Should Celebrities Take Over the Catwalk?

Beyonce at Tom Ford. Amber Rose at Indashio. Cassie and Serena Williams at Laquan Smith. Vanessa Simmons and Dawn Richard at Edwing D'Angelo. Ellen at Richie Rich. 

While some designers complain about the pressure to pay celebrities to grace their front row, others are enlisting famous faces to actually model their clothes.

Amber Rose at Indashio.

Serena Williams at Laquan Smith.

Cassie at Laquan Smith.

Dawn Richard at Edwing D'Angelo.

Vanessa Simmons at Edwing D'Angelo.

Ellen at Richie Rich.

This can't be surprising. Celebrities serve as models all season long getting photographed in designer's clothing, thus serving as a promotional tool. Having a celebrity wear your clothes is almost a guaranteed mode of increasing sales, especially if that star is Rihanna, Beyonce or First Lady Michelle Obama. 

To that end, designers gift celebrities a ton of clothes, pay them to appear in the front row at their fashion shows, elect them as their muses (Ciara the most recent example at Givenchy) and now, enlist them to model designs on the runway.

The lines between Hollywood and Fashion are fainter than ever. And here's the problem with the collision of the entertainment and fashion industry. It abandons that once-glorified profession: modeling.

Models have been banished from the covers of magazines, replaced with celebrities who, as I once complained, aren't the easiest to work with. While models come to do a job and transform to any look you assign them, celebrities may come with an entourage, may be difficult about beauty and style direction (understandable-they're careful about their image) and often haven't conquered the art of posing. Yea, you'll be there coaching them all night.

Now, celebrities are replacing models on the catwalk as well. While some celebrities can strut like the best supermodels (I'm sure Beyonce stormed the runway with her signature Sasha Fierce attitude); and a celebrity walking in a show gives the collection more media attention, I'm not sure that I want an entire show to feature celebrities (save for "The Red Dress Collection" which is less about designs and more about awareness and giving back).

It becomes less about the designs and more about the famous bodies wearing them, in my opinion. What's your take on it? Do you think more celebs should walk in fashion shows? How do you think it affects models who are already struggling for jobs? Discuss.

Kisses,

Coutura

GLAM OR SHAM?: Cassie Wears Versace to MET Gala and Laquan Smith to the Afterparty

No matter your opinion of Cassie, there's one thing you can't deny. She is beautiful.

The self-proclaimed pioneer of the shaved head craze showed up to the MET Gala in a Versace stunner. The skin-tight blue dress boasted an artful cutout neckline and a dangerously high slit. She paired the look with black stilettos and striking diamond jewelry.

I think the funky neckline of the dress compliments Cassie's equally funky hairstyle (a shaved head AND color? a bit much). It was a fitting choice as I was worried about how her hair would translate at a formal, red-carpet event.

Her afterparty ensemble was designed by a Glamazon favorite, Laquan Smith. Cassie wore his sparkling, metallic minidress which matched her caramel-hued locks perfectly. She kept her black clutch but went for the gold in some metallic pointy toe pumps.

Here's the dress on Glamazon favorite, Sessilee Lopez from Laquan Smith's Fall 2010 lookbook.

What do you think of Cassie's looks, Glamazons? Glam or a Sham?

Kisses,

Coutura

GLAM OR SHAM?: Laquan Smith's Fall 2010 Lookbook featuring Sessilee Lopez

Designer Laquan Smith has had our hearts since last April, so we are thrilled to see his recent wave of success. From Andre Leon Talley's winning endorsement to a feature in last month's Vogue, Laquan has enjoyed a meteoric rise from the cool kid at the Paper Magazine party to fashion's favorite new designer.

You've seen his avante garde collection with its structured silhouettes, voluminous shapes and oceanic hues in our Designer Crush post. Now for the Queens, NYC native's Fall 2010 lookbook, he's enlisted the help of beautiful budding supermodel, and Glamazon favorite, Sessilee Lopez via Clutch Magazine.

What happens when one of the fiercest models and fashion's designer du jour join together? Pure fabulosity. Check out the pics from Laquan Smith's lookbook below and vote: Glam or a Sham. (We think it's as glam as it gets!)

Kisses,

Coutura

Source

Designer Crush: Laquan Smith

Sure he's famous and Andre Leon Talley-approved NOW, but I've always had the hots for new designer, Laquan Smith.

It was April of 2009 at Paper Magazine's Beautiful People party (where Katy Perry performed...with a blow-up lipstick case) where I first laid eyes on Laquan's work. And his leggings were indeed beautiful.

It was the kind of fashion that's so amazing you can't really describe it. They were sort of metallic, kind of leathery with to-die-for cut-outs. (Rihanna rocked a similar style Laquan Smith jumpsuit in her Rude Boy video). And I couldn't stop staring. And on top of everything, he was tall, skinny and uberfab.

In true Coutura form, I walked right up to him. "Umm, I need your leggings. Who makes them?" While chatting with Prince playing in the background, I learned I was speaking to the designer behind those fabu leggings, Laquan. He was a sweet, softspoken up-and-coming designer from Queens and I was a Fashion Assistant at The Magazine. Match made in fashion heaven.

Though his leggings are the definition of edgy, Laquan is much more than another purveyor of 'downtown cool.' He creates wearable art: one-of-a-kind pieces that warrant a second, and third, look. Since our chance meeting in April, Laquan has had the pleasure of seeing pieces from his line, LaQueue by Laquan, end up on Lady Gaga, Amerie, Jaslene from America's Next Top Model and Rihanna (Andre Leon Talley thinks Michelle Obama should be next).

And he totally deserves the attention. His vision is fresh, creative and brilliant, perfect for the celebrity, or fashionista, who commands the spotlight.

The inspiration for his latest collection? A water goddess. The color palette reflects sand and sea with oceanic tones of blue intermixing with camel hues. The silhouettes range from avante garde (hello puffy shoulder dress!) to red-carpet sexy (I died and was reborn in that blue fitted frock). Oh, and of course he included his famous leggings in blue. Check out his Autumn/Winter 2010 collection pieces below and go to www.laquansmith.com for more info on the designer.

How can you not crush on Laquan Smith with these amazing looks?! Laquan, if you're reading, call me. =)

Kisses,

Coutura

New York Fashion Week Trend Report

Hey Glamazons!

So you stocked up on Red Bull, threw on your fur, strapped on your Louboutins and survived Fashion Week chaos alongside Ferocia and I. And we love you for it!

After the last show at Bryant Park ends (which was Tommy Hilfiger, fyi), the "Empire State of Mind" song fades and the models change into regular duds and go home, it's time for editors to pick the trends of the season. Well, those who are unlucky enough to not be attending the London and Paris shows (I always laugh at the scene in "Devil Wears Prada" where Emily is dying to go to Paris Fashion Week. That's so me!).

Here's a preliminary roundup of the standout trends we saw at New York Fashion Week. Tell us what's your favorite and what you'd never wear in a million years!

-FUR

PETA, don't hate me. From colorful fur coats at Zac Posen to fur-trimmed jackets at Marc Jacobs, fur is the most luxurious way to stay warm next Fall. And the opulent material is no longer just for coats.

Fur-trimmed booties, purses and blouses were everywhere on the runway, like the fab fur-trimmed gloves at Brian Reyes. Designers like Marc Bouwer showed faux, PETA-friendly alternatives, which offer a guilt-free way to be lavish. Check out our faves:

Zac Posen

Michael Kors

Marc Jacobs

Stephen Burrows

Marc Bouwer

Boy by Band of Outsiders

Brian Reyes

-MILITARY DETAILING

When financial strife hits, fashion responds with clothes for work in strong, utilitarian silhouettes. The sharp shoulders of the 1940's were an answer to the financial strife of the Great Depression and the need for women to work during World War II.

With recession-induced panic spreading at a fever pitch, and today's war on terror, there is no better time for fashion to embody a brave, valiant spirit. Military looks accomplish just that. From Deola Sagoe, who presented at the Arise Magazine fashion show, to Vivienne Tam, power ruled the runway for Fall. Salute!

Deola Sangoe, Arise

Nanette Lepore

Vivienne Tam

-VELVET

Rich, opulent textures made their presence known on the Fall runways, but none was as important as velvet. The fabric was reborn in silhouettes that ranged from short and sexy (Alexander Wang) to long and luxurious (Nanette Lepore). A velvet blazer at L'Wren Scott offered a practical way to wear the look for day. Whether going to the office or hitting the red carpet, there are plenty of ways to rock Fall's fabric du jour.

Alexander Wang

Marc Jacobs

Rachel Roy

L'Wren Scott

Nanette Lepore

-WIDELEG PANTS

Though cigarette pants, tights and even some leggings were a staple on the catwalk, everyone's talking about the reemergence of the wideleg pant.

Fluid, oversized pants made a triumphant return to the runway paired with everything from suit jackets to knits. The new twist? Experimentations with color at Malandrino (orange) and 3.1 Phillip Lim (gold) that refuse to go unnoticed.

Rebecca Taylor

3.1 Phillip Lim

Charlotte Ronson

Malandrino

-PATCHWORK

DKNY promised to present patchwork in their Fall 2010 sketch, and boy, did they deliver! The patches from Grandma's quilt got a modern and sophisticated update on chunky sweaters at Yigal Azrouel and short, fitted dresses at DKNY. Rodarte had a particularly artful spin on the trend with colors and prints all weaved into one stunning blouse. Grandmas, don't try this at home.

DKNY

Rodarte

Yigal Azrouel

-CAMEL

While designers didn't shy away from an occasional pop of color, most collections were rooted in understated tones, like gray and camel. The latter is a warm and rich staple that looks clean and sophisticated without feeling drab. Michael Kors showed almost an entire collection of camel looks (in line with his safari theme) while newcomer LaQuan Smith's collection presented the neutral color alongside oceanic tones of blue.

Zac Posen

3.1 Phillip Lim

Michael Kors

Boy by Band of Outsiders

LaQuan Smith

-LEGS!!

I don't like pants, and apparently, many Fall 2010 New York Fashion Week designers share my sentiment. More than ever, several collections skipped pants altogether sending dresses, shorts and skirts down the catwalk.

Of course, I find this thrilling but it presents a dilemma: how does a sexy girl brave the cold with her legs out during the Fall? Designers like Alexander Wang and Elie Tahari have the perfect solution: legwarmers and thigh-high boots...for the fashionista who wants to stay warm while looking hot.

Alexander Wang

Elie Tahari

Vera Wang

L'Wren Scott

Rag & Bone

-GRAFFITI PRINTS

What once was a pastime for urban rebels has become a legitimate work of art. Heralded for its gritty yet artful flair, graffiti prints are being embraced by designers like Tory Burch and J Brand for Proenza Schouler. 

Coupled with trend-focused silhouettes, 90's-esque graffiti looks make a chic yet creative statement that shoppers are sure to love. And city girls, like me, who loved graffiti all along will be happy to wear their support on their sleeves, literally. See our top looks below:

Tory Burch

Proenza Schouler

Proenza Schouler

Diesel Black Gold

What do you think of our favorite Fall New York Fashion Week trends? What are your favorites? What are you tired of seeing? What would you never be caught dead in? Discuss.

Kisses,

Coutura