>> Now that you checked out our top 50 footwear picks, it's time to focus on the hottest handbags for Spring 2011. We scoured through collections from New York, London, Milan, and Paris and chose our 50 favorites — from the likes of Chanel, Chloe, and Prada — for you to peruse. Let the bag envy begin.
>> Spring 2011 brought a variety of lust-worthy footwear: we saw everything from chunky wooden sandals at Rachel Comey to suede lace-up boots at Emilio Pucci. Check out our top 50 shoe picks — including this amazing sporty wedge from Prada — from New York, London, Milan, and Paris now!
>> The Susan Sontag quote on every Louis Vuitton attendee's seat was a clue: "The relation between boredom and camp taste cannot be overestimated," it said. What followed, starting with model Kristina Salinovic — her jet-black hair and white-streaked bangs an ode to Sontag — was "total camp glamour, clothes for the extrovert; chinoiserie, the 1920s, everything that Paris stands for," in Jacobs's words. "Basically, I didn't want anything natural," he continued. "I wanted everything overly stylized. The iris prints — like the screens you’d see in a seventies apartment — but so bad!”
The runway was black faux marble, the backdrop gold and black fringed curtains with three stuffed tigers in front. Jacobs freely admitted that he was inspired by the early work of Japanese designers in Paris — like Kenzo Takada: "Of course, these are my references. I love the exoticism, the way Paris embraced Orientalism." He further explained: “My first job was with Kansai Yamamoto. He did all those sequined motif sweaters. I always reference other designers and don’t care if I admit it!”
Kristen McMenemy closed out the show — which featured shoes with giraffe legs as heels — in a pair of black trousers, her torso painted in black and white zebra stripes. As WWD put it, "It may not have been his most stellar or controversial outing for Vuitton, but it was playful, exuberant and glam, bam, thank-you ma’am. And a whole lot of fun."
>> Sales at Miu Miu — which makes most of its money with shoes and bags — have doubled in the past four years. And Prada executives are doing everything they can to fight the perception that Miu Miu is a more affordable little sister to Prada — in some cases, Miu Miu's shoe prices are now higher than Prada's, and Prada Chief Operating Officer Sebastian Suhl looks at the two as "friendly competitors."
In light of the brand's upwards movement, Miuccia Prada unveiled her Spring 2011 Miu Miu collection in its largest venue yet — a specially erected stage in the Palais Royal, painted red in a nod to red carpets and the collection's exploration of "fame and everyone wanting it," according to Prada.
It was surely no coincidence that young rising stars Rihanna, Dakota Fanning, and Mia Wasikowska were front row for the star-spangled show, which also featured samples of the American Idol theme song on the soundtrack.
When I'm reviewing a new collection, my mind almost always reminisces back to previous collections. Like when I started consuming Marc Jacobs's Spring '11 pieces for Louis Vuitton, I instantly wanted to compare them to his Spring '10 collection for the house. And sure enough, they both have hints of the '70s, only this season is way more sleek and chic. Gone are the ginormous afros and in are slick 'dos. Fabrics are silkier, flashier, more colorful, and flowy. Even Marc's outfit this time is snazzier. Step inside to relive Louis Vuitton's Spring '10 and to check out the brand-new Spring '11.
When Chanel calls, FabSugar goes running. Yesterday, the team headed to Paris to attend the Chanel show at the Grand Palais. From the white, black, and silver décor to the front-row stars and Karl, it was a thoroughly French — and completely amazing — affair. Experience Chanel through Fab's eyes:
Paris Fashion Week just closed its last show, and if the makeup and hair I've seen on display in the last few days are any indication, we're gearing up for an absolutely gorgeous 2011. The catwalks were lavish with jewel box tones, soft, glossy hair, and patent shine. There's no need to wait six months to jump on these looks, so go on — step into Paris in the springtime.
