The Art of Fashion with Market America’s Loren Ridinger

[highlight_text] YSL is all about strong, powerful women, and this collection aims to appeal to a wide range of individuals who want to create their own look and feel unique and special.  [/highlight_text]

Spring is in the air and I could not be more thrilled about it. This is such a lovely season, filled with vibrant colors, not only in nature, but in many designer collections as well. Citrine, coral, lime, neon pink, and cobalt blue are the hot hues of the moment. These bursts of color are guaranteed to give a fresh and exciting lift to any wardrobe that may have gone drab during the winter months. Some of the collections that are earning excellent editorial attention include Jil Sander, Herve Leger, and my favorite spring line from Gucci. This collection is fun and flirty for the season, featuring micro mini dresses in tropical prints belted at the hips, and long flowing caftans. You can’t go wrong by making an investment in one of these dramatic pieces from one of the world’s most influential fashion houses.

Another collection that has been the talk of the town recently is that of Yves Saint Laurent. In mid-March, I was invited to an incredible YSL trunk show hosted by Laure Heriard Dubreuil and Frederic Dechnik at their chic Miami Beach boutique, The Webster. The multi-brand boutique carries the best must-have designers, with the YSL inventory as an obvious choice, since the pair worked for the fashion house together in Paris.

Their connection to YSL certainly served as quite the boon for all of us South Florida fashionistas, as the dynamic duo was able to secure personal appearances from the CEO of Yves Saint Laurent, Valerie Hermann, and the president of Yves Saint Laurent USA, Laura Lendrum, for the show.

Valerie and Laura presented 12 new looks from YSL’s “Edition Soir” collection. I have seen my fair share of fashion trends, and I have to say that this is such an innovative and unique line. The capsule collection addresses various needs in eveningwear for the contemporary woman. There will be 14 silhouettes overall in 26 looks that will be available off-the-rack, in case you get a last-minute invite to a black-tie affair. At the same time, Creative Director Stefano Pilati created a “demi-couture” service for a more customized look. Here’s how it works: first choose from seven different fabrics such as radzimir, organza, mousseline, satin, or grain de poudre, then decide from 14 color selections, and finally pick from seven embroideries including crystal, raffia, feather, and sequin. The service takes three months from start to finish.

Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, and Catherine Keener have all made red carpet appearances in ensembles from the line, which features hues of midnight blue, fuschia, titanium, ivory and, of course, basic black. There are also satin shoes, minaudières in crocodile, and fur boleros in mink and fox to go with the gorgeous gowns. One of my favorite looks was the silk satin, floor-length dress in royal blue, with the matching fox fur, worn by Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, at the Sidaction AIDS Benefit in Paris.

What I love about this collection is not only that it is so classy, but also the customization aspect of the demi-couture service. It is the perfect demonstration of a designer who is in touch with the woman who wears him. YSL is answering women’s needs with this line, and that is a trend that I see on the fashion forefront. Women want what they want. And more than ever we are becoming more selective with our purchases, therefore, it is paramount that the fashion houses listen and understand the needs of their clients and deliver. YSL certainly has, perfectly blending convenience with customization.

This emerging trend from the Edition Soir collection defines the new luxury: modern-day tailor-made. YSL is all about strong, powerful women, and this collection aims to appeal to a wide range of individuals who want to create their own look and feel unique and special. Mr. Saint-Laurent’s ultimate goal was to provide women with their complete wardrobe when going to a business lunch, when traveling, when spending a weekend in the countryside, and last but not least, when going to a cocktail party or black-tie ball.

Overall it is shaping up to be a beautiful season. Throw in some fabulous jewels from Lanvin—big and bold is the way to go this season—and you will be all set.