Milan Fashion Week SS08 Wrapup II

Milan Fashion Week SS08 Wrapup I

And we are off to Milan! Sigh, it seems just like yesterday I was walking along via Della Spiga, passing by the huge Armani building and breathing it all in. Anyways, back to the runway. Lets start with the most Italian of them all......

Gorgio Armani
Inspired by the languid sensual summers of Southern Italy, this collection had a much more relaxing and casual touch than Armani's usual sleek, sharp and sexy silhouette. And about time too! I was getting bored of using the same adjectives every season to describe Armani.
I am usually not one for gypsy looking shorts, but I am loving these. Armani upgrades them with the shiny material and the subtle tailoring, making them look feminine and elegant while still being very relaxing and comfortable. They appear to be very versatile too, looking great with equally relaxing looking tops, loose and fitted jackets. I want one of these next season!
Then there were the dresses. Or shorts integrated into looking like dresses (left and right above). He keeps with the theme by using these light flowing fabric further enhanced by its texturized print.
More into the evening, we have these creations. Armani's pairing of the sequence top with the flowing floral skirt is just genius.
Something a little more typical of Armani, the evening wear. I simply LOVE all of these, especially the gold one on the right that was the finale. Simply beautiful. Oh and it looks like I'm going to have to invest in light shawls next season too!

Burberry Prorsum
Christopher Bailey never ceases to amaze me with his collections that are always refreshing but still oh-so-Burberry. This season, the theme was the Luxury Warrior, I have no idea what the means but it looks to me that it involves feminine ruched up materials paired with rocker chic studded elements.
Personally I don't really like the look of these ruched up material. It looks like bunched up muscles....maybe I've been seeing too much Body Worlds.....But I DO like the whole long jacket over a dress and cinched together with a studded belt look. Very cool. And I LOVE the checkered patterns. Definitely more refreshing than the usual Burberry print.
Without the jacket, those studded belts look just as cool. I especially love the black bubble dress with the black blazer and belt underneath (right) look. Oh and I'm not too fond of that feathery looking pencil skirt (left), looks scary.....
More trenches. LOVE LOVE LOVE that updated trench (left). Looks soooo awesome. And middle outfit with the black trench and the big patent black bag looks soo chic as well. And the purple outfit (right) perfectly illustrates Bailey's mixing of lux materials.
More vibrantly there are these hot pink and blue looks. I especially love the sky blue on sapphire blue combo (middle). Its soo sharp. And that gray dress is just beeeeeeautiful.... so feminine and delicate with a bit of edge from that belt. Perhaps that is what Bailey means by luxury warrior?
Either way, one thing I'm sure you'll all agree with. Next season, the studded belt is THE accessory to have. And from the variety of ways Bailey has shown us how to wear it on this runway, I'd say its a prime investment!

Source: iamfashion.com
Image Source: Elle.com

FCUK FW07-08

FCUK kicking off this season, I would like to gush about the new FW07-08 FCUK collection. Once again they have exceeded my expectations for them and turned out some very pretty and trendy looking clothes this season. The ads actually makes me look forward to fall/winter, evoking images of ladylike elegance, sophistication and a hint of fun and funk. LOVE the whole look here, the hair, purple dress and ankle boots!!!The image of ladylike sophistication. I especially love the picture on the right, except I'm not sure the actual outfit of black turtleneck and long black skirt would do well in real life.... you'd have to be very tall and slim to pull it off.And here I just adore the beige cardigan. Its a coat cardigan but has the prettiness of a dress like at the same time!
And sigh.... these coats are sooooooo gorgeous. The grey coat on the left is classic and stylish, with the collar. And the black coat is chic and trendy with just the right details!

For now, I think I am going to go with these plain loose tees in different colors as I'm probably going to get the most mileage out of them this season, so buying it full priced would be worth it. Especially since I've finally decided that it was time to move on from my usual plain tees from Mango and Zara, these would be a nice little upgrade. The plain color with its simple but more flowy and elegant cutting is perfect for everyday wear to school.

Sigh, it feels like only yesterday that I gushed about their SS07 collection!

Source: I am Fashion

New York SS08 Fashion Week Wrapup I

It's fashion week! OK so I'm not totally excited about NY Fashion Week because few shows there are actually directional or gorgeous, but it is nice to look at new, modern clothes.
BCBG Max Azria
I never used to care much for BCBG until this summer's visit to LA, I realised that BCBG sells really useful, pretty, contemporary clothes that are affordable. This season's BCBG seems a bit inspired by Nina Ricci's FW07 collection. It used a lot of that sheer material to form a layer over the non-transparent layer. And note the belts tied at the waist -big trend this FW and probably next SS!

The dress in the middle is one of my favourites from this collection. Love the colour combination and the chiffon layering at the bust area.

Lots of sheer chiffon layering.

Erin Featherson
Remember how cute Erin Featherson's last show was? Everyone looked like fairies. For this collection, the models look like they're fairies just starting to work.

All the models had white eyeshadow and mascara on. Looks cute close-up, but...

... not so cute from afar! The first time I looked through the photos, I was so distracted by the eyes I hardly saw the clothes!

The silver dress is so cute! Very ballerina-ish.

Marchesa
Ah, the brand of gorgeous dresses! This collection was supposedly inspired by India, (although I'm sure some Indians would be a bit offended by how flashy or revealing some of the dresses are!) The dresses throughout the collection didn't connect that well to me, but there's no denying they're too pretty not to look!

The navy dress is so elegant -I love the crystal details at the waist!

Gorgeous dress! This dress looks like a bunch of embellished flower petals, doesn't it? The way the material is draped is so nice! If you're interested, the dress before this dress at style.com looks even more like rose petals -the model there literally looks like a rose bud!

Source: I am fashion

Kate inspired by myriad themes in latest high street collection

Oxford Street didn't come to a standstill this time around, but fashionistas are generally agreed that Kate Moss' second collection for Topshop is a winner. The news that the autumn/winter range has found favour will come as a welcome boost to the supermodel, who has revealed a desire to follow peers like Elle Macpherson and Heidi Klum in building a business brand.

The millionaire cover girl's latest offerings are divided into several 'fashion stories'. There's a preppy kid-meets-art student section, with long striped college scarves and cashmere-mix vests and cardigans.

For lovers of rock chic style there's a super-sexy, wet-look maxi dress, which wouldn't be out of place in a gag's VIP section if you wanted to hang with the band. Meanwhile, the beaded flapper dresses and baby doll creations are right on the mark for a more sophisticated occasion.

The range is priced between £12 for a cotton vest up to £150 for a bomber jacket.

Source: Hellomagazine

Rebecca Taylor Blossoms for Spring '08

At Saturday's preview of her spring collection, Taylor offered a sophisticated, muted color palette. She also toned down the bells and whistles she often uses to jazz up outfits.

Taylor tapped into the color-blocking trend that has proven so popular so far at New York Fashion Week, which has now hit its midpoint. Taylor turned out a lovely lean shift with an indigo top, black skirt and beads in an abstract peony design around the neck.

The peony was one of the common threads throughout the show at the Bryant Park tents. It was also on a rose-colored tank top with a zipper down the back and on a silk T-shirt dress.

"There was an amazing use of color," said Gina Kelly, fashion director for Seventeen magazine. "She's known for her soft colors, so this was a nice surprise."

Kelly said her readers consider Taylor to be the designer worth splurging on because they know they'll look good when they put her clothes on. They're also clothes that they can wear when they're young, but also when they're a bit older since the outfits are never too precious, she explained.

A short, fitted canvas jacket with a lace babydoll-style top and slim, ankle-length pants was one of those ageless looks.

A black beaded bomber jacket with a midnight-blue satin skirt might be a bit dressy for the lives of Taylor's typical customer, but in this day of starlets-as-fashion icons, one never knows.

Source: The Associated Press

Ralph Lauren Marks 40 Years in Fashion

Ralph Lauren took a well-deserved extended bow Saturday night as he both presented and celebrated his 40th anniversary collection.

Lauren sauntered down the runway at a tent erected just outside the Conservatory Gardens in Manhattan's Central Park to Frank Sinatra's "The Best Is Yet To Come." A crowd that included Sarah Jessica Parker, Martha Stewart, Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters gave the designer a standing ovation. Fellow top-tier designers Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg and Vera Wang, who once worked for Lauren, also were at the black-tie event.

The theme of the spring collection, debuting during New York Fashion Week, was a day at the races. Some models wore oversized hats with garden-party dresses — one of the best being a pale-blue floral printed silk plisse gown with a halter neckline and ruffled jabot — while others wore menswear-style jackets, ascots and tailored trousers. Spatlike shoes completed the look.

The jockeys were even represented with crystal-embellished jodhpurs, a yellow jersey dress with an equestrian print, and a bright pink equestrian-print taffeta jacket with splashes of blue, white, green and yellow, and a peplum at the hip.

Spring '08 features more colors than Lauren has shown in years.

The clothes, however, were secondary to recognizing Lauren's long tenure at the top of an industry always looking for the next big thing.

Lauren is one of the "nicest, warmest and loveliest" in the fashion world, said von Furstenberg, president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

"He is so successful because he lives his fantasy with such passion. I just love him," she said.

After the last gown — a slinky and stunning silver chain-beaded gown — disappeared from the runway and Lauren had his moment in the spotlight, the back wall opened to reveal an elegant and elaborate party set up in the Conservatory Garden itself. This was the first private event ever held at the Gardens by a third party.

A sprawling fountain in the middle picked up the light from the dozen chandeliers hanging from arched arborways on the terrace and from the hundreds of candles on the tables.

"Like a Henry James character, he (Lauren) is the last true idealist about America's imagination of itself," said Harold Koda, curator at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. "That makes him the greatest ambassador of American style."

Source: The Associated Press

Prada Vernice Sfumata Pump

Prada's accessories are always one of the first brands I look at in style.com's accessories preview. Afterall, Prada's accessories are always the sales force behind the brand and they're usually copied by all the other high street brands (thus Prada's accessories almost always form part of the new trends.)

The first time I saw this season's Prada's shoes, I thought err... I hated the gradient colour theme (more so for certain colours like green and black than others,) and I wasn't really into the whole leg-warmers-with-heels trend because realistically, I'm not going to even try that.

But when I was wondering around Barneys in LA, I couldn't resist trying on a pair of one of Prada's FW07 runway shoes, the Vernice Sfumata Pump, which to us normal people, are commonly known as the gradient-coloured pumps. So I tried them on and wow, I loved them! I instantly felt like I was sucked into the world of artistic, intellectually glam world of Prada.

I especially liked the thick, black, elastic strap in the front. I was wearing a flowery skirt that day so it didn't really match my outfit but I imagine it would look absolutely amazing with black pants -modern, sleek and creative. Sigh, now I'll probably spend the next few months admiring these shoes online everyweek.

Source: iamfashion
Image credits: www.saksfifthavenue.com, www.prada.com

Hong Kong : Fair to feature watch & clock design competition winners

The world's largest fair of its kind, the Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair, takes place September 5-9, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Along with a dazzling range of timepieces from all over the world, the fair will feature the winning entries of this year's Hong Kong Watch and Clock Design Competition.

Chan Wing Tak's Skin Dial Watch took the open category Championship, with its Lifestyle Culture theme. His design incorporates a hollow case encircled by 12 LED lights; time is displayed by the light projected on the skin of the wearer. "I joined the competition because I love designing new products, especially something not thought about before," said Mr Chan. Mak Tsz Wah and Chan Fung Yin were the runners-up.

The student competition, under a Dream of the Future theme, was won by Chau Pei Shan, a design student at the University of Central England in Birmingham (UCE). Runners-up were Tang Ho Pan of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Shatin), and Chan Kar Him of UCE.

Yellow Ribbon Action, the name of Chau Pei Shan's winning design, was inspired by the yellow ribbons protestors put around their arms, symbolising "peace, hope and love". The timepiece is both an elegant necklace and a watch. Ms Chau also won the student Championship three years ago.

"The Hong Kong Watch and Clock Design Competition works to enhance the design and quality of Hong Kong-made watches and clocks," said Jerry Tsang, Co-Chairman of theFair Organising Committee. "We received more than 300 entries for the competition, which shows that design plays an increasingly important role in the industry."

The world's largest fair of its kind, the Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair, takes place September 5-9, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Along with a dazzling range of timepieces from all over the world, the fair will feature the winning entries of this year's Hong Kong Watch and Clock Design Competition.

Chan Wing Tak's Skin Dial Watch took the open category Championship, with its Lifestyle Culture theme. His design incorporates a hollow case encircled by 12 LED lights; time is displayed by the light projected on the skin of the wearer. "I joined the competition because I love designing new products, especially something not thought about before," said Mr Chan. Mak Tsz Wah and Chan Fung Yin were the runners-up.

The student competition, under a Dream of the Future theme, was won by Chau Pei Shan, a design student at the University of Central England in Birmingham (UCE). Runners-up were Tang Ho Pan of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Shatin), and Chan Kar Him of UCE.

Yellow Ribbon Action, the name of Chau Pei Shan's winning design, was inspired by the yellow ribbons protestors put around their arms, symbolising "peace, hope and love". The timepiece is both an elegant necklace and a watch. Ms Chau also won the student Championship three years ago.

"The Hong Kong Watch and Clock Design Competition works to enhance the design and quality of Hong Kong-made watches and clocks," said Jerry Tsang, Co-Chairman of theFair Organising Committee. "We received more than 300 entries for the competition, which shows that design plays an increasingly important role in the industry."

Source: Hong Kong Trade Development Council

USA: Bindi Irwin creates own fashion line

After taking a vow to continue the excellent work that her late father Steve Irwin began in making daring wildlife documentaries, nine-year-old Bindi Irwin has branched out into carving her own niche by trying her hand at becoming a runway model and designing her own fashion line.

Bindi was the focus of all media attention at the largest fashion trade show, Magic, held recently in Las Vegas. She sashayed down the 'crocwalk' wearing clothes from her Bindi International fashion line, with a snake wrapped around her neck.

Created by Queensland-based designers Melanie Finger and Palmina Martin, Bindi International clothes are designed for newborns to 10-year-olds. With this, Irwin junior hopes to make an entry into the children's clothing market in America.

Source: Fibre2fashion.com

Arapapa in SF for UNAA fashion event

Arapapa, Uganda’s renowned fashion house, is taking big leap! It will become the first ever Company from Uganda to present its collections on an international platform.

Arapapa will exhibit its 30 creations at the Uganda North American Association (UNAA) convention at Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Francisco. Company has a one-hour program today at the event that started August 30.

The range includes black and gold couture as well as raw-cotton prêt a porter line.

Company sources say that this will prove to be chance for Ugandan fashion to reach global levels and for Arapapa to form international collaborations.

Source:Fibre2fashion.com