X Factor fashion: Little Mix channel the 80s and 60s, Misha B’s disc dress and the judge’s style
By Andrea Petrou on December 6th, 2011
Little Mix channel the 80s
With reds, studs and leathers
Posts Tagged ‘leather’
Uncategorized
Designers, Events, Gallery, London fashion week
London Fashion Week SS12: Felder Felder #LFW
By emilyborrett on September 19th, 2011
All of the media’s coolest kids, including Peaches Geldof and Zara Martin, were out in full force last Friday at the beginning of LFW to watch Felder Felder’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection and add some hip gravitas to the proceedings.
Naturally the whole collection was just so London Fashion Week – if you ask me, LFW is the coolest of the runway seasons, even if Paris and Milan are a little more prestigious – with the Felder twins cleverly combining floaty chiffon-silks and pale digital prints with leather choker collars for a clean, tough and sexy approach to summer dressing. There were knowing hints at bondage and punk influences amongst the swirling, girly prints as leather straps in mint green and black criss-crossing across the bust of the dresses – these are designs for the girl next door with a dark secret.
The Felder girls listed their influences for the collection as “one part beach goddess, one part punk princess: otherwise known as Kate Moss on holiday”, and we can see that the supermodel has had an influence on these new Felder Felder pieces. The mystical, swirling digital prints of the floaty gowns combined with tough, glossy accessories and studs are pure Kate Moss all the way – we can predict these pieces being worn by A-listers next year at Coachella festival, for sure.
As for colour this season, FF seem to have had the same thought as many other designers and opted for ice-cream soft, warm colours for their Spring/Summer designs – but naturally even the sunniest of colours, such as mint green and coral, were given a dark edge with flashes of black leather and studs.
All in all, a beautifully executed collection from the Felder Felder girls that might just be one of the best shows this LFW. Sign us up for one of each piece, please.
Celebrity gossip, Celebrity Style, Department Stores, Events, Gallery
Grand Opening of Westfield Stratford: Photos of Nicole Sherzinger, Kelly Brook and Pixie Geldof
By emilyborrett on September 13th, 2011
11606638
Nicole Scherzinger performs during the launch of the Westfield Stratford City, London
London-based shopping junkies will be happy to hear that there’s a new outlet for your addiction opening today, as the Westfield shopping centre in Stratford finally opened it’s doors today with plenty of fanfare.
Boris Johnson was there (bless him) wearing his trademark crooked tie and blonde thatch of hair, but that’s all we can pass comment on about our Mayor’s style – the less said the better really. More dynamically dressed was Nicole Sherzinger, who put on an incredibly energetic and raunchy performance in a fetish-look black and red PVC coat with fringed sleeves, which she later changed out of in exchange for a sexy black pencil dress.
Pixie Geldof was there for the proceedings alongside Channel 4′s Nick Grimshaw – Pixie looked cute and cool with white-blonde corkscrew curls and a simple black and white polka dot dress with scarily high court heels. Kelly Brook was also there looking very sunkissed and sexy in a black and gold mini-dress to show off the golden glow of her post-summer legs. Cow.
The Westfield shop is going to be absolutely ginormous, with apparently over 300 shops opening there and over 70 restaurants. I think I might get down there myself right now..
Celebrity gossip, Celebrity Style, Designer collaborations, Designers, Fashion News, Footwear, shoes
The Olsen twins are becoming creative directors at Superga
By emilyborrett on September 13th, 2011
Is there anything that these twins can’t do? They’ve already got three huge fashion brands (The Row, Elizabeth & James and Olsenboye) and now they’re turning their dainty manicured hands to footwear design as they’re set to take over the creative directorship at Italian show brand Superga.
Steve Madden, who holds the North American license for the brand, said on this new merging of minds: “We do a lot of business with Mary-Kate and Ashley. They’ve become friends.”
Surprisingly, the plucky enterprising twins actually approached Superga about the project, instead of the other way round. Ashley spoke out about their new footwear plans: “We were at a meeting with Steve, and we were wearing Supergas – two years later, it kind of fell into our lap. I really don’t think there’s anything like this brand. It’s a tennis-shoe brand with 100 years under its belt. Superga is really a luxurious brand. We are really hoping to bring it back to its roots.”
We absolutely can’t wait to see what Mary-Kate and Ashley come up with for their S/S designs..
Accessories, Gallery, Handbags, Trend Alert, vintage
Trend Alert: Sixties-inspired accessories
By emilyborrett on August 23rd, 2011
I feel like Autumn/Winter 2011 is my lucky season as it draws inspiration from all of the fashion eras I should have been around for – especially the sixties, where on the runway we saw a curious blend of super-sexy fabrics such as leather and silk, but used in ladylike, prim 60s shapes for a sex-siren effect. For anyone who hasn’t tried the vintage look before, the devil is in the detail and a few classic accessories are invaluable.
You don’t need a whole new wardrobe to make this look work for you – if you’ve got a classic trench coat or a pea coat and a shift dress, to turn it into an on-trend look team the two with a simple contrasting leather handbag, a beehive and demure court shoes. Et voila, fashion magic is happening.
We’re a little obsessed at the moment with Fiorelli’s handbag designs for Dorothy Perkins, especially their beautifully simple square handbag in contrasting nude and black leather – it’s exactly like the kind of “best” handbag that my grandmother used to horde back in the day (and my grandma always looked impeccable). Forget big totes or horribly fussy OTT clutches, as the sixties purse is going to be your new best friend from now on.
Check out the gallery above to see all of our favourite sixties-inspired accessories.
Features, Footwear, Gallery, shoes
These boots are expensive but worth the money if you can afford it - wear with a 90s sundress and shades for a cool New York look. They're sold at Urban Outfitters.
Top 10 ankle boots for Autumn/Winter
By emilyborrett on August 10th, 2011
See by Chloe Fringed Buckle Ankle Boots
The one thing I’m desperate to get my hands on for the next season is a really great pair of ankle boots; I’ve been wearing the same brown leather chelseas for the past two years and they have quite literally fallen to bits. But thanks to boot-lovers like Alexa Chung, the trend is alive and well and there are some really gorgeous pairs on the high street.
What I love about ankle boots is their absolute versatility. A black patent pair or some brogue-style boots with a cuban heel can be worn during the day with a pretty tea dress or skinny jeans, but also worn with a mini-dress in the evening for a cool and youthful party look.
My absolute wishlist pair are the See by Chloe ankle boots on the Urban Outfitters site, made out of contrasting tan and dark brown leather with fringing and buckle details. Unfortunately they are incredibly expensive -so I think I’ll have to settle for a studded pair from Topshop (it’s a hard life).
Check out the gallery above for our top 10 ankle boot picks.
Accessories, Affordable Fashions, Features, Gallery
This rose-coloured beauty is amazing - I'm planning to buy it and move all of my things into it immediately. Find it at Fashion Union.
ShinyStyle’s top 5 “back to school” satchels
By emilyborrett on August 2nd, 2011
Pink Max C Satchel Bag
We’re already halfway through the summer holidays now, and while that might not mean much to those of you working a job all the year round, it means that Autumn is just a few weeks away – and that means that back-to-school feeling of new tights, new coats and smart new bags.
I’m starting my degree in London in a month’s time and I’ve decided to blue a bit of my student loan on a beautiful new satchel to keep all of my drawing bits and sketchbooks in. You should think about a new bag for yourself too – who doesn’t crave that new-term, new-things feeling that comes with the change of seasons?
Luckily you don’t need to go straight to Mulberry with your life savings for a good satchel (though of course it is tempting), as nearly all the high-street stores are still producing high-quality affordable bags in the Alexa style.
Shiny’s personal favourite? The dusky rose-coloured satchel from Fashion Union, which will go with pretty much everything I own and hopefully integrate perfectly into the new Autumn/Winter outfit I can’t afford to buy myself. Check out the gallery above for our top 5 satchels on the high street.
Gallery, Red Carpet
Grammys 2011 red carpet: Lady Gaga “hatches” from an egg and then goes for 80s on-stage style
By Andrea Petrou on February 14th, 2011
Lady Gaga gets carried in an egg
Adriana M. Barraza / WENN.com
Designer Fashions, Gossip, New York Fashion Week - Runway
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.
Designers, Features, Gallery, Haute Couture, Paris Fashion Week
Paris Haute Couture Week: Jean-Paul Gaultier
By Andrea Petrou on January 26th, 2011
By Emily Borrett.
It’s not exactly a secret that Jean-Paul Gaultier is a bit of a maverick in the world of fashion design, but I don’t think anyone was quite expecting the couture collection that he showed in Paris today. Amidst a flurry of chiffon, draping, nudes and pom-pom ruffles, Gaultier showed a collection that was one part silent movie actress, two parts bondaged punk from the King’s Road, circa 1979. And let’s just say this – Vivienne Westwood may have invented punk, but we think Gaultier might have just re-invented it.
No model was without a mohawk today on the runway – something that probably should have looked cheesy and cliché, but instead worked brilliantly contrasted against rolled fringes and clipped retro waves to make a new style that was completely modern and pure Gaultier down to the core. He applied the same prim-meets-rebellious approach to his collection, which was an unbelievable mashup of old-school dark glamour and mean, snarling attitude. A sleek white trouser-suit was teamed with a spiked leather handbag shaped like a landmine. A sheer, distressed black sweater was worn with a timeless fringed skirt. Classic 1950s silhouettes were worn with (what looked like) the same kind of bejwelled stripper heels that we see Taylor Momsen stomping about in every day. On paper it shouldn’t have worked, but on the catwalk it was poetry.
As usual at one of Gaultier’s shows, there was more than a hint of the dominatrix in the collection as dresses came down the catwalk in rubbers, leathers and lacey fabrics. He’s a sucker for a vamp – that’s what we love about the guy. However, in addition to the usual gothic fare today there were some surprisingly cheery prints that were like sexy beams of sunshine amongst all the dark reds and black. ShinyStyle’s surprise favourite? The rainbow-coloured tuxedo, which had so much potential to be a horror but instead stuck two fingers up to everyone and radiated attitude.
And so, ShinyStyle gives Jean-Paul a special Shiny fashion salute. Today he brought true spirit and creativity to the runways of Paris.
Designers, Gallery
Designers of the year: Christopher Bailey for Burberry
By Andrea Petrou on December 22nd, 2010
Accessories, Christmas outfits, Features, Gallery, Handbags
Black will always be chic, as will bows and a bit of sparkle. This clutch purse may look designer but it's actually a bargain from Accessorize.
Shinystyle loves: Party clutches for Christmas Eve
By Andrea Petrou on December 21st, 2010
By Emily Borrett.
Diamante Bow Clutch
Three days to go until Christmas Eve – festive decadence is in full swing, and I’m finding it very difficult to not look for every excuse under the sun to spend money on party outfits. If, like me, you’ve got a bit of a shopping itch from buying for other people, and not for yourself, then you might be in need of a little sparkly something to perk you up. Doctor Shiny prescribes a little clutch purse that will breathe new life into any tired old party outfit and perk you up – any of our recommended top 10 (above) will put a fashion spring in your step.
Designer Fashions, Designers, Gallery, London fashion week, Milan Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week - Runway, Paris Fashion Week
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, Designers, dresses, Gallery, Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week highlights: Chloe
By Andrea Petrou on October 5th, 2010
By Emily Borrett.
Chloe has been one of the most-referenced labels when it’s come to the camel trend this Autumn/Winter with their offering of 70s silhouttes, fabrics in camels and gold and sexy Farrah Fawcett-style hair. Well, fast-forward a couple of decades and you’ve just about arrived at the French label’s Spring/Summer collection, which was very nineties and minimalist
The order of the day seemed to be clean, simple – but not prissy – shapes, the best of which was the funnel-necked princess coat which was sent down the runway in both scarlet and cream with some beautifully ladylike gold buttons, fashion’s favourite fastener at the moment.
While everyone’s favourite camel tones were not completely absent from the collection, in the form of buttery-looking leather crop tops and coffee-coloured pleated chiffon, like many designers at the moment Chloe seemed to be repping their love for good old-fashioned Parisian monochrome in cream and black separates. Having said that, the collection was far from generic, with fashion creative director Hannah MacGibbon really making it Chloe’s own. Curve accentuating pencil skirts and pleated chiffon were teamed up with boxy leather crop tops, deliciously girly sheer midi-skirts were worn with extremely mini miniskirts underneath and the classic high-waisted shorts style was vamped up with hella black leather.
Click on the images above to see the best of Chloe’s SS2011 collection.
Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week highlights: Hakaan
By Andrea Petrou on September 30th, 2010
Hands up who was excited about Hakaan’s PFW catwalk collection. I’ve got both mine up for the designer who has made a huge name for himself over the past few years with his sleek ready to wear designs.
Naomi Campbell set the tone for the collection turning up at the front row in a Hakaan SS2011 black leather pleated-skirt dress, which was teamed up with Hakaan black leather shoes that had small fins protruding from the heel.
And there was ALOT of leather on the catwalk in the form of trousers, dresses and skirts. The designs, which looked like a combination of Balenciaga meets Versace also included sleek edged dresses, which finished to the point and bodycon cut out frocks in summer beige. Long skirts and dresses complete with puddle trains also skimmed down the catwalk alongside sheer fabrics.
Colours were muted with blacks and beige forming the main part of the collection.
From:Debenhams show us how to avoid tanning disasters this year