So, what went down on Day 3 of New York Fashion Week you ask?

Londoners may be pleased to know that Rachel Zoe’s collection was apparently inspired by London’s rock and roll glamour of the 60s, as well as the styles of Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull. We can totally see how her collection was influenced by all of the above, with some of our favourite pieces consisting of the faux fur coats, thigh high boots and skinny tux styles.

Gwen Stefani’s LA.M.B collection had the signature edge that all Gwen pieces do, even though she went in a slightly more mature direction. There was an abundance of bright colours and pieces inspired by the 50s and early 60s as well as other rockabilly/rock chick/punk vibes. Some of the styles were somewhat reminiscent of Amy Winehouse’s Fred Perry collections (and not just because of the beehive dos), but with a more feminine and edgy twist.

Although Monique Lhuillier’s collection was darker, more sultry and less feminine than her previous outing (there are far less Oscar-worthy dresses) it had just as much impact, if not more. Red and black was very prominent, which the designer said was inspired by the Chinese year of the dragon. Silhouettes were long, lean and flowing, and patterns were busy, fiery and sometimes even shimmering. A stunning collection if ever there was one.

Prabal Gurung showed his highly anticipated collection, which was comprised of mainly form fitting garments, futuristic prints, colours and textures, as well as strong silhouettes with lots of lace, feathers, ruffles, tassels and sheer trains to name but a few. It was less distinguished than the previous collection which was made up of primarily purple printed pieces, but the Prabal Gurung signature is still very much apparent!

Hervé Léger by Max Azria went for an equestrian meets bondage meets Pocahontas theme, offering the signature bandage dress with a slightly different vision. There were mini and maxi dresses alike accessorised with harnesses of different shapes, colours, styles and textures, proving that the label  – and perhaps even the classic fan of the label – has grown up. We can’t wait to see how the celebs will work this look in the coming months!

0 comment(s)

Day 2 of New York Fashion Week saw some highly-anticipated collections hit the runway, with Jason Wu, Kate Spade and Rag & Bone all debuting their autumn/winter 2012 designs. 

Regular MFL readers may know that we love it when designers seek inspiration from their own cultures and heritages, which is why we adored how Jason Wu injected some of Imperial China into his brand new collection.

The hairstyles were just as strong and defined as the outfits, as the models walked out with high and tight flowing pony-tails – with lots of attitude and fighting spirit to boot. And to our (and possibly even Kate Middleton’s) delight, there were clutch bags aplenty!

Over at Rag & Bone however, the inspiration was far more familiar for us Britons, as designers David Neville and Marcus Wainwright seemingly drew inspiration from our very own Blighty. There were folded skirts, snug coats and wraps, high polo necks (presumably for those English winds) and textures and colour palettes reminiscent of old tapestries… we NEED that coat in our lives, pronto!

Kate Spade was another highlight for us on day 2 of NYFW, with hints of Parisian glamour making a firm and consistent appearance. The models were standing statuesque – although not without character – on rounded podiums, showcasing the bold and brassy prints, patterns and slogans.

Bring on day 3…

1 comment(s)

It’s a sad fact that in this week’s Love or Hate we’re lusting after an item of clothing we’d rather submit to the furthest depths of our wardrobe, and pull out only when we really have to. But when we set sights on Miu Miu’s star-print raincoat, we couldn’t help but wish for a continuous downpour.

If undesirable weather appropriate apparel can look so covetable doused in stars, then yes please, we want more! Cast your mind back to Dolce & Gabanna’s star-saturated autumn winter 2011 collection, and how Miu Miu’s spring summer 2011 offerings made us starry-eyed with those Walk of Fame star prints on midi skirts and appliquéd onto big-shouldered leather jackets.

Fashion’s love affair with stars forms the perfect backdrop to spruce up an otherwise boring raincoat. Although the SS’12 collections have already hit shop floors, and are tempting us into their sorbet hued clutch, the freezing weather and sudden showery outbursts are clearly not going away anytime soon.

 But nothing’s stopping you from sporting this starry cover-up on a perfectly fine day. Teamed with a simple T-shirt, jeans and a contrasting bright tote, the Miu Miu star-print raincoat will be the perfect accessory for channeling bright city chic with a waterproof edge.

Miu Miu Star-print raincoat, £725, available at Net-a-Porter

1 comment(s)

It is that time of year again when loved up couples come out in full force to show their affection to their other half. Valentine’s Day might be romantic, but it can be perilous too. Gift wise, us girls can suffice on any manner of chocolates, fluffy bears, roses or perfume. But somehow cuddly pink teddies just don’t cut the mustard for the gents. 

No, they secretly yearn for something which, in one fell swoop, completely sums up how much you know them and what an amazing girlfriend/wife you really are. No mean feat.

While he might be hankering for an iPad, there are other more stylish options out there too. Here is our definitive guide of the most sartorial Valentine’s gifts for the man in your life. And yes you are the best girlfriend/wife in the world!

Guys love Paul Smith and these 50’s pin up cufflinks will definitely bring out his cheeky side. Absolutely perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Paul Smith 50′s Pin-up Cufflinks, £61, available at My-wardrobe

 

If you catch him singing Supersonic and Live Forever in the shower, this Pretty Green shirt might just be perfect. Liam Gallagher designed it- he’ll love you for that.

 

Pretty Green White Selvedge Placket Linen Shirt, £75 £37, available at My-wardrobe

 

A stylish wallet is always a safe option and he is certain to love this masculine rubber Gucci one. It has plenty room for cards and cash and proudly displays that enviable logo.

Gucci Rubber Wallet, £180, available at Matches

You will be majorly in his good books if you splash out on this classic navy Barbour jacket for him. Stylish and practical- we love and he will too!

Barbour Navy Quilted Nylon Akenside Jacket, £109, available at My-wardrobe

 

He will love the preppy vibe of these Polo Ralph Lauren socks. In fuchsia, navy and multi-coloured stripe, he’ll have a pair for every mood.

 

Polo Ralph Lauren Three Pack of Socks, £35, available at Matches

 

1 comment(s)

Here at MFL we are super excited about the prospect of London Fashion Week and can’t wait to see what the crème de la crème of British design has in store for us. However, we have to admit, it can be a bit of a minefield deciding who we should be focusing on. After all, there are around 100 designers showing this year!

That being said, there are three shows in particular we shall not be missing. They are the designers we get most excited about; the most talked about, the most exciting and the most creative.

Here are our top three ones to watch…

BURBERRY PRORSUM

It pretty much goes without saying, but the bi-annual Burberry Prorsum shows have become major events in the national style calendar. It is a brand which makes us proud to be British and captures the imagination of the whole world. We can’t wait to see what Christopher Bailey has in store this time round. Of course, we can’t go without mentioning the amazing Tweetwalk happening again for the second time. Ingeniously, now Burberry’s twitter followers can view the collection even before it heads out on the runway!

CHRISTOPHER KANE

The genius that is Christopher Kane never fails to get us lusting after his new collections. Even now, seasons later, we are still yearning for his 2011 Resort Collection galaxy print dresses. And don’t even get us started on those A/W 10 floral embroidered leather jackets. Sigh. Iconic pieces in their own right, his collections never fail to cause a stir. As one of the most unique talents in British fashion, Christopher Kane’s show definitely can’t be missed.

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

As the matriarch of British fashion, Vivienne Westwood’s shows are always a lesson in how it’s done. Her collections are a feast for the eyes and the event is always a dazzling spectacle. This time round it is sure to be packed to the rafters with A-listers and we can’t wait to see what Dame Viv has in store. Expect to see a selection of her celebrity friends walking the catwalk for her; in previous years Daisy Lowe, Jamie Winstone and Pamela Anderson have all hit the runway. We can’ wait!

1 comment(s)

OK, we’ve saved another one of our best outings for last (Knightsbridge being our favourite).
In association with Kenco Millicano, the latest trend in instant coffee, we’ve been looking for the latest trends in handbags! Kenco Millicano’s exciting new addition, the stick packs, are cute little packs of ten individually wrapped servings that fit neatly in your handbag – giving you that smooth, full bodied taste and rich aroma wherever and whenever you want it. Our findings have certainly been very revealing in terms of the choice we ladies make when it comes to our handbags.

Practical, functional black or tanned bags have been top of the list. Our final trip in Angel definitely confirmed our earlier findings. But boy did we LOVE the bags we found. Lots of oversized beauties. While Mulberry has also been a big favourite, we also managed to find a couple of Michael Kors fans. These Kors bags were both classic black shoulder bags (we would have liked to find some other colours but the majority rules…black is the colour of choice).
Yes…we have yet another tanned satchel…but this time it was an oversized satchel that we just had to share.

In terms of “something a little different” we have a cute small burgundy bag which we couldn’t imagine carrying simply because we couldn’t even fit half of our daily items in! But it was cute nonetheless, and a leopard print bag – again we weren’t too sure about this bag BUT we loved the fact that it was a welcome change…thoughts?

Finally we did love this felt handbag which we can only describe as gorgeous and totally unique. Where do we start? The shape, the fabric, the detail…everything, and it perfectly complements the wearer’s hat too! See we told you Angel was a great spot for finding bag inspiration.
And if you’re in need of some more check out our coverage at Carnaby Street, Convent Garden, Camden Passage, Knightsbridge, Oxford Street and Bond Street and Spitafields!

0 comment(s)

The Lincoln Centre opened its doors for New York Fashion Week yesterday, with the likes of Cynthia Rowley, BCBG Max Azria, Tadashi Shoji and Richard Chai easing us into the start of the autumn/winter 2012 trends.  

To recap, there were digi-prints aplenty at Cynthia Rowley, while BCBG Max Azria once again played with blocks of colour and structured textures. Richard Chai went for a very prominent boy versus girl theme, and perhaps best of all, we got a first glimpse at potential Oscars dresses when the models at Tadashi Shoji glided along the runway.

A-Listers making up the front row included Fashion Week veterans Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Alexa Chung among many fabulous others.

So far, so versatile. We wonder what the emerging trends of the new season will be… no frontrunners yet, but it’s just the beginning, so watch this space!

[Image: Richard Chai Love, Tadashi Shoji, BCBG Max Azria]

0 comment(s)