Search Results for “paris fashion week

Milan and Paris: The cream of the crop

I’m suffering from a bout of fashion week withdrawal, so I spent most of last weekend sifting through footage and images from the shows, namely Paris and Milan. Looking back, this show season has actually been a blast..fast and fun and packed with lots of action. We had Bruno crashing shows, a model fainting at McQueen, and Valentino publicly sacking Fachinetti. Surprisingly none of the top stories had a thing to do with Marc Jacobs…aside from his fascination with skirts. Anyway..with fashion week still swirling around in my head, I’ve compiled my top 5 shows from both Milan and Paris, which was hard to do considering I had many favourites! Lanvin It would have been criminal not to include Lanvin in this roundup. Alber Elbaz outdid himself. The collection was colourful, dreamy, and to quote Rachel Zoe…”I die!” Gianfranco Ferre Aquilano and Rimondi did Ferre proud with this collection. I adored the use of shape and structure. Ankle skimming trousers made a number of appearances on the runway for SS09, but the duo did it best. Balmain Mixing 80’s (strong shoulders) and the 90’s (ripped jeans) Balmain was sharp and sexy! Louis Vuitton We’ve come to expect nothing but absolute genius from Marc Jacobs. For me, this collection was much better and more relevant than last season. Prada I have to admit this wasn’t my favourite collection from Prada but it was the most interesting. Who would have thought cropped tops with rumpled skirt suits could look so good? O.K so I know this was supposed to be a top 5 post, but I had to sneak in a sixth. I couldn’t not add Alexander McQueen. His SS09 collection was fun yet erotic, primitive yet sophisticated, and simply fabulous!

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The recent sleuth of fashion weeks have revealed an unlikely new style icon: the clown

It all began with the SS08 collections. Viktor and Rolf’s characters lit up the Paris SS08 catwalk, once again putting theatrical fashion back in the spotlight. Also interpreted by design house heavyweight Miu Miu in their SS08 collection, the clown was celebrated with harlequin prints and patterns adorning stunning dresses and eye-catching bags and shoes. ‘Clown couture’ was also spotted at Roksanda Illinic, Eley Kishimoto, and Sass and Bide.

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London Fashion Week: Charles Anastase

Yesterday Charles Anastase, who has just signed a five year production and licensing deal with Pier SpA showed for the first time in London, and judging from the reaction of the audience, us Brits are glad he did. Held in a beautiful space on Marylebone road, Anastase’s SS09 collection was very Parisian meets geek chic with a ballerina and lolita influence.

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Chic Shopping Paris? Yes, please.

Rebecca Perry Magniant may not have been born in Paris, but she certainly knows how to shop there. Chic Shopping in Paris is an excellent representation of the tour style I would want to use while planning my trip to Paris- one that includes the ins and outs of the exclusive Paris boutique scene! Equipped with photographs by Allison Harris, this pint size guide highlights everything from children’s’ boutiques, to places to find exquisite home fixtures, to direct sources for Paris’s best underground designers.

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London Fashion Week AW08: Ashish

The show began with the Ashish we’ve come to know and love – sequins and colour! This wasn’t a collection for the career woman that works long hours, instead it was made for the lady “taking time out….from a life which didnt deliver the glamour she’d once anticipated”. I didn’t actually pick up on that… instead I felt it was more Parisian city girl chic – glam shift dresses came in sequinned houndstooth, or with big cut out holes. 50’s style skirts were created using fun prints. Party dresses and jackets were embellished with great big sequinned letters. Keeping in tradition with past collections there was a noticable sporty influence. I loved the crazy eye wear, in particular a pair of shades with the Eiffel tower perched on the frame and the headwear was extravangantly fabulous! Stand out piece? An oversized coat with juicy cherries sewn on.

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NY Fashion Week AW08: Rad Hourani

Montreal-based stylist turned designer, Rad Hourani showcased his AW08 presentation at Bumble and Bumble on Friday. A completely untrained designer with no formal schooling, Rad’s first collection which showed in Paris last year, helped to quickly win him acclaim among his peers, and his style has already been compared to other famed designers like Helmut Lang.

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2007: Fashion in 10 Definitive Moments

1. The models are too thin. Wait, are they? Spain and Milan Project Runway, still as amazing as ever! 3. Plaid: proving that with the right accessories and in the right materials, this print (in its non-Burberry incarnations) has a life beyond lumberjacks, Scotland and the kilts of schoolgirls.

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The Ethical Fashion Show

Whether its fad or not, ethical fashion is making a statement in Paris and will continue to do so for the next couple of days with a show dedicated solely to environmentally friendly Haute Couture. Bigger than ever this year, The Ethical Fashion Show features 83 designers who’ve gathered to share their vision and hopefully nab a contract with La Redoute. Being that it’s being held after Paris fashion week and everyone is all fashioned out, coverage is minimal to say the least. But the Guardian seems to have it covered with a great in-depth article about the show.

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Article: Hungry for Fashion

Criticizing the fashion industry for promoting an unhealthy image of beauty is nothing new. How designers are responding to these allegations is however. In 2006, the authorities at Madrid Fashion Week barred models with a body mass index of less than 18 from walking down the runway. In the U.K the British Fashion Council recently established a new rule requiring all models to obtain declarations from doctors proving that their weight is healthy. While this rule won’t be put into practice until next year, some designers are already taking action.

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London Fashion Week: Its a wrap!

According to the most recent edition of Drapers magazine, since the point of taking over at the British Fashion Council, 18 months ago, Helen Riva has managed to bring London Fashion Week – with the help of sponsors – from the point of nearly declaring bankruptcy to the brilliant success that it was this season. Seriously….even my Aunt who hasn’t really got a clue about fashion week informed me over the weekend of some of the highlights from the past week. So what does this mean? The PR was fantastic and the exciting buzz was felt by many! Apparently Riva, wants to put the swing back in to LFW and intends to make the event an important part of the “city’s cultural calendar” so I guess we can expect bigger and better things come February.

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Fashion Fever

Just one more day to go before the fun of fashion week . Festivies start in New York, followed by London fashion week on the 15th, Milan on the 22nd and finally Paris on the 30th. To get you in the fashion spirit Refinery 29, has excellent video interviews with some of our favourite designers. And while we’ll be posting as much NY fashion week commentary as possible there are others who’ll also be aiming to satisfy your insatiable appetite for fashion! Check out Nylon, NY Mag, Coutorture, Catwalk Queen and Fabsugar Let the games begin!

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Parisian Circus

These days Paris Fashion week is taking second place , NY is still number 1 of course – as the hotspot for young starlets vying for press attention. During fashion week rosy cheek actress Jessica Biel was all over the place, smiling sweetly as the camera’s papped away. Not to be outdone her nemesis Scarlett Johansson ensured she was seen glammed up at Louis Vuitton, Lily Allen looked fresh faced seated front row at Sonia Rykiel and Mischa Barton was freshly groomed in white at Christian Dior. I half expected Amy Winehouse to take some time out of her drunk fuelled binges to make sure she was “seen. What puzzles me is that , unlike the likes of Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton – these are all credible and talented ladies, who don’t need the extra attention to boost their careers. It’s very possible that it’s the payment they are possibly receiving from the fashion houses that’s dragging them out of their beds to perform at the circus, although a part of me wants to believe they’re learning to acquire a taste and appreciation for the art of fashion. YEAH RIGHT! If that were true they’d make it a must to visit London!

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Magic in Paris….

Who said modelling was easy? It most definitely wasn’t at the Viktor and Rolf show during Paris fashion week. To the horror of the fashion pack, the design duo sent their models uncomfortably tip toeing down the catwalk in clogs with massive spotlights on scaffolding along with sound systems attached to their backs. As far as concepts go – to make each model a self contained fashion show – it was an interesting one which I’m sure could have been communicated via less dangerous and demanding methods. As far as fashion weeks go, Paris was my favourite this season for three reasons, Christian Dior, Hussein Chalayan and Sonia Rykiel. Watch the Dior show below. Big thanks to the youtube user who uploaded this. Amazing! Part 2 & Part 3 [Image:Elle]

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China & Shanghai Fashion Week

Some amazing pieces from China & Shanghai Fashion Week Spring/Summer 07. Click on the pictures to re-direct to info about the designer. While its quite baffling, there is actually a debate going on as to whether the Chambre Syndicale made the right decision in encouraging fresh new ideas by inviting Boudicca, Lefranc Ferrant, Nicolas Le Cauchois, Cathy Pill, Gerald Watelet and Gustavo Lins to show at Paris Couture week in January 2007. It would be even more refreshing if a designer from a not publicised enough, fashion week was extended an invitation. {images: Reuters}

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Fashion helps Kylie’s comeback

“Since my cancer diagnosis, my whole world changed. I have learned and experienced so much about myself and others.” – Kylie Minogue After battling cancer for 18 months, Kylie has well and truly comeback! With a little support from fashion, she’s launched her new perfume called Darling, played guest editor at Australian Vogue and graced the cover of UK Vogue with beautiful shots by Karl Lagerfeld. However her showgirl tour at the weekend was her biggest fashion extravaganza yet… Greeting fans with a big “Good evening Sydney Kylie took to the stage wearing a pink head-dress and a pink jewelled bodice created by John Galliano. Feathers were imported from the Lido Theatre in Paris specially for the show in which Kylie changed eight times into costumes from Pucci, Dolce and Gabbana, and Karl Lagerfeld. This was the first of 20 more concerts in Australia and was a triumphant success for the pop princess. In honour of Kylie the V&A Museum will be holding a special exhibtion running from 8 February 2007 to 10 June 2007 which will explore her image and career change over the span of her career. On show will be 45 costumes along with accessories, sound and video and photos. [Breast Cancer Foundation] {Images: Faded Youth & Sky}

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Technology…fashions future.

Everyone at the moment seems to be speculating about fashion’s future with Time magazine suggesting the industry is in a “state of medical emergency” and rightly so. Fashion is undoubtly stagnant and stale and with the number of celebrity labels which have infiltrated the market it is no wonder that it has become solely about marketing, i.e Topshop and Kate Moss. Watching footage of Hussein Chalayan’s show at Paris fashion week Spring/Summer 07 showed and gave hope to all that there is a future and an interesting one at that. Not the first designer to mix technology into fashion, (there are others before such as Alexandra Fede.) However Chalayan communicated the idea that technology could play an important role effectively and successfully. Using technology to create movement with zippers, hemlines and sleeves and to transform structure. He’s connected the two industries at a time when we are all in desperate need of refreshing and new ideas. The relationship between fashion and technology got off to a slow start and I must say I doubted if it would work and whether consumers would be accepting of it. But I’m absolutely certain now that technology is fashion’s future. It’ll be exciting to see the different ways designers will incorporate technology into fashion to create style in their collections.

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Tokyo….Fashion Capital?

There’s no denying that the Japanese know their fashion, and when the queen of style herself Gwen Stefani expressed her love of the Harajuku girl on her recent album “L.A.M.B” it was sealed – “the Japanese most definitely had style”. Now in a bid to rival the top fashion cities, London, Paris, New York and Milan, the Japanese will be holding the first ever Japan Fashion week in Tokyo. The event will last 10 days, from the 31st of October and will be followed by two shows Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. The aim is to see whether Japanese Fashion can capture the world’s attention. [Bharat Textile] “Harajuku Girls you got the wicked style, I like the way that you are, I am your biggest fan” – Gwen Stefani To check out more about fashion in Japan visit www.japanesestreets.com & www.fashioninjapan.com

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Paris Hilton

A NEW York hairstylist has flown 16,000km to Melbourne to tend to the short tresses of star client Paris Hilton for designer Wayne Cooper’s fetish-themed show tonight. The Herald Sun has learned the elder Hilton sister called the Sydney designer and asked if she could be in his Mercedes Australian Fashion Week autumn/winter fashion parade tonight.

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8 Easy Ways to Imitate Your Fave Celeb’s Style 

With the Milan and Paris Fashion Week done and dusted, chances are that you feel inspired to imitate your favorite celebrity’s style – and, rightfully so!  From classic shirts to eccentric footwear, parachute pants, and suede jackets, this Fall season is the perfect one to try out different styles, let haute couture designers inspire you, and start looking like a celeb in your daily life! Unsure how to level up your style while sticking to a strict budget? The tips below can help! First Things First: Check Out Key Celeb Trends The first step to nailing your favorite celeb’s style is… to know your favorite celeb’s style! Whether it’s Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, or Florence Pugh, looking up your favorite celebrity’s history or bio can help you understand their lifestyle and taste. Additionally, you might use several sources – including official Instagram profiles and specialized online magazines like SoJones – to gain insights into how your favorite celebrity loves to dress.  Choose High-Quality Materials  So, you might be looking to start dressing like your favorite celebrity, but your budget doesn’t stretch to expensive designer clothes and luxury brands. How can you overcome this hurdle? Luckily, there’s a simple rule that can help you elevate any outfit: always choose high-quality materials! While high-street retailers do a great job at imitating haute couture clothes, they are often manufactured in lower-quality materials to increase affordability.  Instead of falling for this gimmick, choose high-quality items from small boutiques. You might not be able to copy your favorite celebrity’s outfits – but you can certainly add elegance to your current style! Invest in Tailored Clothing Items Another great option to imitate a VIP’s closet is to invest in tailor-made clothes. While you don’t need many of those in your closet, bespoke items can help you […]

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Five Minutes With Designer Alice Ashby

With autumn/winter on it’s way, you’re bound to have warm clothing (especially knitwear) on the brain. With this in mind, we felt it was the right time to introduce a designer we simply can’t get enough of – Alice Ashby. A Central St Martins graduate and previously a knitwear designer at Rag & Bone, Alice launched her label Blake LDN in 2012. Offering a collection of effortlessly cool, luxurious and best of all, conscious knitwear, Blake LDN is a must for investment pieces that’ll last a lifetime. What does a typical work day for you consist of? Running your own company means that each day is totally different depending what time of the year it is, which I love. If I’m not researching and designing a new collection. A typical day could be – checking all online orders have been despatched, visiting and checking up on production/ sampling with our factories and making sure everything is on time with our production schedules and therefore deliveries to our stockists (very important!) Meeting with press contacts and meeting with our head of marketing to plan next months content across SM & our blog. Planning shoots, for campaigns/ look books/ website etc. What’s the most enjoyable and the most challenging aspect of your job? The most enjoyable is seeing the collection come to life be in on a shoot or during London/Paris Fashion Week – where you realise that all the hard work has paid off. Each season we are increasing stockists which is a very rewarding part of the job as well, we are expanding into South Korea and Asia next season which is really exciting. The most challenging, is making sure all the above is kept on track and the balls don’t fall down! Everyone will say that factories and production can […]

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“Everyone was kind of shy and didn’t want to go out there yelling and screaming” – Gigi Hadid on THAT Chanel protest

The staged protest that took place during the Chanel spring/summer 2015 show at Paris Fashion Week was to powerful that we think it will stay in our memories forever – but apparently it took a lot of work to get it to that stage. Gigi Hadid, one of the models who took part, explained that she found it quite challenging at first… “Honestly it was such a surreal experience, it felt kind of out-of-body,” the model said. “The crew said, ‘Yes, it’s a fake protest, but you need to go into this realising that you’re on the world stage. Everyone talks about the Chanel show, everyone is going to see it and we’re really setting a protest for you guys – for what Karl sees in all of the amazing women that he works with.’ That really inspired me. “Everyone was kind of shy and didn’t want to go out there yelling and screaming. We had to do a four-hour rehearsal because no one would actually yell, but once they gave us the pep talk, we were all so into it.” We would never have guessed that Gigi and the rest of the girls were nervous about it judging by what we saw on the catwalk. Good work, everyone! [Vogue]

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Hailee Steinfeld steals the Miu Miu FROW show!

Paris Fashion Week – and Fashion Month as a whole – ended with the same bang it started with, and we have the Miu Miu show and its FROW attendees to thank for that. While Shailene Woodley, Liv Tyler and Nicola Peltz looked impeccable on the front row as they watched the spring/summer 2015 season pieces glide past them on the catwalk, it was not-so-little-anymore Hailee Steinfeld who stole the show for us. The actress wore a pale pink Miu Miu dress for the occasion, which came complete with subtle white detailing on the edges and a bejewelled collar at the top to add some sparkle. Hailee completed her cute-as-pie look with a matching sparkly headband, but added some grown-up edge by way of some bold eye make-up and a snake print clutch bag. Flawless! Hailee Steinfeld is the personification of the Miu Miu brand and everything it stands for – and we bet Miuccia Prada can see a little bit of herself in Hailee. We love!

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SS15 highlights from Chanel, Valentino, Louis Vuitton and more

Feminism is without a doubt, the word of the month. First we had Emma Watson’s moving UN speech where she announced the launch of her HeForShe initiative, and now Karl Lagerfeld presents an equal rights protest for the Chanel spring/summer 2015 collection for Paris Fashion Week. Some of the hottest and most in-demand models such as Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner, Gisele Bundchen, Joan Smalls and Georgia May Jagger, among many others, joined the Chanel Revolution and held up signs with powerful messages on the catwalk – all while dressed in the finest and newest Chanel attire, of course! Elsewhere in Paris, Valentino presented a typically beautiful collection which was inspired by Italy through the eyes of a traveller. Meanwhile, Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton was influenced by all things Japanese for her latest catwalk outing, sending her models out in erotic and exotic garments with sharp shoulders, bold hand-cut floral detailing, and more oversized floral print than you can shake a stick at. And finally, Louis Vuitton ended Fashion Month with a stunning show presented by Nicolas Ghesquière, with the soundtrack from Close Encounters of the Third Kind playing as the lucky guests took their seats. We saw an abundance of lust-worthy leather goods and accessories – no surprises there – make their debut, and although Nicolas Ghesquière took a lot of risks by introducing new ideas, the aesthetic of the iconic French fashion House remained the same. Check out all of our highlights from the latest Paris Fashion Week shenanigans right here: Chanel Louis Vuitton Alexander McQueen Valentino  

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Rihanna vs. Keira Knightley…Who wore Chanel better?

Being a Paris Fashion Week stalwart, the hype and excitement surrounding Kaiser Karl’s seasonal offerings at Chanel knows no bounds. So, naturally, we expect nothing short of a super-stellar front row attendance, too Involved in a fierce frock-off this week are Keira Knightley and Rihanna, and you know it doesn’t get more bring-your-A-game than this pair of Chanel darlings. Arriving at the autumn/winter 2014 show in Paris, both ladies rocked waist-accentuating numbers, making it pretty damn difficult to pick between the two! Although she’s clarified that she won’t repeat-wear her Chanel wedding dress, Keira Knightley still brought all the ‘double C’ charm to the front row. Dressed in a monochromatic cropped dress, her tiny waist made for the main attraction, beautifully accompanied by pointed gold pumps and a teensy chain-strap Chanel bag, natch. But, intent on stealing the show (as always), Rihanna bumped up the chic levels in a lilac dress of similar style. Bringing her own brand of quirk to the look, RiRi mixed it up with matching bum bag and the shoe-cessory du jour: sneakers. Rounding off her look were retro-inspired cat-eye sunglasses and an oversized pearl bracelet. So, whose look is worthy of stealing the front row Queen (C) Bee crown? Tough one, isn’t it? Given both ladies subscribe to completely opposite schools of style, we can’t forget Mr. Lagerfeld encourages a pretty-gone-hyper-cool approach to fashion. So, inevitably, Mademoiselle RiRi takes the style crown this week. Whose look wins for you? [Images: Rihanna; Keira]

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“Things need to change” – Marc Jacobs on Louis Vuitton

Marc Jacobs has been at the helm of Louis Vuitton for a very impressive 16 years, so it’s inevitable that the future of the fashion House is going to be a topic of concern. However, despite saying that he was initially scared to leave Louis Vuitton, MJ has assured us that he has left it in what he thinks are the very safe and capable hands of former Balenciaga man Nicolas Ghesquière. “He is a brilliant designer and he’ll do something completely different,” he said of his successor. “I’ve always admired Nicolas. I’m curious to see what he’ll do. We have such different aesthetics. Things need to change. I’m really glad someone I respect and admire, and think is a really great talent, is there.” If Marc Jacobs is confident in Nicolas Ghesquière’s work, then we think the LVMH group – and the rest of us – should be too. Roll on Paris Fashion Week next year!

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Kanye West wants us to boycott Louis Vuitton

Don’t get on the wrong side of Kanye West; especially if you’re a fashion House and you don’t want him to erm, “influence” your Christmas sales… Louis Vuitton is the latest subject of one of Mr Kim Kardashian’s rants, this time because the head of LV refused to meet with the rapper cum designer during Paris Fashion Week earlier this year. “While I was in Paris I wanted to meet the head of Louis Vuitton and he said ‘I don’t understand why we need to meet with you?’,” Kanye said during his interview on 92.3. “Everybody in New York City right now, don’t buy any Louis Vuitton until after January,” he then declared. “Now do you wanna meet with me? Influence… they think that I don’t realise my power.” Will LV respond to Kanye’s criticism in the same hilarious way Zappos did? We guess we’ll just have to wait and see, but we wouldn’t count on it. We assume the fashion House has more important things to do with its time, mainly ensuring new creative director Nicolas Ghesquière is settling in nicely. Will you he boycotting Louis Vuitton because of Kanye’s harsh words? [InStyle]

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Daisy Lowe models Vivienne Westwood Red Carpet Collection for Matches

Vivienne Westwood is the latest big-name designer to team up with Matches, and will be releasing a four-piece capsule collection of eveningwear out later this month! Modelled by the hottie that is Miss Daisy Lowe, the Vivienne Westwood Red Carpet Collection is admittedly nowhere near as loud and crazy as the spring/summer 2014 collection that we saw on the Paris Fashion Week catwalk a few days ago, but there’s definitely no mistaking a Vivienne Westwood piece when we see one. Especially since every one of the four dresses is a nod to an iconic V-West design, for example, the squiggle print. “The squiggle print is iconic and translates brilliantly to Vivienne Westwood’s signature red carpet gowns – effortlessly glamorous with a subversive twist,” said Natalie Kingham, a spokesperson for Matches. “They offer our clients something timeless and extremely special.” No arguments there! The Vivienne Westwood Red Carpet Collection launches at Matches on October 9th, with prices ranging from £2125 to £2970. [Vogue] 

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The real reason behind Kim Kardashian’s baby wardrobe Insta-binge

When Kim Kardashian, world’s hottest-mama-right-now, decided to embark on an Instagram binge to introduce the world to her daughter’s teensy, top tier designer wardrobe, we looked at our sorry Zara hoard and felt the pangs of an under accomplished sartorial life. Whereas North West, or Nori, as she is affectionately referred to by her parents, will be running riot in her new, $11 million home in Céline sneakers and stripes, we’ll be sticking to the affordable permutations gracing the window displays of Zara and Cos. But we all know, the Noris and Blue Ivies of the world aren’t born with a silver spoon in their mouths, but rather a sterling silver Elsa Peretti Padova spoon, so Mummy K showing off North’s designer-packed wardrobe shouldn’t come as a shock, right? Well, anything Kimye do sends Richter scale shattering tremors trough celebville (even if its just casually arriving at Gare du Nord in coats du jour), so it was natural for us to wrack our brains thinking of the real reason behind every personalised caption Insta-pic Kim diligently took to uploading for the universe to ogle in a fit of motherly envy. And here’s what we concluded: A snapshot into Nori’s privileged wardrobe is Kim’s way of declaring her induction into the upper echelons of untouchable fashion. That’s right. Her constant mingling with ‘Ricky’ Tisci in custom-made-the-night-before outfits; befriending the lady, and then gracing the cover of Carine Roitdfeld’s CR Fashion Book, and sitting front row at Paris Fashion Week – not forgetting her infamous, floral-clad appearance on the Met Gala red carpet sealing the deal with regards to a Wintour-Dashian friendship- was Kim’s way of not only screaming “I’m back!,” but of creating a watertight, almost Victoria Beckham-esque fashion body image – and, fast becoming the poster girl for the old age […]

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Clemence Poesy does simple chic on Chanel FROW

A little simplicity can go a long, long way. And Clemence Poesy arriving at the Chanel show during Paris Fashion Week to take her rightful place on the front row is poof of that. The gorgeous French actress looked incredible in a simple pair of rolled up blue jeans, a black top, black flats and a chic Chanel boucle jacket. Just goes to show that investing in a “statement” piece, in this case the Chanel jacket, can transform even the simplest and most casual of outfits into something wow-worthy. She definitely dressed circles around the other frow-ers which says a lot considering the likes of Rita Ora and Katy Perry were also in attendance. Clemence completed her flawless look by wearing her hair in some glamorous tumbling waves, going for subtle make-up and of course, an essential black Chanel bag.

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Kim Kardashian makes a sexy appearance at the Givenchy PFW show

Although the Givenchy show during Paris Fashion Week at the weekend was full of stunning spring/summer 2014 designs, we would be lying if we said we weren’t a little bit distracted and excited by Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s appearance on the front row. A newly-blonde Kim not only showed off her lightened locks (still as glossy and enviable as ever, may we add) but also her post baby bump body in a revealing black dress with a sexy thigh high slit in it. No frumpy maternity clothes for this lady – just a sexy dress made by Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci himself! We hope Kimmie enjoyed her time off after the birth of daughter North West, because we predict a very busy couple of weeks as we expect her and her sisters Kourtney and Khloe to be on a very hectic Kardashian x Lipsy promotional trail. The collection is out next month!

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Nicole Richie vs. Kourtney Kardashian…Who wore Stella McCartney better?

Although monochrome originally set our hearts aflutter for spring/summer 2013, when our peepers landed on this week’s fash-off contestants, we once again gasped in awe! The sheer beauty of a vertical zebra crossing-esque print in a dress is enough to get the dialogue going at MFL HQ, and that’s why we’ve picked Nicole Richie and not-far-from-a-camera Kourtney Kardashian as this week’s Who Wore it Best candidates, in a stunning, striped Stella McCartney number. First up, Nicole Richie took to the front row at Paris Fashion Week back in March, when she wore the striped A-line dress to the Stella McCartney autumn/winter 2013 show. Looking radiant as ever; Nicole completed her look with a relaxed shoulder-length bob and simple black pumps. But catching up in the style race was Kourtney Kardashian, who hasn’t been on our style radar for the right reasons, lately! Kourtney attended the extravagant, Alice In Wonderland themed 16th birthday bash for fellow sibling, Kylie Jenner, in August, sporting said dress. Accessorising with a fancy featured headpiece, fingerless gloves (very Kaiser Karl) and cross-strap platform heels, she rounded the look off with a bright red lip. With such a bold dress, and two very different looks, it’s a tough one to choose between this week, but we’re going to go with Nicole on this one! We get it: Kourtney’s channelling an upscale Tweedledee/dum in a dress (sorry, Kourt!), but it’s literally too fancy dress for us. Skip the OTT gloves and headpiece, and she’s got a winner on her hands (pardon the pun). Nicole’s fuss-free styling and glossy locks win by a strong style mile. Agree with our verdict? Tell us your thoughts below. [Images: Nicole; Kourtney]

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Angelina Jolie in all-black Saint Laurent

Forget staging an intricate catwalk show during Paris Fashion Week – all Hedi Slimane needs to do is continue to dress Angelina Jolie and that will be enough recognition and praise for his work at Saint Laurent Paris. Angelina Jolie does the job of showcasing and promoting designers better than any runway model, and her latest all-black Saint Laurent ensemble at the Let the Adventures Begin: Live Action at The Walt Disney Studios presentation in California is proof. To some, she just might just be wearing a black jumper, black trousers and black shoes, but to us it’s a sartorial statement – nay, a revolution! Angelina isn’t the first woman to make all-black work, and she probably won’t be the last either. But she might just be the woman who does it best. [Images] 

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Christian Dior is taking over Harrods!

Harrods will be paying tribute to Christian Dior this spring, by dedicating the Brompton Road store’s floors and windows to the iconic French brand. The store windows will get a classic grey and white Dior make-over, and the fourth floor will turn into the “ultimate Dior experience.” “We are thrilled to be partnering with Dior, one of our most successful global luxury brands on such an exciting venture,” said Marigay McKee, a spokesperson for Harrods. “Highlights of this exclusive initiative include a unique exhibition that takes you on a fascinating journey, unveiling intricate details of Dior’s rich heritage.” The fourth floor will be reconstructed to resemble the famous 30 Avenue Montaigne Dior headquarters in Paris, with an abundance of exciting displays available to witness. You can check the new Miss Dior handbag range out, dine in the Café Dior pop up restaurant, and see sketches and mannequins of iconic designs, among other things. The ‘Stars in Dior’ section sounds particularly appealing to us, as it features the actual dresses worn by some of our favourite celebs from the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Marion Cotillard and Emma Watson among others. You can catch the Harrods/Dior take-over from March 16th to April 14th, so make sure you pencil it in your diaries!

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Ulyana Sergeenko brings drama to the Dior AW13 front row

We can always count on Ulyana Sergeenko to mix things up on the front row, and the Christian Dior Paris Fashion Week show was no exception. The Russian fashion designer always provides us with some of the most eccentric – but never ill informed – looks, most of which some in the most luxurious and unaffordable forms. Ulyana rocked up to the Dior show wearing the voluminous cobalt blue printed skirt fresh from the most recent Couture runway, and accessorised with a plain black top, and a very dramatic veiled black fascinator. Some might argue that she wouldn’t have seen much with the veil in her face, but then again, fashion royalty such as Miss Anna Wintour and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen seldom attend a front row without their darkest shades covering their eyes… Do you like her front row look or do you think it’s attention-seeking and distracting?

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High Street: 1 Rita Ora: 0

This week’s been a bit of a stirrer on Planet Fashion, as we brace ourselves for Fashion Month and all the news that unfolds with it. Firstly, the urbanisation of what is supposed to be a copious dose of unadulterated luxury (thanks, Rita!) has led to many a sleepless night, and secondly, the arrival of the High Street on the High fashion runway. They say every writer should be as cynical as is humanly possible in order to really raise his or her voice against the unjust practices of the rapidly rotating (fashion) planet, but I don’t want to be the one who applies the dampener, so to speak. Well, not entirely. Let’s begin with Rita Ora’s recent outing in Le Paree for Couture Fashion Week. We know Jay-Z’s protégée brings her A game in the form of an eclectic dress sense, and equally vivid hair to match, but it was the shocking ‘devaluation’ of an uber-luxe item, namely the Hermès Birkin bag that left me in a destructive-to-luxury daze. Stepping out in moon boot-equivalent sneakers, multi-patch Adidas trousers and neon knit is bad enough, but throwing one of the most revered handbags into the mix doesn’t sit well with me. Although Rita’s affinity for carrying a Birkin with almost every ensemble she appears in is pretty evident, this isn’t the catwalk-ready definition of sport-luxe I was thinking of. But on an ever so slightly more sartorially positive note, Rita brought the Boy (see what I did there) to the front row at the Chanel Couture show in Paris, teaming Wang boots with a floaty dress, topped off with a red leather jacket. Not a huge fan of this (again) try-hard ensemble (the red lips were the only necessity), but then again, isn’t that the only idea that underscores most of […]

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Emma Stone vs. Anna Dello Russo: Who wore Rochas better?

It’s a tough one this week, as we’re faced with two of fashion’s most forwardly dressed ladies! Although Anna Dello Russo has first dibs on nearly every item of clothing that graces the runways before the entire planet even gets whiff of them, Emma Stone beat the vivaciously attired editor-at-large to it! Showing off a stunning creation from the Fall 2012 Rochas collection, Emma looked a dream as she attended the Tokyo premiere for The Amazing Spider-Man back in June last year. Going prim all the way – in line with dress’s ladylike, drop-waist silhouette – Emma wore Christian Louboutin bow pumps and sported a softly-done updo. Anna Dello Russo, on the other hand, steers clear of the conventional style path and always seeks to add a much welcomed twist to her well-documented looks. And you didn’t expect her to wear a simple brown dress, well, in a simple way, did you? Throwing out the basic rules that apply to statement accessories, and throwing the brightest bag, heels and earrings into the mix, our fave fashion personality gave the street-stylers much to pap outside the Miu Miu Spring 2013 presentation during Paris Fashion Week in October. She wore Miu Miu booties (natch), ADR x H&M earrings (double natch) and a super-statement making Paula Cademartori bag. Who wins? Emma Stone? Why? Well, as much as we do love an eye-ball popping ensemble from ADR during Fashion Month and beyond, this pretty Rochas number didn’t really need such harsh colours to dress it up. Emma’s dainty, feminine styling wins hands down!

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Five minutes with Lie Sang Bong

With the ‘Gangnam Style’ dance perfected, an array of impressive catwalk collections under his belt and a fashion career spanning nearly three decades over three continents, Lie Sang Bong is certainly a fashion force to be recknoned with. My Fashion Life caught up with the esteemed South Korean designer to talk wardrobe staples, favourite fashion cities and, of course, Gangnam Style. Tell us about the inspiration behind your Spring/Summer 2013 collection The Spring/Summer 2013 collection was inspired by butterflies, which represents transformation. Another source of inspiration was a sense of nostalgia for 60s fashion and my childhood memories; the collection explores retro elements and transforms them into modern shapes and volume. Being one of Korea’s most esteemed designers you started your fashion career in your native country, later moving to Paris. What was this change in fashion culture like for you? When I first started to show my collection in Paris in 2002, it felt like I was starting everything all over again. Although I love Paris and it was always my dream to show at Paris Fashion Week, nothing was easy and I kept asking myself if I should continue to do this or not.  However, after a few seasons, I started to feel more comfortable working there, and fascinated by people who were excited to see my collection. Presenting my collection during Paris Fashion Week was like a dream come true. What are your favourite fashion cities and why? I love Paris, New York, and London the most. Paris has its own tradition and history of fashion that fascinates me; New York is a fun place where new trends are made everyday and London is so creative and funky. In three words, style is… Character, taste and harmony. Tell us more about the Lie Sang Bong woman The Lie Sang Bong […]

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Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker, Naomi Campbell (& more) get the Disney treatment for Barneys

As part of the epic collaboration between Disney and Barneys this Christmas, a short film entitled Electric Holiday is due to be played on LED screens around the Madison Avenue flagship store from tomorrow! The film follows protagonist Minnie Mouse as she embarks on a dreamy Paris Fashion Week adventure, and crosses paths with a host of the fashion industry’s hottest names… Some of the recognisble faces in the film include Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker, Daphne Guinness, Carine Roitfeld, Emmanuelle Alt, Franca Sozzani, Anna Dello Russo, Naomi Campbell and Cathy Horyn, most of whom can be found sitting FROW watching the catwalk action. Minnie Mouse also gets her make-up done by Pat McGrath before being photographed by Steven Meisel, while Balenciaga’s Nicolas Ghesquière ensures Mickey Mouse is ready for his close-up too. We can’t fault the designer/celeb transformations; who is your favourite so far? Stay tuned for the full video… [WWD]

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Has Kanye turned Kim into a demure goddess?

“Where have they gone?” I euphemistically and, rather rhetorically, ask myself every time I lay eyes on a post-‘Kimye’ Kim Kardashian. As the world became aware of the blossoming love between the blatant romance-deniers, I’ve become aware of Kim’s increasingly demure and understated wardrobe. A monochrome palette (similar to her beau’s); sleek cuts; ladylike peplums; below-the-knee dresses; sensible fashion choices at Cannes; copious amounts of uber-expensive-looking leather and cleavage concealing necklines have all made the rounds; and I’ve decided that I actually quite like the stylistically ‘born again’ Kim. Regularly seen in barely breathable, bust-enhancing, waist-reducing Hervé Léger bandage numbers, post divorce; Kim’s comeback as the Rapper’s Girlfriend hasn’t entirely been put down to personal effort. This is not to say I disliked Kim’s previous barely-there style, but I wonder if claims that dating Kanye West has improved her wardrobe actually hold any truth. Well, to figure that out, let’s begin with Kanye’s personal approach to style, his fashionable affiliations and, of course, his venture into fashion. Partial to a blazer, slouchy leather pants and eye-hurting sneakers, Kanye’s love of Givenchy, a blossoming friendship with creative director of said fashion house, Riccardo Tisci, and an eponymous fashion label with a rather dismal debut at Paris Fashion Week two seasons ago prove his fashionable inclinations. Given that, Kanye rather famously attended last month’s Met Ball sans Kim – a warning of sorts from the God of fashion, Anna Wintour, and the fact that Kim’s less-than-credible celebrity status – described in W magazine as the ‘fine art of playing herself – (a perfectly money-spinning method, may I add); does Kanye feel inclined to help bump up his beau’s credibility through influencing her style? Does he feel she’ll be taken ‘seriously’ by the inner circles of super-stardom if there’s more monochrome than major-boobage on […]

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Rate or Slate: Katy Perry vs Emily Blunt vs Leigh Lezark

This week’s Rate or Slate is a real corker, because we love it when celebrities really step out of their style comfort zones and embrace the unexpected. First up, taking a brazen fashion stance – something she is more than partial to – is Katy Perry. Attending the Viktor & Rolf fall 2012 show in Paris, Katy ensured her popping blue hair colour matched her outfit, as she donned a black shift dress and contrasting cobalt blue coat from the design duos spring summer 2012 collection. Devil Wears Prada actress, Emily Blunt, opted for a Naeem Khan fall 2012 number at the LA premiere of her latest movie, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Usually seen in form-fitting red-carpet dresses, this was definitely a silhouette detour for Emily. DJ, model and muse Leigh Lezark brightened up a dull, grey, wet Paris fashion week morning by sporting a standout, canary yellow Sonia Rykiel suit to the designer’s fall 2012 show; a brave colour choice by the standards of someone who is almost always seen in black. It’s over to our Style Jury….  My Fashion Life News Ed says: Katy Perry: ‘You’ll hardly ever find me say anything negative about Katy Perry, and this time is no different. I would have lost the tights or worn my hair down as it looks a tad secretary chic (an uber stylish, gorgeous secretary, mind) but this is definitely my favourite. Gorgeous!’ Emily Blunt: ‘I think this dress totally drowned Emily, which is a shame because I usually love her red carpet style. If the hemline was shorter and she added some bold, flirty accessories, she could have got away with it but something isn’t right here. I don’t think the shoes help either.’ Leigh Lezark: ‘Kudos for going for something so bright and out of […]

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