Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011: Dolce & Gabbana, Versace!!

Maschile /Femminile (Masculine/Feminine), Lace, Tailoring, Vibrant Colors...Milan Fashion Week Highlights:

Caprese and Campari: Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011

Last week, Milan Fashion Week continued and while you can read (and see) my BLOG posting for the Gucci and Prada Fall/Winter 2011 Collections HERE, I wanted to also show you the latest offerings from two other MAJOR Italian Fashion Houses: Dolce & Gabbana and Versace:

Dolce & Gabbana:

Butch Dolce & Gabbana: Model Arizona Muse opens Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011 Runway Show

For Fall/Winter 2011 Designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana showed many, many looks--over 80 to be exact! There were no "Earth-shaking" style statements for these two--just same old same old fabulous Masculine vs. Feminine stylings that have become the Dolce & Gabbana signature. The show began with Model-of-the-Moment Arizona Muse (of course!), in a jacquard double-breasted jacket and cropped knee-hovering pants, white buttoned-up dress shirt, hat and even some faux sideburns!

She was VERY Madonna "Open Your Heart" video. While the "Uomo Parade" of superbly tailored suits and perfectly draped trousers continued, it also became apparent that there was a 1980's Ska Band/Come On Eileen feeling to it as well, in addition to the fact that this entire section looked as if it could have been styled by former Lindsay Lohan girlfriend DJ Samantha Ronson and model Agyness Deyn:

Italian High Fashion Ska: Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011

But of course, the Dolce & Gabbana girl cannot live on pant suits alone, and to satisfy this, Domenico and Stefano also sent out many sexy lace and corseted lingerie-inspired looks that will for sure be placed FRONT and CENTER at their boutiques worldwide come next Fall:

Eurostar: Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011

Milan Opera Gown: Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011

Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011 Full Runway Show:

Versace Donna Women's Wear Fall/Winter 2011:

For Versace Fall/Winter 2011 Donatella Versace and her Design Team continued on their path of her brother's Design Roots, incorporating baroque motifs, color-blocks and imprints in addition to those ubiquitous Versace gold-plated buttons, which became part of the House's Legacy and roots.

Versace 1980's ad featuring Christy Turlington, Paulina Porizkova and Linda Evangelista

The Collection was molto sexy and filled with Vibrant in-your-face colors: Neon Teal, Royal Blue, Highlighter Yellow, as well as some whites and blacks thrown in for good measure. Themes ran from Red Carpet Diva to Military Power Goddess. Domenico and Stefano may give you Maschile...but Donatella's girl is ALL WOMAN!!!

Ready For Fashion Battle: Versace Fall/Winter 2011

Alitalia Business Class: Versace Fall/Winter 2011

Here Comes The Sun: Versace Fall/Winter 2011

I Am Not Riding On That Vespa: Versace Fall/Winter 2011

Meeting The Pope: Versace Fall/Winter 2011

High-Low Queen: Versace Fall-Winter 2011

Versace Donna Women's Wear Fall/Winter 2011 Full Runway Video:

83rd Annual Academy Awards: Who Wore What? The 2011 Vanity Fair Oscar Party--Part 2!!

More Vanity Fair Fashion: The Divas, the Lace/See-Through No-No's, and Miss Rita Wilson, my New Fashion Best Girlfriend!

Lets start with the Divas!

Diva No. 1 Socialite Lynn Wyatt--One word: WOW! Class Epitomized. The creme white silk crepe column gown with long sleeves, the mint-green shawl, the clutch, the STATEMENT Necklace!!!! You know, when all the fashion insiders say "It's All About A Statement Necklace", Mrs. Wyatt SHOWS THEM huney what a REAL Statement necklace needs to look like!!! And here's a shocker of all shockers (not really): I bet you A LOT of money that she DOES NOT even have a STYLIST! It's all HER...They don't make Ladies like they use to.

Diva No. 2 Carolina Herrera, wearing her own design naturally. White silk duchess one shoulder gown with side pockets and black bow accent. Simply Stunning! This Venezuelan-born Diva also can teach an actress or two how to really dress. It helps that A) She's a Designer, and B) She literally GREW up watching her mother have private fittings in Paris with Couturiers such as Cristobal Balenciaga and Christian Dior back in the 1950's. Finally, I especially love that she posed with her hand in the pocket. This is NOT the "First Time at the Red Carpet Rodeo" for Mrs. Herrera.

Diva No. 3 Joan Collins: Joan Collins can do no wrong in my book! Is it a bit "kooky"? Yes, but does she still OWN it and WORK it? TOTALLY!!! She was On-Trend with the lilac color in the embroidered rosette details and the gown fits her well (great open neckline for her!). The perfect earrings and perfect clutch finish the look. She is OLD SCHOOL Hollywood and I love it!

And Now to Some Lace/See Through No-No Divas:

See Through No-No Number 1--Madonna: Now, I KNOW it was COLD last night! About 50 Degrees in fact. So why oh why would Madonna wear a see-through lace dress with the HIGHEST of slits over a corset and under-panty. And she throws a fur mini "chubby" as if that's going to help. I'm sure this was all Dolce & Gabbana, but I may be wrong (it sure looks it!). I know it's Madonna and she can basically can do whatever she wants. But why am I still perplexed by this? She does have THE BODY of Death, but...sometimes, covered up is actually SEXIER.

See-Though No-No Number 2: Naomi Watts--What, in the name of the Fashion Gods, is this? Why is their a nude-colored piece in her stomach/upper chest? And are those off-white feathers in the back? I just don't even get it.

See Though No-No Number Trois: Jessica Szhor in a Leather, see-though, sequined midriff, nude mini. Really? Those four things NEVER enter my Fashion Vocabulary TOGETHER!!! Do these women have full-length mirrors? Or have they forgotten to pay their electric bills so they can't see themselves before leaving the house? And if so, then WHO is lying to them? Seriously WHO???

THIS...Is How You Do Lace & Nude Ladies:
Take Note (Ladies Above): Camila Alves got it right! Here she is with her sexy husband, Matthew McConaughey in this black lace over nude gown and looking elegant, sexy and GORGEOUS! I also love that she did an "outfit change" (of course she did) from her Academy Awards Red Carpet Kaufman Franco black ball gown (which I LOVED!!!).

Printed Gals:

Cameron Diaz: Love me some Cameron Diaz. Love. But not so much in this very mini Carolina Herrera Pre-Fall 2011 one-shoulder ruffled neckline cocktail dress. The original sample is actually knee-length and maybe it should have stayed that way. Or just made it about 2 inches longer. That's all it needed to be. With her mile-long legs, the mini...was, well, too mini unfortunately.

Ladies Don't Try This Look At Home: Rita Wilson--The multi-printed satin dress, the feathered (!) purse, the necklace, the bracelet, the strappy heels, the heavy-banged Bouffant 'do: Oh Miss Rita! It's "Valley of The Dolls", the Vanity Fair Oscars Party Version. It's a mess, but here's a surprise: To me, it's a GOOD MESS. Why, you may ask? Anybody who attempts this outfit at a party MUST be a HOOT!!!! If I spotted a woman at a party (at the Open Bar, I am sure!) dressed like this, she would be the first person I would talk to! You just KNOW someone who has enough chutzpah to do this, must be fun!

Nick Verreos weighs in on Madonna and Lady Gaga: Style Star on Style Network! TONIGHT Debuts 9PM!!!

Two Musical Style DIVAS!

Who's Fiercer: Lady Gaga or Madonna? Tune in TONIGHT, 9PM Style Network

Tonight on Style Network's "Style Star", we are sprinkling our "Style Glitter" on two of the BIGGEST STARS in the World: Lady Gaga and Madonna! Just in time for Grammy Awards weekend (Yes, kids, it's tomorrow night!).

"Style Star" is the show in which I am happy to give my weekly "Nick Two Cents" on the Top Hollywood Ladies of Style--along with other fashion experts. Tonight's episode was especially fun because I just D.I.E. for Miss Lady Gaga and Miss Madonna.

Nick Verreos on Style Network's "Style Star" show

Ever since I saw Madonna do "Like A Virgin" in that wedding dress at the MTV Awards back in the day (yes, I was all but a little child...NOT!), I just about followed her every fashion move.

And of course, we'll talk about that iconic Jean Paul Gaultier "cone-bra bustier" from her 1990 Blond Ambition Tour...

As well as that Louis Vuitton puffy dress, thigh-high boots ensemble she wore to the Met Ball 2009--curled-up "Rabbit Ear" hat and all...

And Lady Gaga: Well darlings, we could spend an ENTIRE DAY discussing her Fashion Hits and Misses, including the Armani Prive Custom "Out of Space" gown she wore to last year's Grammys and naturally THAT meat dress...

Tune in TONIGHT 9PM to the Style Network and "Style Star".

And in case you miss it: The Lady Gaga-Madonna Episode will also air throughout the weekend and week including...

Sunday Feb 13, 12 AM, 12:30PM, 10:30PM

Monday Feb 14, 1:30AM Check HERE for listings.

Interview's HOT HOT HOT May 2010 issue with Madonna

Hate her or Love her! one cant help admire her! she's done it all and more! Still going strong she's become a form of inspiration to many and an icon to all... i know I LOVE HER!

She takes over the cover of this month’s Interview photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott in ensembles from the likes of Versace, L’wren Scott and Givenchy, the musician gets rebellious with the help of lace, leather and a few dangerous accessories styled by Karl Templer.

Source: Fashiongonerogue

MARIPOL at Marc by Marc Jacobs Store on Melrose THIS SATURDAY!!!

MARIPOLMANIA!!!Giving Face: Maripol and Madonna

EXCLUSIVE FASHION ALERT: Maripol Makes an Appearance!!
A "Little Birdie" just informed me that the one and only MARIPOL--yes, Maripol of those "Madonna black rubber bracelets" fame--will be at the Marc by Marc Jacobs store in Los Angeles this Saturday afternoon to sign books and discuss her new collaboration with Marc Jacobs which includes iconic rubber jewelry and t-shirts based on drawings from back in the day when she was hanging out with the "FAB SET", including Debbie Harry, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Some of my favorite items from her Marc by Marc Jacobs/Maripol Collaboration include:This "Ball-and-Chain" key chain, which I actually own. I love it so much, I wear it EVERYWHERE and literally are attached to my hip, well, my belt loop! You should see the people's faces when I try to go through security at the airport with these! It's SOOO worth the giggle! I also love this...
gold chain necklace--I could just see the FASHION DIVA walking into the NY Standard Hotel ordering a drink with one of these on her neck! Of course, it's inspired from the Madonna "Like A Virgin" album cover.The items are packaged with identifying photos reminiscent of the Polaroids Maripol took which documented those epic years as shown in her book, Maripolorama.
Here are the Details Kiddies:
When: Saturday April 3rd
Where: Marc by Marc 8410 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90069
Time: 1-4 PM
More Info: Call 323-653-0100

Nick Verreos Project Runway Recap--Episode 6: Costume Designing!!

Can Fashion Designers Be Costume Designers?This last week's episode of Season 6 Project Runway was the "Design a Look for a Movie Genre" challenge. I was intrigued since I know several costume designers and my NIKOLAKI partner-in-fashion-crime, David Paul actually received his Master's from UCLA in Costume Design and his resume boasts either designing or assisting in designing the costumes/wardrobe for many different well known TV shows. We both watched very intently. Hollywood Costume Designer God: A look designed by Costume Designer Adrian

Hollywood has always had a strong tradition of having AMAZING costume designers, such as the incredible Adrian (he designed the costumes for The Wizard of Oz and many, many other films) and of course, Edith Head, who contributed to the UBER elegant look of Grace Kelly.
So with that, I thought this was the perfect challenge for the "LA Season" of Project Runway.
If you read my Recap on MyLifetime.com, I wrote a little bit about the fact that after seeing the designs come down the runway and who the judges picked--and didn't pick--I was a tad bit confused. I was also confused at the challenge itself and whether the designers were asked to be Costume Designers or just be Fashion Designers injecting "a bit" of costume design elements into their look. I loved how Tanisha worked Althea's "Film Noir" look with the handkerchief and black-and-white outfit; it was a strong "overall" showing for both Althea and her model. I also have to say that when model Lisa Blades came down the runway in Carol Hannah's "Action Adventure" design, I DID NOT even recognize her! I also thought they made a fabulous "tag-team" designer-and-model duo. My favorite, however was the same as the judges, Nicolas' Ice Queen. Designing costumes is definitely his forte!Incredible Arianne: Arianne Phillips (with Madonna) and an Arianne Phillips-styled W Magazine cover and photo spread

I also loved seeing Arianne Phillips as one of the judges. I personally know Arianne and admire her work. I am often in awe of her talent and what her incredible creative mind can cojure up. Besides being an Academy Award-nominated Costume Designer, she is also Madonna's Stylist and has styled all her W Magazine photo spreads as well as many FIERCE Vogue Italia ones. Love Miss Arianne!Michael Kors is coming BAAAACK!!!!!!

Speaking of judges: Don't forget, Michael Kors WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK!!!!! I know fans of Project Runway have been wondering where the heck he has been. Well, kiddies, someone's got to run his multi-million dollar empire! So, I am sure that it might have been a bit difficult to get out to LA for several days to judge, but by the looks of things, he finally got to sneak off and come back to LA!!!!
Click HERE for my Recap of Episode 6 and be sure to tell me what you thought. Maybe you can help me with my "confusion".