{runway inspiration: gianfranco ferré, milan}

. . . with sheer organdy blouses and elegant pencil skirts, structural jackets, and an intriguing mix of textures such as satin, flannel and cashmere, embellished with beading and bands of silver crystals, tommaso aquilano and roberto rimondi's most recent collection for gianfranco ferré made the runways of milan a beautiful study in "decorated minimalism", which, as far as minimalism goes, is the very best kind . . .

{images: gianfranco ferré fall 2011 rtw collection via style.com}

{runway inspiration: elie saab, paris}

. . . elie saab never fails to be utterly breathtaking, and when you finally catch your breath, you will scarcely be prepared for the utter beauty of the latest spring couture collection, a flourish of mousseline and sheer décolleté, of tulle and organza, and flowers piled at the shoulder and tied with grosgrain at the waist, and all in glittery, fairytale shades of silver and champagne . . .









{p.s.} more of this collection

{images: elie saab spring couture 2011 collection via tsf}

{photographers: bela adler & salvador fresneda}

. . . have featured the beautiful work of barcelona photographers bela adler & salvador fresneda many times before, and every time, swept away all over again, and since always adore finding party inspiration in weddings, for this year's holiday soirées, it's perfect shades of winter white and pink champagne bows on sky-high peep toes, seafoam satin opera gloves and sheer jackets strewn with roses, and most of all, tiffany's blue bows that fall just below the collarbone . . .















{images: bela adler & salvador fresneda for martha stewart}

{runway inspiration: elie saab, paris}

. . . it's back to the sophisticated seventies on the runways of paris, shades of silver and shimmery apricot and flows of jersey and chiffon, a dusting of sequins and pretty platform sandals, and all through the exquisite eye of the always stunningly elegant elie saab . . .

{style.com, more at a glamorous little side project}

{hello + a few things}

. . . hello! a sunny summer tuesday and had been planning to announce an impossibly exciting give-away today, but blogger has been having technical difficulties with comment moderation and so, perhaps it shall have to wait a little longer . . . out the door for a bit and it's a silk partydress and sky-high summer wedges kind of day and leaving you with the intricately stunning appliqués, shades of gold and champagne encrusted with paillettes and clusters of crystals & pearls, cascades of dégradé feathers, and flows of duchesse satin and chantially lace of riccardo tisci's fall 2010 couture collection for givenchy . . .

à bientôt / see you soon! & hope your week is off to a perfect start,
xo

{p.s.} also adore the romantic gilded walls and chevron floors

{also new this week:}
* two lovely things: mirror, mirror
* storage inspiration: pretty jewelry display
* wedding inspiration: little white dresses
* room inspiration: always de gournay
* shoes, shoes, shoes: sergio rossi

{& one last thing:} many thanks for this lovely post

{images: style.com via a glamorous little side project}

{runway inspiration: john galliano, shanghai}

*** more of this collection here ***

. . . always look forward to the dior shows, but with all this talk about diamonds, nearly forgot the resort collection {thanks, felicity!} and, as always, it was one not to be missed -- part imagination, part fantasy, and always a work of art, the resort part of the collection was le savoir faire français, with bardot-inspired hair, red lipstick and floaty fabrics, but by far the favourites were the couture pieces -- pure romance in the form of corseted lace dresses and grand ball gowns showered in embroidery, and dégradé silk organza that made everything feel as if it were a fairytale . . .

. . . and of course, wouldn't dream of leaving without a few . . .








{p.s.} a few things:
* more of this collection: at the side project
* more dior: here & here
* more backstage photos: here

{images: style.com & the love magazine}