Australia Say G'day to Couture:


Over the weekend, Lady Gaga stepped down in Sydney from her private plane wearing COUTURE---the only way Miss Lady Gaga would! She is there for the next leg of her "Born This Way Ball" tour. The global pop Diva then headed to the harbor-side Park Hyatt Sydney Hotel, making a grand entrance to her fans, stopping by to greet them, sign autographs and pose for photos.


She wore a floor length completely hand beaded gown with Swarovski Crystal Elements gold metallic accents from Atelier Versace Spring 2012. In case you didn't know, that's Haute Couture. This is a $100,000+ gown.  There's been a lot of talk in the press that she may have been wearing Spanx under the gown--however, if one looks at the photos and the photo of the Runway Sample above--she was not--she's wearing the undergarment corset/jumpsuit that comes with a $100,000 made-to-order gown. Get it right kids!



She topped off her "Fan Photo-Op/Hello Sydney" ensemble with a 1940's-inspired green wig reminiscent of the "Victory Rolls" hairstyle of the time. Now, back to the gown: did I mention that this is a hand-made six-digit figure costing gown (if she--or anyone else--were to order and buy it). I'm sure it's a borrowed sample. And it looked FABULOUS on her.

Too Long: The way my Fashion Designer-discerning eye can tell it's a runway sample, its the "Runway Dead Giveaway": the length. It's way too long on her...

Notice how, even with those 12" platform heels, the gown is still, about 5 inches too long and is (Dio Mio!) just eating up the dirt on the sidewalk--and not too mention she is stepping on the hand-beaded fabric that some little old Italian woman will have to fix later at the Atelier Versace studios...

If you've been keeping up on "All Things Lady Gaga"--you know that she's been wearing Versace A LOT. She has been the catalyst for Donatella Versace  to bring back all those iconic 1990's looks from the House since Miss Gaga has been "featuring" them every now and then, schooling all her "Little Monsters" on how important it is to know your Fashion History, especially the 1980's and 90's.


Lady Gaga has been wearing Atelier Versace for many of her arrivals during her "Born This Way Ball" tour, So her Haute Couture Versace appearance in Sydney over the weekend is no surprise. The 26-year old pop star wore Atelier Versace Spring 2011 as she stepped out of Customs at Seoul's Gimpo International Airport back in April to begin her tour. Again, it was a Runway Sample as you can see from the trailing UBER-long hem. I wonder why the Atelier Versace team--or Lady Gaga's stylist peeps won't sew up the too-long hem--at least temporarily. I wonder if the Versace people just won't allow it? Inquiring minds (me!) want to know...

Even more interesting is the fact that she has been wearing LOTS of Versace but yet, her "Born This Way Ball" tour costumes are designed by Giorgio Armani and the Armani team:


Why didn't they write into the contract that she had to wear Armani Prive upon arriving as well? It just seems odd that she would be wearing Versace on her "off time" and Armani during her "stage/tour time". What do guys think? I'd LOVE to hear (or read) your Two Cents...Let me know your comments!

Bravissima!!
Haute Couture Fashion Week began today in Paris with a bang. In my last post I highlighted the latest Couture offering from the House of Dior and it's designer Bill Gaytten. Now, it's time for Donatella. Donatella Versace of course. Atelier Versace actually opened Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week with its first runway show since 2004. Between then and now, they've only been showing them via "Look Book" images on the Versace website. So, yes, the Haute Couture arm of Versace has not stopped, in case you were wondering. Now, more than ever though, it realizes the importance of showing these glorious one-of-a-kind garments--especially for new clients (Hello Russia!) and as an extension of the Marketing and PR of the Versace brand.
Donatella showed only fifteen looks (even though officially the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parsienne states there should be a minimum of 35 runs/exits, I think Miss Donatella got an "exemption"), that can only be described as "Versace Gladiator Goddesses". They were corseted, boned, stiffened and sexi-fied to the 9th degree!
One by one, all of the worlds current top models--Karlie Kloss, Daria Strokous, Arizona Muse, Lindsey Wixson--came down a set of golden stairs, very carefully (take a look at those 5" high Gladiator pumps!). Until all fifteen were done, then Donatella Versace took her bow.
The Collection: The color palette went from slate gray, neon lemon, tangerine, soft lilac, gold and canary yellow. The fabrications were intense and very Couture-worthy. One gold leather bustier dress (worn by the fabulous Arizona Muse) was laser-cut to look like lace. There was caviar beading so delicately woven into gowns, I could almost hear the cries of needle-breaking desperation from the Italian seamstresses.
In terms of shapes and styles, there were fitted gowns, strapless gowns, gowns with sleeves, mini corseted cocktail dresses, a jacket or two, sexy asymmetrical back-baring numbers and even some Couture shorts and jumpers. Some styles featured an asymmetrical side-front hip-enhancing detail. One would think this would not benefit a woman's figure but alas, in the Atelier Versace's draping and pattern-making team's hands, it looked fresh and modern.
Look for some of these $100,000+ garments on the red carpet--come Grammy and Academy Award time. I assure you. Take a look at some more of Atelier Versace Spring 2012:
Click Below for Video of Atelier Versace Spring/Summer 2012: