Patterns and Scale - Dior Spring Couture 2008

I wish that I had more time to immerse myself in all of the runway shows, especially Couture, because they level of fantasy and excess are best displayed there. And while I hope that more of that attention to detail will translate over to real life, I know that much of it can only live well when it is just "a dream".

In Galliano's Spring 2008 show for Dior, I was just swept away but what he presented. I loved the use of over-scaled patterns and silhouettes. You could see the very open and fresh-faced 60's mod influences, especially in the jewelry but you also see the intrigue and glamour (influenced by a favorite of mine - the Madame X Sargent painting) in the make-up (made especially sultry in the non-organic embellishments), and the nods to Klimt in much of the pieces' embellishments.



It was interesting that the tempered the excess of the clothes with a simple wardrobe of shoes. Yes, they, in and of themselves, are excessive but in using the same style (only varied in color and material) he kept the focus firmly on the clothes and helped to ground the variety of shapes, patterns and textures.



As the Manolo has said before, we are passing the zenith of this style of shoe. Especially when, you see a high-concept shoe on a couture runway concurrent with equally outlandish styles available for anyone to buy. Not just high-end, although they are there, but modified to a mass-market level.

Here are some examples all available now:

Guiseppe Zanotti at Piperlime - $750



Kors Michael Kors at Saks - $230



Nine West Taildrop - $79



Check out more of the show and detail shots on Style.com

Photo montage - Catwalk Queen & Shiny Style

Scooped!

I was going to write this whole long and lovely post about how amazing Alexander McQueen is and how I've been in love with him ever since I saw his amazing black roses heels and I bought one of his designs.

But I got scooped! Miss Style-Spy, ever fashionable and on the ball has written a lovely post waxing lyrical about the same Collection's shoes. And well deserved it is too.

There are some amazing designers out there but I don't think anyone, besides Mr. McQueen and Mr. Galliano, are bringing fantasy to life. And I want to live in this fantasy world. These shoes are inspirational. To me they are perfect and I would wear everyone of them. I don't believe in relegating shoes like these to "special occasions." I'm the special occasion! They're the special occasion. What more do you need?

I would wear these to work, to the movies, any where, any day (ok, unless it's raining!) So, because they've been analyzed, let's just sit back and admire...

I love pink and black together, especially this shade of pink. Satin is my latest shoe obsession.



More fun pink and black. I think this combo is even sexier than red and black.



I'm loving the black lace "socks", the satin, the square toes, the height and is that a metal or an ombre heel? Who cares! Love 'em!



This is the spring version of what I'm going to be wearing this Fall - my Michael Kors heels with knit knee-socks. but the creme version is ethereal.



Hot Damn!



Excessive embellishment is one of my favorite things! I have these amazing green taffeta heels with mossy green satin ribbons that tie around my ankles. I have to share them because they are so amazing. These in the same boat!



Palest pink satin, delicate feathers with fluttery black edges. If these shoes are available, I will get them, even if I have to sell a kidney or some other bodily part.



Okay, these too. The remind me of my feather fascinators (which are amazing by the way, KissCurl!)



He used a ton of feathers in the show. Not that I want to promote excessive feather harvesting, but I love feathers integrated into fashion.

So, sorry if I'm being redundant, but, as I said, these are totally worth the additional worship time. And if you are in the market for a spare body part, just let me know.