Welcoming The Chaos

Yesterday, with only four days to spare before it closes, I made my way uptown to see the Costume Institute's Punk: Chaos to Couture exhibit.  I wasn't expecting to be struck in quite the way that I was, but the punk movement was just so shocking in its time, both in attitude and style, and then to see how it's inspired fashion throughout the next 30 years was amazing to see.  It seems in some way magical, yet so simple, that a designer now can look at something that happened so many years ago, and find just enough inspiration to take it, make it their own, and create something entirely modern.

 "Punk's legacy lies in its questioning of traditional representations of beauty and fashion."

I was most looking forward to seeing these Dolce & Gabanna dresses in person, they are stunning on a whole different level, and so intricate.  

"Effectively, punk democratized creativity and invention.  It broke all the rules and allowed anything to be possible." 

So this now begs the question, can anything like punk ever happen again?

Met Men

The ladies of the Met Gala typically steal the show, but this year I had to give credit to the dudes who rocked it in their designer duds.  

Up above we have Frank Ocean giving the punk to us in a very understated way, you must note the studded footwear.  And of course below is the man of the year, Pharrell Williams with his lady date, both sporting Lanvin.  The understated checked print on his suit hits me to the core. 

Men in Blue.  Eddie Redmayne in the most perfectly tailored navy Dior suit is almost too much for me to handle and Nicholas Hoult pulled off the oversized bowtie and a blue jacket quite well, how cute is he?

Last but not least, it's Charlie Conway no, Pacey Whitter I mean, JOSHUA JACKSON, looking dapper in Dior Homme. I love the touch of red in both his socks and his tie. 

Punk: Chaos to Couture, Met Gala 2013

'Twas the greatest night in fashion on Monday and though I admit I was a bit scared of what looks would show up on the carpet, but looking back on the night I was actually pleasantly surprised, even if 50% of the evening's attendees weren't remotely prepared for the Punk: Chaos to Couture theme.  Have a look through my best dressed!

Above, Sarah Jessica Parker was completely on point, in a Giles Deacon dress, Louboutin over the knee boots and a Phillip Treacy topper.  W Mag's Giovanna Battaglia was perfectly gilded in Dolce & Gabanna.

The ladies in white, Rooney Mara & Nicole Richie looked like goth princesses dressed in Givenchy & Topshop, respectively. 

The Olsen's. I can't get over how perfect Ashley is in vintage Dior, MK was also wearing vintage {this robe... so good!}. 

Sienna Miller somehow managed to make Burberry look punk chic and LeeLee Sobieski, in Dior Couture always takes the right risks.

Chloe Sevigny looked amazing in Proenza Schouler {topped with a turban OBV} and Brooklyn Decker sported custom Peter Pilotto with some insanely rad accessories.  

 

Jamie King is always on point and last night was no different in her Topshop suit.  Miley Cyrus absolutely rocked the theme in her Marc Jacobs dress and her sick 'do.  

Punky florals came out on Kerry Washington in Vera Wang, it was PERFECT on her. I also loved Miss Kim Kardashian, I know this is not a popular choice, but I thought it was a really cool dress {especially for a girl who's worn some truly hideous maternity wear}.  I'm not the biggest fan of the gloves, but I really enjoyed the rest of her look.

Last but not least, the colorful bunch!  TTH walked the carpet with the designer of her dress, the incredibly handsome Thom Browne, the spikes were out of this world.  Last but not least the Mulleavy's and Fanning sisters brought the house down with some stunning and shocking Rodarte dresses.

It never hurts to go crazy at this event and play with the theme which is why the people who are most concerned with looking generically "beautiful" are the ones that simply end up boring.  What were your thoughts on the night?

Miuccia & Elsa

A couple of weeks ago I made it to the Met to visit the Costume Institute's exhibit Impossible Conversations.  The exhibit was based around conversations that Miuccia and Elsa might have had if they'd been designing in the same era, Elsa died in 1973.  Their foundations are similar, they're both Italian, and both fell into the fashion and design world accidentally, and many of their philosophies on design are very much on par with one another.

 I took these photos illegally, so pardon the poor quality...  One of the most interesting parts of the exhibit was Waist Up/Waist Down, it focused on Elsa's designs being most interesting above the waist, where Prada features many of her most intricate details below the waist.  Schiaparelli was most famous for her jackets and hats, where Prada is famous for intensely detailed bottoms and her shoes, OHHH HER SHOES.  

 Schiaparelli on the left, Prada right.

 Schiaparelli, party on the top.

Schiaparelli left, Prada on the right. 

I loved the portion of the exhibit titled Ugly Chic.  Prada is the queen of this, so outrageous and outlandish that you look at something and think it's hideous, but you can't stop staring, and then you end up falling in love.  

"If I have done anything, it is to make ugly appealing.  In fact most of my work is concerned with destroying - or at least deconstructing - conventional ideas of beauty.  Of the generic appeal of the beautiful, glamorous, bourgeois woman.  Fashion fosters cliches of beauty, but I want to tear them apart." - Miuccia Prada

Prada

 About her Spring 2011 collection that she thought critics would absolutely hate, {it turned out to be the exact opposit} she said, "People are much more ready to accept craziness than people believe."

Prada.

 "Ninetey per cent of [of women] are afraid of being conspicuous and of what people will say.  So they buy a grey suit.  They should dare to be different.  Although I am very shy...I have never been shy of appearing in public in the most fantastic and personal getup." - Elsa Schiaparelli 

Prada left & center, Schiaparelli on the right.

I think my favorite part of the exhibit was walking through and reading Prada, and Schiaparelli's thoughts on fashion and beauty, and what they wanted people to understand from their clothes.

Sartorial Compass: Liv Tyler, Minimal Maven

As we have noticed about Liv, she enjoys classic pieces {a Burberry trench, a blazer in many iterations}.  Black may well be her favorite color, though here you'll see that she stuns in white as well.  She has a close friendship with Francisco Costa, Creative Director at Calvin Klein, like Sartorial Compass alum, Zoe Saldana,  and loves a simple but always chic Calvin Klein dress, gown, jacket etc.

 I adore all of the above looks, in particular the two end photos.  Such clean, crisp pieces, perfectly suited to Liv and her style {both Calvin Klein}

More Calvin Klein in the two center photos, she wore them to the 2008 and 2007 Met Gala's respectively.  She loves a clean line, and who can argue, she wears them so well!

Sartorial Compass: Kate Bosworth, Glammed

Despite not being the most billed actress in the whole world (aka...can't remember the last time she was in a movie) she still tends to make it to a lot of big time, very glam-my events.  Some of her brightest moments have been at the Met's Costume Institute Gala, and various Chanel sponsored events.  Have a look...

At the Met Gala over the years she has tried many different looks, Chanel in 2008, Valentino in 2010, Stella McCartney in 2009 and Prada in 2007.

The first dress is by Jil Sander and I love that it is a gown despite essentially being a t-shirt and skirt.  She looks wonderful in blue hues and the Calvin Klein on the far right is so perfectly simple.  

I love that she never appears to be trying too hard with her makeup or hair, always letting the dresses (etc...) do the work.

Sartorial Compass: Leighton Meester, Pattern Me Crazy

As much as Leighton loves a subtle watercolor print she's not one to shy away from bold prints either.  Whether it be a wild Louis Vuitton look from the 2009 Met Gala, or a sleek Vera Wang look and bold skirt she is not afraid of going for something a little crazy!  Check out her best patterned looks below.

First are 3 looks designed by the incomparable Marc Jacobs, the first is from Marc Jacobs spring '11 collection, and the other two are both Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton.  She wore the legging/dress combo for the 2009 Costume Institute Gala at the Met, it embodies everything that the event is meant to be about, high fashion and no holds barred.

Pattern on the bottom here means Proenza x J. Brand jeans, a Vera Wang look, and more Proenza!!

As previously documented Missoni is well known for their killer patterns and Leighton was featured in their Spring 2011 ad campaign.

Leighton is clearly okay with taking risks so never be afraid to go crazy with bold patterns!  Next week make sure to check out the Sartorial Compass as I'll be featuring a few of Leighton & Blair Waldorf's greatest hits!  Check out a couple of bonus looks...