Vince & Eddie's


Lady Gaga has recently invested in a restaurant in Manhattan's Upper West Side in her native New York City. According to an article on Vogue.com, the restaurant did a promotion with Gaga when her Monster Ball Tour stopped at the city's Madison Square Garden in July.

I must admit, as an avid Gaga-phile, Vince & Eddie's is right up on my list of things to-do in NYC.

History, Class

A flamenco inspired evening dress, 1951

Balenciaga evening ensemble with toreador bolero, 1946

Balenciaga evening dress and stole, 1952

Last week, at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in New York, the exhibition “Balenciaga: Spanish Master" opened in Park Avenue.
One of the honorary attendees was the Queen of Spain, and her attendance was monumental for this occasion because of how significant Spain/Spanish culture was is Balenciaga's work.

The exhibition is presented on two floors, giving a separate view to clothes inspired by the Catholic church, like a crimson coat and a severe black evening dress (1939) that must have been based on a priest’s cassock, and another view to more festive garments influenced by flamenco and the bullring. On both floors are examples of Balenciaga’s stunningly simple dresses and suits, like a dress in beige wool jersey with the front buttons set diagonally to follow the grain of the fabric, and a black silk crepe suit that Mr. Bowles insisted “looked like nothing” on a hanger.

Balenciaga, who did all the fittings himself for his collections — which in the early years numbered as many as 250 outfits — never gave an interview during his career. As he told a British journalist after he had retired, he just couldn’t explain what he did, so he thought it was pointless to give press interviews. The clothes, however, speak volumes — with many asides that Mr. Bowles has helpfully interpreted.
Standing before a ravishing silk faille dress in a deliberately blurry print of red carnations on a pale taupe background, Mr. Bowles said, “It reminds me of a bullring on a hot, hazy day with the carnations scattered in the dust.”

Furthermore, the exhibition focuses on dresses and paintings, designed and created by Christobel Balenciaga throughout the duration of his career. This amalgamation of creativity, history and education puts art and fashion on the same platform. Some of the pieces on display came from the Balenciaga archives, while others are on loan from prestigious private collections, including the one belonging to Hamish Bowles, who wrote the texts for the exhibition.

sources: http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/balenciaga-exhibition-opening-on-park-avenue/
             http://www.vogue.it/en/magazine/daily-news/2010/11/balenciaga-exhibition-new-york

A Match Made in [Fashion] Heaven

January Jones ladies and gentlemen, be it behind a white picket fence or front row of a runway show, this woman can almost defy gravity with her grace.

Rumors of Jan being the new face of Versace have been confirmed and the S/S '11 campaign has already been shot by Mario Testino.

In my opinion the brand's new Ambassador is a living rendition of both Springtime and Luxury.

source: http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/archive/2010/11/23/january-jones-for-versace.htm 

Don't Mind the GAP!

I cannot think of a better way to celebrate Street Style, than to sport an outfit designed by Valentino and sold at GAP.

Haute and Hot have finally been introduced.

Over the past few years we have seen collaborations between the likes of Roberto Cavalli, Jimmy Choo and Lanvin for high street legend, H&M, all of which have proven to be not only a commercial success, but a success amongst the souls of High Street shoppers.

source: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG8143938/Valentino-for-Gap-combining-luxury-with-basics.html

David Downton

All I want for Christmas, is a copy of David Downton's "Masters of Fashion Illustration"

David's collection is so effortlessly dreamy, his brushstrokes are reminiscent of a night in Paris in the 1960's, intense, beautiful and memorable.

His iconic sketches are the perfect stocking fillers, for all your fashionistas in your family!

source: http://www.daviddownton.com/

A Little bit of Clare-ity

The phenomenon that is the Cashmere Twin Set, warm yet chic, snug yet stylish, is known to be synonymous with class, countryside (Scotland), and cognac.... Until Clare came along.
Today Pringle of Scotland may be synonymous with a quaint country lifestyle, but that is only one of this brands multi-faceted images. Cashmere has been given an extreme makeover, and not only does it look great, it lends its legendary-chic to the inhabitants of the City.
Clare has turned around the meaning of wearing cashmere, and wearing it in the hustle-bustle of Sloane Sq, or at Cecconi's- she has made the Twin Set a citizen of the modern world, maintained it's stature and it has befriended the likes of Carine Roitfeld, Jacquetta Wheeler, Olivia Palermo and many many more.


source: http://www.pringlescotland.com/

Fashion Philanthropy

"Lanvin's Creative Director Alber Elbaz has customized unique haute couture looks from the Lanvin for H&M collection. The looks were revealed at a fashion show in New York and are now being auctioned exclusively at this site. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to UNICEF, as part of H&M’s “All for Children” project."

When it's fashionable it makes my heart flutter, and when it is for a good cause, I simply fall head over heels in love!
Alber's work is nothing short of mesmerizing, it's almost as if the sketches are prancing down the runway!
The actual in-store collection will help dress you for all occassions this Holiday Season...

Don’t miss your chance to own a unique piece of the Haute Couture collection from Lanvin for H&M. Bidding closes at 11:59 PM CET on November 26th.

source: http://www.lanvinforhm.com/