>>  I watched the slideshow, watched the runway video, watched the slideshow again, and I just can't do it.  I thought maybe repetition would expose some ideal that I was missing the first couple run-throughs, but it just didn't happen.  I just can't bring myself to like the new Chloe collection (Pheebs, you're killing me here.)

The collection was inspired by Miss Philo's research into 1960's "old lady chic." She even christened the new bags with names like Marge, Edith, Gladys.  It was an experiment in "volume, something new," she said.  Well, the lines were definitely forgiving, with oversized tops and dresses everywhere.  Lots of white, with a smidgen of color.  Lots of frills...  I know I sound bored, but really, I am.  There is exactly one outfit that I can live with from this collection -- and even it's not that great (above).  There are these platform mary janes, however, that I could definitely make some good use of.  They win the best-of-collection gold star (it was a tough win, this time around, believe you me).   

You can view the rest of the collection here -- or you could just use your time to do something more constructive.  When you're placed in a nursing home, you can look around at what Marge, Edith, Gladys, and Myrtle are wearing... and get the same effect. 

>> Waffles, chocolate... now the Belgians are moving on to mastering the confectionary of dresses as well.  Bruno Pieters whipped up some seriously delicious looking meringue skirts, frothy and peaked to perfection.  Then, to elaborate on the girly innocence of his collection, he added some adorable cropped hooded capes straight off the shoulders of Little Red Riding Hood.  Needless to say, this collection is enough to make me go skipping through the forest with a basket full of cakes.

The rest of the collection can be viewed here, and prettypretty has some lovely backstage shots. 

>>  Chanel has always been my go-to for the classy, the sophisticated, the chic.  Now, it's my go-to if tight denim bermuda shorts, big fabric camellias, long tacky chain necklaces, and see-through art deco numbers are what I want. But sadly, they're not.  The requisite Chanel tweeds were there, but even they were in bright blaring colors and/or overaccessorized.  It was just too much "revamp" and "re-do" for me, I think.  The runway was set up with a huge computer screen and keyboard at its end, which announced the beginning of the show in a stilted, computery voice.  This signified Kaiser Karl trying to move Chanel forward, but I think he took it a bit too far and made it overkill. 

As always, there is some good to be found in the bad -- a few looks that I did like.  A military style jacket with contrast stitching, and the last two dresses to walk out (left) -- both seem like the Chanel I know.  Not to mention the lovely slouchy boots with their clearly Chanellian black toe -- love those.  Too bad Kaiser Karl couldn't have stuck with these types of things...they really seem to work for him. 

The rest of the collection can be seen here.