Fashion Week’s 10 Best Looks

And now, for my final fashion week blog post: The 10 best individual looks. You’ve already seen what I’ve loved from the best collections, so get a glimpse of the rest of the beauty that this season has to offer.

#10: Tracy Reese

Tracy Reese Fall 2010

I love my prom dress, but I think this might be the only dress I would have preferred to wear instead. Pink and girly and sweet, but with some interestingly textured draping on the side. Pair it with the badass shoes, the black lace tights, and the funky necklace, and it goes from sugary sweet to a little bit rock-chic.

#9: Cynthia Steffe

Cynthia Steffe Fall 2010

Steffe’s collection was very heavily influenced by the schoolgirl look, and this precious outfit is no exception. I don’t know what I love more – black Mary Janes with socks that go up to those knobbly knees, or this cute little girl’s face paired with the mini leather jacket and matching skirt. It’s so hilariously precious and badass at the same time.

#8: Leanne Marshall

Leanne Marshall Fall 2010

This is easily recognizable as the work of Leanne Marshall, the quiet, mousy, mildly boring winner of the 5th season of Project Runway. I hate everything about this model and the styling of this look, from the awful hair to the clown makeup to the model’s visible lack of experience, bu I cannot stop staring at this dress. Brilliant concept, nicely executed, and so quirky. Subtract the black tights, add a lighter shoe, and put it on a different model, and it’d be a real contender.

#7: Gary Graham

Gary Graham Fall 2010

I just find the shape and volume of the dress, coat, and shoes so intriguing. I love the colors of the dress, and I love that it sort of looks like it’s been stuffed with newspapers to give it that voluminous effect. The jacket is fabulous and perfect with the dress, and the shoes look downright dangerous in the best possible way. I like that her eyes are in shadow but the hair and makeup are simple. Overall, a nice surprise from Gary Graham.

#6: Jill Stuart

Jill Stuart Fall 2010

Anybody who can mix prints and not make the outfit look like it was chosen by a mental patient gets an automatic award from me. These seemingly mismatched prints are stunning together. I love the contrast between the loose-fitting sleeves and the skin-tight dress. I also wish I could pull off those boots. The knit hat is adorable, and this model is wearing the hell out of the whole look.

#5: Vera Wang

Vera Wang Fall 2010

This, to me, is another perfect look. Interesting draping, mixing textures and fabrics, shiny and fun without being too youthful, killer jewelry and shoes. I think every starlet under 25 should be wearing this on the red carpet – I know this is what I’m wearing when my guest starring role on Glee gets me nominated for an Emmy. And a Grammy. (Whatever, it could totally happen.) I do hate this model’s slightly-too-vacant stare, and I highly disapprove of the blatant use of Bump-It happening atop her head, but I am salivating over this dress. Nothing’s better than something black and shiny against that perfectly white background.

#4: Diane von Furstenberg

Diane von Furstenberg Fall 2010

I’ve never seen a designer even attempt to do what Diane mastered with this suit. If it came with a skirt, I think Coco Chanel herself would wear this. That icy grayish purple color of the flowers is so beautiful. This look is just such a breath of fresh air. And check out those little gloves. Too cute.

#3: Herve Leger

Herve Leger Fall 2010

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Herve Leger’s collection. His ace bandage dresses are obviously a huge hit, because they make every woman look phenomenal and fit like a glove, but they’re not particularly innovative or interesting on their own, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to enjoy a collection of his work. But Leger showed true innovation and creativity with this look. Futuristic and modern, but not over-the-top. This is the kind of thing Fergie or BeyoncĂ© should wear when they’re singing about the year 3008 or whatever the hell excuse they have for wearing such bizarre outfits. I think the concept, design, and execution of this dress are impeccable, and I think it’s still flattering and wearable. Kudos, Herve.

#2: Badgley Mischka

Badgley Mischka Fall 2010

I don’t have anything to say. It’s simply beautiful.

#1: Irina Shabayeva

Irina Shabayeva Fall 2010

Believe me, no one was more surprised than I when something by Irina Shabayeva, the winner of the universally hated 6th season of Project Runway, ended up being one of my favorite looks on the runway. I always hated Irina – I felt that she was overpraised by the designers because she was the only one with even a modicum of talent, but she was still a complete no-talent who would have been destroyed by the top 3 in any other season. It looks like she proved me wrong.

I think I could spend ten minutes doing nothing but staring at this photo. First of all, I love that she kept her model from Project Runway to work with her on this collection, because her model is quite talented, and it’s just so sweet that they stayed together after the show. Furthermore, this feels so McQueen during a season that desperately missed his beautiful influence. The shape of this feels like it’s keeping Alexander McQueen’s legacy alive without stealing from him. And those feathers are so incredibly beautiful, I forget that she’s a woman and not a peacock. In a good way.

So, you’ve seen the best and worst of it all, my friends. Stay tuned for posts about things having nothing to do with New York fashion week!

Fashion Week’s Best: Ralph Lauren & Marchesa

The Diva is back, and apologizes for the hiatus. It’s been a busy week!

As far as best collections go, Ralph Lauren took the #2 spot for me. The plaids, the tweeds, and the overall 90s feel to it was perfect for this Diva’s taste. And I love to see someone who’s basically the founder of preppy fashion go just a little grunge.

Ralph Lauren Fall 2010

This is head-to-toe perfection. That shirt is the perfect print, the perfect colors, and the sleeves are beautiful. I’ve never seen a vest so adorable, nor pants that fit so well (and do my eyes deceive me, or do the pants have little buttons on the bottom? PRECIOUS). And finally, someone is wearing a belt where belts actually were created to be worn. It’s about time. Cute purse, great styling, and the overall look is just so tailored and stunning. It’s a darker side to preppy, and I love it.

Ralph Lauren Fall 2010

Ralph Lauren filled the end of his show with elaborate, floor-length, floral gowns, worn casually with black lace elbow-length fingerless gloves. (Basically a high-fashion version of what I wore to my 90s themed birthday party, lace gloves and all.) Gown after gown was beautiful and unique, with the models styled like cleaner versions of Rayanne Graff from My So-Called Life

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Between the two above looks, I can’t help but think that Ralph designed this collection with me in mind. I’d absolutely kill to wear any of his runway designs from this astonishingly beautiful collection, which you can view here in its entirety.

The Best Collection of Fall 2010’s New York Fashion Week

Marchesa Fall 2010

For this Diva, there was no contest. Marchesa was the winner by a landslide. Just look at the draping on that dress – it’s impeccably made, it’s charming, and it has a sense of humor about itself without being costumey. And the shoes? Yes, please. Though I’m not crazy about the model, I think this is just so loveable.

Marchesa Fall 2010

For me, this dress is the angsty older sister of the dress before it. It’s still red, it’s still fascinatingly draped and the shapes are still rose-inspired, but somehow this gives off an entirely different, and much more intense, vibe. If ever there was a dress that Lady Gaga should wear on a day when she’s only feeling minimally insane, it’s this. The model’s got a quite a “What the fuck are you looking at” expression (but is it just me, or do her feet look extremely diseased?), and I’d love to see the way this dress moves, especially on the red carpet. This is certainly my favorite dress of my favorite collection of Fashion Week.

Marchesa Fall 2010

And here is  Marchesa’s brilliance – it’s not all fun and silly, and it’s not all dark and avant garde. Sometimes, it’s just simple and beautiful with a bit of intrigue. That tuxedo bolero jacket is absolutely to die for. And the way the dress billows out from underneath such a structured top makes me never want to look away from it. I also believe the stockings have designs around the ankles, made to look like she’s wearing anklets or is tattooed or some such thing. I love it. The shoes are killer and the model is gorgeous.

Marchesa Fall 2010

This represents another genius aspect of Marchesa. This is a dress everybody tries to make, from Project Runway contestants to high-fashion designers and back again. But it’s Marchesa who gives it detail, meaning, and intrigue. The multitude of textured fabrics she uses are beautiful, as is the color scheme, which is winter at its best. Again, she used embellished tights that are reminiscent of an ice dancer, except for the fact that I love them. And another pair of shoes that I’d sell my kidney to wear.

Marchesa Fall 2010

And this is just classic Marchesa. Extravagant, innovative, and fit for a queen.

My LAST New York Fashion Week post will be up later today! Stay tuned.

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