NY Fashion Week: Vera Wang fall 2011 collection
By Andrea Petrou on February 16th, 2011
Lux fur jackets and chiffon skirts
Jeffrey Clark Grossman/ WENN.com
Archive for the ‘Designer Fashions’ Category
Designer Fashions, Gallery, New York Fashion Week - Runway
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NY Fashion Week: Tommy Hilfiger
By Andrea Petrou on February 14th, 2011
By Emily Borrett.
Tommy Hilfiger, one of the USA’s biggest and most iconic fashion brands, showed at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week yesterday. The result was a surprisingly pleasing mix of Annie Hall-esque androgyny and 1970s glamour, with a bit of New York grit thrown in for measure. Much like in Alexander Wang’s catwalk show, fur and leather were key in adding sexy and feminine twists to masculine tailoring.
Anyone who’s seen the Woody Allen classic Annie Hall will remember the endearingly sloppy trouser suit and waistcoat that Diane Keaton wore when she fell in love with Woody Allen – like a small frail girl dressing up like a man. Tommy Hilfiger have perfectly modernised that look, creating loose, low-waisted suit trousers and masculine suit jackets in lush-looking twills, adding flashes of riotous 70s-looking silk here and there to add a witty twist. The result is effortless – as if the models, panicking about having nothing to wear, just slung on their boyfriends’ suits and suddenly though “Hey, this looks pretty good”. There is nothing contrived about this collection at all.
The fashion house have managed to seamlessly blur the line between formalwear and sportswear, mixing slouchy sweatshirts and beautifully knitted men’s jumpers with fur gilets, suit trousers and leather. Our absolute favourite piece from the whole collection is the stone-coloured suede outdoor jacket with leather lapels – a genius take on old-fashioned outdoors wear, every girl will want one of these to brave the cold in, whether you’re in New York or Grimsby.
Yes, tailoring has been a big trend for a while, but not quite like this – Tommy Hilfiger’s 2011-12 collection takes masculine dressing to another level. The fashion house has taken the next logical step from reinventing the tuxedo as a feminine garment to bringing Saville Row dressing to the female market. In fashion, it’s never just a man’s world. In a subtly cool palette of greys, blacks, browns and golds, it’s an understated assortment of clothes that we think will give any wearer immediate elegance and poise.
Forget cocktail dresses – make our next party outfit a Tommy Hilfiger suit.
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NY Fashion Week: Victoria Beckham
By Andrea Petrou on February 14th, 2011
By Emily Borrett.
It may have taken some by surprise when former Spice Girl and occasionally tacky footballer’s wife, Victoria Beckham, had a complete style overhaul and announced a new career in fashion. Long gone is the black bob, purple lipstick and minidress that we remember so well from SpiceWorld – what has ensued is an impeccably chic sense of dress, a close friendship with Karl Lagerfeld and a much-anticipated runway slot at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC.
But, a couple of years on and her venture into design has been far from a flop – several extremely high-profile celebrities (including Michelle Obama) have become huge fans of her beautifully tailored, sleek designs. The buzz around her show at NY Fashion Week yesterday paid testament to the huge success she’s become.
While her past designs have been extremely structured, form-fitting dresses that are reminiscent of Jackie O on her way to a press event, this season’s collection was a surprisingly relaxed and playful assortment of dresses and miniskirts in her trademark block colours; this season the palette of choice was a mix of black, sunflower yellow, crimson and maroon. The whole thing reminded us a bit of the genius of Jil Sander’s last collection. The glamour, however, was still there in spades; that much was obvious as soon as the first look was sent down the runway, a hooded crimson dress that looked like it should belong on a classic cover of Vogue.
What followed the first look was an elegant mix of bubble-hem dresses, origami-structured shapes and cowl necks that managed to look modern while giving more than a nod to the stark simplicity of the 1960s. It’s a style that I’d absolutely kill to pull off, but I’ve got a feeling these dresses require a wearer with a little more poise than clumsy old me.
The Victoria Beckham show was an absolute pleasure – not because of the talent shown in her designs, but the growth and development in her creativity that we can see since the last collection. We can’t wait to see what she comes up with next time – it’ll probably be spectacular. She just keeps getting better and better.
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NY Fashion Week: Alexander Wang
By Andrea Petrou on February 13th, 2011
By Emily Borrett.
If Paris Fashion Week is the mecca of elegant couture, and Milan Fashion Week the source of all high-octane glamour, then New York Fashion Week is the home of cool. And it doesn’t come much cooler than the gritty, slick designs of Alexander Wang, whose shows we absolutely always look forward to the moment when NYFW rolls around again.
The young designer exploded into our consciousness a few seasons ago with his tough, punk aesthetic. Did you rock a fishtail plait last year, covet a studded leather jacket or embrace sportwear as the pinnacle of cool? If so then you’ve got Mr. Wang to thank for it, whose raw and modern take on rock and roll has turned fashion around. Following his last Spring/Summer show, which was an unexpected collection of laid-back separates and a complete departure from his signature look, we breathed a sigh of relief to see him return to what he does best at NY Fashion Week yesterday.
The models were definitely dressed for a cold and rainy New York winter as they stomped down the runway in an interesting mix of quilted leather, knitted black and grey ponchos, metal jewellery and fur collars. There was a pretty balance between hard and soft in the textures and shapes used in the collection – we especially loved his buttery, black biker-girl jacket with a huge fur collar teamed up with beautifully tailored silk trousers. Is this what Joan Jett would look like if she grew up and got a job in an art gallery in the Big Apple? We hope so.
Though the collection was more subtle than some of Wang’s past collections (we didn’t see a single stud anywhere), there were still plenty of his signature quirk and charm in the accessories. Fur headbands, metal bracelets and fluffy shoes may only be for the brave, but at Fashion Week it was pure New York perfection.
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NYFW: Christian Siriano Fall 2011 collection
By Andrea Petrou on February 11th, 2011
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Trend Alert: Marchesa-esque girlish romance
By Andrea Petrou on January 28th, 2011
By Emily Borrett.
I don’t know about you, but there’s been an awful lot of girls out and about in grungey, black get-ups at parties at the moment – we love our gothic lace maxis, but a teeny part of us wonders if there will be a more refreshing party look to emulate come spring. And there definitely is – this past week’s Haute Couture Week in Paris, we could see a definite theme of quirky romance, understated softness and femininity in all of the collections bar one. Sheer, draped fabrics in ice-cream shades of soft peach, off-white and pale yellow were regularly seen, as were an abundance of ruffles in nearly every party dress and more than a bit of sparkle in the form of heavy costume jewellery. It all reminded us a lot of Marchesa’s Spring 2011 collection, which was one part rich Sultan’s daughter and two parts sugarplum fairy.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a party dress as jewel-encrusted and luxurious as a Marchesa one without having to shell out the real thing, but the look is easy to emulate. Accessories such as feather capes and heavy costume jewellery can give a simple sheer dress a bit of Marchesa’s infectious joie de vivre, and if you’re feeling creative you could buy some jewels from a habadashery and add some sparkling detail to your outfit yourelf.
As the models on the runway showed us, this isn’t a trend that requires a Barbie Girl type to wear it – in fact, the Marchesa girls instead wore their hair up in an edgy bun and dark, modern makeup to balance out the girlish magic of the clothes and avoid the whole thing becoming too sickly. Check out the gallery below for pieces that can be put together for a completely beautiful Marchesa-esque party look.
At Marchesa's Spring 2011 collection, jewels, sheer draping and frills were the flavour of the day
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Trend Alert: Spring florals
By Andrea Petrou on January 27th, 2011
By Emily Borrett.
With our bank balances finally recovering after the shopping mania that is December, and the weather slowly but surely improving, it finally seems about time to look forward to the spring and think about what we’ll be wearing when the sun comes out. So today, ShinyStyle looks at one of Spring/Summers prettiest and most cheering trends: florals.
One of the best shows in the most recent fashion week season was undeniably Erdem’s gorgeous collection of floral-printed blouses, capri pants, skirts and dresses, often with different patterns mashed together in one outfit. The result? A jaw-droppingly refreshing take on the print which has had us counting down the days to Spring ever since.
These models (pictured below) look staggering in head-to-toe florals, but can us normal folk take on the trend? The answer, I think, is yes. The key to working this look is confidence, and making sure that your prints contrast nicely. For example, if you’re wearing a blouse with a large, dynamic flower print, opt for a skirt or trouser in a much smaller, delicate floral. If the whole thing reminds you a bit too much of the perils of double denim, and you haven’t got the stomach to attempt flower power head-to-toe, then stick to one piece in the outfit.
We’ve looked all over the internet and found some of our favourite floral pieces on the high street, and some of them an unbelievable bargain. Our favourite is the Liberty-esque floral trousers from Joy – check them out below.
An English country garden: Erdem showed exactly how florals should be worn come spring
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Spring/Summer 2011 Haute Couture week: Christian Dior
By Andrea Petrou on January 25th, 2011
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The five trends to carry you into Spring/Summer this year
By Andrea Petrou on January 11th, 2011
By Emily Borrett.
The rubbish, typical British drizzle and winds that we’re all having to endure at the moment may be making us all feel a little bit like there’s no point even thinking about our Spring/Summer wardrobes. But the beautiful clothes that everyone is predicting we’ll be wearing later this year are so special, that maybe we should stiffen our upper lips like true Brits and start planning for the marginally less dire weather ahead. Here are the top 5 trends that you should take into consideration this year when you’re hitting the shops.
1. Florals
If you followed the many Fashion Weeks that happened at the end of last year, you’ll be able to remember with wistfulness the beautiful lace-swathed jamboree that was the Erdem SS11 catwalk. From their embroidered white lace dresses with red flowers creeping up the hemline to their floral patterned shirts and shorts, flowers were absolutely everywhere and they’ve never been prettier. Head-to-toe florals may be a difficult look for us mere mortals to rock in our daily routine, so keep it understated – team a floral skirt or pair of summer shorts with a simple blouse for a garden-party perfect look.
2. Bold colour
Forget floaty and ethereal for this summer’s maxi – German designer Jil Sander showed us that the best way to rock a sweeping floor-length this year will be with a vibrant splash of colour. Everyone was talking about her collection at fashion week, and with good reason too – Sander showed us a fresh and modern take on the hottest length to be seen in at the moment. As for how you wear it? Exactly how it was seen on the catwalk. All you need to work a JS-esque maxi is a classic white tee and a slash of neon lipstick.
3. Bright whites
While cutting-edge fashion house Alexander Wang has often been in favour of moody black clothes and leather in the past, at this last NYFW all the models were sent down the catwalk in refreshing tones of white and celadon that made us all go – ahhhhh. We’ve already heard about the phenomenon of the little white dress, now get ready for the little white everything. This spring it’s all going to be about a clean, fresh look and white is the perfect colour to opt for.
4. Frills and ruffles
Sugar, spice and everything nice – it’s not hard to see why so many celebrities favour designs by Marchesa for fancy events at the moment. Last year it was about body-con, velvet and a very grungey aesthetic, but this year things seem to get a whole lot prettier as we’re told that ruffles, embellishment and peekaboo lace are going to be the only look to be seen wearing when you’re out on the town. With their sheer lace harem pants, embellished necklines and floaty, ruffled voluminous dresses, Marchesa are the designer to emulate.
5. Ladylike
Louis Vuitton started it all off with their now iconic A/W last year, where it was all about nipped in waists, modest hemlines and 1950s silhouettes – everyone went mad for his full-skirted dresses. If you’re wondering how to take their sexy-but-prim aesthetic into the new year, then look no further than Valentino. Hemlines crept up a little (summer is too hot for a midi) to flutter at the knee prettily and necklines were modestly high. But if that sounds a little too safe for you, it isn’t. They kept things from being matronly by using sheer, floaty materials which still hinted at the skin and body beneath – a perfect look for those big and small this year. If you’re looking to copy Valentino this year, keep an eye out for sheer, high-necked blouses and tailored skirts.
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Designers of the year: Erdem
By Andrea Petrou on December 21st, 2010
By Emily Borrett.
When it came to brilliant, inspired collections this year, no one and absolutely no one did it quite as well as Canadian-bred fashion house Erdem. When you think of the iconic dresses to have emerged this year, one of the first to pop into your head will absolutely be his floor length digital-printed gown from his Autumn/Winter collection, which was startlingly pretty in an unusual mix of deep browns, inky blacks, teal and colour-bursts of red. It’s been worn by A-listers to countless red carpet events since. Add into the mix a gorgeous blend of sheer chiffon, swallow-prints and dark leather, and you’ve got one of the most original approaches to Autumn/Winter dressing for a long time.
This year Erdem were also at the root of this year’s lace trend, which continues to go strong into the new year. For their A/W collections their dresses and blouses came in wintery colours -soft blue-grey ruffles and pleats were the Erdem way to wear lace this winter. They then showed us how to carry the fabric from winter to next Spring, sending frothy white Victorian-esque lace down the runway with bold crimson embroidery creeping up the hemline. A very pretty way to wear lace indeed.
We can’t wait for next spring when the sun starts to peep out behind the clouds, just for our Spring wardrobes alone. We may not be able to afford the real thing, but Erdem’s white lace and cool green floral prints have given us some food for thought.
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Designers of the year: House of Holland
By Andrea Petrou on December 21st, 2010
The trademark tights made an AW appearance
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Designers of the year: Christopher Kane
By Andrea Petrou on December 21st, 2010
Christopher wowed us with lace with his AW2101 collection
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Everything about this collection was just somuch fun. John Galliano breathed new life into the 1950s sexpot pin-up style of dress, with bright cherry and blue colours, neon makeup and cheeky sailor hats. If this is how everyone is going to look on the beaches next year (and we hope they do) then it's going to be a very silly, fun summer.
ShinyStyle’s top 5 runway collections of 2010
By Andrea Petrou on December 16th, 2010
By Emily Borrett.
Carrying on from our top 10 fashion moments of 2010, I’m looking at some of the highlights of the various Fashion Weeks that have happened this year. From Alexander McQueen’s first runway show under the direction of Sarah Burton, to the oil-slick punk aesthetic at Balenciaga and classic Parisian style at Chanel, each show has been a joy to cover. But when I got down to it and racked my brains for all the collections I’ve pored over in the last year, I’ve found that the five collections in the gallery below have been particularly special. Check them out below. If you have any other collections this year that you think especially deserve a mention, have your say and leave us a comment below.
5. Christian Dior SS2011
Designer Fashions
Burberry Pre-Fall 2011-12 collection
By Laura on December 15th, 2010
The quintessential British label, Burberry Prorsum has unveiled its Pre-Fall 2011-12 collection, and being Burberry it doesn’t end there. Always digital savvy, they have filmed each look in collection so that shoppers can see the garment move and from every angle.
The collection features the label’s signature trenches reworked with thick leather belts and rock-like embellishments, while oversized handbags stick around for another season.
The collection will be available from May 2011. Check out some of our favourite looks in the gallery below.
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Who will design Kate’s dress? See the list of hotly-tipped designers here
By Andrea Petrou on November 26th, 2010
By Emily Borrett.
Following on from yesterday’s drooling over Kate Middleton’s stunning engagement ring, we’ve been thinking about the royal wedding dress – who can forget the dress, designed by the Emanuels, that Princess Di wore for her wedding? The puffs, the frills? The 1980s were a terrible time to let a pair of fashion designers get carried away with the most important wedding dress design of the decade. But we’ve moved on, fashion is infinitely better today and there’s a whole wealth of designers that may be stepping up to design Kate Middleton’s gown for her wedding next year. But who are they?
There’s a reckoning that couture veteran Bruce Oldfield could be in the running – with a portfolio of stunning gowns and a whole array of celebrity fans such as Jerry Hall and Princess Diana herself, perhaps our future Princess will decide to stick with traditional British grandeur for her walk down the aisle.
We’d all like to see Miss Middleton fly the fashion flag for Britain by tying the knot in a wedding dress by Alexander McQueen, but perhaps the much-loved designer’s bridalwear is a little too “out there” for the occasion – still, we can all dream. Similarly, it’s no secret that Kate loves Issa and the fashion house’s feminine, draped collections, but is it too informal for the big day?
Other designers who could be perfect for the job include much-loved Erdem, Valentino, Jenny Packham, Amanda Wakeley and British favourite Alice Temperley. Have a look at the gallery above for our favourite bridalwear from some of these designers, then vote for your favourite below.
From:Pictures: 2012 British Soap Awards - Best dressed, Michelle Keegan, Jennifer Metcalf and more