Return of the '60s

If there was one message from the Fall/Winter 2010 runway shows, it was that the ‘60s is back with a passion. The best of Sixties’ style and fashion came back with full force and graced the runways of Louis Vuitton, Prada, Miu Miu, Elie Saab, and Giles Deacon, to name a few. It looks like the box office also had a soft spot for this iconic era. Fashion has always been inextricably linked to cinema and this relationship couldn’t be more prominent than it was this season. Two recent award-winning movies, An Education and A Single Man, were both set in the early 1960s and displayed some of the best fashion had to offer from this time period.

The 1960s was a time for change, where youthful ideals dominated and influenced the industry like never before. Still, there were two central aspects of this decade of eccentric fashion. There was the early ‘60s, and then there was the later, swinging ‘60s. Early Sixties fashion was dominated by classic and sophisticated silhouettes with an emphasis on a woman’s curves. Boxy suits, full skirts, and close-fitting waists reigned supreme during this time. In An Education, the lovely protagonist Jenny was a classic girl who embraced the best of the trends. While her school teachers wore some amazingly constructed wool and tweed suits, Jenny sported A-line dresses in floral and metallic prints all nipped at the waist. Marc Jacobs must have diligently taken notes from this time period in order to create equally feminine shapes for the F/W 2010 Louis Vuitton collection. The show was opened with clips from 1956’s “And God Created a Woman,” and accordingly focused on femininity by showing many looks with corsets in an array of materials ranging from leather to pinstripe fabric. Elie Saab also captured the elegance and sensuality of the time. Nearly all of the dresses, which were predominantly black, were fitted to the body and accentuated the women’s curves. Suits also followed feminine contours with strong shoulders.

As can be expected from a film directed by fashion elite Tom Ford, the period-detailing in the film, A Single Man, was impeccable. Julianne Moore looked radiant playing the best friend of the troubled main character. As time moved into the mid and later years of the ‘60s, the hemlines also progressed. Skirts and dresses were short, fun, and flirty thanks to Mary Quant, who introduced the miniskirt in 1964. Miu Miu’s F/W 2010 collection further exemplified these looks by showcasing A-line silhouettes in mini-dresses and coats. From sleeveless button-front dresses to the skirt with bow details, many of the looks were decidedly kept short and flirty. The use of materials like wool, lace, and furs added a luxurious touch, while those embellished loafers were just the perfect footwear to complete the look.

It looks like the ‘60s is back, and in full swing... so, are you ready for a retro-spin?


xo,

The Journey is Life Itself

I posted this video because one of the last shots that says 'The Journey is Life Itself' was the background on my berry for months. I stumbled across the photo and always wondered where it came from so I was more than excited to find this. It's always nice to see designers step out of the box and put out something like this - I get tired of seeing superficial videos over and over again. Hope you enjoy it as much as Louis Vuitton and myself do!


Jillian
xo

Inspired by Alice In Wonderland

It looks like many designers have fallen down the rabbit hole and landed in Wonderland. The highly anticipated movie Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton has already hit theaters but the hype is far from dissipating. No doubt everyone is inspired by Alice and her friends. Through the looking glass, we spotted designers sharing their vision on the runways long before the movie released. Versace’s Spring 2010 collection fully embraced the theme in making delightfully disorienting colors and patterns runway glamorous. These hallucinogenic looks, including the whimsical shoes, bags and accessories, have quickly made their way off the runway and on Operation Style’s must-have list for Spring.


Inspirations also transpired on the jewelry front. Quick to join the tea party, Tom Binns and Stella McCartney separately teamed up with Disney to create enchanted costume jewelry. Binns’ bold statement necklaces can bring out the fierce Red Queen in you, while the limited edition chunky bracelet from Stella McCartney is sweetly adorned with pearls and charms in the shape of rabbits, top hats, hearts and spades.


In the beauty department, OPI created 4 fun shades for Alice. The “Mad as a Hatter” is by far the most buzz-worthy – it’s a hazy purple packed with glitter and confetti. Urban Decay also created a gorgeous 14-color palette for the beauty Queens. With colors fit for white and red queen, this palette is perfect for those seeking a fresh spring look.

Alice in Wonderland is a dose of color and youth we’re all looking for this season. So go ahead. Indulge in your inner-child and shop your little hearts out.

--ASOS Alice in Wonderland
--Versace at Neiman Marcus
--Disney Couture

xo

Kirsten Dunst by Mario Testino for V Magazine

ON SET: KIRSTEN DUNST BY MARIO TESTINO FOR V64 from V Magazine on Vimeo.

Channeling 1930's inspired looks for V Magazine, the radiant Kirsten Dunst brings out old-hollywood glamour under Mario Testino's creative direction.


with love
Jillian & Kristy

Oscar Worthy

OS Oscar Favorites!

Nudes have definitely been a huge theme this year during the award season.These leading ladies really took it to the next level last night in their show stopping gowns.  There were a lot of beautiful dresses but some were just not memorable enough...the type of dress that may make the best dressed list buuuuut will be forgotten about at the end of the week!  Everyone will always remember the dress Julia Roberts wore the year she won her Oscar and we think Sandra Bullock pulled off just that with her dazzling look.  As Ebert would say "two thumbs way up". 

P.S. Unkle Karl you did it once again SJP's Chanel gown took our breath away...if ever in doubt wear Chanel!

Sandra, Sarah, Jennifer, & Cameron...you did it again! OS definitely loves you

with love

Jillian & Kristy