Balenciaga and Spain at De Young Museum in San Francisco

Vogue European Editor at Large Hamish Bowles

Cecil Beaton's Quote

What a treat it was to have a private preview of the new Balenciaga and Spain exhibit at the De Young Museum!!

The private presentation was conducted by FAM Board president Dede Wilsey, Curator and European Editor-at -large for Vogue Hamish Bowles and FAM Director John Buchanan.

FAM Board President Dede Wilsey

Balenciaga and Spain, the De Young Museum's current exhibit examines a captivating look at the influence of Spain's culture, history art and traditions on the legendary master designer Cristobal Balenciaga who was born on January 21, 1895 in Guetaria, Spain.

Cristobal Balenciaga 1895-1972

The exhibition features 120 Balenciaga's greatest creations including garments, hats and headdresses drawn from the strengths of the Fine Arts Museums's costume holdings and private collections which include the Archives Balenciaga, Paris, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Paris's Musee de la Mode and Musee Galliera and, of course, some of Mr. Bowles' own collection.

Balenciaga's signature silhouettes

Balenciaga's signature silhouettes

Dance Theme

Dance

Black silk organza evening ensemble, summer 1951

Bullfight Theme

Day suit, Summer 1948

Worn By Doris Duke

Evening dress, summer 1951

Archives Balenciaga, Paris

The exhibition begins with the display of a pink silk taffetta evening dress, Winter 1957, worn Mrs. Peter Baumberger. It is then followed by an introductoryt gallery featuring three decades of Balenciaga's signature silhouettes, all in tones of black that demostrate his mastery of volume, his use of fabric and masterful embellishment. From there, it unfolds in six areas: Dance, Bullfighting, Regional dress, Spanish Art, the Spanish Court and Religious Ceremony. English photographer and designer Cecil Beaton hailed Balenciaga as "Fashion's Picasso." In his work Balenciaga shows the refinement of France and the strength of Spain. He uses fabric like a sculptor working in marble. Hamish Bowles, the show's curator, remarked on his exquisite skill in everything down to the last stitch. The legendary Coco Chanel called Balenciaga "the only couturier." All the other, she said, "are just draughtsman." He had a reputation as a couturier of uncompromising standards and was hailed a "the master of us all" by Christian Dior.

Evening dress, Summer 1963

Worn by Jeanne Magnin

Red silk taffeta cocktail dress with cape, summer 1962

Worn by Mrs. Antenor Patino

Cocktail ensemble with dress and jacket, Winter 1951

Worn by Bettina Ballard

Evening dress, winter 1965

Worn by Ava Gardner

Lime green silk gazar evening dress, winter 1967

Evening dress, Winter 1959

Worn by Julia Henry

Cocktail dress, winter 1967

Archives Balenciaga, Paris

The exhibition is filled with impeccable garments worn by generations of the most iconic, stylish women in the world including Ava Gardner, Gloria Guinness, Julian Henry, Doris Duke, Bettina Ballard, Jeanne Magnin among others. It offers insights into both present and past fashion. Definitely a MUST SEE exhibit!!!

Balencaiga and Spain

De Young Museum March 26 - July 4, 2011

50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive

San Francisco CA 94118

Website:

deyoung.famsf.org

Color-Block Craze: Have It or Make It Stop?

Spring fever's hit Hollywood. Stars are setting aside their LBDs in favor of bold, bright colors.

Taking it one step even further, Emma Stone (in Lanvin), Olivia Wilde (in Gucci), Camilla Belle (in Gucci and Roc Nation) and Zoe Saldana (in Prabal Gurung) are popping on the crimson carpet in multiple highlighter hues like coral, fuschia and teal.

So what does our Fashion Police panel think of this celebrity color blocking? Embrace the rainbow! This Skittles-style fashion trend gets a unanimous "Gotta have it!" from the color-lovin' crew.

Are you loving the mix 'n' match tints? Sound off below!

Spring season's - Top Looks

We took to Rhode Islands most stylish boutiques to get the drone on this spring’s must haves. Here are the season’s biggest trends—from retro bohemian to translucent lace, this is what you’ll be wearing this spring.

Eco-Green Style

Love going green. Now anyone can wear the color. Dish Boutique is showing a lot of the Seattle-based natural company, Prairie Underground, pictured in the coat, right. According to the fashion minds at Dish, the evolution colors as we head into spring are earthy, grey and green and the shapes are loose but still keeping some definition. Go for feminine draping in dresses, tops and even fold over pants to look easy but classic.

70s Glamour

Both 70s bohemian and sophisticated glamour are big this spring. Look for elegant blouses and pretty layers that are flowy but slimming for daytime. Mix in some vintage jewelry and testimonial accessories for added color. Celebrities have been showing us this look with Chan Luu wrap bracelets, left, sold at Therapy, Wakefield's fashion hot spot. Also: denim is coming back in big ways with the reemergence of the bell bottom jeans. Go for a high-waisted pair and a peasant blouse for a clean chic look.

Everyone is adoring The Kate Middleton Effect.

When Royal-bride-to-be Kate Middleton steps out, everyone takes notice….
People fight over buying a pair of her earrings, her £650 Burberry trench style coat which sold out within just one day, and her red twinset caused an absolute riot in the shops…

The British Fashion house of Burberry may be the latest designer to revel in the success of the Kate Middleton effect, but the fact is that ever since she appeared on the scene as Prince William’s girlfriend, (while they couple were attending St Andrews University), public interest in the stunning girl has been at times, feverish…

Even back in 2007, the Kate Middelton effect was alive and kicking when she wore a £40 Topshop Tunic for her 25th birthday and it sold out within 24 hours of her being seen in it…

Believe it or not,  that event proved to be a real learning curve for the Royal-bride-to-be, because up until that point, Kate had taken some pretty harsh criticism for her style choices, and was even labled as being rather frumpy.

But all that was soon to change as Kate Middleton ditched her knee-high suede boots, pashminas, cashmere cardigans  and knee-length skirts and dresses that dominated her wardrobe, and in their place came….
Now the girl who was dubbed as ‘frumpy’, has the power to create a fashion frenzy around the world, and often chooses a British designer’s to provide her with a natural blend of patriotic and classic, but at the same time, Kate, isn’t afraid to mix and match affordable high-street fashion, including Reiss ansd Topshop, with her designer labels…

Kate Middleton, with her great looks, figure, and fashion style. Is fast on her way to becoming the most famous woman in the world!

Nicky Hilton and actress Jaime King in same dress for club launch

With the hundreds of different fashion labels these days, it's not often two celebrities are spotted in the same outfits at the same time. But hotel heiress Nicky Hilton and actress Jaime King were left red-faced last night when they both arrived at a French Connection party in identical dresses.

They weren't the only pair wearing the same clothes - Carmen Electra and Brooke Burke were mirror images of each other in their fitted mini dresses. Hilton and King had both opted for a shiny leopard-print mini dresses at the launch of new Hollywood club Lexington Social House.

The pair - who have been friends for years - both teamed their dresses with towering heels, but Hilton gave it a slight twist with a wide black belt. But fortunately they saw the funny side and posed up alongside each other on the red carpet.