Carolina Herrera: From Munch to La Mode

New York - Though Carolina Herrera remains America's pre-eminently classy designer, she's inspiration for her latest collection was Edvard Munch's painting of a bohemian anarchist. Yet the contradiction, far from confusing designer led to one of the finest collections we've seen so far in the New York season.
Munch's painting of the radical Hans Jæger, whose neighborhood in Oslo, Christiania, was a funky and alternative quarter, may have been a bizarre source of stimulation but the net result was couture quality coolness. Ideal clothes for the very opposite sort of people the super-well-heeled women from the Upper East Side who sat front row.
Remarkably sleek tunic dresses finished with glass bauble trim reminiscent of the modernist functionality of Art Deco or brilliantly wrought robes with erratic geometric appliqué patterns echoed Munch's imagery and obsession with Jaeger.
Yet Herrera's collection for fall 2007 oozed haute sophistication, from the remarkable jacquard coats to the stockings finished with jade.
Munch's friendship with the freaky bohemians led by Jæger deeply marked his life and was source of almost permanent inner conflict. Ironically, designer's connection to Munch's art made for remarkably balanced fashion, clothes that flattered, had poise and looked great. Uncanny, surprising and unexpected, but true.

Underwear. Not only fashion but healthy!

There’s nothing like good underwear, is there? Comfortable, nice-fitting undergarments can make the whole day go better. The problem is that what’s comfortable isn’t always the most attractive choice for feeling sexy. And sometimes, what our partners want us to wear can put more than our comfort at risk. Barely-there undies can have real repercussions on our sexual health.

I always say that the rule when it comes to thongs is this: Anything with a string is for special occasions only. The same goes for shiny, inflexible fabric. While these design features work great for increasing the heat inside the bedroom, they also increase the heat that’s on your genitals! Fabric that doesn’t move or breathe creates an environment that breeds bacteria and infection. Strings or other parts that chafe can cause irritation (and transport bacteria from one part to another, know what I mean?).

However, there can be a happy medium between this and your cotton bloomers. Good underwear can be pretty, too. Just check out the Hanky Panky line of colorful, lace thongs and panties or the Lisa Masterson. The key is that the fabric moves with you and all styles have cotton crotches, with no strings attached!