Milan Fashion Week: D&G's ABCs

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana stick to a formula when it comes to their secondary collection, D&G. They take one print, and milk it for all its worth.

This season, they were alphabet prints splashed on leggings, tees, oversized sweaters, boyfriend jackets, chiffon shirts and maxidresses. In traffic cone orange, taxi cab yellow and fluro pink, the letters were Pop Art on the runway, whooshing by like computer code on the information superhighway. The theme continued all the way down to the jewelry -- necklaces and bracelets dangling plastic letter charms.

It was cute commentary on today's information overload, even if the collection was a bit elementary.

-- Booth Moore in Milan, Italy

D&G fall-winter 2011 runway collection photo gallery

Photos: Looks from the D&G fall-winter 2011 runway collection shown during Milan Fashion Week. Credit: Jonas Gustavsson and Peter Stigter / For The Times.

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Frugal Fashion: Christina Aguilera flubs her lyrics in style during Super Bowl XLV

Last Sunday's Super Bowl XLV show gave viewers plenty to buzz about: the highly anticipated commercials, the Black Eyed Peas "Tron"-inspired halftime show, and, oh yeah, a football game. But who knew Christina Aguilera's rendition of our national anthem would be what lingered on people's minds well after the game was over?

Yes, she botched the lyrics, and it was painful to watch because the national anthem is one of those songs you learn when you're old enough to speak and it just sticks with you (or, perhaps, with most of us). And yes, she really did merge a couple of lines, singing, "What so proudly we watched at the twilight's last gleaming." But the truth is, not only did Aguilera sound great singing the wrong lyrics in front of a packed Cowboys Stadium, she's never looked better.

For someone who usually goes for the tightest, lowest neck-plunging minis and awards gowns, it was refreshing to see the "Burlesque" star in a conservative, appropriate Dolce & Gabbana black suit and stockings. For her shoes she chose sky-high, sparkly red Christian Louboutin Calypso pumps. (She could have just been trying to add a little flair with the dramatic shoes, but I like to think Aguilera was showing the world that the fearless wild child who sang "Dirty" is still in there.)

A plain black suit is versatile and appropriate for  many occasions, whether you're singing at the Super Bowl or wearing it to work the following Monday. A suit-skirt set offers obvious advantages, but you can save money if you buy separates. Just keep two things in mind: First, keep your blacks the same. Contrary to popular belief, there are different shades of black, and it's noticeable when your jacket is lighter than your skirt or vice versa. Second, keep your fabrics uniform -- or as similar as possible.

For a skirt that hugs your figure but stops just above the knee, try the BCX skirt from Macy's for $24.98, the Minnie Rose pencil skirt from NeimanMarcus.com for $36 or the Stretch woven skirt from Max Studio for $38.

Match your new skirt, or one you already own, with one of these suit jackets: the Charter Club two-button suiting blazer from Macy's for $49.98, the Ruched sleeve girlfriend blazer from Arden B. for $59 or the Shrunken Ruffle detail blazer from Charlotte Russe for $39.50.

Any brightly colored pair of high heels will add some oomph to your suit, but why not sparkle like Aguilera? Kohl's has a great pair of sparkly pink platform heels by Candie's for $39.97.

Happy shopping!

Have an outfit you're dying to buy but need a frugal alternative? E-mail us a picture. We're up for the challenge.

-- Jenn Harris
Twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

For more of Christina Aguilera's style over the years, see our photo gallery below.

Top photo: Christina Aguilera performs before the Super Bowl at Cowboys Stadium. Credit: Christopher Polk / Getty Images.

Skirt photos: From left, BCX skirt from Macy's (credit: Macy's); Minnie Rose pencil skirt (credit: Neimanmarcus.com); Stretch woven skirt from Max Studio (credit: Maxstudio.com).

Jacket photo: From left, Charter Club two-button suiting blazer (credit: Macy's.com); Ruched sleeve girlfriend blazer from Arden B. (credit: ArdenB.com); Shrunken Ruffle detail blazer from Charlotte Russe (credit: Charlotterusse.com).

Shoe photo: Candie's Smokey Platform High Heels. Credit: Kohl's.com.

Your morning fashion and beauty report: Christina Aguilera, Lea Michele face off at Super Bowl; Lady Gaga's Vogue cover gets a tweet; and Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom launch new fragrance

Lots of attention is being give to Christina Aguilera's flubbing of the national anthem at the Super Bowl. She did mess up, but she at least looked good doing it in her black Dolce & Gabbana suit. Meanwhile, Lea Michele's version of America the Beautiful was spot-on, but that bulky coat and too-big-looking pants? What was she thinking? You can vote on which was the better singer over at our Ministry of Gossip poll. And comment on this post if you have thoughts about their attire.

Lady Gaga tweeted her first-ever U.S. Vogue cover on Sunday. As you might expect, she looks fairly tame and more sophisticated than usual -- this is Vogue, after all -- but is wearing a short, bobbed pink wig along with a jumpsuit by Haider Ackermann. [BellaSugar Australia)

Khloe Kardashian and husband Lamar Odom are launching a unisex scent, "Unbreakable," which is slated to hit stores Feb. 12. [Us] 

Sister Kim Kardashian looked mesmerizing in her ultra-sexy Super Bowl commercial for Skecher's Shape-ups, which she says was fun to shoot. [People] 

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has acquired botanical skincare brand Ole Henriksen. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Brands including Gucci, A|X Armani Exchange, Converse, Calvin Klein, Nautica and Oakley are offering 3D glasses for spring ... but do we need them? [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Barney's chief Mark Lee says the store has dropped all new Prada merchandise other than menswear and shoes. [The Cut]

"Hairstyles: Ancient to Present" by Charlotte Fiell, just released in the U.K., traces the history of all the many things women have done to achieve the latest coiffures. The top style of 1772 was 'the full headdress' or 'opera box', a style 4 feet from the chin to top of the head. A magazine that appeared about the same time listed more than 3,700 hairstyles. Seems like we have it pretty easy today. [Telegraph] 

--Susan Denley

Photos: Top, Christina Aguilera singing the "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl. Credit: Tannen Maury / EPA; Bottom, Lea Michele performs "America the Beautiful." Credit: Mark J. Rebilas / U.S. Presswire 

Milan Fashion Week: Dolce & Gabbana see red -- and a plethora of pockets

 

At Dolce & Gabbana, the show notes were labeled "eccentric tailoring" and that wasn't a reference to the choice of Bryan Ferry as inspiration (the British singer's album artwork appeared on T-shirts in the show, his songs "Shameless" and "One Night" accompanied the runway presentation and Ferry himself was front row).

It meant the shrunken jackets, the lower trouser rise, the mix-and-match patchwork of gray fabrics and and what seemed to be an exercise in pocket science -- cramming an inordinate number of zippered and buttoned pockets onto a single pair of pants.

The fall-winter 2011 collection was based in the black and gray color palette, with a heavy splash of red throughout, including in a red-and-black floral brocade suit, red-and-black horizontal striped sweaters, red military-inspired flight jackets and a handful of red-painted denim. There was also a colorful punch of purple -- most memorably in a glittery disco ball of a tuxedo jacket -- that added to the relaxed, informal feel of the collection.

That vibe was underscored by the tuxedos that hit the runway for the finale. Instead of traditional tuxedo pants, the jackets and bow ties were paired with faded, distressed denim. Call it California casual through the Dolce & Gabbana filter.

-- Adam Tschorn, reporting from Milan, Italy

Photos: Looks from the Dolce & Gabbana fall-winter 2011 men's runway collection shown during Milan Fashion Week on Jan. 15, 2011. Credit: Jonas Gustavsson and Peter Stigter / For The Times.

Your morning fashion and beauty report: People's Choice Awards had fashion hits, misses and ho-hums

Awards season is upon us (though it seems to me it has kind of stretched into a year-round phenomenon). At Wednesday's People's Choice Awards, the stars did the red carpet thing in a low-key way, favoring minis for the women (Taylor Swift in a ballet-like peach dress by J. Mendel, Emma Roberts in a ruffly black Christian Dior, Kristin Stewart in spangled gold from Reem Acra), while the men were rogue-ish (Johnny Depp in full suit with waistcoat and pocket watch, but no tie, and Robert Pattinson in black pants and shirt topped by a tan bomber jacket). Jennifer Aniston broke the mold in a curve-hugging, cleavage-baring black pants outfit from Dolce & Gabbana. [Telegraph] [StyleList] Some fashion critics were disappointed in the sameness of a lot of the women's looks and horrified by a few really unfortunate choices (the long print dress and orange-y tan sported by Ashley Tisdale, the "shiny pillowcase" worn by Kim Kardashian.) [TheCut]  

Menswear sales are booming, and we can thank ... the recession? Yep, at least that's one of the theories: to compete for jobs, men know that looking good can provide an advantage. And, one expert points out, the ease of the online marketplace has made shopping less onerous for stereotypically shopping-averse males. [WWD]  

Designer Adam Kimmel is partnering with workwear maker Carhartt on a menswear collection slated to debut in May at Barney's New York and that will also be sold at a few other specialty stores. [WWD]

You've heard of the "statement" dress (or blouse or shoe), but for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, what she wears can really communicate. When she moves her ever-present handbag from one hand to the other, it tells her "handlers" she is ready to be rescued from a conversation. Same thing if she twirls her ring. [People]

On the wedding watch front: Shania Twain married Swiss businessman Frédéric Thiébaud in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day in a small ceremony attended by about 40 people. She wore a strapless white gown from a small boutique in Switzerland, a long flowing veil and shoes from Calvin Klein. [People]

Anchor Blue Inc., the Corona-based operator of teen specialty stores, has been shut down by owner Sun Capital and is facing liquidation. [WWD] (Subscription required.) 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Queen Latifah in the opening number at the People's Choice Awards. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters 

Your morning fashion and beauty report: Black Friday, Karl Lagerfeld and SATC 3?

 
Yes, it's only Wednesday and on Thursday we dine on roasted fowl. But Friday -- Friday, we shop! Here are a few run-downs on Black Friday: Sometimes we can shop and get a massage. [L.A. Times] Some boutiques are having sales. [Huffington Post] Stylelist shares some beauty tips. [Stylelist] And Channel 11 offers a few tips on surviving the big day. [Fox 11]

-- In case you haven't come around yet to the idea that the world is turning in a different direction: Karl Lagerfeld is going to design a capsule collection for Macy's. [The Cut]

-- Rapper Nicki Minaj is about to show up on a lot of iPods (her new CD will be released Nov 26). But that's not all! She's paired with M.A.C. on a limited edition lipstick called "Pink Friday," which happens to be the name of her debut album. [People]  

-- Yes, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have been, as expected, indicted on tax evasion charges. [The Cut]

-- And, finally, on the eve of our bountiful holiday, there are more rumors about a third "Sex in the City" movie. [Vogue UK]

--Alice Short 

Photo: Cynthia Nixon, left, and Sarah Jessica Parker in "Sex and the City 2." Credit: Craig Blankenhorn / New Line Productions

 

Your morning fashion and beauty report: American Music Awards styles ranged from elegant to strange

Another day, another red carpet. Sunday it was the American Music Awards, which were kind of tame (given that some usual pot-stirrers, such as Lady Gaga and Kanye West, weren't there.) But red-carpet watchers could see Taylor Swift in a sparkly cocktail dress, Rihanna in an elegant peekaboo Elie Saab Haute Couture Gown, Miley Cyrus (above) in a white Marchesa mini with a really strange long train (she kind of looked to me like a mummy unraveling) and much more. [People] 

You're probably about to spend more time in a mall, or strolling through boutiques, than you do all year. To keep from spending money on purchases you'll regret, read up on the psychology of shopping in our Health section. Forewarned is forearmed.

Women's Wear Daily reports that designers  Stefano Gabbana and Domenico have been indicted in Italy on tax-evasion charges. [WWD] (subscription required)

Lanvin's H&M collection went on sale in 24 stores around the U.S. on Saturday, and from the looks of the lines queued up to get in you would have thought it was "Harry Potter's" latest premiere. At H&M's Fifth Avenue store, 300 shoppers waited in line, reportedly for as long as 13 hours. [The Cut]

Tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, who is now the world's No. 1 women's player, is the new face of Proactiv. [WWD] (subscription required)

Christian Dior has purchased Richard Avedon's famous "Dovima With Elephants" photograph, shot in 1955 and showing the model posing with two pachyderms, for a reported $7.5 million at auction. [WWD] (subscription required) 

A retro swirled updo like Anne Hathaway recently wore to the American Museum of Natural History gala might be the perfect look for holiday parties. All it takes is a few bobby pins, some hairspray, a comb and about five minutes. [BellaSugar]

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Miley Cyrus at the American Music Awards. Credit: Danny Moloshok / Reuters

Your morning fashion and beauty report: Fashion's glitterati kick up their heels at Paris Fashion Week, while closer to home we wonder: Is Rachel Zoe expecting?

There's been lots of fashion-meets-baby news lately: such as Miranda Kerr showing how sexy pregnant can be in Milan and then strutting the Balenciaga runway in Paris. Such as Alicia Keys looking drop-dead glamorous in a dazzling Dolce & Gabbana gown as she showed off her baby bump at Thursday's Keep a Child Alive Black Ball in New York (she looks radiant in a People mag photo). Now comes word -- make that a rumor -- that celeb stylist Rachel Zoe and husband Rodger Berman are expecting. If it's so, I think we can expect another fashion forward mama. And the era of dowdy pregnancies is officially over. [OK! Magazine]

Kelly Minogue sang "Happy Birthday" and Heidi Klum cut the cake at designer Roberto Cavalli's party in Paris marking his 40th anniversary in fashion. A galaxy of models, former models and other celebrities attended. [WWD]

Also among the Paris Fashion Week festivities: French Vogue threw a stunning masquerade ball, themed "Eyes Wide Shut," that drew throngs of fashion glitterati hidden behind elegant masks. [WWD]

It's Oct. 1, less than a month to Halloween! Fashionistas may want to start thinking now about how to pull off a costume that stands out from the pack. Check out spooky fashion spreads in magazines for inspiration. [FabSugar]

Confounded by trying to pick a good suit? Functional buttonholes, a quality lining and a sturdy middle layer of fabric are signs of good tailoring. [Wall Street Journal]

Celebrity hair watch: Hilary Duff's trademark blond is gone. The singer/actress is sporting newly darker locks. [People] 

Ines de la Fressange, the face of Chanel in the 1980s, will be back on the Chanel catwalk next week at the Paris shows. Karl Lagerfeld says he'll also use her in the spring-summer ad campaigns. "She is beyond stunning," he says. [WWD] 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Rachel Zoe of Bravo's "The Rachel Zoe Project." Credit: Kurt Iswarienko / Bravo

Milan Fashion Week: Dolce & Gabanna's tablecloth chic

If you think some of the dresses in Dolce & Gabbana's nearly all-white spring collection look like tablecloths, well, you would be right.

The Sicilian design duo's haute homemade collection of white lace, crochet and macrame dresses, bloomers, pencil skirts and all-in-ones were made using the same techniques as the table cloths and bed linens traditionally found in a Southern Italian bride's trousseau.

The story is quaint, but the show was Hollywood dramatic, with a slick opening film sequence promoting the heritage of the brand, live arrivals and backstage footage -- all for the benefit of those watching from their computers at home, of course. (Designers are becoming more like film directors every day.)

But as big as all that was, this was a collection about the small details. And the handwork on the runway was stunning, even from the seats. Lacey looks ran the gamut from a long, flower-child prairie dress, to a moddish minidress with front pockets, to a classic fit-and-flare style, worn over retro satin underwear. For evening, slim skirts and collarless jackets with doily-like details were sprinkled with crystals, and gowns fit for a bride were worked with delicate floral embroideries.

Aside from a few slinky leopard print numbers with lace insets or overlays, the collection was sweet, not sexy. (A counterpoint to the nearly all-black lace collection we saw for fall 2010, in stores now.)

Although this wasn't new ground for the designers; the collection should draw in a younger audience. After all, it wasn't Madonna playing the Sicilian widow sitting front row this season; it was angelic country honey Taylor Swift.

-- Booth Moore

Dolce & Gabbana spring-summer 2011 runway collection photo gallery

Photos: Looks from the Dolce & Gabbana spring-summer 2011 collection at Milan Fashion Week. Credit: Jonas Gustavsson & Peter Stigter / For The Times

Your morning fashion and beauty report: Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta or both for Chelsea Clinton's wedding? And do you want to fake Rihanna's hairstyle?

-- Chelsea Clinton has been trying to keep details of her pending wedding to investment banker Marc Mezvinsky under wraps, so it made news when she was seen ducking into Vera Wang Tuesday afternoon, hidden under an enormous floppy hat to try to ward off nosy reporters. She met mom Hillary Rodham Clinton there, and the secretary of State also stopped by Oscar de la Renta. How many changes of clothes do we think the mother-daughter pair will go through during the reportedly three-day, $3-million-plus festivities in Rhinebeck, N.Y.? [WWD]

-- One thing we do know about the Clinton wedding is that French hairdresser Isabelle Goetz, who recently bought a Georgetown salon, will tend to the secretary of State's tresses. [WWD]

-- Essence magazine is being criticized by some readers due to rumors that it has hired a new fashion director who is white. The lady in question, Ellianna Placas, has worked for US Weekly and O: The Opah Magazine. Essence has made no announcement, but rumors -- and outrage -- are bouncing around the Twitter-sphere.  [Clutch]

-- Do you dream of getting away from it all on a well-deserved summer vacation to de-stress, unwind and soothe your soul? Fugiddaboutit. A new study says vacationers are no happier than those of us (that's right, All the Rage isn't getting a summer vacation) who slog right on through at work.  [Newsweek]

-- Tommy Hilfiger prepares to celebrate the brand's 25th anniversary. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

-- Vogue doyenne Anna Wintour is opening her home to President Barack Obama Wednesday night for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser. [WWD]

-- With the pending launch of the Material Girl line, Madonna and daughter Lourdes Leon were hands-on, styling budding rocker Taylor Momsen for the ad campaign. [People]

-- A budding trend that's a throwback to the dandy era: ballet flats for men. [Telegraph]

Soccer is called "the beautiful game," and its practitioners in the Chelsea Football Club should look pretty good when they are out on the town in Dolce & Gabbana: The fashion label and club just signed a three-year "fashion partnership."  [Telegraph]

If you like the look of Rihanna's edgy undercut but don't want to lop off half your hair, not to worry. With some gel and a blow dryer, you can fake the look. [BellaSugar]

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Rihanna's undercut: You can fake it.  Credit: Max Nash / AFP/Getty Images