Ciara is just missing the lamp shade hat, and I definitely like the nude body suit vs the black. What do you guys think of this look? For the entire Givenchy Spring 2010 Couture collection click here.

11:26pm Finally… album of the year goes to Taylor Swift! Well deserved! Take that Kanye!

11:15pm  I love/miss/adore/admire Eminem!

10:00pm Prince and Paris Jackson on stage!

10:00pm Why weren’t we warned about this 3D action?

9:57pm Usher is HOT!!!

9:48pm Tribute to Micheal Jackson features a bunch of random famous singers…like Celion Dion!

9:46pm Taylor Swift sings…with Stevie Nixx

9:45pm Ryan Seacrest again?

9:34pm Why is Chris O’donnell still important?

9:32pm Best rock album goes to Green Day ’21st Century Breakdown’

9:20pm Robert Downey Jr announces Jamie Foxx ‘Blame it on the…

9:18pm Record of the year goes to Kings of Leon ‘Use Somebody’

9:10pm Best comedy album (whatever that means) goes to Steven Colbert

8:58pm Is there a cue that says ‘STAND and CLAP’?

8:56pm Up now Black Eyed Peas…it’s gonna be a good night!

8:55pm Once again hate Miley Cyrus!

8:45pm Best new artist goes to The Zac Brown Band…who are these hicks?

8:42pm Pink has taken up aerial acrobatics, was dipped in water, currently dripping onto the crowd.

8:40pm Seal announces Pink!

8:25pm Beyonce sings Alanis Morissett’s You Otta Know…Amazing!

8:18pm Lamest performance EVER!

8:14pm Who the hell are these people?

8:13pm What is J.Lo wearing?

8:11pm Single Ladies!

8:09pm Song of the year goes to: wait for it…Steve pulls out an ipad!

8:07pm Our host Steven Colbert!

8:06pm That was it? Boring!

Giorgio Armani Prive

8:00pm Lady Gag opens! Long platinum blond locks, very revealing green glitter bathing suit, giant bruise on right thigh! Double piano with Elton John.

7:51pm Rihanna looks WOW!!! Some form of white big bird big neck gown thing, apparently it’s Elie Saab!

7:44pm Ciara wore a lace Givenchy pant suit, pulls a Lady Gaga with her visible underwear.

7:42pm Sheryl Crow has a two year old, wore Bottega Veneta.

7:40pm Ke$ha is an idiot! Likes buying tacos, describes her style as garbage can chic!

7:33pm Beyonce had glitter highlights added to her weave.

7:32pm Taylor Swift is sparkly head to toe, in a teal off the shoulder gown.

7:30pm Nicole Kidman towers over everyone around her, wore a black Prada halter gown.

7:28pm I hate Miley Cyrus!!!

7:26pm Jaime Fox has two grown daughters…how old is he?

7:24pm Carrie Underwood is super cute, wearing a white A line gown.

7:20pm Pink: platinum blond mohawk, another mermaid gown.

7:15pm Jennifer Hudson: looks like her head is shaved besides her bangs and high pony tail. If the dress looks familiar, that is cuz it’s Victoria Beckham!

7:12pm Trendspark: purposeful shirt half tuck, loving this look!

7:10pm Keri Hilson nominated for best new artist, looks gorgeous in a long nude mermaid gown by Dolce & Gabbana

7:09pm Seacrest talks to the Fray, they are currently working on a new album.

7:03pm Black Eyed Peas talk to Seacrest, Fergie looks glowy, Josh joins on stage. Boy is he Hot!

7:02pm Heidi Klum looks amazing post baby!

7:00pm. Oh god. Tony Braxton has a half shaved head.

above photo Irina Lazareanu by Benjamin Kanarek in Christian Lacroix Haute Couture

….  Here is a counter argument to my last post about “The End of Haute Couture” from my Fashion and Beauty Director, Frédérique Renaut, who worked in several Haute Couture Houses.

I am quoting Glenda Bailey, editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar offering a compelling economic argument for the institution’s importance:

“When it comes to couture, in addition to the craftsmanship, which we are in danger of losing, we have to think of the sheer amount of jobs it sustains. People say we should be saving, but actually we should encourage the people who have the means to spend. Too many people think it’s frivolous, but couture generates huge amounts of income.”

I have worked many years in several Parisian Fashion Houses (Louis Féraud, Yves Saint Laurent and Givenchy who was designed by Alexander McQueen at the time) and I have to say that Couture is not dead…

Keep reading on www.benjaminkanarekblog.com…

With ruffles and feathers galore, Richard Tisci gave us a collection to dream about. Models wore lamp shades as head gear, and even though I wasn’t a fan of the hair (too plain) or makeup (too much), the collection screamed glitz and glamor! Loving the transition from nudes and creams to bright blues, greens, and purples! (more…)

I’m pretty sure the world has yet to see a religious themed menswear collection, but Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci thinks there is a first time for everything. The Givenchy Fall 2010 menswear collection mixed Jesus sandals with priest-like button ups, monk-like frocks, apostle-like tights, Jesus-freak tees and a whole set of crown of thorns necklaces. A good concept, but a bit too creepy for my liking.

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Photo God Hedi Slimane recent shot this stunning Givenchy couture jeweled bodysuit. Needless to say, we’re obsessed.

Natalia Vodianova & Mariacarla Boscono and tribal prints all in one campaign!? Does it get any better than this!? No. No, it does not.

Link Love: Hanneli

Designer Riccardo Tisci revisited his label’s roots for the Givenchy Pre-Fall 2010 collection. With less hardware and a lean towards the sleek and simplistic, Tisci’s collection is reminiscent of French style from the sixties and seventies. With androgyny in full effect, the collection of streamlined tops, coats and skirts are  feminized by some unforgettable cream ostrich feather pieces. If this collection is indicative of what we can expect for the Fall collection, a Givenchy savings account is in my near future!

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For those of you who follow Fashion Indie religiously, you’ve probably been wondering where I disappeared to for the past few weeks. No, I didn’t get fired (yet) and I didn’t come down with a case of the Swine Flu (yet), but I did take a two week vacation to Honolulu, Hawaii to unwind and surf with my family for the holidays. But before you throw your coffee at your computer screen in a jealous rage, let it be known that I am back in the freezing, snowy Buffalo, New York for a few weeks before I return to good old New York!

I didn’t believe my friend when she told me that Honolulu had good shopping. What could they possibly sell beyond bikinis, surf gear and grass skirts? Well, after stepping off my 9-hour flight, I was immediately greeted by hundreds of top notch stores directly across from my hotel (we stayed at the Moana Surfrider on Waikiki Beach…highly recommended for anyone traveling to Honolulu!) on Kalakaua Avenue. Having Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Marc Jacobs right across the street was terribly daunting to my wallet.

Since I moved to New York City, I haven’t been much of a mall person, but the Ala Moana Center certainly changed my outlook. Miu Miu, Prada, Chanel, Dior…I’ve never seen such high end stores in a mall before! Cabs are expensive in Honolulu and renting a car is rather pointless unless you want to take an adventure to surf Banzai Pipeline up on the North Shore, but Ala Moana is about a 20-30 minute walk from most hotels and resorts on Kalakaua Avenue. Really, it’s a must!

But if there is one shopping destination that you positively must visit, it’s undoubtedly the original Aloha Rag on Kapiolani Boulevard. Living across the street from New York’s Aloha Rag on Greenwich Street, I know how painful self control can be, but after setting foot in Honolulu’s gem, it hurts even worse. Trust me when I tell you that Honolulu’s Aloha Rag is the most immaculate store I’ve ever set foot in…and the sales are amazing! From Lanvin blazers to Ann Demeulemeester sweaters and Margiela sandals to Balenciaga bags, the Honolulu location didn’t carry a single piece I wasn’t temped to go into credit card debt for. Damn, I really should have gotten those two-tone, studded Alexander Wang gladiator sandals!

Now that I’ve sufficiently depressed myself reminiscing on my amazing vacation, it’s back to the old grind stone! This trip made me quite the Oahu connoisseur, so if any of you have questions or need suggestions for future travels, please don’t hesitate to contact me! Afterall, any Indie is “ohana” in my book!

P.S. My tan is already significantly faded. Great.

This was the year of the ugly shoe, from Christian Louboutin to Alexander McQueen’s Lobster Claw shoes, 2009 had it all!

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Sorry Aldo, they’ll never be the same. For us fashion people there is a void in our lives that can only be filled by the real thing. (more…)

This headband and handbag brings a whole new meaning to the word edgy, I have a gold studded headband right now but this one takes it to a completely new level. I know what I’m getting for my friends this Christmas. Would any of you wear this?? (more…)