Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Valentino

The Grand Master of supreme opulence is back at it again and as usual the famed designing house doesn't disappoint. The entire collection was lovely and "fairy tale" like and it definitely proved beyond a doubt that Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli are a winning team. It was a delicious and vibrant showing of dresses structured dramatically with the use of ruffles and the petal detail. Organza was the favorite fabric of choice draped in a way to inspire romance and youthful appeal. The colors invoked a vibe of an airbrush painting, with swishes of nudes in gray, primrose, ashes of roses and muted yellow. It was all about having "a fabulous night on the town" and not much daytime wear. But its nice feeling to have the opportunity to dream and dream BIG. And I am sure Mr. Valentino would agree!

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Giambattista Valli

Sophisticated, youthful, playful and inspiring, those are some of the adjectives that could be used to define Giambattista Valli spring collection. It was definitely geared toward young hollywood starlets who are slaves to fashion and the ever-evolving trends. The colors were fun and lively and there was a heavy dose of fringes, ruffles and bouncy skirts. There was also an interesting and updated take on the animal print which seemed to be one of Valli's efforts to reach out to the more mature crowd. Overall it was a more sedated showing than most of his fans are used to but it was nice to see a healthy balance and even distribution of the theatrical and the more adaptable pieces. He still had fun playing with his favorite accessory - feathers, and managed to incorporate them in some of his cocktail dresses and skirts. But the one staple that continues to be attached to Valli is his sense of adventure and fantasy. Two things none of us should ever do without.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Emanuel Ungaro

Okay, so I guess there is a reason why not many actresses are top designers. This is because you actually have to have a sense of style, talent and endurance in order to consistently produce that "Wow" factor that keeps people coming back for more. For reasons that are hard to fathom, actress Lindsay Lohan was appointed the new Artistic Director to Emanuel Ungaro after Esteban Cortazar sstepped down as head designer. Lohan was partnered with Estrella Archs, a relatively unknown designer to help bolster the Ungaro name and bring a fresh youthful vibe to the troubled designing house. But from the looks of things and based on their showing on Sunday, there are more troubles on the horizon. Most of the looks were outdated and hindered on simply cliche. It resembled a closet filled with rejects from the 80's that nobody would ever think of wearing now. The colors were bright and repetitive and the bondage dresses and wrap tops were uninspiring and ill-fitted. It definitely looked like this collection was put together at the last minute and Lohan confirmed this backstage after the show when she pointed out that the collection "had to be designed very quickly". Both Lohan and Archs are too inexperienced to be given the responsibility of rescuing a once respected label. If this an indication of what to expect from Emanuel Ungaro, then I think its time for them to officially declare an SOS.

Trendy Fall Cosmetics

The weather is cooler, and its time to re-evaluate all the goodies in your cosmetic bags and perhaps make some major adjustments. The theme this fall season hinders on a deep and rich color scheme. The natural look is still very much in vogue but with a more muted and chromatic glaze. The options below are a guide to what you should expect to see and hopefully add to your personal collection.

Get your nails noticed by slathering them in Stormy Grey by Yves Saint Laurent Nail Lacquer ($20). This “bold and beautiful” hue is the perfect accessory to match any outfit you might be considering for the numerous holiday parties you are sure to hit in the coming weeks. You could even take it up a notch by matching this color on your fingers with a brighter shade for your toes to present that perfect contrast. Whatever you decide this is definitely one of the coolest colors of the season.

Finding the perfect lip color can be challenge for most of us. But your search could be over with the arrival of Givenchy’s Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick ($27). Available at any Sephora store in your city, this lightweight wonder glides on smoothly to reveal a sexy shade that can you can easily use to transition from day to night. Its fine texture makes it comfortable to wear because it also works as a lip conditioner due to its soothing and softening effect. And we all know how important it is to find a lip that stands the test of time. Bottom line: You will not be disappointed with the must have addition to your purse.

Living in a big city requires a lot of high maintenance so it’s mandatory to always be prepared for last minute events or unexpected getaways. Makeup Palette To Go ($15) is your one stop shopping to getting your face flawless and picture ready at a moments notice. This box of colorful confections is a Sephora brand but looks and feels more expensive. It contains an array of essentials including eye shadow, lip-gloss and blush. Practically everything a girl needs to doll up. The colors are in line with the fun holiday season. Getting more for your money doesn’t get any better than this!

Finally, usher in the season with a new fragrance that aims to inspire. Lola Marc Jacobs ($65-$85) is deliciously feminine and thankfully long-lasting. The gorgeous purple tinted hourglass bottle with the adorable rose petal detail will no doubt grab your attention and will be a welcome piece on your dresser. The scent contains hints of vanilla, creamy musk and fuschia peony. Its bound to get you some major attention so be prepared!

So now is the time to warm up to the cooler temperatures by putting your best look forward.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Gareth Pugh

The Ultimate Scene Stealer! That is what best describes Gareth Pugh's showing at Paris Fashion Week 2010. The London Club boy turned costumier has at last proven his capabilities of being an accessible designer. Enhanced by the cool goth-like theme, the models were completely in their stride as they played into the high octane theatrics courtesy of Pugh's self proclaimed Palais de Tokyo show. The color scheme was consistently muted with a range that played on different shades of gray and, brown and blue. Gauzy dresses, chiffon pieces and sheer fabrics were coupled with one-of-a-kind accessories which included lace-up leather leggings and feathered headpieces. Gareth Pugh pulled off his most refined production to date without losing his edge, proving there are more goodies to come from this budding designer.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Fendi

It seems that the theme for Milan Fashion Week hinders on the unexpected pleasure and lightness of being in love. The "walking on air" vibe is paramount for the energy of all the shows so far and Karl Lagerfield continued the tradition for Fendi on Sunday. His gorgeous gamines were fitted with sheer gauzy fare dipped in the usual spring pastels. Some of the outfits seemed to hinge on the lingerie effect making the overall production echo the desire of a woman in love and using her natural style to demonstrate her satisfaction. Chiffon blouses and dresses whisked by and short skirts cut high enough to reveal voluminous legs and a tapered waist. If Spring is the beginning of great expectations, then Fendi will certainly be a good place to start.

Trendy Fashion Week Spotlight - Gucci

Being a well dressed woman entails effortless style and loads of confidence. Frida Giannini of Gucci relentlessly drove that image home for her Spring 2010 collection. Gucci has always been known for its sleek refined silhouettes and there was plenty of that on display. Giannini noted that she wanted this line to reveal a "dynamic and coherent vision of modern femininity". If this is any indication of what the future holds for all the fashionistas out there then there is a lot to look forward to. Again, there was a lot attention paid to the unique contours of the female form. From high-waisted pants that focused on leg elongation to dynamic cut out dresses of modest colors and fun prints, there was a lot to be celebrated. When it comes to a woman using her beauty and brains to take charge of the board room - Gucci is the word on the street.