Spring 2016 Couture: Ralph & Russo

Spring 2016 Couture: Ralph & Russo

The Pavilion Cambon Capucines served the best setting to Ralph & Russo dreamy spring 2016 couture collection.

Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo is what people call “a match made in heaven”: their love for fashion and incredible talent is giving Elie Saab a run for his money when it comes to couture.

The collection was inspired by nature, more specifically by the world of flowers: indeed the designing due did not spare the trimming, as roses, ivy leaves, peonies and tulips made their appearance on  most of the dresses, in form of hand-painted, sculpted or appliquéd details.

Models walked down the runway wearing luxurious ball gowns, which presented a delicate allusion to lingerie: silk chiffon night robes and corseted bustier…that is definitely a couture boudoir.

And how would you close such a show? 

With a monumental bridal gown (of course) worn by Brazilian top model Isabeli Fontana. 

The multi-layered gown featured kimono-like sleeves, a duchess satin bustier and a three-metre train; everything was embroidered with 3D silk and metallic thread-work, silver bullion, silk organza petals, pearls and crystals. An impressive work of art…that required six people to help the model turn around at the end of the runway. 

It’s couture, baby.

Written by: Stella & MsD

Remembering André Courrèges, The Master of Space-Age Couture: A Look Back

Remembering André Courrèges, The Master of Space-Age Couture: A Look Back

Couture Astranaut: Fashion designer André Courrèges (1923-2015)

Fashion designer André Courrèges passed away yesterday at the age of 92
after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. Courrèges worked under
Cristobal Balenciaga until 1961, when he launched his Maison de la Haute
Couture. He met his wife, Coqueline, while at Balenciaga. Together with his
contemporaries, Pierre Cardin and Paco Rabanne, he became famous for his
Futurist designs that revolutionized fashion during the 1960's.

Boxy, A-Line...Ankle Boots! 60's Modernistic Couture from André Courrèges

Spage-Age 1960's: Fashion designer André Courrèges with his designs

Courrèges was most know for his Modernist "Space-Age" styles.
He redefined the silhouettes and styles from what was then, rather
strict lady-like shapes. He was known for peek-a-boo dresses, miniskirts (André Courrèges is widely credited as inventing the mini, even though some would dispute
this and give credit to British designer Mary Quant), jumpsuits, and what
would become iconic accessories such as flat ankle boots and bug-eye
"Space" sunglasses. He loved using unusual materials such as PVC
and plastic as well as favored the A-line shape, saying that he wanted clothes
to "float". 

Onesie Gals: Colorful ribbed Knit with white fur onsesie looks from André Courrèges

He celebrated the moon landing by designing a onesie. Oh,
and it was mirrored! Courrèges could often be seen wearing get-ups
like Mylar jumpsuits and shiny white go-go boots (naturally!). NASA even
brought him in to visit mission control at Cape Canavaral, probably a first for
a fashion designer.

My Space-Age Homme Muse: Designer André Courrèges

Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, Betsy Bloomingdale, Jacqueline Kennedy as well as her sister Lee Radziwill, among others were devotees of his fashion-forward designs:

 Audrey Hepburn (above)--from a shot of the 1966 film "How to Steal a Million"

Socialite Lee Radziwill in André Courrèges Haute Couture--Dress and jacket made of plastic and fur, which she gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York City

 Yellow coat from André Courrèges 1968 Collection--worn by Mrs. Alfred Bloomingdale (Betsy Bloomingdale)--The suit is entirely made by hand, exclusively using french seams throughout the coat and features varnished leather buttons. It was gifted to the FIDM Museum & Galleries

Photos courtesy of FIDM Museum

In the ’90s,
he left his label to become a painter and sculptor, and his wife and longtime
collaborator Coqueline took over design duties at the house. Since then, the
House of Courrèges has changed
owners and designers; the latest of which seem to be inclined to follow the
designer's original Futuristic directive.

Here are more of André Courrèges' fabulous designs that shook the fashion world:

Onesies, Minis, Flat Boots, Scalloped Details

Looks from André Courrèges

A-Line Couture--André Courrèges

The Courrèges fashion brigade--models in André Courrèges designs

Adieu. RIP André Courrèges.

PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps: Episode 12 Best Western Red Carpet Challenge Photo Blog Recap!

PROJECT RUNWAY RECAPS....."Project Runway" Season 14 Recaps: Episode 12 Best Western Red Carpet Challenge Photo Blog Recap!

A Trip to Red Carpet Land: Images from this week's Episode 12 Season 14 "Project Runway"

This week on Lifetime's Season 14 "Project Runway", there are only four designers left in the show and they are very close to going to NY Fashion Week to show their Finale Collections...

Red Heidi: Heidi unveils the "Best Western Red Carpet Challenge"--Season 14 "Project Runway Episode 12

The Challenge this week was to design a Red Carpet look inspired by the "Land of Glamour": Los Angeles. This was also the Best Western Challenge...

Tim Tickets: Tim Gunn had the "tickets" for the designers to fly to Los Angeles. Not sure if these would actually work through the TSA Security but...I give the "Project Runway" Bunim/Murray Art Dept. props for coming up with these "airline tickets". I highly doubt that the four contestants got to sit in "A1"; a $4,000 round trip Transcontinental First Class ticket is not in their budget, kids.

LA-LA Land: Once in L.A., the designers headed to their hotel--their home for the next 1 1/2 days while in Los Angeles

Sunset Villa: Being that it was the "Best Western Challenge", the designers got to stay at the wonderfully located Best Western Plus Sunset Plaza Hotel. The hotel is iconic and situated in the heart of the Sunset Strip.

(L to R) Tammy Lucas, Managing Director of Marketing and Advertising Best Western Hotels and Tim Gunn: While at the pool of the Best Western Plus Sunset Plaza, Lucas announces to the designers that the winner of this Challenge would get 100 FREE "Best Western Rewards" NIGHTS (!) to be used at any Best Western Hotel and Resort worldwide. Lord have mercy! Yeah...this was Candice's reaction:

Shut The Front Door!!! Designer Candice Cuoco reacts to the "Best Western Rewards" prize for the winner--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 12

After their time at the Best Western Plus Sunset Plaza, Tim and the designers were off to a multi-million dollar Hollywood Hills home...

Nice View: Tim Gun and Season 14 Top Four designers--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 12

(L to R) "The Insider" correspondent Keltie Knight and Tim Gunn: The reason for this Hollywood Hills location was to supposedly get the designers "inspired for designing for the Red Carpet. The view was very nice but I think they should have, instead, had a visit with a Red Carpet L.A.-based designer such as Monique Lhuillier or at least, gone to a red carpet premiere. #JustSaying. Also, I had issues with Knight's statements that "this is not the time to play it safe". Has she actually been to a recent ACADEMY AWARDS!!!??? It's ALL about SAFE! And Fashion BOOOOOORING.

Mood L.A.: The designer got to go to Mood Los Angeles--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 12

 FIDM: While in Southern California--and during their 1 1/2 days--the designers got to create their Red Carpet designs at my Alma Mater, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM. In case you're wondering, this was the same place we shot "Project Runway: Under the Gunn".

While at the FIDM workroom, someone got SCISSOR HAPPY...

 Cutting Edmond: Designer Edmond Newton cuts, and cuts...and cuts, into his multicolored sequin fabric--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 12

From OK to Oh No: Edmond's design went from a long column gown to a cape-sleeved, fishtail hemmed mini dress--Season 14 "Project Runway" Episode 12

The Runway:

Ashley Nell Tipton: Cryin' Ashley did a pretty good Red Carpet gown, using copper/gold sequin fabric. It was impacting and sexy, but the top was a little wonky. But overall, good job! Thank goodness she didn't do a CROP TOP and PLEATED CIRCLE SKIRT.

Candice Cuoco: Candice loves the color black so it was no surprise she would do a black gown. This was the "safest" of all the red carpet looks and honestly, one of the most successful designs.

Kelly Dempsey: Kelly's halter neck jumpsuit was oh-so-chic and oh-so-perfect for a young Hollywood Starlet. The fit was EVERYTHING! She won. Rightfully so.

Oh Edmond...

Edmond Newton: No. No, and No. While this is perfect for Heidi Klum hosting "Germany's Next Top Model" or a Eurovision contest, it wasn't Hollywood Glamour Red Carpet. This was cheap looking and tasteless. It reminded me of a costume from...

Mamma Mia: The Musical

Edmond was OUT!

Or Is He???? (Hello! Tim Save!)

Here's my RECAP for this week's episode:

Season 14, Episode 12: A Trip to the Land of Glam

And then there were four! Four designers are left
on this season of “Project Runway” and this week they took a trip to
sunny Los Angeles for the Best Western Red Carpet Challenge. Their
designs ranged from safe elegance to glam goddess and even stretched
into "Mamma Mia" musical theater territory. And of course, there was
that cliffhanger-like ending (To save or not to save?). We’re getting
closer to NY Fashion Week, so there’s no need to dilly-dally…time to
recap.

The episode begins with a shot of a red
carpet-lined runway stage. The designers are there as Heidi calls out to
Tim to “bring the tickets.” Immediately, she announces that for their
next challenge the designers will be heading to the “land of glam. Where
the lights shine and the stars shine brighter." Los Angeles! Tim hands
the designers their “Project Runway” super economy class tickets and
tells them their challenge: to design a look for the red carpet and use
L.A. as their inspiration. He tells them that they will be designing as
well as constructing their creations in Los Angeles. The segment ends
with Ashley saying she is excited to be thinking “outside of the box.”
No crop tops or pleated circle skirts, I hope.

The designers arrive in Los Angeles and check in to the Italian villa inspired Best Western Plus Sunset Plaza Hotel...

Click HERE on the myLifetime.com "Project Runway" Blog to continue reading my RECAP