A Dress A Day

A dress.
Mostly every day.

February 17, 2010

Okay, Karl, Just This Once


Fendi Spring 2010 dress


Aside from the belt, the fringe, the shoes-slash-lucite-hooves, and the expression on the model's face (which can only be described as "I am smelling something bad while thinking about completing my overdue tax return"), this is one lovely dress. The neckline, the midriff band, the fantastic fabric which I can almost *touch* through the computer screen ...

And it's by that certified wackaloon, Lagerfeld (for Fendi)! I swear, I love to read about Lagerfeld. If there were a Lagerfeld News Weekly I would be a charter subscriber. Nothing about him surprises me. Bathes in a mixture of V8 and ball bearings? That's for amateurs. Can't sleep unless a minion is doing wheelies on a dirt bike up and down the parqueted hall? Pffft. Hardly even eccentric. He's been hired to decorate a secret lair on Skullcrusher Mountain, take pictures of the process for a coffee-table book, and compose a chamber-music piece for an oboe sextet for the grand opening? Please, the man does that every third Tuesday. Lagerfeld would have to build an army of robot kittens that breathe fire and knit alpaca socks before I would even raise an eyebrow.

And yet it still surprises me when I like something he's designed! You go, Karl. Love ya, baby. Don't ever change.

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43 Comments:

  • At Feb 17, 2010 2:21:00 AM, Anonymous Catanea said…

    Yes, it is a beautiful dress. I bought two identical black fringed shawls, once. Maybe it's time to sew them together and add pockets. (I wish I thought I'd fit into Karl's jeans, though.)

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 5:48:00 AM, Blogger The Woolly Mammoth said…

    That dress is rather beautiful, although I think I may have to shorten the hem to knee-length though.

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 6:22:00 AM, Anonymous Allie said…

    OMG, Erin, I love you.

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 6:24:00 AM, Blogger the guilty party said…

    I agree, Wolly Mammoth, that is an awkward length. Of course, this is Karl, and he probably doesn't want to hear from ordinary folks (I think he probably calls us "creatures" or "land dwellers" or something) about how its impossible to find a jacket whose proportions work with this, or about it makes us look a bit like a nun.
    I actually like the belt and the fringing, though.

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 6:26:00 AM, Blogger Jen Thompson said…

    LOL! Priceless post! I watched documentaries about Karl and Chanel all weekend. I think they need to start a Lagerfeld channel on TV - 24/7 of Karl being Karl. I'd sure as hell watch!

    And yes, the dress is absolutely stunning! I wouldn't change a thing.

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 7:56:00 AM, Blogger Janel said…

    lol I agree with everything you said, except the fringe. I LOVE the fringe.

    Thanks for another great dress!

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 8:32:00 AM, Blogger beangirl said…

    You know, the thing about Fendi is... I never want to like Fendi, but I frequently find that I do. They're obviously doing something right (perhaps despit Karl the Wack Master... er... hmm... "Wack Master" is perhaps an unfortunate turn of phrase...)

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 8:32:00 AM, Blogger Nathalie said…

    I love the fringe, the length and even the belt. I'd do without the shoes though.

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 9:27:00 AM, Blogger Holly said…

    if anyone knows of a pattern that mimics this dress, i would love to know about it. or suggestions on keywords to use to search for this pattern. my garment vocabulary is not so broad. thanks :)

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 10:25:00 AM, Blogger Sara said…

    Before my daughter was born, I had been reading Vogue cover to cover for about 20 years. I was always up on all the designers. I miss it, it was fun. What a funny post!

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 10:27:00 AM, Blogger Lauriana said…

    Great post! I actually like the belt, but I would want the dress to be shorter and loose the trim. About Lagerfeld, well, I know lots of craft bloggers love to hate him and, love or hate, it's always a treat to read stories about him. However, let's not forget that this is also the man responsible for keeping Lesage (the embroidery house) and other one-of-a-kind couture workshops in business. Lots of craft and skill which would otherwise have been lost forever.

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 10:39:00 AM, Blogger AEBL said…

    Thanks for the laugh this morning.:D Lagerfeld is entertaining, but mostly crazy.

    @Holly, some search words that might help: "peasant top", "cap sleeves", "corset" style waistline, and "bias cut" skirt. (Although, I'm not really sure about the skirt.)

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 12:05:00 PM, Blogger Evelyn said…

    Great post. I watched the documentary "Valentino" this weekend. At one point, at V's big celebration with the entire couture world in attendance, the audio caught Karl whispering to Valentino, "Compared to us, the rest of them make rags!" True of Valentino, but I don't believe that Karl is worthy to shine his shoes!

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 12:37:00 PM, Blogger belphebe said…

    A Jonathan Coulton reference! Fantastic! I missed my chance to see him perform live because I didn't buy a ticket soon enough. Darn!

    And that is a lovely dress.

    I wonder what kind of outfit Lagerfield would put on the half-monkey, half-pony monster?

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 2:43:00 PM, Blogger riva said…

    I would so love to own that dress. Fringe and all!

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 3:50:00 PM, Blogger Joni said…

    I would take the fringe off and use it for my surrey...

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 5:35:00 PM, Blogger fripperie said…

    I'm in the keep-the-fringe camp. The belt, i could do without...

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 5:54:00 PM, Blogger Claudine said…

    this post is so hilarious that I had to read it out loud to dh. I, too, am riveted by Lagerfeld.

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 7:22:00 PM, Blogger Jocelyn H. Chilvers said…

    Amen, sister!

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 8:09:00 PM, Blogger Cel Petro said…

    I'll be so sad when you have to stop writing this blog because you're busy doing commentary for Fashion Week, Red Carpet events, busy, busy, et al.
    It is a perfectly delectable dress, maybe not the fringe, but, yum.

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 8:26:00 PM, Blogger lucitebox said…

    I always mean to dress at The Kaiser for Halloween and forget. I'm not sure I could act weird enough!

    What a fabulous post!

     
  • At Feb 17, 2010 11:44:00 PM, Blogger A. said…

    I'm sure Uncle Karl would find me quite demode, but it's on my life list to attend one of the chanel couture grande atelier shows he masterminds. Did you see that article on him a few years ago now where in the middle, nonchalantly, a manservant brings him a protein drink because he "doesn't really eat food"? LOVE HIM.

     
  • At Feb 18, 2010 1:25:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    A little off topic but have people here checked out the Keepsake quilting werbsite? They have very good qualitly fabric and their "novelty" fabrics may be just what people are looking for.

    http://www.keepsakequilting.com/products/U3/U5/U5.L12/Novelty.htm

     
  • At Feb 19, 2010 7:21:00 AM, Blogger Alice said…

    I'm with you on all accounts. With the exceptions you mentioned, this dress looks like it was made just for me--well the me 15 years ago, not the current me who could not do that beautiful midriff band justice. And I love the length, love having something swirling around my legs, very feminine.

     
  • At Feb 19, 2010 10:16:00 AM, Blogger wundermary said…

    I don't care for the accessories. But, I am all for this dress. This could be made in several colors and become the uniform for summer.

     
  • At Feb 19, 2010 10:54:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Now, now. Those are the nicest stripper shoes I've seen in a while. Much nicer than the ones my cousin wore at her wedding. --Karen

     
  • At Feb 19, 2010 11:14:00 AM, Blogger Jen said…

    Isn't this really a rather typical 80's dress, minus the shoulder pads?
    There are many sewing patterns like this with a midriff panel (if you can see past the shoulder pads), or buy one ready made, 80's vintage.

     
  • At Feb 19, 2010 5:38:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Echoing Jen-- I have a couple of patterns (McCalls & Vogue IIRC) from the '80s that are quite similar to this dress. Really like this style even with the belt and fringe.

     
  • At Feb 19, 2010 6:23:00 PM, Anonymous kariann said…

    And POCKETS!

     
  • At Feb 19, 2010 8:02:00 PM, Anonymous YYZ said…

    It's like you are in my BRAIN! I feel exactly the same way about dear old Karl. Why do I have so much time for Galliano and so little for Karl? They are both certifiable, but clearly Galliano has made a handy deal with the devil, enabling him to turn out delectable collection after delectable collection. Like you, I am astonished if Uncle Karl makes even one thing a season that appeals to me.

    For me, in this shot, it's the shoes. Love me a hoof-like lucite ankle-wrap sandal!

     
  • At Feb 19, 2010 8:35:00 PM, Blogger Lavon said…

    Totaly agree!

     
  • At Feb 20, 2010 4:49:00 AM, Blogger Louise said…

    I love Karl, even though he often spews forth supremely offensive comments. And while he doesn't bring me joy the way Galliano does, I still think he is one of the best out there. His Chanel collections usually have several frocks that rock my world.
    Thanks for the funny post.

     
  • At Feb 20, 2010 7:29:00 PM, Blogger EdgyJuneCleaver said…

    So years ago, like 1977 Lagerfeld was a young designer at Chloe and my mother made me a fab dress (Vogue pattern/Chloe) which is so reminscent of this dress I was a little choked up. I loved that dress and had I given it thought would have saved the pattern.

     
  • At Feb 21, 2010 1:43:00 PM, Blogger Prim Knickers said…

    haha amazing post! I really hope the midriff panel stays around for a while, so flattering.

     
  • At Feb 21, 2010 1:50:00 PM, Anonymous Lizzie said…

    My name is Lizzie and I have a confession:

    I love Karl.

    I love what he does at Fendi, and I especially love what he does at Chanel.

    There, I'm glad my secret is out!

     
  • At Feb 21, 2010 2:25:00 PM, Anonymous farah butt said…

    I have a seen ur work its realy appreciated.its very beneficial for me.its full of filled with information.
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  • At Feb 22, 2010 10:30:00 AM, Anonymous sil said…

    I think we can thank one of his assistants for sneaking that one into the show.

    Maybe we can find a copy of this book?
    http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/karls-ex-assistant-on-the-kaiser-an-unbelievable-narcissist/7641

     
  • At Feb 23, 2010 1:21:00 AM, Blogger Im Estee said…

    I agree. Its a beautiful dress

     
  • At Feb 24, 2010 9:38:00 AM, Anonymous Sheila / Out of the Ashes Collectibles said…

    Give that girl a double cheeseburger and extra large fries! Sheesh! Put some weight on!

     
  • At Feb 27, 2010 2:01:00 AM, Anonymous Vintage said…

    I love the dress, i think there is no need to make any changes. Its is simply fabulous.

     
  • At Feb 27, 2010 5:51:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

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  • At Feb 27, 2010 9:27:00 PM, Anonymous Linda B said…

    Wow! you hit it right on the head....why do those models...male and female...always look as thought they had been sucking lemons or smelling something not quite right...or the worst when they look one step from suicide. I do love that dress, tho.

     

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