Boutique Shopping in WeHo

Last Saturday, the City of West Hollywood hosted it's 3rd Annual Structure & Style, a special tour of some of WeHo's trendsetting fashion boutiques including Alberta Ferretti, Church and Roseark.

Our first stop was Alberta Ferretti on Melrose Ave. The lightness and transparency of the store really complemented it's collection.  The mannequins and display mounts on the mirrored walls are all magnetic and come off easily, which allow the design of the store to change at a moments notice (pretty cool!).  I just couldn't get enough of a 70s style shaggy light green coat on display. Definitely my favorite in the store.

Fashion Flashback - Herb Ritts 80s and 90s Style

I love it when my job and passion come together!  Today, at the museum I work at, which sits on a hilltop overlooking Los Angeles (can you guess which one that is?), I announced the acquisition 69 photographs by fashion and celebrity photographer Herb Ritts.  Since I do a fashion flashback column a few times a month, I thought I would dedicate this one to Herb Ritts's Style of the 80s and 90s.  Ritts had an amazing way of capturing high-fashion in a dramatic and absolutely beautiful style.  He also helped with the rise of the supermodel and the reason why we know Cindy, Naomi, Christy, Stephanie, and Tatjana by their first names.

Versace - Veiled Dress, El Mirage, 1990, Cindy Crawford - Ferre 3, Malibu, 1994, Tatjana - Veiled Head (Tight View), Joshua Tree, 1988 (all by Herb Ritts, © Herb Ritts Foundation)

British Vogue Cover by Herb Ritts

Related Article: 

The Photograph That Kicked Herb Ritts’s Career into High Gere

Click here for more Fashion Flashback photos

The Trend of Affordable Luxury Fashion Is So Not Over

This fall there are absolutely no excuses for not being on trend because three major luxury designers, Karl Lagerfeld, Versace and Missoni, are releasing affordable collections for Macys, H&M and Target.  Just when you thought this trend would be over soon, it seems to have picked up momentum...and no one is complaining.  Although this may not be news for some, it's definitely a handy reminder to mark your calendars for when these collaborations hit the stores.

Missoni for Target ad

Missoni for Target (available September 13) is the largest designer collaboration to date for Target with over 400 pieces, including men's, women's and children's clothing, and home decor. Target is putting quite a lot into the advertising and marketing that even their promotional video will allow viewers to click and buy directly from the video online...AH-Mazing!

Karl Lagerfeld for Macys

Then there is the Karl Lagerfeld collection for Macys "Impulse" department (available August 31), which I'm still drooling over! Karl was the first H&M designer collaboration in 2004 and it was a huge success, however, he was "embarrassed" that H&M "didn't make the clothes in sufficient quantities," which resulted in the collection being sold out in a matter of hours. He felt it defeated his intention of making clothes available to those that couldn't afford to shop at Chanel. Hopefully this means he's made sure Macys will produce more than enough for everyone to get there hands on this capsule collection.

Versace for H&M

In 2008, Donatella Versace said that she respects designers who do these affordable lines but didn't want to do one herself "because I work very hard to put the Versace line in the luxury section. I think to put the Versace line in H&M would confuse the brand." Three years later, and less financially stable, Donatella is eating her own words and doing a Versace for H&M "Iconic Collection." The collection will be more than clothes and for the first time an H&M collaboration will include home decor pieces. It will be released in two parts starting November 17 with men's, women's and home decor, and another prespring collection released on January 19.

I know this would never happen because he's a complete snob about making his collection available to the masses, but I would love to see an H&M collaboration with Tom Ford.

Related Articles: 

Best H&M Designer Collaboration Ads

Lanvin for H&M Debuts This Morning! 

Baby Skyler Is Bananas For Missoni

   

Is Elle Fanning Outshining Her Older Sister Dakota?

The Fanning sisters are known for their roles in blockbuster films, porcelain skin, and most recently their sense of style.  However, Elle Fanning at only 13 years old seems to be surpassing her older sister Dakota, well, at least fashion-wise.  Dakota, now 17, had a few awkward years and has only recently began to develop her own sense of style.  Remember the controversial Marc Jacobs ad campaign with Dakota at age 13?  She looked like a little girl playing dress-up (see photo below).  It's not a surprise that Jacobs had to specially make the clothes in her size for that shoot.  Even so, he used Elle for his recent Marc by Marc Jacobs ad campaign.  Although Elle still looks very young, she seems much more sophisticated and mature than Dakota did at that same age.  With the release of "Super 8," Elle has definitely received a lot of attention and major fashion spreads.  I don't see Elle's status as a fashion world darling going away any time soon.  She may even become a bigger star than Dakota.  Who knew?

Dakota and Elle Fanning in Vogue August 2011 and at the "Uptown Girls" premiere in 2003

Dakota Fanning in Marie Clare August 2010, Tenn Vogue Dec 2009 (age 15), Marc Jacobs Lola Ad Campaign 2011 (age 17), and Marc Jacobs Spring 2007 Ad Campaign (age 13)

Elle Fanning in Love Magazine Fall/Winter 2011, Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2011 Ad Campaign, Marie Clare July 2011, Black Book Magazine June/July 2011, and Interview Magazine Dec/Jan 2010/2011 (all age 13)