0 Runway Report: Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week--Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012--Pics + Runway Video!

Caped Beauties, Architectural Columns, a Fan Bingbing Wedding Gown, and Mrs. Kanye West...

Bingbing Wedding Cape: Chinese actress (and Fashion Diva) Fan Bingbing models Le Mariage final dress, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

French fashion designer Stephane Rolland showed his Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012 collection a couple of days ago in Paris. Rolland has recently become a Red Carpet darling with a lot of actresses--primarily the non-American ones who feel comfortable "stepping it up" and not playing it safe when it comes to what they want to wear at high profile events. There is one big US fan though: Lady Gaga. Naturally she would LOVE his clothes! Someone else who just jumped on the Rolland bandwagon, is reality show and Us Weekly Cover Girl Hall-of-Famer Kim Kardashian.

Couture Couple: Kanye West and Kim Kardashian at the Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012 fashion show, Paris

 Kim's Gown: Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2012

She's been in Paris with her current beau Kanye West, and made an appearance at Rolland's show. Kim wore a black dress with white organza shoulder detail from the designer's Spring/Summer 2012 Haute Couture collection--it was modified for la Kim in that it was made "high-low" as opposed to how it was originally shown as in the photo above. Their showing almost completely overshadowed the fashions on the runway since naturally the photographers went crazy-mad! When I was looking for images of the Stephane Rolland Haute Couture show online, after googling it, the runway photos didn't come up...but Kim Kardashian and Kanye West sure did!  Is this good or bad? Talk amongst yourselves...

 Camel Hot: Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

Now, onto the fashions: It was like a continuation of what Rolland has been doing for a couple of the last Couture seasons; metallic belts, details, CAPES galore, geometric cut-outs, architectural shapes. It seemed like this was the "extended remix" of  last season's Stephane Rolland Haute Couture collection. Is this good or bad? (again, talk amongst yourselves). At least he's consistent. I, for one, am a fan of Stephane Rolland and as a fellow fashion designer respect his scissor-sharp cuts and severe Spartan Goddess looks. His woman is a Fashion Dominatrix--without the whips and chains!

 Curved Slits: Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

 Feathered Asymmetry: Feathered  shoulder ivory gown with metallic accents (left) and bronze gathered gown with Asymmetrical coat-jacket--Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

 Cannes 2013 Red Carpet: Asymmetry, Geometry and unexpected details are key words in a Stephane Rolland collection--Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

 Caped Queens: Designer Stephane Rolland LOVES those gowns with lots and lots of fabric flowing in the "runway wind" as the models walk...or stomp! Here are two prime examples--Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

 Merlot Sexy: a see-through silk chiffon and crepe-back satin gown with fringed/featherd side detail (left) and Amercian model Sessilee Lopez in a one-shouldered gathered chiffon gown with back cape/fall--Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

 A Funeral Entrance: two all black looks --a gown with attached side cape (left) and plunging neckline cape-jacket with fitted trousers (right) on Spanish Supermodel Nieves Alvarez--Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

 Finale Gown: Actress Fan Bingbing in a fringed cape gown--Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012

Click Below for Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012 runway video:

0 Red Carpet Minute: Solange Knowles in Stephane Rolland Spring 2012 Haute Couture

Give It To Them HUNEY!

 Sister Diva: Solange Knowles in Stephane Rolland Spring 2012 Haute Couture, 6th Annual DKMS Linked Against Blood Cancer Gala, Cipriani Wall Street NYC

Last night, at the 6th Annual DKMS Linked Against Blood Cancer Gala, the sister of "The Most Beautiful Woman In The World" (Beyonce)--singer/songwriter Solange Knowles,  made an appearance--looking very chic in a Stephane Rolland Spring 2012 Haute Couture white gown featuring a tiered peplum, drop shoulder/cap sleeves and gold metal center front waist accent.

Peplum Goddess:  Singer/Songwriter Solange Knowles attending the 6th Annual DKMS Linked Against Blood Cancer Gala, Cipriani Wall Street in Stephane Rolland Spring 2012 Haute Couture, and model from runway show on the right in same gown

Need I remind y'all that this is a $40,000+ hand-made Haute Couture gown. And it's Solange Knowles...and she's not at the Grammy's or Cannes or (name a big high-profile event)! The "red carpet game" is seriously getting out of control! Besides the fact that the gold center front waist detail looks like COUTURE iPad cover (does it vibrate or ring??) and that Solange looks as if she forgot to put her make-up on...I think the dress is quite directional and FAB!!! 

What do you guys think??? Yeay...or Nay?

0 Interview Couture Minute: Lady Gaga Wears Stéphane Rolland to E! News Special "Lady Gaga: Marry the Night"

Marry The COUTURE

Lady in Creme Couture: Lady Gaga during her interview, E! News Special : Lady Gaga: Marry The Night"

Two nights ago, on December 1st, E! Entertainment debuted an "E! News Special" entitled "Lady Gaga: Marry The Night", a half-hour special showing the behind-the-scenes making of the latest music video for her fifth smash single from her album "Born This Way". The special showed a one-on-one interview with E!'s Jason Kennedy and of course, Miss Lady Gaga. I was intrigued (as always) by what she was wearing especially because I thought I had seen it before. Well, of course, it was from Parisian fashion designer Stephane Rolland and his Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011 Collection , which I just LOVED!

"Look No. 7" Stéphane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011: an ivory creme-white "suit" (day or evening Stéphane? Most likely both!) featuring a stand-up collar framing the neck and torso, exaggerated "Cape" sleeves, plunging neckline, thin black belt and original bamboo-like embellishment across the skirt section. During the interview, she even talks about the xylophone detail of her ensemble and what she can do with it (it's naughty of course!). If you were to actually order this "Look No. 7" from this Stéphane Rolland Haute Couture collection, it would probably set you back a high FIVE figures--around $30,000-$40,000. Yes, kids , that's what Haute Couture goes for, in case you didn't know. She gets it for free. Whether or not she borrowed it or actually gets to keep it, is anyone's guess.

Jason Kennedy of E! News with Lady Gaga, "E! News Special : Lady Gaga: Marry the Night"

Miss Gaga has worn Rolland before, in fact most recently HERE at the 39th Annual International Emmy Awards presentation in NYC. Again, her look was from the same Stéphane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011 Collection (it does have "Lady Gaga" written all over it!).

The "Crowning Jewel" of the half-hour special was the World Premiere of her directorial debut to "Marry The Night": an almost-14 minute video that has many "Early Madonna-meets-Flashdance-meets Steven Meisel Vogue Italia shoot" moments as well as, oversized ballet toe-shoes, a bathtub and Cherrios, and much more.


Click Below for the Entire Video:

0 Day After Thanksgiving Fashion Minute: Lady Gaga Wears Stéphane Rolland Haute Couture--Straight from the Runway

Gaga-licious Leg Show:

Lady Gaga, in Stéphane Rolland Haute Couture and Emmy Award Winner Nigel Lythgoe (of "American Idol"), 39th International Emmy Awards, NYC Hilton

Happy Day After Thanksgiving! Last night, Miss Lady Gaga had her "Very Gaga Thanksgiving Special"--a 90-minute Lady Gaga infomercial--I mean Holiday TV Special-- shown on ABC. It was awkward at times, schmaltzy at others and yes, the GIRL is talented!!!

Now, speaking of NOT disappointing on the Fashion Front, check out Lady Gaga's ensemble which she wore earlier in the week on Monday for the 39th International Emmy Awards (PS: I had no idea there was such a thing as an "International Emmy Award", but now I do--because of her!). It was held at the Mercury Ballroom at the NYC Hilton (say what??). Lady Gaga made a surprise appearance to present the honorary International Emmy Founders Award to Britain’s Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” She also surprised everyone in attendance with showing lots of side leg, half-a-bootie and enough white-meat muscle to make a plump turkey jealous!

Her gown was from Parisian designer Stéphane Rolland (one of my favorite designers) and from his Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Collection and from the looks of the 10 inches too-long spilling onto the floor, it was probably the actual runway sample. The gown was black, featuring a very structured shoulder, one sleeve and a cowl-draped side opening that showed lots of what was going on inside (of Lady Gaga's legs). Reps for the designer say that it "wasn't to be worn that way" citing that it was meant for a much taller model and therefore (somehow) on this taller model, it wouldn't expose so much. Well, kids, here's that much taller model in the gown:

Stéphane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011/2012

On the runway model, the cowl-draped opening seems to be more on the side front as opposed to the actual side (therefore, yes, it was probably meant to not really be revealing and side-back inner bootie but rather, more of the thigh/knee area). Maybe as Lady Gaga moved or the way it "fell on her", the gown inadvertently shifted. See for yourself as she posed after the ceremony:

Want Some Lady Gaga Leg? Lady Gaga in Stéphane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011/2012 gown, with Bruce Paisner, International Academy President and Nigel Lythgoe

In the end, the designer and his people were said to be very happy with their gown and how Miss Lady Gaga wore it--showing plenty of leg plus a whole lot more...yes, I would be too!

0 Runway Report: Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011 Fashion Week--Stephane Rolland

Folded, Ribboned, Draped...

Dip-Dyed Canary: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

Stephane Rolland showed his Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Haute Couture Collection in Paris and as usual it was a Masterful display of the drapery, folded and structured modern elegance. His designs are not for the shy woman but more for the UBER chic, Glam Dominatrix Diva. His clients come mainly from Asia and the Middle East and every now and then, you will see a FAB Stephane Rolland Haute Couture creation on the Red Carpet (if we're lucky--he still has to compete with the POWERHOUSE PR Offices of the "biggies": Chanel, Valentino, Dior, etc.). For Fall/Winter, he was inspired by two things: China (smart, since that's where the latest crop of multi-millionaire clients are coming from), which showed up in Pagoda sleeves, Mandarin-like collars, Chinese calligraphy details. Another inspiration was:

Iconic model Carmen Dell'Orefice (seen above at the Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Show with NY socialite/MTV's The City "Elle Magazine intern" Olivia Palermo next to her). The clothes were fabulous by the way. Colors ranged from "Winter White" to deep blacks, violets, muted raspberry and lots of oversized metallic/jeweled embellishments as in belts, neck and bust accents as well as the above mentioned drapes, folds and twisted ribbons that are the "Rolland" hallmarks.

Daywear According to Rolland: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

To start with, there was some "day wear"--OK, forget it, it was more like "Cocktail Hour". But mainly, as always with Rolland, it was about THOSE gowns! Showstoppers. Take a look:

Who Invited Her: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

Shanghai Ball: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

Plunging: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

New Slit: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

Shoulder Padded Grecian Goddess: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

China Calligraphy Couture: Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011 Haute Couture

Be sure not to miss the Final Wedding Gown and how HEAVY it was--so heavy that the model is literally FORCING it to move with all the strength of her 5'11" size 2 frame!!! Bless her heart! (and bless those in the audience trying to cool off from the hot & humid temperatures that were occurring during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week a couple of weeks back)--click on the video below...

Click Below for Full Runway Video of Stephane Rolland Fall/Winter 2011/12 Haute Couture:

0 Actress Miriam Yeung in Stephane Rolland Spring 2011 Haute Couture: Diva of The Day--and Week!

Shut The Front Couture Door!!

Asiana DIVA: Actress Miriam Yeung in Stephane Rolland Spring 2011 Haute Couture

Last Sunday, at the 30th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards, actress---and Fashionista---Miriam Yeung, put all the other actresses to shame, as she sauntered onto the red carpet wearing a black column gown with exaggerated neck-and-torso "collar" from Stephane Rolland's Spring 2011 Haute Couture Collection. She looked STUNNING! Directional, elegant, dramatic and soooo Haute Couture!!!

Here she is with with husband, fellow actor (and HOTTIE!!!) Ting Chi Ko at 30th Hong Kong Film Awards last Sunday in Hong Kong China. Perfect Couple Alert! For that...and wearing that FAB Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Gown, she gets my "Nick Diva of the Day--and Week" Award!

0 Paris Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Week: Stéphane Rolland

Power Draping

Prized Invitation: My Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 Invitation

Two weeks ago, I received a very nice Invitation in the mail (tied in a grosgrain copper-colored bow) from Paris (I know!) from the House of Stephane Rolland, Haute Couture Fashion Designer, inviting me to attend his Spring/Summer 2011 Haute Couture fashion show. Well, unfortunately, I couldn't attend (I'm hoping I will receive another invitation for the Fall/Winter 2011 Show!) but instead, I got to enjoy the next best thing: Photos of the show which occurred yesterday.

Now THAT'S A Sleeve: Wheat-colored asymmetrical dress with exaggerated sleeve, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Stephane Rolland has never met a DRAPE he did not like! Strong, Powerful, Take-No-Prisoners Couture. The line-up was for the "New" 21st Century Roman/Grecian Goddess. Gowns, Gowns and more Gowns...Showstopping dresses that can cost as much as a Mercedes Benz and meant for the A-list actresses and singers who can borrow them--as well as the Middle Eastern Divas who can afford them. I absolutely LOVED the collection. It got my heart doing an excited pitter-patter! Now, THIS...is what Couture is all about. Now, I am REALLY depressed I couldn't attend (insert sad face).

High-Low White: Coat-Gown with high front and long back train in silk gazar with exaggerated shoulders and plunging neckline, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Trends: High-low gowns; SLEEVES; structural and ARCHITECTURAL draping and folds; plunging necklines; Plisses/Fortuny pleating; Colors: ivory, pumpkin orange, bronzed copper, black, gold; metallic accents.

High-Low Black: Mock-turtleneck dress with high front and flowy train back, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Themes: Sparta Queen meets Greco-Roman Warrior Princess; Making an Entrance DIVA; Venus Comes out of the Sea...in one of these Gowns!

Clients Include:

Queen Rania of Jordan

Skeikha Mozah Bint Nasser of Qatar and...

Rihanna

Here are more Highlights from Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011:

Oscar Gown: Strapless bronzed copper side-draped gown, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Orangina Diva: Plunging neckline silk gown with fitted sleeves, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Imagine Steaming This: Strapless bronzed copper colored silk gown, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011