Balmain Autumn 2012, Paris Fashion Week

Balmain Autumn 2012 was only 26 year old Olivier Rousteing's second collection,

a collection that was apparently inspired 

by the Faberge eggs he saw last year 

during his first ever trip to New York.

This inspiration was beautifully executed in the embellishment

seen on dresses, boxy jackets and deep V'd tuxedo jackets.

In a departure from Balmain's uber tight jeans,

Rousteing showed newly forgiving trousers in velvets and leathers.

 

While maintaining a chic, rock n roll edge,

Balmain Autumn 2012 was defined by the exquisite detailing.

At Home With Modern - Escapade Blog

  I spotted this piece in the Escapade blog when I got back from the Oscars this week, to a house that looked like a bomb had gone off inside it.

And for a minute I thought how wonderful it would be to live in a clean, clear space, devoid of clutter.

It would feel amazing here in the summer, but I'm thinking it would fell cold and unfriendly in the winter...

 

At home with modern

I have to admit - I'm not always a fan of ultra-slick modern spaces. While I love their purity and clean lines, to me they very easily risk becoming austere and quite uninviting at times and I tend to lean more towards homes with a bit of character and a sense of history. More often than not these days, my busy little cauldron of a brain craves simplicity, so when I find a space that is simple and understated, but still interesting, my inner modernist sings! To me this home designed by Pulltab Design in New York strikes that delicate balance. Soft, gauzy curtains float in front of slick black framed windows; high gloss surfaces contrast with a natural living wall of plants (one of my most favourite features) and calm all white is balanced with little pops of colour. Clever, innovative and full of little surprises (like the tables that pull down from high gloss panels on the wall) while it still reads slick and modern, this home has plenty of features to keep me interested. I believe this is what it would take for me to feel comfortable and at home with slick modern.

I don't normally consider myself much of a 'red' person but I absolutely love this glossy red little feature wall that is revealed when you pull the table down from the panel in the wall - very smart use of space!  

Some clever stylist found just the right red bowl to coordinate with the panel on the lower level. 

So clever for a small space! A wall panel lifts up to form a small table, perfect for your morning cup of coffee or an impromptu game of chess.

{All photos: Elizabeth Felicella for Pulltab Design via The Contemporist}

You can follow the amazing Escapade blog by clicking here

Rochas Autumn/Winter 2012 Paris Fashion Week

The pottery of Swedish ceramist Wilhelm Kage,

and modernism in general were the key influences for

Marco Zanini at Rochas Autumn 2012.

Cool geometric prints, 

models in demi-bouffant loose hairdo's

with bold, dark lips

and a slightly edgy 50's vibe 

in palettes of mauves, petrol blues, sludgy browns

and greenish yellows.

The line spoke to "an intelligent, cultivated woman" said Zanini.

And the jaquard print tights???

Love.

Thierry Mugler A/W 2012 Paris Fashion Week

Oh. Hell.Yeah.

How crazy cool is this??

I so enjoy a good winter white...

Thierry Mugler Autumn/Winter 2012

was all about extreme sculpture, laser cuts,

exaggerated shoulders and fringed skirts. 

The more extreme pieces were offset 

by softer, more demure

belted coats and body loving dresses.

Can't you see Rooney in this??