With the Stella McCartney show only a couple of hours ago, I can faithfully say her fall collection remains consistent with her past showing in terms of quality. McCartney showed a luxurious knit sweater. The sky blue zippered sweaterdress was a highlight as was the white strapless dress with diagonal white and black stripes at the bottom. I lost my enthusiam for the checkered jacket as soon as it hit the runway. The attempt was over the top with the referee whistle, leggings, heels and undershirt. McCartney used black and white to great effect with a number of her dresses. I love what I have always found true of McCartney’s shows: most of her pieces were readily wearable, for a variety of different body types. It felt good seeing a show that made me believe I could wear anything without having to go on a major diet.

If Riccardo Tisci and Oswald Boateng keep this up, they may make Givenchy my favorite designer that I can not afford. For Paris, Tisci went with opulent layering to make his pieces come alive. Tisci also wasn’t afraid to use colors for his fall collection. Models trapsed down the runway in a variety of deep reds, dark browns and creams. I’ll skip the tortured details and go for the two that simply “worked.” There was a floor-length red dress with two parallel straps at the neck that held everything together. It bought a new meaning to flow. There was also a strapless black dress (not shown) with matching gloves and knee high boots that did “it” (and everything else) for me.

PS: Bravo to Tisci for using the most diverse lineup of models this fashion week in Paris.

Designer Dries Van Noten let the far east into his works in Paris. One of a number of personal favorites include an auburn/burnt sienna kimono styled piece (pictured above) that was the talk of the show. There was also an off-white halter dress with patterns that resembled a Muslim half-moon, several fitted jackets, a collared single breasted coat (one in particular had ornate golden leaves going down on the middle). The designer maintained his level quality through fluid styling that was best shown in his collection of dresses.

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The March issue of Look and Papierdoll is online. <shill> The photo above is from the March issue of Look. Photographer Carey Denniston took a couple of shots in the place I love, Brooklyn. Oh sure, Manhattanites and out-of-towners will question, what (if anything) is outside of Manhattan? We (and Carey Denniston) say a whole world. While I think the cheesecake at Junior’s is overrated, it beats anything you can get in “the city”. There’s also Coney Island in the summer (watch the glass), BAM, the Promenade (for the lover in you), DUMBO (the area, not the elephant) and a million and one things I can’t remember because it’s sooo early in the morning and I haven’t gotten my coffee while I blog in my pajamas (took the day off).

PS: We must have really gone on a Project Runway tear at Papierdoll, we have a photo/audio interview with Zulema Griffin and our interview of the month is with Jay McCarroll. Stop reading and go there now.
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