Take 8

As you may know, a great fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent, passed away on Sunday. He was undoubtedly a force behind many fashion movements from the time he entered the scene in 1957 to his last couture show in 2002. Here's a look at some of the amazing looks he created for YSL and how those clothes influenced not just what we wear, but the role of women throughout the world.


Anne-Marie Schiro of the New York Times said it best in an article published Monday: "During a career that ran from 1957 to 2002 he was largely responsible for changing the way modern women dress, putting them into pants both day and night, into peacoats and safari jackets, into “le smoking” (as the French call a man’s tuxedo jacket), and into leopard prints, trench coats and, for a time in the 1970s, peasant-inspired clothing in rich fabrics."

Pea Coat, 1962

Le Smoking jacket

Forties Revival

Inspired by Picasso

Pop Art

Draping


The following looks are from some of Saint Laurent's last final couture shows...

Spring 2001






Fall 2001

Take 7, Special "Sex and the City" edition

I'm a bad, bad blogger, I know. I apologize for not carrying through with my promise to blog last week about Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte's fashion history on "Sex and the City." It was a crazy, busy week...but I did see the movie Friday night! I won't say anything about the movie itself. I will say that the clothes and accessories were AMAZING!!! Oh, how I wish I could sneak into their wardrobe closet and leave with giant trash bags full of goodies!!

So, as promised, here is a taste of the three girls who stood by Carrie through thick and thin...in their really fabulous shoes and sometimes-not-so-fabulous outfits!

Miranda
Season 1 was not a good time for Miranda. Why did they decide that a smart, witty, successful lawyer had to dress like an 8-year-old boy? Thank goodness her clothes got better as the seasons went on...


How a conservative New York professional dresses (Season 3)


In Season 4 Miranda finally stops looking like a tomboy...check out the touch of sexiness with the shorter skirt and unbuttoned blouse!


Looking soft, pretty, and glamours in Season 6 -- yay!!


And for my favorite Miranda looks -- I love the floral print of this dress and the definition of the waist. Could go casual, or sexy depending on the shoes and other accessories. The bottom look I love because Miranda's in her skinny jeans! Even bigger girls like myself have a pair of jeans from years ago that they hope to fit into one day...this was Miranda's reward for running after her newborn! (And who cares that the button popped later that night because she ate too much of a banana split?!)




Samantha
One thing's for certain about Samantha's wardrobe — it was almost always over-the-top. Coats with some kind of embellishment, from fur to metallics, were big with her, as in Season 1.


I think this picture of Sam from Season 2 sums up her look — pretty, classic hairstyles with sexy, somewhat naughty clothing.


Besides being naughty, Samantha was certainly known for being a bit flashy too, as she is here in Season 3 during the girls' trip to L.A.


But the one thing she always got right was her business attire. Sam could rock a pretty suit in a vibrant color like no other girl on the show could, as seen here from Season 3 with this Michael Kors yellow suit.


One thing I loved about Sam's clothing was her courage to mix unusual colors...


And wear a looooooow cut dress, such as this Diane von Furstenberg jersey number in Season 4.


I love this episode! Sam gets angry at her ex's surgically-enhanced house guests and hurls these cantaloupes through a sliding glass door...all while looking fabulous in this graphic bathing suit cover-up. Tres chic!


She loved her some animal prints — and I love her hairstyle here.


And finally, from Season 6, one of my favorite moments from the show. Sam has to shave her head after receiving chemo and her boyfriend does the same to show his loyalty to her...she tops her look off with a "Lil Kim" wig for his movie premiere — just like Sam to turn a tragedy into her moment to shine!


Charlotte
Last, but not least, the Park Avenue Princess, Charlotte. Some of you may be surprised to know that she wore some of my all-time favorite outfits on "Sex and the City." If I had my choice, I'd mix many of her dresses with Carrie's more outlandish shoes, bags, hats, and jewelry.

This outfit from Season 1 seems like the quintessential "Upper East Side Lady Who Lunches and Leaves Her Children Home With the Nanny" outfit ... so suitable for Charlotte.


This dress just seems so Southern to me...I think Charlotte should host a meeting of the Junior League with mint juleps served in pewter cups and pimiento cheese sandwiches in this ensemble! Bless her heart!


The ultimate yuppie, Charlotte's wardrobe would not be complete without a little Ralph Lauren.


This outfit is why I love Charlotte — snug jeans, fitted tweed blazer — classic and refined, the perfect preppy uniform. It definitely became a favorite among many women not that long ago...


I simply could not write a blog about Charlotte's clothes without featuring her wedding dresses. The first one, a Vera Wang, from her marriage to Trey...a Cinderella dress without question.


And the Badgley Mischka from her marriage to Harry...I think this dress is sexy and innocent at the same time, with intricate details, yet it somehow looks so effortless...simple elegance.


My favorite Charlotte look may be one of my favorites from the show. Period. This Richard Tyler dress is so sexy, so "come-to-me-and-let-me-tell-you-a-secret," while not being slutty or too showy. A simple black halter, low-cut, backless — just enough skin without showing too much. Perfect!