coutorture --

Oscar de la Renta Fall 08 Collection on Coutorture

coutorture — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:24:50 -0800

Oscar De La Renta loves a strong woman. Each season he reiterates his appreciation for women that know what they want and know how to get it. His sincere devotion to a certain ideal of womanhood gives him an almost uncanny ability to hit the high points of an emerging cultural moment with his garments. Thus his Fall 2008 collection contains nearly every major trend for the fall season including opulent detailing, lean tailoring, layered textures, and color-of-the moment plum. And while the rest of the world is focused on another cultural moment we find ourselves completely mesmerized by Oscar's world. Oscar's laughing, confident, penetrating and, dare we say it, strong woman exemplifies our hope for a world in which substance matches style. And while we here at Coutorture feel quite privileged to be tackling these challenges a little early with the Fall 2008 garments featured in our editorial we expect the rest of fashion will have caught up by September. But by then Oscar De La Renta will have prepared yet another vision of womanhood for us. Proving that to be be truly strong one must always be a little bit ahead of the pack.

Agent Orange

coutorture — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:47:15 -0700

We're currently enamored of orange nail polish, and so, it seems, is Agent 99. According to network partner Cuffington, in the recent remake of the 60's classic, Get Smart, our favorite gun-toting secret agent sports chic, tangerine nails. The look is just in time for a hot summer. We know it's bold, but this isn't the coral-orange favored by leathery, Palm Beach ladies. We were thinking more like the orange creamsicle that's dripping down your arm, or the mimosas you dream of sipping poolside as the weekend draws near. It's fresh, fun, and totally indulgent. Good thinking, 99.

We're fans of Essie's Mini Shorts, from the newly released Neon Collection, and OPI's Mod About Brights collection, which includes shades ranging from mango to sunset orange. We advise keeping nails short for this look. Long, bright orange talons only work if you're a comic book villainess.

Immaterial: Acid Trip

coutorture — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:45:50 -0700

American Apparel Acid WashAcid wash is back. That is right you heard it here first. Acid wash is making a comeback and we couldn't be more excited. We grant we aren't quite ready for an acid wash denim jacket with fringes and matching jeans, but like our community partner The Budget Fashionista, the pale end of the denim spectrum is beginning to look really appealing. And we can't stop the feeling. Corpus has some crazy colored acid wash jeans for fall which if you pair with American Apparel's Unisex Acid Wash Jersey Deep V-Neck Short just might make us plotz. But if you aren't quite as adventurous as the colored acid wash trend (that is right we are calling it a trend) there are still plenty of acid wash options that stay in light denim range from these Stella McCartney High Waisted Trouser Jeans to Ksubi Super Skinny Zip Jeans in Uzi Blue Vein. That's right we have got you covered from high waisted trousers to super skinny jeans. No excuses now huh?

For More Immaterial click here

Immaterial: La robe est morte. Vive la Robe!

coutorture — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:40:55 -0700

It feels like just as someone is proclaiming the death of one trend that trend is popping up everywhere. Fashion trend tipping points and mass market bell curves aside, we think proclaiming the death of the dress is a little premature.
Plenty of other trends seem over done to us (purple, vests and wedges come to mind) but others we don't mind keeping around for a long time. Thus we celebrate two of our favorite long term trends, saturated hues and dresses, because no one else will. After all, what is easier than slipping into a brightly colored dress on those first few glorious days of spring? We are particularly enamored by this MM6 by Maison Martin Margiela Lilac Silk mini dress and this Jungle Green Marc by Marc Jacobs Button Down Dress.

For More Immaterial Click Here

Fash-Eccentric Shoutout: What's Not Hot In Singapore

coutorture — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:45:28 -0700

With street style blogs exploding it is easy enough to find out what people are wearing just about anywhere. At this rate you can peek everything from Reykjavik to Cape Town without breaking a sweat. But what about the really bad trends? Fash-Eccentric brings us the biggest fashion faux pas from Singapore. Apparently the surge of the not plastic bags has gone even more global. The list makes us really curious about other not so hot spots around the world as we would imagine even the trendiest fashion capital has a few fashion victims. Coutorture is based smack dab in the middle of Williamsburg currently and we have to admit we seem some scary outfits every day. We think its time for our other international partners to weigh in!

Check Out Other Shoutouts Here

The Future of Fashion In The Past Is The Present

coutorture — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:07:10 -0700

Certain designers have a thing for delving in the past, particularly when it comes to forecasting the future. Our love of comedy show Mystery Science Theater 3000 helped us appreciate old-timey gem Clothing of The Future. The video highlights fashion of the future, err well in the year 2000, with some of America's greatest designers. And let's just say we let out our inner Crow T. Robot with our critiques of the video.

We don't wonder if those greatest designers are an awful lot like our current greats. We saw Marc Jacobs's Misplaced Heel, one of Marc's famed 1920's inspired slim dress suits, a See by Chloe Jumpsuit (or Normal Kamali jumpsuit for that matter), a Badgley Mischka gown, and a hair accessories that evokes a certain Rimmel light up lipgloss. It would seem that Clothing of The Future in 2000 is more like Clothing of the Present Spring 2008 than we would have ever guessed.

College Fashion Shoutout: Sheer Insanity

coutorture — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:41:09 -0700

Sometimes a shoutout needs to be a call out. We love College Fashion so we feel a tad bad but we are totally nutters confused by their incorporation of sheer dressing into their spring dressing round ups. Now plenty of people can go for sheer and we admit its totally a trend but we think this might just be one for the college crowd to sit out no matter how good the College Fashion advice. Beer, late night pizza, and frazzled nerves do not lend themselves to the careful dressing required with sheer fabrics. And as much as College Fashion helps young women look more stylish while in their campus years we think this trend may be beyond the reach of anyone that still has to cope with midterms. Not that we are advocating the usage of sweat pants per say, we are just saying your time might be spent elsewhere like preparing resumes for instance so you can enjoy a nice career in which you can play dress up! But feel free to tell us to bugger off.

Read Other Shoutouts Here

McQueen's Lamps

coutorture — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:35:52 -0800

Alexander McQueen created an elaborate inspiration story based on a girl in a tree emerging to become queen. Trendinista has discovered similarities between several of McQueen's Fall 2008 creations and a trip to the lighting store.

Plum Fabulous

coutorture — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:42:06 -0800

With the rich fabrics & textures of Fall 2008 demanding attention, beauty has resigned to a perceived simplicity. The key to Fall is flawless skin paired with one feature accented. No other feature portrays confidence like a strong lip.

Inspired by the rich color of Oscar De La Renta's Fall 2008 collection, we chose to accent the lips in a vibrant shade of plum. Makeup artist Jeffrey Dwayne used Givenchy’s Rouge Interdit lipstick in Stylish Purple on model Nana, though complimentary shades can be found for other skin tones. We like MAC’s Plumful and Lacome’s Color Design in Curtain Call. Honestly, it’s not about the shade of plum lipstick you wear, but the confidence you exude, a lesson we can all take from Oscar's confident woman.

Coutorture Community's Morning Must Reads 2/21

coutorture — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:12:07 -0800

The Coutorture Community has their eye on the Milan Fall 2008 shows as well as the latest Spring fashions hitting the stores. The Fashion Bomb, Fashion Indie, ShinyGloss, The Shoe Goddess, and Pink Rock Candy keep you in the know.

Asymmetrical Hair Buns

coutorture — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:16:21 -0800

The Coveted loves the asymmetry of a side placed hair bun. How do you prefer to wear your buns?

Asymmetrical Hair Buns

Symmetrical, asymmetrical, I'll wear a bun any day & every way.

I prefer to keep my buns high & tight.

I don't style my hair, it's a free spirit.

Coutorture Community's Must Reads 2/13

coutorture — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:30:00 -0800

Slow down jetsetter, the Coutorture Community delivers all the fashion coverage you'll ever need. Travel to Men's Flair, Cuffington, Trust Your Style, Stained Couture, and Beauty411 for the latest in style & beauty.

Coutorture Community's Morning Must Reads 2/13

coutorture — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 05:01:23 -0800

There are so many Fashion Weeks, we can barely keep up! Get the latest from around the globe from Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains, PR Couture, Fashion Nation, Debutante Clothing, and What's Haute.

Hat's Off! Err Hat's On!

coutorture — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:09:14 -0800

Everyone loves a trend story and hats were everywhere in New York. Ralph Lauren, Oscar De La Renta, Marc Jacobs, Temperely, James Coviello, Doo.Ri, and Jenni Kayne were all big on covering up on top. With politics like it is we wouldn't be surprised if keeping our heads covered is a precaution against the sky falling. Chicken Little anyone?

Coutorture's Morning Must Reads 1/25

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:56:37 -0800

Couture In The City is feeling the long sweater trend.

Sally Hansen products put Ms New Beauty in a tizzy.

Ma Petite Chou goes royal with purple.

All Lacquered Up reviews Lounging Under The Stars.

Sheer tights are the new opaque, according to Fasshonaburu.