Dressing In Delft. Valentino's New Women's Dresses Take Cues From The Netherland's Classic Blue & White Pattern.

Italian fashion House Valentino recently unveiled his 2013-2014 Fall Winter Collection of RTW Womenswear. A stunning line, the new collection includes some gorgeous dresses and gowns whose patterns take their cue from the traditional blue and white patterns seen on ceramics and earthenware from Holland.




Using textiles whose imagery is similar to Delft (and a bit of China's Willow) patterns commonly seen on vases, ginger jars and dinnerware, the dresses made of brocades, silks, organzas and cotton are wearable objets d'art.




















The entire collection has been inspired by Flemish paintings, I have just shared with you the blue and white pieces. Be sure to see the entire beautiful collection at Valentino.com

My Picks For The 20 Fugliest Red Carpet Oscar Dresses Of All Time.

above: Sally Kirkland never fails to wear some sort of monstrosity to the Oscars

As I watch today's Red Carpet for the 85th Oscars, I've decided I have to share with you the absolute most hideous dresses from the past - in no particular order. Several sites and blogs feature the ugliest dresses ever worn to the Oscars, but, as is typical, I disagree with many of them. So, I've decided to post my own pics of what I feel are the 20 most hideous frocks ever worn to the Academy Awards.

View at your own risk.

Barbra Streisand:


Helena Bonham Carter:


Bjork:


Kim Basinger:


Demi Moore:


Celine Dion:


Cher:


Faye Dunaway:


Geena Davis:


Lara Flynn Boyle:


Charlize Theron was in this original post, but has since been replaced by Berenice Bejo's Golden Globes dress:


Gwyneth Paltrow:


Jennifer Connnelly:


Kate Hudson:


Melanie Griffith:


Sophia Loren:


Uma Thurman:


Whoopie Goldberg:


Florence Welch:


You don't see many dresses this ugly anymore, especially on the likes of big celebs who, after making the worst-dressed list for that year, wised up and hired stylists. Demi Moore and Kim Basinger (both of whom designed the dresses you see them wearing here) never made as bad a fashion faux pas again.

During tonight's Oscar's broadcast, I'm expecting the ugliest visual offenses to be Botox injections and plastic surgery.

Dont forget to check out my Pinterest Board of Fugly Fashions too!

Voltage - Shockingly Cool Couture By Iris van Herpen With Electrifying Kicks for United Nude.

The edgy fashion designer from the Netherlands does it again with her latest shoe design for United Nude, part of her latest Haute Couture Collection named Voltage, all of which is shown after the shoes.

The Voltage Shoes by Iris van Herpen for United Nude:
Continuing the collaboration for the seventh season, United Nude and Iris Van Herpen joined forces to create another shoe for her Haute Couture show in Paris. These handcrafted leather ankle booties were made for Van Herpen’s Voltage collection and their availability will be very limited.



United Nude

Iris van Herpen SS 2013 Haute Couture Voltage Collection:


For her fourth collection presented in Paris as a guest member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, Iris van Herpen explores the idea of electricity and the light it creates. Experimenting with its use in the field of creation, this collection seeks to render its tangible movement and power.




This light and electricity’s ability to change states and bodies is being reproduced using the most innovative technologies. Described as an alchemist fashion approach, Van Herpen’s designs perpetually initiate new collaborations with artists, architects and researchers.




As part of the show there was a performance arranged by New Zealand artist Carlos Van Camp, echoing his notion of controlling high voltage electricity and its interaction with the human body. Van Camp became known for founding “The Lords of Lightning,” an innovative show that depicts two fighters exchanging real lightning with three million volts running through their bodies.



Van Herpen shares Canadian architect Philip Beesley’s fascination with materials and structures. They focus specifically on how the reaction of chemistry and electricity causes structures to respond to their environment and react as living beings.

Iris van Herpen is also know for being todays leading fashion designer in the use of 3D printing. Drawing on the idea of movement, this technical revolution is the result of collaborations with Neri Oxman Keren Oxman of the MIT Media Lab, architect Julia Koerner, and Materialise.

United Nude
Iris van Herpen