Versace for H&M - fit for cougars

Yesterday H&M stores all over the world opened their doors to crazed fashion fanatics who'd lined up friday afternoon to get a piece of the new Versace for H&M collection. At 8 a.m. on Saturday morning the hordes moved in and stripped the racks to the bone. By 12:30 p.m. there was nothing left.

H&M on St. Catherine street in Montreal
montrealgazette.com

H&M on Regent street in London
guardian.co.uk

The highly anticipated Versace collection is made up of the Italian fashion house's signature pieces of the 80s and 90s with a modern twist. Equipped with the classics - gold medusa head, the Greco Roman pattern in embossed gold studs, and loud colourful patterns - the 43-piece collection is Versace's attempt to attract an entirely new generation. The old staples are mixed in with some of the new spring/summer 2012 ideas such as bright neon colours, animal prints, leather and studs, and wallpaper print (unfortunately they decided to go with a Miami Beach print rather than something that would keep you from vomiting like a floral or baroque). 

Versace- busy patterns
fashiondevelopmentgroup.com

Miami Beach print in neon- a la wallpaper
torontostreetfashion.com

leather shift dress with gold studs
flare.com

leather, studs, and Miami Beach
torontostreetfashion.com

Versace brights
torontostreetfashion.com

The key pieces of the collection are shift dresses in black leather, or bright colours like yellow, pink, and red, all of which were studded-out in gold. While the collection's objective is to attract the younger generation of fashionistas, most of whom missed out on Versace's hay day in the early 90s due to the fact they had yet to be born, the loudness and tackiness of the over- the-top gold ornaments leaves the collection looking old. When I look at the collection I don't see a new generation of Versace fans, I see 50 + year-old Italian woman with bleached blond hair, botox, lip injections, etc, who want to feel young again (*COUGH* DONATELLA VERSACE).

Donatella Versace the queen cougar
dailymail.co.uk

the cougar belt
torontostreetfashion.com

In my opinion the only good Versace is vintage Versace. That is all. If Versace wants to survive it needs to evolve and drop it's tacky Italian cougar dresses and gold bling and do something new and young. You can do it Donatella! Think of the children!

To view the full collection in all its jungle-fever-cougar-bling glory visit: http://www.hm.com/ca/versace#home

TFW S/S12 Day 3: KORHANI carpets as costumes

Backstage at the KORHANI Show was like being backstage at three different broadway musicals. Costumes, costumes, costumes, made of carpet! How the teeny models managed to walk the runway wearing garments that probably weighed more than them is beyond me. Imagine picking up the carpet on your floor, draping it over yourself, strapping on some stilts, and finally strutting down a runway in front of Canada's most important fashion people. Got to hand it to those models, they managed to make it look like a piece of cake. I would never be able to do it. I think I broke a sweat lifting one of the jackets off the hanger to put on the beach boy model I dressed on my first shift. Anyway, back to my idea of theatre. The line was divided into three very obvious themes: arabian nights (with a little aviator mixed in), 80's rocker/beach, and Alice in Wonderland.

The arabian nights theme opened the show. When I think carpet or rug the first thing I associate it with is Morocco or Persia (Iran now a days but you get my point) and that was obviously what Kirsten Korhani, Creative Director of KORHANI home, had in mind. The models were decked out in bright coloured turbans and carpet robes.

In this photo you can also see the Aviator idea. There were three models wearing aviator-inspired coats and trousers in khaki, brown, and camel. Note the cap, probably the most obvious of hints. The model was also given goggles to wear on the runway.

The second part of the show was all about 80's rock and Hawaii Five-0-style swimwear (made of carpet lets not forget) There were huge shoulders, bright colours, big hair, bangles, high weist belts, mesh gloves, and studs.

For the big finale, KORHANI brought out the big costumes. Literally. The Alice in Wonderland part of the show was elaborate, dramatic, and fun. The audience loved it. The costumes were incredible and the models looked great. Especially the models dressed as Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts.

Overall, the KORHANI home show was super entertaining with its elaborate carpet garments. It's crazy to think that a home decor company could produce such inspiring piece of clothing based on their rug designs. Putting your patterns and rugs on the runway has to be the best way to showcase something as lame as carpets and rugs. Good job KORHANI home for being creative!