London Fashion Week [S/S ’13] – The Roundup

Paris Fashion Week is on as we speak, the final week of fashion month, featuring the crème de la crème of the global fashion industry. Watch this space for my favourite of the shows.

In the meantime, I’ve put together my round up of London Fashion Week. Overall, the shows didn’t get rave reviews but you know there will always be beautiful fashion in there somewhere. Roksanda Illincic stood out, it was an explosion of colour combinations and fabric combinations, and there were the designers from the Fashion Fringe competition. Dig in…

Roksanda Illincic

The collection combined so many stare worthy elements. The foundation was ultra feminine cuts and shapes, build on top of that unusual yet stunning color combos and gorgeous fabrics like silk and tweed and you have a delicious confection.

 

Temperly London

The fifties silhouette will have my heart any day and I got a pleasant surprise from Temperly London. Perhaps we could have a micro trend for the season. The silk wide leg pants and sequin blouse look was absolutely stunning, I dream of myself in outfits like that.

 

 

Fashion Fringe Designers – Haizhen Wang & Teija Eilola

The most unexpected place where I got my ultimate fashion high was at the ‘design feet’ of brand new freshers. Two of the three finalists of the Fashion Fringe competition (think London version of Project Runway) absolutely took my breath away.

Haizhen Wang

My first thought on seeing the pieces in this collection was Haider Ackermann! The deconstruction, generous layering/draping, rock solid structure and combination of contrasting fabrics (think leather and silk) was reminiscent of Ackermann. The designer, Haizhen Wang is an alum of Central St Martins and worked at MaxMara, Boudicca, and AllSaints; I definitely see AllSaints in there. He made an excellent showing of himself and I found he won the competition, too well deserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teija Eilola

Teija’s collection got me in the very detailed yet simple and fresh feel. I loved the balloon sleeves on the striped dress and crisp white blouse. All very wearable with a lot of interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credit: styledotcom

Gracious Grecian Bride

I have a few friends who would swear by the unconventional wedding dress. You won’t catch them dead wearing a ball gown on their wedding day. Absolutely no  hope for the fussy stuff.

These days, I’m getting more attracted to the understatedly elegant, simply graceful yet abundantly feminine wedding dress. In a general fashion sense though, I love silk, in whatever form, if i had my way, i’ll be swathed in silks all day every day. Then, my best clothing detail in the world is draping, generous luxe draping. Combine both and it  makes sense then that I fell in love with this Amanda Wakeley collection at first sight.

Not for your conventional bride but it ticks all the boxes of chic.

It’ll cost you though. An Amanda Wakeley dress retails from £2,000. See more details here

 

So what do you think? Will you go for the classic ball gown or you’re more along these non fussy lines?

 

Photo Credits: Amanda Wakeley

Art For Your Sole: Walter Steiger heels

Fashion for me equals creativity, art, self expression. The things that really catch my eye are the unusual, the different, the stand out pieces. It goes to show the mind of the designer or wearer, taste and a great eye is like pregnancy, can’t be hidden. It always peeks out, in the tiny little detail, in the choice of colour, in the decision to have a curved heel versus straight like everyone else.

Walter Steiger’s signature is the curved sole and stunning is what it is. The shoes are sold at flagship stores around the world.

 

Check out the website www.waltersteiger.com

The Most Fashionable Bloggers Episode 1

There are thousands of bloggers on the blogosphere and it’s not news that bloggers are taking over the global fashion industry. Bloggers inspire collections, co-design lines for designers, style editorials for fashion magazines, feature prominently in fashion week, act as consultants for designers and are a huge part of the advertising for fashion brands.

With so many blogs to choose from, there are many different styles, aesthetics and sensibilities, so when I find a blogger who makes my eyes round as saucers due to their AH -MAZING style, it excites me to no end.

So I was doing the blog round up the other day and came across the extraordinarily stylish Wendy Nguyen of Wendy’s Lookbook

She basically ticks all my boxes, tres femme, multi faceted expressions of style, loads of versatility, classy and tres chic dressed up or down and she’s got a sweet personality that shines through. Reading her story in the About section, there was even more jaw dropping. Wendy grew up in foster care, worked and fought hard to get into college, has worked with incarcerated youths and still volunteers at an organization that provides mentorship to previously incarcerated youths. Totally wowed! and that trumps the silly notion held by weird people that fashion aficionados are automatically flaky people.

Wendy also proves the point I’ve made several times that fashion is an artistic expression. I can’t help but quote her, ‘ I find inspiration in art, nature, culture, architecture, food, people, and music. And for me, fashion is a compilation of all that. Fashion is a vehicle for me to play with shapes and colors in order to uncover my personal style. Like music and art, fashion and style are forms of creative self-expression where each of us are architects creating unique designs and looks.‘

Pardon my excitement, it’s not everyday you find a fashion soulmate *grinning*

So, for that great style that has me doing the couch jump, check out after the jump. You can see Wendy sharing great fashion tips on her youtube chanel as well.

Cheers to you Wendy! Massive cheers to you!

All photos from Wendy’s Lookbook.

Time Magazine’s ALL Time Fashion Icons

TIME magazine just compiled a list of 100 fashion icons, featuring fashion inflencers and icons from as far back as Cristobal Balenciaga, Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn. Complete with short stories of influential designers, stylists, editors, photographers, models and muses, there are the familiar faces and the unfamiliar plus the (concisely written) stories behind them.

Of course you know Anna Wintour was on that list!

Very interesting read, seeing some of the stories cements my belief that fashion and the fashion industry is waaay beyond the wearing of clothes, it’s art, it’s creativity, it’s passion and expression. Totally inspiring and a must read for everyone with  more than a casual interest in the fashion industry. Trust me, there just might be some names you’ve not  met before.

You can find the story here

And style icon extraordinaire Grace Kelly

Photo credits: Time Magazine.com

One Look, So Much Inspiration

Fashion is so much about creativity and expression. It excites me to no end when I see someone wear something beautiful in an unexpected way. Doesn’t happen every day, so I have to celebrate it when it comes along. I happened upon this yesterday…

Graphic Print Tee + Stunning Flowing Accordion Pleat skirt + Chanel bag + Long Necklace = Super Stunner

On a completely separate note, I found this quote on Pinterest and it makes my heart skip a beat. This is a life note like no other…let’s use the whole box of crayons!

Photo credits

Street Style: My Girly Side

Quote: Dear Monet

Spring 2012 Trend: Pleats

Pleats are a massive trend this season, and if Fall 2012 collections are anything to go by, they are not going anywhere in a hurry.

The beauty about it is the very many ways designers have expressed the trend, from dresses, to skirts to tops! who would have thought pleats could show up in more than just skirts.

If you’ve ever been fascinated by accordion pleats, this is your opportunity to rock the trend in the most creative way you can think about. The great thing is that you’ve got tons of styles to get inspired by. Your go to designer for variety is most definitely Chloe, just look below.

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren

Prada did some really beautiful pleated dresses, the powder blue and yellow dress is a sure favourite.

Prada

Prada

Prada

Prada

Prabal Gurung touched on the trend but in beautiful saturated colour, the partially pleated skirt is simply stunning.

Prabal Gurung

Prabal Gurung

The Chloe collection was centred around accordion pleats and shows the most versatile ways of wearing the trend. It doesn’t get better than a pleated blouse tucked into shorts with a blazer thrown over.

Chloe

Chloe

Chloe

Chloe

Chloe

Chloe

The bright orange pleated dress by Christian Siriano finally did it for me!

Christian Siriano

Christian Siriano

This is a trend definitely worth trying out!

 

Photo credits: Elle.com

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Prada’s Flame Inspired Spring Collection

We’re right in the middle of the Spring 2012 season and before you blink, another fashion season is upon us. As we speak, Fall 2012 fashion week is still going on strong, the train is in Paris right now and it’s been beautiful fashion.

I really think we should savour one season well enough. Having said that, I was looking at the Prada Spring 2012 collection again and it really is fascinating. Miuccia Prada has chosen to follow her heart and inspiration and just play with fashion, season after season. When she’s not rolling out fruit inspired fashion (Spring 2011), she’s showing shoes with cut out flames.

At first spotting, I was like, errr, what is this? But looking closer, these shoes are beautiful and they really did get tongues wagging.

The flames and fire theme ran through the collection with prints on blouses and appliqué details on skirts and bags showing even more fire.

I got thinking, how far do you really want to go with your favourite designer? Will you buy a Prada bag with a car printed on? Will people stop at sense and sensibility or just go all the way, I mean, it is a Prada bag. Food for fashion thought.

Now moving past the playfulness and quirky pieces, I found some stunning arm candy. Love these structured bags, the embellished versions in different colours makes for a great investment by anyone so incline.

Totally wanted and needed, in every colour.

 

 

 

 

Photo credits: Elle.com

Absolutely Fashionably Sensible…Shoedazzle

This is probably one of online fashion’s best kept secrets. I say best kept secret because I simply don’t get that much buzz about shoedazzle. The quality of the shoes could definitely do with a lift, the heels tend to fall off but that can be fixed. I can’t help but drool at the gorgeous designs pouring out of this site, the styles are absolutely stunning and the pricing?? every single style at $39.95 (roughly N6,000). This is for not just shoes but bags and accessories.

Shoedazzle for sure defines super chic fashion for less. It’s so great that there are many options online for getting your look good gear.

This service is members only and it entitles you to a showroom with new items suited to your style monthly. Right now, it’s limited to the US, they had a UK site but it shut down a few weeks ago, apparently to enable them focus on the US market. There are always ways around shopping in the US if you don’t actually live in the US, either via friends or via personal shopping services. Either way, go check out the site, even if it’s for computer window shopping only. In the meantime, check out some of my best picks

Photos via Shoedazzle.com

NY Fashion Week Fall 2012 – Hervé Léger by Max Azria

There’s too much fantastic fashion coming out of New York for Fall 2012, it’s an endless parade of art, creativity and great tailoring. I almost can’t keep up with them, 300 designers is a long list. Will see how much I can go through before London Fashion Week starts on Friday.

It impresses me immensely when a designer takes the usual and makes something completely different yet relevant with it. Hervé Léger has become synonymous with the bandage dress but with this collection, the style has been given a completely different spin. Lots of harnesses, the equestrian influence is clear, someone was definitely inspired by horses. Beyond that, lots of detailing, there were patterns on Hervé Léger! Ombre shades, there were longer lengths and some regal, graceful looks. Great direction for the label.

Photo credits: elle.com

Spring 2012 Trend: The Peplum

I know I’m not the only one who feels this way, like the global fashion calendar is an ever spinning roller coaster ride. You never quite get off to catch your breath. Before the spring collections hit the stores, the pre-fall collections are out. Just two weeks ago, it was Spring 2012 haute couture week, before we get a chance to stare at and appreciate the craftsmanship of the stunning collections, we are being ushered hurriedly into Fall 2012 fashion week, kicking off in New York today.

New York Fashion week schedule

In spite of this apparent madness – and I don’t want to imagine what the designers and their team of stylists, makeup artistes, art directors, publicists etc must feel – it still is a great rush when another fashion week is coming up. You can’t help but be curious about what the trends for the next season will be, where the designers will be drawing inspiration from, what to expect from your favourite designers and if some trends you love will be making a comeback. As a diehard fifties aficionado, I’m always on the lookout for a fifities comeback, that means I get to find those nipped in the waist, full skirted dresses in the shops.

So, I’m waiting with eager anticipation for the shows to start. In the meantime, I get to keep looking at and talking about some of my favourite trends from the season we’re in now.

Spring is the most relevant season for us in these parts because we can identify with the clothes and can wear them, unlike Fall where most of the clothes are made in fabrics and come in styles we can’t wear in the tropics. Some stunning trends came out of Spring 2012 and make for great fashion. Over the next couple of posts, I will do a spotlight on some of these trends, starting right now with The Peplum.

I fell in love with the Peplum since my childhood days in the 80s, it was just so girly and I liked it. I never really did get a Peplum dress but how I longed for one. This right here is my chance to fulfil my childhood fantasies.

Now, you’ve never seen the peplum get as edgy, psychedelic and avant garde as it got in the Spring collections, and it showed up everywhere, from Celine to Jason Wu to Marchesa, all the way to Vera Wang. Some designers based their collection on this trend – Vera Wang and Givenchy had Peplums on at least half the clothes they showed – it was stunning what Givenchy did with the style.

This trend is bang on for girls who want to emphasize the waist, give a chic twist to work wear or play up their feminine side with a girly, frothy peplum in lace or tulle.

However you like it, get inspired by a plethora of peplums in every conceivable style.

 

 

Photo credits: Elle.com

 

Wednesday Tidbits

I’ve got so much love for beautiful fashion, that much I can say this lovely Wednesday afternoon. I came upon this stunning blogger today. I mean, I’ve seen a few ‘what i wore’ blogs but this chic takes the cake. I love her style. Given she’s a fashion merchandiser, it makes perfect sense! I got some tid bits from her blog. If you so desire, you can find her on atlantic pacific

I also talk about a dress I’m currently loving after the jump.

This look is so luxe...and that Celine bag!

 

Pleats are one of the biggest trends for Spring 2012. This sheer shirt dress with accordion pleats by Vero Moda is a pretty and chic way to wear the trend. You can find on Asos.com

 

 

 

Beautiful Beautiful Fashion At The 2012 Golden Globes

I wasn’t even going to watch the red carpet coverage of the Golden globes. After staying awake, cooing and tweeting all night last year, I just was too tired to try this year. However, I ‘stumbled upon’ a re-run of the coverage on E! and Angelina Jolie (+ a few other people) changed everything. This is my first ever blog post of an awards show and it is exciting.

I caught a glimpse of Angelina Jolie gliding out of her limo and on to the red carpet and I was spellbound. The dress, that flash of red at the shoulder, the soft draping, the way the silky fabric glided on her body, what a stunner!

At every interval, I saw some more stunners, Tilda Swinton had me in that edgy Haider Ackermann; Nicole Kidman was stunning in Versace and I loved Jessica Chastain in Givenchy. Of course some people bombed, in fact many people had me seriously wondering…’what happened to the stylists in Hollywood…???’ Well, here we won’t focus on negativity, we love beautiful things.

My favourite picks below.

It’s a new year, let’s make it fashionable! ;)

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace

Jessica Chastain in Givenchy

Nicole Kidman in Versace

Dianna Agron in Giles

Tilda Swinton in Haider Ackermann

Michelle Williams in Jason Wu

Photo credits: Look.co.uk

Another Year Rolls By…featuring Rachel Zoe

No better way to end the year than by taking a look at one of my best designers of the year: Rachel Zoe. This lady is fast taking Victoria Beckham’s place in my heart. I love the way she stays true to her style, love love love that 70s influence, and the tailoring is heart stopping. Very sleek chic, very up my alley.

Her Pre Fall 2012 collection is stunning bar the almost-up-to-the-navel slits. I’ll always have furrowed brows about the excessive show of skin in fashion but what we do is pick the good out of the scandalous. Just like I said at the beginning of the year, I’ll say again, fashion is to cover up nudity not expose it. Well, we’ll keep blazing the trail in looking super fashionably modest, scouts honour, so help us God ;-)

Have a Very Merry Christmas and an AH-MAZING 2012!

 

Photo credits: Fashionista.com

Cruise 2012 Shoe Collection: Christian Louboutin

As a confirmed high heels enthusiast, you would understand why I consider Mr Louboutin a genius when it comes to shoe making. I don’t agree with the man half the time, I mean, I didn’t say he was a shoe deity – much as he loves to think – specific ref. to the  YSL lawsuit. But hey, we agree on stunning foot candy, he just knows how to craft those heels.

The way they arch in perfection, the way he pushes the boundary of how high is high, bordering between classic simplicity and bejewelled beauty. With this collection, he takes mexican beading, metallic brights, jewels, studs and adds them to the mix. I’m particularly taken by the embroidered turquoise satin pumps, stunning.

 

Photo credits: Ftape.com