Coutura's Current Obsession: Peter Pilotto

Guys, I am extremely hard to please. My favorite designer is Karl Lagerfeld, who is a complete genius that I had the pleasure of meeting (said meeting induced a lapse in breathing and speaking English) and yet even sometimes I'm not happy with his collections. So when I find a designer and obsess over him, he's something special.

Meet Peter Pilotto. While shopping on Net-a-porter.com, I came across the London brand's amazing draped dresses with pops of energetic color and slices of emboldened prints. I fell deeply in love. Among the qualities that make the line simply irresistible, fit is a skill designers, Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos, have truly mastered. The flattering silhouettes are a testament to their keen understanding of a woman's physique.

Take a gorgeous painting (let's say, the brainchild of Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko) and compress it into a short, sultry frock and you've got Peter Pilotto's latest dresses in nutshell.

A genius when it comes to patchwork, no fabric is too conservative or too futuristic for Pilotto to interweave it into his masterful creations. Whether he's overlaying a 'mirror reflector' atop wool, leather and tweed, or blending paisley and floral prints over silk crepe, his wizardry is nothing short of extraordinary.

Shop the pieces that have fueled my hopeless dress addiction below. Are you hooked?

More Peter Pilotto...

Kisses,

Coutura

GLAM OR SHAM?: Rihanna's Fashion Week Style

You can always count on Rihanna to make a fashion statement whether she's mixing prints or rocking her fire-red hair in a French Roll. Last season, during Fashion Week, she blew us away with her high-end, rock &roll looks but this time around, she seems to be embracing Fall's ladylike trend. And she's getting mixed responses.

My opinion? Ever since she started wearing her hair long, she's been off. She was out recently with just a blazer, a wide-brimmed fedora and Wolford leopard print knee socks. Okay...

Then, she showed up to her Topshop event (where competition winners were styled by her as a prize) in a Stella McCartney blazer, She Died of Perfection tee, tulle skirt and Marni pumps. Love the clash of a girly tulle skirt with a tough blazer but the fit is off. The blazer should be shorter. Also, the socks with pumps trend is supercool, but with this outfit, it is complete overload. One trend at a time, Rihanna. Not her best moment.

Next, we spotted her out with boyfriend Matt Kemp in a floral Stella McCartney suit and pumps. The shorter hemline helped here, but not a fan of the florals. Seemed like she should have been headed to church on Easter Sunday, not date night.

And lastly, Rihanna made an appearance at the Miu Miu Spring 2011 show in a long floral dress with a plunging neckline, blue socks and red pumps. Sigh. The demure hem and racy neckline clash for me, and not in a good way. Plus the florals, socks and dark color all make her look dowdy. She's a gorgeous, stylish woman with a perfect body; this does nothing to compliment it.

What do you think of Rihanna's style during Fashion Week? Is it an upgrade from last year? Glam or Sham?

Kisses,

Coutura

Boudoir at London Fashion Week.

Lingerie has finally made its presence at London Fashion Week, with its own space at Somerset house. A short film was shown showcasing ten of the exhibiting brands, hand-picked by the fashion editor of Conde Naste’s Love Magazine Phoebe Arnold: Marlies Dekkers, Kriss Soonik, Ell & Cee, Yes Master, Lascivious, Kiss me Deadly, Ayten Gasson, Playful Promises, Pistol Panties and Triumph.

This is a historic moment in the world of lingerie, as it was finally recognised by the press and buyers as an important part of Fashion Week. Exciting things will follow after this, and we can perhaps look forward to some nice editorial lingerie shoots in the main glossys, lingerie runway and more outerwear brands like NYC based VPL who base their philosphy around undergarments.

The Latest On London Fashion Week

My Favorites From 3 Wonderful Designers
Issa
It seems that mixed prints and contrasting and bold colors are a norm on the runway this season. This is seen in these 3 designers Fall 2010 RTW collections for London Fashion Week. Issa's designs were beautiful. They were bold and colorful but also totally wearable.

Nathan Jenden
His collection was as far away from subtle as one could get. His bold prints and bright colors made this collection stand out in my mind. When I saw it I was like wow! It was definitely different then my taste but I loved it all at the same time.

Basso & Brooke
These two men's designs were inspired by the Silk Road all the way to Samarkand wear they took a 2 week trip. Basso designed the prints & Brooke designed the clothes. The duo's collection is stunning. It reminds me of all the different types of scenery in the world all pieced together.

pictures from style.com

Michelle Obama Wears Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen's brand will live on, according to Gucci Group, which has a 51% stake in the company via www.WWD.com. The celebrated designer, who committed suicide last week, decided that Alexander McQueen, the label, had "transitioned from being the name of a designer to putting in place the building blocks of a brand" according to Gucci Group chief, Robert Polet. 

"That means that will be my legacy," McQueen said, according to Polet. "That's something I will always leave behind."

With the Fall 2010 collection almost complete, the brand will present at Paris Fashion Week between March 3-11. Surely, the fashion industry will be awaiting the collection debut with baited breath.

In the meantime, fashion moguls like Betsey Johnson and Naomi Campbell have paid tribute to the fallen fashion icon in their New York Fashion Week shows and a tribute is planned to Alexander McQueen during London Fashion Week. 

Betsey Johnson tribute.

Tribute at Naomi's Fashion Relief for Haiti Fund show.

First Lady Michelle Obama wore an Alexander McQueen printed blouse from the Spring 2009 collection to meet with ten students from London at the White House this morning. Mrs. Obama's knowledge, thoughtfulness and sensitivity toward the Fashion World continue to amaze me. 

Check out a pic of the First Lady in Alexander McQueen below via www.Mrs-O.org. What a subtle and beautiful tribute to the late designer.

I am so sad about his passing, but grateful we have his "legacy," of artful, inspired designs to look forward to. 

Wearing my beloved MCQ...for Target dress in solidarity.

Kisses,

Coutura