The perfect dress combines many elements; a great sleeve, perfect drape and cut, a fab fabric, a great neckline, and a stand-the-test-of-time silhouette. Jean Paul Gaultier' s silk floral print dress with flutter cap sleeves and back collar caplet is as close to dress perfection that we've seen here at Couture in quite a while. Add strappy sandals, simple silver jewelry, and a mini clutch for the perfect exclamation point to a simple, elegant ensemble.



Jean Paul Gaultier'

...with this multi-abstract print dress with asymmetrical hemline and tie waist from Ports1961. Not your mother, father's or art school tie-dye pattern, thank goodness, but rather an updated, sophisticated take on a iconic symbol from a design house with an elegant, minimalist pedigree.

If you read the headline and thought we were talking about the director of Grindhouse and Sin City, you are mistaken. The designer Robert Rodriguez would never produce anything gory or gritty -- his pieces have feminine and sexy touches, yet are sophisticated and never garish.

It's been said Rodriguez was greatly influenced by Christian Dior. If that's the case, he certainly learned lessons about couture clothing from one of the greatest. We here at Couture are in love with his hot pink twist neck, his fun yet sexy ruffled blouse and the one-sleeved pintuck top. All three are fresh and fabulous, just like Rodriguez himself.

Galliano, the couture diffusion line from that mad, creative genius John Galliano is the latest fabulous addition to Couture.Zappos.com. From the champagne silk dresses in bloom, to the romantic liberty print scarves, to the dolman-sleeved chiffon tops, there are pieces for every taste. The Couture team is coveting the victorian print silk dress, loving the sheer chiffon jacquard tunic, and day dreaming of the liberty dreamscape scarf.

Trends are dictated by many mediums, notably film and television. With the success of Mad Men many trends have emerged from it. There is the Don Draper effect - manicured hair, crisp white collared shirts and cigs, the resurgence of the hour glass silhouette, crystal encrusted brooches and of course, the exaggerated collar. Couture is loving this Ali Ro '50s-inspired, exaggerated collar ponte knit dress with attached hip belt. Give it the full Mad Men effect by pairing it with a crystal brooch and colored stiletto heels.

Whether or not you are a fan of San Francisco, and how could you not be, there are a lot of great things about the city to be grateful for. There are the wonderful hotels, fabulous dining, great wine bars, the Castro, and now the Swedish retailer Filippa K’s first U.S. flagship store. The 2,500 square foot space reflects more than just the Swedish retailer’s fashion sense, but also the minimalist aesthetic that Sweden is known for — clean, open design, lots of windows and lots of wood. The store is equitably split between mens' wear and womens' wear, with a 20 foot natural log table running down the center acting as the gender divide. The brand Filippa K, not to be confused with its fast-fashion brethren H&M, is best known for their reasonably priced, quality clothing. The designs are focused on cuts and materials, rather than trend cycles, producing items that amortize beautifully into anyone’s current wardrobe. Think perfectly cut trousers, blazers, effortless shirtdresses, military-styled jackets, crisp white blouses, denim and everyday tees. So if you are in San Francisco, any where near Kearny Street, do drop in.

The Scene: After the first date

Featured Styles: Dora Plaid Coat by Ezekiel, Calvin Klein Black Keyhole Front Belted Dress, Perlina Oversized Gold Top Clasp Clutch, and Cesare Paciotti Suede and Leather Platform Pumps.

Ah, the lyrical allure of a beautiful floral dress. It is both sweet and sexy, a perfect combination. The Couture team is loving this Galliano silk empire-waist dress with vibrant roses in bloom. Pair it with a motorcycle-inspired bolero for a touch of edge, or with a loosely belted boyfriend sweater and square toe pumps.

THE SCENE: Meeting the families.

Ah, home for the holidays... we all remember them well. You and your beloved wish for a tropical excursion, where you can lie on the beach, sip Mai Tai cocktails, and watch the sunsets. Then, bam! One phone call and you are snapped out of your fantasy into the reality of family obligations. Now, of course, it does not really have to be that bad; there is a certain comfort in embracing the family call and soldiering through it. That is why the film Four Christmases, a delightful new romantic comedy, is the perfect pre-holiday antidote for the upcoming holiday season. We may not be able to get out of our responsibilities, but we sure can laugh at seeing how other people deal with it on the big screen. Four Christmases - In Theaters November 26th!

TM and (c) MMVIII NEW LINE PRODUCTIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Featured styles: Alexander McQueen Crinkle Patent Leather Clutch, Calvin Klein Ponte Knit Puff Sleeve Dress, and Cesare Paciotti Peep Toe Pump with Stitching Detail.

There are a lot of wonderful new things happening on Couture.Zappos.com and we couldn't wait to let you know about them. The Couture team will be featuring new labels that launch on the site via our What's New blog. Today we are letting you know that the site now carries the Jean Paul Gaultier clothing collection for women. Today's picks: JPG's Striped Bubble Dress, the Black Trench Coat, JPG's Black/White Stripe Hat, and the fabulous Wing Tip Toe Two-tone Leather Boots.

The divine Ms. Kate Moss is at it again with her newest presentation for Topshop for spring. The Londonista is working with London-based Liberty store print designers to create exclusive fabrics for her upcoming line for S/S 2009. Liberty - a print maker that dates back to 1875 - is not new to high profile collaboration. In the past they have worked with everyone from Nike to the Gap. The Kate Moss for Topshop prints are not the brands first foray into fashion with Topshop either. Earlier in the month they launched a lingerie line made from their famous prints for Topshop's Oxford Circus locale. So if you are a fan of Moss and Liberty, keep your eyes peeled on Topshop's online site because anything Ms. Moss makes, sells out like hot cakes.

Ah, home for the holidays... we all remember them well. You and your beloved wish for a tropical excursion, where you can lie on the beach, sip Mai Tai cocktails, and watch the sunsets. Then, bam! One phone call and you are snapped out of your fantasy into the reality of family obligations. Now, of course, it does not really have to be that bad; there is a certain comfort in embracing the family call and soldiering through it. That is why the film Four Christmases, a delightful new romantic comedy, is the perfect pre-holiday antidote for the upcoming holiday season. We may not be able to get out of our responsibilities, but we sure can laugh at seeing how other people deal with it on the big screen. Four Christmases - In Theaters November 26th!

TM and (c) MMVIII NEW LINE PRODUCTIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Clothing featured: Custo Barcelona Suvy Wayu Dress, Ugg Australia Fray Linen Bucket Hat, Elliot Lucca Pascale Hobo Handbag, Marc by Marc Jacobs Metal Tenacious T Bangle, Marc by Marc Jacobs Oversized Sunglasses, Kate Spade Sloan Sunglasses, and Michael Kors Pearl Ankle-tie Open Toe Wedges.

If you have ever been to Paris, there is a good chance that you have heard of or shopped at Comptoir des Cotonniers, the mother-daughter owned fashion brand which appeals to the chic mother-daughter customer alike. Known as an edgier version of its French cousin, Agnes B, the store carries welcomed finds like off-center zip cardigans, silk tunics, jacquard jumpers, straight leg denim pieces and dresses slung low on the hips. For girls, there are sweetly mature pieces, like velvet floral skirts, denim overall jumpers, as well as pleated cotton dresses. The store itself has an overall country-chic feel with its whitewashed floors, white shelving and vases of lilies strewn through out. The line also has slight influences from China, Bulgaria, India, and Portugal, countries where many of the pieces are manufactured. The draw to the line is its relaxed yet polished and versatile apparel, which can take you to and from the office, off to meet friends, or out for a playdate. Well, depending on your age of course.

Tiered dresses are freeflowing and playful, whether the tiers are flat or ruffled. Feeling too flapper-esque? Dresses with longer tiers, like this one by kensie, are more fluid and will have you less likely to break out into the Charleston – wear them with colored tights and flats.

Florals, of all variations, were big for Fall 2008 and are still in bloom for Spring/Summer 2009. What better way to perk up an overcast fall or dreary winter day than with a lovely, flower embellished dress? We think no better way. Mix the soft with a little funky edge by pairing your floral dress with a short sleeve knitted jacket or shrug, reach for a patterned scarf knotted just so, mix in funky silver jewelry, slip on a pair of black or bordeaux colored tights, pull on a pair of edgy buckle and lace up patent leather mid-calf boots, add a decidely feminine shoulder bag and voila, pure floral fabulousness.

Couture's picks: GenerraChunky Knit Bolero Three Quarter Sleeve Jacket, French Connection Cara Empire Waist Sleeveless Floral Dress, Alexander McQueen Silk/Wool Floral and Paisley Detailed Scarf, Carlos Falchi Slim Poof Python Embossed Microfiber Shoulder Bag, Jean Paul Gaultier Pryamid Shaped Ornate Ring, Jean Paul Gaulier Opulent Pryamid Shaped Earrings, Kors Michael Kors Dual Buckle Lace Up Crinkle Patent Leather Boot