"THE IMAGE GURU" Reveals His Select, "FAVE PICKS" From The Spring 2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

September 18
MY TOP FASHION PICKS from the 2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!

Well I have to say that this particular Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, for me personally, was a bit lack lustre. The true star, to me, was the actual venue, New York's beautiful Lincoln Center!

I thought that the site was quite glamorous. Just the long walk from the taxi dropoff up to the entrance was glamorous! They really layed out the venue quite nicely, offering a multitude of services and treats (too many to mention unless they start paying me to mention them) to the hordes of "serious" fashion editors, journalists, stylists, celebrities, photographers, video news crews and internet blogmeisters alike, plus the hundreds of daily "standing room only" onlookers and budding fasionista wannabees! Whew, that's alot of people, now imagine actually having to conduct yourself appropriately and dressing the part and bascially keeping your cool thoughout this fashion frenzied circus!

But you know what.... nowadays you don't even have to attend the shows, because you can surf the thousands of blogsters, websites and networks that concentrate on FASHION. But what's the fun it that? At least once in everybody's life, everyone should have the opportunity to experience a really good fashion show..... ahhh but the really good ones are few and far between. Creativity and fashion's fabulousity has unfortunately been replaced by safe, and saleable "goods"! How garmento! The once grand spectacle of fashion has been reduced to getting "beige and boring" clothes that will invariably blend in with every other "beige and boring" collection just to get their "goods" into the stores. So no wonder, that everything ends up in clearing houses like Century 21, Daffys and every outfit mall like Tangor!

So what's the solution you may ask? Well designers and PR wizards today (or so they think) have always had the tendency to pimp their "goods" to the newest "reality" bimbos or "sensationalist morons" who happen to make the most noise on Bravo or MTV! What happened to the real stars, like Madonna, Gwen, J-LO ( who invariably only attend the European collections now) and others who actually were great trendsetters and image idols? Well, they started their own labels. Ha, ha, how ironic you might think.

Well I won't bore you with all the "fashion trends" which you can read in every blog, see on every website and in every segment of Fashion TV etc, etc. ad nosium. I am merely going to give you my select few "picks" of what this "Image Guru" actually saw and liked! Mind you, I am concerned with the "look" and whether or not I believe that my clients will actually want to wear these "new" (which most are rarely new) design themes, or even better yet, buy them. Wow what a concept to actually want to buy the clothes and not perpetually borrow them! But then most people don't have the the opportunity to borrow them, but then I don't deal with most people! However, reality bites.... someone somewhere has to purchase these clothes... or the fashion world would collapse. Sometimes the image of "Fashion" doesn't coincide with the reality of commerce, or of reality itself.

L.A.M.B: Well one such "pop" diva's collection that I thought was newsworthy for this "Image guru" was Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B., which actually represented her essence only too well. Although L.A.M.B reminds me of a contemporary interpretation of the great English designer, Vivienne Westwood, Gwen has managed to take Vivienne's inspiration and been able to stamp her "vibe" onto it, making it completely refeshed and not rehashed; just what any fabulous hipster would want to wear. Color, vibrance, patterns on patterns... COOL LIFE!

To view the L.A.M.B Spring 2011 Collection, please click onto the following Style.com link at:

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2011RTW-LAMB

MARC BOUWER: I've had the pleasure of knowing the lovely designer named Marc Bouwer for many years now. I would say we are contemporaries and although I know he's dressed many divas in the past (Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton etc) I have to say that I was "blown away" by his most recent video of his Spring 2011 Collection, which he kindly sent me the link to. Now this is what I'm talking about, interesting design value, drama, beautiful draping and colorations, high style glamour and a collection that I would definitely put some of my "diva" clients in for that "instant impact, wow factor"! There was definitely nothing beige or boring to his collection. I loved the intricately orchestrated simplicity of his video which showcased anything but simple creations. Just like Lady Gaga's video tribute to Madonna in her video, "Alejandro", Marc Bouwer's video too was like a wet dream for me!

To view the Marc Bouwer Spring 2011 Collection, you may click onto the following link, which also can be seen on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU0rznPtRV4

PORTS 1961: I have always liked this collection. But since the departure of Tia Chibani, their former Creative Director and Head Designer, I thought that this could be damaging for this still relatively underestimated collection. But fortunately, Fiona Chibani, Tia's sister has taken the helm, so that was not the case for Spring 2011 which I thought was right on target. Beautifully elegant gowns which looked "new" and fresh. There always seems to be something interesting to look and thank God, this year it didn't seem to be overstyled, as has been the crtics' critiques in the past. The colors were an integration of natural colors, which can we quite dull to me, but then out would come emerald green, metallics, fuschia with brown, and stunning sapphire blue charmeuse gowns. Spectacular and so modern... almost a nod to Halston in my opinion.

To view the Ports 1961 Spring 2011 Collection, please click onto the following Style.com link at:

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2011RTW-PORTS/

RALPH LAUREN: So who else did I like? Well, only in the latter years have I had a penchant for Ralph Lauren.... yes, Ralph Lauren. Mr. Lauren suits my personal "Gatsby" incarnation to a tee! But his Women's Spring 2011 collection was a throw back to the American Western TV series, "Big Valley" where Audra Barkley (Linda Evans) and the diva herself Barbara Stanwyck, who played the Barkley matriarch, ruled! A thoroughly retro-Western Americana theme, which Ralph seems to do so well ( and it actually sells) was so kitchy, but well executed, in my book. There was nothing cliche about his styling either. Although not completely original, if I was a woman and of a mind to go to an urban Western ho-down, or even a Polo match in Bridgehampton, then I would certainly give this "look" a toss! Talley-ho pardner!

To view the Ralph Lauren Spring 2011 Collection, please click onto the Style.com link at:

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2011RTW-RLAUREN


FRANCISCO COSTA for CALVIN KLEIN: Now we go from Ralph's Lauren's kitchy Western Americana-isms to Fracncisco Costa for Calvin Klein with his minimalist-minded, architectural minimalism, (which in itself is a bit redundant) but can only work if you happen to be svelt without cleavage and alot of natural grace (like Gwyneth Paltrow for instance). I'm really not one for minimalism, which I often equate with boring and unspiring, but I am a big fan of what Mr. Costa has done with the Calvin Klein label. The problem that I have with most of the women who wear minimalist designs is that they tend to look like haus-fraus, mid-wives, or albatrosses in their somber black, gray or beige "designer" potato sack creations at designer prices! Wow, now that's a an image with a rip-off price tag! Simply stated, to wear minimal creations, which in theory can be quite chic, one must be tall and thin as a rail, not particularly breasty, self confident, a truly natural beauty, wear minimal makeup, have a secure sense of self worth, have flawless skin, and the carriage of a thoroughbred. Now if you meet those requirements, then Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein would be perfect for you! His designs are, many times, works of architectural art.... but rarely can mere mortals wear art as fashion! I do however appreciate his wealth of dexterity in his craft! It's translating his vision to really suitable women that I always seem to have a problem with!

To view the Calvin Klein Spring 2011 Collection, please click onto the follwoing Style.com link at:

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2011RTW-CKLEIN

OSCAR LA RENTA: This is "The Image Guru's" PICK for all of those frenzied and scurrying stylists desperately searching for that perfect gown for their nominated clients at the next Academy Awards. Now I don't know why more A-listers don't insist on Oscar de la Renta. Not only was his Spring 2011 Collection breathtaking and expensive looking (which it is, expensive that is, but at least it looks it), it also captures the whole "MAD MEN" trend which is soo prevalent in most of the top European collectionsl! I could easliy see January Jones, who in my opinion flopped at the Primetime Emmy's in her Versace monstrousity, wearing some of Senor de la Renta's exquisite confections. Not too much, not too little, just enough of the design value, style, sophistication, and "wow" factor that is needed for the most anticipated event in the entertainment world, The Academy Awards! That kind of "old world" styling is soooo right for all of the younger actresses trying to stand out in a world of "drag queen" glamour!

To view the Oscar de la Renta Spring 2011 Collection, please click onto the following Style.com link at:
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2011RTW-ODLRENTA

So, we'll see what we see on the red carpet.... and if it's wrong, I'm going to sweep you under the carpet..... puppies!

Montgomery Frazier "The Image Guru"