Monique Lhuillier Resort 2015

With Resort wear we are inclined to think of tropical prints, strappy tanks and bermuda shorts, but this is not the case behind the glamourous new range by Monique Lhuillier. The renowned evening wear designer has lent her elegant train of thought to this stunning Resort 2015 collection.

Strong architectural lines govern the range in a stark contrast of black and whites with graphic prints that allow the silhouettes to stand tall. A few casual pieces surfaced by way of chic shorts, sporty shaped tops, pencil skirts and office appropriate dresses. A ladylike flair was conveyed by satin midi skirts and pretty cocktail dresses frilled by tulle and embroidered lace. Boxy blouses and razor-cut skirts, necklines and hems enunciated the structural concept of the collection.

Monique's strong suit is apparent in the series of exquisitely crafted gowns that uplifted the palette in rich poppy red, flamingo pink and fuchsia. Fitted dresses glittered in an intricacy of beadwork, whilst others were beautifully layered in lace and tulle. Drapes, tiered frills and floaty pleated skirts created movement and volume, a long departure from the strict profiles that the collection had to begin with. These are looks we're more likely to see on the red carpet than a resort island.

This is Monique Lhuillier's beguiling vision for Resort 2015 Collection.

Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5

Set 6

Set 7

Set 8

Set 9

Set 10

My favourite piece is the red strapless tulle frilled gown, second in Set 9. Which is yours?

Monique Lhuillier Spring/Summer 2014

At the top of my list of favourites from New York Fashion Week so far is the enthralling Spring 2014 collection by Monique Lhuillier. The LA-based designer manifested the idea of 'sheer elegance' in a spectacular array of saturated shades from poppy red, fuchsia, coral, orchid and orange. The fiery palette was doused with misty hues of almond, cream, white and rose gold.  

Daywear was introduced by way of chicly fitted pencil skirts, outlined in delicate Chantilly lace, with sophisticated blouses that boasted detachable crystal collars. Sheer pastel organza tunics were layered over cropped tops, skirts and trousers, all highlighted by silver metallic thread. 

Monique reigns supreme when it comes to evening wear, with a feminine display of resplendent gowns that any starlet would be lucky to wear on the red carpet. The showstopper is a hot pink bandeau in silk gazaar, paired with a dramatic tangerine ballroom skirt (7.) I am certain stylists will be fighting over this one. Floor-sweeping cerise and mandarin chiffon and silk linen gowns ignited the runway, leaving a glamourous blaze in it's wake. 

Balancing out the brights were a regalia of ethereal ivory and muted gold gowns, airily whisked up from tulle in graceful silhouettes. Organza flowers and glimmering beads braided their way across the diaphanous midi and maxi dresses. Closing the show were a canvas of swirling skirts painted with floral brush strokes...a fervent end to an outstanding collection.

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My favourites from this range is the interestingly contrasted coral asymmetrical dress and poker red pants in Set 1, and the coral and lace gown (second image in 8). Which are yours?

Who Wore Monique Lhuillier Better?

Who Wore It Better?
Monique Lhuillier Neon Gown

Three award shows in eleven months - one sparkling neon dress. This fluorescent yellow Monique Lhuillier gown has made a vivid impact on the red carpet this year, worn by three different celebrities at three high profile Hollywood events. Either their stylists have not been paying attention or they must all just really love this dress.

Nicki Minaj donned the radiant lime green trumpet gown to the American Music Awards held this weekend on 18 November 2012. Her signature wild blonde tresses, hot pink lips and a statement gold neckpiece accented her look from Monique Lhuillier's Resort 2013 collection.
Modern Family actress Julie Bowen first wore the glaring acid green gown with drape-folded mermaid skirt to the 2012 Emmy Awards, which was held in Los Angeles on 22 September 2012. A gold Swarovski clutch bag and large Bochic earrings accessorized her outfit. Julie kept her hair and makeup low key.
Back in January 2012, Paula Patton wore what seems to be the same strapless dress, only in a slightly different shade of luminous lime yellow. The Mission:Impossible actress picked out the Spring 2012 version of Monique Lhuillier's showstopping gown for her appearance at the Golden Globe Awards. She carries a Judith Leiber clutch and wears Kwait jewels.

These are both the gleaming gowns as shown on the runway. The design is exactly the same, however the colour of the Resort 2013 dress differs slightly towards a more neon green tone.

As for 'Who Wore It Better'...I think it's clear the stunning and very striking gown suits every skin tone and sense of style, however my vote goes to Julie Bowen. She wears it with class and sophistication. What are your thoughts?

Monique Lhuillier Resort 2013

Monique Lhuillier has refined the art of the feminine dress. Demure lengths and modest necklines, the leaned-in waistline that delicately creates an hourglass shape, and the invariable presence of a draped mermaid skirt. She makes clothes that we would want to wear; its glamourous yet grounded, hits all the right curves and make a bold style statement without being overdone. 

It's this selective simplicity she brings to her Resort 2013 collection, which takes a stride on the bright and printed side. A Crayola-box of colourful cocktail and evening wear garner attention in acid green, fuchsia, lucent yellow and tangerine. The range is gingered up by abstract floral and paint splatter prints, accentuted by wide leather belts. Monochromatic, empire waist evening gowns are strapless and sophisticated in scalloped lace, and chiffon pleat-draped bodices and fluid skirts. This beautiful collection will surely inspire a new neon bridesmaid trend and be a hit on the summertime party scene.

Would you opt for neon evening wear?

*Photos via style.com

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Wear 2013

Bride-to-be...or not, there's something about looking at wedding gowns that bring out the romantic side in most of us. Monique Lhuillier taps into that idyllic feeling of opulent glamour and romance with her Spring 2013 Bridal Wear collection. 

Sumptuous fabrics are spun into fairytale designs in delicate ivory, frosted white and champagne, expertly constructed in Chantilly Lace, the finest satin and silk, textured organza and layers of diaphanous ruched tulle. If the Cinderella look is not your cup of vanilla tea, there are simpler elegant sheath dresses and trumpet skirt ensembles that enchant with their grace and sheer femininity. 

This dreamy collection of dresses finds it's signature in corset bodices, bow-embroidered waist belts, rows of ruffled organza, tufted skirts and lace long sleeves. Fit for a princess, Monique Lhuillier wedding gowns are the 'happily' before the 'ever after'. 

My personal favourite from this exquisite collection is Belle. Which is yours?

Oscar Party Dresses 2012

We've seen all the Oscar gowns, but where most of the glamour happens is at the stylish after-parties. Tinseltown was lit up even brighter by a galaxy of starlets, trying to outshine each other in their best party frocks. Red was a predominant trend, as seen earlier at the Academy Awards show. This was followed by white and sheer dresses, as well as cut-outs. 

Sheerness

Emma Stone once again uped the ante in a gorgeous chiffon striped Chanel Couture gown. Kate Bosworth went futuristic in a filigree designed Prabal Gurung dress with longer sheer hem. Gwen Stefani wore a crystal beaded black and red Zuhair Murad dress. Not my favourite look on her. Zoe Saldana picked out a black bejewelled satin dress with sheer skirt and by Marios Schwab. Ginnifer Goodwin in a sheer cut-out Peter Som peplum dress.

Red Alert

Salma Hayek looked beautiful in a scarlet YSL gown. Claire Danes opted for a girly Valentino frock with sheer spotted yoke and ruffled skirt. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was statuesque in a crimson red Antonio Berardi dress. Diane Kruger in a plunge-neck Calvin Klein gown. The exposed lace bra bothers me. Kate Hudson wowed in beaded and fringed vintage Versace. Abbie Cornish wore a minimalistic cherry red look from Tommy Hilfiger.

In Supermodel Form

Marisa Miller wore a glorious gold sequined Joanna Johnson gown. Bar Rafaeli in a Roberto Cavalli frock strewn with metallic beads. Irina Shayk was all vixen in white hot Versace. Karolina Kurkova in a shimmery silver ensemble from Armani Privé with red heels. Different but can't say I like it. Brooklyn Decker wore a scallop beaded Valentino gown.

Modern Elegance

Mia Wasikowska wears a two-tone charcoal grey Antonio Berardi gown straight off last week's runway. Malin Akerman in a silver embroidered Sportmax gown with cut-out neckline. Victoria Beckham looked trés chic in her own strapless and leather belted design. Katie Holmes was a picture of grace in a twilight blue Elie Saab gown. Zhang Ziyi also wore Elie Saab, incidentally in a similar blue shade. Her dress had a cut-out v-neck and high slit.

 The Pop Stars

Miley Cyrus was rather dowdy in an ice grey Roberto Cavalli gown with fishtail chiffon skirt. Vanessa Hudgens chose a gold scallop-tiered gown by Georges Chakra. Selena Gomez, please show Miley how its done. The singer/actress was glamourous in a silver embellished Dolce & Gabbana gown. Ashley Tisdale looked elegant in a ruby one-shouldered silk mousseline dress free by Maria Lucia Hohan. Only Katy Perry can mix a blue bob with silver sequined Blumarine...And get away with it.

A Little Off The Length

Anna Paquin rocked a black and gold long-sleeved Emilio Pucci number. Paula Patton charmed in a black fringed Naeem Khan frock with metallic bodice. Maria Sharapova picked a frothy feminine look from Alexander McQueen. Heidi Klum was stellar in a neon yellow Versace mini with gold shoulder accents. Shailene Woodley mixed it up in a green leaf-print Proenza Schouler shift with matching DVF heels. Amy Adams was polished in a silver draped Vivienne Westwood dress. Doesn't it look like metal that's sculpted onto her.

Colour Surge

 Venus Williams was bold in a cerise and violet colour-blocked dress by Christiane King. Julie Bowen wore a Grecian-style draped Halston gown in saffron orange, with heels to match. Stana Katic stunned in a royal purple Alberta Ferretti gown with wrap-waist and high slit. Cameron Diaz opted for a simple frills-free look, wearing a fitted Victoria Beckham dress in tangerine. Rosario Dawson donned a colour-blocked Salvatore Ferragamo halter-neck gown in plum, orange & turquoise. This is not how I expected the dress to look off the runway. Rashida Jones wore a mustard yellow deep V-neck gown with lace cap sleeves by Elie Saab.

White Out

Sofia Vergara wore a heavily embellished dress by most popular designer of the night, Roberto Cavalli. Paz Vega chose a crisp white Stephane Rolland couture gown with extruding 3D hip pleats and gold belt. Georgina Chapman in a (simple for) Marchesa ensemble with folded sleeves and peplum waist. Mena Suvari was frosted in a frilly white Romona Keveza dress. Rachel Zoe went for an unfussy look in a long column gown with statement jewels.

Sweetly Subdued Hues

Dianna Agron wore a summery printed pink & white Carolina Herrera frock. Lydia Hearst was fairy-like in soft pink tulle gown with embroidered bodice. Dita von Teese in a pale pink Jenny Packham gown with sliver embellished shoulders and keyhole neckline with crossed straps. Surprisingly, I loved the lemon chiffon Georges Hobeika gown with white floral motifs that Kelly Osbourne wore. Lily Collins wore a nude tulle Monique Lhuillier Pre-Fall gown embroidered in blue. Pretty, but a tad overdressed. Olga Kurylenko delighted in a soft moss green Georges Hobeika kimono gown, adorned with floral appliqués.

Bronzed Earth

Jennifer Lopez changed into another plunge-neck Zuhair Murad gown, this one in lacquered burgundy-brown. I liked how distinctive January Jones looked in this Wes Gordon ensemble. It has a Tuscan green silk organza top and bronzed velvet self-stripe skirt, along with leather belt. Anne Heche in a glittery gold and black Dolce & Gabbana dress. Kate Beckinsale was alluring in Atelier Versace, with cream, bronze and black beaded detail and cut-out waist and back. Maggie Grace was top-to-toe in gold sequins.

Black is the New Black

Olivia Wilde looked elegantly graceful in black strapless Gucci with gorgeous gold clutch. Kim Kardashian was unusually covered up in an Azzedine Alaia gown with mini cut-outs on the skirt. I loved Elizabeth Olsen in this Christian Dior gown, which has a silk t-shirt like top and alternating chiffon and leather skirt. Nina Dobrev's star power is rising, she was riveting in a J. Mendel Fall 2012 gown with cut-out bodice and low V-neck. Felicity Jones did understated sexiness in a 'Noir' leather Joanna Johnson dress with pin-tucked skirt.

Who wore your favorite Oscar After Party dress?

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 - Part One

New York Fashion Week
Fall 2012 Favourites
Part One

The Fall 2012 Fashion torch was lit on style island New York last week, where the best US and other international designers showed off their winter collections. There have been so many incredible shows so far, which I will highlight in the next few posts. This first chapter focuses on emerging colour trends - red, black and metallics. Click on the image to enlarge it.


Jason Wu

A Jason Wu winter has a significant Asian appeal and an air of mystery for 2012. Structured military designs from Imperial China inspired a chain of modernized Mao jackets edged with fur. A glamourous 1940's Shanghai was translated into figure-fitting red and black dresses, delicately garnished with the finest gold embroidery. 

Zac Posen

Zac Posen patrons will be all dressed up for Fall 2012, in Japanese-themed peplum dress suits with obi belts, gold jacquard knee-length dresses and hourglass-enhancing corseted evening gowns in glossy duchess satin. Colours ranged from forest green and midnight blue to champagne and ruby red. These sculpted gowns seem to be made with Sofia Vergara and Coco Rocha in mind. 

Badgley Mischka

A glitterati of gowns were presented at Badgley Mischka's 2012 offering, in a host of metallics from glazed gold to burnished bronze and iced silver. Elegant pant suits was vitalized by metallic blazers and fur neck wraps, while gowns were generously daubed with sequins. Models wore electrified hairstyles to contrast the glamourous looks.

 Reem Acra

Lebanese designer Reem Acra radiated the Fall 2012 runway with flashy gold gowns and metallic mini's. Classic dress suits were given a luxurious makeover in leather, metallic tweed and houndstooth. A glittering sequin skirt ensemble (pictured fourth on top row) caught my eye, while angular cut-outs added a sultry edge to floor-length evening gowns.

Prabal Gurung

Neoteric designer Prabal Gurung reinvented sheer cut-outs and digital-print designs for his winter collection, in black and blue neoprene, patent leather and golden lamé. Slick tailored pants were accompanied by capes and fur coats. Ostrich feathers and ruffles enhanced fanciful evening dresses, and perhaps the most striking feature - models in stark blue eyeshadow.

 Rag & Bone

My first thoughts about Rag & Bone winter range was warmth - most literally. While other designers gave us skimpy dresses, Rag & Bone brought us cozy wrapped coats, furry vests and snug printed knits. Layering added depth and interest; skirts over skinny pants, jackets over jerseys, dresses over tights, a mix of mismatched prints and belts over everything.

Naeem Khan

Ethnic opulence was the founding factor at Naeem Khan's Fall 2012 runway show, where his Indian roots shone through with bindi-inspired prints and intricate age-old Eastern embroidery. It's as though he gussied up the tribal trend. His exquisite gowns were showered with metallic beading, sequins and feathers, all of which made for compulsive viewing.

Monique Lhuillier 

Monique Lhuillier's Fall 2012 collection presented us with bold shades of scarlet, enigmatic ebony and lustrous gold. Graphic print dresses were belted for a more curvaceous silhouette, while irresistibly seductive gowns flowed like lava. I loved the extravagant red ruffled gown (pictured bottom row). Lace and beadwork adorned the many evening gowns, which we will be sure to see soon on the red carpet.

Part Two to follow. Who are your favourites from New York Fashion Week?