“China: Through the Looking Glass,” a spectacular exhibition curated and organized by Andrew Bolton opened Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with production design by Nathan Crowley. Two years in the making, installed both in the Anna Wintour Costume Center and within the grand backdrop of the museum’s Chinese Galleries—a first for contemporary fashion—the show juxtaposes masterpieces of Chinese art and rare artifacts with works by (mostly) Western designers, inspired by the idea of China but emerging from the wilder shores of the imagination. By Leslie Camhi
 

Fashion Editor: Grace Coddington   Photographed by Steven Meisel, Vogue, May 2015

At the Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring 2009 show in Paris, John Galliano’s lining on a cream silk ball gown (worn by model Fei Fei Sun) referenced the designer’s fascination with blue-and-white porcelain.

Designers’ imaginations have been fired by visions of pleasure pavilions and blossoming branches, with a handful of familiar motifs emblematic of China itself: the peony, the pagoda, the phoenix captive on the grounds of a summer palace.

Alexander McQueen dress embroidered with birds, butterflies, and flowers, from Autumn 2006.  

Many of the garden motifs we associate with China were first popularized in the West by the aristocracy of France and England as patterns on imported or domestic-imitation china and wallpaper.

Valentino created this blue-and-white bouquet-printed gown in Autumn 1968.

Peacocks, cranes, and other gorgeous winged creatures appear on many of the garments in the exhibition.

Mei Lanfang, a 20th-century Peking Opera singer famous for playing female roles, inspired John Galliano’s Spring 2003 Christian Dior Haute Couture collection, including this theatrical ensemble and gilded headpiece, which will be showcased in the exhibition.  

Scarlet has so many associations: firecrackers in their bright wrappers; the lucky red-paper trinkets of the Chinese New Year. John Galliano summoned to mind these references for Christian Dior Haute Couture in Spring 1997 with this silk fringed dress with a delicate tracing of flowers from the shoulder.

Image Source & Rights:  Vogue    Steven Meisel    Text Source & Rights:   Vogue    Leslie Camhi

Hair: Guido Palau; Makeup: Pat McGrath for CoverGirl: Produced by PRODn at Art + Commerce; Set Design: Mary Howard; Wallpaper: Courtesy of de Gournay; Dressing: Madame Paulette   Photographed by Steven Meisel, Vogue, May 2015

It was not your average night at the museum, but the biggest and boldest night on fashion’s calendar—the Met Gala. About 600 guests wound their way through the red-carpet tumult and into the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s entrance hall, dominated for the night by a gigantic chinoiserie vase created entirely by white and blue roses. Up the grand staircase lined by fragrant, verdant bamboo they walked, past Vogue staffers clad in pale jade and lapis–toned Michael Kors pajamas.

Met Gala Entrance, photo by Kevin Tachman

Tabitha Simmons and Coco Brandolini D'Adda, both in Dolce & Gabbana  Photo by Taylor Jewell

Entrance Hall dominated by a gigantic chinoiserie vase created entirely by white and blue roses. Photo by Taylor Jewell

Ivanka Trump in Prabal Gurung and Jared Kushner. Photo by Taylor Jewell

Photo by Taylor Jewell/ Vogue

Karen Elson in Dolce Alta Moda        Photo: Kevin Tachman/ Vogue

With fashion's heavy hitters and Hollywood's most stylish in attendance, the arrivals always end up being the most jaw-dropping of the year.

Rihanna in Guo Pei Couture      Getty Images / Dimitrios Kambouris

Rihanna in Guo Pei Couture                                         Getty Images/ Dimitrios Kambouris

Rihanna arrived draped in a vast fur-lined gold robe —a couture creation that took more than 50,000 hours to make by Chinese designer Guo Pei.

Kim Kardashian in custom Roberto Cavalli                      Getty Images/ Larry Busacca

Kerry Washington in Prada       Getty Images/ Larry Busacca

Fan Bingbing in Christopher Bu            Wireimage/ Kevin Mazur

Brie Larson, Courtney Eaton and Annabelle Wallis        Getty Images/ Larry Busacca
 

Bee Shaffer in Alexander McQueen     Getty Images

Karen Elson in Dolce Alta Moda               Getty Images/Larry Busacca        

Jessica Chastain in Givenchy Haute Couture     Photo: Taylor Jewell/ Vogue

Annabelle Wallis and Tabitha Simmons both in Dolce Alta Moda     Photo: Taylor Jewell/Vogue

The Table      Photo by Daniel Arnold/ Vogue

Fan Bingbing in Christopher Bu       Photo by Taylor Jewell/ Vogue

Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li, Wendi Murdoch, and Li Bingbing           Photo: David X Prutting/bfanyc.com

Rihanna performing  Photo: Kevin Tachman/ Vogue

Image Sources :  Vogue.com   Style.com  Hollywoodreporter.com  Popsugar.com

Text Source:  Vogue.com   NYTimes.com

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Monday night Karl Lagerfeld showed his Chanel Cruise 2016 Show in Seoul in the uber futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a curvaceous spaceship-like structure designed by Zaha Hadid and South Korean-based Samoo Architects.

Chanel staged the show on a modernist, minimalist set – a colorful expanse of polka dot-shaped stools and light fixtures that transformed the space into a giant Twister mat.

“It’s a cosmopolitan idea of the local fashion,” Lagerfeld said. The voluminous shapes and bold color combinations of hanboks, the South Korean equivalent of the kimono, inspired the designer. He delivered his own high-fashion versions of these full, high-waisted dresses in patchwork silk — including one in a smattering of pastel hues and another version in soft pink that closed the show. “This doesn’t exist in any other country in the eastern part of the world — only in Korea,” Lagerfeld said of the patchwork technique.
 

In a nod to the historical hairdos featured in South Korean period dramas, there were bold headpieces made from thick braids of black hair, some in crown formations and others in buns similar to mouse ears.
 

“I don’t do folklore or direct interpretation. It’s an idea of what I think it could be – or should be.”

The styles in tweed, rendered in punchy weaves of bright hues, were also standouts. “It’s an updated Korean version of the Chanel jacket,” Lagerfeld noted.
 

Some A-listers for the front row including Kristen Stewart, Gisele Bündchen, Tilda Swinton, Isabelle Huppert, Gaspard Ulliel, Lo-Fang and Rinko Kikuchi. Tapping into the K-pop talent pool, the fashion house enlisted the likes of rapper G-Dragon, South Korean-American singer Krystal, and singer, songwriter and dancer Taeyang to attend the show along with actresses Shin-Hye Park and Ah-Sung Go.

Photographed by Kathy Lo

“The styling was really Korean. They mixed a lot of elements of traditional Korean style with Chanel’s own identity…[and] I was so proud to see this as a Korean,” G-Dragon said.
 

Image Sources :  Style.com      Vogue.com   

Text Source: wwd.com

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Flash Tatoos the original innovative jewelry-inspired temporary tattoos for serious (and not so serious) fashionistas. The brand responsible for launching the metallic tattoo craze, Flash Tattoos are perfect for the beach, the pool, parties, festivals, concerts... anywhere you and your skin might be seen having fun. Just apply, glimmer and go!

Channel your inner gypsy, and get Flashy with this new bohemian collection 'Desert Dweller' from Child of Wild. This pack features four beautiful pages of hand drawn designs in an earthy array of metallic gold, silver, black and turquoise colors. Inspired by the nomadic tribes of the desert, the collection includes a variety of traditional Berber-style tattoos, henna-inspired geometric designs, Native American motifs, and many more. Wrap the cobra around the wrist or ankle for an exotic look. Place the thunderbird at the nape of your neck. The possibilities are endless!
 

Image Source: Flash Tattoos   Text Source: Flash Tatoos   Text & Image Rights: Flash Tatoos

Desert Dweller

Desert Dweller

Desert Dweller

Desert Dweller

Sheebani is a line of unique henna-inspired temporary tattoos named after Sheebani, the orphan child who was the inspiration for the creation of the The Miracle Foundation. The exotic collection features intricate designs. Wear the shimmering hand art, delicate bands and playful elephants anywhere, whether you’re on your paddleboard in Malibu or laying on the beaches of Bali.

Sheebani

Sheebani

Flash Tatoos partnered with the Rainforest Partnership to bring us a Ilia, colorful collection inspired by the beauty and magic of the rainforest. From electric-hued blooms to the vibrant colors spotted on birds, butterflies and all creatures in between, the neon brights and glistening gold designs featured in this collection are all inspired by the rich color palette found in the Amazon jungle. Declare yourself a BFF of the rainforest by layering the neon friendship bracelets. Apply the feathers down your shoulder and arms for a display that will make a Bird of Paradise jealous, and make a style statement with the layered necklace. The options are endless!

Ilia

Ilia

The first collection to introduce color alongside Flash Tattoos' signature metallic designs, the Isabella collection features a feminine mix of jewelry-inspired designs in a bold blue, soft green and gold hues. Inspired by the vibrant color palette of the Mediterranean and the region’s ancient, yet timeless, architecture, it’s the perfect collection to add a little whimsy and spice to classic looks - whether it’s jeans and a tee or a cocktail dress. An original ‘something blue’ for brides, as well!

Isabella

Isabella

Goldfish Kiss H20 is a line of innovative jewelry-inspired temporary metallic tattoos for all you sandy, saltwater-loving gals. With Hawaii’s sun-kissed beaches serving up some seriously awesome inspiration, surfer babe and designer Rebekah Steen designed a collection that is giving us a serious case of island envy. Check out these cute flamingos and baby pineapples!

Goldfish Kiss H20

Goldfish Kiss H20

Available at Flash Tatoo.com  and Sephora.

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