Back when I wrote about the fantastical, confusing, reptilian shoes that Alexander McQueen showed for his brilliant Spring 2010 runway show, I remember thinking that the only person that I could see actually trying to wear the shoes in any serious way was Lady Gaga. Apparently I can predict the future, so if any of you would like to know if you should dump your current boyfriend, you know who to ask.

Ok, really, it wasn’t that impressive of a prediction – these shoes are beyond fierce and Gaga is the only person on the face of the planet besides maybe Daphne Guinness that can really own them. And that’s exactly what she does to no less than three different pairs in her brand new video for Bad Romance.

To make things even better, she also sports head-to-toe McQueen straight off the catwalk about three and a half minutes into the song. The shiny, reptilian ensemble that she chose was my favorite of the collection and a total standout across all of Paris Fashion Week, and it deserved to be enshrined in pop culture history this way. I’m seeing her in Atlanta in December, and I can only hope that she takes a piece or two of this McQueen brilliance on the road with her. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Beginning with a touch of Swarovski on our favorite jeans. Take your ordinary denim to the next level of luxury with True Religion ‘Julie – Disco Big T’ Skinny Stretch Jeans, (upper left, $297.00 at Nordstrom.com). These are not your everyday skinnies; they are adorned with while black-colored Swarovski crystal buttons. The dark crystal buttons on the front and back add just the right hint of subtle chic to these rocker glam inspired jeans. Balmain’s Leo Swarovski crystal bag (upper right, $2,920 at Net-a-Porter) sports a Swarovski crystal animal-print pattern as well as silver tone hardware and a fold over flap. This bag is definitely a statement maker, especially if worn with a moto jacket and skinny black jeans. Next up are Giuseppe Zanotti’s Swarovski-embellished sandals, (middle right, $1,150 at Net-a-Porter). These sandals are spooky and sparkly at the same time, the perfect shoe for a glamorous Halloween ball. Paint your toes with Chanel Vernis Black Satin to complete the sinister look. The sparkly and sweet Chloe Bow Clutch (bottom right, $1,095.00 at MadisonLosAngeles.com) features just the right amount of crystal embellishment upon an oversized bow. Inside is a small patch pocket. Lastly, Judith Leiber’s Snowy Owl (bottom left, $3,800.00 at RobertsFineShoes.com) is creepy cute as well. I’m not a fan of these animal themed bags, but it could be just the right accent to your favorite Little Black Dress.

Designer Markus Lupfer sets a frightening tone on this scary but chic Flower Skull merino sweater (upper left, $390 at Net-a-Porter). Perhaps the perfect when paired with black leggings and ankle booties for a ghoulish and chic night on the town.

British bad boy Alexander McQueen brings his rebellious style to a golden Skull Box Clutch, (upper right, $1199 at CoutureZappos.com). This gorgeous and greedy with gold clutch is covered in metallic crackled leather and adorned with the signature Alexander McQueen skull-shaped clasp. The skull closure is encrusted with genuine Swarovski® crystals. For green-minded ghouls a Skull and Crossbones Appliqué Bag (right middle, $27.49 at Overstock.com) are perfect for Halloween party hopping. The roomy fair trade totes are made in India of 100% locally grown, natural cotton and hand-appliquéd with a skull and crossbones design on the front flap. Betsey Johnson’s ‘Tote-ally’ Reversible Tote, (bottom right, $110 at Nordstrom.com) is fronted with a bold skull and crossbones design. Turn this tote inside out and reveal a red and black rose print design.

The Treesje Mortale Travel Tote in Black (bottom right, $575 at ShopDressOnline.com) is a roomy leather tote is embossed with a skull pattern. Key details to keep you organized include a key hook, inside zipper pocket, and pockets to hold a cell phone and PDA.

via The Find

And then at Louis Vuitton Spring 2010, creative director Marc Jacobs saw fit to attach furry tails to the bags. Yep, that happened.

As far as bags go, the show started…dreadfully. Most of them appeared to be made of dip-dyed cotton canvas in candy colors with coordinating fluffy appendages streaming off the back, which were sometimes bigger than the bag itself. After a dozen looks, I thought I was in for a very unpleasant show.

But after a little while, things started to look decidedly better. I’m not sure if it was just the fashion show version of Stockholm Syndrome, I guess that’s always possible, but things rallied a bit during the middle and end portions of the show. Instead of canvas bags with animal parts hanging from them, Vuitton returned to the leathers and embossed logos to which fans are slightly more accustomed.

Which is not to say the bags were boring – they weren’t. The opposite, in fact. And they weren’t entirely successful, but I appreciate the combination of colors, materials, and textures that Jacobs attempted in order to make something new out of one of the most recognizable logos in the fashion world. The collection was heavy on messengers, and the ones that combined logo leather with smooth in different colors were probably the best bags of the show, in addition to the duffel bags made of similar textures. Please, Marc Jacobs, if you’re out there: please give the tassel-covered bags a rest. Thanks.

The more I look through the bags from the last half of the collection, the more the eclectic ideas and influences grow on me, and I’m not sure what my final opinion will be once the dust of fashion week has settled. One thing is sure, though; adventurous collections like Louis Vuitton, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen are what make Paris the world’s reigning fashion city. New York has some catching up to do.

                                                

Images via Style.com.

The shirt that inspired our quest for the perfect sequin handbag is the Sass & Bide She Exists T-shirt ($145 at Net-a-Porter). The long length white jersey t-shirt with touts a dramatic multicolored sequined design on front. This t-shirt is versatile and can be dressed up or down to add just the right amount of wearable drama for day or night. The very affordable Maxx New York Reversed Sequin Round Bag with Chain Strap (top right, $88 at Nordstrom.com) is inspired by a vintage design. This small round black bag has a removable chain strap is covered and is light-catching sequins that reverse colors with the touch of a hand. Next is my personal favorite of the group, the Rafe Agyness Patent Leather Hand-Beaded Crossbody Bag (second from top, $425.00 at Bloomingdales.com). The sparkly crossbody bag in glossy patent leather features hand-beaded sequins and metal in a crest design for added interest. The front is velvet and the strap is a single gunmetal chain. Miu Miu has embraced the sequin trend with an Ombré paillette-embellished clutch (bottom left, $950 at Net-a-Porter). The ombré arrangement of large colored paillettes set upon this box clutch would look smashing in your hand for a special evening out on the town. From coach is an itty bity bit of bling in the form of a Coach Poppy Sequins Coin Purse (bottom, $148.00 at Macys.com) The coin purse is sequin embellished cotton-twill fabric accented with metallic leather trim. There is a small inside open pocket, fabric lining and turn lock closure.

via The Find

Jean Paul Gaultier’s entire Hermes Spring 2010 collection was a riff on country club chic, and enormous Kellys and Birkins as workout wear, replete with leather tennis ball carriers, were the icing on top of the luxe-prepster cake. Obviously the idea that a white travel Kelly should be slung around the local tennis court is in jest, but the aesthetic does work nicely with the ultraclean lines of Hermes’s signature bags.

Overall, though, I didn’t find myself nearly as blown away as I usually do when looking at a series of the world’s finest handbags. I have wondered before why Hermes doesn’t use more snakeskin in their line, and the oversized python Birkins and Kellys answered that quite nicely – it just doesn’t work. All of the snakeskin bags looked rumpled and, dare I say it, fake. Unless there’s a point that I’m missing, I’m surprised that Gaultier let them walk the runway.

Overall, I find myself a little underwhelmed. The exotic clutches were predictably drool-inducing, and the tennis influence that found its way into the accessories line is very appropriate for brand whose customers probably all count themselves as members of various country clubs. But with the resources and craftsmanship that Hermes has at their disposal, I was hoping for a bit more.

                                        

The problem with Chanel, though, is that for better or for worse, they have a lot of aesthetic history to consider when a new collection is designed, and Lagerfeld usually chooses to acknowledge that history. What that means is that mostly, Chanel doesn’t innovate. They do something different here and there, and a lot of their bags are quite lovely, but rarely do we see them starting new bag trends.

I don’t know if that’s a positive or a negative – it just sort of is. If you like their aesthetic, then I’m sure you’re completely fine with what they do and how they do it. If you don’t, there are plenty of alternatives on which to spend your money. There are a few unexpected things in this accessories, but mostly it’s just the same bags we’ve seen with slightly frayed edges. I can totally understand if that’s what they want to send to retail, but I also can’t help but wish Lagerfeld & Co. would embrace the fantasy of the runway a little bit more in the accessories department.

                                            

Images via Style.com.

What I do like, however, is smiling. Models smiling. When was the last time that you saw model after model, looking reasonably happy and human, in a major fashion show. In the fashion show of Paris Fashion Week? And do my eyes deceive me, or was supermodel Sasha Pivovarova talking on a cell phone on the runway?

And is that hay? Did Karl Lagerfeld turn the Grand Palais into a barn?

Yes and yes.

Quite honestly, regardless of the clothes (which were reasonably fabulous, but not the best of the week. Like I said in a previous post, Alexander McQueen already won), Chanel’s show appeared to be the most joyful. At my college, we had a saying: our team may occasionally lose a football game, but we’ve never lost a party. And that’s exactly what Chanel did this week: they won the party. I mean, they even had a live band! With Lily Allen! Was there a keg? If there was a keg, I bet it was really nice beer.

                                                    

Images via Style.com.

Unless you weren’t already convinced of Alexander McQueen’s dark genius by the pictures of the clothing from his show, we submit to you: the shoes.

What we got from this collection (among other things) is perhaps the most ostentatious, progressive approach to footwear that we’ve ever seen from a major designer, at least in recent memory. The shoes were, on average, a full ten inches tall with huge platforms in the front to make them at least somewhat functional for walking. I pray for the models’ poor little ankles, but it was worth it to see these looks in their full form.

They came in three main varieties: first, ultra-high booties that looked more like prosthetic lobster claws than shoes you might see on the racks at Neiman Marcus, in keeping with the apocalyptic-aquatic theme of the show. These came in exotics, smooth leathers, and a variety of exterior embellishments, including shards of turquoise. The second type were booties that looked like something a resident in Wall-E’s post-apocalyptic Earth might wear. The heels were covered in an amalgamation of industrial metal, creating perhaps the most wearable shoes of the collection. The third type were intricately carved porcelain platforms that were reminiscent of a coral reef, held on to the foot by clear plastic straps.

These are the shoes that a mermaid would wear, if a mermaid had feet. Luckily, the ones in McQueen’s show did.

                                                  

Images via NYMag.com & Style.com

McQueen titled his show “Plato’s Atlantis,” and the aquatic, amphibious influence was clear from look one. Other designers this season have shown us visions of the world, post-apocalypse, but this collection may be the most fully realized of any of them. Not only do the clothes depict an eventual devolution from woman to sea creature, but so do the towering, sculptural platform shoes (more on those in a post later today), the prostheses that were applied to the model’s brows, and the molded, horn-like hair looks. When McQueen tells a story, he goes all out.

Regardless of the story, these clothes were nothing but mind-blowingly beautiful. The prints were some of the most interesting I’ve ever seen at Fashion Week, and they also represented a step towards fashions technological future – they were digitally designed. In greens, browns, teals and blues, they formed sculpted, architectural cocktail dresses that were unlike any you’ll find at a store near you.

The attention to detail that was paid – the ruching, seaming, pintucking, and beading – was worthy of any superlative that you can imagine. McQueen brings a decidedly couture sensibility to his pret-a-porter, and he continues to lead the way in innovation. This collection embodies what fashion can be, on its best days – fantastical, experimental, full of ideas.

                                      

Images via Style.com.

The clothes are straight from the closet of a post-apocalyptic party girl; they’re equal parts grunge and glam, which continues and builds upon the half dozen or so trends that Balmain single-handedly spawned with their Fall 2009 effort (if you’ve bought any daytime sequins or hard shoulders for fall, thank Christophe Decarnin).

This season was another one filled with military jackets, glitter, epaulets, and deconstruction to the point of near-demolition. But these garments were less glam-industrial and more dystopian-fabulous, which means we got them in shades of gold and bronze instead of silver and graphite.

The glittering tanks that looked a bit like ultrafine chain mail were a standout under the types of jackets that have come to be a Balmain classic under Decarnin – lots of embellishment on top of statement shoulders and a militaristic aesthetic, smart shrunken leather blazers, and a vague marching band vibe here and there. And it sounds ridiculous, and it was, but also incredibly brilliant.

And if you don’t like it, well, too bad. Much of chain retail is going to be ripping off this collection in every way imaginable in a few months, and you’re going to be hard pressed to find something on-trend that doesn’t look like it came from this runway.

                                  

Images via Style.com.

For Spring 2010, his collection for Christian Dior connected beautifully to the retro-and-structured-underthings look that he had showed earlier this year during Haute Couture week, and the 40s film noir looks were exactly what you would expect a dizzy dame to wear when walking into a smoky private eye’s office.

Galliano knows his audience for Dior, and I could see them buying up these ultra-glam cocktail dresses and floating evening gowns hand over fist. And not only are they beautiful, but they so thoroughly inhabit the brand’s history and mythology while still incorporating modern touches like tough leather bombers. The past and present meld gorgeously into looks that are not only art objects, but are also impressively wearable, for the most part. You know, if you go to those types of events.

                                    

Images via Style.com.

It is no secret that we are huge fans of Alexander McQueen at PurseBlog. His over the top fashion shows have editors, bloggers, and anyone who caught a glimpse of the show talking for months. Alexander McQueen himself is a private man, but we would give anything to be in his head (follow him on Twitter for the best chance to do so).

Tomorrow we will all be able to partake in the genius that is Alexander McQueen. McQueen is collaborating with ShowStudio to deliver the Spring Summer 2010 show entitled Plato’s Atlantis live from Paris. At 2:15 pm EST (8:15 pm Paris time), you can log on to watch an exclusive interview of McQueen with Nick Knight and watch the Spring Summer 2010 show.

In an exclusive interview with WWD, McQueen said, “It’ll be like live theater — at home. The audience at home is actually going to see more than the guests at the show. We’re filming from a load of different angles, and two big cameras will actually be a part of the performance.”

No detail will be left unnoticed. Nick Knight’s SHOWStudio.com broadcasts original fashion films, shoots, and special projects online. This project will have robot cameras working on and off the catwalk as well as in the audience while an LED screen at the back of the runway will beam out the cameras’ images. The camera lens is the central metaphor of the show.

“Every year, buyers and the press come to see the spectacle of my show,” said McQueen. “But I want to generate something else, something for a wider audience — for people in Australia, Asia, and Middle America who don’t have a seat at the show. Really, what I’m aiming for is world domination!”

“This is the birth of a new dawn,” McQueen said. “There is no way back for me now. I am going to take you on journeys you’ve never dreamed were possible.”

The Michael Kors Python Bracelet Clutch (upper right, $995 at MichaelKors.com) would add a bit of golden glow and make this look really special. The cuff bracelet is a unique accent to this python clutch. The bracelet clutch a fantastic conversation opener and there is no way I can loose this bag with it attached to my wrist. From Donna Karan, the Zipped Leather Shoulder Clutch, (middle right, $895 at Net-a-Porter) is embellished with silver-tone zippers. It comes with a detachable silver-tone chain handle to convert to a shoulder bag, although I prefer it as a clutch style. I love the texture of the zippers against the grain of the black leather. From Kooba, the Mandy Clutch in Black Patent (bottom right, $201 at RevolveClothing.com) would perfectly complement the asymmetric style of the Alexander Wang dress with its asymmetric zipper accent. Lastly, Dior’s classic Lady Dior Large Clutch (bottom left, $1,090.00 at Saks.com) would add a touch of ‘charm’ to my LBD. The quilted lambskin is as soft as butter and this clutch would work nicely for daytime looks as well.

The highlights for me were the variations on the successful Miss Sicily satchel shape and anything containing red leopard print (I know, I know, my “taste level” is not so awesome sometimes). Lowlights? Knit, knit, and more knit. Much like the clear vinyl totes that Prada showed earlier in the week, I can’t imagine that these are going to have much of an audience among handbag aficionados, but perhaps I’m wrong. Would you pay four figures for them?

                            

Images via Style.com

I’m underwhelmed, and I hate being underwhelmed. I’m not a huge fan of Prada’s Fall 2009 offerings, and I’m even less of a fan of Prada Spring 2010. So much so that it kind of makes my head hurt.

Memo to the fashion industry: no one wants clear vinyl bags. No one. You guys tried this crap a few seasons ago and thought it would be cute, and they all ended up on the sale rack at the end of the season, and they didn’t even move particularly quickly once discounted. A clear, architectural hard plastic clutch meant to hold three things for a night out, a la Fendi’s Spring 2010 presentation? That’s clear done well.

But a vinyl gray-tinted clear satchel meant to hold the dreck of everyday life, like tampons and your ATM receipts? No thanks. Do not want. Ever. But that, with some jewels stuck to the top and a canvas tote or two thrown in for good measure, is basically what we got. Since Prada does such a big bag collection for every season, this is probably only the tip of the iceberg and several other non-runway mini lines will eventually surface, but if this is any indication of what’s to come, I’ll take a pass.

                

Images via Style.com

Anyway, yes, the bags! Some were amazing – the new soft leather Peekaboos with wood or clear plastic handles were among my favorites, and the addition of exposed stitching, combined with the different handle textures, gives the shape a sense of style that it was missing in its more staid initial iterations. The bags look touchable and a bit vintage, just like the rest of Karl Lagerfeld’s breezy, Parisian collection for the brand.

Other standouts were the Perspex beveled clutches, some completely clear, others with slight tints or exterior studding. The bags were, of course, shown with nothing inside of them, and putting anything in them would be kind of a shame, but how else are you supposed to carry them? They were beautiful and a tad whimsical as art objects, and if the stuff you carry inside your clutches is very beautiful, they might be a workable choice.

And on the other hand, some things just didn’t work at all. We saw leather totes in a variety of colors with an odd, pansy-embroidered snap-on linen cover that was not only puzzling but also not particularly attractive, and Fendi would have done well to omit those completely and add more of the delicious Peekaboo styles, along with a few of the other wood-framed clutches and bags, to the collection instead. They were almost distractingly bad, but ultimately the preponderance of beautiful bags won out.

                                            

Images via Style.com

If the show isn’t wow-worthy, it can be easy to flip through Style.com without really absorbing what I’m looking at, much like I did with my textbooks in high school (and, let’s face it, college). But I looked through Gucci Handbags Spring 2010 twice, with rapt attention – not only is this Frida Giannini’s best collection of clothing since her era at the brand began, but it’s also the strongest lineup of accessories that I’ve seen from the brand in years.

The collection’s clothes have a way of being minimal and ornate simultaneously, and that’s the only way to describe the bags as well. Even the lean, angular clutches are fashioned out of candy-colored crocodile skin that makes me want to say “I’ll take one in every color,” hand over my credit card, and not look at the total on the receipt.

And that’s just the beginning. There’s texture galore by way of exotics like crocodile and python and Gucci’s signature logo embossing, and a few of the company’s classic details, like bamboo handles and horse bit hardware. The collection was varied and nuanced, containing a little bit of something for everyone; it was perhaps the most wearable, beautiful bag collection I’ve seen grace the runway in several seasons.

                        

Images via Style.com

Instead of the girly, at times hippie-chic clothes that have come out of her tenure at the company so far, what we saw this season was modern, athletic, and a tad science fiction. Normally those would be words from which I would shy away as descriptors of beautiful clothing, but the high-waist leggings, voluminous jackets and body-conscious dresses make sci fi chic and aspirational – if only Ra’mon from Project Runway had made something like this on last week’s episode, he might not have been auf’d.

But he didn’t, and Frida did, because there’s a reason that she’s employed by one of the largest and most recognizable luxury brands in the world. She started, as has proven popular this season, with white (it would be a full nine looks before another color appeared) and slowly moved herself into light greys before going for bolder books in black, orange, and even a little bit of pink. Print was limited mostly to ikat here and there on smart shift dresses, and the majority of looks were solid and neutral.

But the glut of monochromatic looks didn’t mean there wasn’t texture to spare – stretch jersey was paired with athletic nylon and mesh, delectably dyed crocodile was seen alongside macrame straps and accents. But even when you consider the numerous competing materials, the clothes had a distinct sense of wearability about them – many of those pieces could have come directly off the runway and gone straight out onto the street on the back of an editor or fashionista. It was evident that Giannini had done a consummate job making her sporty, sci-fi fantasy into something couched in real-world elegance.

                            

Images via style.com

Valentino’s ‘360′ Bow Trim Leather Satchel (upper left, $1,395.00 at Nordstrom.com) boats a very roomy and slouchy silhouette with interior slip, zip and cell phone pockets. Get dotty with a bow themed bag from Chloé. The Polka Dots leather bag (upper right, $1,405 at Net-a-Porter) is adorned with a khaki leather stud encrusted bow. Perfect for adding a feminine edge to minimalist dresses or weekend denim basics. Valentino’s green Satin bow-front clutch ($895 at Net-a-Porter) is a glamorous bag worthy of the most star-studded red carpet event. The satin bow clutch is perfect to pair with bow pumps for a fabulous evening out on the town. From Betsy Johnson, a Little Bow Pleat Satchel, (bottom, $298.00 at Bloomingdales.com) is just about as sweet as can be. Add a bit of girly girl appeal with this purple leather satchel featuring double handles, lined interior, gunmetal hardware and zip top closure. Lastly, from the man himself, Marc Jacobs is the Marc by Marc Jacobs Stamped velvet clutch, (bottom left, $230 at Net-a-Porter). The slate gray velvet clutch is stamped with letters and would work well with your favorite LBD or during the day with a bright colored ensemble and statement ankle boots.

via The Find