Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2014 Full Show - The end of a legendary era.

So after 16 years of heading Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs has announced his departure from the iconic label. The SS 2014 LV show was truly the highlight of the SS 2014 season, a must watch! I will write a proper post about Marc and his time at LV shortly, but just had to share this video of the show with you guys. hope you love it as much as I do. 

Life After Parsons - Part 1: The Heartbreaks & Goodbyes

I was surprised to learn that a year has flown by since I graduated from Parsons. I realized that I have seemingly abandoned my blog which I have used thus far to catalog my experiences in the fashion industry.

For those of you wondering what exactly happened in all this time, saying the words "a lot" is quite the understatement. 

Lets start where we left off: May 2012. I graduated from Parsons the New School for Design, but still had a few courses left which I had yet to complete to attain my diploma. I took 3 classes during that summer, and really took the time to enjoy NYC as I had spent the last year and a half almost completely  between the confines of school, work and the New York garment district. Apart from Midtown West and the Financial District, I had barely seen anything else. From learning to surf in Far Rockaway, to shopping in Soho and taking classes at the Joffrey Ballet School, I did it all. I fell in love with the city, one in which I had become someone I could be proud of and yet knew so little about. 

My room mate and I both spent a few hours a day applying for jobs that summer. Progress was slow and disheartening, as the entire fashion industry seems to slow down during these hazy summer months. But along came September, and I found myself working as a Design Assistant with a Couture Designer. I was thrilled! I had done it, right? Right?

Not so fast there Rohma. I still had much to learn. Despite putting my heart and soul into work, and not taking any weekends off, I was not receiving the professionalism and appreciation I yearned for. And after a month of working, I quit my job. This experience, was yet another lesson for me: it taught me the importance of finding the right workplace and culture to foster the professional and personal growth I craved. So it was back to the job boards for me.

Many interviews later, I found myself sitting at my dream company: Giorgio Armani New York. I somehow nailed the interview for a Wholesale position, and walked out feeling elated. Did that really just happen? Could I actually have a chance to work at a place where I had only ever dreamed of? I didn't have to wonder long, for they sent me an offer letter that very evening. 

Despite my joy, I was anxious about one last, but extremely important detail: my offer was contingent upon the fact that my work permit arrived in time for a start date which happened to be only 30 days away. Yet another waiting game. But the deadline was soon upon me, and my permit was nowhere in sight. I was gutted and heartbroken. I somehow collected myself and informed Armani (yes, Armani) that I was not going to be able to take up the position. 

New York really is about the survival of the fittest. The city knocks you down repeatedly, only to see how many times you will be able to pick yourself up. I did. After spending a week moping about my tiny apartment, I started searching high and low for an internship to keep myself busy with - something productive to fill my resume and preserve my sanity. 

Due to the competitive nature of the fashion industry, almost all fashion internships require you to obtain school credit. This helps ensure that students in fashion school have a greater chance of being able to land an internship, which for many institutions is a degree requirement. I reached out to my previous supervisor at Carolina Herrera, asking if there was any help needed in the office, and being the amazing people that they are, I found myself once again interning at Carolina Herrera, this time in the Product Development department (I will write more about the actual internship in a later post). 

I was delighted to be busy again, doing what I love with some of my favorite people in the industry. A month into my internship, I received yet another call from Giorgio Armani, asking the progress of my work permit (still nowhere in sight). They had another position opening up and they wanted me for it. Turning down Armani a second time really takes a lot out of you. I promised them that I would update them on its progress as soon as I got any news. Being the kind, considerate and caring company that Armani is, the HR lady comforted me and assured me that my honesty and openness about my work permit status was highly appreciated and that she wanted to be kept informed of any new developments. 

Then, in early December, I received heartbreaking news: Homeland Security has rejected my application for a work permit, and I had 60 days to leave the country. 

The finality of the decision hit me hard. I had worked 7 years towards this dream of succeeding in the NYC fashion industry, and despite meeting every single requirement, I failed on the part of being born within the USA. Knowing your birthplace is the determinant of the success of your dreams is a difficult pill to swallow. I was more worthy of my dream job, but it went to someone else all because I happen to be born somewhere else. I was truly disillusioned. 

I quit my Carolina Herrera internship at the end of December and spent the next month packing up my entire life. There was so much to do and so little time, and I was constantly on the verge of tears. 

In February 2013, I got on a flight to my hometown: Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I cried my eyes out during take off, saying good bye to my dreams, my city and my life.

My feelings of hopelessness and depression were overwhelming at first, but with the love and support of my friends and family, I have now regained the strength to fight for my dreams again. So what if I fell? I know that with determination, focus, passion and hard-work I will overcome my hurdles and emerge even stronger than before. Its been 3 months since my arrival in Dubai and although I am still looking to break into the Dubai fashion industry, I know that I will find a way. After all, if I can make it in New York, I know I can make it anywhere else in the world. 

So thank you Parsons and NYC for giving me that confidence, determination and for teaching me to work even harder when hard work isn't enough. I know I will return someday, but until then, my 2 years in NYC and everything I learned will stay with me forever.

You Never Leave Parsons - Graduation & Final Thoughts

Parsons School of Fashion Graduation 2012

One of our last nights working in the studios

So, its already July 2012, and somehow my time at Parsons has come to an end. A year and a half has flown by and I have suddenly found myself standing at the beginning again. As a recently graduated designer, I now find myself before the formidable task of finding a job I love in the industry that I adore. I am excited, exhilarated, nervous and curious to see what is next for me.

But I digress. Lets talk about this final semester at Parsons. This time around, I decided to take it easy - taking on a low workload of 4 classes


and an internship as compared to the 7/8 classes workload I have become accustomed to in the previous semesters. I decided that I had worked hard enough and I wanted to take the time to take care of myself and enjoy what could be my last few months in NYC (which btw, I had hardly explored thus far).

Georgina & Keren

I had scored my dream internship at Marchesa the semester before and was ecstatic about starting work there and being able to actually see and learn how those exquisite gowns were made. And boy what a learning experience it was. Marchesa internships are some of the most highly coveted and it is not only because people are dying to work with such an esteemed label, but its because of the amount of work that is delegated to the interns. Interns at Marchesa are trusted with tasks ranging from dyeing fabrics and trims to fabric manipulation, draping, embroidery design and of course, lots and lots of hand sewing. The hours are long, even for the interns, but the dedication of their design team and the presence of Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman motivates you to stay behind and help out even after-hours. I can honestly say that I learnt so many things that helped me to create my final projects for Couture and Construction 3 at school, skills, techniques and ideas which I would never have been exposed to otherwise.

Brigitte's Couture techniques samples

Professor Brigitte Conti

At school, I was taking classes I enjoyed with the professors I love. I carefully selected my courses to further my passion for couture and evening wear design and I could not have chosen any better. My Construction 3 class with Joyce enabled me to utilize all the skills I had learned thus far and create the garment of my dreams exactly the way I wanted it. It was amazing to have someplace where I could literally create something that was truly my own, in short, a designer's dream to show off their aesthetic and creative skills. Couture techniques with Brigitte focused on fabric manipulation techniques. I found her class especially challenging as she pushed me to explore a new aesthetic, and think outside the box without losing my own aesthetic. Brigitte's class enabled me to learn design from a couture perspective, and it took more than a a few dozen sketches and samples before we finally agreed upon a design that was fresh, unexpected, unique and yet still completely something I wanted to create.

All this combined with my Marchesa internship taught me what couture was all about. That is, a lot (and I mean a LOT) of hand sewing and patience. Marchesa showed me to effort that goes into creating every single exquisite piece that is now expected from the label. Everything is possible. Can't find the exact shade you were looking for? Then stand by the dyeing stand in the kitchen and spend an entire 8 hour day mixing colors and making samples until you get that exact one you want. Trims? Look for them in both high-end and discount stores, then dye them to make sure they match exactly. Cut them out, play with them to create something that nobody has ever seen before. Parsons and Marchesa were quite possibly the perfect combination for my final semester, they both pushed me to think outside the box and never to settle for anything less than what I had in my mind. And this invaluable lesson will be something I will always carry with me into every aspect of my future and my life.

All in all, my experiences at Parsons exceeded my expectations. It is a school which, if you let it, will guide you and hone you to become whatever you want to be and give you every single opportunity you can dream of. Despite the workload and the frequent tears and frustrations, it was the best decision I ever made in my entire life, and for any of you considering the school and weighing its costs (which admittedly are insanely high), do it, you will not regret a single moment.

Officially a Parsons Graduate!

Marchesa Internship

For an aspiring eveningwear designer, working at Marchesa has been a long time dream of mine. and I am lucky enough to have snagged a highly coveted Design Intern position at the label in my third and final semester at Parsons.

I have only just completed my first week at work and therefore have just begun the process of learning everything there is to learn at this internship. So far though, I am thrilled, and it meets my expectations in every possible way.

I have already seen Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, I LOVE the girl I work for and despite the long hours, the work is extremely hands on. I have already learned how to dye fabrics and have mirrored and sewn in embroidery patterns into a stunning shift dress which will be featured in the fashion show on Feb 15th at the Mercedes Benz NY Fashion Week!!

I will update this posting later in my internship, but for the time being, I am simply psyched to have been given this opportunity to learn couture and eveningwear design from the best in the industry - that too while taking Couture Techniques and Construction 3 at school

Construction 2 @ Parsons The New School for Design

The immense pool of talent that exists at Parsons the New School for Design is undeniably intimidating. People from all over the world have worked hard to gain a position at this selective and prestigious institute.

The Fashion Design AAS program is probably home to some of the most determined, creative and hardworking design students in the world. These pupils have already completed degrees in various disciples ranging from Law and Medicine to Textile Design and Art History from some of the best unversities in the world. These young professionals left their jobs and careers to pursue their passion for Design and dreams of becoming a successful Fashion Designer. As a result of their experiences and sacrifices to be here, the stakes are considerably higher. These students have a sense of discipline and determination that is unparalleled as they know exactly what they want to do and what they need to do to achieve it. They do not party, they do not socialize, they simply strive to make their dreams a reality and make their time at Parsons worthwhile.

And in this highly competitive and challenging program, no course is a greater test of the students' worth than the mandatory Construction 2 class. This notorious 6-hour class is where you truly get to see what your colleagues are made of. Taken in the 2nd semester, everyone has finally gotten down the basics of Construction and these aspiring designers are itching to show off their talent and skills in their highly unique and awe-inspiring designs.

Every professor teaches Contruction 2 in their own unique way. Our teacher, Valentina Kova was young, fresh and full of ideas. Being an alumni of the program herself, she taught the course in a manner which constantly kept us on our toes. Every single week, we were taught a new garment or technique and then we were sent to go and create our own interpretation of it, complete with fabric and trims, for the following week. She asked us to choose our inspiration at the beginning of the semester and encouraged us to create every assignment keeping this inspiration in mind, so that by the end of the course, we had an entire collection of original designs.

For our final, we were asked to present our inspiration and final garment in class, and I was so awestruck by the caliber of work that was presented that there was no way I could not share it with you all here. I am presenting to you what I feel is quite possibly of the most inspiring, dedicated and motivating group of people I have ever had the pleasure of working with - and I look forward to seeing them in my classes again next semester. See the slideshow above for the final projects created by the students in Valentina's Fall 2011 Construction 2 class.

Carolina Herrera Internship

So just out of my first semester at Parsons, I start applying for internships for the summer through the university career services. Having spent a good month of the summer with my friends in Toronto, and a very basic portfolio, I an not confident about finding one that will cater to my field of choice: eveningwear design.

However, a mere few days before I am set to leave New York to spend my summer in Dubai with my family, I manage to snag a design intern position at the Carolina Herrera office on Fashion Avenue.

Psyched, excited and superbly nervous about what to expect, I get dressed in a pair of black highwaisted pants, white top and sensible flats for my first day at work.

I walk in and am greeted by the super-friendly receptionist and am asked to wait for someone to come out and greet me. I look around the expansive 17th floor showroom which is tastefully decorated in black and cream, complete with dark flooring and plush beige carpeting. Never before have I had the chance to work in such a luxurious setting and I feel somewhat intimidated by the gorgeous, tall, thin and impeccably dressed women walking around in 4 inch heels.

I am greeted by yet another one of those chic, beautiful women who introduces herself as an assistant designer. She is wearing striking coral heels with a cream shimmery minidress and a black blazer on top. Her hair is pulled back in a chignon, her skin is flawless and she is a full head taller than me. But her demeanor is sweet and friendly and she immediately puts me at ease and shows me around, introducing me to everyone in the office.

I spent the summer working in the design office alongside the Design Director and Assistant designers. The company is an incredible one to work for where the employees and interns are treated with kindness and respect. Mrs. Herrera herself worked in the office next to ours along with the Creative Director of the company. I have nothing but praise for any of the people I came across at the office. Everything is taken in stride with the utmost professionalism and an amazing sense of humour. It is evident that these people love what they do and take all measures to make even the interns feel relaxed, welcome and at home.


Mrs. Herrera herself requires a paragraph to herself. I was completely star-struck the first time I met her. She is everything you would imagine her to be. Classy, elegant, gorgeous and possesses more than just a small dose of that star-quality, that je-ne-sais-quoi that is hard to come by. With platinum blonde hair, incredible posture, graceful features and an amazingly elegant sense of style, one can only dream to look the way she does at 72.

The work itself was more errands than anything else. It was hard, hard work. Running around dressed to the nines in full-makeup during the scorching hot NYC summer is no joke. But I think of it as paying my dues to the Fashion Industry. I never had a chance to complain as I was so happy to be working around such inspiring people who treated me with such kindness and respect. I was always exhausted at the end of the day but to me, it was all a small price to pay for being lucky enough to work in such a prestigious company.

The fruits of my hard work came around in September. I got to attend the Carolina Herrera show at New York Fashion Week. I saw the collection that I had helped put together on the runway. And it took my breath away. I was reminded of how much I love what I am working towards and why I came to NYC in the first place. Oh and I saw Anna Wintour in person at the front row of the show:)

Whats more is that the supper sweet design team gifted us interns goodie bags consisting of several thousand dollars worth of Carolina Herrera clothing to thank us for our help and efforts. They even made sure that the clothes were individually catered to our sense of style and being the experts that they are, they were bang on.

Overall, amazing experience, amazing internship. I would love to go back for them someday as I cannot imagine a better atmosphere that anyone could work in.

Left: 3 of us Design Interns, wringing out a 15 yard piece of silk on the balcony. Everyone was so amused that they started taking pictures of us.

Left: The design team.

Left: Anna Wintour at the Carolina Herrera show

Watch the entire Spring 2012 Carolina Herrera show below!

Studying Fashion at Parsons the New School for Design (Fashion Design AAS)

So a lot of people are curious about what it is actually like to study Fashion Design at Parsons the New School for Design. I know I was searching high and low for any information regarding the school and the programs it offered, but was not too successful in my endeavors.

Thus here is the lowdown from a second semester AAS Fashion Design student. Fashion is NOT all glamour and partying. I learnt that the hard way. I came here not knowing what to expect, but I had an image of snooty rich kids who would party hard, dress in the latest designer fashions and not work too hard. That image could not be further from the truth.

Yes Parsons is a private fashion school, possibly the best one in North America. And yes, the students here tend to have wealthy backgrounds. But that is it. The Fashion Design students at Parsons are quite possible the most dedicated, passionate and hardworking ones I have ever come across. I thought the students at McGill worked hard. I was wrong. The work ethic here is unparalleled to anything I have ever seen or heard of. And the program is just as demanding and vigorous.

The AAS Fashion Design program promises to make even the most inexperienced pupil into a talented designer, at the forefront of their career stage. This does not happen by accident, it happens by a curriculum that requires you to forgo sleep, food and rest to learn, experiment and create designs that are of the utmost quality and highly inspiring.

Being only 4 semesters long, Parsons AAS Fashion Design consists of a rigourous set of classes, professors and policies which push you to your limits. Each student carries a courseload between 6 to 9 classes,often with a professional internship. Each class assigns a project every week, which can take anywhere between 3 to 24+ hours to complete. Miss more than 2 classes and you fail the course. Yup, thats right, you fail regardless of how well you may be doing in that course.

The curriculum consists of a unique mix of construction, design, art and marketing courses which are catered to teach even the most oblivious of pupils (like myself) the art and profession of Fashion Design. Work hard and the results are infront of you. You learn more than you ever thought was imaginable. By the end of your first semester, you are able to transform a concept into a completely finished garment all by yourself.

The atmosphere is highly cut-throat and competitive, as is the industry in which you aim to enter. Students work hard day and night, without sleeping for days to create projects that are awe-inspiring. You get inspired by your colleagues and the feats they accomplish. Doing well in this program is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. but the results are spectacular. Internships are yours for the choosing. You are the employers' first choice because they know the caliber of hardwork and dedication that is required to be a Parsons student. And its very likely they themselves were one not very long ago.

The program is tough, and tears are frequent. But there is very little guesswork involved in what is required of you and what you need to do. Unlike my previous university, there is a constant flow of information from the Fashion School regarding the next step. Events are frequent and usually include industry leaders.

All in all, I wouldn't have chosen anything else. This place is incredible and inspiring and I get to do what I love. Hard work, as you will learn at Parsons, is the key to your success. For all of you considering the program, be sure it is for the right reasons: to learn and grow and nothing else. You will not get to sleep, dress up, party or explore the city; that will have to be set aside for life after Parsons.

Concrete Jungle

So I know it been about a year since I last posted on this page and I apologize for that. Thing is, life got pretty crazy and its taken quite a bit of time for me to adjust and settle into it, but I now realize that blogging about it would be quite possibly the best way for me to remember it and many of you fashion-lovers might actually find it interesting.

First and foremost, let me update you on what has happened since I last posted: I got into Parsons the New School for Design's AAS Fashion Design program last year and as a result, I am now living in New York City. Pretty cool stuff huh?

I applied in 2010 to the program in the hopes that somehow I may just get in, and when I did, I spent a good hour jumping around my brother's apartment in Montreal in joy and disbelief. It seemed my life was finally getting on track, and on January 16th, 2011, I followed my ambitions to become an eveningwear designer to a city I had never set foot in before: The Big Apple itself aka NYC.

I hated it at first. I was stuck living in an "open space" i.e. the living room of a one bedroom suite with 3 other girls I knew nothing about. They were nice enough, but I couldn't help missing my comfortable, relaxed, Canadian lifestyle where I was lucky enough to constantly be surrounded by friends whom I loved and knew. Furthermore, I was bewildered by the masses that walk the streets of New York on a daily basis. What's there to love I thought? The dirty streets with their piles of garbage bags, the depressing subway stations and not having anyone to talk to for days really made me question the validity and sanity of my decision to move into a place where I knew noone and knew nothing about.

Its been 11 months now, and my feelings have truly changed. The phrase "Never judge a book by its cover" could not be more suited to anyplace in the world other than NYC. A few close friends, and a ton of exhilarating yet exhausted experiences later, I have fallen in love with this bizarre city I have come to call home. The opportunities this place has to offer coupled with the attitudes of the people living here have truly inspired me in a way like no other. And not writing about it and sharing it with you all would truly be injustice to a blog which I started as a dedication to my love for fashion.

Presenting the Lanvin for H&M collection

Lanvin for H&M

Every year, fashionistas look forward to the launch of H&M's limited edition designer collections that promise to make the looks they covet available to them at prices they can afford.

This year, H&M fans will be delighted to know that the stylish brand has paired up with one of the biggest names in the fashion world - Lanvin. The highly anticipated Lanvin for H&M line will hit stores on the 23rd of November, 2010*. The collection is one of the biggest stories in the fashion world at the moment and after seeing its previews, it is certain to be yet another sell out.

View the slideshow (below) to see the entire Lanvin for H&M line or view the individual items in the photo gallery.

* This date is for the majority of the stores around the world, some select stores will have the new collection starting from the 20th November 2010. Visit the H&M website for further details.

Lanvin for H&M collection slideshow:

Watch the Official Lanvin for H&M preview fashion show ft. supermodel Natasha Poly:

History of H&M Limited Edition Designer Collections

H&M has always been thought of as the go-to store for people looking to stock up on stylish essentials at affordable prices. However, in 2004, the company really took "affordable style" to a whole new level by collaborating with Chanel's creative director and one of the world's most renowned designers, Karl Lagerfeld, to create an exclusive, limited edition collection of clothing and accessories for H&M. The result was a huge success, with high-traffic stores reporting that inventories of the collection were depleted within hours of its launch.

Following on the heels of the uber-successful Karl Lagerfeld for H&M collection, the trend-savvy brand has made it a point to routinely pair up with one successful designer after another to develop chic, limited edition collections for H&M that made these designers' highly coveted clothes accessible to those of us who would not be able afford them otherwise.

Ever since the inception of this brilliant concept, we have seen H&M bring in collections designed by Stella McCartney (2005), Viktor & Rolf (2006), Madonna (2007), Roberto Cavalli (2007), Matthew Williamson (2009), Jimmy Choo (2009) and Sonia Rykiel (2010).

Runway Highlights: The Best of Spring 2011

Slideshow: The Best Designs of Spring 2011

The Best Designs of Spring 2011 (all designers)

Being the fashion addict that I am, I usually tend to go through all my favorite designers' collections every season. This year, having started my own fashion blog, I took it upon myself to provide my readers with a comprehensive summary of the best designs of the Spring 2011 season. And in order to truly find the best of the best, I set about going through the collections of all the major designers I could think of. After a week of toiling in front of my laptop, I was finally able to put together the most outstanding pieces of the Spring 2011 season and although the final slideshow is somewhat longer than I hoped, there was noway to cover as many designers as I did in anything less.

To get you the best of best of the Spring 2011 fashion, I considered the collections of all the designers I could think of, and to make sure I didn't leave any major label out of the running, I used the list of designers available on InStyle.com and meticulously went through it in alphabetical order. And despite going through at least a few hundred collections (no joke) only the following labels have created designs that have made their way into this highly elite list:

- Anna Sui

- Alexanger McQueen

- Balenciaga

- Giorgio Armani

- Balmain

- BCBG

- Bottega Venetta

- Burberry

- Carolina Herrera

- Roberto Cavalli

- Chanel

- Christian Dior

- DKNY

- Diane Von Furstenburg

- Dries Van Noten

- Elie Saab

- Emilio Pucci

- Etro

- Giambattista Valli

- Givenchy

- Gucci

- Hermes

- Herve Leger

- Jean Paul Gaultier

- John Galliano

- L'Wren Scott

- Marchesa

- Marc Jacobs

- Missoni

- Louis Vuitton

- Narcisco Rodriguez

- Oscar de la Renta

- Matthew Williamson

- Nina Ricci

- Valentino

- Vera Wang

- Versace

- Viktor & Rolf

- Vivienne Westwood

- Yves Saint Laurent

- Zuhair Murad

To see the list, view the slideshow [at the beginning of this post] or you can browse through the photo gallery which is organized in alphabetical order.

Chanel: The Best Fashion Show of Spring 2011

Out of all the fashion shows I went through to create this list, the Chanel show for Spring 2011 was truly breathtaking in every single way. Not only did the show feature what are, without a doubt, some of the most exquisite designs of the season, but it was also truly a joy to watch.

Set around a fountain in the famous Parisian monument the Grand Palais, some of the world's highest ranking supermodels walked gracefully down the vast, black and white runway wearing Karl Lagerfeld's lust-worthy creations for Spring 2011. What's more is that the grand show was set to Thomas' Roussel's interpretation of Jardin D'Eden and The Bittersweet Symphony played live by L'Orchestre Lamoureux who were set up within the venue and also featured Lagerfeld's muse from the 80s, supermodel Ines de la Fressange. The show did a fantastic job of capturing the true essence of Chanel that can only be described as true Parisian elegance. You should watch the show (see end of this post for a video of the full show) for yourself to truly understand what the fuss [and Chanel] are all about.

Chanel Spring 2011 show - Grand Palais, Paris.

Other honorable mentions would be the Jean Paul Gaultier and John Galliano shows for Spring 2011. As always, these masters of the fashion world continue to dominate the top spots in the industry and for good reason; year after year they have consistently put together some of the most inspiring and extravagant shows in the world. Watch them below:

Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2011 show

John Galliano Spring 2011 show

Part 1:

Part 2:

Balmain: Spring 2011 collection

Balmain has been anything but light-handed and conservative lately. Christophe Decarnin's designs for the fashion house are laden with refined aggression and strike the perfect balance between anarchy, party glamour and raw sex appeal. The designer has come a long way from his debut collection for the label back in Fall 2006. And with every season, we are able to witness how Decarnin is evolving as a designer as he becomes more confident and comfortable working for Balmain. Over the seasons, we have seen Decarnin slowly steer the label from one that was considered to be the go-to brand for ladylike evening wear to one that is considered to be one of the sexiest and most rebellious labels in the industry. Skin tight pants, leather, ripped t-shirts, embellished jackets, sequined mini-dresses, thigh-high slits and way high strappy heels are commonplace in a Balmain collection now and each piece is in high demand despite the astounding price tag on it.

Therefore this season comes as no surprise. Decarnin's latest collection for Balmain is almost a natural step for the label. Spring 2011 is infused with a sense of rock 'n' roll culture and punk rock trends - the Parisian way of course. The collection is a far cry from the lighter palettes that are normally used for the warmer seasons and is instead comprised mainly of red, black, white, denim and - in true Balmain style - lots of sparkle,sheen and leather. Exquisite, heavily embroidered soft leather motorcycle jackets have been paired with ripped tops and beaded bustiers. And when combined with tight leather pants and tiny sequined shorts and miniskirts, the effect is a unique look that is somehow extremely wild and glamorous at the same time.

I do like this collection but I feel that it is a little more grungy than glamourous for me. I am extremely fond of Decarnin's dresses and this collection didn't have a single one so I am a little disappointed. Not his best collection to date by any means (see Balmain: Best of the Decarnin era) but it should be noted that Decarnin has set some very high standards for himself and in fact his latest work features some truly outstanding pieces and showcases his brilliant creativity. But I'm still keeping my fingers crossed in the hopes to see a slightly a more polished and glamourous rebellion in the Fall 2011 collection.

See Balmain's latest collection slideshow and runway show clip for Spring 2011 below.

Balmain Spring 2011 slideshow:

Balmain Spring 2011 runway show:

Balmain: Best of the Christophe Decarnin era

As a second part of the House of Balmain feature, I decided to put together a slideshow (see end of this post for slideshow) of what I think are some of the most inspiring and defining designs that Christophe Decarnin has created for the prestigious brand thus far. The slideshow includes all my favorite pieces from Decarnin's debut collection for the fashion house in Fall 2006 up until (and including) his latest collection for Spring 2011.

The photos have been put together in chronological order and were selected on the basis of their originality, level of tailoring expertise required and that essential "wow" factor that is crucial in setting them apart from all others.

I would love to hear about what you think of this slideshow and please let me know if you think that I have left out any piece that you think is worthy of being here.

Balmain: The Christophe Decarnin era

When it comes to my favorite designers and brands, I know only one thing: nothing compares to Christophe Decarnin's designs for the House of Balmain. Thus, I decided I had to do a special piece on the brand which would feature an introduction on the label and then follow it up with a collection of my favorite looks and pieces that Decarnin has created for it along with his designer profile.

Balmain has always been a brand that has been highly regarded in the fashion industry and since its inception [by Pierre Balmain] in 1945, the label has dressed the likes of Sophia Loren and Briget Bardot in ultra-elegant and super-feminine evening wear.

However, Balmain started facing difficulties in 2002 when the company's Creative Director of 10 years, Oscar de la Renta left the fashion house to start his own label. The brand tried to replace de la Renta but after two years and two creative directors, it was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2004.

Investors decided to revive the legendary fashion house in 2005 and brought in Christophe Decarnin as the label's new creative director. Decarnin, who had spent seven years leading the prestigious Paco Rabbane label was exactly what the doctor had prescribed for Balmain.

Decarnin single-handedly transformed Balmain from being a "safe" brand that created elegant evening wear with a focus on draping and pleating to one that is now considered to be one of the sexiest and edgiest brands out there. Decarnin's designs are made with the quintessential French party-girl and are loaded with a certain je ne sais quoi. From tight thigh-grazing, ripped minidresses encrusted with crystals to body skimming embellished leather pants and jackets, Balmain has perfected the edgy, tough-chic look that adds an aura of mystery and danger to its wearers in the most appealing of ways.

Season after season, Decarnin has delivered audiences with one astounding show after another. The designs are exquisite, lavish and very expensive (plain Balmain t-shirts are priced at a whopping $1,500). The hefty price tags simply add to the dark, sexy charm of Balmain by making them and their wearers seem more elusive and out of reach than ever before.

Watch the Spring 2009 & Fall 2010 Balmain shows (my favorite Balmain collections to date) below:

Marchesa Spring 2011 Collection

Marchesa is quite possibly one of my favorite labels out there. The brand, which was only founded in 2004, has already established itself as a leader in the fashion industry by consistently producing some of the most beautiful and coveted dresses in the fashion world.

This season is no different. The company's designers, Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig have revealed yet another breathtaking collection for Spring 2011 that showcases Chapman's highly evolved draping skills using the exclusive textiles that Craig develops for the brand. The result? An exquisite collection of dresses that Vogue describes as: "the kind [of dresses] that little girls dream of, ultra-feminine confections that never skimp on the embellishments. To their credit, however, the designers have learned to channel those girlish dreams and turn them into well-considered, well-made, and whimsical high-wattage gowns."

Marchesa's star-studded show, which took place at the Chelsea Art Museum this fall, featured gorgeous dresses wrought with details inspired from the Orient. Heavily bejeweled necklines, hand-painted florals on sculptural drapes and lavish embroidery are only some of the extensive details in the Spring 2011 collection. The majority of the collection was based on a lighter palette that featured white, pastel and nude tones which are sure to be the hottest colors to sport as the climates warms up.

Overall, the show managed to capture the full attention of its attendees and was described largely using superlatives thereby reaffirming the designers' skills, talent and wildly successful creative partnership. However, despite my love for the label's signature look which Chapman and Craig have seemingly perfected, I would like to see the duo branching out and using their immense talent to create some more riske and avant-garde looks in future collections. Apart from that, I have no complaints whatsoever with Marchesa's latest collection and will continue to dream of wearing its designs someday.