For his signature line, Dior designer John Galliano also delivered heavily layered looks, covering the models at his "Sunset Boulevard"-inspired show with sheer negligees, light printed skirts, sharp-shouldered jackets and trenches with lace paneling. Prada's second line Miu Miu's collection - which brought together parts of a straight-laced schoolgirl's wardrobe and that of a Vegas showgirl circa 1955 - was disquieting, slightly subversive and very appealing. Lebanese designer Elie Saab, a red carpet favorite, sent out a collection of asymmetrical sheath dresses with powerful shoulders and chiffon goddess gowns sprinkled with sequins which, while not quite Academy Awards material, would have been perfect for one of the myriad Oscar run-up awards ceremonies. I'm guessing singer Nelly Furtado, one of the show's front-row guests, can find the right occasion to slip into one of them. Kenzo rocked the casbah with an alluring collection of mosaic-tile printed sundresses and harem pants of North African inspiration, as The Clash's iconic hit blasted and an enormous metallic sun burst into shreds of tiny foil confetti overhead. French-born designer Roland Mouret, whose label bears the cumbersome name RM by the designer Roland Mouret, was on-trend with his artfully draped metallic jersey jumpers and asymmetrical cocktail dresses. Paris' ready-to-wear shows officially ended last Thursday afternoon, following shows by five smaller-name labels.
In 2007, he made the world's most expensive hat, using diamonds, pearls, rubies, garnets priced at 1 million pounds. At The Ritz-Carlton show on Nov 12, Shilling said China had inspired his work, particularly two hats called "Fireworks" and "Chop Chop". The hats were a fusion of Audrey Hepburn elegance with a penchant for the outlandish, and transformed the models into birds that seemed to have been plucked from some exotic and futuristic flock. "Chop Chop", was instantly recognizable, and featured ruby-studded chopsticks on a black sequined cap. "Fireworks," featured pink, yellow and orange tulle and black spirals emanating down the side. One hat offered a more standard feather and lace design, and this was followed by a creation that featured simple, delicate white flowers blossoming out of a ponytail. Another was a cross between a hat and a wrap, which wound like a snake around the model's neck and head. But most memorable were the meta-hats, the black and white striped hatboxes refashioned to be worn, the second of which could only be described as some sort of hatbox burqa, with slots for the eyes that could be opened and closed. "This is hilarious. I'm going crazy," squealed Elisabeth Koch, a milliner seated in the audience. "I have so many ideas!"
High-end sweatpants and long johns emerged as the fashion-forward man's legwear of choice for next fall. Labels from Louis Vuitton to Jean Paul Gaultier and Belgium's darling of the critics, Dries Van Noten, paired slouchy leggings with razor-cut blazers to create the sartorial variation of the mullet: Business on top, couch potato from waist down. Comfy pieces were big winners, in general. Snug, grandpa cardigans were layered under and at times over suits that were sometimes sheered of their fussy buttons in the name of comfort. Footwear, however, was another story. Chunky mid-calf boots, from combat- to motorcycle-boots, dominated Paris' runways - often with slim cut trousers tucked into them. Most designers worked in a somber palette of black and charcoal, with some oatmeal thrown in for good measure. Though the City of Light's menswear shows ended on Sunday, much of the international fashion glitteratti will stay on for the haute couture displays, which run until today. For their couture collection, those labels with the means dig deep into their pockets to allow the creative juices free rein and showcase their savoir faire through extravagant, handmade dresses that cost as much as a (very expensive) car. An unusual fashion show was held at The Ritz-Carlton recently. It featured slender, young Chinese models who strutted around the Victorian tearoom wearing stunning black and silver cocktail dresses, but it was hard to notice them.
Katy Perry made her statement with hot pink lips but her champagne dress with gold-and-pearl floral embellishment by Zac Posen was understated and elegant - at least by Grammy standards. Toni Braxton wore a dove-gray, one-shoulder gown by David Meister while Melanie Fiona also did the asymmetrical top, but hers was black and had a pouffy black trumpet skirt by Christian Siriano. "It made me feel like old Hollywood," she said. "It's classic, like I think my music is." Britney Spears wore a black lace dress with black bodysuit by Dolce & Gabbana, and Ciara wore a black lace jumpsuit and crystal-studded jacket with tails and shoulder pads by Givenchy. Nicole Kidman wore a movie star-worthy black Prada gown with a halter neckline. Jennifer Lopez, who had one of the most famous Grammy fashion moments in a plunging-V gown back in 2000, again wore Versace, this time a silver chain-mail dress with white chiffon overlay. There was also a strong showing of gray, which is sort of unexpected considering the crowd. Miley Cyrus did a steely long-sleeve minidress and chunky heels, and Pink wore a gray-to-black ombre gown with a jeweled neckline and waistband. Her super-short hair highlighted her other bling: diamond bracelets, pendant-drop earrings, pave ring and hair brooch, all by Neil Lane. Keri Hilson complemented the crystal waist on her blush-colored Dolce & Gabbana strapless with a huge Neil Lane cocktail ring.
"I came to the United States in 1978 with a bag full of dreams, running away from the war in my country, Nicaragua, and here I am," he said. "So dreams do come true. I want to dedicate this Grammy to all the people in my country still struggling to make a better life." La Quinta Estacion, the Mexico-based group originally from Spain, collected its second best Latin pop album for "Sin Frenos," while Puerto Rican duo Calle 13 won its second best Latin rock, alternative or urban album for "Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo." Two sons of Bob Marley earned acclaim. Stephen Marley won best reggae album for "Mind Control - Acoustic," while Ziggy Marley captured best musical album for children for "Family Time." Best traditional world music album went to Malian kora player Mamadou Diabate for "Douga Mansa." American banjo master Bela Fleck won best contemporary world music album for "Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol 3 - Africa Sessions." (Agencies) Futuristic fashion and solar system dress Samantha Critchell All eyes on the red carpet at Sunday's Grammy Awards went straight to Lady Gaga and her solar-system gown that was totally out of this world. Lady Gaga has become fashion's favorite chameleon and she didn't disappoint with this shiny, silvery, three-dimensional number that was created in collaboration with Giorgio Armani. She then opened the show in a green fairy-wing bodysuit - with matching green sparkle booties, of course.
Her dresses are magnets for well-heeled clients. Their growing allegiance has contributed to sales in excess of $7 million last year, said Zach Duane, the company's senior vice-president for business development, a figure that will likely hold steady through this year as well. Not so impressive, perhaps, by the standards of high profile fashion companies that tally their sales in the billions of dollars. But Beckham envisions a measured growth for her brand. "We are moving in baby steps," she said of the line, mostly financed at the outset with the proceeds - less than $1 million - from the sales of the Beckhams' successful fragrance line. The collection is tightly distributed - the dresses are made in England and carried in 20 stores around the world. New denim and eyewear collections are being sold in 100 stores, Duane said, and freestanding Victoria Beckham boutiques are in the offing. Her attentiveness to the fit, construction and marketing of her line has just won her a British Fashion Council nomination as Designer Brand of the Year. But "I'm not claiming to be a master draper," she says. "The bottom line is: Would I wear this?" Her sauciness has endeared her to no less a cultural arbiter than Marc Jacobs, who befriended Beckham and featured her in an advertisement campaign, in which she allowed herself to be photographed upended, her legs projecting from a shopping bag and waving in the air. Jacobs' public embrace went some way toward redeeming her in the eyes of the fashion elite.