Nonna Chic
Spring 2012 Milan Fashion Week just ended and one of the highlights was of course, the Dolce & Gabbana Show. As you know, D&G is finito, done. And with that, naturally there was lots of editorial, buyer and press interest on what designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana would show for Spring 2012. Here's a given: We know that Dolce & Gabbana really know how to play with a theme. They pick one and run with it. They might be holding a Campari with Soda as their running...but they're running nonetheless. You MUST watch the video (Below after the photos) to get the whole effect of the show. Let's just say that only Dolce & Gabbana could create a theme that could only be referred to as "Grandma Chic" or Nonna Chic!
For Spring 2012, they showed lots of printed EVERYTHING--from bra tops, pleated dirndl skirts, rompers, swimsuits, and Ladies-Who-Lunch sheath dresses and suits. There was also lots of heavy applique lace... Plastic skirts, suits and even coats, Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012 Lace and even POM POMS, Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012
And of course, LOTS of sequins, in every variety--from heavy be-jeweled ones to cluttered multi-colored ones. Sequins and LOTS of them, are a HUGE Spring 2012 Trend and they were right there! Front Row and Center! The accessories were also the Stars. Take a look at the crochet, lace and plastic pumps. No really, take a look, because the FIERCEST of Fashionistas will be, no doubt, wearing them next Spring/Summer:
And of course, there were the purses. I have a feeling that Domenico and Stefano sent their Design Assistants to peruse a whole lot of "vintage"/second-hand stores from New Jersey to Wisconsin--to find "inspiration" in these purses. They are so "old School" Church Lady"/Grandma, all that she's missing is her mini-bible from 1963:
Click Below for the Full Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012 Runway Show:

Grommets, Studs, Seashell Motifs...It's Versace 1992 all over again...And I LOVE IT!
Last week, Donatella Versace showed her latest Spring 2012 Collection for the House of Versace in the gorgeous garden at the Via Gesù show space. The collection was very "Retro Versace". Like I had seen it before somewhere...
I had. The Versace Spring 2012 Collection had many motifs and style elements from that much-Lady Gaga loved Versace Couture 1992 time period (she's been spotted wearing A LOT from those collections lately). The grommets, the silver and gold studs, the heavily cluttered sequins, the seashell prints and motifs...
Donatella went back to the Versace Archives (as well she should, maybe inspired by Miss Gaga) and really referenced those years in particular for this collection. And what a surprise, they looked "fresh and new", especially to those "kids" who were probably 3 when those collections came out! But I remember darlings--I could never forget Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Karen Mulder and Yasmeen Ghauri in those seashell printed swimsuits and those leather and gold studded gowns!!!
But back to the present: Versace Spring 2012 showed lots of light "candy sorbet" colors--the light blues, the lemon yellows, the aqua-greens. Lots of luscious draped and shirred silk jersey and silk chiffon added to the "prettiness".
And yes, those 1992'esque black gold studded skirts and tops and Seashell-motif sequined applique. Donatella also played with some asymmetry, especially with chiffon "overlay" that would "half" cover a simple and elegant sheath dress or a skirt.
Gowns were seductive, sexy and oh-so-Versace Red Carpet. Also in those light candy-sorbet colors. The grommeting and studded sequin detail was followed through to the final runway-stomping gowns. Now speaking of Runway Stomping...There was a "Model Down": Poor Lindsey Wixson (American, famous for her "bee-stung" lips) came crashing down almost at the end of the Versace Spring 2012 show. Lindsey happens to be one of Donatella's faves--if not her "Muse", but the 17 year old (A Muse at 17??) came tumbling down as she tried to maneuver those towering 8" lucite stilletto wedge platforms. She did get back up and instead of running as fast as she could out of the runway, she continued her walk with "Victory" thumbs-up hand signs. Nice Recovery Girl!!!! If you want to see the stumble--and the Entire Versace Spring 2012 Collection Runway Video, Click Below:

Ciao D&G!
Days ago, during Milan Fashion Week, Designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana showed their latest Spring 2012 offering for the "lower line" D&G. They also announced that this would be the last season for D&G . According to the designers, D&G will now be merged with it's main signature line Dolce & Gabbana.
It seems a bit odd since from what industry experts say, it is a cash cow for the company. Many buyers were heard saying that in fact, they buy little of the signature line (or at least not consistently) but ALWAYS order EVERY season something from D&G. But the statement Domenico and Stefano released said that the move was in order to give "even more strength and energy to our collections".
This final collection was "Scarf happy". In continuing with the same scarf-print motif of their recent menswear Collection, the clothing was an explosion of The Foulard. It was very Versace meets Hermes meets Lily Pulitzer and so retro 1994 in its over-the-top in-your-face don't-look-for-solids here vibe. Frankly I don't see why Hermes doesn't do a Runway Presentation for their Ready-to-Wear shows just like this! I thought it was great! And so ON TREND since it's ALL ABOUT bold, colorful prints come next Spring/Summer.
There were mini dresses, bandeau tops, blouses, pajama pants, shorts, maxi-dresses, shoes: EVERYTHING had the SCARF Crazy Stamp.
I have a feeling that it will be a BIG hit when it hits the stores come next year and we will see LOTS of these prints on the red carpet... Click Below for the D&G Spring 2012 Full Runway Show Video: