16.03.2011- Fashion Week Top Five: Paris AW11

Paris Fashion Week was well worth the wait and there were so many collections which really stood out. Needless to say, I found it very tricky to narrow it down to my five favourites, so as well as the collections I've chosen, honourable mentions must go to Riccardo Tisci's walk on the wild side at Givenchy and Stella's re-invention of spots and shoulders. Here are my top five from Paris:

1) Valentino

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli's presentation for Valentino was charming. With romantic maxi dresses, pleats and beautiful embellishments, this collection channelled understated elegance and femininity. The main thing I really admired about the designs shown here was how accessible they felt; even if you haven't got the budget to afford Valentino (who has?), the shapes and colours of this collection provide a slice of inspiration which I'm sure will filter down to the high street for next season. I can't wait!

2) Cacharel

 The Cacharel presentation was clean, fresh and felt really modern. The prints are amazing (I especially love the way the white print pops against the navy blue) and the crisp white on show here looks like a massive trend in the making. 

3) Lanvin

 Alber Elbaz delivered yet another lovely collection for Lanvin, complete with his now trademark asymmetric floor length gowns and bold colours. His use of floral print somehow feels really fresh, and I really like the way the motif has been used throughout the collection. 

4) Carven

The designs which Guillame Henry created for Carven were cute, feminine and sophisticated. Once again, pleats made an appearance, as did the cute collars which have become synonymous with the Carven label. 

5) Alexander McQueen

Paris wouldn't be Paris without the anticipation of a McQueen show. Sarah Burton's latest creations for the label are breathtaking and I really admire the way that she is developing the signature aesthetic created by Lee McQueen. As ever, the collection featured beautifully engineered dresses, elaborate detail and a sense of character which is quintessentially McQueen. 

So that's it until September when the SS12 presentations kick off! 

What were your favourite collections from Paris? Do you agree with my picks?

(Image credit: style.com and fashiongonerogue.)

25.02.2011- Fashion Week Top Five: London AW11

London Fashion Week seems to have flown by, and saw some fantastic events take place, most notably the the Mulberry presentation, which saw an A-list front row get lost in an enchanted forest. Here are my top five from London:

1) Giles

Innovative prints, sharp suits and exquisite tailoring made this collection a London high point for me. 

2) Julien Macdonald

A beautifully dramatic collection from Julien Macdonald, as he gave his trademark glamorous gowns a heritage twist. As well as the beaded and ruffled details, I loved the autumn inspired colours.

3) Erdem

I loved Erdem's spring presentation, and his vision of next season didn't disappoint. I loved the exotic prints which were given a slightly darker feel and the rich hues which were on show here.

4) Mulberry

 Mulberry's take on the English countryside proved as charming as you'd expect. Not only did this collection encapsulate Mulberry's quintessential English roots, but it also appeared extremely practical (how warm does that sheepskin gilet look?) Never before has the countryside looked so chic. 

5) Kinder Aggugini

Kinder Aggugini's presentation showcased lady like dresses and sharp tailoring. The monochrome styling and dainty floral prints proved that autumn doesn't have to be dark and dreary.

What did you think of London Fashion Week? Did you go? And which collections were your favourites?

(Image credit: style.com, fashiongonerogue and londonfashionweek.co.uk.)

20.02.2011- Fashion Week Top Five: New York AW11

The majority of fashion week round-ups I've put together in the past have been fairly lengthy, so, in an attempt to streamline my ramblings, I've decided that rather than just post about every look I love from all of my favourite shows, I'm going to pick my top five from each fashion week. I think that this way I'm sure to be posting about the collections that I absolutely love rather than just popping in the odd look here and there for the sake of it, and I think it's a good way make it all a little more *ahem* exclusive (joke!) Seriously though, as anyone who knows me will tell you I find it very tricky to be concise about anything, so selecting only a quintet of shows from the New York presentations was rather tricky! So, without further ado, here's my top five from NY...

1) Rodarte

I have to admit, I wasn't madly in love with Rodarte's SS11 presentation, but their showcase for next season was beautiful. I really like the long-line coats and the use of juxtaposing textures in this collection, and the combination of cornflower blue with the barley hues works perfectly, nodding to the cinematic inspiration behind this collection- 1978's rural-set Days of Heaven.

2) Erin Fetherston

   Long time readers will know that I'm a long standing fan of Erin Fetherston's work, and this collection brought together everything I admire about her work. Effortlessly cute, light and feminine, the neutral tones and understated styling of this collection evoke an almost dream-like quality. 

3) Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti

A lot of the reviews I read for this collection critiqued the sweet shop inspired colour palette, but I quite like it! Perhaps all at once it is a little too saccharine, but there are some standout pieces (the coats in particular) which made this pretty little lot a winner for me. 

4) Jason Wu

The master of elegant evening attire, Jason Wu's collection was another high point from New York. I love the cute ribbon details and sheer sophistication of these looks. 

5) DKNY

 For such a distinctive New York brand, I was quite surprised to see this from DKNY- a collection which I think was more than a little inspired by 60's London, particularly the peter-pan collars and clashing block colours.

What do you think of my top five from New York Fashion Week? Which shows were your favourites?

(Image credit: style.com and fashiongonerogue.)

10.10.10- From Paris with love

As promised, here are my picks from the SS11 shows at Paris Fashion Week:

Alexander McQueen
 

Sarah Burton's beautiful collection for McQueen was sumptuous, romantic and fantastical, bearing all the hallmarks of the late Lee McQueen's genius (as particularly evident in the tailored coats.) For me this collection struck the perfect balance between old and new, with a nod to classic shapes invested with a fresh sense of purpose and direction. I can't wait to see more of Burton's work for the label. 

Miu Miu

The Miu Miu collection really reminded me of a graphic novel, with almost cartoon like prints, and exaggerated superhero shoulders, but I love the way the pieces retained a sense of femininity through repeated emphasis on the waist and line.

Paul and Joe

A gorgeously bright, fun and girly collection, which felt really evocative of summer. 

Celine

Uncomplicated minimalist chic at its best.

Valentino

As you may have guessed by now, I absolutely adore dresses, so this collection was my idea of heaven! I really love the detailing on each of the pieces above, as well as the repeated use of shape and line at play here. 

Stella McCartney

Again, I really like the simplicity and muted tones of this collection. 

Chanel

 How could I write about Paris and not include Chanel? Although I'm not sold on the clumpy looking footwear, I love the 1920's influence at play here, with the tiered fringing and longer lines, as well as the dramatic eye makeup. I'm also obsessing over the camellia print! 

Chloé

 Beautiful Grecian style draping, simple yet so elegant. 

So, the fashion circus is over for another few months. What were your favourites from Paris? I've drawn up a top four, with my favourite shows from each city:

* New York- Mulberry

*London- Erdem

*Milan- Dolce and Gabbana

*Paris- Alexander McQueen

Which collections have been your favourites from the last month overall? Do you agree with my picks? And which Autumn/Winter shows are you most looking forward to?

(Image credit: style.com.)

06.10.2010- Belle Chanel

Yesterday saw Chanel's SS11 presentation, which, from what I've seen online so far, looked very impressive. Set against the backdrop of Paris' Grand Palais and featuring a staggering cast of models, including former Chanel muse Inès de la Fressange, the collection featured some absolutely breathtaking pieces, which I'll include in my Paris round up at the end of the week. Meanwhile, the star-studded front row saw the lucky attendees showcasing their own sartorial acumen:

Alexa Chung

Lou Doillon

Vanessa Paradis

Clemence Poesy

Keira Knightley

Lily Allen

Leigh Lezark

Rachel Bilson

I was disappointed not to see Diane Kruger in the front row, but no doubt she'll have first pick of next season's collection for the red carpet. I'm also in love with Clemence's new darker hair colour!

What did you think of the Chanel presentation? And who do you think was the most stylish in the front row?

(Image credit: ELLE UK.)