Just Can't Go There: Fendi Fall 2013

The Fall 2013 ad campaigns are just starting to drop in the September issues - and I, who can pretty much embrace and wear anything, saw something in the September issue of Vanity Fair that even I thought was too fugly.

Somehow the Celine Spring 2013 mink Birkenstocks worked in some sick solace of supreme comfiness - and, silly me, thought that they would surely make it to sale, only to bitterly discover that like minded fashionistas had already snapped up said mink Celine Birkenstocks (much to the relief of my husband).

And speaking of Birkenstocks - which are suddenly popping up on everyone's must have summer essentials list - even rather unexpectedly the ladies of Vogue.  Don't you love this photo of Kate Moss back in her Corrine Day waif days in white Birkenstocks - and I think white is the only way to go... maybe red...  How about you?  Could you wear those Fendi mink sunglasses?  Birkenstocks?  The last and only other time I wore Birkenstocks was when I nearing the end of my pregnancy with twins and truth be told, they were awfully comfy... and a little fugly.

A Study in Blue and White: Valentino

I love this striking image from the Valentino Fall 2013 ad campaign:

The campaign was photographed by the talented duo of Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin and the images with the glorious still life were inspired by Flemish paintings.  And it is just what fashion is meant to do: inspire you to play dress up, to travel in time and imagine yourself someone else, some where else.  

Maria Grazia Chiuri said the campaign was meant to evoke "women represented like paintings, caught in the intimacy and magic of their gestures".  And her co creative director , Pierpaolo Piccioli, added "the magnificence of Flemish lights and contemporary feminine grace and regality".  I don't know about you but I am totally down with Flemish lights, regality and magical gestures.

The other thing I love besides those fab t-strap indigo blue spectator pumps in the still life (alas it does not look like the shoes were actually produced in that color) is the long frock coat and dress in a Chinese porcelain print.  Mr Valentino was inspired by his collection of Chinese porcelain for his own collections as early as the 1960s.  And his BF Carlos Souza has said "that instead of counting sheep, Valentino counts porcelain".

Here is a beautiful Valentino (Mr Valentino - mais bien sur - at RARE vintage) Haute Couture porcelain print dress in an indigo blue on an ivory crepe from the 1980s available at RARE vintage.  The dress is lined in a silk organza and has a bow at the neckline.

More Mr Valentino in blue and white...

A table setting at Valentino's Chateau de Wideville:

The Winter Garden at Wideville:

Images from Valentino Fall 2013 ad campaign, RARE vintage, Mark D. Sikes and Architectral Digest