Coutorture

VPL by Victoria Bartlett Pre-Fall 2010

coutorture — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:16:34 -0800

Victoria Bartlett showed plenty of her signature knits and lingerie for her VPL pre-fall collection, using metallic thread to create the look of chain mail in draped tops and sweaters. Legwear stood out-in sheer gray or black-as did dolman-sleeved sweaters and harem-style trousers with ties at the waist. Check out some of our favorite looks in the gallery below.

Runway Report: VPL Spring 2010

coutorture — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:12:32 -0700

Victoria Bartlett showed her spring 2010 collection for VPL at Pier 59 studios today. Titled "Atlas of Anatomy", Bartlett presented a series of deconstructed and reconstructed looks in shades of navy, black, cream, orange and beige with a little help from her accessory designing friends - Aran Baik knits, Lizzie Fortunato and Orly Genger by Jaclyn Mayer jewelry, and LD Tuttle footwear.

Always interested in manipulating shapes to create a complex silhouette, Bartlett shined in transparent leggings, an alabaster tunic with twisted cord knots, and the 16-look finale section of sheer nudes paired with shoulder pads or layered over sequined undergarments.

Also of note, a navy parachute fabric used for bloomers and jumpers, a coral shift dress with matching leggings, and the organically shaped Lizzie Fortunato for VPL necklaces in bone, rope, wood, and resin.

Bartlett used accessories to further her anatomical statement, and the aforementioned knits played a major role in pushing the theme. There were 'vertebrae knits' and 'sternum knits' - beautiful bits of yarn twisted together over the shoulder or neck, referencing the obvious skeletal structure.

Lizzie Fortunato For VPL Spring 2009

coutorture — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0800

The VPL show turned out to be one of our favorites this Spring 09--however understated and, well, understood is the VPL aesthetic there was something in the air that made an impact. Maybe it was just the right timing; a relatively subdued break in the insanity of fashion week, or maybe it was the crowd; Sally Singer and the Voguettes were front and center, or maybe it was...the jewelry. The jewelry in the VPL show was delicate and beautiful, geometric, handmade, special--it was something that enhanced the clothing without distracting us from it. Today we put two and two together and realized the jewelry was designed by our friends at Lizzie Fortunato jewels. The line is, in fact, all of those adjectives and then some and, we are too excited about this, the jewelry we saw in the VPL show makes up what will be the Spring 09 collection. Prepare yourself for heart palpitations...

Lizzie Fortunato For VPL: Spring 2009 Look Book

coutorture — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0800

Statement Necklaces From Spring 2009

coutorture — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:02:17 -0800

The Spring 2009 Statement Necklace: Bauble Or Geometric

Clockwise from top left: Burberry Spring 2009, Marni Spring 2009, United Bamboo Spring 2009, VPL Spring 2009 (Photo by Justin William Lin for Coutorture.com)

The statement necklace is here to stay and this Spring 2009 there were two distinct (but equally covetable) camps. Bauble necklaces cropped up at Burberry and Marni, they were colorful and mis-matched for the artistic Type-B chicsters. Then, there were those on the straight and narrow. Geometric necklaces cropped up at United Bamboo and VPL and they were Type-A all the way. The rule with personality types, remember, is that few people are just one type or the other. Bauble or geometric, it could just depend on the day.

Click on the brand name to see the Spring 09 runway show.

Three Lingerie Sets We Love

coutorture — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:39:49 -0700

Curlicue Bra $28 - Anthropologie

Myla Prunella bandeau bra $230 - Net-A-Porter

VPL B-Fractional Undi $120 - La Garçonne

VPL B-Fractional Bra $175 - La Garçonne

Curlicue Hipsters $18 - Anthropologie

Myla Prunella frill briefs $145 - Net-A-Porter

At a certain point in the winter season our priorities shift and things that give us comfort, like nice lingerie, are how we want to spend our money. We think these three lingerie sets are each special in their own way. The Myla set from Net-a-Porter for a notion of luxury, the Anthropologie set because of the print and inexpensive price tag, and the VPL set for lounging at home in style. We think these exist on the same level as your favorite baggy Levis or a new white cotton t-shirt. That is, they are timeless comforts.

Feel Like Staying In? Our Five Key Pieces.

coutorture — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:53:58 -0700

Dsquared2 Zipped Pencil Skirt $945 - eLuxury

Rick Owens Light Cotton Shorts $325 - eLuxury

VPL Barely There Bra $85 - shopbop.com

Free People Kristals Lace Camisole $38 - shopbop.com

Alexander Wang Tank Dress $524 - shopbop.com

These pieces might not satisfy the conventional notion of what 'Staying In' clothing looks like; but who said you had to wear pajamas at home. In fact, these pieces are as comfortable as they are street-ready. Victoria Bartlett, Rick Owens, and Alexander Wang all know a thing or two about clothing that looks high fashion and feels like a worn-in dream. In this economy, it's best to double up on your motivations.

Fall 08 Catch-Up, Back Track, Er...Stuff!

coutorture — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:41:57 -0700

3.1 Phillip Lim Cropped tapered pants $350 Net-A-Porter

Opening Ceremony Suede Cut-Out Pump $386 eLuxury

Frye Adrienne Oxford $188 Oak

VPL Two-Tone Cowl Knit $549 La Garçonne

Don The Verb 18 Way Coat $858 Oak

Mayle Billy DouxVintage Nuby- Black $650 Barneys

Tee hee, we've been so busy with the Spring 2009 shows that we nearly forgot to dress ourselves...all those Fall 08 deliveries have been piling up and we've not much to show for it! Sure we've made a random vintage purchase here, an online indulgence there, but overall our accumulation of fashion commodities over the last month has been next to null. Not to be insensitive, but all for the better, eh? Well, just as an exercise, if only for inspiration, here are our favorite Fall goodies that just might get us spending. At the very least, drooling.

VPL Spring 2009

coutorture — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:07:36 -0700

Victoria Barlett continues to evolve her innerwear as outerwear aesthetic in her Spring 2009 collection, while still heavily utilitarian this collection has a touch more fun than seasons past even as it retains traditional comfort.