier Versace dress is not appropriate for women of size twenty. Still don’t get it? Call me.

From the diva who force fit herself into a tiny dress to a diva who simply wants to fit in; Ciara. Where do I begin? How about, the unfortunate pairing of Ciara and Givenchy? Rihanna and Givenchy is harmony. Ciara and Givenchy equal ‘What the fuck is that I don’t get it’. The whole look itself wasn’t bad but, she looks like wallpaper in that ‘fierce’ off the runway couture piece! Well at least Beyonce tried hard to be fierce; Ciara is not even trying to werq that couture piece.

Out of four of the ‘high fashion’ divas that I was excited about, I like only one. Rihanna in Elie Saab couture is best dressed. One thing I would do differently is the hair and makeup. I would prefer it to be sleek backwards with a darker make up instead of the frosty white eye shadow.

Both Lady Gaga and Rihanna have their own ‘identity’ when it comes to fashion, I suggest the other two pretty ladies should focus on being pretty in gowns and stop with the fierce factor.Dinie is not pleased.

Dinie.

GIVENCHY PRE-FALL 2010.

Hmm, why so restrained Mr.Tisci? What would Rihanna say about your no-stud policy for fall? And do I see color?

It’s unlike the Givenchy we’ve seen; it was clean, tailored, and experimental but it lacks the Tisci identity. I was really anticipating a stronger than before collection by Tisci, not a toned-down Givenchy. I wouldn’t have guessed that this was Givenchy, my guesses were: Celine & Chloe or worst, Zara. (Because of the marabou feathers) The only thing that hinted that this was indeed a Givenchy collection was the Nightingale. (Which now comes in a trolley bag.)

Dinie.

COUTURE FALL 2009 HIGHLIGHTS.

We’ll ever see anything like Christian Dior Fall Couture 2006 ever again--It was the most impressive collection to date. To see no Anna on Couture week and seeing no red at Valentino, this season was disappointing.

Lacroix was expected not to show this season, but he did. A shows with a story to tell but it was mediocrity that he presented.
Im baffled, Givenchy looking a little like Theysken, the only thing that could relate to Tisci’s esthetic was studs and more metal studs to follow. Speaking of copycats, the obvious was Elie Saab with an all-white show, it was beautiful. Karl Lagerfeld did that at the same exact location where Saab showed his Fall Couture.

I love what Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli did at Valentino.The workmanship that went to each individual piece was impressive, despite it not looking anything like Valentino. Yes, I won’t discuss Chanel.

Image via WWD

Dinie.