Halloween costume ideas: The modern day witch
By Andrea Petrou on October 3rd, 2011
Archive for the ‘Gallery’ Category
dresses, Features, Gallery, Halloween
Fashion News, Features, Gallery, Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week: Thierry Mugler
By Elisabeth on September 29th, 2011
Thierry Mugler spring-summer 2012
A model wears a creation for Thierry Mugler fashion house's spring-summer 2012 ready to wear collection presented Wednesday Sept.28, 2011, in Paris. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)
Thierry Mugler’s spring/summer 2012 collection is a display of sleek modernism and inspired creativity that Lady Gaga would be proud of. Perhaps it then doesn’t come as a surprise that creative director of Thierry Mugler, Nicola Formichetti is the co-mastermind behind Lady Gaga’s wardrobe…
The collection showed angular designs, creative layering – deconstructed springs to mind – and sexy cut-outs what walked down the runway at Gymnase Japy is a modern day Femme Fatale. If its wearable is questionable, but it is certainly watchable.
charity, Fashion News, Gallery
Show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with these pink delights
By Elisabeth on September 29th, 2011
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there are lots of way to get involved and help raise money for charity. For shopping addicts like us it is great to know that we can get our shopping fix AND donate to a good cause at once. Will you be wearing pink?
Here are some of our favourite choices to be pretty in pink this October.
Pink lace top by Warehouse
£30 with 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Available from 1st October. Buy
Features, Gallery, Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week: futuristic by Gareth Pugh
By Elisabeth on September 29th, 2011
Gareth Pugh Spring-Summer 2012
A model displays a creation by British designer Gareth Pugh for his Spring-Summer 2012 Ready-To-Wear collection show held at Garage Turenne in Paris, France.
Not sure if British designer Gareth Pugh is showing us his innermost secrets or is hoping to design the clothes for the new Blade Runner film, but his Spring/Summer Ready-To-Wear 2012 collection shows us he certainly has a strange idea of how women – and some men – should dress next year.
At Paris Fashion Week, Pugh showed the audience and fashionistas worldwide that he definitely has the shock factor. Pugh’s latest collection includes black and white leather cage dresses with knee-high boots – kinky some would say, plastic ‘teardrop’ masks encasing the models’ heads, and muzzles… Yes, muzzles.
I’m not absolutely convinced that the everyday woman will opt for these futuristic/bondage outfits, but I can certainly see Lady Gaga going crazy over the collection. Come to think of it, perhaps Gaga is the inspiration behind the designs?
All photos: Press Association
Fashion News, Gallery, Paris Fashion Week
Devastee Catwalk – Paris Fashion Week. Pictures
By shinychris on September 28th, 2011
Paris Fashion Week
A model displays a creation by designers Francois Alary et Ophelie Kiere for their Spring-Summer 2012 Ready-To-Wear collection Devastee show held at Showcasein Paris, France, on September 28, 2011.
A model displays a creation by designers Francois Alary et Ophelie Kiere for their Spring-Summer 2012 Ready-To-Wear collection Devastee show held at Showcasein Paris, France, on September 28, 2011.
All images: Press Association
award show fashion, Features, Gallery
Coronation Street’s Michelle Keegan voted Sexiest Female in Inside Soap Awards. Pictures
By shinychris on September 27th, 2011
Inside Soap Awards 2011
Michelle Keegan at the Inside Soap Awards 2011 at Gilgamesh in Camden, London.
Michelle Keegan was crowned soap’s Sexiest Female for the third year running at tonight’s (26.09.11) Inside Soap Awards.
The Coronation Street actress – who plays Tina McIntyre in the ITV1 soap – scooped the prize during the ceremony at exclusive London venue Gilgamesh and admitted she was stunned by the news.
Michelle – who is engaged to The Wanted star Max George said: “I genuinely didn’t think I would win again. I think the people who vote clearly don’t see me in my slobs on a daily basis. I think it’s Tina they like anyway, not me. Max better have voted for me otherwise I’ll kill him!”
Coronation Street won the Outstanding Achievement award for the show’s 50th anniversary week, which saw the tram crash and live episode and actor Chris Fountain said it was very well deserved.
Chris – who plays Tommy Duckworth – said: “I think it’s about time to be honest. That storyline was phenomenal and it hasn’t been recognised at any other awards ceremonies. I’m just proud to be part of it.”
However, the big winner of the night was ‘EastEnders’ as the BBC One show took home five awards, including Best Soap.
Jessie Wallace – who plays Kat Moon – was named Best actress while Maisie smith (Tiffany Butcher) scooped the prize for Best Young Actor.
Other winners included ‘Emmerdale’ star Danny Miller, who was named Best Actor and Sexiest male Danny Mac.
Inside Soap magazine’s editor Steven Murphy said: “Huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners, who thoroughly deserve their Awards. It’s been a fantastic year for British soaps, and I look forward to another exciting and dramatic 12 months ahead.”
Full list of winners from the 2011 Inside Soap Awards:
Best Actor (sponsored by jackpotjoy.com)
Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy, ‘Emmerdale’)
Best Actress (sponsored by jackpotjoy.com)
Jessie Wallace (Kat Moon, ‘EastEnders’)
Best Young Actor
Maisie Smith (Tiffany Butcher, ‘EastEnders)
Best Newcomer
Emmett J Scanlan (Brendan Brady, ‘Hollyoaks’)
Funniest Performance
Tameka Empson (Kim Fox, ‘EastEnders’)
Sexiest Male
Danny Mac (Dodger Savage, ‘Hollyoaks’)
Sexiest Female
Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre, ‘Coronation Street’)
Best Exit
Bill Tarmey (Jack Duckworth, ‘Coronation Street’)
Best Wedding
Tamwar Masood & Afia Khan (‘EastEnders’)
Best Dramatic Performance
Danny Miller (Jackson’s choice, ‘Emmerdale’)
Best Daytime Soap
‘Home and Away’
Best Daytime Star
Ryan Moloney (Toadie Rebecchi, ‘Neighbours’)
Best Drama
‘Waterloo Road’
Outstanding Achievement
The Coronation Street tram crash and live episode
Best Soap (sponsored by jackpotjoy.com)
‘EastEnders’
Features, Gallery, Milan Fashion Week
Milan Fashion Week SS12: Dolce & Gabbana
By Elisabeth on September 26th, 2011
Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2012
A model wears a creation part of the Dolce & Gabbana women's Spring-Summer 2012 fashion collection that was presented in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
In spite of the boot-shaped country’s bleak economic situation and the closure of the D&G range we want to shout La Bella Italia when seeing the spring/summer 2012 collection by Dolce & Gabbana. The designer duo were definitely showing patriotism on Sunday as they sent models down the catwalk wearing earrings in the shape of pasta and prints depicting tomatoes and peppers, but look at the beauty.
Reminiscent of the Carnivale, the runway was lit up by multicoloured fairy lights as the models cascaded down in gorgeous summer wear that brought your mind to the Riviera and Capri in the 50′s and Italian screen goddess Sophia Loren.
Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson – who has lent her famous silhouette for several D&G ads – happily posed for the cameras in a beautiful nude coloured dress prior to the show.
Photos: Press Association
Designers, dresses, Events, Features, Gallery, Milan Fashion Week
Milan Fashion Week SS12: Fendi
By emilyborrett on September 22nd, 2011
Once again Karl Lagerfeld has sprinkled his magic dust over Fashion Week again, as today’s Fendi show proved to be a kitsch 60s sportswear delight as the designer sent his models down a runway, backdropped by a giant set of baking scales, sporting teased beehives and retro-inspired mini-dresses and jackets.
Only Karl Lagerfeld could take something so completely overused a fashion reference as the 1960s and recreate it in a fresh, modern way – dark, crisp mens’ tweeds and playful coloured sunglasses brought the look up to date, while the leather Fendi satchels and flats gave it that much-needed quirkiness that will appeal to girls like Alexa Chung.
To us, the new Fendi collection was obviously 1960s, but a luxurious, wealthy European 1960s in which every beautiful girl drives a white scooter and lunches in Milan every day. The main palette of crisp whites, blacks and greys in stiff silhouettes gave it a classic feel, but clever Lagerfeld stopped things from becoming too mature with coloured leather sandals and gleaming gold details on the buttons and cuffs.
Eventually sporty, playful sun-dresses and separates made way for eveningwear, which was a sleek, shimmering selection of black dresses and jumpsuits which glittered with incredibly pretty silver embellishments, sequin collars and iridescent fringing that gleamed as the garments moved. Absolutely stunning.
You can absolutely tell that Karl Lagerfeld is behind this collection, even without his trademark tweeds and textiles that we always see on the Chanel runways – the sharp silhouettes, the flirty and kitsch set-up of the baking scales behind the catwalk, the giant oversized eyewear – all pure Lagerfeld. I wonder what he’ll have to show us in Paris?
Designers, dresses, Events, Gallery, Milan Fashion Week
Milan Fashion Week SS12: Alberta Ferretti
By emilyborrett on September 22nd, 2011
Sexy was definitely on the menu yesterday at Milan Fashion Week as the fashion house Alberta Ferretti showed us their latest offering of panelled cocktail dresses, skirts and trench coats.
We couldn’t help noticing that, like Gucci’s show before Ferretti’s, there was a bit of a 1920s vibe going on in the drop-waisted, free-flowing dresses that we saw in virginal white, juicy coral and tropical colours and smoky greys and blacks.
Unlike the sleek, shiny finish on the garments at the Gucci show, however, the new Alberta Ferretti had a more summery laid-bck vibe to it, with pajama-style lounge trousers and tropical prints in the place of more austere tailored styles.
There’s a definite new hair and make-up trend that we saw on the show that we think could be a big look for next summer – damp, mussy hair and bright, neutral makeup tones for a look that made each model look like she’d just come straight out of a beach somewhere gorgeous in Rio, then headed off to a party in her new Alberta Ferretti dress.
All in all, it’s a chic, thoughtful collection with an assortment of crochet and tropical prints that make us want to book a flight to the Bahamas right now. Very simple and understated European glamour – we love.
Designers, dresses, Features, Gallery, Milan Fashion Week
Milan Fashion Week SS12: Gucci
By emilyborrett on September 22nd, 2011
Mamma mia, forget all about London Fashion Week now as we’ve moved further across Europe to one of the ultimate big-daddy fashion capitals of the world: Milan. Expect drama, expect glamour, and hopefully expect a diva tantrum or two along the way as well.
Proceedings are certainly kicking off in style in Milan as one of the first designers to show there is Gucci, one of the biggest names in Milan Fashion Week and definitely one of the most fabulous. Creative director Frida Giannini listed her inspirations for the new collection as 20s actress Louise Brooks, Man Ray photographs and vintage architecture. All of these art-deco inspirations were immediately apparent in the sleek, shiny lines and dynamic silhouettes of the designs.
It was a highly aesthetically pleasing event, as liquid-looking metallic prints and bold black and green lines zig-zagged across tuxedo jackets for a hard, bold take on menswear redesigned as womenswear. Opulent monochrome pieces, with hints of jewel tones here and there in emerald-green inserts and gold accessories immediately made us see the inspiration of the roaring twenties, when fashion became feminist – all these women looked liberated, fabulous and like they were heading to a cocktail party at the top of a skyscraper in Manhattan.
We have to say we were most excited about the flapper-style cocktail dresses which came out onto the runway with incredible monochrome patterns with extremely delicate gold fringing – absolutely incredible.
Gucci don’t need to be worried about anyone creating a collection that is more polished and luxurious than this – they’ve got this one in the bag. But then again, they always do.
Gallery, London fashion week
London Fashion Week SS12: Jasper Conran
By AlexLoves on September 22nd, 2011
Jasper Conran Spring/Summer 2012
A model on the catwalk at the Jasper Conran fashion show, held at the BFC venue in Somerset House, London as part of London Fashin Week.
Jasper Conran is the master of minimalism. He has a way of making the simplest of designs into something you find yourself craving to own. The sleek collection was sporty but feminine, chock-a-block full of sharp and timeless pieces in head-to-toe white, black, fuchsia and bright red , slightly reminiscent of a Jil Sander collection. That’s by no means a bad thing, as I am a massive Jil Sander fan. In order to make such minimalist pieces stand out, Conran focus on little detail which went a long, long way.
Surprising small cut out sections in the jackets and dresses, the boxy shapes, the neon colours, the open back, the simplicity of the flat sandals, the slick headbands – it all helped to turn this potentially boring collection into a stroke of genius. To quote the press notes, because I cannot put it any better: ”A distinctive air of ease highlights the disciplined lack of grandeur.”
Alex is the author of popular fashion blog www.alexloves.com
Features, Gallery, London fashion week
London Fashion Week SS12: John Rocha
By AlexLoves on September 22nd, 2011
John Rocha Spring/Summer 2012
Credit: catwalking.com
There’s always a bit of a buzz around the John Rocha shows. Although he’s always remained a little bit under the radar, the Hong Kong-born Irish designer has a large cult following, who happily show up at his shows in his designs. This includes myself. I suppose he’s best known for his budget range for Debenhams, but whilst I have to admit this is one of the better designer high street collaborations, nothing quite measures up to the pieces he creates for his own range.
The moment the first breathtaking structured dress made out of thousands of black ruffles hit the catwalk, we knew this was going to be big. Models sported dramatic wire constructions on their heads, some resembling horns, with black pieces of fabric dangling from them. The platform shoes resembled seaweed, as if these mythical creatures had just waded out of the ocean. Some of the pieces were also covered in ‘seaweed’, whilst others were constructed out of sheer panels with wave-like draping. The slightly gothic vibe was accentuated with an almost full black collection (which is usually the case with Rocha) and a series brighter broken-white pieces.
Will we be seeing a watered-down version of this in Debenhams? God I hope not, it would be wasted on them, but in between the dramatic and over-the-top looks, there were some beautiful classic pieces to be found, like a simple black jumpsuit, or the white sheepskin leather jackets or the tailored tuxedo jackets. And that’s most probably the stuff we’ll be seeing on the high streets next season.
Alex is the author of popular fashion blog www.alexloves.com
Gallery, London fashion week
London Fashion Week SS12: Holly Fulton
By AlexLoves on September 22nd, 2011
Holly Fulton SS12
A model on the catwalk during the Holly Fulton show at the BFC Show Space, Somerset House, London, as part of London Fashion Week.
Holly Fulton was the fourth designer to hail the British seaside as an inspiration for her collection. However, where most people chose the (former) glamour of the arcades, beach and seaside frolicking as a reference, Holly Fulton chose the rather… unglamorous town of Margate as her starting point. Margate isn’t really known for its style, but Fulton admits to enjoying bad taste. So much so, bad taste has become her signature style. Always taking elements often considered tacky, she magnifies them and somehow turns them into a bold and beautiful design.
This time was no different. Her trademark Art Deco prints featured everywhere, but this time mixed with zebra stipes, turquoise ruches, bold sequins and bright colours. The beach-theme was visible in big hoop earrings adorned with shells, and a couple of cheeky bikini’s. So wrong, and yet… The vibe was a little reminiscent of the old Versace days. Just comes to show that when you add enough terrible things together, you actually end up with something strangely beautiful. Although I want to make clear I’m not actually suggesting we now all start trying this, let’s leave that up to the professionals, shall we?
Alex is the author of popular fashion blog www.alexloves.com
All images: Press Association
Features, Gallery, London fashion week
London Fashion Week SS12: Christian Blanken
By AlexLoves on September 22nd, 2011
Christian Blanken Spring/Summer 2012
Credit: Christian Blanken
Not all designers have a big catwalk show to showcase their new collections, some opt for a small, intimate presentation. It allows the guests to look at the clothes in depth, from every angle and for a longer period than a fleeting appearance on a catwalk. Some designs really require a second look, because the genius lies in the details, and this was the case for Christian Blanken.
The Dutch designer is slowly gaining a loyal fanbase who adore his signature luxury sportswear style – and no, we’re not talking going-to-the-gym sportswear here. This season he presented a European take on American sportswear, a trend made famous by the likes of Michael Kors, and more extreme by Alexander Wang. We saw lots of casual, but undeniably chic pieces, like silk tanktops, jersey dresses and buttery soft leather pieces. Most eyecatching were the stingray prints, subtle from afar but oddly realistic looking from up close. And being able to have that extra little look is exactly what the charm is of a presentation.
Alex is the author of popular fashion blog www.alexloves.com
Gallery, London fashion week
London Fashion Week SS12: Amanda Wakeley
By AlexLoves on September 22nd, 2011
Amanda Wakeley Spring/Summer 2012
A model on the catwalk at the Amanda Wakeley fashion show, held at the BFC venue at Somerset House during London Fashion Week.
Showing directly after the all-dancing, colourful spectacle at Meadham Kirchhoff, Amanda Wakeley’s show felt somewhat like having our happy bubble burst. This is perhaps a little bit unfair, but for a brief moment we were reminded of how fun fashion could be, Amanda Wakeley brought us back to reality with a hard thud. This isn’t to say that the collection is no good, not at all, it’s just that it was a little… serious.
There were lots of long grecian draped dresses in a comfortable silk-jersey, which meant they could easily be transformed from eveningwear into daywear, with just a few styling adjustments. Some featured leather detailing, others sported a few sequinned elements, but all this was kept to a bare minimum. The colour palette moved from black and navy to flashes of coral red, mustard yellow and ended with turquoise. The simple leather accessories were a real highlight, with the oversized leather envelope clutches now featuring high up on my wishlist.
It was a solid collection, but just not terribly exciting. But then, Wakeley has never been a big trendsetter, she just does what she does, and does it well. Sadly I’ll probably only rremember the model who tumbled all the way up and down the catwalk after getting her shoe stuck in her hemline.
Alex is the author of popular fashion blog www.alexloves.com
All images: Press Association
From:Pictures: 2012 British Soap Awards - Best dressed, Michelle Keegan, Jennifer Metcalf and more