Paper Petals

Remember those giant crepe paper flowers you used to make or buy a a kid?  Well, these are not those!

While floral patterns are blowing up the runway and blooming in home decor, the art of paper flower making has been quietly elevated to an art form.

Amy Lau created a show stopping staircase at the Kips Bay Show house  a few years back.  

However structured or unstructured you choose to make a paper installation, it is not only a conversation piece, but an inexpensive way to create a focal point and piece of art (in some cases).
 

Karl Lagerfeld enjoyed a paper making moment when Chanel incorporated a pristine white backdrop made of paper flowers into the runway show.  If Chanel can do it and it appears at Kips Bay ~ so can you!

Need a little help getting started?

Paper to Petals 

Eloise Corr Danch has taken it to a whole other level

 Zoe Bios Creative's paper flower crown

Apparently they are big as wedding wall backdrops

All kinds of DIY ideas and supplies can be found on Etsy, and inspiration on Pinterest along with tutorials.  Go crazy!

I think I found my summer project.

Finding Your Wings

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"We're always in transition. Once you relax into it you'll be fine.  This is true for all of us.  The process of metamorphosis is scary and sometimes painful, but it is also the way to experience wonderful new adventures we weren't able to imagine.  Accept the process, care for yourself, dream big, work hard and keep learning!  Then, don't be surprised when one morning you wake up to find that you have wings.
                                 
                                   ~ Buddhist Nun Pema Chödrön via Martha Beck
                               

* Artist Susan Hannon makes wing sculptures out of old bible pages.
   Ring, Loree Rodkin

Gucci Got Me

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Gucci has not been on my radar for quite some time, but that all seemed to change with the Spring 2016 collection.  The fashion house showing during Milan Fashion Week culminated into what I thought was the most visually exciting collection in years!  The fanciful, candy colored, in some cases sparkly confections mixed with a melange of whimsical, vintage inspired pieces are making me swoon!  Everything was represented!

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In the short nine months that Alessandro Michele has helmed the house of Gucci as its creative director (he previously worked under Frida Gianini and was Gucci's accessories designer), he has transformed it into a relevant, eclectic, romantic, "gender ambiguous" flight of fancy.  In the context shown, there is a nerdy sensualism to some of these looks that are meant for men as well as women.  I am more interested in the "garden of good and evil" separates.  The delicate floral pieces, the snakes, fun appliqués, metallics, trompe-l'oeil, lace, ruffles: it's all my favorite things!  I suddenly feel pulled towards this bright, optimistic, playful world Alessandro has created.

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Gone are the days of Tom Ford with his overtly sexual looks.  Alessandro wanted to take risks, appeal to a new customer, create a new Gucci girl.  His thoughts turned to the Renaissance and the 1970's.   It's romantic and bohemian and luxe!  He referenced the brand's past, and is branding Gucci using a new vocabulary.

Alessandro is inviting the world to rethink Gucci and is asking the question, "What is contemporary
 now?"  I can't wait to see what he is going to do next!

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* photo: Jeff Yiu
   Video: Glen Luchford
   **Valerio Mezzanotti
    remaining runway photos: Yannis Valmos