Singing The Blues

Aquilano.Rimondi, Fendi, Jil Sander, Sportmax, Ter Et Bantine

Yes, it's true - fall/winter collections don't resonate bright colors, but never the less jewel tones and other colorful hues do appear in F/W collections. However this year, Milan's collections were much darker, both in color and mood, than in previous seasons.

It may be that it's the dead of winter and sunlight and warmth seem too distant to envision or Italy's economic hardship has transgressed into the luxury fashion industry, but Milan Fashion Week was full of serious masculine looks in dark and ominous colors.

Roberto Cavalli

Although we are in the midst of fashion's best week, PFW, I'm going to back track to one last collection Milan that blew my socks off.

PETA advocates beware: the fashion you may see features an exuberant amount of furs and animal skin!

In times of such a financial contraction it's fun to be reminded of the luxurious things that no longer fit in our budgets. But I'm reminded of the saying "It's better to have loved and loss, than to have never loved at all. And that's how I feel about fashion, although it's not like I could once afford Roberto Cavalli and now I can't. Anyway...

If there's one thing thats great about Cavalli it's his passion for putting out fashion that's fun and if that meant it gets a little over-the-top, a little extravagant, and a tad bit excessive, than so be it.

This fall season he took to animals because if we know one thing its that Roberto Cavalli likes to release the animal within.  Weather you're a prowling feline, an audacious aligator, a slithering snake, a sly fox, or a mermaid (cue to that peplum dress with a mermaid tail made of sequins that mimic a fish scale) Cavalli has the look for you.

The "Luke I am Your Father" Hat

Spotted: Not one, but two people donning the Balenciaga oversized sun visor in Milan last week. Never could I have predicted that Balenciaga's 2012 runway hat would take to the streets. A functional accessory that blocks out all rays of sun, it seems it'd be the perfect utility for the most experienced sharecropper. That or for ridding the world of red necks. How bout it. Wear one of these and the backs of necks will no longer bear any exposure to the light, hence the elimination of the literal red neck.  But its not the functionality of this over-the-top sun visor that really has me excited. Its the obvious influence of Darth Vader. Come on, how can you overlook that! 

 As a Star Wars fanatic one would expect my exuberance over a Star Wars inspired accessory. And I am, but I think I'm still in shock after not expecting to see these take to the streets. Hopefully, the next the IT accessory will be Princess Leia's braided bun hair. Now that would be a sight to see!

One can only hope.  

So what's that proverb? Good always triumphs evil? Well it seems that the Dark Side has prevailed. 

Anna Dello Russo Smiles for the Cameras

I once saw and photographed Anna Dello Russo outside the Dior show during Paris Haute Couture Week when I was living there this summer, but bragging is not the objective of this post. It's more a post of utter jealousy for only a woman of such statute and fashion prestige can rock that Prada jacket from the Spring 2012 collection.

Also may I use this post to go on a little rant. Can someone please explain to me how in the dead of winter (it is February right?) that our fashion icons today have disregarded the season and prematurely started wearing next seasons clothing?

What happens when its actually summer and into September? Are we going to be wearing Spring 2013's collection? Can we get back on seasonal check here. I'm getting very confused.

And to continue complaining--I don't understand how in one month's time of award shows we've managed to see starts in two different season's worth of gowns. The Golden Globes was all about Spring 2012 and the Oscars was the race to get a Fall 2012 gown off the runway the fastest.

I digress.