Emily DiDonato is an American model with Italian and Irish ancestry.  She was born in February of 1991 and began her modeling career after being pushed by a family friend in 2008 when she signed a contract with Request Model Management.  Most of us know her from her Ad campaign for Aqua Di Gioia commercial where here piercing blue eyes stare into the camera and she smiles and laughs while running through the jungle.  It is a very inviting commercial and she has remained one of my favorite models since that commercial aired in 2010. 

Prior to the 2009 New York Fashion Week, Germany Vogue dubbed her “top newcomer”.  I can’t wait to see what else she does.

Esti Ginzberg from Tel Aviv Israel is 21 years old and started her modeling career at the age of 8 in a milk ad.  She then signed a contract with Elite Model Management at the age of 14.  She has since modeled for Burberry, Sports Illustrated, Tommy Hilfiger and others.

The fun thing that I like about her is that she stands up for something she believes in.  She was drafted in the Israeli army in 2009 and she was happy about it and spoke highly of enlisting stating, “Military service is part of the things I personally believe in”.  I find this to be extremely interesting and very admiral for such a beautiful model. 

Balmain was a French designer in which died in the early 80’s.  Many of his vintage garments are still worn today by many of the A list stars.  His motto was, “dressmaking is the architecture of movement” and he created beautifully elegant designs.  He created costumes for 16 films and was even nominated for a Tony award and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design.  Even though he has left this world his designs remain sought after and his legacy lives on. 

After Pierre passed away his legacy was carried on by his long time assistant Eric Mortenson.  Mortenson did his best to continue the legacy in the way that it should have been but made sure that the collection evolved as it should have.  Mortenson maintained the brand from ‘82 to ‘90 when he left and his replacement was Herve-Pierre a youthful designer which was only in house for 3 years.

Something that you may find interesting if you did not already know it is Balmain’s brand has been upheld by American designer Oscar De La Renta since then.

Here are some of the Vintage Balmain collection.

Most of these pieces are from his Spring 2009 Ready to wear collection, I still love them.  The studded and edgy mixed with soft.  There is a beauty of the way the clothing fits the models and the fluidity of the long skirts with the short fronts.  I really did enjoy this collection.

Here are some of the newer collections.

Meet the late Pierre Balmain!

One thing I have always adored (other than lace and tulle) are painted dresses.  Some of my all time favorites comes from Kenley a contestant on Project Runway.  Here are a few of Kenley’s designs (can’t beat a painted garment with tulle).:

Here were a few more of Kenley Collins’ designs, not painted…

Many of us know Kenley Collins from Project Runway.  She generally had an unpleasant and abrasive attitude but some of her pieces I really liked.  Now, that being said, many of her designs often resembled that of other designers.  For example the wedding gown challenge she created an amazing dress that I really liked, (above in the middle), however, this dress was very similar to that of Alexander Mcqueen’s seen here:

  Here is a side by side for you!

Now Kenleys on the right is similar in some ways and this is not the only dress… even though I genuinely love her painted dresses one of them was very similar to that of Balenciaga. 

  Here is another side by side!

Now you can be the judge.. either way some of her work was really amazing and even though I was not a fan of her attitude, I did really like some of the clothing.

Meet the designer!

I despise trends.  I think that doing something because it is “trendy” is not self expression.  I think that personal style and the ability to be unique and step out of the boring box of what the magazines say is the trend is much more unique.  When you are comfortable enough in yourself and self expression to step away from the following to be the followed it is much more appreciated.  I appreciate classic pieces and fun spins on them.  Pair that little black dress with something unexpected and unique to your personal style and the results will come out amazingly.  Even if your spouse doesn’t always understand the way that you dress or express yourself it is VERY important to remain true to yourself and make your own trends.  Do not flock to the shelves because the latest trend says that this or that is hot.  Keep in mind the place that you are going and what would be appropriate and make a statement.  One statement making piece is fun, but two done right is amazing.