Top 5 Street Style Picks from Paris Fashion Week 2013

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As much as we all adore to see what designers have in store for us on the runways, I am always excited for what the attendees can do on the streets. Street style is all about fun and playing up with clothing accessories.

I look forward to Paris Fashion Week the most as it is the most chic city of all, of course.

Here are my top 5 street style photographs from Paris 2013.

1. Anna Dello Russo

Miss Anna Dello Russo always pushes the limits with her fashion choices and gives people an exciting reason to love the art of fashion. Here, she is rocking an oversize fedora from Saint Laurent- an essential piece for the upcoming Spring Season.

2.     Giovanna Battaglia

Giovanna Battaglia, editor of L’Uomo Vogue, is another one to dominate the streets of fashion with her distinctive look and style. She is always wearing something fresh. Her oversized and voluminious Rochas coat is simply stunning. It is an eye catching piece that is sure to turn heads.

3.     Veronika Heilbrunner and Justin O'Shea

Veronika, fashion editor for My Theresa, is wearing an Acne Studio jacket. The pair look fierce and chic. She is playing with the stripe trend and paired it perfectly with the black turtleneck underneath.

4. Leandra Medine

Leandra Medine, also known as Man Repeller (top fashion blogger) is one that I always look to for style. She is so effortless and has an edgy look. Leandra is playing it cool with her tuxedo suit underneath the multi-coloured fur jacket.

5.     Miroslava Duma

Lastly, we have the Queen of Street Style and Russian "It" girl, Miroslava Duma. She is a consistent favourite of mine on the streets of fashion. She knows exactly how to put together the most classic outfit, yet in a fun way.

Here, she is wearing a print on print (I love how the handbag is the same print as her jacket). The oversized jewelry is a great way to spice up any outfit.

- Carolyn Beaudry

Lady Gaga's Stage Costumes: From Armani to Versace

By Angela Cole

Aside from her famous creativity in pop music, we all know Lady Gaga for her remarkable theatrics and wild fashion sense; her Born This Way Ball Tour being an obvious example of these characteristics.

In April of this year, Giorgio Armani was announced as the artist’s costume designer for her tour. He stated that:

"Collaborating with Lady Gaga is always an exciting experience for me. I admire the way she uses fashion as a scenic element and as a means to build a character."

Sketch for Lady Gaga costume by Armani

The designer created diverse stage outfits for the performer, including a long-sleeved, floor-length shift dress, as well as a black and white hat shaped like a keyboard. The Armani team used PVC, metal studs, and jet-black Swarovski crystals to create the outfits.

Sketch for Lady Gaga costume by Armani

 

But, watch out Armani! Lady Gaga is spreading her own rumors, and if proved to be true, Versace will be designing the tour’s costumes for America.

On November 13, 2012 at 3:17am, the singer tweeted:

"THE BORN THIS WAY BALL is getting a face-lift for America. I heard rumors @VERSACE IS CUSTOM DESIGNING ALL THE CLOTHES AND NEW LOOKS."

Lady Gaga’s passion for Versace clothes is no secret to anyone. She recently made headlines wearing THE safety-pin dress which was originally made famous by Elizabeth Hurley in 1994.

Lady Gaga (2012) vs. Elizabeth Hurley (1994)
Versace's safety-pin dress

The singer has also become pals with Donatella Versace, the brand’s chief designer. This past September, during Paris Fashion Week, the two posed for photographer Terry Richardson – Gaga topless.

Donatella Versace and Lady Gaga - Paris Fashion Week 2012
Photo by Terry Richardson

Versace’s costume designs for Lady Gaga will surely be translated into stylish, bold and risqué pieces that the brand has always been recognized for.

MUSIC STYLE ICONS

Posted by Carmella Miller

People have been drawing parallels between music celebs and fashion trends for decades. With the recent onslaught of best and worst dressed musicians at the 2012 Grammys and the devastating news of diva Whitney Houston, the music industry’s getting more attention than ever.

From pop culture to hip hop, musician’s styles have always trickled down to the masses. Let’s look at some of the stars that have and continue to impact fashion today.

KURT COBAIN
With the recent release of the 20th anniversary edition of Nevermind, Nirvana’s front man, Kurt Cobain, was the face of grunge. At first, grunge was viewed as a music genre only until alternative rockers and depressed teens embraced the look. In fact, Kurt was voted as one of the most influential musicians on fashion of all time. The trend is still present today; just as the iconic singer once did and would likely say himself – shop at local vintage stores, keep an open mind, and always have a cardigan sweater close by.

AMY WINEHOUSE
Before her untimely death last July, Amy collaborated with British designer Fred Perry on a 17 piece collection including vintage-inspired looks like a trench coat, bowling dress, and argyle printed sweaters. Even Jean Paul Gaultier dedicated an entire collection to her style; the latest Paris fashion show had models emulating Amy in super high pumps and corset dresses. Her music played in the distance. On a side note, songbirds Adele and Duffy have given acclaim to Ms. Winehouse saying she’s been the largest influence on them lyrically (do you see similarities between Amy’s beehive and Adele’s ‘50s do)?

GWEN STEFANI
Gwen has her ruby-painted fingernails in everything these days: lead singer (when on tour as they haven’t released a new album for years) for ska band No Doubt, solo artist, fashion purveyor of her own line LAMB, and a full-time mom to two beautiful boys. Gwen has been a fashion favourite since the ‘90s. Popularizing the Indian bindi, starting the neon hair trends, and bench marking Madonna’s classic look, she has been an influence to girls around the globe and also other musicians (hello, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj).

JAY-Z + BEYONCE
As one of the most consistent rap artists of the last decade, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has majorly impacted peers in his genre as much as fashion itself. After the highly anticipated Grammy win for best rap album, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch The Throne continues to top the charts. Jay-Z cofounded Rocawear, an urban lifestyle brand, several years ago. He’s known for his savvy style sense and meticulously pressed suits. In an industry when tailoring is not prevalent, it’s a welcome break from baseball caps and baggy jeans. Plus his wife, superstar Beyone Knowles, is a well-celebrated and prominent fashion icon herself. House of Dereon, a RTW apparel brand and perfumery, was created years back by Beyonce and her mom/stylist. Looks like J+B are ready to take on their own throne.

LADY GAGA
Let's face it, Lady Gaga's taken fashion to the extreme. From whacky and controversial (remember the meat dress?) to classical and androgynous, she's constantly pushing boundaries on what it means to be stylish or even a woman. Gaga’s broadcasted interview with Jean Paul Gaultier won her fashion acclaim worldwide. By working closely with the creative directors of her shows and strongly monitoring everything from performance attire down to the lighting and makeup, Gaga has proved she can do it all. Love her or hate her – Gaga is truly one of the most influential music style icons of the times.

Winehouse tribute gone wrong?

What was suppose to be a tribute for the late Amy Winehouse has turned into a horrorshow for family and friends of the British singer. During Paris Fashion Week S/S 2012, French designer Jean Paul Gaultier paid homage to the late singers iconic style.

Models were sent down the runway wearing Winehouse's beehive hairstyle, heavy eyeliner, fitted pencil skirts and corset dresses with death veils while four crooners sang her hit song “Rehab”.

Mitch Winehouse, father of Amy, is now speaking out. He is telling the press how upsetting the show was to the family. The show took place just after the half-year anniversary of the singer’s death. Gaultier has admitted that he has never met the singer, and has also explained how “similar their styles were, and how the show was meant to be a tribute to the British singer’s iconic sense of style”. But Mr. Winehouse was not impressed and has reached out to the British newspaper, The Sun stating, “ The family and I were very upset. It was a total shock to have seen those pictures. We are still grieving the loss”. Mitch Winehouse was disappointed to see how his daughter was portrayed because it shows her in her darkest time and brought back upsetting memories in the singers life, which was most offensive for the family. It’s not only the Winehouse family who is hurt by this tribute. Kelly Osbourne, a close friend of the singer had plenty to say on Twitter about the designer, proclaiming it was a branding decision and has called him lucrative, selfish, and distasteful. Was this too soon?

Loudjina jean-baptiste

Riccardo Tisci for Dior?

by Derek Dotto

The rumour mill is in overdrive and the twittersphere is aflutter with word that Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci is heading to the House of Dior.

Harper’s Bazaar and Style.com editor-at-large Derek Blasberg tweeted this late Tuesday night: “I was just told backstage at the @KatyPerry concert (of all places!) that Riccardo Tisci is CONFIRMED at Dior. I leave #PFW for a second...”

Tisci and Dior have yet to come out with an official comment. The French fashion house has been looking for a new creative director since it gave John Galliano the boot last week after scandal erupted involving anti-semitic slurs and an internet video.

The latest news come midway through Paris Fashion Week. It has editors, bloggers, and fashion lovers weighing, with mixed reviews, all over the internet. I’ve been a huge fan of Tisci’s since the Italian designer took over at Givenchy in 2005, except for this season. His stunning Japanese robot-inspired couture collection couldn’t make up for the eyesores seen at Givency’s men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections. Rottweiler and panther prints? Seriously!?

If the rumour is true, I’m excited to see what comes out of the House of Dior... as long as Tisci keeps the animals out of it.

Here are some shots of Tisci's offerings at Givenchy this season (courtesy Style.com):

Givenchy Couture Spring 2011

Givenchy Ready-to-wear Fall 2011

Givenchy Menswear Fall 2011

Dior Fires Galliano

by Derek Dotto

John Galliano has been handed his walking papers after a barrage of accusations of racist and anti-Semitic rants. Dior’s president and CEO, Sidney Toledano, told WWD, “I condemn most firmly the statements made by John Galliano, which are a total contradiction with the essential values that have always been defended by the House of Christian Dior.”

Dior suspended Galliano Thursday after he was arrested for allegedly hurling racist and anti-semitic slurs at a couple while drinking at La Perle, a Parisian ‘see and be seen’ hotspot. The final straw came when a video, reportedly shot last year, surfaced online, showing the British designer declaring he loves Hitler, among other controversial remarks, at the same restaurant.

Recent Oscar winner and face of Miss Dior Cherie perfume, Natalie Portman, ripped into Galliano saying she’s “shocked and disgusted,” adding, "as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way."

Galliano's firing leaves the House of Dior sans-creative director just days before its Autumn/Winter 2011/2012 ready-to-wear collection is slated to be shown at Paris Fashion Week. The question now is who will take the reigns, and how long will it take for Galliano to be snatched up by another fashion house.

Check out the video of Galliano's remarks below:

House of Dior Suspends Galliano

by: Melissa Laborie

John Galliano was prepared to present his upcoming collection for the Dior house for Paris Fashion Week; alas it looks like he won't be in attendance. Living in a time where celebrities feel like there actions do not deserve any consequences, it is interesting to see Dior take a hard line and suspend their creative designer.

According to many reports, Galliano was arrested for using anti-Semitic slurs towards a couple at the Parisian bar La Perle earlier this week. There have been different opinions on how this altercation started, I have heard everything from he was drinking and went up to the couple to the couple insulted him and he retaliated. Regardless, action has been taken.

Dior affirms with the utmost conviction its policy of zero tolerance towards any anti-Semitic or racist words or behavior,” Dior chief executive Sidney Toledano said in a statement. “Pending the results of the inquiry, Christian Dior has suspended John Galliano from his responsibilities.”

Galliano has been creative designer for the House of Dior since 1996.

He is still set to show his John Galliano fall-winter collection on March 6.

How do you think this will affect the showing of Dior's Fall-Winter 2012 collection? Do you think the House will reinstate Galliano?