My Film Debut

To apologize for missing out on my blog this week, I give you this:

The Mystery of Miss Booch

The Mystery of Miss Booch from Don Connors on Vimeo.

xx, Q.

Vendredi en couleur: blanc

Only in Paris...

...do you receive Fashion TV with a relatively standard cable subscription (and this is no Style Network of the US). This station plays fashion show after fashion show, right now focusing on this past week's runway shows in NYC for Spring-Summer 2012 Ready-to-Wear. Now, when vegging out in front of the television for a few hours is needed, I won't feel too guilty because I'll be culturally and fashionably enriched at the same time! For those of you not graced with this channel, they do have a website where you can access streaming runway shows and view the different channels for different countries: www.ftv.com. (pretty cool.)

Coco in White

What does this have to do with Vendredi en couleur? I have Fashion TV to thank for my color inspiration this week. White is running rampant through the SS12 RTW New York shows with flowing white fabrics mixed with structured white ensembles. Diane von Furstenberg claimed "I did something I've never done before - I started with white," opening her show this season with five white looks featuring slouchy dresses and relaxed translucent jackets. New York saw another all white opening during the Nicholas K show and with Cushnie & Ochs' "Space Age meets 'Mad Men'" collection.

For the Fall 2011 Couture shows, the big shots like Givenchy, Elie Saab, and Valentino proved to us that although summer is on the outs, white isn't going anywhere. Forget the fashion faux pas of "no white after labor day". This passé style law is speculated to have been established by the re-entry into the city by the elite on Labor Day, who then stowed away their summer whites as a farewell to their estival holidays. Laura Fitzpatrick for Time Magazine wrote that this rule has been in challenge since "as far back as the 1920's [when] Coco Chanel made white a year-round staple."If we were to respect this American taboo worldwide, France and the United Kingdom wouldn't be wearing whites past mid-spring as their 'Labor Days' hit in the beginning of May, and besides, haven't you heard of winter white? I think it's officially time to put this rule to rest.

So, without further ado, I re-introduce you to: White - for all seasons.

 Givenchy Fall 2011 Couture: I'm in love with these elegant open-backed dresses.

Elie Saab Fall 2011 Couture. This collection is absolutely stunning, please take a second to look through the entire show. The models walked right out of a fairytale.

Valentino Fall 2011 Couture 

Cushnie & Ochs SS 2012 RTW

Diane von Furstenberg SS12 RTW

Tadashi Sohji SS12 RTW. Beautiful gown.

Nothing is better than curling up underneath a fluffy white duvet. A favorite winter activity of mine.

I'm welcoming autumn and white with open arms this season.

Maria Grachvogel Emperor Coat in Bone. How luxurious.

Blogger/Student Frida J. on Lookbook.nu in a white Monki blazer.

How will you wear white this fall/winter season?

xx, Q.

*Special thanks to Melissa of Prête-Moi Paris! for showing me Fashion TV.

[source: Squidoo, Style.com, WWD, Brown Eyed Belle, Northern Cottage, ShopBop, Lookbook.nu]

So British

The British Invasion is reoccurring. This time invading fashion in France.

Everywhere you look in Paris, English fashions seem to popup. From H&M's fall collection straight from Carnaby Street during the 1960's to Le Bon Marché's new exhibit, So London, the UK is taking center stage.

On Saturday, for probably our last beautiful summer day in Paris, I decided to profiter and spend my day wandering. Sure enough I found myself acquainted with the Union Jack as I passed shop after shop. Inspired, I eventually drifted towards the So London exhibit. From top to bottom, customers were greeted by cutout men in bowler hats and suits sporting umbrellas and newspapers. Each floor exhibited a mixture of british dandy and punk rocker styles featuring UK designers like Burberry, Stella McCartney, and Alexander McQueen; as well as newer to the scene Charlotte Olympia GORGEOUS shoes and singer Lilly Allen's Lucy In Disguise.

My favorite room was the British wonderland setup on the third floor with display after display of luxurious UK goods from clothing to teacups to Royal Wedding hat influenced headbands. Here I found the platformed and catted-out pumps of Charlotte Olympia. The half british, half brazilian designer takes inspiration from the hollywood glamour of the 1940's and incorporates it into her flashy, standout shoes. My favorite design of hers was the Tessa red velvet 6 inch super wedge, not just because I adore incredibly high wedges, but because of the clever black stitched cat's face on the front of the shoe. Of course, I would have bought them in an instant... if I could afford 714€ shoes. Ah, one of these days.

Tessa red velvet super wedge

On display next to the Charlotte Olympia dream shoes were london based Paperself false eyelashes. I was a little excited and felt very en vogue because Christina actually gifted me a set for my birthday this year. These Jianzhi-inspired falsies come in 11 different patterns, each with a symbolic meaning within the Chinese culture. Mine are the Deer & Butterfly pattern - which I intend on wearing at some point to a show during fashion week - and symbolize freedom, beauty, and sensitivity. Thank you, Tina!

Lucy In Disguise

Throughout the third floor exhibit, pieces from Lucy In Disguise by Lilly Allen and her sister, Sarah Owen delicately waited to be noticed - which did not take long at all. Exclusively being sold at Le Bon Marché, the first collection visits the 20's, 30's, and 70's beautifully blending their styles in with those of 2011. Perusing through the pieces felt like turning the pages of a century-old book. Each one I handled with the highest care, not because they were overly delicate, but because the silks and lace deserved the respect. My favorite piece from the collection was a cap sleeved short cream lace dress that I unfortunately did not photograph and now cannot find it online. If you happen to find a photograph of this dress, please send it my way!

If you're in Paris, definitely stop by So London. Besides the third floor wonderland, there is the cultural exhibit featuring Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music and an exposé of Kate Moss photographs within a So London café.

View more photographs from the exhibit. 

Le Bon Marché, 24 Rue de Sèvres - 75007 Paris, until October 15, 2011.

Cheerio.

xx, Q.

100

Brilliant 100 second film of 100 years of East London fashion from 1911 to 2011...

(the evolution of their dancing is great too)

xx, Q.

Vendredi en couleur: la rentrée

Coucou !
As of Saturday, I officially moved back to Paris, setting up shop in the 15th arrondissement. To celebrate my return to blogging and France, I decided to take it slow and rekindle my dear Vendredi en couleur. This week I chose camo... wait what? Yes, that's right, CAMOUFLAGE. But, before I continue, let me first explain that I'm not speaking about any old camo. The soldier and hunter basic needs to be included in your wardrobe with caution - a litte bit goes a long way. If worn correctly, camouflage, instead of blending you into your surroundings, will make you pop-out, creating the perfect army inspired ensemble for fall.

The pants that inspired this post. 
Paige Denim Exclusive Verdugo Jegging in Tanzania.
I bought these this summer and am so excited to wear them this fall.
Similarly to the picture, I pair the pant with my Black Wedge Sandidge Booties from Aldo - a gift from a very nice someone. 

Michael Kors SS 2006 Ready-to-Wear
Not camo but plays nicely with the army inspired theme.

Blogger Disarming Darling in a vintage camo shirt... I love this outfit! 

Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2011 Couture

Blogger The Blonde Salad sporting Zara Militar Jeans in Paris.

See some more interesting camouflage in Chinese photographer Liu Bolin's work, where he paints himself to blend into different backgrounds. Really interesting art.

Have you gone camo? Let me know how you intend to wear this trend.

Merci to those who continue to read and support Quinntessential Style even though I fell off the blog train this past year. 

Until next time...

xx, Q.

[source: selfridges, style.com, life in pics, combatbabyxx, disarmingdarling, theblondesalad]