Pamella Roland Show: Sparklies and Shinies

Feb 19, 2010 | Fashion

Wow, talk about a star-studded show!  The front row contained: Real Housewives of NYC Alex McCord and Ramona Singer (with poor Jill Zarin stuck in standing room far, far away), ANTM’s Nigel Barker, Rosemary Ponzo, J. Alexander, and Brooke Shields!! [swarmed by media people]

A model sporting a crazy mask straight out of one of Tim Burton’s fantasies began a diverse and fashion-packed show.

(Looking at the photos above, I’m noticing some looks missing from the array.  There was actually a wider range of styles shown by the designer and I’m annoyed they’re not all on the industry website available for download.  I’m really sorry about that!)

The breadth and range of styles was staggering: from ready-to-wear separates, to activewear, to office-appropriate attire, to chic cocktail looks, to evening gowns, to wedding gowns – Pamella Roland showcased it all.  The collection was designed “to convey the confidence and empowerment of today’s woman,” the designer says.  Inspired by “classic Venetian glamour…the city’s simultaneously dramatic and delicate state, Roland has created a collection infused with dark, decadent colors and luxe fabrics that speak to Venice’s grand palazzos
, lavish festivals, and shimmering canals.”

I’m not into the shiny fabrics and jewel tones so much; and overall the collection felt disjointed and less like a Runway Collection per se…and more geared towards the retail market.  But the clean lines of the white cocktail dress spoke volumes about the sophistication the designer is able to infuse into her pieces, and the last wedding gown was a breathtaking example of craftsmanship. (The model wearing the finale wedding gown couldn’t make the turn at the end of the runway – she stumbled and tripped upon her dress, smiled a little, tried to take another step, and stepped on the train again.  She was losing composure when the audience began clapping in encouragement, and, smiling gratefully, she finally pulled the long, cumbersome train of ripped chiffon flowers around the turn and back down the runway.)  The amazing Swarovski brooches on the hats caught my eye, as well as the sparkling tights, the back of a t-strap gown, and the Swarovski-encrusted boots are a Fall 2010 TREND IN THE MAKING!  (Totally DIY-able by the way…perhaps I’ll do it!;-)

View the video of the runway show here.

And, if you really like Pamella Roland, you can buy some ready-to-wear pieces from her amazingly affordable Sterling for Pamella Roland Collection from QVC (pictured above), which debuted live from Bryant Park last night at 10:00 PM EST.  Hurry, these pieces are going quickly!  (And I have my eye on the $54.36 Exaggerated Collar Cropped Jacket, strangely enough, in the pictured salmon color!)


What is your take on the runway collection?  Do you like the QVC pieces?
xoxox
Carly

runway photos source

Gift Bag Loot…Haul #3

Feb 19, 2010 | Fashion

From The Daily’s Beauty Bar:

*a Rowenta-branded garment bag
*I Love Cafe Bustelo fabric tote
*Cafe Bustelo Coffee drink
*$50 gift certificate to Townhouse Spa

Another one of those head-scratchers: a capsule of pure saffron threads, from the Leifsdottir show.  Now I know they’re pretty expensive as culinary additives go…and you can dye fabric with them….but I’m still a little clueless as to how they relate to the show/collection/theme/brand.  Hmmmm.

And – the absolute pinnacle of the tidal wave of free stuff…the item of swag that eclipses every single other thing in its utter awesomeness…

An HD Flip Mino, courtesy of Tommy Hilfiger.

Again, burbling and gibbering on my part.  How I wish I had had this not at the end of the week, just before the last show!  (I had only managed to take a couple videos on my Blackberry before the whole video function died.  Well, I think I deleted some critical .dat file from the Blackberry during an upload, but I still don’t know what I did or how to fix it so that I can take videos on it again.)

But a Flipcam!  Staggering.  Now to figure out how to use it.:-)
I feel so incredibly lucky to be doing this!  I feel so amazingly fortunate to be working with my editor and with FashionTribes.com.

Thank you Lesley!  You rock.;-)
xoxox
Carly