Argentine runway show in Paris...

For the third year in a row, I was invited to witness, in Paris, a runway show of Argentine designers, organized by Héctor Vidal Rivas and his daughter, Manuela. This time it was the turn of Emprendedores de Nuestra Tierra, Carlos di Doménico and María Pryor. My good friend Abraao Ferreira (the most Argentine of Brazilians) was in charge of the PR of the show and was able to gather numerous French and foreign press. We all arrived on schedule at 9 pm.

The show was held at the Pavillion Kléber, on the 7th of Rue Cimarosa, just in front of the Argentine Embassy.

As my readers already know, I am always thrilled to see my "fellow Argentine comrades." I asked my friend Eleonore to come with me.

Emprendedores de Nuestra Tierra was the first to open the show, presenting a full hand-made-collection created by 12 designers and artisans: ponchos, llama-wool shawls, accessories and silver jewelry with semi-precious stones. With Gotan Project's music sounding through the speakers, the line-up of looks was really good.

Then came the turn of my beloved Carlos di Doménico, with all his glamour. Splendid looks in creamy whites and nude beiges. Very chic.

And to wrap up, María Pryor, with her so-Middle-Age dresses, enriched with one-of-a-kind decorations and crowns and tiaras over the models' heads. Super sumptuous.

Later on, the Argentine Ambassador, Mr. Aldo Ferrer, invited us all to a cocktail at the Embassy.

I greeted and hugged all my dear Argentine friends. A nice way to start Paris' Fashion Week.

Academy Awards 2012...

This post comes in two parts: first I'll be writing the texts from Paris, now at 10:30 am, and the Carla will be uploading the pictures when she gets up in Buenos Aires...

Since early I've been surfing fashion websites to scan and analyze all the looks seen yesterday on the Red Carpet... The time difference of 9 hours with Los Angeles made it impossible for me to follow the live broadcast!

So here are my choices...

Of course, Angelina Jolie, with a black velvet Atelier Versace. Stunning. Anyway, I'm pretty sure she would look great even if she wore a hemp bag. But I loved the lack of bijou, the loose natural hair, the red lips.

I was also impressed by the white, with cape, Tom Ford worn by Gwyneth Paltrow. I can not say the same of her hairdo, but the total look was very chic.

As an elegant lady, I would point out Glenn Close, with a Zac Posen. Meryl Streep, who I adore because she is an amazing actress, wasn't favored by her golden Lanvin... It's not easy to carry a Lanvin.

I didn't like the red dresses of Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman and Emma Stone... Red on the Red Carpet? It's easy to fade out...

Interesting Rooney Mara's Givenchy... Although she looked a bit too pale for me.

Cameron Diaz's Gucci was nice, but I don't like her anymore. Too ordinary was Jennifer López's Zuhai Murad: too much cleavage!

George Clooney's girlfriend, Stacy, looked pretty in a golden Marchesa. Also elegant was Sandra Bullock's Marchesa.

Penelope Cruz's Armani Privé wasn't fitting, too "old lady," as also the hairdo... I like Penelope on her wilder days.

Among the men, Christopher Plummer, with a velvet tuxedo, was amazingly elegant. He is one of my favorite actors and his performance in "Beginners" is fantastic.

A special note for "The Artist:" so many awards... Good for the French!

I follow Jean Dujardin since he's been doing "OSS 117," a parody of James Bond, also directed by Michel Hazanavicius.

Fashion Weeks F/W 2012-2013 (New York and London)

It seems unreal, but somehow we are in the time of Fashion Weeks... New York's shows are over, and also London's, and yesterday those in Milan have started. I'm currently receiving my invitations for the shows in Paris...

Time does fly.

And so, here we are, once again scrutinizing the looks for Fall/Winter 2012-2013.

I really did like the shows at NYC. I loved Ralph Lauren's collection, so "Old England," with tweed suits and jackets, very suitable for spending the weekends at Balmoral. Very "Albert Nobbs." Masculine looks for day, with jackets, trousers, gilets and ties... I've got a wardrobe full of clothes like these... Definitely from another time in my life...

For the evening, long velvet dresses, like those of a true Lady. Enchanting. I don't know if wearable in everyday life, but good enough for dreaming.

Ralph Lauren

I was impressed by the quantity of looks in red... As if designers had somehow all agreed on it.

Let's start with Michael Kors, one of my favorite American designers, who used and abused the red, even for daywear: coats, dresses, skirts, check patterns... in red! Excellent collection, as always, very wearable.

Michael Kors

Marchesa presented a line-up of evening dresses, one of them in red lace, of course. Personally, I would go for the "nude" looks, with transparencies, because I find them more elegant. We'll be seeing many of those on Sunday 26th, at the Oscars (Georgina Chapman, one of Marchesa's designers, is married to Miramax's Harvey Weinstein, a Hollywood tycoon... Get it?).

Marchesa

My beloved Oscar de la Renta designed a collection which, at first glance, could not convince me. Too much light-blue, some pink... Booo. However, after checking it for the third time, I found myself choosing one or two looks. It's a law and I've proved it through my social life: with an Oscar you will almost always be perfect. It's classic chic. Beautiful embroidered coats, prints and one or two very interesting long dresses.

Oscar de la Renta

As for the other designers, such as Alexander Wang, Prabal Gurung or Proenza Schouler, I find them ok, but I'm not mad over their creations...

When looking for newer talents, I prefer those presented in London: much more innovative.

Until some years ago, English collections weren't of much relevance... Today, however, England is known through the talents of Peter Pilotto (I have a day dress of his which I love) or Mary Katrantzou, one of my favorites. But let's not forget to mention Stella McCartney, Christopher Bailey for Burberry Prorsum or Christopher Kane. Hurray London!

Peter Pilotto

However, I've seen nothing to die for... I'm waiting for Milano for that.

Today, we had Prada's show...

Au Pays du Sang et du Miel...

After more than two weeks of peaceful quiet life in Paris, with cold and a flu, this morning I received an invitation that pushed me out of my routine. My friend Bernard-Henry Levy invited me to the avant-première of the movie directed by Angelina Jolie, "Au Pays du Sang et du Miel" (In the Land of Blood and Honey). She and Brad Pitt would be there. An invitation I couldn't refuse.

Of course, I took along my sister and my niece, both guests at my house, and together we went to the MK2, a complex in Bercy, where's the famous and gigantic library. At the entrance, there was a Red Carpet and lots of photographers. Once inside, we were able to follow the arrival of the other guests through the live broadcast on the screen of the theatre. Almost on perfect schedule, both actors arrived: Angelina, beautiful (but honestly beautiful), with a long off-white silk dress that I would say was Marchesa. She signed, with her left hand (she must be a lefty) an enormous amount of autographs and let herself be interviewed by, at least, a dozen TV cameras.

We saw it all from inside.

At 9:20 pm, Bernard-Henry climbed up the stage and presented the movie, which tells a love story in the middle of the Yugoslav wars of the 90s. And just as he was talking, Brad and Angelina came inside, absolutely stunning both of them, he carrying her by the arm and keeping a discreet second place.

Angelina and her actors joined Bernard on stage and he asked her how come an American girl, who in the 90s was just 20 years old, became interested and decided to direct a story based on a subject so removed and far from Hollywood...

She replied with kindness and simplicity, showing that she's no ordinary woman... But we could also prove so after watching her movie, which was quite good, engaging, hard and well-done. Excellent performances.

I was truly shocked by her incredible beauty, her inner light and intelligence, and of course her humanitarian compromise... Angelina is not from this world.

(Afterwards, they all went to dine at La Tour d'Argent.)

P.S.: I've just found out that Angelina's dress was from Ralph & Russo, unknown to me.

Whitney Houston...

I want to share with you the sorrow for the death of an artist so emblematic to my generation... 

Although I did not agreed with her life choices, I want to remember with admiration her incredible voice...

Christian Louboutin's 20th Anniversary...

No, twenty is not Christian Louboutin’s age. But it’s the time that went by since he gave birth to his first shoe collection, which are now a world success. From China to Brazil, and specially in the US (where they are considered a cult), his creations with the red sole are a symbol of glamour and style. I’m a fan of Louboutin since his origins and I still keep the very first pair I bought from him.

Yesterday I went to his boutique on Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseay (there’s two more in Paris) and they placed my new shoes in this shopping bag, which they’ll be using around all 2012. I got to see the book published to celebrate the 20th Anniversary. Check-out the movie about how the book was made on Youtube. His best friends Kristin Scott-Thomas, Arielle Dombasle and Farida Khelfa, among others, participated in such a fun adventure.

Congratulations Christian and good look for the coming twenty years of success!