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.