Saturday's Poetry Time...Roses and Rue

Valentino Resort 2013

Roses and Rue

by Oscar Wilde

Could we dig up this long-buried treasure,

Were it worth the pleasure,

We never could learn love's song,

We are parted too long

Could the passionate past that is fled

Call back its dead,

Could we live it all over again,

Were it worth the pain!

I remember we used to meet

By an ivied seat,

And you warbled each pretty word

With the air of a bird;

And your voice had a quaver in it,

Just like a linnet,

And shook, as the blackbird's throat

With its last big note;

And your eyes, they were green and grey

Like an April day,

But lit into amethyst

When I stooped and kissed;

And your mouth, it would never smile

For a long, long while,

Then it rippled all over with laughter

Five minutes after.

You were always afraid of a shower,

Just like a flower: 
I remember you started and ran

When the rain began.

I remember I never could catch you,

For no one could match you,

You had wonderful, luminous, fleet,

Little wings to your feet.

my Valentina Assoluto

As a charismatic muse of modern Valentino, Valentina is intriguing, magnetic, unpredictable. Valentina transforms clothing into a secret experience, a private search for her inner self, and a personal and intimate form of pleasure.

I’ve received Valentina Assouluto, a new fragrance from Valentino house about a week ago and I’ve become slightly addicted to the scent it spreads. It’s such a beautiful, mystique, seductive fragrance adorned with notes of bergamot, white Alba, Smeggia peach, jasmine, tuberose, vanilla, cedar, oak moss and patchouli. Pretty and elegant bottle is made of brown opaline glass and adorned with large flower, emblem of Valentino couture. For this little still of my life, I wore my vintage beaded dress that is really one of the most darling dresses in my closet, made of pure soft silk (I’ve became little snobbish lately with fabrics so I avoid fabric mixtures) that is covered with thousands of ivory beads. This intense fragrance smells on all those pretty moments with inner self, rituals of dressing up, love and pretty dresses. It will be my perfect partner in all those lovely moments that are about to come.

Flirts in red

Although I was immune for a long time on excitement caused by Lana Del Rey, I must admit that Summertime Sadness is constantly on repeat on my Ipod lately. Touched?! It would perhaps be wrong word, since I already have my own thematic choreography (Tacky, I know). Precisely, Miss Del Rey’s verse where she dramatically sings about the red dress and big hair inspired me on the lookout for perfect autumn red dresses.
From Italian brand Vivetta that has always been on the sweet side of fashion, are available two red beauties. Martedi dress with long sleeves and scalloped inserts and bustier Sofia in prom style, both equally feminine and elegant. Orla Kiely again pleased her fans with red beauty in her collection, which for Fall 2012 is strappy party dress made of very expensive and comfortable ottoman fabric. And we didn’t yet forget the short-sleeved beauty with bow on waist from Orla’s Resort collection. The well-fitted red dress is already a star per se, so I believe in minimalistic ways of embellishments. More than appropriate for sweet moments would be pair of Charlotte Olympia kitty flats. While for the times of decadence, I would pick Valentino ballerinas with studs from Fall Noir capsule collection. Very welcomed is big hair or chignon in 1960s style, of course. (Think of Pattie Boyd.) I would finish ensemble with small pieces of gold jewelry or contrast bag. (Think of Alexa Chung during Paris S/S 2012 Season in dress from Valentino Red with bows on the shoulders.) Now that we have the perfect red dress, all we need are dinner dates and lot of pretty invites. 

Call us little flirts, but that’s who we are.

COLLAGE INFO; ORLA KIELY STRAPPY DRESS, VIVETTA MARTEDI DRESS, ORLA KIELY BOW DRESS, VIVETTA SOFIA DRESS, CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA KITTY FLATS, DEENA & OZZY SLIPPERS FROM URBAN OUTFITTERS, BALLERINAS FROM VALENTINO NOIR ROCKSTUD FALL 2012 COLLECTION- AVAILABLE AT VALENTINO STORES; IMAGES: EDIE CAMPBELL AS PATTIE BOYD FROM LULA, DANCING GIRLS FROM LULA, MARIANNE FAITHFULL (UNKNOWN)

fall to couture

click on image to enlarge

To please never satisfied critics, brand’s clients and to maintain the vision of the brand that couture supports, all at the same time, it’s not an easy task at all. Considering that most of members of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture are also creators of ready to wear, and some of the resort or capsule collections, it’s not an easy job to satisfy themselves, at the end. Dissatisfaction can be a very good drive, but everyone with creative job understands a complexness of creativity especially when deadlines and pressures are in the game. Week of Haute Couture that has always been fashion’s great carrousel of excitement brings also the great errand that your ride has to be the one that will create fireworks of thrill. The one that is familiar with creation of excite is Herr Karl, just like Mademoiselle Chanel in her time was. Lavish ensembles are usually spiced up with iconic models plus the model of the moment, which is currently Lindsey Wixson. Started with pretty seriousness, and all the functional ways of tweed, he spreads the word of immortality of classical Chanel. Unlike the others, he doesn’t have to search inspiration out there, when he has loads of it in his own garden. His remakes of classical Chanel pieces will never become boring. And he won’t ever be afraid to show them in modern way. Accessorized with 1940s snoods, scarves tied in pussy bow and sparkly hosiery, his clothes always have the story to tell. Different from they work they are doing for Valentino house last few seasons, were couture ideas of Chiuri and Piccoli that diminished previous age of innocence. Between aesthetic blue gowns they explored the history of Garavani’s work, but also went to time of brocade.  They filled our eyes also with lavish red and sparkly outfits that were extravagant in every detail, from velvet appliqués to fur inserts. Always interesting Alexis Mabille had a great affair with caftan and made all the shiny gowns for all magic workers and small creatures that unnoticeably surround us. With extravagance of couture, somehow you start to believe that there’s a thin line between beauty and ugliness. So is it hard to create feelings of excitement in little children of fashion again and again? Certainly it is. And with all the complexity of cultural and social changes in creating of a mode today, it takes more than just clothes to experience that fervent and obsessive side of fashion show.

PHOTOS VOGUE.IT, HARPER'S BAZAAR 

Haute Couture spring 2012

Even if you are not Wall Street Journal devoted reader, most of us became familiar over past years with global economic situation more than ever. In a world that suffers a terrible crisis it’s very hard to believe that someone has hundred thousand or million of something for a dress. Apparently some have. Despite of the crisis there is notable increase in couture sale lately. What happens in Paris twice a year for common folk is a dream, art, air of inspiration or at least we think it should be. For those who are buying, unless they organize private fittings or shows, it’s another shopping tour. So, as common sense tells, it would be naive to think that couture is happening for the common folk as you and me. Or that couture is a part of private dream of designer that shares his expression with you and me. It’s a market thing that most of us, the observers can hardly understand. So is it a vision or a dream what we saw in Paris for the spring? What causes our admiration? When looking at most of the couture designs, do you question yourself how did those involved in making of haute couture applied all those details because it seems that there’s no thread and these are glued with invisible something. You have to ask that every time when you look at Chanel couture. This spring Karl’s stewardesses have the uniforms with for example pouf sleeves that are standing in pouf despite the weight of the beads or sequins. Instead of the woolen caps, the girls have feathers in the hair and are decorated with camellia-shaped brooches. The Karl’s punk private jet has a color of sky. Another collection connected with sky or better to say heavenly creatures was that of Valentino. Valentino Victoriana was really divine. Long dresses that remind of walking costumes from the past, look like they are made for lovely models with a soft hair that are running through the grass on the idyllic countryside for some Lula Mag editorial. On the hands they have mesh gloves with lace appliqués and with just one look at the sky they are happy for the life. Romantic silhouettes, high neck ruffled collars, organza bows, sweet cutouts, finest lace, floral prints….what else we need for the carefree and a sweet life?

PHOTOS VIA VOGUE.IT, VOGUE.COM