Winning looks

My favorite looks from the the 84th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California: Meryl Streep and Pharrell Williams, both in Lanvin.

Oscar Sunday

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I don't much care for awards shows, which is funny, because as a child I adored them and idolized those attending.  I remember being particularly taken, at age 13 or so, with Helen Hunt's ice blue Gucci gown the year she won Best Actress for As Good As It Gets (a favorite movie of mine).  This year, I'm rooting for Viola Davis, rumored to be wearing Vera Wang, and will be perfectly content to confirm her victory via Twitter and then waste some time at work tomorrow checking the red carpet looks.  

Anyway, today I took the 4 train up to the Guggenheim Museum, one of my favorite buildings in the world, to see the brand new sculpture show John Chamberlain: Choices.  It was magnificent, and though the pieces often feel a bit gut-wrenching, many put an irrepressible smile on my face - for the fanciful nature, the color, the shine, the unintelligible, creative jumble of it all.  Above are some blurry views of a few pieces, taken with my BlackBerry.  I highly recommend, however, that you see them in person instead.

Speaking of blossoms

I love the new spring 2012 ads for Stella McCartney, featuring Natalia Vodianova shot by (who else?) Mert + Marcus.

Petal soft

You'll see Raf Simons's final collection for Jil Sander everywhere, and you should take a closer look, but I wanted to comment on the soft beauty of the opening looks, and the correspondingly gorgeous floral arrangements presented--preserved?--in lucite on the runway.  A burst of blossoms is a suitable symbol for Simons's work at Jil Sander over the years, and surely he'll bloom on.

One look: Ralph Lauren

A masterful mish-mash.

Fall'12 Favorites: Oscar de la Renta

Tati

Jasmine

Joan

Arizona

From playful, confectionary tea party frocks to larger than life ball gown stunners, Oscar has the poor little rich girl dressed to the nines.

Fall'12 Favorites: Calvin Klein Collection

Smart, precise, forward-thinking, investment-worthy clothing; black and white and red all over (I couldn't resist).

Mushroom tea party

Marc Jacobs's fall collection looked mostly like costumes from an acid trip, upbeat Tim Burton film - with enormous fur hats by Stephen Jones; clunky, psychedelic pilgrim shoes; and exaggerated, often unflattering shapes and proportions.  Nobody can ever call him uncreative, and I'm sure the clothes will be a blast to see in person at his Mercer Street store come this summer.

Fall'12 Favorite: L'Wren Scott

Tilda

Jeneil

Ajak

L'Wren herself!

I always love L'Wren Scott's tidy, retro, ultra-luxe looks.  And she just made a custom snakeskin coat for her boyfriend Mick Jagger to perform in at the White House.  Now that's of a certain world!

Fall'12 Favorites: Derek Lam

Aymeline

Arizona

Julia F.

Daria

Alana

Julia N.

Hanne

Tati

Emily

Liu Wen

Josephine

Daria

Derek says the inspiration for his fall collection was "the Library," and guests were greeted by strapping, bespectacled young men in turtlenecks accordingly - with the season's chicest bookmark at every seat - so the clothes were prim, graceful and sophisticated as ever - but certainly far cooler, richer and lovelier than any librarian's duds I've ever seen.