Everyone loves an Italian designer

Milan’s Fashionweek. I like NYMag’s coverage better than the New York Times (more pictures!) All is full of love and beauty. Including these Prada flower pumps:

My favorite were all of the Roberto Cavalli prints and dresses. Flirty but sophisticated and grown up. Oh god, did I just write “flirty yet sophisticated?” Ugh, it’s Friday, I can’t think! Anyway, not surprisingly, everyone’s belting everything again. *Sigh.* I suppose I’ll have to head over to Forever21 and invest. That is, if Anna Sui hasn’t destroyed them yet.

This is why I have to make the money

Oh. Em. Eff. Gee. I just saw the coverage of Oscar de la Renta’s Spring 2008 collection. It makes me wish, oh so much, that I, too, could be one of the beautiful people. This gown, for instance. Grecian goddess with sass and class.

Someone, please, would you buy it for me? The shoes, too. I’d never take ‘em off.

Anyway, the beauty of that made me forgive him for all the belts (enough with the belts! It’s O.K. for me to wear them all the time, obvs, but can’t you designers give us something new to draw attention to our waists?) and for the grotesque thinness of his models. BONES!

Just a girl

Former Brink author Vanessa tipped me off on the atrocity that was L.A.M.B. at NY Fashion Week. In her eloquent words … “I haven’t seen outfits that bad, since … well, when No Doubt was popular!” True! Nothing creative or inventive, just lots of belts and animal print.

And on the topic of Gwen Stefani … has anyone seen the L perfume commerical? It’s almost as bad as the Sarah Jessica Parker one. Actually, it’s worse, because Stefani is taking herself seriously.

Avanti!

This being the first of my blog entries, I thought it would be right to talk about San Francisco’s Fashion Week, which may have ended on August 26, but is still of interest to those who might have missed it.

I loved the crisp and classy lines created by Vian Hunter’s fall/holiday skirts and dresses. Sure, she had a lot of belted ensembles (which I’m quite sick of by now), but the collection was wearable and chic. The grays and browns didn’t even bore me in the least. I imagined pairing the muted colors with fun shoes, then enjoying a cocktail at a dimly lit, small and clean pub with art on the walls. Isn’t that the trick of things? The Spring 2008 collection was also great, but I can’t think that far ahead, even if I am the voice of Brink.

I thought the Kirribilla collection was played. Cap sleeves didn’t have the pop I wanted. I’ve seen too many big bows and oversized, kitschy buttons in the last couple of years. I’m sick of looking at grown women dressed like kids. It can be fun, but I’d shake the girl’s hand who put a final axe in the back of the jumper/leggings trend. Please, no more this Fall, next Spring, or ever.

Fashion and fun winds down

Paris Fashion Week, the last of the “fashion weeks,” ended Monday, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have a looksee at clothes that only remind us how little we have in the bank:

Balenciaga

What stood out for me was this little boy look. A sharp, tailored jacket and trousers that just reach the ankles. Part Willy Wonka (the color), part British school boy, part Replacements’ “Androgynous” ? and definitely adorable.

Givenchy

Small gold accents: hot. Exagerrated gold accents: even hotter.

Alexander McQueen

Shiny materials, flashy short skirts, tight leather leggings. Sure, bright blue eyeshadow looks pretty kick ass on the runway, not so sure how practical it is at the local bar. Kudos to those who find a way to pull it off.

Comme des Gar?ons

This outfit made me do a double take. The hands on the waist are very subtle, but totally make that look. Like McQueen’s line, Comme des Gar?ons also used bright eyeshadows ? pinks, blues, purples, not at all the dark tones normally reserved for fall.

Viktor & Rolf

The whole line is worth checking out. And boys think walking in heels is rough.

Chanel

Click here. I swear ? the very last time I mention Club Penguin: Look, a penguin! Nothing says couture like penguins.

Giambattista Valli

Clean and simple whites and blacks, and a touch of color in the form of platform patent leather yellow and red heels. But the hat ? oh, that hat!

Herm?s

This line is perfect for that chic bike chick in you.

Stella McCartney

More of what we’ve been seeing: loose shirts and sweaters; tight pants and leggings; long, tossled hair. Bravo, Stella, for featuring Daria ? in hot pink heels, no less. Brink has a serious girl crush on her.

(Photo links via New York mag)

More from the catwalk

Get excited, kids, we’re in the middle of London Fashion Weekend. The designers have presented their fall collections (Kudos to Marc by Marc Jacobs, Nicole Farhi and Allegra Hicks for the designer’s funky use of patterns) and now it’s time to get them at discounted prices on the lawns of London’s Natural History Museum (if you are lucky enough to actually be there).

Milan Fashion Week is also wrapping up. Check out Bottega Veneta, Fendi and Roberto Cavalli. Cavalli is always fun.

Walk pretty

Alas, I?m stuck in Ithaca, N.Y., and therefore can only participate in NY Fashion Week fun via the Internet. The nine-day-long, 221-designer event runs through tomorrow.

(A quick note on spring: Think romance and futurism; lots of dresses; tight, cropped pants; sheer materials; and more ?80s-inspired pieces.)

Some hot looks for fall from a few of the best collections:

(click on the designers to view the full collection at New York mag)

3.1 Phillip Lim

Though you risk looking like the Mad Hatter, there was something kind of fun about Lim’s take on the Alice in Wonderland character’s staple ? or maybe it’s my childhood nostalgia kicking in. Lots of hats for fall (see Marc Jacobs and Twinkle below).

Burberry Prorsum

Boys, there are just three pieces you need: a chunky sweater, a well-tailored trench and cropped trousers.

Marc Jacobs

None of the usual fall layering, but the collection was elegant and clean. This piece caught my attention because white is always striking when the weather’s starting to get colder, darker.

Thakoon

3/4-length jackets and tops, leggings and lots of shiny fabrics ? classy.

BCBG

Whites and creams and tunic dresses. This outfit is great because it’s elegant, but also kind of punk rock (particularly with the flat shoes and tossled hair).

Marc Bouwer

Bouwer was the first major designer to stage a show sans animal fibers. There’s been lots of emphasis on “green” thinking lately ? particularly with the IPCC’s global warming report ? so I’d expect more environment-/animal-friendly collections in the future.

Dior Homme

Hedi Slimane’s great, and if I were a guy, I’d probably just fill my closet with his skinny black ties; long, thick scarfs; sweaters and coats that hide the hands; and a well-tailored, pinstripe suit.

Twinkle

Adorable. You’ve got your knitted (again) hats covering long, curly locks; your silk dresses under chunky sweater vests; and your tall suede boots. Think outfits with lots of textures. And if you haven’t already, start working purple into your wardrobe.