The DVF Resort 08/09 collection is equally alluring as Lagerfeld’s, but for all of the reasons women have come to love Diane’s designs.
You made it through another year and looked fabulous the entire time. Now it’s time to relax, regroup, and prepare for spring. What better way to do so than with a well deserved vacation? Whether you’re headed for a cruise to the French Riviera or to an isolated island in Fiji, you’ll want to journey in style. With so many already established and new and emerging designers inundating the fashion world with fresh looks and collections, it can become overwhelming to decide what pieces are essential to pack in that Louis Vuitton luggage set that’s been waiting to embark on an exotic adventure.
As I mentioned in previous columns, classic, transcendent pieces are always the best investment, and this holds true to resort wear. The nature of vacation is casual and uncontrived, and therefore sexy. You don’t want to jeopardize this with an overstuffed suitcase filled with a mediocre wardrobe. When packing, you should feel comfortable that you can slip on any piece in your luggage and look great. It is also important to bring pieces that are versatile, such as a blouse that can double as a cover up, taking you from beach to the hotel lounge and back again.
Over the past year I have seen some amazing collections from my never-ending list of favorite designers, but two stick out in my mind as being classic, innovative, and timeless: Chanel and Diane von Furstenberg. Year after year, both labels produce looks that pleasantly surprise with use of color, silhouette, and panache. This year proved to be no exception. Though the two collections are completely different, both bring equally important qualities that are essential for travel. And, of course, you can never go wrong by adding a piece from either label to your wardrobe.
Chanel debuted its 08/09 Cruise line in Miami Beach last May. The entire show was executed with such perfection, and the designs were so stunning it was impossible not to fall in love-at least that was my reaction, and I have a feeling I wasn’t the only one! From the music selection and picturesque locale at the Raleigh hotel to the water nymph ballet grand finale, performed by the American Olympic synchronized swimming team, the show was an iconic moment in fashion history. Lagerfeld chose to debut the collection in Miami because he feels it is a place where the sun is always shining and the people are always having fun, and the collection perfectly reflected these sentiments. Inspired by relaxed comfortable knits, this line is one of my favorites. It is vintage meets modern, quirky yet daring, and flowing and light. I absolutely love the juxtaposition of rocker silver jackets with beautifully flowing white satin gowns. When designs hit Chanel boutiques this past November, the positive response was tremendous. I knew that I had to have everything, and I can’t wait to rock some of the amazing swimwear (especially the one pieces) on the beach in the coming months. If you haven’t already, I encourage every woman to get your hands on a part of this collection.
The DVF Resort 08/09 collection is equally alluring as Lagerfeld’s, but for all of the reasons women have come to love Diane’s designs. They are sharp, clean, and classic while still maintaining an utterly femme quality not found in other designer’s work. What I specifically loved about this collection is that it embodied the true concept behind original resort wear: traveling light to gorgeous destinations. A vacation should be effortless, and investing in a few pieces from this collection will make it that way. Vibrant colors, nautical flags, ruffles, and bold stripes are in abundance, the silhouettes are some of the most flattering that I have ever seen, and the fabrics are low-maintenance and travel-friendly. It’s a smart collection that will make any woman look and feel fabulous regardless of age. The ruched swimwear is particularly flattering to any shape or size. DVF has long been hailed an ambassador and role model for women all over the world. One of her famed aphorisms always makes me laugh because it is so true: “When you figure out your suitcase, you figure out your life.” I’m still working on it, but one thing I know for certain is that I’ll always travel with a DVF dress; her designs are just that classic.
After reading this column, I sincerely hope that you are inspired to embark on the luxury vacation you deserve. Get that luggage set out of the closet and fill it with some eclectic pieces from Chanel and some retro-classic pieces from DVF. I promise you won’t regret it.
Until next time.
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February 3, 2009Designing Woman : Home Decor
