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.)

18.02.2011- Proud Mary

Mary Katrantzou's interior inspired collection was one of the high points of the SS11 shows at London Fashion Week back in September of last year, so it seems more than appropriate that this week, just as fashion madness descends upon London once more, Topshop unveil their latest collaboration with the designer. Featuring Mary's now signature bold, graphic prints in an array of colours transposed onto silk, this capsule range really captures the vibrance and quirkiness of the SS11 mainline collection:

Turquoise Silk Print Dress, £120.

Black Silk Print Dress, £120.

Turquoise Silk Print Scarf, £50.

Black Silk Print Scarf, £50.

Although the collection is perhaps a little bit more expensive than previous ranges, I think the fact that each product is 100% silk explains the price. It looks like everything is selling through quite rapidly though, so move quickly if you want to get your hands on some Mary magic just in time for London Fashion Week!

Also, in celebration of the collection launch, and for a limited time only, the WAH nails salon in Topshop's Oxford Circus flagship is offering manicures with the choice of seven colourful nail designs created especially by Mary. What more could a girl ask for?

What do you think of Mary Katrantzou for Topshop? And what shows are you most looking forward to from London Fashion Week?

(Image credit: Topshop.)