2010 Golden Globes Red Carpet fashion: Who Wore What? Diane Kruger

Actress Diane Kruger wore a violet pink ombre silk organza gown from bankrupt couturier Christian Lacroix. It is from his Spring 2009 Haute Couture Collection, worth an estimated $45,000. I think she looks chic and very Parisienne, n'est pas?

I'm so excited that someone, either at the now-defunct Lacroix press office--or a well-researched stylist--realized how wonderful it would be to bring some of Lacroix's Couture out and onto the red carpet--as opposed to keeping them in vaults.

Watch me Monday, January 18th @ 8pm/7c on TV GUIDE Channel: Golden Globes Fashion Wrap with Carrie Ann Inaba

Designer News: End of Lacroix and Martin Margiela Quits!

(No More) Lacroix DAHHHHLING:Final Bow: Lacroix and his model, Fall 2009 Haute Couture Fashion Week

December: Not A Good Month For Fashion

On December 2nd, it was announced--after much speculation--that Christian Lacroix Couture has been reduced to a licensing operation. It's bosses (yes, Lacroix is not owned by Lacroix, quelle surprise!), the Florida-based Falic Group, could not find a buyer. There were a couple Sheiks who were interested but couldn't provide enough financial information to make the Falic Group happy that the Couture House would be prepared for the future.Spring'09 Christian Lacroix Couture: Genius of color and fabric mixing

His final Haute Couture showing was last season, Fall 2009, showing only 24 looks. Since he basically had no money, Lacroix himself did not get payed and Paris Couture fabric and trim houses donated their textiles for this collection. It was rumored that even the models, make-up and hair stylists, also volunteered their services, knowing that this probably would be the last Christian Lacroix Couture Collection. He sent down lots of black, and uncharacteristically somber clothes. However the final exit was an absolute triumph of typical Lacroix design: A "Virgin Mary" (or was it "Lady of Guadaloupe"?) gown in silver-white silk zibeline with embroidered lace, sequins and hand-made red, yellow and blue silk roses and an over-the-top headdress. It was enough to make Edina and Patsy of "Absolutely Fabulous" cry with joy.
Read HERE for more on the story.

Martin Margiela Departs his own House:The One Photo That Exists (allegedly): Martin Margiela, circa 1997

And now, just five days ago, it was announced that Martin Margiela, the elusive Belgian designer, has left the Maison he has built. Diesel, which owns the majority of Maison Margiela (yes, Diesel of Diesel Jeans), announced last week that he was leaving and that he would not be replaced. They also said that the fashion house would continue on as well as its creative staff but with no Margiela. It was rumored that he had already been already departed months ago, but it was only made official this past week. The designer has not been seen for years and in fact communicated with his staff and the press via fax.Known for his avant-garde designs and a cult-figure among the fashionistas-in-the-know, this is another heavy blow to an industry that has been suffering lately from Fashion Houses being shuttered (Lacroix par example) and others, such as Ungaro and Nina Ricci, that have had a "revolving door" of designers and/or creative directors. Instead of even trying to find a replacement for the Martin Margiela House, it's bosses just decided to carry on without him. At least they didn't decide to hire Lindsay Lohan (a la Ungaro). We can at least breathe a sigh of relief for that.

Click HERE for Suzy Menkes' take from the New York Times.

Bring Out the Bangles for Spring

While I would certainly love to “Walk Like an Egyptian” again, the bangle craze sweeping the nation this spring isn’t in the guise of an 80s girl band – it’s all in the wrist. If the recent runways are any indication, the ‘in’ way to accessorize this season is to layer big chunky bangles elbow deep and clink your way into sartorial bliss.

“Bangles are making a comeback,” stylist Edward Enninful, who used them at Alessandro Dell’Acqua’s Spring show for Malo, told Style.com. “The clothes were so urban, clean, and refined, we decided to pile bracelets on to give the collection a tribal edge.”

Designers like Christian Lacroix, Zac Posen and Marc Jacobs used the look with their lines, and if you haven’t gawked at Madonna’s bangled appendages for the new Louis Vuitton ads, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see that the iconic bangle wearer has brought the trend well into the 21st century.

Bangles have gone in and out of style over the years – from Nancy Cunard, the rebellious Jazz Age heiress, to Madge’s Dress You Up In My Love era in the 80s. But the bangle has been around for thousands of years, originating in India and Pakistan.

Indian tradition dictates that women wear bangles called Chudi to signify their recent marriage. Wearing a single bangle is frowned upon, perhaps because that familiar ‘clinking’ sound is such a part of Indian culture – even Bollywood incorporates the ‘bangle clink’ in many of their movie soundtracks.

Bangles are made from a variety of materials – from affordable plastics to more luxurious precious metals like silver or gold - all good news for us frugalistas who want to stay hip to the trends but not to our falling bank balances.

So whether you want to add a little flair to your “Manic Monday” or clink it up for a night on the town, layered bangles are a trendy, colorful – and most of all - affordable way to make your own jewelry statement for spring.

Clink on, jewelry hounds. Clink on.

Jewelry Explodes in Paris

The Paris couture shows are taking the runways by storm this week, and while folks generally take a gander at the often-outrageous looks and wonder who on earth would ever wear such nonsense, I find couture gawking the perfect indulgence – especially in these trying times. It’s like rolling around in a vat of Cherry Garcia or having that third - ok fourth - margarita.

So imagine my dismay when I came across the Karl Lagerfeld show for Chanel. It’s all white. It’s suit skirts. It’s a jewelry wasteland. Of course there were fabulously intricate white hats that dazzled the well-heeled crowd, but I’m not in the mood for white right now, Karl. This economy blows. I’m no longer getting my hair highlighted. I want an escape, not a reminder of how bland life is now that I'm off the $4 lattes.

























Thankfully, Christian Lacroix is my new ‘white’ knight in shining couture. Not only are there colors exploding all over his catwalk, but the jewelry is an over-the-top display of decadence the likes of which I’ve never seen before. It’s like going down a bauble-filled rabbit hole on crack.
















































Dinner plate-sized hoop earrings, stacks of mismatched lacquer and crystal cuffs, multiple layerings of giant necklaces, gilded heart-shaped lockets, faux fronds of coral, beaded everything but the kitchen sink… Clearly, words don’t do the show justice, but Style.com’s reviewer comes close:

“(The show) was a pleasure to witness and something to be inspired by. Even if only the very few will own a part of this collection, there's an idea in there for every fashion watcher: If you've got jewelry, it's time to bring it out and try piling it on all at once.”

























So perhaps we mere mortals can take a lesson from the ivory tower of runway fashion. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Anything goes. If you’ve still got those rubber bangles from the 80s, put 'em on with your diamond necklace and that beaded choker you're afraid to wear for fear it makes you look 'easy'.

I may be getting a little couture-crazed, but if you don't want to scare the neighbors, you at least have to get the full effect of the Lacroix jewelry dreamscape by checking out the dizzying pics on Style.com. And be sure to pair your viewing with a nice pint of New York Super Fudge Chunk. You’ll thank me for it later.