Fashion 101: Yves Saint Laurent

It has been a while since my blog has mentioned anything about France now that I live in New York City. So for this lesson of Fashion 101 I wanted to feature a true legend to the fashion world, and France's own, Yves Saint Laurent.

As I just visited the Alexander McQueen Exhibition: Savage Beauty at The Met (don't worry that post is coming...and YES it was amazing), I was reminded of an equally great exhibit I had the honor of visiting last summer in Paris. That's right, I had so many posts and photos going up in the summer of 2010 that somewhere amongst the chaos of my cross-Atlantic move, I had a tiny little gold mine of snapshots that got lost in the recesses of my external drive! So here's to another great Fashion 101!

Yves Saint Laurent at the Petit Palais 

along the Seine River...my heart just melts as I think of it. 

**Please note: not all of these photos are the best, I was shooting from the hip...literally... as I was trying to discreetly capture the ambience of the exhibition for you guys without getting caught.**

At 17, Yves Saint Laurent started his career as an assistant to Christian Dior in 1953. Dior gradually accepted more and more of his sketch submissions and named him his successor to the House of Dior. In the Fall of 1957 Dior died unexpectedly of a heart attack and suddenly at 21 Yves Saint Laurent was to direct his first runway line. 

Here are the stats that any true fashionista should know about YSL:

1. Fused Art and Culture with Fashion

In his premier line for the Christian Dior label, he set the world on fire by creating Dior's signature "New Look" with trapeze dresses. 

 {merci Girl's Guide to Paris}

His life was all about art and culture and it was constantly cognisant in his collections. Including his famous YSL color block dress inspired by the well known Mondrian painting, and was just one of many art reinterpretations over the course of his fashion career. His influence was often found outside of Europe as well, and he is credited as the first designer to send ethnic models down his runway, including longtime muse, supermodel Iman.

{merci fashion freax}

2. Founded Ready to Wear

As many designers in the mid sixties meddled with a few pret-a-porter pieces, Yves Saint Laurent was the first to launch a full ready to wear collection in the Fall of 1966. In addition that Fall, he opened the first of his ready to wear stores which he called his Rive Gauche stores, in Paris. Catherine Deneuve was his first customer. 

Fashion fades, style is eternal ~Yves Saint Laurent

3. Uncovered the lost art of Couture

The sixties and seventies were a time where the golden age of decadent couture had long been forgotten, ahem... polyester suits. But as a couturier himself, Yves Saint Laurent's creations brought back haute couture into the spotlight it deserved. 

Haute couture consists of secrets whispered from generation to generation...If in ready to wear, a garment is manufactured according to standard sizes, the haute couture garmet adapts to any imperfection in order to eliminate it. ~Yves Saint Laurent

4. The women's tuxedo suit

YSL's partner and longtime companion Pierre Berge once said, "We often say Chanel has liberated the woman, which is true, but we can also say that YSL gave them the power." No truer words could be spoken. Yves Saint Laurent's designs were specific to empower the woman and pull out her beauty at the same time. In his Fall 1965 collection, YSL introduced Le Smoking, his women's tuxedo pantsuit that changed to female corporate look forever. YSL is also credited with other trends such as safari jackets, thigh high boots, and his coined beatnik look.

{merci wikipedia}

Yves Saint Laurent was a vital piece of the ever evolving landscape of fashion, and experiencing this exhibit was truly breath taking. In the Centre Pompidou on January 22, 2002 YSL showed his last collection before retiring, showcasing 30 new looks and a collection of 300 models emphasizing the highlights over his career. He died of brain cancer on June 1, 2008 in his Paris residence.

I want to thank all the women who have worn my clothes, the famous and the unknown, who have been so faithful to me and given me so much joy. ~Yves Saint Laurent

 {merci yoox.com}

 Thank you Wikipedia and the Petit Palais for your wisdom.

The Royal Wedding: Live from Times Square NYC

Well darlings, my alarm went off quite early this morning but it was totally worth it, as I got to watch The Royal Wedding of William and Catherine, Live from Times Square NYC!! Not usually a morning person, it did take some thought before deciding that getting to Times Square at 5am would be worth it, but after all it has been 29 years since the last royal wedding (and I did not get to see that one). After months of designer speculation on Women's Wear Daily, I was excited to see that Alexander McQueen (my favorite) was the chosen designer for the royal wedding gown!

I watched the royal wedding, live in Times Square NYC in the VIP tent of TLC Network! Full of English tea, scones, and beautiful modern Brit decor, the VIP tent was a nice atmosphere to view the royal wedding for such an early time in the morning.

The dress, designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, was reminiscent of Grace Kelly's wedding dress when she became Princess Grace of Monaco. Although the custom lace design remained very reminiscent of McQueen's signature prints, the dress was most definitely toned down from the normal avant-garde look of the line, but I believe this had a lot to do with Kate's simplistic, classic style.

My favorite moment of the royal wedding was when Kate began walking down the aisle and you can see Prince Harry take a peak of her and tell Prince William how she looks. It was such an intimate brotherly moment that was so nice to witness. 

"Be who God meant you to be and 

you will set the world on fire." 

- St. Catherine of Sienna

After the royal wedding, TLC's Say Yes to the Dress performed 3 live weddings as well as a fashion show with the past brides of the show in Times Square. Oh and the lovely Colbie Caillat performed! It was certainly a memorable way to experience the royal wedding. And now my dears, this fashionista is off to catch up on some zzz's, enjoy your royally enchanted day!

Congratulations to 

Prince William and Princess Catherine!

NYFW: Weekend Report - ADAM, Vivienne Tam, and Toni Francesc

NYFW is kicking strong on the weekends, making it so wonderful to have Lincoln Center the new home for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week...SPACE for all the people!! I wanted to post some outfit recaps for you Embellishers since, if you're anything like me, you just love drawing inspiration from the creativity of others.

 Dolce & Gabbana Scarf

Urban Outfitters Romper  |  Swedish Belt

Steve Madden Ankle Booties  |  Express Necklace  |  Crazy Tights

I must say, I had quite a lot of fun with outfit #2! Mainly due to my creative concoction of my silk scarf. I'm not ever a scarf wearer, so I sadly have a few really cute scarves in my closet...including this Dolce & Gabbana...therefore I was desperately trying to find a way to wear my scarf...that still suited my style. And darlings, I believe I've found a new signature style!

*This is KEY: Always feel yourself darlings. Style is not style, if it is not yours. Trying to wear things just because they're trendy, will only look like you are wearing someone else's clothes*

Due to tired arms, my resting arm on the side of my head lead me to try my scarf tied sideways! But then I had all this tail excess that needed to go somewhere...and...since I love side braids...BINGO! I braided my scarf into my hair and I was instantly excited about the outcome. You see how fluid fashion is? Its a creative process; always moving.

Here were some looks from the beginning of the weekend. 

Things of note: I love the fun fur that pops up at Fashion Week! People have so much fun with where and how its worn (FYI the last guy pictured had fur popping out from under his collar!!) Trop cool!
I also love how nice the men look in the NYFW tents! I love an atmosphere that promotes clean, sophisticated dressing for men in an otherwise sloppy world.

I had a very successful day as far as fashion shows go as well! I was able to snag a seat to...

ADAM

Vivienne Tam

Toni Francesc 

(and an After Party Invite too!)

But don't worry my dear...all in due time. For now I'm giving you a taste of the tents, but you will get the full Fall/Winter 2011 Analysis all too soon! Especially a recap of the shows I was blessed to attend! This much fabulous information can't possibly fit in one post though.

Stay tuned mes cheries!

Fashion 101: LBD

"You can wear black at any time, you can wear it at any age. You can wear it on almost any occasion. A 'little black frock' is essential to a woman's wardrobe. I could write a book about black." ~ Christian Dior

{weheartit}

That jaw dropping Little Black Dress has been done a million and one ways over the centuries, and it somehow never goes out of style. But where did it really come from? What catapulted it to stardom? Well mes cheries, any Miley or Gaga can strut her strut her stuff in Versace's latest invention, but to be a truly schooled fashionista, one must know her history. Besides, what is more satisfying than leaving someone speechless who misjudged you as a brainless ditz with a credit card? Put those nay-sayers in their place darlings, fashion is a power house industry and deserves the respect of a full education. So class, sit down and take notes.

Along with the Renaissance, Italy also birthed black as a fashion statement. Seen as far back as 1473 in the triptych by Jean de Witte, featuring a young woman in a lavish velvet gown with an intense scarlet ribbon. Although, the Spaniards are the reason for the initial mass appeal, as black dye was expensive, it became the color of the Spanish Royalty almost exclusively throughout the 16th century.

{fotobank.ru}

Fading in and out of style, black had predominantly declined in the 17th & 18th centuries. The first half of the 19th century, black paved its way as the fashionable color for men, who wore it in the English Style assimilated with merchants and businessmen. By the latter half of the century it became a fashion statement for wealthy women as well. But black was cemented in wardrobe after Sargent painted the Portrait of Madame X, causing a scandal in Paris and emerging it as the color of seduction.

{newyorksocialdiary.com}

The American Vogue of October, 1926 would forever change the game as it unveiled photos of Coco Chanel's "little black dress" that they described as "The Chanel 'Ford' - The frock that all will wear." Chanel had done much experimenting with black garb, but this piece debuted at a time when the world needed simplicity and craved a break from the extravagant canvases of her competitor Paul Poiret.

{weheartit}

Then Hollywood quickly climbed on board, with many starlettes featuring stunning black gowns that were crucial to their characters' role. Christian Dior became infatuated with this idea of minimalist beauty as he began bringing these desires of Hollywood to the runway and then trickling it down to the women who walked the streets. "I have no wish to deprive fashion of the added allure and charm of color, but I could perfectly well design a whole collection simply in black or white. Color cannot transform a failure of a dress into a success; it merely plays a supporting role in the cast where cut is the star performer." (Christian Dior). Continuing the phenomenon, in 1961 Hubert de Givenchy made that very rare and pure movie magic moment with Audrey Hepburn's iconic ensemble in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and women everywhere have never been the same.

{weheartit}

After a minor decline in the 60s, Yves Saint Laurent brought back black in steel force through the 70s and set his name in the history books. Through the next couple decades fashion wavered between whether it found black elegantly sexy or a punk statement toward anarchy. Powerhouse designer Vivienne Westwood created bridges for the fashion-antifashion opposing crowds and was the first to successfully change the industry toward an edgy, goth direction. Gianni Versace made his mark with a gift to blend the hard elements of the punk movement with the timeless seductiveness that we all know and love, and Karl Lagerfeld found a way to bring Chanel into the 21st century. With every turn of the season, designers left and right find new ways to amaze us, and somehow black is still not boring.

Reference: The Black Dress by Valerie Steele

Check it out for more awesome info darlings!

{weheartit}

I wonder what the next

la mode en noire holds mes cheries?

The Face Behind the Stories

As bloggers go, you tend to learn a lot of information about everything we like under the sun but very little personal information about who we are, the mysterious people glued to their laptops, scouring the web for great content to keep you inspired. The ever lovely Erika of Cafe Fashionista has posted a blogger challenge to get know each other better. So here I go with a little Q&A a la Erika's direction.

Where do you live?

Lately this has become an ever changing phenomenon, I could be my own Carmen Sandiego at times. I am native to Charlotte, NC and have spent many years living in different parts of the Carolina's and Virginia. I just moved back from a year of living in France! And now in one month (fingers crossed) I will finally be able to make The Big Apple my home!! That is right darlings, my dreaming since childhood is finally coming true and I am going to be able to take on the adventures of the Concrete Jungle in all its glory...and I cannot wait!

What would your perfect day consist of?

Waking up without an alarm and gobbling down a delish pancake breakfast in my pj's with a good cup of jo. Some cardio window shopping with my besties and competing for the best sale find of the day, followed by a late cafe lunch. Going for a nice long run with just me and my iPod. Rounding out the day perfectly strolling through a park wrapped around my sweetheart and having a nice meal complete with wine and lots of kisses. And maybe followed by some late night dancing and stargazing. *weather depending*

Who is your fashion muse?

I pull from mainly 2 lovely ladies: Sarah Jessica Parker and Blake Lively. SJP has always had this fantastic way of shattering fashion rules and paving the way for the perfect blend of girly chic and rockin glam. And Blake Lively, or rather Eric Daman (costume designer for Gossip Girl and therefore Serena Van der Woodson) has this fresh undone quality that perfects the I've just rolled out of bed and arrived here impossibly fabulous look. I tend to be more controlled personally, so I like pulling qualities from that character to incorporate in my wardrobe that may not normally be my first instinct.

What do you always order from Starbucks?

Unfortunately my absolute Go-To Starbucks drink is only around for a few months from September to November. Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte is heaven in a cup and it is about to come back for 2010 and I'm counting down the days!

7 Passions

Travel, Jesus, Photography, Fashion, Creating, Music, Loved Ones

What are your obsessions?

Etsy, blogging, reading, Gossip Girl/Sex and the City/FRIENDS marathons, Twilight, iTunes surfing, stilettos, French, interior decorating, sewing, fashion history, international exploration, camping & the mountains, walking along the beach, fun hairdos, coffee, dancing, tattoo artwork, thrift store hunting, dressing up, costumes...

What is your favorite quote?

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page" Saint Augustine

What is on your bedside table?

Current book, cell phone, iPod Touch, cute lamp, pen & notepad (I can never go to sleep because I'm thinking about my To Do's for the next day, so this is my solution), and a stacked plate and glass from last night's brownie and milk snack (yeah I'm totally guilty of late night snacking...its a problem, I'm aware)

What's always in your bag?

Wallet, cell phone, iPod Touch, pen, camera, lipstick (I feel like the only lady left who still prefers it to gloss, I just can't take my hair sticking to my lips), my amazing pronged hair dagger thing (I'm sure there is an official term for it), Flip & Tumble's Reusable bag, sunglasses, and keys.

{thanks weheartit for all the photos}

Your turn darlings, considered yourself tagged! I hope you enjoyed learning a little info about me, and I cannot wait to learn more about you as well, so get blogging!

What will we have in common mes cheries?

Happy Bloggoversary

In the midst of an exciting Italian adventure, I completely bypassed the 1st birthday of The lovely Embellished Life! I must say that a year has absolutely flown by, as they always promise to do, and it has been quite a whirlwind. My original intent for this blog was to just update on my travels for family and friends and share my musings on fashion...it has become oh so much more than that. This blog has given me an outlet for joy, inspiration, pain, growth, and a community of support. I have made new friends and loved learning about all of you along the way.

{weheartit}

"I see life as an art. As the artist of my own life, each day another brush stroke is made on the canvas which will one day be called "My Life." If I am to live with the end it mind, everyday that I am blessed to live and breath is an opportunity to create the life I envision for myself. I want my life to be one of beauty, peace, style, and grace -- an utterly fulfilling life that inspires me as well as those that I love. It begins by creating a clear vision and then daily making choices, both large and small, that move me in the direction of my dreams." - JacquelineRose

Thank you all for staying Embellished

I cherish you dearly

-Jessica

One Day at a Time

{tumblr}

Are you happy with your journey?

Only you can change it.

Where For Art Thou Shakespeare & Company?

Darlings, I would love to introduce you to one of my favorite places in Paris, The 5th Arrondisement. As you wander around the beauty of Notre Dame why not take a stroll across the street? Among a smörgåsbord of diverse cultural cuisine on a bustling fun street, here you will also stumble upon the world famous hole in the wall bookstore, Shakespeare & Company. Now for any bibliophile, like myself, you WILL be in Heaven. Serving as not only a bookstore but also a relaxing place to read, all day if you'd like, it specializes in English Language Literature and has a fascinating history. Now, as you all know I can't resist a unique boutique, but add a complex and fascinating story like this one and you will easily see why I am in love with this shop!

Originally started by Sylvia Beach, and expatriate from New Jersey, S&Co. has been around since 1919. Not always in its originally cozy corner along the Seine, before the last World War it was on the Rue de l'Odeon, and frequented daily by the greats such as, Ernest Hemmingway, James Joyce, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. S&Co at the time was the center of Anglo-American literary culture and repeatedly housed books that were banned in the UK and America. It closed in 1941 after, allegedly, Beach refused to sell a last copy of a Joyce novel to a German soldier.

But it lives on now, thanks to George Whitman, a Massachusetts boy who merged it with his book shop on left bank after the death of Sylvia Beach in 1951. George calls the bookstore a "socialist utopia masquerading as a bookstore". The store also has 13 beds and over the years has housed some 40,000 young writers, called Tumbleweeds, who earn their keep by working in the shop a couple hours a day. George welcomes you to stay as long as you want and prop up your feet upstairs and read everything in the store, the only thing he asks in return is a one page essay about your life, he even provides a typing booth, complete with an old fashioned typewriter for you to tell your story on! At 96 years old, he remains the figure head of the shop but has past the legend onto his daughter, what an incredible legacy to keep alive.

*historic info is thanks to wikipedia and shakespeareandcompany.com*

Pretty amazing isn't it mes cheries?