Fashion Dress in The Present: 100 PLACES TO SHOP FOR PLUS SIZE CLOTHING

Showing posts with label 100 PLACES TO SHOP FOR PLUS SIZE CLOTHING – PART 2. Show all posts

FASHION SCHOOL WITH NICK.....NEW VIDEO! Padding a Dress Form For Your Size!

Form Padded--Nick Verreos "Padding A Dress Form For Your Size"--Fashion School With Nick Verreos YouTube Channel

Many, many fans of my "Fashion School With Nick Verreos" YouTube Channel ask me, time and time again questions such as "I have a size 4 dress form but...I'm a Size 10! So...How can I make myself something?" or "My dress form is a 6 but I have to make a client something and she's a size 8...so...what can I do?"...well, Nick To The Rescue! In my latest video, I show you how to pad-up your dress form using varying sized shoulder pads and customize it to larger sizes, or measurements...

From Size 4 to...Size 8: Nick Verreos "Padding A Dress Form For Your Size"--Fashion School With Nick Verreos YouTube Channel

Save Your Shoulder Pads--Nick Verreos "Padding A Dress Form For Your Size"--Fashion School With Nick Verreos YouTube Channel

Click below to watch "Padding a Dress Form For Your Size" Video:

TRAVELING IN STYLE.....New Hainan Airlines Couture Flight Attendant Uniforms

Welcome to First Class: Model in Paris showing one of the newest looks from Chinese designer Laurence Xu Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017 show which will be part of the new Hainan Airlines uniforms

Last week was the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week where many top fashion houses the likes of Dior, Valentino and Chanel showcased their latest bespoke one-of-a-kind (or sometimes for two, three or four very,very, very rich clients around the world!) couture creations.

Laurence Xu Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017

Shandong China-born, Paris-based designer Laurence Xu also showed his latest Haute Couture offerings last week. His collection, shown at the the ballroom at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand, combined elements of Chinese high glamour with contemporary stylings.

But it wasn't his collection that made news, it was the news that he was picked to design the latest uniforms for Hainan Airlines, People's Republic of China's largest civilian-run airline and 4th largest in terms of its fleet size. Xu showed several of these Hainan Airlines uniforms designs as part of his Haute Couture collection.

Suited Cheongsam Glamour--Hainan Airlines Laurence Xu Haute Couture uniforms

Capelet Chic: Flight attendant Couture from Laurence Xu-designed Haiana Airlines uniforms shown at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Normally these designs would probably cost in the high thousands (normally a true Haute Couture suit--from the likes of French fashion houses of Christian Dior or Chanel--could set a client back about $50,000 while an evening gown, $100,000), but since these will go into mass production for many flight attendants and airline staff, one assumes these will actually not be true Haute Couture--even though their origins were.

Coffee, Tea, or COUTURE: New uniforms for Hainan Airlines from Laurence Xu Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017/2018

The uniforms that were showcased combine elements of classical, Far East aesthetics and the silhouette of a modern Western suit. Styles included the traditional Cheongsam Chinese dress, featuring 3/4-length sleeves, a print of clouds, skies and birds, as well as a knee-length curved hem. The curving style lines were also seen in the front part of the dress.

The new Hainan Airlines Laurence Xu Haute Couture-designed flight attendant uniforms will also have a fabulously chic capelet coat that is reversible--gray on one side, raspberry colored on the other (Photo above).

There is also what is probably one of the most stylish aprons I have EVER seen on a flight attendant in the design of the side-wrap draped look (model in the center, photo above).

The men don't look too shabby either in their Nehru-collar-like suits and double breasted VERY wide lapeled coats (SOOO 80's/90's Retro!).

According to the press release, Hainan Airlines and the designer Laurence Xu began discussing the designs over two years ago, eventually going through more than 1,000 designs and more than one hundred samples of garments and accessories (yikes!). I love these designs, and especially like the mix of contemporary design with traditional Chinese styling. I also like the curved mini hats.

Flight Attendant Best Dressed--Which one wins the Best Dressed Flight Attendant? (L to R) Gianfranco Ferre designed Korean Air uniform, Emirates Airline uniforms created by UK uniform manufacturer Simon Jersey, and the new Laurence Xu-designed uniforms for Hainan Airlines

I can't wait for a going-through-security FASHION RUNWAY UNIFORM airport terminal catwalk contest the next time I see those very chic Gianfranco Ferre-designed Korean Air or Emirates Airline Simon Jersey-designed flight attendant's uniforms confronted by Hainan Airlines COUTURE. I hope I am there ready with my iPhone to get some photos!

RUNWAY REPORT.....Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week: Maison Margiela Couture Fall 2017

WHAT: Maison Margiela Couture "Artisanal Collection" Fall 2017. Creative Director John Galliano showed the Maison Margiela Artisinal collection in Paris at the design house's headquarters in a 19th-century former religious academy.

Marlene Dietrich in Jean Louis sequined illusion

Kate Moss in Burberry trench ad

INSPIRATION: Galliano said the collection was about "new glamour", using a mood board which included a paparazzi photo of Marilyn Monroe, a photo of Marlene Dietrich in that iconic Jean Louis (photo, top) sequined illusion gown (the same style as Marilyn wore to sing "Happy Birthday" to President Kennedy), and one of Kate Moss wearing a trench coat (above photo). Besides this, he also liked the idea of Glamour being something one just "throws on" without a care as you go out of your house, and how that sometimes can have a surprisingly glamorous effect.

Basting stitches, raw edges: Maison Margiela Artisanal Couture Fall/Winter 2017

Shampoo Hair: Maison Margiela Artisanal Couture Fall/Winter 2017

SEEN ON THE RUNWAY: Deconstructed Couture a la John Galliano. Gorgeous hand-made designs giving a new mood to "Just Done Up!". The very Margiela look of torn-apart and re-made trench coats, bustiers, pencil skirts, raw edges, basting stitches still on the garments...the raw side of Saville Row tailoring; hand-knitted jumpers/sweaters; silk organza coats; cowboy boots. To top it all off: Shampoo still on the models' hair...as if they literally just showered and left for a fabulous party...with their shampoo or a leave-in conditioning masque still on their hair!

Collection Highlights:

Maison Margiela Artisanal Couture Fall/Winter 2017

Click below to watch Maison Margiela Couture Atisanal Fall/Winter 2017 FULL Video:

RUNWAY REPORT.....Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week: Jean Paul Gaultier Couture Fall 2017

WHAT: Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017. Jean Paul Gaultier showed his latest Haute Couture collection featuring looks that were inspired by the slopes (see below). The collection featured a "star" model in the form of Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere who was, in case you are new to beauty pageants, "Miss France"...

Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere from France--modeling at Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017 show

INSPIRATION: Ski Bunny/Glamazon on the Chairlift. Gaultier--always known for naming his outfits after something rather cheeky, continued this with some of his ensembles named Gstaad the Way It Is, L'Avalanche, What You Looping At, and there was even a nod to RuPaul's Drag Race with an outfit titled Sasha Velours.

Ski Bunny Diva--Princess Bianca Hanau-Schaumburg at her Gstaad chalet, Slim Aarons photo circa 1985

SEEN ON THE RUNWAY: Ski Couture meets Nepal Mountain Divas...Sari-style drapes; velvets, silks, fur boots; leather and gold trims; Le Smoking gowns; ski sweater ensembles; Puffy vests; sequined suitings; Apres Ski Couture.

Collection Highlights:

Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017

Click below to watch Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017/2018 FULL Show:

RUNWAY REPORT.....Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week: Chanel Couture Fall 2017

WHAT: Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017. 83-year-old Karl Lagerfeld had a 46-ton Eiffel Tower recreated inside the Grand Palais to highlight his "Tribute to Paris" Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017/2018 show.

Eiffel Tower a la Chanel: Scenes from the Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017 show, Grand Palais Paris

The 35-meter (125 feet) replica of the iconic Parisian monument, greeted guests, as it seemed to go beyond the Grand Palais' famed glass ceiling, as man-made steam created the illusion of clouds up above. It took workmen six weeks to make, copying beam for beam the columns and metal made by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Universal Exhibition.

Vintage photos showing the progression of the Eiffel Tower construction--1887-1889

INSPIRATION: The Belle Epoque was the starting point for inspiration, specifically the period which followed the building of the Eiffel Tower. Lagerfeld also said he was inspired by a "revived Parisian woman" with shapes, silhouettes and cuts that combined essences of the late 1880's-to-early 1900's, as well as 60's and contemporary looks.

Late 1880's-to-early 1900's Belle Epoque Fashion Styles

Coco Chanel (Left) circa 1910 and with her cousin (right) wearing her boater (canotier) hat

SEEN ON THE RUNWAY: Curved oversized sloping shoulders; leg-o-mutton arms showed overt wink-and-a-nod to the pre-World War I fashion styles. The Chanel canotier hat which Coco wore during that same period was shown with just about every outfit. Besides this, many 1960's shapes and details were present such as mini dresses, retro batteau collars, knee-high boots and fun bows. As usual at Chanel Haute Couture, exquisitely-made tweeds highlighted this Fall/Winter collection. Leather collars, multi layered pailletes and feathers made appearances here and there. The feathers mimicking a look of fur trim.

Feathered Couture: If you look close enough, you might notice that each feather was hand cut to resemble the Eiffel Tower--Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2017