THAT 70'S (RUNWAY) SHOW

GUCCI CROCHET DRESS - SS 2011- PH: YANNIS VLAMOS/ GORUNWAY.COMIf you follow fashion, it is no surprise to you that the decade designers are looking to as the key reference point for the Spring 2011 fashion is the 1970's.   While some styles from this granola loving decade are perennial items like platforms and wide leg pants, the runway shows for Spring brought out the true hippie dippy 70's.  The attention to detail and hand finished knits have a make love, not war feel to them as natural fibers and neutral colors make the perfect backdrop for pastel prints and powerful accessories.  Crochet and Macrame are excellent examples of a hand detailed, novelty process that are not often seen on a designer runway. DIOR HAND KNOTTED, SILK MACRAME DRESS - SUMMER 2011-PH: YANNIS VLAMOS / GORUNWAY.COM 

Some of the strongest examples were found on the Gucci, Ferragamo, Dior, & Ralph Lauren Runways.   Proof that the trend is represented in Italian, French, & American Collections.

FERRAGAMO HAND CROCHET DRESS SS 2011- PH: YANNIS VLAMOS / GORUNWAY.COMJohn Galliano at Dior took the use of color combos to the extreme for his Polynesian influenced show.  Of course Mr. Galliano took the handcrafted detail of the 70's to another level with hand knotted macrame throughout the collection.  Hair and make-up paid tribute to 50's pin-up icon Bettie Page.  Who else would feature an exotic Batik print on a finely tailored French jacket?  Galliano is in a category all by himself.   His creations lead the way in Paris season after season. CLASSIC CROCHET -RALPH LAUREN SS 2011- PH: MONICA FEUDI / GORUNWAY.COM Equally talented in Couture & RTW, the legacy of Christian Dior is in brilliant hands.    

Massimiliano Giornetti at Ferragamo gave an elegant interpretation of the sultry 70's detailing in his show in Milan.   Inspired by the iconic 1969 film "la Piscine" with Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, & Jane Birkin, the Ferragamo runway was awash with monochromatic ensembles that are Riviera Ready.   Giornetti has helped elevate Ferragamo's fashion presence since taking creative control of this chic Italian Mega-brand last year.    

DIOR BATIK PRINTED JACKET & HAND KNOTTED MACRAME SKIRT - SUMMER 2011 PH: YANNI VLAMOS/ GORUNWAY.COMBack in New York, Ralph Lauren looked to his own signature styling to mix LADY DIOR 'WATER PRINT" - DIOR SUMMER 2011crochet dresses back to Western inspired accessories and the classic Americana style he has built his empire on.

ACCESSORY HIGHLIGHT:  The chicest bag on the Paris runways was the latest version of the Iconic Lady Dior Bag.   The optic water print was dominant in the RTW collection and found itself on the Lady Dior.  The blue and white print is meant to resemble the sun glistening on the ocean - the ultimate accessory for this tropical fantasy of Dior Summer 2011.

Be prepared to get your Mrs. Roper groove on -that's right, the CAFTAN is also back - I'll have an update with pics of the best..stay tuned!! 

RALPH LAUREN'S HONORABLE MENTION?

RALPH LAURENWhile this mention is honorable, it is anything but last place!   Fashion designer Ralph Lauren will receive the ultra -prestigious Legion of Honor (Legion d'honneur) from France later this month.  LEGION OF HONOR That's right, the designer who put the luxe in American Sportswear and taught WASPs how to dress is receiving an award, not from a French organization or fashion group, but from THE COUNTRY.   French president Nicolas Sarkozy will present the designer with the award the same week  the Ralph Lauren flagship is unveiled on Boulevard Saint Germain on the left bank of Paris.   RALPH LAUREN S/S 2010 - PHOTO MARCIO MADEIRA With six floors of retail, the store which will carry most things RL, will be the largest Ralph Lauren store in the world -no small feat!   A stones throw from stylishly iconic fashion landmarks as Cafe de Flore and Brasserie Lipp, the  store will have a restaurant of it's own, called what else - Ralph's.     My sources tell me the cafe will be a 2.0 version of the ever popular RL in Chicago.    POLO RALPH LAURENYou know you have made it when you are an American designer receiving the Legion of Honor from the motherland of Chanel, Dior, and Saint Laurent.   Congratulations Mr. Lauren, you've earned it!

LOOK VERA WANG!

I know the title of this post sounds like an order, but Look is actually the name of the new Vera Wang Scent.  Thats right, the new one - the well known bridal designer has several.   I have been vocal in the past about my lack of enthusiasm for the Wang scents.   I just about lost it when I heard about the Men's launch.. ???  I can just see a guy trying that pick up line.. "Wanna smell my Wang?".. and what was that song.."If I could have Wang in a bottle.... YOU CAN!!".   Ok, I know thats too much.   I just don't get it.  (previous blog about Celebrity Scents)

The press release says that the new fragrance contains : mandarin, lychee, misted greens, heart of lilly, freesia, jasmine, and a vanilla-chypre dry down.  Wow... sounds like you might need a can of OFF along with LOOK.   

I must give Vera credit.   She keeps smart people around her to grow that business.   They launched fragrance.   They launched Jewelry - but that didn't go so well.    They then launched Ready-To-Wear... I know.. you just want her wedding gowns..   Then they launched Lavender - a bridge line.   If it sounds familiar, your probably thinking of Purple Label - but that is one of Ralph Lauren's collections for men.   Did I forget to mention, Vera worked at RL before launching her own label.. uh huh.   Then they launched Simply Vera at Kohl's.   I guess there was just not enough Vera Wang out there?  Well, lets look on the bright side.   It could be worse - the house of Wang could be launchiing a.... C.D.    Smelling Vera Wang is way better than listening to her speak..   Trust me, its nails on a chalk board.

Look is available at Bloomingdale's