Purr-fect Opening Ceremony

Industry favorites Carol Lim and Humberto Leon have been busy this season turning around Kenzo and reimaging it as a must-have brand. Lucky for us, that doesn't mean they've forgotten the cult brand that first blasted them into popularity: Opening Ceremony.

The spring 2012 line draws its inspiration from summer music festivals, ranging from England to Argentina, and then back to the U.S. The festival look, with obvious nineties influences, gives us a collection that will no doubt be everywhere by next summer's festivities. Combining a plethora of baby-doll and crop-top silhouettes, the line features this year's must-have (thanks largely in part to Grace Coddington) ... CAT FACES! Adorably imaged on many of the collection's white pieces, the cat faces are both graphic and cut out — but, in both cases, awesome.

Check out more pictures of the line after the jump, and start your new list of must-haves!

Contrast in Antonio Azzuolo's SS'12 Collection

Antonio Azzuolo’s spring 2012 collection is all about contrast — mixing tailored suit jackets with baggy, low-crotch shorts and adding splashes of colors like bright red and yellow.

Azzuolo has reinvented something quite dated in a modern radiance. The collection has a geeky school boy vibe — socks are pulled up past the calves and shorts stop below the knee. Azzuolo also includes stripes in his collection, which remain a popular style choice for men because they widen the body frame and tend to add a young (yet smart) feel to any outfit.

Antonio’s collection is very trendy and will surely be the subject of inspiration for many retailers come springtime. So, keep your eyes peeled for tailored suit jackets, bright-colored sweater vests, and oversized formal wear.

More looks from the collection after the jump...

Elene Cassis Rocks the Runway at NYFW

Although New York Fashion Week is behind us, I would like to take some time to point out a designer who may not get the recognition that she deserves. I was a lucky patron to receive an extra ticket to Elene Cassis's runway show on Sept. 15 in Lincoln Center. The star-studded, housewife-lined runway was themed in simple black and white, with a musical-enthused show to come.

Just as you thought the first look would come out, a hot player rocked the cords of a hot pink violin and introduced the first of Elene's looks for her show. The dresses, suits, and pant suits were impeccably wearable and classic, with pastels and classic blacks and whites. 

As hectic as the back of the house certainly was, everything went off without a hitch in the front. The whole show was unforgettable, and it closed with the talented violin player and the final walk for Elene, who was dressed in an all black pant suit — probably courtesy of herself. Of course, there was a standing ovation as a small dance part commenced in awe of the jaw dropping collection. Elene Cassis is a designer to look and watch out for. Check out EleneCassis.com to see her latest collection and view her timeless pieces. 

Text Jordan Bossman

Source(s) EleneCassis.com, youtube.com

Miuccia Prada Shows Both Sides of the Spectrum

Hands down, one of the most exciting things about a designer who overlaps between two or more brands is waiting and watching for the differences (if any) that appear in simultaneously debuting collections. For this fashion week, that category landed firmly in the hands of Miuccia Prada — who not only helms the infamous Prada that showed at the beginning of the week, but also Miu Miu, which showed today.

This season, the shows couldn't have been more different while, at the same time, have clear, stylistic influences that melded from one line to the other. Prada's kitschy prints were paired with retro styling for a very girly, "sweet" line.

More after the jump...

Halloween-Ready SS'12 Runway Looks

With the spring/summer 2012 fashion shows coming to fruition, it's time to start diving headfirst into a more pressing matter at hand: WHAT TO BE FOR HALLOWEEN! There is no better source of costume inspiration than the runway, and how rad would it be to say, "Oh, I'm a Chanel Sea Creature...NBD." Check out some of the beauty looks that are inspiring some seriously awesome Halloween costumes here at CHAOS.

See the looks after the jump...

Sea Creatures Surface on Paris Fashion Week

One major recurring theme of Paris Fashion Week is the sea — more specifically, the creatures that live in it. For Chanel, Versace, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, and Louis Vuitton, everything from shark tooth jewelry to sea horse wedges were spotted on the runway.

Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld launched his spring/summer collection amidst a deep sea fantasy world. To set the mood, models wore pale green, white, and pink attire and graced a runway covered in seashells, fish, and enormous coral reefs.

Inspired by surfers and mermaids, Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci presented a refreshingly wearable collection for spring 2012. Wetsuit-inspired skintight pants and a stream of neutral colors were the highlights of his sea-driven show.

That being said, it seems that sea creatures are the new owls of fashion. Keep an eye out (or maybe a fin?) ... we'll do the same and be sure to let you know if this trend will be taken beyond the runway.

By Brittney Schering
Image courtesy of Style.com

Safe Risk-Taking at Kanye West's PFW SS'12 Debut

Considering Kanye West’s history, status, and notoriety as a trendsetter, his women’s ready-to-wear collection debut at Paris Fashion Week was hardly anything to be shocked about. The real anticipation, however, was whether or not his collection would be any good. Celebrities-turned-designers are often received in one of two very different ways — either with a great deal of scrutiny or with blind acceptance, depending on the celebrity and the audience.

What trounced down the first Kanye West runway was a cohesive collection of educated and thought-out quality pieces, which proved that, at the very least, Kanye had done his homework. The streetwear-inspired collection had plenty of leather, cutouts, and plunging necklines and backs that, with the help of draped pieces and boxy cuts, managed to remain just shy of taking the skin-baring too far.

Although there were several wearable pieces in the collection, the overall effect came across as a safe risk. Beautiful and mild, Kanye's collection was somewhat fashion forward; certainly palatable; and, at times, even interesting — but it consistently stopped short of being groundbreaking. Who knows, the safe-risk approach seems to have worked well for his music career, so it might be a prudent place for his first step into the fashion world, after all.

Text Tienlyn Jacobson
Source WWD

All Dolled up at Viktor & Rolf

Viktor & Rolf aren't known for their plays with subtlety. Last season, models strutted down the runway donning a knight-like theme with faces caked in red paint — which many critics found to be a bit jarring.

This season is all the glitz without the grit. The designer pair opted to show models with a more doll-like demeanor by dressing them in bright colors, structured silhouettes, and massive bright pink eyelashes, to boot. Each piece was either neon, metallic, or exceptionally oversized — and most were adorned with thick, decorative stitching.

Everything about the show was larger than life, and it gave the distinct impression of (very chic) paper dolls. While it was especially entertaining, the show may have missed the mark for the transition from runway to everyday fashion.

Text Corinna Fabre
Image Viktor & Rolf

Fendi SS'12: Fierce or Frazzled?

With LFW behind us, in comes a whole new onslaught of fashion to drool over in Milan; and the latest collection from Fendi definitely has us talking. The Milanese brand is known for being traditionally very Italian with special attention to tailoring, opulent use of furs, and that feminine touch. However, this year we are definitely seeing a side of Fendi that is, shall we say, a bit more "mad scientist-ish." 

Inspired by a Nobel Prize winning, Italian neurologist by the name of Rita Levi-Montalcini, Miss Silvia and Mr.Lagerfeld chose to create a collection with an academic and boyish flare to it. While some of the looks certainly convey the idea of this scientific woman with a taste for luxury, some looks in the show seem to say "I got dressed in the dark and threw on the first pair of shoes I could find." Also, the hair- while fun- represents what could only be the result of a fight with the blow dryer. But, we do need to give it to the fashion house for delivering beautiful, contemporary silhouettes and incredible patterns. Perhaps different styling would make a difference. What do you think? Is this collection fierce or frazzled? 

Text Lauryn Stone

Source: Fendi

Zac Posen Returns To NYC Fashion Week

As we all know, one of industry’s biggest affairs is right around the corner; Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week/New York. The extravaganza will take place in the metropolis September 8-15th and we are all expecting a hefty and fabulous dose of a much needed fashion fix!

With every passing season, designers of the highest caliber debut their latest creations in New York shows. Yet, for the past two seasons, there has been an absence of one young and cutting-edge designer. Having debuted in Paris in recent years, Zac Posen will be returning to the Empire State to show us what SS'12 should be all about.

The show is set to take place at the Lincoln Center on September 11th and personally, we can't wait to see what he has up his creative, little sleeves. Lights, camera...fashion!

Text Jordan Bossman
Source: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week