FIENDMONDAY: FASHION 101

TRAVILLA

William Travilla was a costumer designer for film, theater, and television best known for dressing Marilyn Monroe in several of her films. Perhaps his best known work can be seen in the films The Seven Year Itch, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How To Marry A Millionaire (for which he received an Academy Award nomimation), and The Valley of the Dolls. He was also the costome designer for The Thorn Birds.

Looking at the work of Travilla in the 1950s is to see the groundwork for contemporary fashion, in particular for the Fall 2009 season, which is all about fine, delicate, and feminine details. His influence can be seen in the current collections for Marc Jacobs to Alber Elbaz for Lanvin.
PHOTO CREDITS: Top from The Glam Guide, Bottom from adorocinema.com.

FIENDFRIDAY: TAKE A BOW

FASHIONISTAS (PUT A BOW ON IT)

Already a trend for Fall 2009, bows are big for Spring 2010 as accessories and details on dresses.

PHOTO CREDITS: Marc by Marc Jacobs (top), Aquilano.Rimondi (top), Anna Sui (left), Lanvin (center), and Luella (right) from style.com.

FIENDTHURSDAY: GREAT SCOTT

L'WREN SCOTT SPRING 2010

There's a lot to love in L'wren Scott's Spring 2010 collection, not the least of which are her myriad dresses, but tonight I want to applaud her menswear-inspired looks, her mix and match suits.

Both slick and frilly, Scott's pant looks incoportate just enough ruffle to compliment the sleek silhouettes. Equal parts Mad Hatter and Prince, , these looks show what could happen if women discarded their dresses and walked the streets as dandies.


PHOTO CREDITS: L'wren Scott from style.com.

FIENDWEDNESDAY: SERPENT'S TALE

MARCHESA

I don't usually write about what celebrities are wearing but Marchesa has been something of a red carpet darling this year, which gives me license to write about Georgina Chapman, Keren Craig, (the company's founders and creative minds), and Marchesa's Spring 2010 collection. Olivia Wilde, Heidi Klum, and Sandra Oh wore Marchesa gowns to the Emmy's this year.

Before its debut collection in Spring 2007, the Marchesa name was building hype off the backs of the big name actresses and starlets who donned the brand's creations at major events. Since then, Chapman has turned into a fashion A-lister and editorial favorite, being interviewed and featured in Elle and Vogue articles.

The house was named after the legendary European satorial icon Marchesa Luisa Casati, notorious for her colorful behavior as much as her style. She wore serpents as accessories. Fierce, no?

Pictured are looks from the Spring 2010 Marchesa collection. Click on the thumbnails to view larger images.
PHOTO CREDITS: Marchesa from style.com.

FIENDTUESDAY: PRAIRIE CHIC

HOME ON THE RANGE

Perhaps the economy has ushered in an underbelly culture of rustic aesthetics and down home sensibilities. Maybe society's sick of looking at hard-edged street fashions. And maybe the young "it" girls have moved from their mothers' to their grandmothers' closets. Whatever the case, in the wake of 80s-inspired extravagance designers are pushing a prairie appeal in apparel. Signatures of the trend are lace, floral patterns from your grandmother's curtains, and square neck collars.

PHOTO CREDITS: Chanel (top), Alabama Chanin (right), Gary Graham (center), and Altuzarra(left) from style.com.

FIENDMONDAY: TREND WATCH

A ROMP IN THE RACKS

Call it a jumpsuit, a romper, or a one-piece just don't call it comeback because the romper never left. Checking in on this trend that jumped its way back into the fashion zeitgeist in Fall 2008 and continued into the Spring and Fall 2009 seasons, it looks like the jumper has arrived to romp another day.

PHOTO CREDITS: Roland Mouret (top), Alberta Ferretti (left), Hermes (center), and Chloe (right) from style.com.

FIENDFRIDAY: DEREK LAM S2010

STARS, STRIPES, AND PRINTS OH MY!

A first look at Derek Lam's Spring 2010 collection doesn't lend itself to a united vision, but a second look reveals a large body comprised of several small collections with impeccable details and subtle links between looks in the uses of stripes, stars, and floral prints. While it may not be a blatant marriage of cohesion, Lam nonetheless presents a luminous collection of hits.

PHOTO CREDITS: Derek Lam from style.com.