Balmain Spring 2009 Ready-to-Wear

Balmain's designer's stroke of genius this spring 2010 was just my first taste of Christophe Decarnin's creations. Last spring, he put on an equally impressive runway show that will rip your heart out and slam it into the ground. This is a man who knows how to design for women in the most flattering way possible.

Bravo Balmain Spring 2010

Diane von Furstenburg, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Lanvin...and BALMAIN

Fashion is vanity. Fashion is self-expression. Fashion is art. Fashion is materialistic. Fashion is ingrained in all of us to attract the other sex, whether we are aware of it or not.



I am a slave to fashion and I have no intention of breaking free of my chains any time soon. I'm aware that what drives me are basic factors such as sex, beauty and violence. Fashion falls under beauty, but you can also argue that it is sexy, sex-inspired, sexually enhancing and one of the most violent things we can do to the environment. Nonetheless, I perpetuate the system by continuously updating my wardrobe with the newest trends marketed to us every quarter.





Specifically, I have become fascinated with Balmain's latest collection created by French mastermind Christophe Decarnin. Balmain is a Parisian fashion house which definitely explains why I have been so enamored with it. No other country knows how to showcase a woman's features than the French.






Decarnin's Spring collection for Balmain draws from Military and Rock 'n' Roll themes. Decarnin artfully combined his signature use of padded-shoulders with military embellishments, metallic tunics, skinny cargo pants, and destroyed shirts in the most successful display of feminine masculinity. He definitely had the urban woman in mind. While aspects of his outfits hug the body like a herve leger, he introduces structure through the shoulder pads that doesn't venture into for-the-runway-only territory.





Since I was blessed with slender limbs (well at least my arms are) and a petite frame, I cannot resist his jackets and coats since they seem to hug the models' in all the right places. There is nothing more bothersome than wearing a coat or jacket and having so much extra fabric that you can basically fit another jacket right underneath the one you are already wearing.

Bravo!

Summer Trends and Colors: Bebe Summer 2010 Catalog

One Shoulder Chainmail Sleeve Top $54

The Bebe Summer Catalog perfectly illustrates the colors, prints, trends and key pieces to look out for this summer.

Not surprisingly, rompers and jumpsuits have returned. These are so versatile that you can basically where them for day and night. Just pair them with heels and accent jewelry and you're done. Jumpsuits and rompers are perfect if you're really active, but still want to look smoldering at the same time. Since I've already stocked up on my basic black, I'm looking to getting a perfect romper or jumpsuit in orange or blue.


Silk Pleated Jumpsuit $119

Another trend that has returned this summer are embellished military-inspired pieces. I see this trend mostly through tops and outerwear right now. So if you're feeling like sporting some surplus green and brass buttons, than it's the perfect time.



Despite my very real dislike for the military and those melo-dramatic and romantic U.S. Army commercials, I actually really do like brass buttons and some military-inspired pieces when done right. While reading my Rihanna featured W magazine yesterday, I came across a Balmain ad in the back that was absolutely amazing. This Balmain ad has converted me. While I do love the jacket and outfit, I don't think I'm ready to construct an outfit for myself. (Side note: I LOVE Balmain).



If you don't want to go out and buy new items for your summer wardrobe, you can easily find existing colors and prints in your closet that are in. Obviously, white is one of summer's biggest color but really orange is my new favorite. I never really liked orange, and have always associated it with Halloween. But to avoid pairing it with other colors (like black, which would definitely make you look like a Halloween billboard) wear a one piece dress or romper and accent it with brown heeled sandals and gold and blue jewelry.


Ruffles, taffeta and floral and maxi dresses are also trendy this summer.While I utilize ruffles in my everyday wardrobe, I avoid taffeta and floral to prevent myself from looking like I draped myself in my mother's old window furnishings and extra scraps I found in the attic. If you were adventurous and made it look sleek, than perhaps I could be persuaded, but I would rather not look like I'm attending an afternoon picnic in the 50s. There's too much kick ass going inside of me.

Every season Bebe comes out with at least one pair of shoes that I need to have. This season it's their Romy Leather and Raffia Sandals priced at $159. I have this theory that Bebe's magic number is $159. I definitely remember buying my other pair last year for that amount.


Romy Leather and Raffia Sandals $159


Hilary Snake Print Sandals $159


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