My Take - Chanel Spring 2013 Hula Hoop Bag

Remember this crazy "hula hoop" bag that was sent down the runway in Chanel's Spring 2013 show?  Ridiculous, right?  Well, the concept has finally trickled down to a more affordable (and wearable) incarnation.  Check out Kate Spade Saturday's version!  Cute, right?  It's on sale now for $84, I have a feeling it will fly off the shelves!

My Take - Chanel Spring 2014 Necklace

The very large pearl neck pieces shown on the Chanel Spring 2014 runway were pretty bold and cool take on traditional pearl necklaces (they were made to resemble headphones).  Then I ran across this little number that has the same vibe, but in a a more subtle, wearable way.

Anthropologie double pearl necklace - $48

My Five - Givenchy Fall 2012 Couture

If Karl Lagerfeld ever needs to learn how to edit a collection, just boil a collection down to the nitty gritty (and he might want to try that*), then he just needs to give Riccardo Tisci a call.  Seriously, his collections might lack in number of looks, but they certainly never lack in craftsmanship and detail.  Breathtakingly so.  These are certainly not work-a-day clothes, nor are they going to appeal to most.  But that's sort of the point of Haute Couture, no?  Couture is essentially custom built clothing that is assembled by hand with extraordinary attention to detail.  And what details.  Check out my picks below:

Back

Front

front was similar but the back photo showed the fringe better

Images via Vogue.com

*and yes, I understand that Chanel is quite a bit larger of a company and they need to appeal to many more markets/stores than Givenchy, so they naturally need to provide more product options.  However, I still think KL's collections (especially for Chanel) tend to ramble.  Maybe just tighten up the runway looks.  Throwing spitballs people...

My Five - Chanel Couture Fall 2012

I'm going to sum up this collection in two words:  pink and grey.  And fluff.  Basically, there were lots of pink and grey outfits and some of them were fluffy.  It featured the usual mix of textures and classic "Chanel" suit variations.  Very beautiful, yes (see detail shots after my picks), but repetitive.  Look I'm going to be honest I'm down on Karl Lagerfeld at the moment.  He says the meanest most absurd things (like calling Adele "fat" and just a couple of weeks ago said that Kate Middleton's sister Pippa, should just be looked at from the back because her face is ugly or something to that effect) and I'm just kind of sick of it.  Hey Karl, you don't get a "pass" because you are an eccentric designer, mean is mean no matter who you are.  Seriously, if you don't have something nice to say then just don't say it!  Sorry for the rant, but I had to get it off my chest.  Here are my picks, enjoy!

This look is a good way to sum up the collection - metallic mixed with tweed.

Love this metallic grey with the "spray" of the hot pink".

Stunning wedding gown finale.

Detail shots (where Couture lives, in the details)!

Ah, this fabric is so gorgeous!

How awesome is the iridescent (looks to be printed on, but could be woven in - can't tell from this picture) fabric?

Totally digging these leather sleeve/gloves shown with quite a few looks (see above look too).

Images via Style.com

My Five - Chanel Resort 2013

I'm going to risk any future invites to Chanel shows with this little review but hey, that's a chance I'm willing to take (ha ha).  All I have to say is "What the hell?"  Like seriously, can someone tell Karl to stop.  Enough with the goofy menswear!  Just because something is Chanel doesn't mean it's good.  There I said it.  And the shoes in this collection, look after look of platform, fugly sneakers.  Shoot me now.  I don't drink the Karl kool aid.  I respect him as a designer (the man is crazy productive) but I absolutely think he's a nutball.  He's one of those weird creative genius types that kind of scare you because they are so out of touch and live in their heads.  But that's not to take away from the incredibly talented team he has at Chanel.  The people that actually make the clothes he thinks up.  No matter how outlandish the creations may be, there is no question that they are impeccably made using only the finest materials.  So here are my picks from this impeccably made yet head-scratching collection.

Images via Vogue.com

My Five - Chanel Couture Spring 2012

This collection was all about blue, black and boatnecks set in a futuristic airplane.  And Karl says air is blue so there's the connection.  I don't really know if air is blue per se, but hey, SpongeBob's pants aren't technically square so I won't split hairs.  Whatever.  You know some girl I went to college with won a fabric design competition for a Russian airline.  So her fabric is in some Russian airplanes.  Random thought that popped into my head.  Just call this post "Jenny's Potpourri".  Here are my picks:

Images via Vogue.com

My Five - Chanel Pre-Fall 2012

Chanel's Pre-Fall collection was inspired by India (this will be a "duh" statement once you see the clothes).  I stand firm in my opinion that Karl needs to EDIT the presentations more.  Karl, just because you can send out almost 80 looks, doesn't mean you should.  I also stand firm in my opinion that Chanel shouldn't do menswear (I think Coco would agree).  I also liked Karl better when he was plump and hid his jowls behind that fan he always carried around.  I miss that Karl, the Karl of my youth.  Here are my picks (I think the parts are better than the sum) the details (as usual) are gorgeous.

Images via Style.com

My Five - Chanel Spring 2012

A collection inspired by water and the sea with lots of pastels and white (it almost had an icy feel to me).  Again, Karl please edit - it's very repetitive at times, I don't like the dip down fronts/puff out sides. 

Here are two things I think are important with this collection:

First - this iridescent, shimmery sequins (fabric treatment, whatever) - this is brilliant.  I love the turquoise/purple/pink way it catches the light.  Trend alert!

 Second - this motif showed up on several outfits.  A sort of floating part of a square/rectangle line drawing.  I think this is quite interesting.

Here are the last three outfits I liked.  Time to bust out the silver shoes/sandals again!

Images via Style.com

Happy Weekend!

I'm a lot late with this post, 'cause it's been one of THOSE days.  The preschool called at 11am this morning (while I was knee deep cleaning up artwork on the computer) and my girl had gone and gotten a head injury on the playground.  A kid pushed her/she fell and had the bad luck to fall right onto a pine cone and cut the back of her little noggin.  It's not bad, but there was lots of blood and obviously hurt feelings.  So I went and picked her up, and let me tell you she was super whiny and clingy the rest of the day.  It's just how it goes.  So the house is a mess, I've got a ton of new work projects, grocery shopping to do, a sick hubby, etc, etc.  Oh well, it'll all get done when it gets done. 

I'll leave you with this image from JAK & JIL.  It makes me smile because kids are kids no matter how fancy they are.   Sometimes boogers have to be picked even when you are rocking Chanel! (I will note that we are firmly in the middle of this phase right now in the house and it's so gross!)

Source: jakandjil.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Hope you all have a great weekend! 

My Five (well six) - Chanel Fall 2011

First of all, thanks for all the well wishes about yesterday's post.  Sounds like this stomach virus is winding it's way around the Southeast, so watch out!  Here's a car update, turns out the battery was bad and since we just got a new one a few months ago I took it in and got a replacement, what a relief.  I should give a shout out to AAA who came and jumped my car in record time.

Now, back to the task at hand, my two cents about Chanel's Fall 2011 collection.  I've said it before and I'll say it again - dear Mr. Lagerfeld, please, please start editing these collections.  I take nothing away from the  beauty of the clothing and his design genius, but you could remove 1/3 of this collection and not miss a thing.  Bottom line, it gets repetitive.  I will say this is my least favorite Chanel collection I've seen in a while, but there were some looks I loved.  Here are my faves along with some detail shots (along with one look that should have been edited before it was even thought of - eek!).

 Love the mixture of the greys and the textures in this look.

 Details!

Love the tiny touches of hunter green on the sleeves.

Only include to take note of the heel height and the lack of platform.

Now, do you see what I mean about editing?  Who on Earth would wear this jumper/hazmat suit?  Why would you want pockets on your knees?  And if you were to wear this, would you be in a situation where you would roll up the pant legs and throw on some pointy toe pumps?  Come on Karl, work with us here :o)

Images via Style.com