FASHION Magazine

View the peekaboo on the runway »

Peekaboo. It’s probably the first game many of us ever played. And designers here in Paris are proposing that we play again, at least with our clothes. Panels of sheer and opaque, choppy layers, and tops and dresses with split sides have been strutting the catwalks here on day three of the Fall 2012 collections in Paris.

Hussein Chalayan showed a black shift with giant oval cutout over red crepe and a brown leather jacket sliced at the side to reveal another layer of the same skin. Thighs swished under sheer panels at Vionnet. Vests with abbreviated backs were belted over dresses at Roland Mouret. Today at Isabel Marant, suedes with laser-cut western motifs were shown.

And here is your quick jot of more top trends in the making:

Looks like we’ve hit the motherlode! Spotted outside Balenciaga yesterday were both of the house’s fragrance faces: Kristen Stewart and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Amidst the mass of celebrities, we also spotted Prada’s spring flames and retro car prints pretty much, well, everywhere. Glad to know that everyone loves the collection as much as we do!

See all the snaps! »

Foie gras canapés and black truffles galore: It was just another little Hermès cocktail party at the Faubourg store. Out, and I mean way out of the ordinary, though, were the four magnificent haute joallerie pieces created by Pierre Hardy. There were solid gold and diamond Birkin and Kelly bags, both about the size of evening clutch. There was also a gold mesh bag with diamond bit handle and heart-shaped tangle of diamond chaine d’ancre strands. Each piece can be worn on the wrist and or hung on a wall—these are true works of art. Hardy also showed a number of new diamond bangles and cuffs for Hermès —each more classic and covetable than the next.

View the collection »

Fashion show audiences are a mix of customers and the media, and we each tend to read what comes down the runway differently. I am looking for what is new. Customers are looking for that and more. They want to know that the expensive piece they bought last season isn’t going to look dated. So when I told a young fashion enthusiast after the Mugler show that the collection was full of peplums, she practically did a cartwheel. “I can still wear them?” she beamed. Uh huh. And all the rest of us who haven’t bought one yet might want to join in the fun. Of course we probably won’t go quite as far as the undulating peplums at Mugler. In white with fox sleeves and downy helmets, the overall effect was a bird in flight.

Welcome to Paris, and welcome to another batch of stunning snaps courtesy of our snap star on the streets, Lewis Mirrett! Yesterday, outside Dries Van Noten‘s Fall 2012 show, Mirrett spotted a myriad of delights, from Anna Wintour‘s luxe-beyond-luxe red fur Prada coat, to Sarah Rutson‘s embroidered floral Celine pencil skirt, to Bette Franke‘s extreme orange lids, still in place post show. Brighten your morning with these glorious photos.

View the photo gallery »

Without a doubt, one of the most inventive beauty looks from Milan was at Prada. Those eyes! Style.com called it a “tricolour layering effort on lids”—shades of deep blue, shimmering purple, electric orange, and greasy black all stacked together. Despite how exciting the Prada look is, it’s extremely editorial and not so much a “try this at home!” style. So rather than toning it down for the face, I took the vibrant makeup to my nails. After all, six colours in one manicure? Totally doable.

See the Prada Fall 2012 makeup mani »

As Milan Fashion Week comes to a close, the beauty buzz has zeroed in on two distinct trends: brows and bangs. While it started catching editors’ eyes earlier in the season, the repeat appearance of barely-there brows at Gucci, Versace, and Prada and heavy fringe on Milan models and Hollywood stars alike have ensured both a top spot in the growing roster of Fall trends. And best of all, brows and bangs are easy to achieve on your own: a few extra minutes during your next salon visit is all it takes!

How to get them? Who else inspired them? Read on! »

Before I hand over the ready-to-wear reins to our editor-in-chief, Bernadette Morra, who will be reporting all the news from Paris Fashion Week, I give you my top 10 Milan must-haves for Fall 2012.

Check out our Milan top 10 »

In celebration of the Oscars, I’ve decided to give out a few awards of my own for day five of Milan Fashion Week. Drum roll, por favor.

BEST SHOW DU JOUR goes to… Dolce & Gabbana. The moving opera soundtrack (ah, I love Pavarotti!), the ornate rose-strewn chandeliers, the heavily embroidered Sicilian-inspired looks (think black and gold, beads, crystals, lace, and jewels); Dolce & Gabbana was the fashion moment of the day!

Day four in Milan was a flurry of shows and showroom visits (Bottega Veneta, Emporio Armani, Sportmax, Jil Sander, Giuseppe Zanotti, and more). After eight hours on the beat, dissecting trends and trying to dodge the post-show crush, I’ve compiled a set of fashion crib notes just for you.

It’s day three in Milan and we’re playing I spy from the shows to the streets.

9:00 a.m.: I spy… A ‘90s moment at Moschino. The lineup of leather perfectos embellished with giant peace signs and hearts, oversized gold hoop earrings, quilted hip packs, gold studded bags, and slick skinny trousers instantly brought three names to mind: Naomi, Christy, Linda. A ‘90s-inspired collection requires the supermodel stars of that decade.

Best in show: Prada. The moment the first look (head-to-toe noir with glittering embellishment) hit the graphic purple plush carpet/runway I was in love. It felt classic—very old school Prada (mixed-up prints, clean lines, slick structured bags).

The new suit for fall: Prada’s tailored jacket and cropped trousers. Regardless if you prefer the jumble of mix-and-match prints or the screaming solid orange version, at some point you’ll want them all.

Hottest shoes off the runway: Anna Dello Russo’s Prada Spring 2012 flame shoes.