Be propelled into the dark and eerie world of the gothic-influenced Dark Romance, reminisce about the beautiful screen sirens of 40s Hollywood in 40s Flair and embrace Kings Road 60s chic with Mod Squad.
This weekend sees The Show: Redefinition at the UK’s most visited shopping centre. A truly unique catwalk show taking place at Birmingham’s The Bullring as part of Style Birmingham Live, the event boasts real and holographic models on stage at the same time as showcasing eight AW11 trends. The Show: Redefinition uses Musion3D technology to create the illusion of a volumetric model on a holographic backdrop, while real-life models emerge onto the catwalk, including Britain’s Next Top Model 2010 winner, Tiffany Pisani, and another very special guest.
The Show: Redefinition takes inspiration from the key trends for AW11 including gothic-influenced Dark Romance combined with elegant 40s flair inspired by Hollywood luxe and beautiful silhouettes. Many of the centre’s shops, including Reiss, French Connection, Forever 21, COS, River Island and Kurt Geiger will take part in The Show: Redefinition with make-up provided by The Body Shop and hair created by Regis at Debenhams in Bullring.
You can also discover a wealth of behind-the-scenes features by visiting http://www.browsebullring.co.uk, including a rundown on the key trends, blogs from the teams involved and news of other events taking place at Bullring during Style Birmingham Live. You can also WIN tickets, allowing you to take a seat and experience the show like a true VIP!
We completely love every Unique collection that good old Toppers has released, so we’re super-happy that you can finally buy their gorgeous 1930s-inspired AW11 pieces online now – so you’d better start saving up, because these pieces are worth the investment.
The AW11 collection drew inspiration from the glamour-pusses of the 1930s, so it’s all about draped coats, fur, deco prints, dalmation prints and silky gowns for this sumptuous offering of seasonal clothes. We’re absolutely obsessed with their camel mohair trench coat with dalmation-printed sleeves because it’s just so old Hollywood – but the bold, graphic print of the dalmation fur gives it a humourous, cheeky edge.
As shoes and accessories go, there’s a playful selection of chunky, sexy shoe-boots that come in sleek PVC for a modern feel, tactile faux ponyskin and shimmering silver. We’re all over the silver tap-style shoes – love, love, love, love.
Thanks Topshop, you’ve done it again. Check out the gallery above to see our favourite pieces from Topshop Unique’s AW11 collection and links so you can shop til your heart’s content.
Proenza Schouler may still be a relative fledgling label in the fashion industry, but, my god, they churn out incredible collections like they’ve been going for the last thirty years. Design duo Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez couldn’t be doing any better right now – and I am completely besotted with their new tiki Hawaii-inspired S/S 2012 collection.
The Spring/Summer line was deceptively austere at the beginning of the show, with neat waisted jackets in charcoal grey and prim little high collars, but look a little closer at the skirt and short suits and there was actually some cool, unusual tiger-print panelling. From a glance, a little bit drab – but get closer and it’s actually got a cheeky, subtle twist.
Dark muted tones soon gave way to crisp white tailored pieces and yellow florals. We especially loved their cute tie-waisted skirts in delicate blue and white prints with yellow floral overlay – so summery and playful that we want to hit the beach right away. There was a bit of a mesh between different eras – the Hawaiian-style prints reminded us of American summer holidays in the 1950s, while the super-sexy tiger-printed mini skirt-suits gave more than a nod and a growl to the power-bitch era of the 80s.
The 50s/80s era clash reared its head again in the collection when McCullough and Hernandez cleverly combined classic pin-up styles such as full-skirted sun-dresses and high-waisted beach shorts, but reworked the classic styles by making them in black and white PVC for a sleek, modern look. It might get a bit hot on the beach, but who cares if you’re lucky enough to be wearing a bit of Schouler?
All in all, it’s a really great, flirty collection that we can guarantee A-listers will be scrapping over very, very soon. To see our highlights of the Proenza Schouler Spring/Summer 2012 show, check out the gallery above. Surf’s up!
If effortless, edgy city-girl style is what you’re all about then you’ll appreciate the new 3.1 Phillip Lim collection which was shown at NYFW yesterday. For a label junkie he’s an absolute must-have, having proven very popular so far with the likes of Olivia Palermo and Alexa Chung.
There was a definite androgynous feel to Lim’s Spring/Summer designs, with sweet feminine twists in the form of sugary pastel tones and bright whites. To balance heavy masculine shapes such as slouchy, wide-shouldered shirts, straight-legged city trousers and padded coats, they were deftly teamed with cute silk tees in pale peach and lilac or short white shift dresses.
Dresses-wise, we were shown a cool, low-key collection of playful black silk pieces, flowing grey jersey dresses and navy-white optic floral prints which were really cool. What we love about 3.1 Phillip Lim designs is that there aren’t any frills or showiness, just simply elegant, fashion-forward and wearable pieces. You don’t need to be a mad Isabella Blow type or a Parisian couture princess to wear his designs – Lim designs for every woman out there in the city streets, and we think that’s really cool.
Check out the gallery above to see the new 3.1 Phillip Lim collection.
New York was transported to the plains of Africa yesterday as the legendary American designer Michael Kors unveiled his new Spring/Summer 2012 collection, which had clear tribal world-traveller vibes with rusty khaki shades and lush animal prints.
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is all about the Michael Kors show, so naturally we were excited to see what the newly-wed designer had come up with this time. Like Diane Von Furstenberg earlier this week, there was an obvious African inspiration, though Kors’ designs and prints were less graphic and more earthy than DVF’s, working in shades of khaki green, stone, fawn and rust with a few splashes of zebra and snake-print here and there.
It was primarily a casualwear collection, sportswear and casual separates being what Michael Kors usually does best, but naturellement he didn’t leave us high and dry when it came to glamour, either. His high-waisted 50s-silhouette swimming costumes and bikinis came either in rustic-looking batik or snake-print, while his evening dresses and skirts came as incredible weathered-looking ruffled creations made out of tiny feathery strips layered over one another, in cheetah print, cream and scarlet, leaving the models looking like amazing exotic birds.
All in all, it’s another excellent collection from Kors that I can’t really fault. The styling was perfect, too – I’m so hankering for those knee-high black leather gladiator sandals that all the models got to wear. I think teaming the edgy fetish-y footwear with draped batik fabrics and animal prints is a cool, modern new take on the world-traveller look.
Check out the gallery above to see the highlights from Michael Kors’ Spring/Summer 2012 collection.
If Rachel Comey’s show was all about city-slicker vibes then Steven Alan’s Spring/Summer collection transported us back to the summer again with his array of simplistic, sugary designs.
The collection was very evocative of long summer evening and idyllic childhoods as the womenswear was mainly comprised of floaty sun-dresses and simple, sugar-coloured separate pieces teamed with straw hats and ladylike purses. It very much reminded us of dressing up in our mum’s summer dresses when we were little for a grand day out, which is quite a nice memory, really. Teddy bear’s picnic, anyone?
Much like Rachel Comey’s work, Steven Alan’s designs have a nostalgic, romantic air about them while still managing to be modern at the same time. This collection is going to be one of our favourites when it comes to planning next summer’s wardrobes – we can already tell. Alan’s ice-blue chinos are gong on my fashion wishlist right now.
Check out the gallery to see the highlights from Steven Alan’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection.
New York Fashion Week has begun! Thank god! We’ve been floating around in fashion limbo for ages now and finally we have something obsess over again – the new Spring/Summer collections. The big names aren’t showing til later in the week, but the week has gone off to a nice start already with some up-and-coming designers. Today we’re looking at Rachel Comey’s new collection.
I have to say that I’ve never really paid much attention to Comey’s work before, but I am definitely impressed by her new Spring/Summer collection. It’s an urban, sleek collection of casual dresses and separates spanning from draped, girlish prints, slouchy jersey T-shirts, modern sunglasses and masculine tailored pieces. I’ve always been more of a lover of decadent, ridiculous avant-garde fashion, but Comey may have just convinced me of the beauty in simplicity. There is nothing contrived or affected about any of the pieces on the collection – it is simply effortless.
The whole vibe of the collection was free-spirited and girlish without losing it’s city-living edge. Sweet floral shorts were teamed with tough sunglasses andpeppermint-coloured tailored shorts were worn with masculine Breton turtlenecks to create a clever balance between hard and soft.
As I said, I haven’t seen much of Rachel Comey’s work – but I like what I see. This girl is gonna be big.
It always makes me happy when I discover a new online store stocking designers I’ve never heard of before (I always feel mildly depressed and disappointed in myself when I limit my shopping options to Asos and Topshop), so it was a massive “Yay!” moment for me yesterday when I stumbled across NASTYGAL.com yesterday. Besides a steady stock of old favourites such as Cheap Monday and Lazy Oaf, there’s also a veritable array of new labels available to please any adventurous dresser and fashion-lover.
The big plus point for me is that the online store has an amazing shoe section which sells more Jeffrey Campbell shoes – one of my favourite shoe designers at the moment – than you could shake a stick at. There are so many on-trend shoes there perfect for referencing vintage and 1970s trends; plenty of chunky platforms, tan leather mixed with sizzling neons and pretty candy colours. It’s enough to make a shoe lover weep.
If you want a few interesting pieces for your summer/wardrobe I’d seriously recommend NastyGal for its’ cool selection of printed sundresses, grunge-inspired crop tops and hot-pants. Yes, it is based in California and you’ll have to pay extra for postage, but if you’ve got a little extra money to burn I think it’s worth it for the enviably cool American wardrobe you’ll be sporting.
Check out the gallery above for just some of our favourite pieces from NastyGal – I wanted to choose it all.
Sneak previews of the Spring/Summer 2010 collections at Marks & Spencer and Topshop have revealed some of the trends we’ll be wearing next year – and exposed underwear is at the top of the list.
According to the Guardian, ‘big knickers’ are a key trend, with M&S producing various styles, while Topshop had cycling shorts and denim biker jackets in their collection. Both stores will be stocking looser trousers as the style to be wearing next Spring. Underwear features heavily, either as a standalone piece of clothing, or as a design feature incorporated into an item (think dresses with sheer panelling and visible corsetting).
These looks won’t be available until at least January, so for now, in the real world, it’s probably best to focus on what to wear in the winter months. And we’re guessing you won’t be planning to wear just your knickers to a party unless you’re Lady Gaga.
If you’re looking for casual footwear with an arty difference then you’ll love these limited edition pop art Nike trainers.
The Nike Air Max 90 Andy Warhol/Marilyn Monroe trainer is a perfect accessory to a denim skirt, leggings or skinny jeans, and brings the current 80′s look right into the 21st century.
We love the way Nike has made it’s standard trademark trainer really stand out here, and despite our previous cripes about an air bubble looking too sporty, will definitely invest in these, soon to be one of a kind trainers.
Balmain’s leather military jacket, $7,045, is hot. Hot in a way that could be styled vintage victorian or New York nightspot. Which is, of course, the very best kind of hot. Since it’s sold out on Net-a-Porter, I like to imagine this designer treasure is going to be worn and loved. This is the type of piece that people who can afford to are splurging on amidst the recession.
Built by Wendy’s Spring 09 lookbook won’t hit their site until Monday, but we’ve got a little preview for you. Sweet details are in good supply with ruffles and crochet-knit neutrals, but we’re hoping for more pops of color like the coral dress after the jump.
The Stephen Sprouse Collection from Louis Vuitton is finally available online, so I perused the small collection for our designer pick of the week. I picked this floral pochette not just because it’s one of the more affordable options at $500, but because I think that Sprouse’s floral *graffiti* design works best on this petite fellow. It’s a great way to own a piece of this limited-edition collection.
If you’re boycotting Valentine’s Day or would rather wear a slinky black dress than indulge in the cutesier connotations of the holiday, then this list isn’t for you. Perhaps you would enjoy this gallery of Valentine’s Day lingerie instead? This list is all about wearing pink and red on that mushiest of mushy gushy days when we celebrate love, and like, and candy and hearts.
So dive right in for dresses and accessories to let the world know you’re in love – with that special someone or just your rockin’ new outfit.
More pieces from Isaac Mizrahi’s first collection for Liz Claiborne are now available on the company’s Web site, some even for purchase. More looks are slated to go up on the site February 15. So far we think Issac’s doing his job, creating more modern clothes with more stylish silhouettes that still won’t scare our Moms when they walk into Macy’s. The strapless dress is definitely the one we’ll see bridge the gap and pull in a younger shopper. What do you think so far?
Be propelled into the dark and eerie world of the gothic-influenced Dark Romance, reminisce about the beautiful screen sirens of 40s Hollywood in 40s Flair and embrace Kings Road 60s chic with Mod Squad.
The Show: Redefinition takes inspiration from the key trends for AW11 including gothic-influenced Dark Romance combined with elegant 40s flair inspired by Hollywood luxe and beautiful silhouettes. Many of the centre’s shops, including Reiss, French Connection, Forever 21, COS, River Island and Kurt Geiger will take part in The Show: Redefinition with make-up provided by The Body Shop and hair created by Regis at Debenhams in Bullring.
From:Debenhams show us how to avoid tanning disasters this year