Manus x Machina; Fashion in the Age of Technology

First Beach, Newport R.I.

Hello Lovelies!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend.  I got to spend some wonderful time in Newport with old and new friends, laughing, chatting, napping, eating lobster rolls, drinking lots of coffee and wine and honoring that age old tradition, perusing the Yellow Page like tomes, that make up the annual September Fashion Books.

I like to pretend that the stunning and stylish Kendall Jenner isn't really one of "them."  She seems stitched from a whole other family cloth and her 'off duty' street style never fails to impress; flat out fabulous, every time.

Though I had the entire summer, I was hoping against hope, that Manus  x Machina, Fashion in the Age of Technology, this years Met Costume Institute Exhibit was extended. As luck would have it, I and the rest of the tri-state area were in attendance, (no doubt after abandoning beach plans for the hurricane that wasn't). We got lucky. Labor Day was the end of its extended run.

It was nothing short of spectacular, exceeding all expectation.  I wrongly imagined that it was going to show the mechanical elements of design.  Instead, the exhibit focuses on the end product; the incredible creations that incorporate the handmade and the machine-made, primarily in the ateliers of the haute couture.

The 170 coutour designs featured were magnificent fabrics, embellished with embroidery, pleats, beads, hand and machine made flowers, sequins and raffia. Others were created solely from leather and feathers.  The imagination, vision and skill that is required to produce a single garment is artistry, and team and machine work at its best..

Chanel
Metallic Duck Feathers

Chanel

Raf Simons for Dior

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

Raf Simons for Dior

Monsieur Dior 1950's

Karl Lagerfeld's  2014 Wedding dress, Chanel Couture

             The 20 ft. train is ivory scuba knit material. The gold embroidery computer generated, than hand stitched. The rhinestones were printed by machine. Pearls and gemstones were applied by hand for the finishing touches.  Simply breath taking.

I almost didn't write about this, knowing some of you would feel badly about having missed it, but I was too inspired not to share my good fortune.

Andrew Bolton, the shows brilliant curator, did an overview on this YouTube video above. I hope you will enjoy it.

I no longer have to worry about Back To School Shopping thank God, but I did do my annual trek for my version of it, which includes starting off the fall "term", with a visit to CVS, Sephora and Ulta.

Naturally, there will be tales to tell...

Happy End of Summer.

xox,
DD

Vogue's 2015 Beauty Break Throughs; JeNu Skin Infuser

How influenced am I by beauty endorsements from Vogue, Elle, Allure etc...? Pretty much, sucker punched, every time.  After all, they have full staffs of people doing nothing but trying products day and night and lucky for them, and sadly not for me, they are even paid for it.

I came across this nifty little product via my Facebook feed.  It turns out that the hand held JeNu's Skin Infuser one of Vogue's 10 "Game Changers" for 2015.

JeNu's Skin Infuser available online with a (hefty discount) or at Neiman's and Nordstroms (without)

What dozens of women report, is that when using JeNu daily with their favorite skin care products, the boost the "infusion" system provides greatly improves the efficacy of their skincare routine, plumping, tightening and reducing fine lines, wrinkles and folds. It is also extremely well reviewed on independent sites that rate products such as these.

JeNu comes with a 30-Day Risk Free Return Policy.  Most of the women reported great results in less time. I opted to purchase my JeNu system with a discount and in three installments.  I figured that way, if I'm not seeing results within a few weeks, I can return it, without having to lay out a large sum.

Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow Blush Duo

Despite claims to be long lasting, I still found I needed a midday touch up, but I'm OK, with one, instead of three or four.

This is my first Kevyn Aucoin purchase.  Kevyn, an extraordinarily talented makeup artist, who was devoted to enhancing women's natural beauty. At the tender age of 21, he was named Creative Director at Ultima 11, and launched The Nakeds, a groundbreaking concept at the time.  He collaborated frequently with photographer Steven Meisel on many Vogue covers. He launched his own brand in Kevyn Aucoin Beauty in 2001

Sadly, he died at 40, from liver toxicity. He had a brain tumor and his dependency on prescription painkillers and acetaminophen killed him. 

A gentle soul, he had many friends in the industry.  A book that reviewed his career, tips, techniques and celebrity interviews, Kevyn Aucoin: The Success, Struggles and Beauty Secrets of a Legendary Make-up Artist was publish posthumosly in 2003.

His makeup line, reflects the aesthetic always favored, soft, natural hues, to enhance the beauty he believed every woman had within her.  

Worthy then, worthy now...a true visionary.  Better late than never...

xox,
DD

Where to Find Fashion Inspiration for Fall

Chanel Chic for Less by divadebbi featuring a pencil skirt

River Island black and white checked shirt, $31 / Ted Baker black trenchcoat, $465 / A|Wear pencil skirt, $21 / Gastone Lucioli high heel pumps / Vintage black handbag / Lauren Ralph Lauren jewelry / Adia Kibur pearl jewellery / Black wayfarer glasses / 
Topshop belt / Chanel makeup, $59 / Chanel fragrance, $145 / Beauty accessory, $15 / 


There are so many ways to get fashion inspiration besides fashion magazines these days. For most of my life, I have purchased everyone of the major September fashion "books", and felt compelled to devour them, so I would be on top of the trends for Fall. Now I get it daily from Polyvore, Pinterest, Net-a-Porter, and fashion blogs.

A clever Girl can also get every look on Polyvore for less.  Take a look at the picture that inspired me above and my version of it for under $1000...her bag alone must have weighed in at 4. Every look is available at every price point if you are budget conscious.

This year I decided only to purchase magazine, In Style, because they cover fashion and beauty so comprehensively.  They are also not afraid to dumb it down and spell it out a bit. Well done and thank you...

I know just what I want to buy, (some version of a "moto" jacket" and ankle strap pumps) what's still good to go (all my skinny pants, pencil skirts, ankle boots and animal prints) and what I would never wear despite being on trend, ( A-line midi skirts and large scale plaids).

Decadence: Grace Coddington's Hot House Flowers

Decadence by divadebbi 

I literally gasped when I came upon Vogue's Creative Director Grace Coddington's, magnificent collaboration with  photographer Steven Klein in January's Vogue.

Entitled, "Hot House Flowers", Grace gives us her take on Spring. It is in turns, lush, minimalist and decadent.  I adore her sensibility.

I was immediately inspired to create a Polyvore set using one of the more esoteric images.  One can only imagine what's in the trunk...

Fashion lovers, don't miss the January 2013 issue of Vogue.  The delightful Gwen Stefani graces the cover...

xox,
DD

Brava Anna

There is simply no denying that Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief at Vogue,  is one of the most influential global figures in the fashion industry. She is a career maker and a career breaker with the power to feature or exclude.  She is also the visionary and brainchild behind Fashion's Night Out. 

Veronica Beard(s)

On Friday at Richards, we welcomed Veronica Beard for their second trunk show for Spring 2011.   Coincidentally,  there is not one, but two Veronica Beards,  SIL's married to brothers, (nephews of the renown photographer Peter Beard).  The fact that they are both tall, blond, lithe, gorgeous, warm and utterly charming, would have me rooting for their collection, even if they were crafted out of Hefty Bags...happily, I love their clothes and their concept...