It comes but once a year but unlike Christmas, this is a very special holiday that focuses on one very important person and we all have/had one and like it or not we only get one in a lifetime. So today is devoted to moms and my suggestions for gifts to commemorate the day. Keep in mind that I tend to go over the edge when it comes to these occasions but it really is the thought that counts and not the gift or its cost.

I am a creature of quality and grand gestures so the possibilities I offer are to be taken with a huge grain of salt unless of course you actually can afford to give gifts such as these, which I am sure would be greatly appreciated.

Mother’s day should be kept personal which means that you need to give it some thought that is unless you are the flower giving type and save your grand gestures for her birthday or Christmas. The key is to remember what her personal favorite flower is and not give just a bouquet and to please write a sweet loving note which goes a long way. As I said before and it applies to all maternal gift giving, try to remember what she loves, what she wouldn’t buy for herself and what would make her happiest on her day because once this is accomplished, your gift only gets even better in the sentimentality department.

While it may seem that I only offer the materialistic approach to gift giving, please be aware that there are some gifts that money can’t buy like cooking dinner for her, doing some of her chores for her or even just taking her out to Starbucks where you can have some one on one time since life has a way of slipping by all too quickly.

Here’s hoping that those of us who can celebrate the day will do so in the most loving manner possible. In the words of The Intruders, you only get one!
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Hermes scarf

Wendy Brandes heart <3 ring

Leopard handbag

Alexander McQueen minaudiere

Cartier bracelet

DeBeers diamond necklace

serpent coil watch bracelet from Bulgari

Chanel's black and white diamond Camellia

There can be nothing worse than knowing that what you put forth will be the moment that everyone judges your work. Sarah Burton, who stood next to her mentor and best friend for 15 years, has shown the world that she is fluent in the vocabulary that was ALEXANDER McQUEEN! This was a tour de force of talent, which very few can ever achieve when having to fill the shoes of a genius. There is no coincidence that within this oeuvre there were symbols of transformation, the butterfly which is said to be a human soul in search of reincarnation and the sheaf of wheat and wheat itself which is said to be a symbol of fertility, prosperity and strength. It is all true as Ms. Burton has forever endeared herself to retailers, editors and most of all the bigwigs at PPR who will no doubt, anoint her as the “second coming.”

She chose her silhouettes carefully, eased them up ever so slightly and in some cases pushed them to the next level. The fantasy which Mr. McQueen invoked in his shows was not lost on Sarah Burton. There is no doubt that the darkness which pervaded so many of his shows in the past was banished to white, pure and virginal. It is almost an unfathomable task to have bequeathed the legacy which Mr. McQueen left and yet it is no less remarkable for Sarah Burton to have continued his DNA with such unimaginable abilities and loyalty.

Her love and respect for ALEXANDER McQUEEN is reflected in these clothes for only with those qualities has it been possible to create and prolong the brand and the man.

Hermes, Jean Paul Gaultier, was a fitting end to what seemed like weeks of shows in Paris. This is, after all, the last show that Mr. Gaultier will resend for the famed brand. Nevertheless, to say he went out with a bang is an understatement. While the clothes remain utterly urbane, utterly low key and wildly expensive, the collection demonstrates how to take a trend/ theme and own it in every way. Each outfit bore the Hermes stamp, each had its own interpretation of the theme or inspiration and all of it was pure and true to the house. It is a rarity, in the world of fashion, to reinvigorate an established brand and breathe new life into it and retain the original DNA and integrity from which the house was built, but Mr. Gaultier, much to his credit, took the brand and his own particular skill set and created a fashion powerhouse for the brand which was primarily known for its accessories.

There are few words that can express the overwhelming talent of Karl Lagerfeld. This season for Chanel, he has delivered another blockbuster collection that will send the Chanel ladies into a dead faint. The palette is limited and yet there is no boredom, not a second wasted in delivering the latest message from the master. From tweeds to torn denim to plumage, the message is clearly modern and always retaining the language of Chanel. Everything is tweaked to perfection for any age, it is all there, provided of course that you can afford the luxury of such beauty. Fashion can be a cruel friend but obviously Mr. Lagerfeld has never made an enemy here at the house of Chanel.

Visit www.style.com for a more complete view of these unforgettable collections and don’t forget to look for me on Facebook or at the examiner. http://www.examiner.com/aging-style-in-new-york/jeffrey-felner and feel free to subscribe, it’s free.

McQueen

McQueen

Chanel

Hermes

Hermes

Welcome to the world of Paris Haute Couture, where rules and regulations do not apply, where price is not even considered and where the high priests of fashion reside with their followers.

As is the usual custom of the week, John Galliano for Dior starts the week with what can only be described as unbelievable in terms of design, artistry and cost. Given the inspirations of Charles James, Monsieur DIOR, and the equestrian, this collection, can only be deemed masterful, genius and breathtaking in every way possible.

Proceeding Dior is another master, Armani Prive who offers up the crescent and curvilinear arc as its theme. Once again Mr. Armani shows us that he is a master of his construction as well as a master of jaw dropping beauty, no expense spared!!!!

Next up would be one of the greatest and most prolific of designers, Karl Lagerfeld for CHANEL and there is nothing finer. He takes his inspiration from Comtesse de Castiglione or Lady Gaga but has banished his traditional black and navy blue and opted for barely there shades and the most exquisite of embellishments, only in silver.

Lastly there is a new crop of “couturiers” that cater to a decidedly younger client. The labels are not new but the image of the house has changed. Take for example, Valentino, Givenchy, Gaultier and Elie Saab. They are forging new paths to attract the next generation of couture customers. While I am not sure I can understand the product, I can, however, appreciate the artistry it entails to deliver the product.

Mainly, it must be considered that this ritual of Haute Couture is only for the very rich but should be seen by anyone who truly appreciates fashion as an art form. This is where it all began and why we have businesses based on all types of fashion.

Don’t forget style.com and http://jeffybruce.blogspot.com/

It is a strange thing, when you think about it, that one of the first things we learn to do manually is to tie a bow!!!!!! This little rite of passage from infant to toddler stays with us all of our lives and has been integrated into the history of fashion starting in the 15TH century and even earlier.

I refer to, of course, the more decorative side of this manual labor. The bow has been glorified from apparel to all classifications of accessories. Once upon a time the bow had a prissy connotation but has morphed from that to fashion classic. To an almost a staple element of the French couture as well as ready to wear.

During my varied career in Fashion, I have always, at some point, fallen back on the idea of the bow as a basis for inspiration when buying or selling or merchandising. The bow is a constant for women of all ages and varied ideas of what makes it fashionable. I think that somewhere in the psychology of fashion, the bow remains something that so many women can relate to on some level.

Whether it is Dior or Valentino, Lacroix or Rose Bertin (Marie Antoinette’s dressmaker), there remains the enduring use of THE BOW!!! From pussycat bows to utilitarian bows, from handbags to shoes to dresses there are bows everywhere you look and so I took the liberty of finding that timeless element as it is used in the 21st Century of fashion as we know it.

Many thanks to White House, Betsy Johnson, Chloe, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Dior, Prabal Gurung, Lacroix, Moschino, Viktor&Rolf, Alexis Mabille, Ralph Lauren, Endless.com., Chanel and Netaporter.com., and Shopstyle.com.

As always, catch me at http://jeffybruce.blogspot.com/

• Last week Ralph Lauren came under fire for (what looked to be) an extremely altered photo of a model in one of its ads. Bloggers at the website BoingBoing.net posted the image online, and lawyers for Ralph Lauren attempted to sue them for copyright infringement. Shine.Yahoo.com

• I am loving Forever 21’s Fall 2009 look book! It’s full of cute jackets and coats, scarfs, printed tops, boots and more. TheLipstickDiaries.com

• Marc Jacobs, Naomi Campbell, Amanda Lepore, Daphne Guinness, Natasha Poly, Olivier Theyskens, and Shalom Harlow are just a few of the famous fashion faces who supported François Nars 15th anniversary effort. Fashionindie.com

• The film was simply mesmerizing, beautiful and most of all captivating. I strongly encourage you to go out and watch it in theaters with your girlfriends. Audrey Tautou plays Chanel and she did an impeccable job at recreating the women who changed fashion forever. HauteMimi.com

• Talk about an all-star cast! Kate Hudson, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Fergie and Marion Cotillard team up with screen legends Sophia Loren and Judi Dench to star in the musical Nine along with leading man Daniel Day-Lewis. People.com

SPECTACULAR LANVIN

LANVIN EMBELLISHED

PRINTED ARTISTRY @ McQUEEN

MASTERFUL DRESSMAKING @ McQUEEN

THE SPECTACULAR CHANEL

EFFORTLESS CHIC AT HERMES

THE NEW CELINE CUSTOMER

SALABLE EASY @ STELLA McCARTNEY

INCREDIBLE BALENCIAGA

ANDREW GN SIMPLIFIED

Fashion By The Rules
Paris Spring 2010

It has been one long month of looking at collections for next Spring but it was true that the best was saved for last. Paris delivered a wide ranging season that brought designers either back to their roots( DIOR, LANVIN, HERMES, GAULTIER, LOEWE) or designers who forged new ground (GIVENCHY,McQUEEN,CELINE,BALENCIAGA & CHANEL).

There are trends but I want to call them soft trends as they are not always apparent in every collection but definitely an underlying theme for so many designers. Look for the prints, draping, drama, clean cut linear clothes, color, the absence of color with naturals and black, waists, trench coat looks, transparency, lace embellishments of every kind and I believe these all lead to an excitement during a very stressful season .

Never let it be said there was no spectacle during these hard times…we received “SHOWS” in their most spectacular sense at Chanel, McQueen, Louis Vinton and Victor Rolfe.

There was the comeback show of the season at Celine with a superbly rendered new vision for an old house ….a disastrous new vision for the old house of Ungaro which certainly made tongues wag and then those who soldiered on in the greatest of their own particular tradition (JPG, Andrew Gn, Loewe, Junya Watanabe, and Akris).

This is the season when retailers and eventually consumer will speak very loudly as to where and what is in demand. Spring is always a challenging season and this season will be no different with the exception that the French did it best and without retreating under their shells.
I encourage you to really examine the collections at www.style.com whom I also thank for their wonderful coverage and please keep up with my in depth reviews at http://jeffybruce.blogspot.com/

• Behind the Scenes of Gossip Girl FashionIndie.com
• Proving there’s nothing the Snuggie can’t do, nowhere the Snuggie can’t go, and no fashion barrier the Snuggie can’t break, the blanket with sleeves is having its very own fashion show this Fashion Week. NYMag.com
• We could hardly contain our excitement when a Sex and the City sequel was announced, and now, our favorite fashionista is getting back to work. Sarah Jessica Parker is creating her own fashion show on the streets of Manhattan as Carrie Bradshaw. People.com

• Peeks inside of V Magazine’s Issue #61 which was released on newsstands yesterday, this spread features supermodel Naomi Campbell in Moscow, Russia. Karl Lagerfeld shoots the supermodel wearing Chanel, Dior, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent, styled by Maria Chaix. Nitrolicious.com
• LADY GAGA KanyeUniverseCity.com

• We were warned Lily Allen would be the new face of Chanel’s latest handbag line Coco Cocoon. Now, here are the pictures to prove it. Popgloss.com
• The one company under the LVMH umbrella that continues to pull more than its weight is Louis Vuitton. The label posted a 7 percent profit in same-store sales on fashion and leather goods. It’s no surprise when you think about it. Louis Vuitton has the most powerful people in the world in its corner: Marc Jacobs, Kanye West, Buzz Aldrin, Madonna, and Stephen Sprouse, to name a few. NYMag.com
• Need a cheat sheet on fall fashion? Here you go: new shapes, new ways to make the stuff you already own suddenly exciting to wear again. Our model took it all for a test-drive, and adorable actor Hugh Dancy came along for the ride! Glamour.com

• While the industry is dominated by doll-faced, lanky females, male models with more classic looks tend to be the most successful. Fashionindie.com
• Sienna Miller has been busy attending premieres for her new flick G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, from Sydney to London, Berlin to Tokyo, and Seoul. One common theme I’ve noticed in her wardrobe is disheveled-chic, much like her street style. FabSugar.com

• Sorry, just had to: www.snuggiefordogs.com.

It’s that time again, this week’s trend report is the official Oligoville Resort Report. With dozens of amazing designers presenting dazzling accessories, handbags and threads we had to pick a few of our faves to share with you.

While neutrals are present in many Resort collections, I must respectfully look the other way. Nothing against the hues, but as you ladies know, I’m just not a neutral kind of girl.

This resort reprt is all about color and  here are some of my top selections from the trends this year.

Best of Resort #1: Candy Colors

Sonia Rykiel shorts (Mimosa, anyone?)

Prada Clutch:

Ralph Lauren Collection dress:

Best of Resort #2: Turquoise

Oscar de la Renta:

‘

Chanel (of course) and a Frette towel:

Roberto Cavalli Ring:

Best of Resort #3: Navy and Gold

French Connection top:

Miu Miu Sunglasses:

Proenza Schouler sandal (so hot):

So those are some of my top pieces, but what about complete collections?

A savvy fashionista from NY divulges her top designers, which I must respect and agree with her insider opinion: “[My] three favorite collections shown at New York during Resort 2009 fashion week dazzled me with their lovely, feminine sophistication note. First of all I love their chromatic palettes: white and off-white, grey, rose, crimson red, midnight blue, navy and black and the subtle refinement of the delicate details: ruffles, draping and other embellishments. These are clothes to keep in your wardrobe forever and not just for one holiday.

Carolina Herrera, recently granted with Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award at CFDA, brought out an impeccable chic collection, as always, though with a cheerful, breezy note, perfect for resort: orchid print, wide-leg fluid trousers, sheath dresses with delicate frills, long gowns with bold prints…simply stunning.

Carolina Herrera Resort 2009

Donna Karan showed a romantic resort collection that included delicate pieces in soft makeup colors – blushes, pinks and nudes – emphasized by deep black. Soft fabrics and different textures are cut into gently bubbled silhouettes. Draping or feminine embellishments such as bows add a lot of chic appeal while those breathtaking one-shouldered draped gowns in jersey and silk make you wish a never-ending holiday.

Donna Karan Resort 2009

Zac Posen‘s resort collection is just as lovely and chic and, most of all, very wide-range reaching all sort of sartorial needs that might occur during vacation time. Cocktail dresses with floral prints for outdoor parties, crisp tennis whites for smart looks, loose garments for strolls on a beach and even short dance frocks or Grecian evening gowns.”

Zac Posen Resort 2009

While I won’t be sporting these looks at the lake on this holiday, maybe some of you will at more glamorous locations. These Resort picks are styles that will keep you on the edge of fashion whether you are in the Hamptons, on the beach or staying haute in the City.

XOXO

Photo courtesy of Nitrolicious.com

• Louis Vuitton commemorates the 40th anniversary of man’s conquest of the Moon, elevating the theme of travel as a personal journey to a celebration of a voyage of unsurpassed significance for all mankind. Nitrolicous.com
• Melissa Magsaysay of the LA Times is convinced that harem pants can be sexy – I am not. In her article, Magsaysay states, “When harem pants came down the runways at Chloé and Alexander McQueen for spring 2009, they somehow glided past the cartoony pop culture associations (Barbara Eden’s Jeannie in the ’60s, MC Hammer’s ’80s gold) to help define summer’s effortlessly slouchy look. NOT. FashionIndie.com

Photo courtesy of NYMag.com

• In a genius move, British Marie Claire put Brüno on the July cover, along with new mom (who looks amazing, might we add) and Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio. For the issue, Brüno, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, penned an “A–Z List of Fashion,” in which he offends as many people as he can. NYMag.com
• The German clothing factory that eventually became the international menswear powerhouse Hugo Boss manufactured Nazi uniforms during World War II and most likely did so using slave labor. LosAngelesTimes.com
• After a court case with Chanel over the use of their logo, Naco Paris won his case and not only that he has Karl Lagerfeld wearing the new Naco-Paris “Karl Who?” bag…..Not bad Naco…. Popgloss.com

Photo courtesy of Popgloss.com