The 6 Biggest Trends from the Spring 2017 Runways

Anna Wintour and daughter Bee Schaeffer

NYFW has officially ended.  Anna and the rest of the flock will be jetting across the pond to London, as their Fashion Week kicks off just about the minute they all touch down.

Kudos to the New York Daily News for nicely summing up what appears to be the key trends of the Spring 2017 Season.  Though it always seems an odd coincidence, the designers are influenced by the color forecasts that come out long before they put pen to pad and the same fabric mills that they all frequent.


In a nutshell, there was nothing that we haven't seen before, but I promise, you will see many, many times ahead in the months to come.  The trends they sited are below, and I followed up with my assessment:

Animal Magnestism:

Rebecca Minkoff

Altuzurra (one of my favorite designers and collections this season)

Not so Mellow Yellow:

Zac Posen

Thakoon

 Wear Your Greens:

Son Jung Wan

Tory Burch

 Flower Power:

Jenny Packham

Michael Kors

 Fringe Benefits:

Ralph Lauren

Naeem Kahn (and yellow, a twofer)

 The Cold Shoulder:

An exquisite Monique L'Hullier

Marchesa

For me, the only two that looks that feel like retro retreads are the fringe from Ralph Lauren and the Lilly Pulitzeresque offering from Tory Burch.

I adore animal prints. I see them as timeless. It feels fresh to see them trending in a grey pallette, instead of  traditional camels and blacks.

Yellow is a very tricky color at retail, because with most peoples coloring, it is hideously unflattering. This is a trend I would use more as a pop; a patent clutch or shoe.

Green has not had a moment for quite some time...I'm liking it and pleased that I was ahead of the curve when I bought Victoria Beckham in just this hue.

Floral's for spring are not exactly new, but I do love them. The only caveat with any print is that they can overpower; always make sure you see your first...not the frock.

Fringe?  I'm over it.

I was thrilled to see the continuing of Cold Shoulder dressing. I like it, so much in fact that I purchased a black sequin cold shoulder Donna Karan gown last spring (I'm wearing it my blog picture.) I think it's sexy and modern and I'm glad it carried over.

What are you loving? What will you wear? What would you not be caught dead in?

Happy Weekend Lovelies!

xox,
DD

DivaDebbi's Love and Loathes at The Met Gala 2016

Rihana, entering the Met Gala last year dressed in homage
 to the the theme of the exhibit, "China through the Looking Glass"

This is it Lovelies.  The most coveted night in fashion of the year.  The Academy Awards used to hold the title, but ever since Anna Wintour of Vogue took over the reigns, the "First Monday in May" has grown to eclipse it.  In April, a documentary of said name debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Sartorial heaven, make no mistake.

If one did have an extra $30, 000 to attend, what is actually a bonanza benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, the chances of attending are still nil. Wintour herself, approves every guest, even if they are to be seated at a corporately sponsored table, which goes for $275,000. 

What does result is a heady brew of some of worlds most elite icons of fashion, film, art, music, sports, politics, media and business,  (Apple is a sponsor this year.) There is a theme every year, and guests are encouraged to seek inspiration from it.  This year's theme is Manus x Machine and examines how technology continues to influence designers.

Wintour's Co-Chairs this year are Taylor Swift, my pretend boyfriend  Idris Elba and Jony Ive (the male Chief of Design at Apple. Your welcome.) If you want more scoop, Vanessa Friedman of the NY Times did a fabulous piece on the Met Gala . Even she, an insider, sounds like she will be watching with her nose pressed up on her ipad with the rest of us.

This year, the Red Carpet is also be shown live on the E Channel starting at  7pm ET , which illustrates how much of a spectacle this annual  cultural benefit as become I wonder if Anna vetted the hosts as well...I'm not certain Ryan Seacrest would exactly be her cup of Da Hong Pao. 

So enough chit chat, let the fun begin!

Trends emerged quickly; silver, gold, brocades, white, dark lips, sleek hair.
My top picks go to the women who look sleek, modern and a tad futuristic, with at least a passing nod to theme.

Balmain, Marchesa, and Atelier Versace had and outstanding night as did American design icons Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger. There is also something kind of wonderful, when two knockouts are also produced by retail giants Topshop and H&M, who serve up affordable fashion for every budget. I'm traditional. It's a gala. Unless  your Taylor Swift...short for me is a NO. Oh and one last thing, I never, ever comment about Ms. Wintour...nothing good could possibly come from it.

Model Karolina Kurkova's Marchesa dress below, came with a battery pack, with lights that twinkled in different colors based on fan's tweets!  Too boot, it was beautiful. 

All and all a spectacular spectacle...

A+

Taylor Swift, nearly unrecognizable, with a new platinum bob
and black lips, in Louis Vuitton

Poppy Delvigne in Marchesa

Gigi Hadid and the Weekend (who will be performing)
in Tommy Hilfiger 

Zendaya in Michael Kors

Brie Larson in Proenza Schouler (though I loathe the shoe choice, lip and hair)

Hailee Steinfeld in H&M

Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace

Kylie Jenner, spectacular in Balmain

Kendall Jenner in Atelier Versace
(Surely these two were adopted)

Beyonce san J- Zee in embroidered latex couture Givenchy
Now that is genius, not to mention the body that got poured into it

Cindy Crawford in Balmain
Let's just leave it WOW!

Lupito Nyong'o in Calvin Klein
with an unfortunate Madge Simpson do.

The always divine Naomi Watts in Burberry

Lea Seydoux a knock out in Louis Vuitton

Olivia Wilde with a baby bump in Michael Kors

A- Beautiful but no trace of theme

Allison Williams, her best yet.

Naomi Harris in Burberry

A newly engaged Kate Upton in Top Shop

Jessica Chastain

Rosie Huntington-Whitely in Ralph Lauren

The (F)ails

The Met Gala 2015: DivaDebbi's Fashion Report Card

Some people may think the Academy Awards is fashion's most important night of the year--Not me. I'm in the camp that would vote for the the first Monday night in May, when Anna Wintour and her handpicked co-chairs host the annual Met Gala aka, The Party of the Year.

Wintour, who has been chairing this star studded event, in what is now her 20th year, has successfully turned it into both a haute couture carnival and a blockbuster fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, (now deservedly named in her honor.)

Rumor has it, that if you are lucky enough to make the cut of the some 700 or so beautiful and famous, you dare not not show. Those who decline are never asked back. This is one party I might swap a kidney to attend...

As always, guests are requested to dress in  the theme that reflects that year's exhibit.  This year, it is China: Through the Looking Glass which examines the influences of Chinese fashion on culture over the years.

I attend several parties in the course of the a year that ask guests to dress in theme.  I always do my best to at least do a nod of homage in my attire. To me it's just good manners and shows respect to my hosts. It takes a bit more effort, inevitably it adds to the fun and festivities. Of course, I'll  also being weighing in on who got it right and who took the "costume"  thing too much to heart...

It's going to be a long one, so for the sake of brevity, I will winnow it down to the Best and the Worst.  Is there regular old fugly??? Absolutely, (Jennifer Connelly, Keri Russell, Kristen Wiig).  Is there missed the mark, despite having a dozen stylists??? Yup, (Allison Williams, Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Alba.) Am I confused about the dresses that look like they should have been worn to a whole other event, like Elizabeth Banks turquoise cut-out Jersey Michael Kors???

Sure...but there are so many, that's a whole other blog. For now, I give you the Best and the Worst, with biggest props going towards those who managed to balance tasteful, with the Chinese inspired theme.

Amazing Amal

Back in September, George and Amal tied the knot in Italy. The weeks worth of festivities before, during and after the wedding were widely chronicled.  I  wrote about  how besotted I was with her amazing style, grace and range, from short and whimsical to formal and ravishing.

Well done!

The Clooney's arrived in NYC in February.  George is filming "Money Monster" in Queens and Amal, to the thrill of Columbia's discreet law students, is a guest lecturing.  In the evenings, they have been spotted at NY's hottest restaurants as well as George's old favorites, where he holds court at his usual tables.

Perfect turned out, head to toe, to lecture at Columbia Law School
Wowza!

It has been reported, that Amal was taken under the wing of none other than Anna Wintour for style guidance, (but obviously was not consulted about her only gaffe; wearing long white gloves to the Oscars.) Could one possibly have a more connected fairy Godmother???  Me thinks not. According to the New York Post. rumors of a Vogue cover were soon sparked after the two were seen lunching at the Lamb's Club last month. The New York Times recently wrote about Amal's ascending star and captured some of her recent outings on this slide show.

Dior and I at the Newport Film Festival

Two weeks ago, we were in Newport R.I.  I just love it there.  As someone who has had a lifelong attachment to the Hamptons, this picturesque, historic community, has me completely charmed.

Imagined how tickled I was to find out that Frederic Tcheng's latest documentary, Dior and I, was going to be screened outdoors at Doris Duke's famed "cottage" Rough Point.  This is my idea of a perfect night.

Who knew, that as an additional visual feast, the NewportFilm was hosting a, "Chicest Picnic" contest!  I was sure that someone would be snapping better photos than me and that I would be able to Google them later...I'm sure they are living large on someone's Instagram feed. 

You will just have to trust me, that these Peeps went all out, lugging antiques, votives, spectacular flower arrangements, vintage bicycles and linens, enormous velvet tufts, china, porcelain vases, decanters and gorgeous pates and charcuterie.

Some were dressed femininely, no doubt with Dior' as inspiration...

"Chicest Picnic" contest Newport Film Festival

It was a delight!

DivaDebbi's Met Gala 2014 Fashion Report Card

It's the first Monday in May, so as is tradition, tonight is the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala.  Say what you will about the Academy Awards, this is the most important night in American fashion. (For the record, this was my intro to last years Met Gala blog...I thought it held up well so I used it again.)

Sponsored by Vogue, Anna Wintour is the the Queen of the Hive.  Her honorary Co-Chairs this year are Sarah Jessica Parker, Bradley Cooper, Aerin Lauder and Johnathan and Lizzie Tisch.

The event marks the opening of the Charles James  exhibit (May 8th-August 10th)  The Anglo-American designer, though not formally trained, created exquisite couture quality dresses and revolutionary ball gowns, thus earning his reputation as one of America's greatest designers.

As such, Anna wanted this to be a more formal night, requesting the men in attendance to don white tie and the women to consider high end vintage looks and long gloves.  She may have had another motive for wanting everyone to look their best; this evening no less than First Lady Michele Obama was on hand to cut the ribbon on the newly named and renovated Anna Wintour Costume Center.

Michelle Obama and Anna Wintour
(I can't imagine anyone hugging Anna and for that
matter, Michele. What an odd photo opp.)

Anna of course looked divine in Chanel,completely nailing the marriage of modern and all out glam perfectly.

There were a few gowns that left me breathless, but overall there were some horrible ones, too many to list and those who simply looked under dressed in short dresses, unbefitting of the dress code, occasion and $25k per person ticket (a hefty 15k bump)  I will be adding some tomorrow to the A and F lists, but right now it is heavily weighted towards the latter.


The Fabulist: My faves were in shades of blue and blush, tones that James himself adored.

Karolina Kurkova in Marchesa
BAM!!!

Suki Waterhouse in Burberry Prossum

Taylor Swift in Oscar de la Renta

Let's just leave it OMG!!!

Blake Lively in Gucci

The always flawless Diane Kruger in Hugo Boss

Bee Shaffer (Anna's daughter) in Alexander McQueen
Regal!

Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta

Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture

The Fails-