gregory jaczko: Rewind & Recent Buy: Nina Ricci Fall/Winter 2007

Belgian-born Olivier Theyskens joined as creative director for Nina Ricci in 2006, and his collections won ardent praise by fashion critics for his ability to channel the house’s airy romance through chiffon layers and jeweled accents, consistently creating glamour with a Parisienne-punk edge. But to everyone's disappointment (mine included), he was let go after the fall 2009 show. During his short 3 years at Nina Ricci, my favourite collection of Olivier's for this fashion house was without doubt, his incredible debut collection for Nina Ricci: the Fall/Winter 2007 collection. This magical collection reminds me of 'The Chronicles of Narnia' perhaps with a touch of 'Swan Lake'...

For this collection, Olivier Theyskens said he wanted "to introduce a new wave of cool—something urban and gray-ish, but nonchalant, fragile, and superlight". He surely succeeded in doing so with teardrop-shaped down-filled blousons, twisted sweater dresses, and diagonally zipped biker jackets that fell open in soft, petal-like folds, his mood was beautifully ethereal — with carefully individually placed downy feathers floating from the models' hair creating a breathtaking effect. Having always loved the L'air du Temps bottle of perfume (and the actual perfume as well), I simply adored the spiraling cuts reminiscent of the crystal flacons of the classic perfume bottle, reflected on the floor-length gowns.

Sadly, I have no red-carpet occasions to wear such dresses (nor the money tree to supply funds to obtain one either). But I am so excited with my recent purchase: the opening silk teardrop-shaped twisted down-filled blouson jacket...I absolutely love it...and am looking forward to using it when I go to Japan in December (tips/recommendations/suggestions still more than welcome)...