Nick Verreos on a New "Style Star" Episode TONIGHT (and next week!) on The Style Network: Julia Roberts and Natalie Portman

The Woman Makes The Dress: Julia Roberts and Natalie Portman

Julia Roberts in Valentino, receiving her Academy Award

Natalie Portman in Rodarte, 2009 Academy Awards

This week's episode of Style Network's "Style Star"--the show I am one of the "fashion commentators" on--we discuss the two STUNNING actresses Julia Roberts and Natalie Portman. They prove that the dress does NOT make the woman but that the woman--Julia and Natalie respectively--make the dress!

Nick Verreos on Style Network's Style Star TV Show

The episode debuts TONIGHT at 9PM and will be shown at midnight as well--and next week: Monday, Jan 31st at 4:30PM, Fri February 4 2:30PM and 10:30PM on the Style Network of course.

Don't miss me on "Style Star" tonight and next Monday and Friday, discussing the Style Beauty of Julia Roberts and Natalie Portman.

Paris Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011: Valentino--Photos and Entire Runway Video!!

Big (Valentino) Love:

Amalfi Coast Yacht Party: Silk plisse gown with Ruff-neck cape featuring circular "Valentino" hem detail, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Valentino House Designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli showed their latest offering for Haute Couture this past week in Paris. It was an elegant, subdued, more "realistic" vision of Couture, which is what Valentino has always been known for. Very 60's, early 70's influences and lots of nods to the House, including Lady-Like "Daywear"--almost very "HBO's Big Love"-esque, ultra feminine evening, and THAT "Valentino Red" naturally peeked through. This looks like a very sellable collection and meant for Valentino's older client base as well as their granddaughters with taste.

Where's My Caprese Salad: From Lunch to Cocktails, Valentino blush silk organza ruffled dress, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Trends: Opaque colors, light roses, blush, red, white, nude-beige, dull blue; Lady-Like dressing; braided hair; RUFFLES Galore; high necklines; covered shoulders; mini ruffs at the neck; Neat put-together looks; lower more sensible heels.

Valentino Proper: This Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 look from above, looks a lot like...

Something actress Chloe Sevigny's character in HBO's "Big Love", would LOVE

Themes: Chloe Sevingy in HBO's "Big Love" meets Lady Who Lunches; Traditional Couture; Elizabeth Taylor meets Jackie O circa 1960.

Highlights from Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011:

Campari and Soda Please: Nude-colored coat dress with bow waist tie and mini convertible collar, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Apres Beach: Plunging ruffled neckline day-to-cocktail dress, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Hostess of The Ball: High-necked ruffled silk organza gown, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Hello Angelina Jolie: Red blouson camisole gown, Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Click Below For a Preview Video of Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011, showing the Seamstresses in Rome sewing EVERY PIECE by hand, the Fit Model modeling the clothes and then the Paris pre-show alterations and fittings:

Click Below for Entire Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 Runway Show:

Paris Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011: Elie Saab

Sweet Saab Divas...

Chartreuse (Young) Lady: Side-draped gown, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Lebanon-born Paris and Beirut-based designer, Elie Saab sent out a sweetly beautiful Haute Couture Collection, featuring one perfect Oscar Red Carpet gown after another (take note Actresses!). It was a "new" Elie Saab woman: Less Halle Berry, more Scarlet Johansson; sweeter, not so "fierce" (well, those shoes were!) and more delicately made-up (hair, make-up). His Middle Eastern girls getting ready to "debut" at the next Crillon Ball should be ready to put their orders on one of those $50,000+ creations as we speak!

Tulle Shoulders: Blush-colored Organza-appliqued gown with covered shoulder mini-puffy raglan sleeves, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Trends: Fitted/defined waist; flowy gowns; appliqué/embroideries; SLITS/split-fronts; beading/sequins EVERYWHERE; SLEEVES on gowns; COVERED SHOULDERS on gowns; Silhouette: Fitted torso, loose from the waist.
Colors: BLUSH, lipstick red, lilac, off-white, black, yellow-green.

Themes: Elie Saab "Stomping DIVA" turns "Sweet Sixteen"; Late 19Th century/Early 20Th Century Socialite; Great Expectations' Mrs. Havisham (above), but in her younger years; Oscars Red Carpet GALORE!! Safe and Demurely sexy.

Highlights from Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011:

Shoulder Girl: Cowl-draped shoulder-covering sequined gown, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Arizona Lilac: Model-of-the-moment Arizona Muse in split-front silk chiffon lilac-colored gown, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Lady In One-Shoulder Red: One shoulder Lipstick red silk chiffon gown, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Oscar Dress: Strapless all-over beaded gown with very high center front slit opening, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Le Mariage: Finale Wedding Gown, Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Click Below for Edited Video of Elie Saab Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011:

Red Valentine + Feminine Rocker!!

Think of RED for your Valentine!!

Love my Tsumori Chisato cats' face harem pants...... 


Have a good weekend!
xoxo Rachel 

a fashionable world...

Rag & Bone, in their S/S 11 Campaign, have used the self portraits of some of our favourite faces in fashion. What a cool look! 

Fashions at the Couture shows