22.11.2011- Fashion Week Top Five: Milan SS12

I realise this post is very overdue by now, but what better way to brighten up a gloomy November evening than with a look back (or forward, depending on how you see things!) to the SS12 presentations from Milan:

Antonio Marras' collection incorporated a selection of stunning prints and androgynous touches such as turn down collars and oversized shirt dresses. Bold prints contrasted beautifully against plain fabric backgrounds, and loose fitting swing shapes sat alongside more classic hourglass silhouettes.

The Marco di Vincenzo presentation oozed Italian glamour- side swept hair, waspish waists and optical illusion style prints made this a Milan highlight for me. 

Moschino Cheap and Chic's presentation was a riot of colourful dresses, showcased against an equally vibrant market-style backdrop. Sea greens, mustard yellows and bold graphic prints made this collection a perfect vision of summer, and sat perfectly alongside softer, more feminine touches such as tiered ruffles and brocade details.

Versace. The definition of sun soaked Italian glamour. This collection instantly reminded me of the beach- seahorses, shells and mermaids came printed in an array of sorbet shades, and the signature gold studs featured throughout made this presentation unmistakably Donatella.

The looks showcased by the design team at Piazza Sempione were sophisticated and effortlessly chic. Layering, loose tailoring and a sprinkling of sequins combined with quirky floral patterns gave this collection a cool, modern and relaxed feel- perfect for the summer.

What did you think of the Milan SS12 presentations? Which shows were your favourites?

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

07.10.2011- Fashion Week Top Five: London SS12

Although it seems that the SS12 presentations of London Fashion Week took place months ago and are probably considered old news by now (such is the fickle nature of the fashion world), the collections presented in London have remained by far my favourites, proving more memorable than anything I've seen since. Thanks in part to label juggernauts such as Mulberry and Burberry bringing their presentations back to home turf, London is now no longer thought of as the grubbier, more eccentric cousin of ultra-polished New York and glamorous Milan, but is now instead rightly recognised as the hub of new design talent and creativity. Of course we still love our eccentricity (the amazing Meadham Kirchhoff show springs to mind), but London is now more than ever holding its own against the more commercial stops on the fashion month tour. Here are my top picks from the capital's SS12 presentations:

Season after season, I'm always amazed by Erdem's creations. Just when I think his work can't possibly get any better, I'm happily proved wrong. This collection was stunning- signature prints were given a fresh, airy twist and romantic lace featured heavily throughout.

The Giles show was my standout from London Fashion Week- the sheer spectacle was breathtaking. I loved the theatricality of this presentation and the ethereal style of the designs. Luxurious floor-length silk dresses, feather details and metallic accents all evoked an other-worldly quality, and the repeated use of the swan motif throughout this magical collection created a thoroughly fairy-tale like flavour.

The shimmering dresses, vibrant floral patterns and sparkling embellishments all caught my eye at Christopher Kane. The cool, minimalist styling kept things simple, and I love how nonchalantly the looks have been put together- never have I seen flip-flops look so chic!

The Mulberry presentation was a real ray of sunshine. Butterscotch yellows and vivid jungle prints provided us with a vibrant, kooky take on the Great British Summertime. The tousled beehive hairstyles nodded to the nostalgia of 1960s beach holidays, as did the oh-so-cool (but surprisingly tricky to pull off in real life) socks and sandals combo which featured throughout. Beautiful bags in a new array of shapes and colours were, of course, obligatory.

Pretty pleats, sunshine colours and cinched in waists were all key components of the Emilia Wickstead collection, which was demure, ladylike and sophisticated. Each look feels really wearable, and the simple yet classic shapes ensured each design was both versatile and elegant. 

What did you think of London Fashion Week? Which shows were your favourites?

(Image credit: style.com, fashiongonerogue and vogue.fr.)

22.09.2011- Fashion Week Top Five: New York SS12

New York Fashion Week flew by in a flash, and having spent most of last week sans internet, I've only just managed to catch up on everything. Surprise, surprise, I really struggled to pick only five shows to share with you as there was a lot about the collections shown at this NYFW that I liked. I really loved Thakoon's collection and the DKNY show, and the seeing magical creations of Marchesa is always a highlight for me. However, I've duly whittled down my favourites, and here are my top five fashion shows from New York:

 I loved the Great Gatsby inspired looks shown at Ralph Lauren, and in particular the effortless chic of the looks he presented as daywear. Wide-legged silk trousers in an array of sorbet colours hinted at the relaxed ease of a summer spent on a Long Island beach, and contrasting sherbet shades screamed summer holiday. For the evening, Lauren gave us glorious 20s opulence- metallic floor-length gowns with an array of embellishment and accessorised with skullcaps and feather shrugs.

I had high hopes for Jason Wu's SS12 presentation as I loved his AW11 collection, and he did not disappoint. I adored the embellished collar details incorporated into some of the more masculine looks, the experimentation with proportion, and the muted colours of my favourite looks spoke of an understated 'summer in the city' cool which is perfectly New York. 

Jenny Packham's collection was unashamedly feminine and elegant. White lace was a big theme throughout the show, as were signature florals and sequinned embellishments. I loved the uncomplicated way in which these looks were presented- minimal accessorising let the beautiful clothes speak for themselves. 

I adored the bold prints and pastel shades at Preen. Frilled waistbands and collars added a quirky edge to a very lady like collection. Sorbet colours made an appearance here too, so are sure to be big news for next season. 

Erin Fetherson's latest collection was a continuation of what she does best- cute, girly dresses with pretty details. The Mia Farrow inspired styling and mini hemlines more than nodded to the 1960s, and vibrant shades of pink and orange broke up the more retro monochrome looks.

Which shows were your favourites from New York?

(Image credit: style.com and fashiongonerogue.)

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.)