paris fashion week take 1

Bahh lovely Paris and what I would of give to be on the front row checking out Chanel's offering for Paris fashion week, Karl Lagerfeld really knew how to put on a show with the enormous spectacle of an iceberg making the stage a winter wonderland. And of course being able to see McQueen's final collection in the flesh would of been my life made, it's still unbelievable such a talent with obviously so much more to give has gone so soon.

I guess on lighter note we should start with a few of my chosen designers who took part of the beauty that is Paris fashion week...

So, we start with Fatima Lopes, I chose her firstly based on her shirt designs, I looove the dark blue with the dress seen in the second set of pictures. Her leather dress is also beautifully constructed, casual yet incredibly eye catching. In fact I found all her designs well constructed, so clean cut yet detailed too.

Next we have Gareth Pugh, of course being an appreciator of his work in the past, I had no objection to include his fall collection. Being known for his "out there", avant garde features to his designs, this season's collection consisted of chevrons of leather and chiffon, giving that hard edgy look, and softer dresses and garments frayed at the edges. In the rest of the collection, you can see pieces draped so intricately with chains and as this season shows the return of grunge and deconstruction I have to say I'm in love with the crocheted coat which can be seen in the second set of images. Impressed? I think so.

Lastly, in this part of my cover on Paris fashion week, we have Limi Feu, whose collection I would genuinely like to have magically appear in my wardrobe at uni, as a person who wears a lot of black this is the idea of heaven. And it just goes to show how you can use pretty much just one colour and still create such unique and awesome styles. Loving the long draped and pleated dresses and the oversized straight coat.

alexander wang fall 2010 campaign video

Perfection.

new york fashion week part deux

And so we continue with more from New York fashion week, the city in favour of realism and modernism, perfectly shown by the next three designers...

Michael Angel, glad I found this one, I personally like everything about this collection, it's modern, simple, edgy and what I look for in a designer in terms of their use in image and print. His line almost reminds me of the likes of collections by Peter Pilotto, Versace, Diane Von Furstenberg and the late McQueen himself.

Next we have Naeem Khan, I have to applaud the guy for his attention to detail with the amount of embellishment that's featured in his collection. His aim for the whole "love, sex and rock n roll" is down to a tee and although I'm more for a simpler jacket I actually kinda want his embellished/studded leather jacket. All in all, awesome designs and looking forward to seeing his Spring collection.

And finally we have Nicole Miller, I chose this designer for her dresses, especially the leather one and use of layering outfits. With it being Fall it's time to whip out the hats and chunky knit scarves, and obviously with the abundance of black I couldn't resist.

Next stop, Paris?

new york fashion week part 1

After spending the whole day editing a few photos (how? I do not know) I am finally done and ready to share.

So it occurred to me there isn't much coverage on maybe the not so acknowledged designers that took part in New York fashion week and more focus on the highlights, so I decided to look through what others had to bring.

The following designers I have picked out that kinda personally appealed to me...enjoy the visual satisfaction...

First up, Diesel, I love this season's styling, as the debut collection of new creative director Sophia Kokosalaki, she's really nailed it for me, the signature "rock n roll" style with a grungy feminine look.

With the mix of leather and sleek chiffon, the evening dresses turned out gorgeous, good use of denim and plaid and the male models are bad to look at either ;)

Next up, we have DKNY, I chose because of the colours and the simplicity, I guess this may be as minimal as I will get. The collection had great pieces to layer with however, as much as I like hats I wasn't too keen these ones, sorry!

Plus I think I have a growing obsession for heeled walker boots because I am quite literally in love with the killer pairs that were featured in the show, whether they're again by DKNY I'm not sure but someone has to tell me so I can praise them some more.

One of my favourites of the bunch, Max Azria beautiful use of geometric shapes and silhouettes that still flatter fabulously which helped create that bohemian look. As their goals were for this season for the pieces to really appeal and tend to customers, designers Max and Lubov Azria definitely achieved.

more to come...

jean paul gaultier fall couture 2010

Another designer I always look forward to when a new season approaches...

The moment I set eyes on the collection I saw a classic 1940's vamp style coming through, I could imagine a modern day Joan Crawford wearing most of this.

Use of new patterns, cuts and leather have kept the collection present and contemporary not to mention the high styled hair and printed tights.

Also an appearance from Dita Von Teese can be seen modelling Gaultier's garments who I personally think is a perfect candidate for showing his work.

And of course I couldn't miss out these gorgeous shoes I spotted from the show...someone fancy giving me some sort of shoe allowance each month, please?

mary katrantzou fall 2010

Today I found a gem of a designer, Mary Katrantzou.

The moment her dresses caught my eye, I thought. Alexander McQueen, in terms of print and in a good way of course, who wouldn't have McQueen as an inspiration?

Using a range of digital prints of lace, medals, sashes and jewels to update the shift dress making her collection quite the kaleidoscopic dream, it kind of makes me think modern royalty with an edge, and has, in my opinion, successfully gone against the idea of minimalism in fashion this season.

And from the looks of her past two collections, Katrantzou seems like she has a lot more to offer for the catwalk and I wouldn't be surprised if she became one of the bigger names in the future.

leather for all purposes

The leather jacket has been a staple for the wardrobe throughout the past few years, but this season, designers have taken it to a whole other level. Celine, her Fall collection showing a hard edge yet adorned with femininity, Altuzarra's dominatrix approach with his skin tight dresses and bodysuits, Balmain's incredible leather trousers and Isabel Marant's take on, naturally, the leather jacket.

But yes, leather will be found in other forms this Fall; shorts, skirts, tops, trousers, dresses blah blah blah...they're in...and I like.

Now, I'm a sucker for a good leather jacket, especially a cropped biker so excuse the majority of images being jackets, I couldn't resist.

love lace

So it's been a little while but I'm back on track and working on up coming blogs...let's get on with it shall we?

Lace lace lace...from romantic to Gothic to somewhat virginal, it's in.

I'm taking inspiration from Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander Wang and Stella McCartney, sexy but stylish and edgy. Here's the part where I say I wish I had the maroon laced top you see below by Wang.

I love the way these designers have teamed up their own distinctive take on lace mixed with either the softer materials or a more tailored approach.

I also have to note the rest of Dolce & Gabbana's collection, the mix of velvet dresses, the lace underwear/outerwear and beeauutifully tailored jackets really caught my eye. The way they created that office wear look, power suit but with muchly added femininity.

outdoorsy outerwear

So, let's talk Autumn/Winter '10.

Things that are sticking out to me are chunky knit, wool, and the cape and to be honest, it's making me think I'm looking forward to that cold weather again.

Burberry, hand me over one of those beeeautiful shearling aviator jackets...please?

more looks I'm liking...

I have to mention I have a slight obsession for shoes as well as clothes, so of course I couldn't help but notice Erdem's high heeled boots which I am in love with, as impractical as it would be I would do anything to have a pair of the printed ones to trudge around in the winter time to brighten up my day.

yehhh...a girl can only dream eh?