Decarnin out - what will become of Balmain?

I'm pretty sure this very question troubles all BALMAIN fans now that it was officially announced: CHRISTOPHE DECARNIN, Balmain's creative director for the past 5 years, has left the house. The successor haven't yet been appointed, but whoever he or she might be, all I care to know is how much is going to change?

BALMAIN has been among my fashion favorites these last few years. I loved brand's practical approach to chic, with its shimmering figure-hugging mini dresses, ripped jeans combined with gorgeous jackets, the punk-rock look with burned denim and studded leather offered for this spring and luxurious sweater-dresses from the latest, fall/winter collection. I loved Decarnin's Balmain for giving me a kind of high fashion that I could relate to with my own style. But what now? Which way would the new creative director want to go: keep the sexy rebel spirit or "grow up" and leave it behind? I sure hope it's the former. In the meantime here are some of my favorite Balmain looks of the last couple of years - the kind of looks that soon may become history...

Fall/Winter 2011/2012

Spring/Summer 2011

Fall/Winter 2010/2011

Spring/Summer 2010

Fall/Winter 2009/2010

Spring/Summer 2009

J'adore "Aloha" - brand new nail polish from DIOR

It was love at first sight. I want this polish on my nails asap! But will have to wait till mid-May - that's when this summery vibrant color is going to his the stores.

Top 20 visions of spring from fashion ad campaigns

Looking at all those gorgeous designer brand ads in British VOGUE, I thought it would be nice to collect them all in one place - since together they will make a pretty good spring fashion lookbook and provide plenty of inspirations for my outfits. So there you have it - my top 20 spring fashion advertisement looks.

Natalie Portman for Miss Dior Cherie

Natalie Portman is ever so adorable in this ad campaign for Miss Dior Cherie. In the video she's portrayed as a classy and chic French mademoiselle. Well, it was certainly about time - after all she played two of her most famous roles (in "Leon" and "Black Swan") alongside French actors and is about to merry a Frenchman.

Kate Moss smoking stunt at Louis Vuitton: Bold or Fail?

Kate Moss just added yet another one to the long list of scandals starring her by walking the catwalk at Louis Vuitton autumn-winter 2011/12 show while puffing on a cigarette. Aside from the fact that smoking in Great Britain is illegal at all public places (which certainly includes catwalks), the incident also took place on March 9, which happened to be Britain's annual No-Smoking Day.

Indeed, Marc Jacobs made it quite clear that the new collection and the show was all about breaking the rules, crossing boundaries and expression of personal freedom. But while chain-smoking may be Kate Moss's personal choice, it's hardly something to be promoted, especially among younger generation that is greatly influenced by Louis Vuitton as a brand, Marc Jacobs as a designer, and Kate Moss as a style icon.

So what do we make of this? Was it Moss trying to declare that with her history of drug and alcohol abuse, and dating the baddest boys out there, she can easily get away with just about anything? Or was it Marc's way of rooting for his now ostracised colleague John Galliano by staging a scandal of his own?

DSquared2 fall/winter collection is True Grit-inspired

I was just thinking that I totally forgot to include "TRUE GRIT" in my Go Wild West post, when DSQUARED2 presented its fall/winter 2011-12 collection, with models looking like they walked right out of this Oscar-nominated epic cowboy drama. Like all of the best COEN films "True Grit" is all about real places and real people, and DSquared2 fully carried its spirit. Their version of the wild west chic takes the cliche pop-culture cowboys in tartan shirts and pointed boots completely out of the picture, replacing them with moody dwellers of the harsh land, whose clothing protects them from rough weather during day and keeps them warm when sleeping under open skies at night. Those outfits simply emanate comfort and confidence - just what we need for the cold days in the city.

Christina Hendricks to model Vivienne Westwood's jewelry

Gorgeous redhead and “Mad Men” star Christina Hendricks became the new face ofVivienne Westwood’s palladium jewelry collection called “Get a Life.” In the latest photo shoot she shows off adorable headdresses and necklaces as well as her own famous curves. Working on the collection Westwood was inspired by nature and pagan symbols.

Speaking of her model choice Dame Vivienne called Christina the embodiment of beauty and added that: “Her style is just so complimentary to my designs. She has proved to be perfect model for the campaign.”

We’ll she’s certainly right – Hendricks is so alluring in this photos, I just can't take my eyes off her!

Oscar 2011 dresses: Yes, No and Hmmm

With all this Oscar fashion buzz and grading of celebrity dresses, I simply had to have my own say – at least about the outfits that evoked strong emotions. Thus I sorted Hollywood gals into three categories: those who nailed it, those who failed it, and those kinda hanging in the middle…

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!

Natalie Portman in Rodarte

Apart from simply glowing the way only a beautiful future mom can, Natalie also picked a simply perfect dress to match both the occasion and her newly shaped figure. Bravo!

Jennifer Lawrence in Calvin Klein Collection

This Hollywood newcomer absolutely nailed it at her first Oscars red carpet. A simple but totally flattering cut plus great color - she easily beat all the big stars that opted for red that night.

Mila Kunis in Elie Saab

Mila once again proved she's one of the sexiest youngsters in Hollywood today. Judging from her other recent red carpet appearances she knows how to pick a perfect dress and how to rock it. Just look at her - she's a vision!

Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein Collection

Although I'm not sure about this very architectural cleavage cutout, she's quite adorable in this. The metallic glow and color that suits her so well play the main part.

Cate Blanchette in Givenchy Haute Couture

This Givenchy creation is a complex work of art, and it certainly takes the right lady to pull that off, someone like ... Cate. Some other lady could look just weird in this but she's a real stunner!

Amy Adams in L'Wren Scott

I love this deep blue, which is also perfect for natural redheads like Amy and the shimmer adds it the necessary glamour. I'm not crazy about the high neck though, as well as that giant jewel. It would have been much better strapless!

Florence Welch in Valentino

I love Florence because she's great musician, because she's a bold redhead and because she manages to stay true to her vintage style, while staying true to the red carpet demands. In this champagne-coloured frock she looks dreamy and light as feather!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Anne Hathaway in Valentino

Apparently that's what happens when you're hosting the ceremony and there is all that pressure to blow everyone away with your first appearance... In the end you just freak - and turn up looking like this. It seems like Anne wrapped the piece of fabric around herself at last minute, and as result her breasts look flattened, her waistline is all wrinkles and the bottom part is like a crumpled bright-red plastic bag. And speaking of red - this shade is just wrong for her.

Nicole Kidman in Christian Dior Haute Couture

Ok, this is a way bigger disaster than Anne's, since it looks out of place and out of fashion. All those layers and cuts are so totally wrong, I don't even know how to explain this!

HHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...

Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbana

I do like the general idea of it, but it still somehow comes out not good. Why? Maybe because magenta's wrong for her, the pencil-shape doesn't flatter her figure and her hair is too lackluster for the occasion?

Michelle Williams in Chanel

I'm sorry, but this is just boring. Maybe it also has to do with her expression and haircut (which I hate for some reason), but even though the dress is see-through, she doesn't look sexy or seductive at all. Just dull.

Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang

I know some critics loved it, can't really support them. Maybe it's the hair, maybe the shade of red (as with Anne) that's just slightly wrong, maybe the bodice top that is strange and uncomplimentary. Sorry, doesn't work for me at all.