Balmain Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Ready To Wear Collection Summary

I j'adore Christophe Decarnin. If you are unfamiliar, where on earth have you been the last for the last 18 seasons? Personally, Balmain's ready-to-wear collection is just off the charts. It embodies the timeless rock and roll chic look, that any fashionista would just die for. I think if Oscar De La Renta was still present in the prestigious fashion house, the edginess of the ready-to-wear collections would be lacking. De La Renta is an undeniable fashion legend within couture, however I think Alber Elbaz at Lanvin, and Decarnin own the modern RTW runways. It would be very interesting to see a couture collection by Decarnin because there has not been one since 2003 (De La Renta leaving the house in 2001 for his own label)!

The look to your left worn by the gorgeous Anna Selezneva, is a personal favourite of mine. The silk ankle boot is a trend just waiting to happen after the whole militant utility craze upon us this season (with the shoe boot). I love anything leather and this look reminds me of a 70's rockstars girlfriend with the skin tight wet look trousers accompanied with a studded belt. Fur. Fur fur fur. Giselle Bündchen's protestors won't be too happy about this! But it really looks like fur is back! Fur represents glamour to me. But I am the tinciest bit anti-fur in the sense that I would prefer artificial fur. But fur is fur. Although fur wasn't a favourite for Stella McCartney for the upcoming winter, Chanel's Karl Largerfeld, went all the way. (to the right)

As did Elbaz (well not to Largerfeld's extreme). But the Lanvin runways most certainly captured an essence of fur.
(<---) Anyway, returning to Decarnin... Gold is evidently a favourite colour for Decarnin. The fabulous Carmen Kass struted her stuff in a flawlessly stunning thigh grazing trench, shortly followed by Sasha Pivovarova in a gold leopard print dress with shoulder pads that would cut you in half!

SO...Notable trends for rock and roll chic, this fall/winter:

Gold... All things gold!

Silk Ankle Boot.

Fur.

See through delicates.

Studded belts around the hips (not for the waist unless wearing a dress/coat - kind of last seasonish).

I will have my eye open for any other trends I feel are worth discussing! Comment and tell me what you think of the upcoming trends and favourite designers.

Do you have perfectionsyndromme?

Perfectionsyndromme is a newly diagnosed illness most common among teenage girls. Some cases are very mild and can most certainly be overcome, however in some cases it can be fatal. The pyschological disease's cause is unknown. Some blame upbringing, others blame the media, but the truth be told... Nobody really knows.

Common symptoms:
Constantly reminding yourself you're physical looks aren't good enough.
Finding yourself not wanting to wear certain things until you've lost/gained weight.
Desperate desire to have a boyfriend/girlfriend who treats you like a goddess.
Obsessing over an imperfection you have (could be acne, unwanted fat ect).
Developing other disorders such as anorexia in order to meet your own requirements.
Wanting to achieve perfect grades.
Being unhealthily jealous of someone who you think is better than you at something.

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, please make sure you analyze why you are like this. Finding the root of a problem is where you can begin to heal and overcome the illness. Also I ask that you take this seriously, and remember that by changing everything about yourself will not make you any happier, any prettier, or even any better. But accepting yourself for who you are and accepting that we all have flaws and talents, and maybe discovering your own talent - will. The pressure on young girls is increasing and whilst this is the case, the number of insecure girls is increasing also. If it's any help please get a councellor.

Remember that there will ALWAYS be a girl who is prettier, there will ALWAYS be a girl thinner, or if your thin, there will ALWAYS be a girl more curvaceous, but even the prettiest girl in the room - still doesn't feel like she is.

The g a p

If you are unfamiliar with the latest gap toothed trend, then please read on! Abbey Lee Kershaw, the 5"11 girl-next-door stunner from down under, is an image irresitable for campaign bookers such as the multi talented Karl Largerfeld. A personal favourite of mine, due to consistent runway appearences from Victoria's Secret to Dior, who never fails to work that gap-toothed open pout! I find with models such as: Grace Jones, Alla Kostromichova, Alek Wek, and other very avant garde faces, it is easy for casting directors to market them as high fashion and will effortlessly book edgey editorials in numéro or ID; however this isn't the best way to make a strong name for yourself, as a model, in the crazy world of the what is the fashion industry. Which is why I believe Abbey Lee is THE model of our generation. Abbey Lee has been blessed with a very pretty face and a flawless body, which in reality, is amazing and would give any teenage girl the confidence to strut down the beach in a bikini with a flirtacious grin. However, when it comes to fashion? That would ordinarily be an unhesitated "...NEXT please". But what changed all this for Abbey was her gap.

The beautiful and unique gap between her porcelain teeth, has set her apart from the pretty girl crowd. I believe without that gap, she wouldn't have made it out of Australia. For this, I applaud the fashion industry. The controversial industry is represented in a very negative light and is the prime suspect for responsibilty of increasing anorexia nervosa suffers. I am not going to dismiss this, as I think the statement holds an element of truth in the sense that an aspiring model, may feel to "fat" for fashion and starve down to nothing in the pursuit of a career. Although, fashion doesn't represent women of all bodily shapes and sizes, it does do that facially. If young girls are, as the media say, deeply influenced by what they see on the runway, when they see beauties such as Abbey Lee Kershaw, rocking a gap toothed smile, the gap being very common in youth, will allow a new idea of beauty; instead of the cookie-cutter perfect straight white grin.

Georgia Jagger, for example, booking a Rimmel London commercial with her unlikely gap. I say "unlikely" with a pinch of optimism. This is because Abbey Lee may be extremely versatile - because of her engagement with runway, editorial, covers, and lingerie modeling, but I am yet too view an abbey lee giggly televison commercial (exluding her very serious Gucci fragrance - Flora ad). So, back to the optimism, I feel that by Georgia being the face of Rimmel with her avant gardesck bone structure and teeth, gives girls with gaps (like myself!) - hope. Which is something that lacks within the teenage soul of a girl who doesn't look like Heidi Klum... *cough* tight toothed bitch... ANYWAY... Rimmel London being so mainstream, using a gap toothed girl riskily opens doors for the next commerical face with a gap. Lara Stone is also very similar too Abbey Lee, in terms of versatility, and is currently on top of her game knocking straight toothed Raquel Zimmermann off the spot of #1 on models.com's infamous top 50 models! This was a controversially anticipated move presumably made by Wayne Sterling (founder of MDC), due to the desire for Natasha Poly's so called "right" to the spot. Another straight toothed dominator, who is undeniably STUNNING with bone structure to murder for and a walk out doing Gisele Bundchen, yet is lacking something that clearly somebody feels Lara has. Personally if it was up to me Abbey Lee would be way up there not at the respectable, yet beatable #8.

Gaps are the future. I feel it would be unforgivable of me to write about gaps and not mention the women responsible, Madonna Louise Ciccone. I wish I could say that her gap is responsible for her sucsess and longevity, but that would be decieving as I think it's the voice behind her gap that is accountable for that one. Having said this, I do feel her gap is a trademark that has done nothing but help Madge along the way and I do feel her gap definatley encouraged her collaboration with Dolche & Gabbana - nevermind the campaign!