WHAT: Carolina Herrera Spring/Summer 2018. Venezuela-born designer Carolina Herrera showed her latest style offering for Spring 2018 at NYC's Museum of Modern Art during New York Fashion Week.

COLORS: Canary yellow, black and white, denim blue, salmon pink, mauve, lilac.



TRENDS: Puffy sleeves; Bright colors; 50's and 80's-like shapes (Big puffy sleeves, side-draped fitted sheath dresses and big ballgowns).

Collection Highlights:









Click below to watch Carolina Herrera Spring/Summer 2018 Fashion Show:

Tonight was the State Dinner to honor French President Francois Hollande. The big news is the fact that he would come sans his partner of course--after the news of his "affair" (how French!). Well, that's old news, it's all about what the U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama wore. The first lady chose a dramatic Carolina Herrera ball gown with a voluminous skirt and lace applique top. Of note: the blue and black gown is the first dress with sleeves Obama has worn to a state dinner. 

Lucy Liu in Carolina Herrera Pre-Fall 2013: Lucy wore this Baby Blue Floral Silk Duchesse Satin Strapless Full Skirted Gown by Carolina Herrera. While I always appreciate a risk and "changing it up" on the Red Carpet, this was a bit of a miss for me.

Someone as petite as Liu will always have a hard time pulling off such a grand silhouette. I love the gown and the oversized floral, but I think it would have worked better on a taller actress.

What do you think?!

Park Avenue Ladies Need a Wardrobe Post-Spring...
Pre-Fall 2012 Collections are here!! Yes, kids, we are barely into Fall/Winter 2011 and fashion designers are showing NEXT YEAR'S Pre-Fall Collections (It's crazy, I know!). Here are two collections from some of my favorite designers--who just happened to be of Latino descent, Venezuelan-born Carolina Herrera, the "Doyenne" of Park Avenue Chic, and Oscar de la Renta--Dominican Republic-born Master of "Ladies Who Lunch". Let's take a look: Carolina Herrera Pre-Fall 2012: Highlights: Bold prints; blue, silver-gray, bronzed-brown goddesses, royal blue "pops" of detail; silk taffeta and duchesse; tie-neck blouses; fitted pencil knee-length skirts; fitted gowns with pleated and bow'ed details:
Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall 2012: Highlights: No Ball Gowns. There you have it...for his Pre-Fall 2012 Collection, the Monsieur of Ball Gowns, did not send one down the runway. Instead, there were lots of flowy sensual silk gowns, fan-pleated or bias-cut. Rose pinks, deep royal blues, lilacs, violet, bright canary yellow, geometric prints and luxurious fur (of course). Take a look:
Click below for the Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall 2012 Collection Runway Video:

The LA Premiere for “Our Idiot Brother” took place at the ArcLight Cinemas here in Los Angeles last night. No micro minis at this premiere. The starring ladies kept it Classy (with a "C"!) by keeping the hemlines hovering around the knee. Lots of pinks and black with dresses that had unique and interesting silhouettes. While actress Kathyrn Hahn looked more suited to be playing a role in "The Help" (seriously, is she making meat loaf and chocolate chip cookies with that dress?) the other ladies took some fashion risks. Zooey Deschanel in Moschino Fall 2011: Zooey is always a fashion risk-taker and this Moschino dress she chose, is no exception. It's a little "Pierrot The Clown", apparently the collar is detachable and she might have been best ditching it, but why not have a little fun on the Red Carpet once and awhile and not be so predictable. Rashida Jones: Rashida is workin' the COLOR BLOCKED Trend with this Stella McCartney Spring 2012 simple black, pink and brick-red dress. Cute. Elizabeth Banks in Prada Resort 2012: I'm a little "On the Fashion Fence" with this one. It's very 1920's Flapper chick in it's unstructured tunic silhouette and yes, it's Prada so we get the "It looks Vintage/Thrift Store but it's $4,000!" I kind of wish it was all like the front or all like the back. It seems very "Two different dresses in one". Olivia Munn in Carolina Herrera: OK, now we're talking! No "on the fence" with this one. Olivia is picture perfect in this black-and-white one shoulder look from Carolina Herrera. She almost reminds me of Julio Iglesias' first wife, the Mestiza Filipina socialite DIVA, Isabel Preysler (look her up, trust me, she does!!) in this look. I especially love the coral earrings to bring in a "hint" of color.

Renee and Anne: Hollywood Style Muses!!!
This Oscars Weekend (on Saturday night to be exact) a new "Style Star" episode of which I am one of the featured style experts--premiered on the Style Network. This time around, the Style DIVAS were actresses Renee Zellweger and Anne Hathaway--yes, Miss Anne, co-host of Sunday's 83rd Academy Awards!! (how timely!). Polished to perfection, Renee and Anne have perfected their always-flawless fashion sense and dress to impress with clean lines and classic silhouettes. These two ladies know their fashion, are Sample Size perfect and well, have become muses for fashion designers and some fashionistas alike... Of course, we discussed Renne Zellweger in this stunning Vintage Jean Dessès yellow silk chiffon strapless gown which really put her "On the Red Carpet Map" at the Oscars back in 2001 and also discussed... Her "Muse" relationship with Venezuelan-born/American Designer Carolina Herrrera. And then there's Miss Anne Hathaway. Ever since 2006's "The Devil Wears Prada", she has become THE Fashion Girl. Haute Couture should be her two middle names! Armani Prive? (above) Check. Versace Atelier? Check... Marchesa? (above) Check. Valentino Haute Couture? Check. And, as we saw last night at the Oscars, she continued her tradition of being THE girl to Dress if you are a Fashion Designer: She changed a dress every 23.875 minutes. We love you Miss Anne!!! *In case you missed the episode, it airs again Tuesday March 1st 8AM... *Click HERE for all other airing times and dates.

More Vanity Fair Fashion: The Divas, the Lace/See-Through No-No's, and Miss Rita Wilson, my New Fashion Best Girlfriend! Lets start with the Divas! Diva No. 1 Socialite Lynn Wyatt--One word: WOW! Class Epitomized. The creme white silk crepe column gown with long sleeves, the mint-green shawl, the clutch, the STATEMENT Necklace!!!! You know, when all the fashion insiders say "It's All About A Statement Necklace", Mrs. Wyatt SHOWS THEM huney what a REAL Statement necklace needs to look like!!! And here's a shocker of all shockers (not really): I bet you A LOT of money that she DOES NOT even have a STYLIST! It's all HER...They don't make Ladies like they use to. Diva No. 2 Carolina Herrera, wearing her own design naturally. White silk duchess one shoulder gown with side pockets and black bow accent. Simply Stunning! This Venezuelan-born Diva also can teach an actress or two how to really dress. It helps that A) She's a Designer, and B) She literally GREW up watching her mother have private fittings in Paris with Couturiers such as Cristobal Balenciaga and Christian Dior back in the 1950's. Finally, I especially love that she posed with her hand in the pocket. This is NOT the "First Time at the Red Carpet Rodeo" for Mrs. Herrera. Diva No. 3 Joan Collins: Joan Collins can do no wrong in my book! Is it a bit "kooky"? Yes, but does she still OWN it and WORK it? TOTALLY!!! She was On-Trend with the lilac color in the embroidered rosette details and the gown fits her well (great open neckline for her!). The perfect earrings and perfect clutch finish the look. She is OLD SCHOOL Hollywood and I love it! And Now to Some Lace/See Through No-No Divas: See Through No-No Number 1--Madonna: Now, I KNOW it was COLD last night! About 50 Degrees in fact. So why oh why would Madonna wear a see-through lace dress with the HIGHEST of slits over a corset and under-panty. And she throws a fur mini "chubby" as if that's going to help. I'm sure this was all Dolce & Gabbana, but I may be wrong (it sure looks it!). I know it's Madonna and she can basically can do whatever she wants. But why am I still perplexed by this? She does have THE BODY of Death, but...sometimes, covered up is actually SEXIER. See-Though No-No Number 2: Naomi Watts--What, in the name of the Fashion Gods, is this? Why is their a nude-colored piece in her stomach/upper chest? And are those off-white feathers in the back? I just don't even get it. See Though No-No Number Trois: Jessica Szhor in a Leather, see-though, sequined midriff, nude mini. Really? Those four things NEVER enter my Fashion Vocabulary TOGETHER!!! Do these women have full-length mirrors? Or have they forgotten to pay their electric bills so they can't see themselves before leaving the house? And if so, then WHO is lying to them? Seriously WHO??? THIS...Is How You Do Lace & Nude Ladies: Take Note (Ladies Above): Camila Alves got it right! Here she is with her sexy husband, Matthew McConaughey in this black lace over nude gown and looking elegant, sexy and GORGEOUS! I also love that she did an "outfit change" (of course she did) from her Academy Awards Red Carpet Kaufman Franco black ball gown (which I LOVED!!!). Printed Gals: Cameron Diaz: Love me some Cameron Diaz. Love. But not so much in this very mini Carolina Herrera Pre-Fall 2011 one-shoulder ruffled neckline cocktail dress. The original sample is actually knee-length and maybe it should have stayed that way. Or just made it about 2 inches longer. That's all it needed to be. With her mile-long legs, the mini...was, well, too mini unfortunately. Ladies Don't Try This Look At Home: Rita Wilson--The multi-printed satin dress, the feathered (!) purse, the necklace, the bracelet, the strappy heels, the heavy-banged Bouffant 'do: Oh Miss Rita! It's "Valley of The Dolls", the Vanity Fair Oscars Party Version. It's a mess, but here's a surprise: To me, it's a GOOD MESS. Why, you may ask? Anybody who attempts this outfit at a party MUST be a HOOT!!!! If I spotted a woman at a party (at the Open Bar, I am sure!) dressed like this, she would be the first person I would talk to! You just KNOW someone who has enough chutzpah to do this, must be fun!

NY Fashion Week Highlights: Polka Dots, Lace and Ladies Who Do Late Lunches...
Carolina Herrera Fall 2011:
Watch Full Runway Show of Carolina Herrera Fall 2011 Below:
Marc Jacobs Fall 2011:
Latex, Lace, Polka Dots and Boxy-Fitted: These are words to describe the prints, fabrications and silhouettes at Marc Jacobs Fall 2011 Collection, debuted this week at New York Fashion Week. As always, with Marc Jacobs, there were LOTS of fun details and great individual pieces. For example: Love that blue-violet over-sized paillette skirt below and those Booties and trust me, we'll see plenty of Glam Girls pre-ordering that Polka Dot Bag as well!
Watch Full Runway Show of Marc Jacobs Fall 2011 Below: