Coutorture

Fendi Fall 08 Deliveries

coutorture — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:01:25 -0700

Fendi Heavy knit sweater $2360 - Net-A-Porter

Fendi Over-the-knee boots $1380 - Net-A-Porter

Fendi Honeycomb knitted skirt $1250 - Net-A-Porter

Fendi Borderline satin clutch $1110 - Net-A-Porter

It might not be as voluptuously fur-trimmed as some of what we saw on the runway but the Fall 08 Fendi deliveries are still quite luxurious. Boots that are so tall they act as actual suede trousers, a cozy knit sweater with structured shoulder pleating, a sweater skirt with multiple layers, or an evening clutch with the tiniest folds of fabric. There is no way, in these clothes, you won't look like the million bucks you just spent.

Brian Reyes Fall 08 Deliveries

coutorture — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:42:41 -0700

Brian Reyes Twill Cape Trench $1995 - Jake

Brian Reyes Cami Tank $110 - shopbop.com

Brian Reyes Belted V-Back Dress- Hunter $1695 - Barneys

Brian Reyes Cashmere Blazer $890 - shopbop.com

Sometimes you see a collection at fashion week and then accidently forget all about when the season comes around. We found ourselves checking out Brian Reyes's Fall 08 deliveries today and remembered how much we liked his collection in the first place! Whether it's a cocktail dress, a staple cardigan, a luxurious camisole, or an outerwear piece-Brian Reyes has consistently offered investment-worthy designs to young, refined women. To see the entire Brian Reyes Fall 08 collection, click here.

Givenchy Shoes Make Us Swoon

coutorture — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:04:03 -0700

Givenchy Shoes High Heel Open Toe Ankle Bootie $595 - shopbop.com

Givenchy Shoes Open Toe Sling Back Pump $670 - shopbop.com

Givenchy Shoes Open Toe Bootie with Bold Stacked Heel $675 - shopbop.com

Givenchy Women's 584983 Birdcage Bootie $664 - Endless.com

Givenchy Women's 584962 Peep To Bootie $594 - Endless.com

The Fall 08 Givenchy footwear selection is shaping up to be powerful, sleek, and mid-season perfect--not that hosiery couldn't keep you in these year-round, with all the slashes and cut-outs this season, nothing is going to scare us from the cold. This season Givenchy is all about the peep-toe shape, with bondage like strapping right in front. For the same cost as a pair from Loeffler Randall--we're going to advise you to go for it. To see images from the Givenchy Fall 08 show as seen in Paris Fashion Week, click here.

Sophomore: The Fall 08 Look Book

coutorture — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:03:35 -0700

We're happy to see the color orange and inclusion of zip dresses from Sophomore though as trend aware as the Fall 08 collection may seem, it's still a very simple formula--we're loving the new look book shot by Cass Bird, who also shot the Spring 08 collection. Little New York brands like this make fashion so easy to break down. There are more important things, they remind us, than fashion. Sophomore is excellent at communicating the importance of simple, sexy style over thousand dollar handbags and it-frocks. In fact, these are the depictions of women that your boyfriend probably prefers nine times out of ten to the glossy magazine spreads. And, no matter how accessible cotton-basics might be, we think that's saying something.

Five Fall Trends: Past & Present

coutorture — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:06:38 -0700

In today's original Coutorture editorial we've pulled together what we consider Fall's top five trends and depicted one vintage and one modern interpretation for each. We know mixing price points is an important consideration, especially in this economic climate, and we thought it neat to show two versions of the same trend in order to display just how accessible the Fall 08 looks are, no matter what your budget. Our stylist and Network Partner, Liz Baca from the website M.I.S.S. Crew, came up with some amazing looks and we'll break those down, later this week, with corresponding trend galleries from the Fall 08 catwalks. Baca was able to come at the project with strong insight from both the modern and vintage perspective because, in addition to styling shoots and writing about modern fashion, she also sells vintage to the hippest boutiques in the Lower East Side. We'll be posting an interview with Baca soon, where she articulates the challenges of being a vintage buyer and her perspective on the Fall 08 season. We'll also be posting behind the scenes photo galleries, beauty spreads, and an interview with the husband and wife design team, Shannon Sinclair and Bryn Bowen, who photographed and made set (respectively) for today's shoot. Stay tuned for all of these great pieces of Coutorture content. We're off taping a few pre-fashion week video interviews and sneaking in one shoot before New York Fashion Week kicks off so expect lots of exciting things popping up on our front page, from here all the way through the Spring 09 Paris shows. For some instant gratification, check out the spread below with some of the items we pulled from eLuxury, Net-a-Porter, and Shobop for today's shoot. We don't pull current season by accident...we know there's something to be said for immediacy in fashion.

Five Fall Trends: Past & Present

coutorture — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:06:38 -0700

Erdem Statina dress - $695.00	Opening Ceremony Cut-Out Oxford Pump - $335.00
Rag & Bone Double Breasted Vest - $290.00	Jean Paul Gaultier Houndstooth Tall Boot - $1,065.00
Christian Louboutin Altadama astrakhan platforms - $995.00	L.A.M.B. Irvine Clutch - $295.00
Marc by Marc Jacobs Brushed Twill Cropped Pant - $328.00	Opening Ceremony Patent T-Strap Flat - $320.00
Marc by Marc Jacobs Metallic Bow Pump - $330.00

Louboutin Notes

coutorture — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:56:47 -0700

Just a few updates in case you make it your business to stalk the deliveries of Louboutins--like we do. Call us predictable, we believe in the canon.

If you can say this three times in a row, we'll come to your house and paint all of your shoe soles red. The Altadama Astrakhan Platforms, which we pulled for today's editorial, Fall's Top Five: Past & Present, deserve a note on their real-life presence. Net-A-Porter articulates them as being appropriate from late summer through mid-fall but we're pretty sure they're fabulous (and we don't use that word lightly) for any temperature (with hosiery, of course!). For our shoot we went monochrome and opaque. We're all about the colored tight and the monochromatic styling, so call it by osmosis that our stylist showed up with this pairing in mind. The shoes are larger than life, is all we wanted to say. Just in case you can't tell from the picture.

The New Simple Pumps, which we wrote about the second they hit Net-a-Porter, only to find them sold out by the end of the day, are back in stock. Never underestimate the power of a reorder! Some sizes have started selling out but we wouldn't bring it up if there weren't a significant run of sizes left. As we said before, these grey flannel pumps would probably take you miles this fall. We don't expect to see them on the site next week.

There's nothing better than falling in love with a pair of shoes and then finding out they come in multiple colors. The Very Brode Pumps (or, the Passementerie Pumps, as they're known to Neiman Marcus) so far, we've seen in yellow, red, and hot pink. The hot pink pair we pulled for our shoot (though, sadly, it didn't make it in) and we have to say that they are outfit-making if ever. As perfect with crisp jeans as with a proper cocktail dress, the only tough decision is which color to indulge in. Yesterday we thought pink but today we're leaning towards yellow. As if we needed something else to worry about right before fashion week!

Calvin Klein Collection Fall 08 Ad Campaign

coutorture — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:21:24 -0700

The Fall 08 Calvin Klein Collection ad campaign stopped us in our tracks. We picked up the heavy September editions of the glossies last weekend. We had a coffee, we turned each page slowly, digesting each spread how it articulated (or shattered) our impressions of the collections from Fall 08. We know these campaigns have turned up in previous editions of the glossies but, we will be honest, September is the only month we really indulge in opening the books. That said, we felt that the Prada campaign did not make the impact we were hoping for. The department stores, by and large, butchered the clothing they shot. And Klein, by far, made the most impact. The Fall 08 collection was sharp and androgynous, it was just what we would have expected but dark and brooding and appropriate for the mood of Fall 08 (which commented on our economic climate). And the ads, their graphic quality, epitomized 'modern' dressing. We're happy to see that Balenciaga isn't the only brand who knows how to evoke this sentiment. If the collection pivots on silhouette, then the ads, we think, should follow suit (no pun intended). Below,our video interview with Francisco Costa, the Fall 08 collection, and, at left, a shot from our favorite Fall 08 campaign.

Fendi Oversized Logo Shoulder Bag

coutorture — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:54:54 -0700

You can tell when the gal at Net-a-Porter responsible for writing up the product descriptions really likes something. The Fendi Oversized Logo Shoulder Bag, she writes, is "seriously chic". It's not just chic, it's seriously chic ladies. But is she right? YES! This is a seriously chic bag! It's so deco, so nicely shaped, so on trend with that chain strap! We're all about the grey bag, in the first place, because you've escaped that whole black/brown battle without having to commit to a color. Pair this with your Save The Garment Center t-shirt and a pair of Slow and Steady shades, and you've pretty much hit the nail on the mid-season head. In case you'd like a little more Fendi and a little less affordable for your outfit, check out the other just-delivered Fall options below.

Our Fall Top Five: Preen Fall 08

coutorture — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:58:39 -0700

Our choice of Preen's Fall 08 as part of our Fall Top Five is based a different set of criteria. We're not going to pretend that Preen and Prada are really comparable brands but what makes a Top Five list fun to invent is that there need not be the same rules for including each collection. The Preen show was held off site on the Sunday of Fashion Week, which set it off on the right foot to begin with. This was the first time we weren't frenzied and stressed and we felt like the collection conjured that same kind of cool calm. Down the runway glided electric blue, powder puff, and blue plaid looks--it was glam and relaxed all at once. We hate to say this but it was the kind of collection we hoped we'd see from someone like Karen Walker and didn't. When a contemporary brand is capable of conjuring 'hipster' without sacrificing 'beauty' we've fallen in love. After Fashion Week was said and done, and the trends emerged in our minds, Preen deserved a mention for more than one. Transparency, shearling, plaid, sequins, luxe layers, and andogyny were all trends from Fall 08, touched upon in this collection. Preen is quickly becoming one of our favorite independent brands, and, judging by the sheer editorial coverage they've gotten from Fall 08, we're not alone.

Fendi Oversized logo shoulder bag - $1,590.00	Fendi Satin Cube Skirt - $840.00
Fendi Suede and leather platforms - $770.00	Fendi Satin-Trimmed Wool Coat - $4,030.00
Fendi Cropped swing jacket - $2,100.00	Fendi Wool wide-leg pants - $840.00
Fendi Satin bow pumps - $655.00	Fendi Selleria Braid Handle Duffle- Black - $1,840.00
Fendi Fine merino dress - $810.00	Fendi Borderline Metallic Pouchette- Platinum - $1,330.00
Fendi Petal trimmed dress - $3,530.00	Fendi Belted Wool Crepe Coat - $1,430.00