john galliano spring 2011

He's the king of theatrics and femininity. His use of the color wheel is otherworldly. He combines Geisha girl with silent movie starlette with Bozo the clown, effortlessly.  His name is John Galliano, and I wish he could do my makeup everyday.

Elegant old Hollywood glamour combined with Japanese street style made up this collection. The vibrant colors leap out of the clothes. Equally entertaining is the hair and makeup at John's shows which is always over-the-top and sparkly to boot. Despite a cohesiveness, all models looked different. Coco Rocha was a sailor girl and playfully tugged at her pigtails as she skipped down the runway.

Amongst the models who have been all over the runways this season was Yasmin Le Bon. The former model and wife of Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran) is 45 years old. Wearing a black ruffled trenchcoat with fuschia florals, she stormed down the golden runway with the best of them. Also in the lineup: Angela Lindvall, the 31-year-old former supermodel and 32-year-old Carmen Kass. Using these three beautiful fashion veterans made Galliano's show all the more reason to admire his genius and his love of all women.

photos: style.com

chanel spring 2011

Ah, to be in Paris for fashion week. Chanel is no doubt on the top of everyone's list. Because like it or not, everyone has a Chanel design in their closet. No, maybe not a caviar 2.55 or a string of pearls with diamond encrusted interlocking Cs (or maybe you do; good on you!). But if you own a tweed jacket, a pair of two-toned ballet flats, anything jersey, boxy suits, A-line skirts, or a black dress, you can thank Coco Chanel for introducing it to the world...and your wardrobe.

Somewhere along the way, Coco's original idea of simplicity and practicality got lost in the translation. And it's actually okay! Karl Lagerfeld has modernized the classic design house and made pieces that an edgy girl who knows and appreciate labels can wear. As for the rest of us who don't have it in our budget: we can admire from afar and recreate to our best abilities.

Carmen Kass has made a huge comeback this season, appearing in several shows thus far. Another supermodel who was a huge icon in the '90s: Stella Tennant. The queen of androgynous beauty with a bone structure that could cut glass, Stella opened and closed the show proving once a supermodel, always a supermodel.

photos: style.com

zac posen spring 2011

For those of you who played dress-up as a child adorning yourself in feathers and furs, you're in for a treat. Zac Posen found the feather boas in your dress-up chest and decided to incorporate them into a collection of elegant, old school glamour. With ruby red lips and strappy black shoes, Zac's stunning designs are indeed for every woman.

With last fall being the return of the "curves", many designers are taking the cue from the Louis Vuitton  and utilizing the models who have been otherwise non-existant in runway shows. Hillary Rhoda returned to fashion week this season, and it's a wonder we've been able to get along without her. And, by the way, the people have spoken: more Crystal Renn! Zac seems to be one of the rare designers who believes in dressing for all body types, not just one.

The garnet, champagne, and black were gorgeous backdrops that only Zac could create. Newlywed Coco Rocha, whose wedding gown was designed by Zac, had one of my favorite looks with a fur stole and floor-skimming gown.


photos: style.com

jean paul gaultier spring 2011

"I love Rock 'N Roll!" sang Jean Paul Gaultier as he created his spring collection. Complete with Joan Jett hair, leather, boots, lace, and lots of black, the runway was a veritable '80s rock opera. The eye makeup was reminiscent of Ziggy Stardust with bright blue smeared all around. And the usually sweet and wholesome-looking Karlie Kloss looked as though she might kick my ass if I ran into her in an alley.

Speaking of models, there was one fresh face making her debut at the show. Beth Ditto, from the band The Gossip, opened the show in a champagne, watercolor print dress with white heels. Beth's attitude and personality made her the prime person for this collection. But aside from her character, there's something very different about Beth: she's a plus-sized woman. Along with Beth was the very in-demand Crystal Renn, who was stunning in a sheer bodysuit with a black trench and wide leather belt. Jean Paul Gaultier believes in the personality of a woman making the clothes, rather than celebrating one body type.

photos: style.com

my fair ladies

(Left to Right) Supermodels Coco Rocha, Jessica Stam, Shalom Harlow, and Karen Elson

What do Coco Rocha, Jessica Stam, Shalom Harlow, and Karen Elson have in common? Beautiful and successful, most certainly, but it's their creamy fair skin that sets them apart from the bronzed ladies walking the Victoria's Secret runways. The desire to be tan has long since been the most coveted trait for girls and women, especially the ones my age…and especially in Omaha. You'd be hard-pressed to find a strip mall that doesn't have a tanning salon of some sort, and the number of self-tanning products sold in grocery stores is at an all-time high. With so many models and actresses embracing their pale, why is it that tanning is still the most sought-after physical attribute? 

Everyone has their thing; I know many people who cannot imagine not hitting the tanning beds at least once a week. I know people who won't dare step into the sunlight without being slathered in SPF 100 (myself included…and, yes, they make such a thing). It used to be that being tanned was seen as "lower-class" because it showed that you were working outside all day. Nobility had the very fair skin because they were able to lounge around indoors. Certain societies would actually try to whiten their skin.  How did it all turn around? I blame Coco Chanel.  She inadvertently bronzed her skin while vacationing in Cannes on a yacht. When she returned to Paris, everyone wanted her golden glow. And so the trend began. Thanks a lot, Coco. Flash forward to 2010: the uber-classy ladies of 'Jersey Shore' have such a deep tan, it's practically orange. Marc Jacobs has his models in the Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 show donning a vintage look, completely with fair skin and curves. Who do you want to emulate? 

Snooki from MTV's Jersey Shore and Jessica Stam at the Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 show

Having been extremely pale my whole life, I've experienced my  "fair" share of alienation and teasing in grade school. Even today, I can't go in public without people staring at my ghostly white legs. Yet, strangely enough, I've never felt the urge to join a tanning salon or lay out in my backyard. I think people should embrace what they have (naturally) and look to role-models who do the same. I love reading French Vogue and Nylon and seeing the cover girls rocking their porcelain complexions, some of them. Most models featured in any fashion magazines today are imperfect or, dare I say, even strange looking. Pale skin, crooked teeth, gap-toothed; It's what makes them so interesting and beautiful.

(Left to Right) Fair actresses Anne Hathaway, Julianne Moore, Rachel Weisz

                      

So for those of you who share my plight, remember that you're beautiful the way you are, tan or not. Pale skin is glamorous and healthy; it's okay to be different. And being true to yourself? It's fabulous and always in vogue. 

xox

Jessica

my coco

I got my new Nordstrom catalog earlier this week and was stoked to see Miss Coco Rocha! She is so adorable. The slideshow below contains the whole catalog from Nordstrom's website.  

I reeeaally want the Balmain leopard pony-hair booties on page 17.

chanel: fall 2010

Chanel usually gives me the warm fuzzies, but this season, it was for a different reason. The theme was abominable snowman. In all seriousness though, it made me excited for the cold weather (not necessarily snow, but crisp fall). The tweeds with the furs were so gorgeous, especially with the random pops of red. I would probably not wear a Chanel polar bear suit, however (if the fur is faux -- doubt it), I would love to rock the furry boots. I'm pretty sure Kate Moss wore some at one point.

photos: style.com