Search Results for “paris fashion week

Problems for Stefano Pilati?

Though YSL has denied problems with its creative director Stefano Pilati, rumours are still rife this week that the designer may be in trouble at the fashion house after his latest ready-to-wear offering left little to lust after.

Read More

Who owns 6,000 pairs of Louboutins?

Thought you loved Louboutins? We’ve found someone who loves them more – 6,000 pairs more. The shoe designer revealed his “supertop customer” this week, though the answer may leave you a little surprised. Extreme fashionista? Fashion editrix? No. Author, actually.

Read More

Exclusive Talk with Kenneth Cole

Hear the name Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. and you might be mistaken into thinking that successful fashion entrepreneur Kenneth Cole is a film producer rather than a shoe designer – it’s an easy assumption to make. But Kenneth Cole isn’t of course a film producer; he’s the fashion designer and businessman behind the label of nearly thirty years. A well-known name in America, Kenneth visited London recently to give an exclusive talk at the London College of Fashion to share some of the secrets behind his success. As Kenneth talked about his brand it was clear that the stereotypical fashion designer persona was far from the business minded man delivering the talk. Cole admits that, ‘People don’t get much more than to judge you on how you present yourself,’ but as he talked about his path to success it emerged that Kenneth Cole is as much about delivering a social commentary as a fabulous pair of shoes. Cole is a master of witty advertising puns, which is something that has become synonymous with the brand – some campaigns of which he penned himself, and many of which are cut through with a sharp social commentary. A significant AIDS campaigner, one of Cole’s advertising billboards following 9/11 read, ‘On September 12, 14,000 people still contracted HIV.’ Commenting on the advertising ethos of the brand, Cole recalls the beginnings of the company in 1982: ‘I wanted to connect the brand to something bigger than what we did.’ His acute sense of realism following 9/11 was, understandably, too much for a country in mourning but the message was not new. Kenneth describes himself as a creative problem solver , a trait that marks many of the milestones of his career , none so significant perhaps as his debut into the world of fashion. […]

Read More

Louis Vuitton AW10: curves ahead

Young waif-like models may have reigned supreme in recent seasons, but Louis Vuitton are embracing curves for A/W10 , and the French fashion house hired a handful of voluptuous supers to prove it. Elle Macpherson, Laetitia Casta and newly-engaged Lara Stone were among the models to hit the runway showcasing their curves in Marc Jacobs’ sexy autumn offerings, which included corsets and halter-neck dresses for the womanly woman. Designers are always saying they’re going to do a collection for women, but then every girl on the runway is under twenty, claimed Marc, who may or may not have presented one of the most wearable collections yet. I wanted a variety of ages and sizes. We set out to cast gorgeous women, women who feel happy to put their make-up on, get dressed up, get all their accessories, he told the Telegraph, adding, it’s a bit old-fashioned, I know, but I think it’s nice for a change. And change for next season, if Marc’s latest offering for Louis Vuitton is anything to go by, comes in the form of mid-calf length skirts, as he single-handedly brings back the midi-skirt. Take note from Elle Macpherson, who led the finale in a mid-calf rose corset dress with a draped train, if you need convincing. [Images]

Read More

Honouring Karl Lagerfeld

It’s been a busy week for Karl Lagerfeld, and it’s not just his unveiling of Chanel’s AW10 collection amid blocks of ice yesterday that’s got everyone talking , he’s set to be made a commander of the French Legion of Honour.

Read More

MFL’s top 5 gadget accessories

Fashion and function are terms that regularly cross paths but only recently have we seen an influx of designers getting creative with technology. Not only are fashion houses and retailers bridging the gap between catwalks and the consumer by launching phone applications, tweeting on a regular basis and live streaming fashion week shows; they’re putting their names to a whole host of products, making our day-to-day technological appliances that little bit nicer to look at. From Fendi to Gareth Pugh, we can honestly say that the contents of our handbag have never looked so well dressed. See our top five gadget accessories, below: Mulberry Daria sleeve for 13″ MacBook It might look like an oversized clutch, but this sleeve, inspired by Mulberry’s Daria range, was designed in collaboration with Apple to protect your MacBook. When did practical ever look so pretty? £350 from Mulberry. AnOther iPhone shell by Gareth Pugh for Incase Gareth Pugh designed this monochrome iPhone case as part of his capsule collection for AnOther magazine and Parisian boutique colette, which brings together fashion and technology in a limited edition, bold aesthetic. Pugh’s graphic was also added to a 13″ MacBook pro sleeve, which incorporates his signature star print. £53 from AnOther Shop. Jaeger BlackBerry case Replacing the BlackBerry case that I so carelessly lost a few months ago, is this bright number from Jaeger. Available in orange and lemon yellow, it also makes finding the damn thing in the depths of an oversized tote much easier. Hurrah! £20 – £25 from Jaeger. Fendi laptop case So, apparently the Mulberry MacBook sleeve is only fit for an Apple but this Fendi neoprene laptop case isn’t so prejudiced. The hot pink protector features a zip pocket and is perfect for the girly girl on her commute. £225 from Net-a-Porter. […]

Read More

Celebrating McQueen

A dark cloud was cast over the fashion world last Thursday, when news was brought of British designer, Lee Alexander McQueen’s death. New York Fashion Week began with a sombre tone as news rapidly spread, regarding the demise of the prolific fashion designer whose lower-priced line , McQ , was scheduled to be presented that very afternoon. Instead, friends, family and fans paid tribute to one of the most influential fashion figures of recent years, looking back at the many highlights of his successful career. Crowds descended upon Alexander McQueen stores to pay their respects with flowers, notes and candles while the London store lowered its McQueen flag to fly at half mast above the window display, which now shows only black drapes. Aged just 40 at the time of his death, McQueen was seen as one of the most exciting designers in the business, constantly shocking and impressing onlookers at his conceptual shows, showcasing inspired designs, tailored to perfection. Perhaps more significant to current and future designers however, is the fact that the ‘enfant terrible’ of British fashion grew with the trends , and not merely in terms of fashion. McQueen’s last , and perhaps best , show, which displayed his spring 2010 collection, streamed live from Paris, enabling anyone with internet access to watch from the comfort of their own home. McQueen was perfectly in tune to the possibilities of fashion and constantly pushed boundaries, making his mark in fashion history whilst setting the benchmark for Fashion Weeks to come. The British Fashion Council are yet to decide how to mark McQueen’s passing but Lucy Yeomans, chairman of the BFC press committee told the Guardian: ‘it is only right that London Fashion Week marks his passing in some way, pointing out that it was important ‘to do something […]

Read More

Burberry goes 3D at LFW

It’s not just the film industry that’s getting giddy over 3D at the moment, the trend is hitting fashion too, lead faithfully by British brand Burberry, who is set to stream its London Fashion Week show live in 3D.

Read More

Five minutes with William Tempest

Fashion can make stars as quickly as it breaks them, and over the past couple of years few stars have risen higher or shone brighter than young challenger to the British fashion crown William Tempest. And last year was a particularly phenomenal one for the 24 year old designer, who was working for another great British fashion name, Giles Deacon, before he had even graduated for the London College of Fashion. Having launched his own label in 2008, after a stint working for Jean Charles de Castelbajac and dressing Madonna, Tempest was selected to show at London’s Fashion Fringe event and went on to win the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Merit Award in 2009 allowing him to hold his first solo catwalk show – the Tudor themed The Golden Age – which won over pretty much every critic and secured his place as one of the hottest names in London. We caught up with Tempest in the run up to London Fashion Week to find out more about what we can expect to see from this bright young designer in 2010… 2009 seemed to be a pretty amazing year for you – what were the highlights and low lights? Highlights of 2009 were definitely holding my first catwalk show, dressing Victoria Beckham and being selected as one of Vogue magazine’s ‘Class of 2010 – the people who will define the next decade! Any New Year’s Resolutions? To help out others more often and to do something for charity. I’m currently working with Sport Relief at the moment on a great project to raise awareness and money to target malaria in Africa. I loved your Tudor inspired ‘The Golden Age’ collection. Why the Tudors? How much research did you do before you know which elements of Tudor style you wanted to play with? Thanks, […]

Read More

Kate Moss’ new do

Nothing gets the fash pack talking than a new hair do, especially when it’s being sported by London’s style ambassador and all-round fashion phenomenon. Yep, Kate Moss has got herself a new do , and it’s grey.

Read More

Gucci couture?

With Paris Couture Week in full force, all eyes are on the fashion houses: Christian Lacroix’s sad exit from the couture circuit has left a noticeable gap in the field, but one major name in fashion’s game is about to fill it with some high end shoes.

Read More

Galliano Menswear

Whether he’s wearing it or sending it down the catwalk, John Galliano‘s got a signature style that’s as far fetched as fashion gets. Now, the Dior creative director is turning his design marvel to menswear for a second time. As more designers brainstorm pieces for the boys , most recently Victoria Beckham and Matthew Williamson , King of Couture John Galliano has announced a new, lower-priced diffusion line for men which will sit alongside his current menswear and womenswear offerings. His inspiration? Himself. “I was inspired by memories of my twenty-year old self,” Galliano told Vogue UK of the collection, called ‘Galliano’. “I was fashion-obsessed yet starved of choice in clothes. We used to take our vintage market finds and pull them apart and recombine them to create our own mixed-up signature looks.” Aimed at men who want to express their own ideas and identity through their style, Galliano’s contemporary offering attempts to capture the attitude of the London rock scene. “It’s not just the girls who want to party and be able to pepper their wardrobe with urban essentials, the boys want this option too – and to have those pieces in denim, leather and something that has that quirky signature Galliano identity. They want high fashion but not the high fashion prices, so I wanted to create a collection that could inspire as much as bridge that gap.” The new collection will launch at Milan Menswear Fashion Week on January 18.

Read More

Alexander McQueen online

It’s dreary days like these, when you can’t face braving winter’s wild weather, that online shopping was made for. And it’s days like these, when nothing looks likely to banish the blues, that Alexander McQueen was made for. Just think what would happen if these two things came together.

Read More

Emporio Armani’s Foxxy frock

Ooh, Emporio Armani has designed a new dress inspired by the strapless fuchsia Giorgio Armani Prive number Megan Fox wore to the Moscow premiere of Transformers 2. The new design comes after blockbuster beauty Megan Fox was named as the next face of Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans over a month ago, taking over from Victoria Beckham. The dress, which, judging from Armani’s sketch is the spitting image of the Giorgio Armani Prive dress that Megan Fox wore on the red carpet, has just landed in Emporio Armani stores nationwide (in time for the festive season), and is set to sell at $980 (around £600). This is the latest in a string of events that link the actress du jour and Armani together; she was front row at his Prive show, he snapped her up to front Emporio Armani next season, she wore a Prive dress to her movie’s premiere, and now he’s designed a dress based on that one she wore. BFFs, perhaps? Meanwhile, shooting has already taken place with Fox for her SS10 campaigns where the actress will appear across billboards and ads clad in Emporio Armani Underwear , something tells us those images will be sizzling.

Read More

Designers enter Alice’s Wonderland

Clearly we’re not the only ones who are super-excited about next year’s release of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland: Parisian store Printemps will be bringing together some of fashion’s hottest names to help create a dreamy Alice-themed window display.

Read More

Dior’s Christmas unveiled

Remember us revealing a while back that Dior was designing a Christmas tree for Claridge’s? To mark the beginning of the festive season, last night the trendy tree had its grand unveiling , and to a rather fashionable crowd, might we add.

Read More

Lancôme makeup party

Oh Lancôme, how we love thee , not only for your pretty pampering products, but for inviting us back to Paris for your very first makeup party. That’s right, beauty’s best luxury label, Lancôme, invited us to Paris last week for its first ever makeup party and to catch an exclusive sneak peek at its S/S10 offerings, Ô My Rose!. This is Aaron De Mey’s second season with Lancôme, and we’d like to say here and now that his arrival at the French beauty brand has shot the label right back into fashion’s forefront. It’s not that there was ever any doubt over what an incredible institution Lancôme is, but De Mey’s move as new creative director has brought a youthful, cool edge to the ever-classic tradition that grounds the brand. Aaron’s understanding and approach to makeup is simple, but the results are anything but , which leads us on to chat about the new collection (oh, the new collection!). Ô My Rose! is Lancôme’s spring offering for 2010, which takes inspiration from the free-spirited sixties’ attitude and icons, mixing child-like innocence with a deep rebellion. Based on what De Mey describes as a ‘French Kate Moss’ , someone with an imperfect beauty , Ô My Rose! delivers a surprising colour palette for S/S10, skipping sickly-sweet candy colours and predictable pinks and opting for old-world corals, pop petrols and earthy camouflage greens. Whether you’re after a soft, summer glow, classic sophistication, or an all-out rebellious edge, this collection holds the power to enhance your every desire. We realise that’s a strong statement, but this is an even stronger collection. Aaron’s vision extends itself past the products to the packaging, too, from Lichtenstein inspired perforated compacts to geometric pop art-esque lines across the blusher, proving his attention to detail and passion […]

Read More

Daisy Lowe for Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton is really doing its bit to embrace younger models lately, isn’t it? After announcing Lara Stone as the face of the luxury label’s S/S10 campaign, replacing Madonna, no less, it has now enlisted British model and all-round cool girl Daisy Lowe, too.

Read More

Five minutes with Olivia Rubin

It’s difficult not to feel overwhelmed after fashion month. All those shows, all those new clothes and all those new designers to choose from. But in London one woman has been quietly forging a name for herself, emerging slowly from under the radar to become a firm favourite with London-based fashion editors and the girls at Vogue. Olivia Rubin is a graduate of the infamous Central St Martins fashion school, the college that gave us Luella Bartley, Hussein Chalayan, Giles Deacon and John Galliano among many, many others. At 27, Rubin has already worked with Jaques Azagury and fellow Brits Alexander McQueen and John Galliano. Her own line hit our radar when she was shortlisted for the semi-final of Fashion Fringe 2007 and 2008 and has gathered a list of fashion savvy celebrity fans that most designers would kill for including Lily Allen and M.I.A. In past collections, Rubin has specialised in creating urban-inspired graphic prints on architectural shapes, which in other hands would be scary but in hers is soft and flattering – girly without the schmaltz. Her oversized brick print has become something of a signature, floating around the body on simple charcoal grey shifts, chiffon dresses and peach maxi dresses (the charcoal brick print shift has been on our wishlist for ages as has her brick embroidery print tunic). We managed to grab five minutes with Rubin to find out more about what drives her…

Read More