rochas & theyskens

I am sorry that you can't see more on Rochas' web site, but this will have to do.

This collection has all this wonderful elements that I like: sheer fabric, thin straps, silenced colors, open backs, some sequins and long sleeved dresses.

<3

Olivier Theyskens use to work here. But it's been years...

His work here was spectacular, to no surprise, but it failed to follow the economic model it was supposed to. So Procter & Gamble decided to end Rochas in 2006. Fools!

Olivier went to Nina Ricci, debuting his first line in 2007. Again it was spectacular!

And as the fashion world gasped upon his genius, the ones handling the finances made a decision to, yet again, end his work, since it was not lucrative enough.

Ana Wintour was upset. Actually she was outraged. So she wrote a little something saying it's a sad day, when money wins over creation and that talent, such as his, shouldn't be thrown away...

I'm positive that had her reign extended over financiers' borders, they'd have gotten the off-with-their-heads.

Still Rochas lives!

In 2008 they named Marco Zanini the artistic director of the label and he's doing a good job.

The line, to me, is a bit reminiscent of Olivier. It's sheer and light and feminine and soft.

Olivier however is currently residing at Theory, and here is the collection.

It's not at all the demicouture we're use to, but it's elegant, wearable and semi affordable.

The Other Side of the Picture

Mr. Theyskens is a boyish wisp of a man and wears his dark hair very long. He famously dropped out of art school at the age of 20. He was hired a few years later as designer of Rochas, where he dressed Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst and won the International Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America for his haunting, feminine designs.

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Often heralded as one of the greatest designers of his generation, Olivier Theyskens has seen his wispily layered clothes enshrined at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and worn to the Oscars by Madonna. It's hard to fly higher than that in fashion. And he's only 33.

Yet Mr. Theyskens (pronounced TAY-skenz) has had a hard time keeping jobs. At French brands Rochas and Nina Ricci, Mr. Theyskens' collections won rave reviews but failed to sell well enough to satisfy retailers or investors. He became fashion's version of "My So-Called Life"—the TV show that was simultaneously applauded and canceled.

Unemployed for the past year, Mr. Theyskens has collaborated on a book with an old friend, portrait photographer Julien Claessens. Due to be published Feb. 11—the kickoff of New York Fashion Week—by Assouline, the $120 book has an enticing title: "The Other Side of the Picture."

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(more here)