Search Results for “FASHION WEEK

Giorgio Armani hosts Au Jour le Jour during Milan Fashion Week

Giorgio Armani is a Milan Fashion Week saint! In a bid to help save Milan Fashion Week, which isn’t doing as well as it should be, the designer has pledged to give one up-and-comer per season the chance to showcase their collection at his theatre. This season, the lucky label is Au Jour le Jour! “I like the way in which today’s young designers seek to establish themselves, in using every kind of channel,” Giorgio Armani said. “I admire resourcefulness and decided to support it. Au Jour le Jour is a collection that the two designers Mirko and Diego were able to promote, above all, through social networks. I hope that my support is a good omen.” Mirko Fontana and Diego Marquez will show their Au Jour le Jour autumn/winter 2014 collection on February 22nd at Armani’s Milan Theatre; we can’t wait to see what the duo come up with! [WWD] [Image] 

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Couture Fashion Week highlights from Elie Saab, Armani Prive and Valentino

Yet another exquisite few days in Paris for Couture Fashion Week, as Elie Saab, Armani Prive and Valentino each presented their latest collections. Elie Saab, one of the kings of the A-list red carpet, didn’t disappoint with his collection which was comprised of dresses in his signature floaty, embroidered and applique styles. Always one of the sweetest and prettiest collections to hit the catwalk season after season! We couldn’t help but envision Cate Blanchett in the majority of the Armani Prive dresses; firstly because we can imagine Cate Blanchett in pretty much everything, but also because we have the Oscars on the brain. Although there was also a lot of slick and fierce tailoring in abundance, the sparkles and more glam ensembles are definitely what got our attention. It’s awards season, we can’t help it! Armani Prive Valentino   

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Mother of Pearl joins the official London Fashion Week schedule!

We’ve already told you about Joseph and Whistles, and now we have another brand new name to add to the ever-growing London Fashion Week schedule this morning: say hello to new arrival, Mother of Pearl! “Mother of Pearl has been quietly growing and is rapidly gaining loyalty and support from key retailers, customers and press alike,” creative director Amy Powney said. “We are delighted to have been selected by the British Fashion Council to debut the autumn/winter 2014 collection and we hope our presentation can support our growth and put an international spotlight on us and introduce the brand to new editors and stockists, along with supporting the British fashion industry.” Mother of Pearl was founded by Maia Norman, with the label teaming up with a different leading artist every season. Polly Morgan, Matt Collishaw and Gary Hume have all previously joined forces with the brand; we wonder who will offer a helping and inspiring hand this time round… Are you excited to welcome Mother of Pearl to the London Fashion Week schedule? [Vogue] 

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Ralph & Russo join Couture Fashion Week schedule

Congratulations to Ralph & Russo! Not only will Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo’s brand be showing at Couture Fashion Week tomorrow for the first time – exciting enough, we think you’ll agree – but it will also be making history by becoming the first British brand to show on-schedule in over 100 years. Quite an accomplishment! “It’s something we’ve wanted for such a long time,” Tamara Ralph said. “We have a high-profile clientele and perhaps that helped; we were what the Chambre de Syndicale was looking for. There was a gap for a label that was glamorous, elegant and feminine. “Design is one thing, but craftsmanship is just as important and many of our team have been trained by the Syndicale. We’re ready for it.” And we’re ready for it too! And in case you wanted to know just how high-profile their aforementioned clientele actually is, we’ll just remind you that goddess Angelina Jolie and Queen Beyonce are both fans of the brand. You don’t get more high profile than that, do you? We can reportedly expect a feminine collection inspired by the Forties and Fifties, but we’re just going to have to wait patiently until tomorrow’s show to see what the pair have up their sleeves. [Vogue] 

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Couture Fashion Week highlights from Dior, Chanel, Giambattista Valli and more

There’s nothing better to get us into the pre-Oscars spirit than good old Couture Fashion Week in Paris. As well as watching the models float down the Parisian runways in the finest Couture and salivating at the luxury pieces they are draped in, we can’t help but envision which of our favourite A-listers (and we really do mean A-listers – only the cream of the crop are truly worthy!) might rock the pieces on the upcoming red carpets. Jennifer Lawrence in Dior? Check! Diane Kruger in Chanel? Double check! Raf Simons went for a modern and somewhat practical theme for the Dior Couture collection; relaxed, worldly, effortless! “I was thinking about taking the theatrical out and taking it more into reality,” Raf Simons said. “As a designer, you have a responsibility to do both — to trigger her fantasy with the show, but give her the reality as well.” We think that describes the collection perfectly! Karl Lagerfeld was also going for a somewhat relaxed and comfortable theme; how else would you explain the trainers and the… are those shin pads? The classic Chanel aesthetic was still as evident as ever though, with pastel hues, the classic Chanel tweed suit, and elaborate detailing not only in the pieces themselves but in the entire show. Donatella Versace was inspired by the contemporary goddess, which definitely shone through thanks to the Grace Jones esque hoods. “A contemporary goddess: power, determination, strength, and glamour — that’s what I was thinking about,” Donatella explained. “And how this woman can show her soft side, being a Versace, because Versace is always very spectacular.” What do you think of our favourite looks from Couture Fashion Week so far? Let us know if you have any red carpet awards season predictions!

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Whistles joins London Fashion Week schedule for the first time

This time next month we’ll be in the middle of London Fashion Week (where does the time go, eh?) and we’re pretty excited to see yet another newcomer on the official schedule… let’s all welcome British high street brand Whistles to LFW! “We are delighted to be a part of the schedule this season,” said Whistles CEO Jane Shepherdson. “It is great to be recognised by the British Fashion Council and the press that have supported the brand over the years. “It’s a good opportunity for us to meet all the international press that attend and that are steadily growing in their numbers and showing their support.” We’ll definitely be showing our support! The first on-schedule Whistles showing will be in presentation format so we can get a better idea of the essence of the brand, but who knows if a catwalk show will follow next season? Watch this space! [Vogue] 

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Provisional London Fashion Week schedule released!

The provisional London Fashion Week schedule for the autumn/winter 2014 season has finally been released, and it looks like this February is going to be as jam-packed as ever. Bora Aksu will kick off the proceedings with a 9 am catwalk show at good old Somerset House on Friday 14th February (talk about a Valentine’s treat!), with Felder Felder, Daks, Mark Fast and Todd Lynn (among others) also pencilled for that day. Jasper Conran will show his new collection first thing on Saturday morning, followed by the likes of Orla Kiely, Ashish, Holly Fulton, J.W Anderson, Julien Macdonald and House of Holland. We told you last month that one of our favourite brands would be absent from the schedule; as you can see there’s no sign of a Mulberry show but that doesn’t mean we won’t get to see the autumn/winter 2014 collection. Stay tuned for more info. While there are some noticeable absences, there are also some newcomers to the London Fashion Week schedule, and they are Belstaff, Joseph, and Mother of Pearl, so we’re pretty excited to see what they bring. Click here to check out who else is on the provisional schedule. Who are you most excited to see?

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Mulberry cancels London Fashion Week AW14 catwalk show

Bad news this morning; following the departure of its creative director Emma Hill, Mulberry has cancelled its next London Fashion Week catwalk show. According to WWD, the British brand said it “has not finalised its creative director search and will therefore exceptionally not stage a catwalk show this February.” Although we wont be getting a catwalk show in February, Mulberry will “definitely be participating in London Fashion Week and details of this will be released in the near future.” One of our highlights of London Fashion Week is always heading to the Mulberry catwalk show at Claridge’s and playing “spot the furry friends” in the lobby, but we won’t be getting that privilege in February. Sad face! In the meantime, Emma Hill’s replacement is anyone’s guess, with Erdem Moralioglu, Roland Mouret, Mary Katrantzou and Sophie Hulme all being thrown into the replacement rumour equation. Who’s your money on?

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Giorgio Armani pledges to save Milan Fashion Week

Yesterday we told you that yet another brand was leaving Milan Fashion Week as we revealed that Miu Miu will now be showcasing its new-season collections in Paris… and Giorgio Armani isn’t too happy about it. The designer has now become a board member of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion which basically aims to spice up Milan Fashion Week. “While I still believe that all Italian brands should hold their fashion shows in Italy to give due prominence to our country, as an entrepreneur I understand that certain situations, created over the years, need time to be reorganized,” reads a statement from Armani. “It seems only right, and indeed necessary, for me to send a further strong signal of commitment and confidence aimed at boosting an upswing in the vitality of Italian fashion and, at the same time, to show a sign of support for the actions undertaken by the other brand members of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion. In recent years, Milan has struggled to compete with New York, London and Paris in terms of interest (even Anna Wintour wasn’t too fussed about MFW last season, remember?) but we hope that Mr Armani’s involvement will reinvigorate Milan Fashion Week and put it right up there with the rest of its fashionable counterparts. [Fashionista]

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Our favourite street style looks from London Fashion Week

Where better to get some style inspiration other than fashion week? That’s exactly what we thought when we hit the streets during London Fashion Week to find the best street style looks. Here’s a round up of our favourites! [wzslider interval=”2000″ height=”600″ transition=”‘flash’” info=”true” lightbox=”true”]   Images – Richard Neal 

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liverpool fashion week sunbed ban

Liverpool Fashion Week implements no sunbed rule

The fashion world is quite good for the welfare of young and impressionable girls when it wants to be. There have been several ways to discourage eating disorders over the past few years, and designers have pledged to stop using underage models on their catwalks… and now Liverpool Fashion Week is doing its bit to stop local girls heading to the sunbeds. “The health and wellbeing of our models is of paramount importance and we’re delighted to be the first fashion week that has a complete ban on sunbed-using models,” said Amanda Moss, an organiser of Liverpool Fashion Week. “We want our models to look their absolute best, which means not putting themselves at risk of skin cancer or premature aging from the sunbeds.” Liverpool Fashion Week starts on October 14th, and the organisers are doing everything they can to make sure local girls aren’t influenced by the models’ glowing tans by banning the use of sunbeds on the catwalk. The “pale and interesting” look isn’t really going to fly in Liverpool though, which is why the organisers are urging the girls to “fake it” instead… “We hope that by showing how gorgeous our models look at this year’s Liverpool Fashion Week, we will help sunbed users in the city realise they don’t need to get on the beds to look great. Our girls can still have that golden glow, but they’ll get it from a bottle, not from the beds.” We think this is a great idea, and think it should be implemented across the world! What say you? [Telegraph] [Image] 

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Paris Fashion Week SS14 highlights from Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen & more

We don’t think anyone’s going to forget the penultimate and final days of Paris Fashion Week and Fashion Month any time soon. Yesterday saw the likes of Chanel, Alexander McQueen and Valentino present their respective spring/summer 2014 collections, while today the world proudly watched as Marc Jacobs debuted his final collection while at the Louis Vuitton helm. It’s been emotional! It was all very bright, fun, colourful and youthful on the Chanel catwalk, as the Grand Palais show space was cleverly made up like an art gallery. We always wonder what Karl Lagerfeld will think of to one-up himself every season, and we’re rarely disappointed with what he and the team have up their sleeves. There was a subtle nod to the 50s and 60s thanks to the prints, colours and boots, but there was also a modern twist on classic Chanel pieces too. A real mixed bag that had us foaming at the mouth from start to finish. Cara Delevingne’s multi-colour one-shouldered dress was definitely one of our highlights! Marc Jacobs was on the complete opposite end of the spectrum for his final Louis Vuitton collection. The classic Louis Vuitton graffiti print came out to play, as did grungier elements such as mesh, fishnets, and more black than you can shake a stick at. Marc Jacobs definitely ensured he went out with an almighty bang as both show and collection were breathtaking! Elsewhere in Paris, Sarah Burton went warrior and tribal for the Alexander McQueen SS14 collection – the models even came complete with their very own helmets – while the theme of the Valentino collection was somewhat regal and medieval. And that’s it, guys. Fashion Month is well and truly over for another season! What have been your highlights from the New York, London, Milan and Paris catwalks? Louis […]

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Paris Fashion Week SS14 highlights from Elie Saab, Stella McCartney, Saint Laurent & more

Another day at Paris Fashion Week, and the likes of Elie Saab, Stella McCartney, Saint Laurent, Giambattista Valli and Emanuel Ungaro all presented their spring/summer 2014 collections. As we are huge fans of highly glamorous red carpet worthy dresses, Elie Saab is always one of our most highly anticipated shows on the Fashion Month calendar… and luckily, the Lebanese designer didn’t stray from his usual ultra glam aesthetic for his spring/summer 2014 collection. His models floated down the runway in his effortlessly beautiful and intricate dresses which were comprised mainly of delicate lace and sexy Chantilly lace, and also strutted their stuff in panelled jumpsuits, fierce minis, floral pieces and even a seventies-inspired halter neck dress. We know that Stella McCartney likes to dabble in sportswear (being very active herself and also collaborating with Adidas) and that was definitely translated in her spring/summer 2014 collection. Sporty pieces with a masculine meets feminine theme were running strong throughout the very wearable and very versatile collection.  Favourites include the cap sleeve crocodile print dresses, organza dresses, layered zip detail dresses, and some stunning trouser suit combos. Handbags were held under the arm a’ la Victoria Beckham! Over at Saint Laurent, Kanye West’s best pal (not!) Hedi Slimane presented what can only be described as a versatile and courageous collection. It lacked a strong, possessing theme which his previous outings had, which means that he is less about defining the Saint Laurent brand and putting his stamp on it and more about having fun with it and experimenting. Both Hedi Slimane and the Saint Laurent Paris label are growing up and growing into their new roles; this is Saint Laurent as you’ve never seen it! Stella McCartney Saint Laurent Giambattista Valli Emanuel Ungaro

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Paris Fashion Week SS14 highlights from Roland Mouret, Dior, Givenchy & more

What a packed weekend it was in Paris! Paris Fashion Week was the place to be at the weekend, with some of the hottest shows from the likes of Roland Mouret, Christian Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Comme des Garcons and Givenchy taking place. It was all very Secret Garden at Christian Dior – ladylike, elegant, and a very literal interpretation of spring/summer. Flowers adorned the entire venue as opposed to just the garments, and the handbags were dreamier and more elaborate than ever. Lily Collins, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were just a few of the famous faces sitting pretty on the Givenchy front row, but even A-listers couldn’t distract from Riccardo Tisci’s designs and the new direction he took the Givenchy label in. There was an abundance of Asian and African influence – the kimono styles were a particular favourite – as well as sequins, loose draped silhouettes, lapels, pleats and more. Lady Gaga can pretty much pick out her tour wardrobe from the Comme des Garcons collection, while Jean Paul Gaultier referenced everyone from vintage Madonna to Grease’s Danny Zuko (played expertly by model Coco Rocha) among others. We think JPG gets the prize for most entertaining catwalk show – especially since the audience members were treated to a performance from trained ballet dancer Karlie Kloss. Oh to have been in Paris! Pamela Anderson sat pretty on the Vivienne Westwood FROW, and although we don’t believe the collection was made exclusively for her, we can definitely her donning more than a few of the pieces in the next couple of months. Bigger was definitely better, with a “more the merrier” approach to colours. Christian Dior Comme des Garcons Givenchy Jean Paul Gaultier John Galliano Vivienne Westwood

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Paris Fashion Week SS14 highlights from Balmain, Lanvin, Nina Ricci & more

There was a lot of action in Paris yesterday, as spring/summer 2014 collections from Balmain, Lanvin, Nina Ricci, Balenciaga and Paco Rabanne hit the catwalks. Rosie Huntington Whiteley lent a helping hand to Balmain, as she closed the show in a beautiful sheer number which undoubtedly got all the red blooded males in the audience very excited. There was a lot less razzmatazz in the new-season collection; a conscious decision made by Olivier Rousteing who said that he wanted to see what the stereotypical Balmain girl (who loves her some eveningwear and partywear) looked like at 9 in the morning. A great concept – and one that we would definitely get on board with. Balmain for breakfast sounds like a great idea to us! Alber Elbaz made it all about the shine factor over at Lanvin, as models came out in shiny, mirrored garments – some of whom did so while carrying what looked like bin bags. Bin day has never been more glamorous! Reflection was also a very prominent theme on the Balenciaga catwalk, as models strutted up and down the runway with mirrors surrounding them – capturing their each and every move from a variety of angles. There was no chance of missing one of Alexander Wang’s creations with the mirrors there! The Balenciaga girl is a tad more sporty, active and casual this season. Lanvin Nina Ricci  Balenciaga Paco Rabanne 

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Paris Fashion Week SS14 highlights from Gareth Pugh, Carven, Dries Van Noten & more

Last Fashion Week stop: Paris! Pars Fashion Week has well and truly kicked off to bring Fashion Month to a close, with the first spring/summer 2014 collections to hit the French catwalks coming from the likes of Alexis Mabille, Dries Van Noten, Carven, Gareth Pugh and Anthony Vaccarello. David Bowie, or should we say Ziggy Stardust, would be very impressed with the Gareth Pugh spring/summer 2014 collection as it was sci-fi glamour with a gothic and dramatic twist. The ostrich feather headpiece that opened the show was a definite highlight for us, as were the exaggerated Cleopatra-style shouldered pieces. Akin to the Dolce and Gabbana SS14 collection, the Dries Van Noten show was filled with rich, golden-hued pieces. Unlike Dolce and Gabbana though, pleats and ruffles – and even  ruffled pleats and pleated ruffles – were very dominant on the catwalk, which only added to the drama and fluidity of the collection. We also get the distinct impression that Rihanna will be all over the Alexis Mabille collection thanks to its keen and prominent military theme – either that, or she will be kicking herself that the pieces weren’t part of her Rihanna for River Island collection. Hopefully it won’t be the latter! Dries Van Noten Alexis Mabille Carven Anthony Vaccarello 

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Reflecting on London Fashion Week…(Spring/Summer 2014)

The hub of all excitable activity, and displaying a manner of dressing that even those residing across the Atlantic strongly envy (yes, those polished NYC queens), London is a melting pot of acceptance and crazy, annotated flower diagrams in the name of Christopher Kane. But given the shows are essentially work affairs, where buyers behind affluent retail names come to place hefty orders, and editors come to coo at what they’ll be instructing Testino to shoot in seven or so months’ time, was fashion week on point? Did the runway looks deliver and meet expectation? Here’s what we thought: Translatability Tom Ford’s show during London Fashion Week had us, for the first time, sitting up and thinking about how a shattered crystal dress arranged in a mosaic-like effect was ever going to appear on the red carpet. Or, would we see It mademoiselle Alexa Chung rocking a teardrop cut-out dress from Christopher Kane’s spring 2014 collection at some high profile shindig? Some of the clothes worked – like Emilio de la Morena’s relaxed-but-city-slick separates and even Topshop Unique’s impressive line-up of printed spaghetti strap dresses and curved, cropped shirts – when it came to mentally visualising them on ‘real’ people in the ‘real’ world, but the goth cyber chick at Mark Fast made it hard to maintain that focus. Out of touch? In a rather interesting piece rounding up the shows in London, Cathy Horyn made a very valuable point: “As I went around London, to places and streets filled with ordinary people, I had the sense, more than ever, that fashion here was taking place in vacuum. Do they care about Christopher Kane’s naïve drapes and twisted flower dresses? If the public doesn’t appear to be even remotely listening, whom are we talking to?” With street style running the gamut at […]

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Milan Fashion Week SS14 highlights from Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Moschino & more

It may have been all about The Emmys over in California last night, but that didn’t stop the spring/summer 2014 collections from making their highly anticipated debut on the Milan Fashion Week catwalks over the weekend. Hot new-season collections from the like of Roberto Cavalli, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Jil Sander, Giorgio Armani, Moschino, Emilio Pucci and more… Donatella Versace embraced her inner rock chick with a series of denim pieces, slogan concert tees and chains, while also staying true to the Versace brand by making sure there was an abundance of colour, leather and gorgeous eveningwear/red carpet dresses. There were no surprises on the Dolce and Gabbana catwalk, as Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana stuck to the golden, intricate, lavish, Italian theme that has been prominent in their latest collections. Detailed Italian prints, exposed bra straps, gold shoes and accessories, flower hair pieces and more! The Emilio Pucci SS14 collection was another one of our favourites from Milan (if not Fashion Month in general). Billowing silhouettes were juxtaposed with crop tops and other such flesh-flashing pieces, while clashing prints also reigned supreme. Dolce and Gabbana Emilio Pucci Roberto Cavalli Jil Sander Moschino Giorgio Armani

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Milan Fashion Week SS14 highlights from Fendi, Prada, Just Cavalli & more

Day 2 of Milan Fashion Week saw a lot of action, with spring/summer 2014 collections from the likes of Fendi, Prada, Max Mara, Just Cavalli and McQ Alexander McQueen all making their debut. As you can see, Miuccia Prada took the face to a whole new level, opting to send models down the catwalk in face-printed primary coloured garments Andy Warhol would undoubtedly be proud of. Underwear not serving its primary intended purpose was also a thing on the Prada runway, as bras were imprinted into the already bold and colourful outfits. There was a lot going on, but not in a bad way! Fendi not only brought back the school-era bowl haircut (yes, the one that we all had no matter how vehemently we deny it – shudder!), but the label kind of made it cool again, which is no easy feat! Kudos to Karl Lagerfeld and Sylvia Fendi for that achievement! Elsewhere on the Fendi catwalk we saw an abundance of houndstooth, geometric prints, freely flowing tiered  materials, and a lot of technology and gadget themed pieces. Loud, clashing prints dominated the Just Cavalli catwalk; it was a modern take on what we know and love about the collection. An update that stayed true to the history of the brand, if you will. Another new-season collection that tells us the 90s are well and truly back with a vengeance. And another collection that reminds us we can’t neglect the gym, as the pieces are more revealing than ever! Fendi Just Cavalli McQ Alexander McQueen  Max Mara

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Milan Fashion Week SS14 highlights from Gucci, Alberta Ferretti, DSquared2 and more

Two cities down, two more to go. We’ve waved goodbye to London Fashion Week (it was an emotional, action-packed, unforgettable five days!), so it’s now it’s time to focus our attention onto the catwalks and designers of Milan Fashion Week. And the collections showing on the first day of MFW included Gucci, Alberta Ferretti, DSquared2 and Luisa Beccaria. Alberta Ferretti took flower power to a whole new level, and went beyond her signature softness that we associate her collections with. Although there were minimal feminine pastels in floaty romantic pieces which opened the show, they were juxtaposed with vibrant, bold shades and patterns as the show went on, proving that she is stepping out of her comfort zone and branching into more vivid and adventurous territory. Blake Lively, the face of Gucci Premiere, was of course present on the front row for the fashion House’s spring/summer 2014 show, and we definitely think she eyed up a few potential red carpet outfits from the selection that came out on the runway. Or maybe even gym outfits, as the collection had a somewhat sporty aesthetic to it. Backless garments were once again very prominent on this catwalk (it was a recurring theme in New York and in London this season), as were loose-fitting dresses and seventies inspired silhouettes. Gucci DSquared2 Luisa Beccaria

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London Fashion Week SS14 Day 5 highlights

London Fashion Week may be over for another season, leaving us dreaming about next summer, but it’s onto Milan and Paris! So, to keep the London style spirit alive a little bit longer, here are our highlights from the final day of fashion fun: Thomas Tait Practicality is never lost on some in the fashion world, and CSM-trained designer Thomas Tait is one who never leaves behind is original vision. Although the colours on the runway for next season have served as palate cleansers, Tait’s angelic whites were too luminous to miss. Clean, fluid dresses, tank tops boxy jackets and were crossed with carefully positioned embellishments in the form of vividly coloured panels and wisps of feathers, but the originality of his hard working aesthetic, those any- weather-tackling, utilitarian jackets was not lost. Tait fans were surely not disappointed. Ong-Oaj Paraim Another one to watch from budding pool of emerging fashion talent this season, we loved Ong-Oaj Pairam’s debut offerings – inspired by Gertie, from Stephen Spielberg’s blockbuster,  E.T. – at Fashion Scout. Vague imprints of yolk-centred flowers were sprayed across billowing maxi dresses, while the flowers came to life in 3D form on a patent white skirt. A patent-sleeved cropped jacket with metallic checker board body was paired with leather shorts in a foamy cappuccino hue, and hair was coiffed to the tune of tea dress swishing, fashion-loving, Fifties housewife. Cinched waists were high on the agenda, with plenty of belting and body contouring dresses to boots, and a broken down Chinese calligraphic-style print in red and blue, neatly ruled out on a sheer collared shirt and high-waisted shorts. A fantastic introduction to his vision and style ability, this ex-Proenza Schouler assistant is sure to stay on our runway radar. Simone Rocha She’s fast climbed the ranks to become one […]

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London Fashion Week SS14 Day 4 highlights

Osman Taking a more summer appropriate (natch) approach for spring/summer 14, the vivid pinks and limes of last year were watered down to pretty pastels, with flashes of dainty embellishment. Skirts were sometimes gauzy, cut asymmetrically to produce a floaty effect that made the fabric appear like it slid away from the body. Voluminous coats, surprisingly, are a key piece for next season, given their not so climate appropriate use in summer (well, it is Britain after all), and a three-quarter sleeved candy pink number worn over black trousers won us over. Not so much a winner: the skirt-over-trousers look – it’s far too don’t-wanna-go-there Nineties for us! Erdem Always a show season biggie, Erdem’s tougher stance on the runway was welcomed with opened arms. After enticing us with zingy neons, expertly combined with fragile lace for spring/summer 2013, this time around, he took us on a monochrome adventure. Still working his famed ladylike wearability into this high impact collection, Mr. Moraliaglu gave us sheer skirts sat pretty atop couture-level sweatshirts; a come hither black lace gown was made more wearable over a crisp white shirt, and neat collar and pocket details brought a somewhat masculine edge to his work. Shoes remain major, however – a far cry from the kind of dainty strap sandal you’d wear with an Erdem number: think rebelliously chunky platform soles made interesting with splashes of bold print. Tom Ford High octane as always, Tom Ford’s show was, possibly, the hottest ticket of the fashion month schedule this side of the Atlantic, making the hearts of several editors beat faster than they do on deadline day. A lesson in indulgence it was, as Mr. Tom Ford set about presenting the most luxurious of oversized leathers in burnt caramel; a sexed-up, thigh skimming dress dripping in […]

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London Fashion Week SS14 Day 3 highlights

As always, the highlight of the day, nay, London Fashion Week as a whole, was the Mulberry show at the swanky Claridge’s hotel. We received a very sneaky preview of what to expect from the spring/summer 2014 collection via mood board (check it out here in case you missed it) so knew we were going to be in for a summery, floral treat. And the mood board certainly didn’t let us down! Emma Hill definitely made sure she went out with a bang wit her last collection at the helm of Mulberry. We even got a new, never-before-seen piece of arm candy too – the Kensal bag! This obviously won’t be the last you hear of that name, so watch this space! The Topshop Unique front row was probably the most star-studded of them all, with the likes of Kate Moss, Samantha Barks, Alexa Chung, Daisy Lowe and of course Miss Anna Wintour among the famous faces looking on adoringly at the new collection. The nineties were back with a vengeance if Topshop has anything to say about it, as are bare backs, loose-fitting tops and shorts, mirror-detailing (which was reflected – no pun intended – in the mirror invitations we received) and fun prints. Jourdan Dunn’s look above was definitely our highlight of the entire collection! Over at Kate Middleton fave Emilia Wickstead, block pastel colours were the obvious runaway theme in the collection; clean yet exaggerated cuts and silhouettes dominated. Another favourite of the Middleton family is Alice Temperley, who presented a show-stopping Temperley London spring/summer 2014 collection, which was reportedly inspired by a recent trip to Sicily. Regal, embroidery, crystal embellishments, structure, precision and intricate attention to detail – we wouldn’t expect anything less! Elsewhere in London, Mary Katrantzou presented another bright, colourful, intricate collection in her […]

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London Fashion Week SS14 Day 2 highlights

Less rain and even more excitement for Day 2 of London Fashion Week! Here are a few of our highlights from the spring/summer 2014 collections showcased: Zoe Jordan was worth getting out of bed and braving the rain for, as the designer presented a clean, chic, predominantly pastel collection with attitude. Sporty yet chic and feminine; the skater styles were a particular favourite, which just goes to show that you can do grunge the feminine and effortless way, too. Who needs catwalk shows when you have a cute, private little show space to do whatever you want with? Orla Kiely has once again exceeded all expectations with her spring/summer 2014 offering, showing an instantly loveable and wearable 70s safari themed collection. From the Moonrise Kingdom references to the soundtrack to the giraffe prints on the dresses – there was no mistaking the theme or inspiration of this collection. It was all about the “p”s over at Ashley Isham – Perspex, precision and PVC. Block colours are back, but with the added bonus of sparkle; and trust us – sparkle is always a bonus! Hair and make-up at Holly Fulton was inspired by the seventies – there’s something very Saved by the Bell about it – while the clothes themselves were reminiscent of an era of the past with a futuristic twist. Akin to some of the other collections this season, pleats were prominent, as were geometric prints and denim. The slight bondage theme was also apparent at Mark Fast, although it was bondage meets bandage meets grungy goth cyber chick all under one stylishly monochrome and neon umbrella. If you wanted fierce black hair and make-up, Mark Fast was the place to be! Julien Macdonald Strictly Come Dancing‘s newest recruit Julien Macdonald presented yet another lust-worthy collection comprised of fierce and ultra-glamorous […]

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London Fashion Week SS14 Day 1 highlights

Despite the grey skies, multiple clouds and sporadic bursts of suede-boot-ruining-rain, London Fashion Week definitely kicked off with a bang. The spring/summer 2014 shows were eventful, action-packed and inventive… and we can’t wait for some of the trends to hit the high streets in months to come! Here are some highlights from a few of our favourite shows: One of the great things about LFW is the support it gives upcoming talent by giving it a platform to showcase itself – and the Ones to Watch show is one of the best ways to introduce new designers to the world. This season was the turn of Hannah Williams, Helen Lawrence and Renli Su; three very different but equally beautiful collections. Helen Lawrence presented soft, pastel hued pieces, while Hannah Williams went dramatic, theatrical and larger-than-life. Renli Su went for unstructured, minimal, casual and unassuming. If you’re after a girly, sugary-sweet (almost too sweet) collection, then look no further than Yeashin! Candy colours, porcelain doll aesthetics and fairy tale inspired pieces floating down the catwalk Bernard Chandran was another favourite – the intricateness, the colour, the texture, the wow factor! There was a definite rich and royal theme running throughout the collection; luxury done right! Shimmer, attention to detail and wet-look hair was what we took away from the Felder Felder show, while it was dramatic biker chic over at Todd Lynn. And we weren’t the only ones who seemed to enjoy the Ping He show, as front row-ers Laura Whitmore and Poppy Delevingne appeared to be loving it too. Monochrome, tough and edgy pieces dominated the catwalk, with some intricate patterns and gravity-defying bee-hive hairstyles to boot. Todd Lynn DAKS

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5 Unspoken fashion week rules we’re breaking

Tomorrow marks the beginning of a 5-day celebration of fashion in the near future. Editors, bloggers, camera wielders and, sadly, some desperate-to-get-papped individuals dressed to kill (no, not literally) will descend on Somerset house and the surrounding locale for a working week (yes, weekends are working days in fashion) of next season galore. Whilst writhing with faux fur coat-induced heat rash in an overcrowded tent (sorry, we know its gross), we’ll be drooling over summer-appropriate wares in perky shades, and, possibly turning a certain shade of absinth at the perfect mid-riff/nipple/flash of bum cheek on show. But even though we’ve just waved off summer, and squeezed into jeans after weeks in skirts, we’re excited for what lies ahead. But with the flurry of fashion and bright lights during fashion week come a few rules. A few unspoken commandments the style set swear by, and, often don’t swerve from observing. But being the trailblazers of anarchy (we think) we are, we’re breaking away from the norm this season, and travelling to the dark side: the side where coffee swilling and heel-shod feet are banned and food is in abundance – but not of the microscopic, gone-before-you-see it, canapé variety! So, to celebrate the beginning of fashion week in the city that flies the flag for innovative design, regularly detours from the norm and champions the unexpected, here are the five fashion week rules NOT to observe this season: Endless coffee hits: On your fifth flat white? Befuddled from a black coffee OD? Stop. Right. Now! Too much caffeine will only turn you into a stressed mess (although a fabulously dressed one), so why not replace your hit with a freshly pressed juice? Flavoured water is winner, too, or just stick to gold ole’ H2O. After all, all that after-party alcohol needs […]

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New York Fashion Week SS14 highlights from Marchesa, Michael Kors, Proenza Schouler & more

The penultimate day of New York Fashion Week was as action-packed as we expected, with collections from the likes of Marchesa, Michael Kors, Proenza Schouler, Betsey Johnson, Rachel Zoe and Reed Krakoff to name just a few making their spring/summer 2014 catwalk debut. Rachel Zoe took us on a safari with her wild, jungle inspired silk, leather and sparkly pieces, while Marchesa made us swoon with the signature intricate and romantic red carpet worthy dresses floating down the runway. As always, Michael Kors didn’t disappoint with his instantly wearable collection comprised of structured leather tops, A-line mini and pleated midi skirts, high waisted bikinis and shorts, cute cardigans and all-round essential staples. Sexy, wearable – this collection had it all! Betsey Johnson’s show was as quirky and theatrical as ever, with her pink haired models strutting down the catwalk with confidence and attitude. The collection itself was slightly more understated than we expected (this is Betsey Johnson, after all!) but there was an abundance of leopard print and big skirted dresses to make up for it. Betsey Johnson Michael Kors Proenza Schouler Rachel Zoe Reed Krakoff

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New York Fashion Week SS14 highlights from Tory Burch, Jenny Packham, J Crew & more

Another day of New York Fashion Week and another fine selection of spring/summer 2014 pieces making their way down the catwalks. If we were going to give a prize to most literal translation of spring/summer, it would definitely go to Tory Burch thanks to her latest collection which came complete with  cypress trees, sundresses and more flower designs than you can shake a stick at. Big hair, don’t care! The models’ hairstyles may have been large and in charge, but the attention was still commanded by Jenny Packham’s signature breathtakingly beautiful pieces. Jenny Packham did what Jenny Packham does best and showcased a stunning collection comprised of glamorous, effortless pieces that the models floated along the runway in. It was almost like they were walking on air! We hope Kate Middleton gets her hands into one of these pieces! It was a totally different story over at Marc by Marc Jacobs, as relaxed silhouettes dominated the catwalk. The designer’s trademark pyjama styles made an appearance, as did varsity jackets, cheerleading dresses and basketball uniforms. We were waiting with particularly baited breath for Sass & Bide, as the Australian designers were showing in the Big Apple for the first time after showing at London Fashion Week  for the last six years. Feminine silhouettes were juxtaposed withy slightly androgynous shapes, creating an all-together sharp and expertly tailored collection. Jenny Packham Marc by Marc Jacobs Oscar de la Renta J Crew Sass & Bide Rodarte

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New York Fashion Week highlights from Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera, 3.1 Phillip Lim & more

New York Fashion Week is still going strong – yesterday the likes of Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera, Tommy Hilfiger, 3.1 Philip Lim and Ralph Rucci all presented their spring/summer 2014 offerings… and here are some highlights: It was all very elegant at Carolina Herrera; Karlie Kloss’s opening white shirt and flowing skirt look set the standard for the rest of the sharp and chic collection which comprises of powerful dresses, silk swimwear, and lots of spaghetti straps to boot. From New York City to India in a few short minutes – Donna Karan’s sun-kissed models presented her luxury hippie spring/summer 2014 collection – a theme which was reportedly inspired by one of her recent trips to India – which just proves that she is able to spread her designer wings and escape the Big Apple if and when she warts to. It was definitely all about the tobacco and navy! Tommy Hilfiger presented a bright, colourful and effortless “when Malibu meets New York” collection which was evident from the very first look  – and the California Girls and Californication songs that the models walked down the runway too probably helped get people out of New York and onto a sandy beach! Donna Karan Tommy Hilfiger 3.1 Philip Lim Ralph Rucci   

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New York Fashion Week SS14 highlights from DKNY, Victoria Beckham, Alexander Wang & more

What a busy weekend in the Big Apple! New York Fashion Week was action packed over the past few days, with the likes of Victoria Beckham, Alexander Wang, Prabal Gurung, Zac Posen, Diane von Fursrenberg, DKNY and more debuting their spring/summer 2014 collections to the world. DKNY was all about urban New York in the 90s; we thought a little throw back would happen seeing as the label is celebrating its 25th birthday! Dungarees, baseball caps, sneakers, hoods, and bandana prints were all prominent throughout the collection, as was an updated version of the popular “naked” dress. Oh, and did we mention Rita Ora strutted her stuff down the catwalk to close the show? Victoria Beckham was all about shape and structure, with clean yet sharp lines in most of her pieces. Expect less clingy clothes in understated colours with a burst of pink for good measure. Zac Posen and Coco Rocha go hand in hand, so we weren’t surprised to see her opening the designer’s show wearing one of the cutest outfits in the entire collection. The models showcased romantic, dramatic and just drop dead gorgeous creations that are making us look forward to next year’s awards season as we know one or two celebs are going to be rocking some of these pieces. Here are some other highlights from New York Fashion Week over the weekend: Victoria Beckham  Zac Posen Alexander Wang Diane von Furstenberg Prabal Gurung

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New York Fashion Week Day 2: SS14 highlights from BCBG Max Azria, Tadashi Shoji, Tocca & more

Day 2 of New York Fashion Week saw the catwalk shows finally kick off with the likes of BCBG Max Azria, Tadashi Shoji, Tocca, and Creatures of the Wind to name but a few. The Creatures of the Wind designers Shane Gabier and Chris Peters proved that they were worthy recipients of the $100,000 Fashion Fund with their spring/summer 2014 collection which comprised of colour blocking, boxy jackets, tuxedo trousers, pencil skirts and pieces with a bit of a sporty aesthetic. A real mixed bag! Octavia Spencer’s fave designer Tadashi Shoji once again presented a romantic collection; hemlines were both long and short but the models floated down the runway in the same way, regardless. If you’re after a sugary sweet collection, look no further than Emma Fletcher’s offering for Tocca. It’s the kind of thing little girls’ dreams are made of – ballerina skirts, pastel pink colours and ballet tights. It moved into rebellious teen territory in places too though, with edgier pieces such as a bold red jumpsuit also making an appearance. Tadashi Shoji  Tocca Creatures of the Wind Nicholas K  

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New York Fashion Week Day 1: SS14 highlights from Red Valentino, L.A.M.B, ZAC Zac Posen & more

Well what d’ya know, New York Fashion Week has officially begun, kicking Fashion Month off with a very stylish bang. Prepare yourselves for eight glorious, fashionable days filled with presentations, catwalk shows, and star-studded front rows. The fash gang eased us into the first day of NYFW with a series of presentations, our favourites of which came from the likes of ZAC Zac Posen, L.A.M.B, Red Valentino and Robert Rodriguez. Robert Rodriguez kept things very minimal, with a predominantly black and white colour palette save for a few powder blue or beige creations. He definitely proved that less can definitely be more. Zac Posen set out to create clothes that look great on women’s bodies, and that’s exactly what he achieved with his ZAC Zac Posen line. Gwen Stefani’s offering for L.A.M.B was just as fierce and bold as we expected, although it’s actually a bit more toned down than previous seasons – something Ms Stefani herself even admitted. A military theme was certainly evident throughout the spring/summer 2014 collection, and we love the use of orange colour in the pieces. L.A.M.B ZAC ZAC Posen Robert Rodriguez

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5 Fashion Week essentials

It’s September which can only mean one thing – the spring/summer 2014 collections making their debut at Fashion Week. If you’re lucky enough to be heading to some designer shows this month, make sure you don’t leave the house without our top 5 essentials: Notebook. Go old school this Fashion Week – you’ll need to stay on top of the trends and write down what you see, but some of the show lighting isn’t always ideal. Take a notebook to make notes of what really grabs your attention during the show. Christian Lacroix arty notebook, £12 Camera. For when all the hyperbolic adjectives in the world won’t do, rely on your camera to capture an unforgettable new-season piece. A picture does speak a thousand words, after all! Nikon D5200 SLR camera, £759.95 Concealer. Getting up early to queue and staying up late to blog about the day’s shows on repeat for five days can take its toll on your skin. While we can’t physically put more hours in the day, it is possible to look well rested with the help of a good under eye concealer – oh and lots of water! Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat highlighting pen, £25 Flats. We know you want to wear your newest, highest and sparkliest heels – and maybe for the first few days you will – but don’t leave home without a pair of flats. Running from one show to another is no easy feat in heels – trust us on that one! Jeffrey Campbell studded ballerina pumps, £125.71 Phone. It goes without saying that your phone will be your best friend during Fashion Week. It will be your camera, your diary, your contact book, your alarm clock and more. Take a charger with you in case you find a nearby café […]

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Eden Miller presents first ever plus size show at New York Fashion Week

The fashion world is always changing – sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. But there’s something pretty exciting happening at New York Fashion Week next month, and that’s the first ever plus size catwalk show! Designer Eden Miller will be showing her Cabiria clothing line during New York Fashion Week, after being one of six designer the Fashion Law Institute chose to be a part of its spring showcase. “I’m incredibly excited and so stoked about it, but there’s also a lot of pressure,” she said. “Even though there is a lot of plus high-end stuff out there in the marketplace, they’ve never shown at straight size fashion week. So there’s a certain amount of pressure to show that this is still high fashion, that this is part of the fabric of the fashion world as it is now, in 2013. “My girls are standard runway height, they have beautiful walks – I didn’t hire anybody who couldn’t walk on a runway. I just wanted the show to feel like it is part of the tent show. It’s not the freak show on the side.” Let’s hope this is the start of many other great changes to Fashion Month; we’re excited to see the models in action, and of course, the pieces themselves! [Fashionista] 

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We welcome Manolo Blahnik to London Fashion Week!

We’d like to welcome Manolo Blahnik and his incredible collection of shoes to London, as it’s just been confirmed that the designer will be showing at London Fashion Week next month for the first time ever! If that isn’t a reason to party, we don’t know what is! “Everybody now makes a point of coming to London – which is very different to Milan and Paris. London is now so important to all these international buyers. London is the future,” the designer previously said. And he’s not wrong there! Manolo Blahnik will hold a presentation on Sunday September 15th (the location has yet to be confirmed but we will of course keep you posted as soon as we hear more) which runs from 10am and 4pm, so there are no excuses for not popping in to check the new collection out. We think Sunday is going to be one fash-tastic, fash-fuelled day as the likes of Mulberry, Matthew Williamson, Jonathan Saunders, L’Wren Scott and Mary Katrantzou will also be showcasing their spring/summer 2014 collections on that day. Red Bull at the ready! [Vogue] 

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Full Figured Fashion Week 2013

Easily the brightest event in the fashion calendar for plus-size women, Full Figured Fashion Week (17th – 22nd June 2013) in New York celebrated its fifth year with the usual sumptuous style. Fabrics flowed, necklines were sharp and chic, prints were there to catch the eye and silhouettes were as curvaceous as they come. If you missed any of the action, here’s a quick recap on the highlights of this year’s FFF week. The events in the showcase were worth the price of cheap flights to New York in 2013, that were available through various operators, alone. Sunset cruises, advice on make-up artistry and Tuesday’s Curves for Cure show, complete with celebrity models standing against breast cancer with some inspired pink outfits. Special mentions here go to basketball-mum Lucille O’Neal in a bejewelled halterneck frock and the woman behind it all, Gwen Devoe, showing off some one-shouldered flounce. Of course, it was the Indie Designers showcase that everyone was waiting for, and Friday’s catwalk collections did not disappoint. Big shoulders and cinched waists reigned at German design house Amiiee, while Britain’s very own Live Unlimited London did us proud combining beautiful soft sheers with curve-enhancing patterns. Australian sister-collective Huudaverti brought a tantalising mix of textures to the show, with furs, glitter and a peekaboo velvet cloak which would have been the envy of Little Red Riding Hood. Elsewhere, ZMJ Denim came up with some eye-dazzling ways to wear jeans, with high-waists and super-flattering fits all-round. Boutique fashion label Sonsi showcased the best of their designs with the season’s hot colours of orange and aqua done peplum-style by City Chic and some stand-out rose prints by IGIGI. And it was a tribal triumph at Rue 114, with ruffles, pleats and tutus ensuring all eyes were on the runway. There’s something genuinely […]

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Louise Gray’s two-season break from London Fashion Week

One of our London Fashion Week highlights is attending the Louise Gray show, so imagine our disappointment when we found out the designer will be taking a break to focus on other projects! Sad faces around the office! “It has not been an easy decision to step away from my own label, but at the same time, against the backdrop of a tough economic climate, I didn’t want to jeopardise a business that I have worked so hard to build,” she said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to working on design and consultancy projects for major brands, as well as collaborating with my friends in London.” Louise Gray is only scheduled to be absent from the LFW catwalks for two seasons, so fingers crossed she sticks to her plan and returns next year! We’re going to miss her bold, quirky, girly designs but everyone needs some down time, we guess! [Telegraph] 

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Paris Fashion Week AW13 highlights from Elie Saab, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu and more

That’s it, guys – Paris Fashion Week officially drew to a close last night, and Fashion Month has come to an end. It’s been emotional! Before we get the tissues out and sob uncontrollably, we still have highlights from the final day to cover, as the Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Vionnet and Elie Saab autumn/winter 2013 collections made their way down the catwalks of Paris. Louis Vuitton kicked the final day of PFW proceedings off in slouchy style, as sleepwear seemed to be a big theme given all the bathrobes that came out. Marc Jacobs even slipped into his own red jammies at the end of the show too – pretty interesting! But perhaps the best thing about the Louis Vuitton show was the big finish – we’re not talking fireworks or pyrotechnics, we’re talking the one and only Kate Moss walking down the runway and modelling the final look. She’s still got it! And speaking of big, spectacular finishes, Lebanese designer Elie Saab gave us something to remember by presenting a host of wow-worthy red-carpet-ready gowns fit for Princesses and Hollywood royalty. We think Elie Saab truly deserves the task of closing Fashion Month – what a way to end it! Louis Vuitton Miu Miu  Vionnet 

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Paris Fashion Week AW13 highlights from Chanel, Valentino, Alexander McQueen and more

Chanel, Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent, Hermes… it’s pretty safe to say that yesterday was one of the biggest days on the Paris Fashion Week and even Fashion Month calendar. Karl Lagerfeld always seems to outdo himself every season, and his autumn/winter 2013 show was no exception, as celebs and big-name fashionistas were transported to an all-too-literal “Chanel world”. As well as the breathtaking clothes, Chanel also gave us sparkling eyes to gawk at during the show. Last time it was all about the bedazzling lips, but this season the essential beauty look was sequins, which were carefully attached to the lash lines of the models. We love! Parisians were also treated to 10 finely crafted, intricate Alexander McQueen looks that had a very regal theme to them (think Tudors!), while Valentino resurrected the much-loved Peter Pan collar in a host of bold and striking pieces. Take a look at some of our stand-out looks from yesterday’s PFW action : Alexander McQueen Valentino Saint Laurent Paris Hermes

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Paris Fashion Week AW13 highlights from Stella McCartney, Zuhair Murad, Giambattista Valli and more

More fashion big guns were out in force yesterday, as the autumn/winter 2013 collections continued to make their highly anticipated debut on the Paris Fashion Week catwalks. Stella McCartney flew the flag for Britain by showcasing another great collection comprised of bold, vivid colours and revolutionary cuts and silhouettes, while Zuhair Murad gave us some fab  red-carpet-ready pieces that we reckon would be perfect for the upcoming award ceremonies. We’re feeling one of the short dresses on one of the youthful stars of today for the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards… what say you? Elsewhere in Paris, the Giambattista Valli show went off without a hitch, with the attention shifting from the lavish, exquisite ballgown to slightly more casual pieces. There were lots of coats, parkas and general pieces of outerwear on the catwalk, all in a fairly subtle and understated colour palette, but the elegance, glamour and overt femininity were still just as apparent as ever. Zuhair Murad Giambattista Valli Paco Rabanne Emanuel Ungaro 

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Paris Fashion Week AW13 highlights from John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy and more

It was quite an action-packed weekend in the French Capital, with a host of celebs, editors, and big-name fashionistas filling the front rows of some of the hottest shows on the Fashion Month calendar. Some of the collections shown over the last few days included ones from Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, Givenchy, Viktor & Rolf and Jean Paul Gaultier to name but a few. Viktor and Rolf embraced that monochrome trend we love so much, while Riccardo Tisci presented a stunningly intricate Givenchy collection with subtle punk infusions, with our fashion-favourite tartan print making an appearance on the catwalk too! And Givenchy wasn’t the only show to reference the 80s punk revolution – Jean Paul Gaultier also drew punk rock inspiration – particularly with the styling thanks to those wigs – and also with the abundance of leather and edgy printed pieces. Viktor & Rolf Jean Paul Gaultier Givenchy  Vivienne Westwood 

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Paris Fashion Week AW13 highlights from Balenciaga, Balmain, Lanvin, H&M and more

Another day in Paris and another host of top designers debuting their autumn/winter 2013 collections on the French catwalks. There have been quite a few first these past 24 hours too, in the form of H&M’s first runway show in eight years, as well as Alexander Wang’s highly anticipated debut collection for Balenciaga. Mr Wang proved that he was indeed the right man for the coveted job, juxtaposing and balancing the creations more commonly found in his eponymous label with those of Balenciaga quite flawlessly. The high street has been more prominent this Fashion Month than ever before (Rihanna for River Island, Whistles, Topshop Unique to name just a few) and we’re hoping that H&M will see how successful the show has been and continue to present its collections in Paris. We’d prefer London, but we won’t be too fussy as we’re just glad it’s getting a Fashion Month outing at all! There was plenty of sparkle, as well as some big shoulders, bold lines, vivid colours and exaggerated structured  silhouettes at Balmain – one of our PFW highlights every season – while Mugler opted for a much softer and subtler approach to drama than usual. As always, Alber Elbaz presented a chic and clean collection for Lanvin, while Gareth Pugh took the term “haunting” to new depths. Take a look at the highlights below: H&M Balmain  Mugler Lanvin Gareth Pugh   

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Paris Fashion Week AW13 highlights from Rochas, Dries Van Noten, Alexis Mabille and more

The fash pack are well and truly off on the last part of their month-long trip to the fashion capitals of the world – last stop, Paris! Some say Paris is where the big guns come out, and it’s not hard to see why with the likes of Chanel, Dior, Valentino and Balenciaga among those which show their collections in the French capital. Before the aforementioned big guns come out to play though, other collections from the likes of  Rochas, Dries Van Noten, Alexis Mabille and Anthony Vaccarello helped kick Paris Fashion Week off in style, offering a host of versatile and truly memorable pieces for the new autumn/winter 2013 season. It was flirty fifties silhouettes galore at Rochas (with a stunning Olivia Palermo sitting pretty on the front row, no less) while it was all about the 80s style goth over at Alexis Mabille – teamed with stunning scarlet lips, obviously! We loved the sexy, daring pieces at Anthony Vaccarello, and if you think the one-sided flesh-flashing looks familiar, it might be because he was the mastermind behind the dress Jennifer Lopez wore to the Grammys earlier this month. Click here to refresh your memories just in case you forgot. Check back tomorrow as we’ll be seeing what Alexander Wang has up his sleeve for his debut Balenciaga collection, as well as highlights from Carven, Mugler, and more. Dries Van Noten  Alexis Mabille  Anthony Vaccarello 

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Milan Fashion Week AW13 highlights from Giorgio Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo and Gianfranco Ferré

After a very impressive run, Milan Fashion Week is officially over for yet another season – but not before Salvatore Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani and Gianfranco Ferré got the chance to showcase their autumn/winter 2013 collections to the fashionistas in the audience, as well as the rest of the world watching through various other platforms. Thank God for live streams! The Salvatore Ferragamo collection was very much all about the statement piece of outwear – be it a tailored jacket or a warm and fuzzy coat, you’ll definitely find it in the autumn/winter 2012 line. Federico Piaggi and Stefano Citron’s collection for Gianfranco Ferré brought loop detailing back in the styling of the pieces, while the Giorgio Armani collection ended with some jaw-dropping evening gowns that had us practically salivating. Exaggerated lines and plenty of drama! Come back tomorrow where we’ll dissect the collections from the first day of Paris Fashion Week! Gianfranco Ferré  Salvatore Ferragamo   

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Milan Fashion Week AW13 highlights from Moschino, Dolce and Gabbana, Missoni and more

The Oscars may have been the talk of the town in Hollywood, but over in Milan it was business as usual as more Italian designers showed the world what they had been cooking up for the autumn/winter 2013 season. Team Missoni had to put the mysterious plane disappearance behind them and put on a brave front in order to showcase the hard work of the fashion House on the catwalk. The show must go on as they say, and despite everything, we’re glad it did because it would have been a real shame to keep the beautiful pieces hidden from the fashion world. As usual, the silhouettes, prints and colour combinations were exquisite, and the collection as a whole was another memorable one that will be instantly recognisable on the red carpets and pavements. And well definitely be able to see where those high street stores draw their inspiration from, as there’s no mistaking a Missoni piece. Elsewhere in Milan, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana presented another wow-worthy collection, going for rich red and royal golden tones throughout their collection. The Sicilian infusions were once again very apparent in the collection, as is the sheer intricacy and attention to detail the boys can now afford now that their D&G line is no more. Take a look at some of our other favourite Milan Fashion Week highlights from the past few days: Emporio Armani  Dolce and Gabbana  Roberto Cavalli  Missoni  Jil Sander   

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Milan Fashion Week AW13 highlights from Just Cavalli, Fendi, Prada and Max Mara

Day 2 at Milan Fashion Week saw collections from Just Cavalli, Fendi, Prada and Max Mara hit the catwalks, once again proving that the Italians certainly don’t do things by halves. Just Cavalli was just the print-tastic, wild infusion we expect it to be, with Georgia May Jagger (the face of the new Just Cavalli fragrance, in case you forgot) closing the show in a stunning red and black piece. We love that voluminous hair she, and the rest of the models, sported. And speaking of stunning catwalk appearances, we were thrilled to see Adriana Lima walk the runway for the Prada show in a sleek and sexy black number – she just doesn’t stop wowing us! Take a look at some of our stand-out pieces from the Fendi, Prada and Max Mara collections below: Fendi Prada Max Mara 

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Milan Fashion Week AW13 highlights from Gucci and Alberta Ferretti

Back to viewing fashion week from our office chairs, as the fashion elite move from London and make a stylish dash to Milan. Milan Fashion Week kicked off with the autumn/winter 2013 offerings from Gucci and Alberta Ferretti, no doubt two of the biggest names on the Italian fashion calendar. And it wasn’t hard to see why given the beautiful collections that emerged on the catwalks. Frida Giannini ensured that Gucci was an ethereal mix of the dark, dangerous, seductive and indulgent, followed up with some vampy eye make-up and sleek but still utterly fierce hairstyles. The attention to detail in each and every piece was exquisite, with the slick tailoring in particular being a real highlight. Alberta Ferretti took things in the completely opposite direction – not just from Gucci, but from her previous collections. The designer stripped everything back and really went for simplicity. Gone were the intricate designs, patterns, textures, embellishments and varied colour palettes, and in their place were simpler, more contemporary pieces. This is Alberta Ferretti though, so take the term “simple” with a pinch of salt. We love this collection! Bring on Day 2 where the likes of Prada, Fendi and Max Mara will be showing!

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London Fashion Week AW13: Highlights from Day 5

This is it guys – London Fashion Week is over for yet another season, and boy has it been eventful! We’ve barely had time to sit down and properly reflect on all the shenanigans of the last five days, but we have a feeling the autumn/winter 2013 offerings that were presented to us in the trendiest and most stylish London locations are going to stay in our minds for a long time. Let’s not get too nostalgic just yet though, we still have all the action from the fifth and final day to discuss, with collections from the likes of Roksanda Ilincic, Ashish, Lulu Liu and Aminaka Wilmont all making their way down the catwalks. Here are some of our highlights from Day 5: Ashish We knew Ashish had something special lined up when the yellow high-vis jacket came out onto the runway first, and we weren’t wrong. There was a definite construction worker theme going on with the dungarees and patchwork/lumberjack-inspired pieces but that doesn’t mean there was a shortage of glamour. Au contraire, we were very satisfied with the amount of sparkles in the collection, and the slogan tee in particular was a particular fave. What can we say, we like clothing with a little bit of attitude! Aminaka Wilmont The jet black invite – and the fact that the pair are quite keen on keeping colour palettes sinister and minimal – gave us a clue about what to expect and we were more or less spot on. The collection was fierce and fabulous, and there was tons of attitude to boot. Dramatic eye make-up, disheveled “don’t give a ****” hair and dangerous leather in abundance. Roksanda Ilincic Lulu Liu A Vauxhall Fashion Scout favourite; Lulu Liu made the autumn/winter 2013 season warmer and more welcoming than other […]

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London Fashion Week Day 4 highlights continued: Fashion Scout shows

Fashion Scout shows are always an exciting reminder in our Fashion Week diaries. Continuing the fashionable activities on day four of London Fashion Week, we teetered in heels down to Freemason’s Hall in Great Queen Street to check out talent from the East making waves in the West. Eugene Lin Singapore-born, Central Saint Martins alumnus, Eugene Lin, sent out the very urban Trojan princess he had envisaged when designing the autumn/winter 2013-14 ‘Cupide de Locke’ collection. Interpreting the contrasts between ‘involuntary violence and fragility of love’ (the show rather aptly opened to a modern reworking of Nancy Sinatra’s Bang Bang), Lin chose a black and sand palette to update the armour-esque trench coat with embellished capes, as models sported warrior chic-inspired plaits on the crowns of their heads. Shattered mirror prints on dresses depicted the power of Cupid’s arrow, whilst the toughness of high neck collars and cuffs and strong, focal eye makeup reminded us of a woman not to be crossed. Heowhan Simulation Breathtaking was the only way to describe this technical genius’s work. Having previously won the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Merit Award, Korean-born Hwan Heo is two seasons into a ten-year season vision, The Decade Project, to create experimental artwork fashion that lends itself to stories of social and political unrest. For autumn/winter 2013-14, Heo looked to France during the protests of 1968; when political rebellion was high on the nation’s agenda. Riotous prints interspersed with patch detail inserts on oversize jackets and worn over long-line, contrasting jackets; loose silk blouses, multi zip-detail bikers and knuckle-slimming sleeves made this yet another desirably wearable collection. Ji Cheng Waiting for the Ji Cheng show to start, there was a certain excitement in the atmosphere that could be tasted. Reading the show notes whilst sipping on Vitamin water (which was  very […]

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London Fashion Week AW13: Highlights from Day 4

It;s nearing the end of yet another eventful and outstanding season at London Fashion Week, and we couldn’t be more excited about the offerings for next season! But as the saying goes, the best is usually saved till last, and so it was onto day 4 of the fash week schedule. Big shot fashion names were on the schedule for day 4, including Tom Ford (gush!), Erdem and Christopher Kane, and we couldn’t be more pleased with what these geniuses put before our eyes for next season! From Burberry to Peter Pilotto, packed with the most exciting names in fashion and the most anticipated shows in the Fashion Month calendar, here are all the highlights you need from day 4 of London Fashion Week: Burberry With Tom Odell serenading show attendees at the catwalk entrance, this show was only set to be on thing: the greatest. Every season, Burberry is the most buzzed about show, attracting a stellar frow (Rita Ora, Tinine Tempah and Kate Beckinsale were all in attendance). And for autumn/winter 2013-14, the fashion crowd was left just a positively dumbstruck.  Last season’s fizzy metallics turned glossy and grown up this season, as honeyed caramel trench coats and translucent pencil skirts mixed with skilfully subdued leopard print; a cute heart print on a collared shirt and dress broke the rules, whilst the emphasis on luxe animal prints accented with hard details made this collection a whole lot of fun. Christopher Kane Colour-pop belted buckles; fur-wrapped shoulders and a heavy dose of Kane’s charm made for an eye-pleasing collection. For autumn/winter 2013-14, Christopher Kane – with his PPR gold star badge pinned proudly to his chest – brought us camo print in its most desirable form, and ensured pleated minis and centre-slit skirts tugged at our heart strings. Packed with Kane’s signature bare midriffs; we were also treated to […]

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