Victoria & Albert Museum
If you haven’t already, gone this is a must see for every fashionista. The Golden Age of Couture - Paris exhibition at the V&A Musuem. Couture in the flesh, now you wouldn’t wanna miss that would you? The exhibition runs til the 6th of January so If I were you I’d suit-up, get that train ticket and head for Cromwell Rd. SW7.
The exhibition features Post-war & theatre de la mode, Dior’s ‘New Look’, Inside the World of couture focusing on the production of couture such as dress-making and tailoring. Textiles and trades, boutiques, ready-to-wear etc..,Photography and Illustration, Tailoring, Cocktail and early evening dress, Evening and Ballgowns and to round it all up, the ‘Legacy’. It’s very well put together and such a magnificent display. You can feel the magical presence of Couture in the atmosphere and it’s something you will always remember.
I think after seeing it for yourself you actually start to appreciate the real importance and meaning of fashion and understand the worth of the industry itself and how some people have worked extremely hard to create to these wonderful inventions. You can find more details on the V&A’s website.
Post-war and Theatre de la mode
The Legacy
“Fashion is an expression of faith. In this world of ours, that seeks to give away its secrets one by one, that feeds on false confidences and fabricated revelations, its the very incarnation of mystery and the best proof of the spell it casts is that, now more than ever, it’s the topic on everyones lips”
(Christian Dior et moi by Christian Dior, Libraire Amiot, Dumont, 1956)
The Italian designer and icon has created a very unique and extremely personal extravagant ladies’ and men’s collection for glamorous everyday or party look with 20 men’s and 25 ladies’ pieces including lingerie and matching accessories…
…so, Cavelli’s collection for H&M finally hit the stores today and if you managed to have a nibble of some of this seasons juiciest must haves from the collection please do let us know. For those who haven’t got a clue yet what’s in store prepare yourself if you may be able to get hold of some of the left overs. From what I’ve gathered it’s filled with gold sequined dresses, a leather jacket, accessories such as bone and pearl,rings, a golden cuff bracelet and bags are all part of the collection and alotta leopard and zebra print staff but no outfit is complete without the right foot candy so to top it all up there’s also some ultra chic Mary Jane shoes in leapard print - Go get ‘em!
A selection of the collection will also be available at www.hm.com
(FROM LEFT) STELLA McCARTNEY, VIVIEN WESTWOOD
(FROM LEFT) EMILLIO PUCCI, NINA RICCI
This winter, wrap up for the cold weather in huge, chunky or loose knits. They are extravagant, ultra-cosy and this seasons way forward. Don’t just go for the happy meal, super-size everythingthing from scarves, hats, to jumpers.
(FROM LEFT) SONIA RYKIEL ,GILES ,GILES
Wear the look
Choose jumpers or jumper dresses in larger sizes than you would usually wear.
It’s all about detail and texture so don’t be afraid to go all OTT
You can opt for a fabolous chuncky cardigan as a chic alternative to a coat
Get the look:
(FROM TOP LEFT) TOPSHOP £32, MATALAN £14, MONSOON £65
GEORGE ASDA £18, WAREHOUSE £50, WALLIS £40
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(Click on image to enlarge)
The Spring/Summer 2008 Women’s wear collection was dedicated to Isabella Blow, mentor and close friend of the man himself, Alexander McQueen who had also for this particular collection, collaborated with another of Izzy’s discovery and frequent McQueen collaborator Phillip Treacy and was their gift and goodbye to her. In the crowd were also the likes of L’Wren Scott, Kanye West and Jim Gold who had all come to pay tribute to Blow.
There were white and red tweeds and the clothes were very well tailored as McQueen uses this technique very well from previous experience and skill from his Saville Row day. With skirt suits that looked like they were crafted perfectly to fit each model giving them curves like no othe, the exaggerated hips accentuated the tiny waists that were cinched by wide grid-like obi belts of red patent leather under twisted chiffon bound uppers. Double-heeled platform shoes forced the models to walk as if their feet were connected contributing an oriental theme to the collection that is triumphant for the up-coming season.
The clothes were beautiful. It was one of those McQueen shows that left you swept off your feet. Though the collection was mostly about the best of Isabella showing it also showed clothing designs from previous of McQueen’s collections that Blow wore or would have worn herself, we were not to forget that it was also about bringing out the best of McQueen. Alexander’s greatest hits also featured architectural and fantastical hat creations by Treacy highlighted prominently — they were her trademark, after all. Showing Phillip signature butterfly swarms, to incredible spiral sweeps of chain mail, any one thatIzzy could have chosen for any of her public appearances
McQueen was daring with extraordinary Japanese geta-inspired sandals, rainbow prints, and face-covering masks. My favorite was the phoenix motif, so appropriate because of its symbolism of rebirth. The bird, in all its feathered glory was on a beautiful baby blue gown. The wing motif translated to dresses made entirely of tiny black and white feathers which were also plastered on to the some of the models’ faces, clothes and shoes. Leather, pink python skin dresses and a silken basket weave were new ways to wear the McQueen shapes and the incredible psychedelic dresses running from orange through to fuchsia, pink and turquoise and his signature razor sharp suit tailoring were big winners. The favour in the colour was delightful and amazing. Something about the rainbow coloured wings on McQueen’s diaphanous bird-of-paradise gown was reminiscent of ‘Annunciation’, a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci. Alexander had truly put his all into this collection, after all what’s not to love? Its McQueen! and Isabella could’nt have asked for a better tribute.
Razzle Dazzle…
This season is all about Glimmer and Shimmer so don’t be caught without at-least a single sequin on your body.
From the catwalks of AW/07 we have been dazzled by fabolous blinging frocks to grace our silhoette this autumn and winter. Don’t be afraid to charge up your look with a shot of shimmer. Polish for perfection with a metallic or studded clutch and glam yourself up with either a high-gloss heel or embellished stilletto sandal. It’s elegant, sexy and beautifuly modern.
Karl reigns over the Paris catwalk shows yet again!
For Spring/Summer 2008 we are graced by the genious designs of the man himself behind the name Karl Lagerfeld. For Paris fashion week, we are shown not to look on the other side of the rainbow but to look directly at it. With a theme like that, you would expect neons and a lot of brightness to a collection but as our leader here is always full of surprises, he presented to us yet another very cutting-edge run of his designs.
The collection featured black and white sharp tailoring as usual but also fit-and-flare fifties dresses with geometric cutouts around the neckline, and a high-neck sleeveless blouse’ also featured alongside other very interesting designs.
The show also featured the body-con jersey dressing where the brights took show. The collection is sexy, elegant and quite intriguing, with more anglular shapes as part of his tailoring there were unusual veiling of criss-crosses and other very geometric detailing. Not alot of colour as we know our man who is all about elegance, simplicty and effortless beauty. His whole collection didn’t move very far away from the familiar black and white but had the added essence of the rainbow colours which made it very unusual but soft & sexy as opposed to sharp.
Alexander McQueen
Gareth Pugh
Antonio Berardi
Christian Lacroix
Black has never looked any sexier, elegant and stronger a colour as it does now. This winter introduces jet blacks on raven-black silks to inky velvet glittering fabrics with crystals and all sorts of dazzling embellishments. The interaction between the textures, patterns and fabric decorations exposes why black has and always will be fashion’s beloved colour.
Style Tip:
Go for heavy embellishment rather than just delicate or simple. Makes a strong & powerful statement OR
Layering: Wear different shades of black on top of each other OR
Wear all black then throw on a bright coloured pair of walkers
BLACK OFF THE HIGHSTREET
I’m guessing you already know that belts are an instant wardrobe updater for this season. U won’t be able to find anything more fab than Fendi’s wide, punched leather must-have.
Filed in
AW/O7
8 months, 3 weeks ago
Sex and the City’s fantastic four ladies S.J.P, Kim, Kristin and Cynthia are back on the street scene with their shoe loving, martini-sipping and bed-hopping fabulous selves. If you are a fabulous, dedicated fashion lover and devoted ‘Sex and the City’ follower you’d definitely know not to miss. Prepare yourselves for some double action on this one as we know our girls sure know how to deliver. We expect this Movie is coming loaded with double the fun and excitement so don’t let us down ladies…
“…can’t wait to see what new shoe additions to add to the closet!”
Sex & the City Movie due to come out May 30th 2008.
The exhibition features Post-war & theatre de la mode, Dior’s ‘New Look’, Inside the World of couture focusing on the production of couture such as dress-making and tailoring. Textiles and trades, boutiques, ready-to-wear etc..,Photography and Illustration, Tailoring, Cocktail and early evening dress, Evening and Ballgowns and to round it all up, the ‘Legacy’. It’s very well put together and such a magnificent display. You can feel the magical presence of Couture in the atmosphere and it’s something you will always remember. 
Alexander McQueen
Antonio Berardi
