London emporium Dover Street Market has recently updated its window and added some new spaces featuring Lanvin, Salvatore Ferragamo, Yves Saint Laurent, Henry Holland and Hussein Chalayan. The Ferragamo space showcases 80 years of archive pieces from the Creations Collection by Salvatore Ferragamo - so exciting!

Yves Saint Laurent opens its first ever stand-alone “Edition 24″ space at Dover Street Market in a space designed by the renowned theatrical set designer Michael Howells. New Autumn/Winter ‘08-’09 designs are highlighted in the Lanvin, Henry Holland and Hussein Chayalan spaces. One of the more interesting spaces is One Plus One Eve Democracy - Medical Vintage, a new collaboration space featuring Christian Lacroix Haute Couture and Katerina Jebb’s personal vintage collection. Finally, one of the newest additions to DSM is the jewelry line of Tom Binns. His first collection, “Pearls in Peril” is the first of many collections that will be exclusive to Dover Street Market and I love what I’ve seen. Think tons of pearls layered with even more faux-diamond jewels. It’s a little bit drunken prom queen - but in a good way. Binns won the CFDA Fashion Award for Accessories Designer of the Year in 2006 so I’m excited to see his new collections. See the jewels and photos of the designer spaces after the jump . . .
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Elie Saab Couture Fall 08

The Fall 08 Couture shows have come in gone in a whirlwind of exquisite draping, beading, and embroidery. The couture shows are always the most fun to watch because they are the most theatrical, the most dramatic, the most artistic. The Fall shows did not disappoint. I already posted about Chanel and Valentino, but here’s a round up of highlights and some of my favorite looks from Armani Prive, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Lacroix, and Elie Saab.

All Images: Style

More photos after the jump . . .

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You know it wasn’t the end of it haha…next in line for the designer collaboration is Christian Lacroix for La Redoute. Lacroix gets more indepth, not only will he design clothes but also designs furniture and home decor items for the Fall catalogue. According to WWD, there will be 35 items by the designer and they are priced well within reach, from 15 euros, or $20.15, for a stuffed-creature key chain, up to 985 euros, or $1,325, for a striped armchair and ottoman set. Other items include a ruffled trenchcoat, a silk taffeta dress with a lace apron overlay and a pair of cowboy-inspired boots. Prices range from 150 to 250 euros, or $201.75 to $336.25. A handbag and unisex travel bag also feature in the compact collection, priced at 90 and 180 euros, respectively, or $121.05 and $242.10. They will be available to La Redoute’s European customers from mid-July.

The range of items for the home is more extensive, from towels, bed linens and tableware to occasional chairs, light fixtures, rugs and screens — all blending Lacroix’s Baroque touches with contemporary design.

Lily Cole has been tapped for the catalogue shoot and for the animated Web conten devoted to his guest collection, also an e-commerce site dedicated to this at www.christianlacroixpourlaredoute.com. More info forthcoming…

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OMG! Where have I been the past few days? Unfortunately, not in Paris. The Spring Couture shows have been going on and the pieces are incredible. It’s all about the details and trust me no expense is spared on these collections. My favorites are Chanel (big surprise), Dior, Christian Lacroix and Elie Saab.

Chanel

Staying true to the Chanel aesthetic we’ve come to know and love, Karl Lagerfeld was able to put together another impressive show. The first few pieces were plays on the Chanel tweed suit and "basic" (for Chanel) black and white pieces. He then had pieces with feather details that were beautiful and airy yet didn’t make you look like Big Bird. The accessories were awesome - from the leather gloves to the really wide hoops (metal, feather covered and multi hoop), to the shoes . . . I saw many many items that I would love to have and mash up with some streetwear.

Dior

Wow. John Galliano is always theatrical but this seasons collection, inspired by the Opera Madame Butterfly, was utterly breathtaking. This is one of the most beautiful collections I’ve seen in a long time. It’s exciting to see how a designer interprets his inspiration and makes it his own. I’m not sure where one would wear these pieces but they’re the kind that you’d expect to see in a Museum. No detail was missed, kimonos, obis and geisha makeup were abundunt. Some of the pieces actually looked like origami. The folding and draping is exquisite. Sigh. I want one of everything.

Christian Lacroix

Flowers, flowers, flowers. Christian Lacroix seemed to be inspired by the most ubiquitous of spring symbols - the flower. Whether it was floral print fabric, flower appliques or reshaping the lady as flower - it was all beautifully done. All types of flowers were represented from roses, peonies, violets, marigolds, and geraniums. Again, not the most wearable stuff, but oh, so pretty!

Elie Saab

A lot less theatrical than his counterparts, Elie Saab’s show was one award ceremony dress after another. That doesn’t make them any less beautiful, just a bit more grounded in what women are actually wearing. Inspired by the "colors of dawn over Beiruit" I loved his color palette and particularly liked his bold use of color on the gowns. He then brought in a bit of glitz which was very reminiscent of the Studio 54 look - which is fine by me!

More pictures of the collections after the jump . . .

All images & info: style

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