New York designer B. Michael’s has a sophisticated edge on fashion - which is purely exquisite

New York - Today I was kindly introduced to the B. Michael’s Couture collection. This hip, stylish, and kingly designer out of New York sure has his teeth in the big apple. I was keenly amazed by the beauty of his couture collection. Especially his Signature Fall 2008 Collection.

The designs were full flowing, with black ensembles accentuated with contouring designs. And black skirts amazingly splashed with mustard. Moving on to the more exotic features of red jackets, cleverly showing buttons featured on the back. To beautifully designed trousers and floor length skirts. The materials glowing in silver and gold metallic materials, were beautifully laced with patterns of large flowers. The collection keenly moved onto evening gowns. Featuring reds, cobalt blues, and whites. Michael’s has touched on the exotic and transcended it to the sophisticate. Certainly a collection to keep your eyes on in the near future. Especially with his Spring 2009 Collection being featured at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, Friday September 5th. I will most certainly be keeping tabs on his latest collection.

Video footage from the B. Michael Fall 2008 Collection

The very exquisite venue for the runway presentation of B. Michael’s advanced American couture, will reveal a story and ambiance of Mystery, Intrigue and Romance. B. Michael Couture is worn by very high profile socialites and celebrities. The loyal following consider the designer a well kept secret known only to the very elite wearers of American couture. The breath of the following extends to the award winning recording/film artist Beyonce to the legendary actress Cicely Tyson and Cate Blanchett.

Source: B.Michael Couture

Popularity: 5% [?]

Versace’s opts for “black and slick” at the fall fashions

Ok, so we are all tired of the current economic crisis hitting the US. And especially with the gas and oil prices reaching their limits. But who would have thought that this would affect the fashion designs at the fall runway shows? These fall fashion trends are going slick, shiny and black. Quite the influence considering the mounting global obsession with Oil. While governments argue, our trendy haute couture designers see this as the perfect opportunity to jump on the band wagon, and deliver what the economics are saying. Oil or bust.

We see Alexander Wang, Kai Kühne, and Roksanda Ilincic all enhancing the devilish look of the modern oil trend. With black leather, silks, patent leathers, and even materials that look like plastic bags. The price tag might even seem more reasonable. Compared to exorbitant fuel costs. But one thing is for sure. And that is you will have more mileage out of your designer wear.

Lanvin seems to have everything under control. With the “all wrapped up in a plastic bag” look

Malandrino seals the deal in oily velvet black

Alexander Wang goes for oil baroness par sophisticate

Source: Style.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

Summer always brings the delicate wardrope to the surface. Runways and designers are capturing pastels and silks. With peaches, pinks, blues, and soft greens. Designers such as Versace, J.Mendal and Stella McCartney. Have captured the delicate softness and undeniable femininity to the womens closet.

From the top;

Blumarine’s brings soft pinks and lace to the runways

Blumarine’s captures lace and silk together in this captivating pastel pink dress. Worn with an off the shoulder wool faux fur. Delicate and sexy, this little number is perfect as a summer cocktail dress or for that special garden party. For the confident women indeed.

Ancient design is paired with soft rose at J.Mendel

Have I just died and gone to heaven?

This dress to me embodies everything elegant. Superb craftsmanship and design is combined with ruffles of color in subdued dusky rose. This dress is powerful, and to say the least if not…perfect. Why is it perfect? Look at the angular design matched with the ruffles and silk. Which in return creates softness with a solid shape to the garment. If one were not careful, you would think a statue of the roman goddess Athena just came to life and walked herself onto the runway! This is one of the best garments I have seen in many years. Just superb.

Versace dominates the runway

Since Donatella became the house hold name of Versace. She hasn’t done that bad a job with her collections. This dress is beautiful. Has clean lines with a peachy color. More structured than we’ve seen before, but most certainly beautiful enough to mention!

Stella casts a hue of blue

Oh Stella you are a clever designer. We love you for your natural usage of form, flower blues, and dreamy materials one can just melt into. I love this piece.

Marchesa turns on the soft green

Marchesa meets Jane Austin?. A little too ‘Pride & Prejudice’ for you? Well this dress is very gregorian in nature, with a modern touch. We can’t help but search to the past to describe some of these designs. But hence here we are quoting Jane herself. Long and beautiful with encrusted gems of gold inlaid to the sholders, belt, and hem. You can’t go wrong with this dress. I’m quite sure Jane Austin would of loved it too.

Source for images and content: Style.com

Popularity: 8% [?]

Lauren Conrad in LC Collection (source)

Well, there’s been some buzz behind LC’s new line for a while now…and the much anticipated runway kind of left me lukewarm. Part of me gets it, another part says that I’ve seen it all before. Check it out for yourself:

Stuff I loved:

(source)

Who doesn’t love bold floral print kimonos and plum-colored 70’s style dresses? These were cute, but these, not so cute:

Not so cute:

(source)

Is it just me, or are leggings and tiered tops SO over? These are just kind of bland, and don’t look much different from the good I could easily go pick up at Forever XXI right now. So, some of it worked, and some of it didn’t (unless you are in high school and consider Forever XXI the epitome of fashion). I’m sure she worked really hard, so, not bad for a first try. Next season, I fully expect more sequins, peacock feathers and rouched necklines, so make note LC!

You can snag some of your own Lauren Conrad goods at her website here , but in all honesty, with her dresses ranging at about $125-$150, I’d rather shop at Banana, Anthropologie or JCrew.

Have you scored any LC pieces yet? Comment and let us know what you think about the quality, cut, etc. Thanks!

Popularity: 10% [?]

Temperly London (source)

Thank ye gods for Temperly London…IMHO, Temperly London is the best of the best for New York fashion week, fall 2008. If I had to see one more “Working Girl” 80’s inspired business suit, I was going to hurl…but luckily TL saved my sanity.

I’m not gonna pretend that these ensembles would all look good on my buxom frame. I’m also not going to say that I’m entirely on board with the dress+motorcycle gloves combo. But I think that this was one of the most imaginitive lines to hit the fall ‘08 runway without going overboard. It had the perfect balance of Vanity Fair glossy fashion-as-art and hey, I wanna wear that to the movies next week.

I think that the standout from Temperly London’s line had to be those awesome chain belts (inventive, but not too over-the-top) and the princessy layered flirty detailing on the dresses.

Don’t have runway dollars, but want to get the flavor of this look in your closet? Target has a red and white wrap dress that mirrors the Temperly London dress (above) for only $17.49 (but my neighborhood Target has it for $12.00)…I put it back on the wrap yesterday because I wasn’t sure, but I’m having second thoughts now.

Merona Wrap Dress, $17.49 

Thanks for joining us in our Fashion Week coverage…hope you can take away some of our tips to incorporate the hottest new runway looks into your wardrobe.  Have a fashionable weekend!

Popularity: 13% [?]

Abaete

Carolina Herrera

Matthew Williamson

Miss Sixty

Sass and Bide (source)

It’s no secret that there’s a fine line between fashion and art when it comes to runway clothing. This is couture, and not ready to wear, after all. Don’t get me wrong; I love creativity and experimenting with style is the only way that we will come up with wrap dresses, wedges and other closet staples. And hey, if I want to look like a medieval knight getting ready to go to a meeting with the board members, then Abaete has the look for me, all thanks to fashion week.

I’m not at all surprised by misshapen hats, gloves that look like dishwashing mits and strangulating fur neck warmers. Heavens no, that’s nothing compared to some of Dior’s look in 2006:

See, now that’s just silly.

Anwyay, all in all, I’m quite surprised and disappointed at some of my favorite designer’s for not really coming through. Miss Sixty was a mess all over and Sass and Bide, while playful, had only a few pieces that I would wear. Even Caroline Herrera, queen of the designers for the everyday woman, turned out uppity couture stuff that you can’t wear outside of the glossy pages of Vanity Fair. Sigh.

Keep checking with Couture in the City for more great fashion week coverage you won’t find anywhere else.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Bagdley Mischka Fall 2008 (source)

I don’t think that it’s any secret that the Fall 2008 Bagdley Mischka line was fabulous…like, duh. The only thing that could have ruined this line was a dash of leggings and a sprinkling of shearling knee-high boots. I LOVED the working-girl glitz look…it reminds me of my “Day to Night” Barbie that I had when I was little. She had a grey pencil skirt and fitted blazer with a sparkly pink bodysuit underneath. So cute!

I think that the standout looks from the Bagdley Mischka Fall 2008 runway had to be the sparkly tights and the makeup. How hot are those smokey eyes? It gave this business-chic look a little hint of ethereal goddess. I’m also really inspired to paint my nails that vampy shade.

Don’t have Bagdley Mischka dollars, but want to steal this look? Here are some easy tips to emulate without going into debt:

1) Sparkly tights: Pair them with a black dress, an amazing necklace and a clutch for a night out.

2) Hair and makeup: Short dark nails and smoky elfin eyes with Veronica Lake-inspired 1940’s hair are an easy way to recreate this vampy look.

3) Shiny accents:  Resurect a shiny top a la Mischka and give a skirt suit an upgrade.

Keep checking with Couture in the City for more fun fashion week coverage!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Popularity: 9% [?]

Tuleh 2008 Fall Collection (source)

If there is one thing that I would love to take away from the Tuleh 2008 Fall runway, it would have to be the colored knee high suede boots. Three of my favorite fall colors were put to good use (turquoise, purple and red), as well as a number of surprising patterns and accessories like matching fedora’s and thick gold chains. I really MUST have a pair of suede boots now, at the very least in turqouise. But I digress…

One of the things that I have always really loved about Tuleh’s runway is that you can imagine real people on the street wearing those clothes. Okay, really fashionable real people, but nonetheless, Tuleh’s runway would easily convert from the walkway to the streets. The fancy red ballgown would SO work for a black tie gala, I NEED one of those kimono’s for schlepping around the house, and again, THE BOOTS with a geometric print dress is my official favorite new look.

So, lesson’s to take away for Fall from the Tuleh runway:

1) Pair your fall dresses, solid or pattern, with a colored knee high boot.

2) Large over-sized clutches are the new stam bag.

3) Large gold chains are HOT.

Don’t want to wait until fall to start scamming off the Tuleh runway look? Yeah, me neither. Those boots are really calling my name now. You can get this look with a little help from LeFashionista, check it out:

Juju Leroux Cadena Ring Necklace, $70.00

Pink Elf Kimono Dress, $189.00 

Pair a silk kimono-style dress with a large gold chain necklace, an oversized clutch, a cinched trench-style jacket and knee high boots for instant Tuleh-like style.  Keep checking with Couture in the City for more fashion week coverage and tips on how you can steal the latest styles.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Herve Leger by Max Azria , Fall 2008 (source)

My Barbie doll collection circa 1988 would have died for Herve Leger’s Fall 2008 runway collection…too bad I don’t have a Barbie doll bod to pull these off now. New York Fashion Week for Fall 2008 has come up with a few surprises so far, but Herve Leger by Max Azria is one of my new faves.

The show seemed to have a split personality, with one half of the dresses looking like they were the work of a Russian Suprematist artist (thank you Kasimir Malevich) and the other half looking like, well, Russian Crystal Barbie. It’s just fab…I love Slavic-inspired looks for fall, don’t you?

Nude makeup and feathered accents rounded out this unique show…I fully intend to buy a knock-off of the gold dress (sans fur shawl and train) and I’ve been really inspired to buy a feather necklace for some reason. Well done Herve!

Keep checking with Couture in the City all this week for Fashion Week coverage…we’ll get addicted so you don’t have to.

Popularity: 10% [?]