Runway Report: Versace Spring/Summer 2012

Grommets, Studs, Seashell Motifs...It's Versace 1992 all over again...And I LOVE IT!

Versace Spring 2012

Last week, Donatella Versace showed her latest Spring 2012 Collection for the House of Versace in the gorgeous garden at the Via Gesù show space. The collection was very "Retro Versace". Like I had seen it before somewhere...

It's All About 1992: Versace Couture 1992 above on Naomi, Stephanie and Yasmeen--and on Lady Gaga

I had. The Versace Spring 2012 Collection had many motifs and style elements from that much-Lady Gaga loved Versace Couture 1992 time period (she's been spotted wearing A LOT from those collections lately). The grommets, the silver and gold studs, the heavily cluttered sequins, the seashell prints and motifs...

Seashell Retro: Versace Spring/Summer 1992

Donatella went back to the Versace Archives (as well she should, maybe inspired by Miss Gaga) and really referenced those years in particular for this collection. And what a surprise, they looked "fresh and new", especially to those "kids" who were probably 3 when those collections came out! But I remember darlings--I could never forget Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Karen Mulder and Yasmeen Ghauri in those seashell printed swimsuits and those leather and gold studded gowns!!!

Versace Spring 2012

But back to the present: Versace Spring 2012 showed lots of light "candy sorbet" colors--the light blues, the lemon yellows, the aqua-greens. Lots of luscious draped and shirred silk jersey and silk chiffon added to the "prettiness".

Versace Spring 2012

And yes, those 1992'esque black gold studded skirts and tops and Seashell-motif sequined applique. Donatella also played with some asymmetry, especially with chiffon "overlay" that would "half" cover a simple and elegant sheath dress or a skirt.

Versace Spring 2012

Gowns were seductive, sexy and oh-so-Versace Red Carpet. Also in those light candy-sorbet colors. The grommeting and studded sequin detail was followed through to the final runway-stomping gowns. Now speaking of Runway Stomping...There was a "Model Down":


Poor Lindsey Wixson (American, famous for her "bee-stung" lips) came crashing down almost at the end of the Versace Spring 2012 show. Lindsey happens to be one of Donatella's faves--if not her "Muse", but the 17 year old (A Muse at 17??) came tumbling down as she tried to maneuver those towering 8" lucite stilletto wedge platforms.

She did get back up and instead of running as fast as she could out of the runway, she continued her walk with "Victory" thumbs-up hand signs. Nice Recovery Girl!!!!

If you want to see the stumble--and the Entire Versace Spring 2012 Collection Runway Video, Click Below:

Nick Verreos Attends FIDM Museum & Galleries "Fabulous!" Opening Exhibit Party!!

McQueen, Versace, Chanel, Adrian...and SO MUCH MORE!!!

Photo Courtesy of Peter Wintersteller/abimages

Alexander McQueen "Peacock Dress" Fall/Winter 2008-09, Fabulous! Exhibit FIDM Museum & Galleries (above, at the Museum and bottom photo from the Alexander McQueen Fall 2008 Runway)

Last Saturday I was invited to the Opening Night Party of the "Fabulous!" Exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's Museum & Galleries. And in one word, it was FABULOUS!!! The exhibition, which opened last Tuesday September 13th, spans 200 years of fashion history 1800-2010 in addition to ten years of FIDM Museum Acquisitions, from 2000-2010. The 200-piece exhibition, co-curated by the fantastic team of Kevin Jones and Christina Johnson of the FIDM Museum, includes historical court costumes, Haute Couture garments, accessories, jewelry, textiles, as well as historical documents that give provenance to the items.

The exhibit features two main and very prominent podiums which "divide" the items into ones that have been acquired through purchases by the FIDM Museum & Galleries and ones that have been donated.

There is also a GORGEOUS "Fabulous!" Catalogue which accompanies the exhibition (and is prefaced by none other than Hubert de Givenchy) and can be purchased at the FIDM Museum Store, which is adjacent to the Museum. It's A MUST HAVE!

Some HIGHLIGHTS of the Fashion at the "Fabulous!" exhibit:

Embroidered Court Suit, belonging to composer Johann Hummel, worn in the court during the rule of Francis I, Emperor of Austria 1810-1814; It's one of the only ones in the World, and especially in such outstanding condition! (Photo Courtesy of Peter Wintersteller/abimages)

A very rare Empire-style Silk Court Gown with gold laurel leaves brocade and an ELEVEN FOOT train worn by Ann Bloomfield Gamble Post (above) at Buckingham Palace when she was presented to King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1903 during Edward's coronation. She was the wife of famous American Author Melville Davisson Post and died only 16 years later of pneumonia.

Gianni Versace: Men's and women's ensembles from the SAME Gianni Versace 1994 collection Lady Gaga has been recently going GAGA for!!! These were donated items. Can you only imagine the FABULOUS guy who wore those gold studded leather pants and silk printed shirt! (Photo Courtesy of Peter Wintersteller/abimages)

Gilbert Adrian: A draped gunmetal-colored iridescent silk taffeta halter-style gown from Hollywood designer Gilbert Adrian.

Mae West's Platform Shoes, as well as her actual foot imprint. Mae West was actually ONLY 5 FEET Tall, so you get to see what made her look SIX FEET Tall--Yep, those 10" platforms!

Also, as part of the "Fabulous!" Exhibition, there is the Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection Gallery section. On view in this section is a selection of dresses, all originally belonging to European royalty! And you know how I'm a (fashion) fan of European Royalty...

Wedding Gown worn by Elisabeth of Wied, Queen Consort of Romania, in 1869: The gown is made of silk satin silk netting/tulle with cotton and paper faux flowers. It is in AMAZING condition considering it is 142 years OLD!!! You should see my gowns A DAY after an actress wears them on the red carpet!!! (Photo Courtesy of Peter Wintersteller/abimages)

Queen Victoria of Great Britain's Evening Gown, black silk faille and crepe, from 1897. (Photo Courtesy of Peter Wintersteller/abimages).

As you know, the black mourning color became popular during Queen Victoria's reign, particularly after the death of her husband, Prince Albert. She never wore anything else, just black. Isn't it AMAZING that you can see a gown worn by a Queen...from 1897 no less?

The Opening Night "Fabulous!" Exhibit Party:

The "Opening Night Party", which was held right outside the street-level FIDM Museum & Galleries, was just as great as the Exhibition itself. FIDM, as always, outdid itself with lots of food, cocktails and a tented seating and socializing area. Lots of FIDM's donors, TV and entertainment personalities and of course, fashionistas were on hand. I made sure to say "Hi" to a lot of them:

Fashion Designers Sue Wong and Nick Verreos, Opening Night Party "Fabulous!" Exhibit, FIDM Museum & Galleries (Photo Courtesy of Peter Wintersteller/abimages)

California Apparel News Fashion Editor and VeryVeryChic fashion blogger N. Jayne Seward and Nick Verreos, in front of a Chanel yellow paillette "Scuba" ensemble from 1991, Opening Night Party "Fabulous!" Exhibition FIDM Museum & Galleries

Doris Raymond, Curator and Owner of "The Way We Wore" Boutique, Opening Night Party "Fabulous!" Exhibition, FIDM Museum & Galleries (Photo Courtesy of Peter Wintersteller/abimages)

Nick Verreos, Julian Bermudez and KPCC "Off-Ramp" Host John Rabe, Opening Night Party "Fabulous!" Exhibition FIDM Museum & Galleries (Photo Courtesy of Peter Wintersteller/abimages)

Barbie Boys: Nick Verreos flanked by James Holmes and Peter Helenek of Mattel, Opening Night Party "Fabulous!" Exhibition FIDM Museum & Galleries (Photo Courtesy of Peter Wintersteller/abimages)

The Opening Night Party was so much fun and yes, the "Fabulous!" Exhibition made me shake with "Fashion Glee". It rivals ANY top fashion and costume exhibition I've been to at The Met in NYC, Les Arts Décoratifs in Paris, or the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. DO NOT MISS IT!!!

Here Are The Details:
What: "Fabulous!", An Exhibition of 200 years of Fashion History 1800-2010

Where: FIDM Museum & Galleries 919 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles CA 90015

When: September 13-December 17 2011 Open Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm (closed Sunday, Monday)

Cost: FREE!!!!!!

Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011: Dolce & Gabbana, Versace!!

Maschile /Femminile (Masculine/Feminine), Lace, Tailoring, Vibrant Colors...Milan Fashion Week Highlights:

Caprese and Campari: Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011

Last week, Milan Fashion Week continued and while you can read (and see) my BLOG posting for the Gucci and Prada Fall/Winter 2011 Collections HERE, I wanted to also show you the latest offerings from two other MAJOR Italian Fashion Houses: Dolce & Gabbana and Versace:

Dolce & Gabbana:

Butch Dolce & Gabbana: Model Arizona Muse opens Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011 Runway Show

For Fall/Winter 2011 Designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana showed many, many looks--over 80 to be exact! There were no "Earth-shaking" style statements for these two--just same old same old fabulous Masculine vs. Feminine stylings that have become the Dolce & Gabbana signature. The show began with Model-of-the-Moment Arizona Muse (of course!), in a jacquard double-breasted jacket and cropped knee-hovering pants, white buttoned-up dress shirt, hat and even some faux sideburns!

She was VERY Madonna "Open Your Heart" video. While the "Uomo Parade" of superbly tailored suits and perfectly draped trousers continued, it also became apparent that there was a 1980's Ska Band/Come On Eileen feeling to it as well, in addition to the fact that this entire section looked as if it could have been styled by former Lindsay Lohan girlfriend DJ Samantha Ronson and model Agyness Deyn:

Italian High Fashion Ska: Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011

But of course, the Dolce & Gabbana girl cannot live on pant suits alone, and to satisfy this, Domenico and Stefano also sent out many sexy lace and corseted lingerie-inspired looks that will for sure be placed FRONT and CENTER at their boutiques worldwide come next Fall:

Eurostar: Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011

Milan Opera Gown: Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011

Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011 Full Runway Show:

Versace Donna Women's Wear Fall/Winter 2011:

For Versace Fall/Winter 2011 Donatella Versace and her Design Team continued on their path of her brother's Design Roots, incorporating baroque motifs, color-blocks and imprints in addition to those ubiquitous Versace gold-plated buttons, which became part of the House's Legacy and roots.

Versace 1980's ad featuring Christy Turlington, Paulina Porizkova and Linda Evangelista

The Collection was molto sexy and filled with Vibrant in-your-face colors: Neon Teal, Royal Blue, Highlighter Yellow, as well as some whites and blacks thrown in for good measure. Themes ran from Red Carpet Diva to Military Power Goddess. Domenico and Stefano may give you Maschile...but Donatella's girl is ALL WOMAN!!!

Ready For Fashion Battle: Versace Fall/Winter 2011

Alitalia Business Class: Versace Fall/Winter 2011

Here Comes The Sun: Versace Fall/Winter 2011

I Am Not Riding On That Vespa: Versace Fall/Winter 2011

Meeting The Pope: Versace Fall/Winter 2011

High-Low Queen: Versace Fall-Winter 2011

Versace Donna Women's Wear Fall/Winter 2011 Full Runway Video:

53rd Annual Grammy Awards: Who Wore What? Jennifer Hudson in Versace Pre-Fall 2010

Jennifer Hudson in Versace Pre-Fall 2010, 53rd Annual Grammy Awards Red Carpet

Jennifer Hudson looking slim and sexy in a high-low navy-blue/silver Versace Pre-Fall 2010 dress. I'm wondering why the bust doesn't quite fit and why, oh why...is her bra showing. I don't think this is how it is supposed to be. Trust me darlings, ALL those Versace dresses and gowns have built-in bra and under-structures so you DO NOT have to wear additional bras that may distract from the dress. This is why a Versace dress can cost in the THOUSANDS...like $6000 most times. It also looks like they lengthened the front chiffon tiers of this asymmetrical dress for Jennifer. I like the dress, I just have issues with her bra showing. That's a no-no.

On a Positive Note: Jennifer does look TEENY TINY!!!

Do we mind that the top section doesn't fit "the sisters" and that her bra is showing?

Donatella Versace on The View's Fashion Friday!!

La Diva Donatella

This morning on ABC's "The View" (I'm sick with a BAD head cold so I was at home watching!), I tuned in and guess who appeared before my eyes: La Diva Donatella!

It was "Fashion Friday" (the show is actually taped on Wednesdays, I hear), a segment where every Fridays The View's fabulous ladies "introduce" a Fashion Designer to America, and for today's segment it was none other than Miss Donatella Versace. She looked bellisima in a conservative (for her!) black sheath dress and sky-high nude stiletto pumps.

She showed four of her favorite looks from her Fall 2010 Collection:

This royal blue and black wool coat with leather accents, leather skinny pants and patent leather purse...

This orange wool and fur mini A-line coat-dress...

This turquoise silk georgette and mirror-leather detailed gown...

Donatella and the House of Versace PR Office pulled out all the stops for this brief 5 minute segment: She did not just get four models from a local NYC agency, she had four of the TOP TOP Models of the moment, all done perfectly in runway-ready make-up and perfectly center-parted straightened hair. You KNOW that all cost a pretty penny! And Donatella paid for all of it for sure. One of the models at "The View" was in fact 16 year old Wichita Kansas-native Lindsey Wixson, who is Donatella's current fave and a MAJAH model of the Moment. Lindsey wore this:

Silver chain-and-leather strapless mini-dress

All in all, Donatella was very charming and quite funny, especially when "The View's" co-host Sherri Shepherd asked her what she though of Maya Rudolph's HILARIOUS Homage to her on Saturday Night Live...Donatella revealed that she once called Maya and, "I gave her some suggestions on how to do me better. Because I told her, I don't drink. Take off that jewelry because it is too fake, I only wear real. And I don't tell people to "Get Out" I have other people do that. " LOVE HER!!!

Click Below to Watch Donatella on "The View" commenting on Maya Rudolph's Uncanny Impression:

Also, click below for Donatella and the House of Versace being featured in one of my most favorite shows on the Sundance Channel. The series is called The Day Before and the show follows designers such as Versace, DVF and Alexander Wang 24 hours prior to their Fashion Show. It is not to be missed for all Fashionistas!!