Yves Saint Laurent's Elle; A Tribute to Michael Haussman

Osman & I; Osman & Mango

Osman Yousefzada SS08

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Osman Yousefzada, described his collection to Meredith Melling Burke yesterday as "India meets Zen". I stood there beside him in the plush white/mint green lobby that is Vogue, while he pushed his far east-inspired collection filled with candy stripes, stiff box-cut blazers and skirts pumped with volume onto Meredith and Lauren-the heiresses in question of Anna Wintour. Osman is just like his clothes; prim-and-properly cut, but odd, coming from a different planet and trying to find his way into New York's melting pot of hipsters. He showed his SS08 collection last month during London Fashion Week; it was sponsored at MANGO and held at their flagship store. Osman will return the favor next season with the creation of 12 little black dresses made exclusively for MANGO, to be seen in stores come January. Hopefully the MANGO in SoHo will be opened in time! (perhaps the last 3 looks can preview the LBDs)

Ambient & Apparel

Just as art inspires life and life does art, it's become the same 'what inspired what first' question with fashion and music. November Vogue features an article about the "sweet harmony" that exists when a shopper is coaxed into buying something solely from the music spinning in the atmosphere. After reading the article, I examined my recent shopping excursion in midtown, realizing that the obnoxious sugar-coated house deprived of even its own ambiance blasting in H&M and Bloomingdales was the cuplrit that steered me away from that glamorous silver DVF overcoat so quickly. Sure, I was hungover, but don't these stores know that everyone is hungover on a Sunday and there is hardly enough room to even bust out my moves amidst the five million tourists? That aside, I had a hard time leaving Diesel. Always trust an Italian brand for good lounge music (Armani Exchange is an exception). The super mod lay out of the shop, or the plants and stainless steel railings may have added, but I credit the soundtrack for styling a lot of the brand's Lexington location. Being in the store takes you to where they want their clothes to, which, judging by the heavy amounts of metallics and overuse of denim is the future (also see global warming ad campaign). I didn't end up buying anything, but I also stayed for more than ten minutes. And i'm still always wanting to go back, because like Depeche Mode, I just can't get enough.



Pink scarf @ yoox.com; high-waisted denim, metallic hoodie, and fedora hat @ revolve clothing. All diesel.

PANDA CHIC

Kate Bosworth (November Vogue's fashionable girl of the moment) with Zhang Ziyi in one-part retro, two-parts sleek black and white fur coats, attending a Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi show in China.

¡Que Verde Quel Vert!

Hollywood's top young actresses dressed for a French/Mexican themed party that celebrated Japanese designer Tsumori Chisato and her partnership with LA boutique Satine. It girls Mischa Barton, Mena Suvari, and Amy Smart are known to flaunt her collections (which began showing in Paris four years ago). Picture, from November Bazaar's supplement, shows Amy Smart in a brilliant faded emerald dress from Chisato's line.

PARIS FASHION WEEK SS08

PARIS ACCESSORIES

A TRIBAL QUEST

From top left: jeweled necklace; sandal with raffia detail; necklace with wood beads: Lanvin. Multicolor beaded sandal with leather strap; multicolor beaded cuff bracelet: Dries Van Noten.

The spring woman is a globe trekker. Lanvin and Dries Van Noten take her to Africa with bold and chunky accessories-beaded, feathered and jeweled for a tribal look. Paris Chic is loaded with detail and edge.


LADY IN VAIN

From rop left: Silk purple/sand/white headscarf with hat attached; white clutch with color blocks, black/yellow/canvas belt with pink crocodile trim; Christian Lacroix. Pink crocodile riding boots: Hermés. Satin multicolor maryjane with metal heel: Miu Miu.

A peacock is vain and brilliantly colored with iridescent eyes. Paris designers somehow took this into account, using bold color and modern design to make luxe femininity heard.


SLICKER THAN MOST

From top left: Pattern and leather belt; cuff bracelets with diamonds and jewels: Christian Lacroix. Patent and lace slingbacks with diamond patterned heel: Victor & Rolf. Knee-high woven gladiator boots: Balenciaga. Striped hat: Christian Dior.

While a lot of spring trends focus on transparency and delicateness, designers like Galliano and Ghesquiére add sass with pieces that could have come from a 1920's jazz club. Forget floral for a moment-its chunks of black and white, stripes, diamonds, and checkers. Ghesquiére evokes his black and white striped pants of Spring 2006 in gladiator boot form.


FADE TO GRAY

From top left: Crocodile handbag; python belt with silver chain; futuristic stilettos with silver detail: Alexander McQueen. Knee-high multicolor snakeskin boots: Miu Miu. Crocodile envelope clutch: Chloé.

Skins were once considered a luxury, but now every other handbag and heel is python or croc. It doesn't have to be wild like its leopard print cousin-McQueen is taming it to pair it with work clothes. Crocodile becomes soft and elegantly simple, as gray is carried on from fall to spring. Miu Miu may have the boot of the season-the python boots also come in blue, green, and yellow-as they are an avant-garde transition from heavy boots to spring sandals.


DAME SAVOUREUSE

From top left: canvas and pink jewel heel with python strap: Christian Lacriox. Light pink/sheer wide-brimmed hat; light pink satin stiletto; rose pink heels with black lace and tassle detail: John Galliano. Black hat with double-layer ruffled bottom: Karl Lagerfeld.

No one captures a classier lady dining outdoors against a backdrop of nature like Renoir. Effortless elegance took place in a garden setting at a Paris stadium-where the beauty of a lady is most natural-at John Galliano. The ladylike accessories with shades of pink, detailed accents, jewels and delicate form complement spring's ruffle and silk floral print trends.

HERMÉS

Century old signature crocodiles bags and equestrian accessories have evolved into white crocodile riding boots and brown crocodile jhodpurs for Spring 08. Therefore-Hermes successfully outdid itself in creating the ultimate definition of luxury. Bikinis, silk dresses and fedora or panama hats once dressed a sophisticated Hermes lady in the past, but a passage to india cultures her with saris, turbans and kurta style blazers as the Hermes client (according to style.com) is expanding globally. Deep plum and gold metallic (more gold fabric than accessories) are the two most prevalent colors, but brilliant jewel toned gowns wrap up the collection. Hermes silk print scarves and a few ties make their appearance as well. One of the most elegant Hermes looks with a strong flavor of India is a fitted khaki blouse with breasted pocketes and bishop sleeves paired with khaki empire waist, loose fit pants (see second to last image).