Wedged 'In'

Are wedge shoes ever out of style?  If we talk about the last decade of fashion, we can certainly say that the wedge shoe has been a permanent fixture on the runways.

Since the Mac Daddy of the Wedge Heel, Salvatore Ferregamo (shoe on the left, circa 1944) made his first pair, women's footwear was never the same.

Stilettos are always going to be our fave but there’s just something about the wedge that sceams 'SPRING', non?

Sure, they make great wedge shoes & boots for the winter but nothing is more adorably stylish than a little wedge sandal.

We searched ‘high and low’ for the best wedge sandals in four categories:

Fabric/Prints
Nude/Neutrals
Black
If We Didn't Need Food & Shelter

The Best Fabric/Prints:

Jimmy Choo $475

Stella McCartney $375

Bettye Muller $215

Coach $158

Top Shop $125

Guess $90

Kensie $50

The Best Nudes:

Valentino $495

Philosophy $485

Rachel Comey $345

Pour la Victoire $315

Juicy Couture $198

Frye $178

Michael Kors $135

Banana Republic $98

Aerosoles $59

The Best Black:

Camilla Skovgaard $532

Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent $375

Lamb $345

Ash $230

Dolce Vita $165

Kenneth Cole $79

Charlotte Russe $34.99

Old Navy $29.50

If We Didn't Need Food & Shelter:

Givenchy $1,100

(I would do very bad things for these shoes)

Valentino $795

Bottega Veneta $880

Prada $695

Jil Sander $695

(my absolute favorite neutral wedge-perfection)

Miu Miu $690

Christian Louboutin $625

NYFW: Sophie Théallet ~ February 16, 2010

Sure, her AW 2010 line may not look 'wintery' enough but boy, this lady is fantastic at her 'bohemian luxe'.  I'm loving EVERY piece in her first collection since winning that coveted CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund--$200,000. 
What can we expect from someone who worked with greats like Jean Paul Gaultier and Azzedine Alaïa?

Some hits from the line:

What we didn't like?  VELVET!  Yuckers.  What's the deal with all-over velvet this season?  Zac Posen did (terrible) red velvet in his show, too.  Are we missing something?

Velvet will always be a fashion faux pas.  It's just not flattering.  Plus, reminds us of Christmas during the late 80's, early 90's--a velvet explosion!  ugh.

My prom dress was green velvet & taffetta.  Yes we all have had our fashion disasters--stop judging!

LOVING those slouchy little suede boots, though.  Glad that 80's look is still hot for AW 2010.

Sher @ FA
xo

Halston Was Never Going To Be Easy

Creating the charm and elegance that was Halston was never going to be easy. 
Over the last few years, designers have come and gone, making the Halston legacy even more mysterious and unattainable.
So, here we go again.  It's NYFW and Halston Fall 2010 made it's debut last night to 'so-so' reviews.
We fashionistas certainly are opinionated!

FA happened to really like the line.  Sure, most pieces are only good for the Red Carpet but what's wrong with that? 
Oh, that's right.  We forgot; designer's have to make money.
Aw, shucks!

Some of the lovely (and colorful!) pieces from the Feb 15 show:

We think Julianne Moore should buy this outfit.  Would look incredible on her!  Ha! What wouldn't?

YUMMY Reds....

New York Fashion Week - Day 1 (you may have missed it!)

With the dark cloud of Alexander McQueen's apparent suicide looming, New York Fashion Week proceeded according to schedule on February 11, 2009.  However, his McQ show was cancelled, of course. 
While all of us fashionistas across the globe wiped our tears, this is what we missed on the first day of Fashion Week in NYC:

BCBG Max Azria:
this brand is designing for the customer and only for their (current) customer.  They didn't take any risks which is understandable--retail is tough right now and they want to secure sales.
That being said, I think we need to get over all this 'doom & gloom' and start creating again.
Some of the best looks:

I love the white hosiery.  Nice contrast to the heaviness that is fall.

Ports 1961:
I love this brand.  So wearable but just so well-made and most pieces have an edge to them. 
The earthtones/neutrals were scrumptious!

*Those cuties Dean & Dan of Dsquared2 used to design for this house in the 80's.

Mackage:
Another Canadian success story.  If you go out searching for a winter coat, chances are you'll fall in love with one from Mackage.  Great quality, style and the prices are extremely affordable. 

Richard Chai Love:
Not feeling the 'love' for this line.  It's too bulky and frumpy.  His shapes do nothing for the female form.
However, off the runway, a lot of his designs could work as a lot of his pieces are very transitional.

Toni Maticevski:
Following in the steps of Elie Saab, this guy loves to design for the red carpet.
However, he has also created some KILLER pieces--especially blouses.  Gorgeousness....

We'll blog more NYFW later in the week, once the show is over.

Alexander The Great

We love you, Lee!

16 March 1969 – 11 February 2010

R.I.P

Valentino Go 'Bye, Bye'

Let’s face it, fashion lovers; sometimes couture isn’t exactly wearable. Many designs are over-the-top and are more theatrical than anything. And the price? That’s another story.

Couture is the designer's way of selling us the dream. Unfortunately, many of us can’t afford to buy that dream but many of us can certainly own a piece of the dream like a belt or a scarf.
Basically, couture is created to influence the RTW lines—this is what makes the fashion houses money. Well, RTW & accessories and all the other licensed products like fragrance, sunglasses etc.
It’s also created for the women (very few) in the world that can actually afford couture. I’m sure the client list is very small.
That being said, Valentino was one of those couture designers that not only sold us the dream, he created pieces that were wearable—every piece was wearable. This is rare for couture and he did it every season for about 50 yrs.
He was quite the designer—we’re still going gaga over him since watching his fantastic documentary, ‘Valentino: The Last Emperor’
If you love fashion you need to see this film.


So, like any fashion-obsessed blogger, Fashion Autopsy was quite intrigued to see the Valentino 2010 Spring Couture line because of all the negative comments coming out of Paris post show.
‘How bad could it be?’ we thought.
Well, it’s bad. Especially when you compare it to Valentino Garavani’s last Spring Couture show in 2008.

See for yourself:

Valentino 2008 Spring Couture

Valentino Spring 2010 Couture

Hideous

Most of the pieces are so bad, we don't even know what to say. 

Today, the media is all buzzing about the latest comment from Valentino's BF & business partner, Giancarlo Giametti. Aparently, he didn't like the Spring 2010 Couture line and didn't have a problem saying so--on Facebook:

"[H]e was “not sad … just surprised. … We have always supported the new designers and we love them, but this time we have to distance ourselves from this ridiculous circus.”


Giammetti concluded (to WWD) both he and Garavani “are always supportive of the designers of Valentino, even if we don’t approve of their effort to be cool at all costs. But we will always be [supportive] of them.” The house of Valentino declined to comment.

He's being too nice but I guess he has to since it's his partner's name that's being dragged through the fabulous mud of Paris Couture.

Here are the two responsible for this disaster:

Pier Paolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri

They're fucked.