Behind the scenes in Fall/Winter’s fairytale forest.
Posted by in Backstage | Style Essentials - (1 Comments)Use this season’s capes and cocoon shapes to make sure you take centre stage in Autumn’s forest fairytale. Team with tailored pieces and monchrome details for maximum impact.
If you’re feeling a little fierce, designer’s such as Ann Demeulemeester referenced creatures of the forest for Autumn/Winter and used fur accents to create pieces that will keep you feeling as warm and relaxed as a night in grandma’s cottage! Paired with this season’s masculine shapes, these long haired looks have a more polished feel and can be worn off duty to make stealthier style statement.
For the man who wants to be a hero, practical layers with leather details provide a winning mix of classic tailoring and off duty textures. Try one of this season’s fitted waistcoats with a shearling jacket over a simple shirt and trousers for a great, relaxed look perfect for long days spent in the woods, we suggest finishing off the look with soft leather boots for extra comfort and style .
Designers brought classic accessories and evening silhouettes up to date for winter with a touch of old world elegance. Studio Galleria Romanelli provided the setting for “Still Life”, as one of florence’s most historic sculpture studios, since the “Grand tour” royal families, politicians and a myriad of artists, writers and influential thinkers have paid a visit. The historic Studio and Gallery is still open and the Romanelli family continue to sculpt and paint there today, a perfect place to capture this season’s bold take on full, flowing gowns, precious jewellery , fur accents and opulent colours. Detailed fabrics and sweeping shapes create a chiaroscuro effect with a dramatic touch perfect for these darker days and longer, lavish evenings.
Studio Galleria Romanelli
Borgo San Frediano 70 – 50124 Firenze – Italy
tel +39 (0)55 2396047
www.raffaelloromanelli.com
Behind the scenes at Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2012
Posted by in Designers We Love | In The Showroom - (0 Comments)It might seem a little early to talk trends for Spring/Summer 2012 but we just couldn’t resist sharing this glimpse behind the scenes at the latest Burberry Prorsum womenswear shoot. Modelled by the effervescent Cara Delevigne, the video shows the incredible amount of craftsmanship that went into making this collection another one of Christopher Bailey’s many triumphs. These are truly unique pieces that reference both tribal prints and heritage shapes but with handcrafted details to make them stand out.
Fashion week is over but that hasn’t stopped our brave contemporary womenswear buyers exploring all the latest tradeshows to bring you the hottest pieces in streetwear next season. Our unsung heroes took on the biggest tradeshows from New York to Paris where they scoured the stands and came back with armfulls of new designers for you to discover. ”New York was full of young and funky designers with some great new talent from L.A. that we loved” said Ania, our head of contemporary womenswear, when we quizzed her about what to look out for. Flares and billowing shirts were all the rage in New York apparently and over in Paris there were lots of fab handcrafted details to add that perfect finishing touch to your 70s inpired look.
Stay tuned for more from New York, Paris, Milan and London as we hunt for the latest street trends after the fashion weeks are over.
Photos by Mikhaela Martin
As the cold, autumn weather begins to creep in we’re dreaming of spending more time relaxing somewhere warm. Lucky for us, the latest menswear collections had more than a hint of the modern day dandy to them to make sure that, even whilst being out of the cold, there’s no need to let your style slip. This new contemporary figure has a touch of flamboyance to his look, a hint of the eccentric that can add that perfect twist to a classic outfit to give it a really modern update. Pay attention to sharp tailoring but in new colours, like the charcoal greys and browns that Givenchy, Dior & Dolce & Gabbana all sent down their runways for Fall/Winter 2011. They also used unusual or eyecatching details to give each look an extra twist, working a pair of patterned loafers, a bright pair of socks or a stylish leather bag (or i-pad case) to lift any outfit and add a playful, fresh twist to every man about towns favourite go to suit.
Photo by Mikhaela Martin
Many a famous figure has been mesmerized by the city of lights and gone on to make fashion history in what is undeniably one of the most dazzling capitals in Europe. During our time backstage this fashion week we asked some of the front row guests, top model Ajak Deng and up and coming designers Damir Doma and Burak Uyan what it is about this city that makes it so special, unique and chic.
Chloe’s new designer Clare Waight Keller worked some of Lagerfeld’s floral prints from the archives, into her floaty, pleated and feminine vision of the Chloe girl. We say girl as the show had a youthful air about it, from the girly 90s indie soundtrack to the bouncy hair and light make up the show had a breezy feel that made sure the below the knee pleated dresses and skirts looked romantic instead of reserved or frumpy.
Giambattista Valli has always designed with his jet set clientele in mind, a smattering of whom were in the front row at the show probably picking out what to wear for their next social outing. The beautiful cuts, soft colours and jeweled details will, no doubt, doubt sit very well with them and in their wardrobes. There was a variety of lengths and cuts from short, boxy dresses to high waisted, long floaty dresses all accompanied with arm fulls of bracelets that we can imagine Rachel Zoe, who was at the show, will have very much approved of! There were also some more colourful pieces, such as the bright long haired coats and gillets, that added a playful touch to the demure tailoring and grand jacquard prints that might have seemed a little austere had it not been for these little details to brighten up the very light, soft palette.
Phoebe Philo is one of the most important, modern, womenswear designers. Renowned for creating new silhouettes and aesthetics that can cause mass movements, the latest collection for Celine in many ways confirmed this again. We spoke to Kanye West and style.com’s Nicole Phelps about the designer backstage at the Spring/Summer 2012 show.