Things I Love ... Valentino Red

One of my favorite fashion moments is always a Valentino dress in the house's signature color - red.  It's the perfect shade and always makes a statement.  While flipping through Paris Fashion Week photos I spotted this gem.  It's such an extravagant dress, so much detailed lace in such a bold color, but it looks so pure and simple.  I love that she kept the accessories simple yet bold: red patent ankle straps and a small leopard clutch.  It's such a standout look.  I love it!

(image via Harper's Bazaar)

Raf and Hedi

So I dropped off the blogging grid for about a week... Sorry for the lack of posts but I have been busy keeping up with school and traveling and truthfully felt a little uninspired.  While I have been loving the Paris fashion shows, I didn't want to inundate you with fashion and wasn't feeling much inspiration from other sources.  So of course today what shall I write about? Fashion.

The big news this season (and for months now really) has been the new designers for the houses of Dior and Yves Saint Laurent.  Raf Simons left the Jil Sander brand after the Fall 2012 season and debuted for Dior as a couturier this summer.  But his first ready-to-wear line for the historic brand has been much anticipated.  Just as the arrival of Hedi Slimane at the helm of YSL.  Slimane hasn't been designing for a few years now (leaving Dior Homme for a move into photography) but he's been given completely creative control over the YSL brand.  First order of business, changing the name to Saint Laurent Paris.  He's also redesigning stores and coming up with concepts for and shooting advertising campaigns.  While Slimane did create a collection for resort, it was only viewable by buyers.  So his Spring 2013 show has been much anticipated.  Here are how both amazing designers are bringing their iconic houses into the future.

Dior Spring 2013

Raf went back to Christian Dior roots with sleek, ladylike tailoring.  He also demonstrated the beautiful minimalism he is known for, but never in a stark way.  

Saint Laurent Paris Spring 2013

Slimane channeled some classic Saint Laurent shapes while injecting his years spent in Los Angeles.  The feel was very California bohemian with the rocker chic of the '70s.  

(images via Style.com)

Frida's Gucci

Milan Fashion Week is finally over and as the fashion set move onto Paris I wanted to show you my favorite show from the Italians.  While there are plenty stunners that showed (Bottega Veneta, Emilio Pucci, Alberta Ferretti, Giorgio Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo... I could go on and on...) my perennial favorite is Frida Giannini for Gucci.  I think everything she does is stunning.  Giannini is able to keep the Gucci sex appeal that was famous under Tom Ford but with a feminine touch.  For spring, the Gucci collection was all about color and large ruffles that evoke a kind of grown-up femininity and elegance, but a look at the back of most dresses deliver a soupcon of sex.

Here are my favorites....

(images via Style.com, The Sartorialist, & Garance Doré)

Queen Victoria

I am completely obsessed with Victoria Beckham.  I think her personal style is right on and I think she has the most amazing knack for fashion.  She is also one celebrity (Olsen twins included) that I think has completely mastered the transition from fame to fashion.  Her eponymous line is not some cheeky experiment to mass market herself and make a buck.  It's sophisticated, polished and expensive.  She clearly knows what she's doing and has won over plenty of stylish women who now wear her signature  dresses.  Her shows for me are always a highlight during fashion week especially now that she has a diffusion line that is slightly less expensive (read: high 3 digits instead of 4).

Here are some of my favorite looks from her fashion shows for the Spring/Summer 2013 season.

Victoria Beckham

So obsessed! Especially with the coat on the left and it's perfect mix of orange and white

Sexy silhouettes continue with the lingerie trend of the season

Victoria, Victoria Beckham

Completely obsessed with this dress.  I want it in my closet so badly! It's so feminine with a slightly retro vibe that I completely love! WANTS.

(images via Style.com)

Best of Burberry

London Fashion week is officially over but before we get excited about Milan (and the bevy of amazing houses that will show) here is my favorite show of the week: Burberry!  How can you not love Burberry? First off, they are classic perfection.  Trench coats and plaid.  Need I say more?  But to top it off, with creative director Christopher Bailey at the helm, Burberry is the most high-tech brand on the marketplace.  They're ability to communicate with their consumer base via social media and technology is truly innovating.  And while the house is known for certain signatures, they still push the envelope every season, being able to be modern and cutting edge and still keeping their signatures.

For the Spring/Summer 2013 Burberry Prorsum show, there were vibrant colors, touches of lace and satin, and the inclusion of corsetry and capes.  But there were also trenches galore.  The finale was visually stunning and included all the models clad in bright trench coats. Also, notice the models' stunning red lips! So excited the trend is sticking around for spring!

 You can watch the show on the Burberry website and shop looks while you're seeing them come down the runway.  Here are some of my favorite pieces...

OBSESSED with this white cape and coat!

Love the lace trench! And the retro silhouettes

This peplum is insane! Wants!

These looks made me audibly gasp when watching the show.  Feathered dress and then that amazingly stunning cape!

Trenches in every color!

(images via Style.com)