Burberry Pre-Fall 2011

Bye-bye biker babes. Farewell snakeskin, spikes and studs. Make way for refined, form-fitting flares, sleek tuxedos and modern takes on the classic trench, and suddenly we've got a collection Thomas Burberry would recognise. Christopher Bailey's latest pre-fall (or autumn, as us Aussies like to say) showing was a stark (and welcomed) departure from the spray on leathers and shrunken shapes of spring.  Gone are the neons and metallics, which felt more fad than fashion, having been replaced with a beautiful pre-autumnal (how appropriate) array of colours. Steel blues and greys, rusts, mustards and forest greens were combined in a way that fondly evoked a lingering summer, whilst the emphasis on black allowed for the pared-back silhouettes to take centre stage. And what wonderful silhouettes these were. 

Jackets were fitted, rather than shrunken, and hemlines moved south as coats were revived from their motorcycle counterparts. Edges were finished with sheared rabbit fur, possibly in reference to the ever so successful shearling aviator jackets of last winter.   The more subtle approach was made all the more smart when considering this is a collection that remains on store shelves for a good six months, bridging the gap between seasons. Not sure how many wool coats will sell in Australia during the tail-end of summer, but having experienced a European October, I'm willing to bet it's a different story for the brand's home country. And when it comes to coats, trust Bailey to deliver. Double-breasted, cinched, knee-length, cropped; wool, fur, puffer- talk about something for everyone (and every temperature, natch).

And finally, the flares. Possibly the standout item in the entire collection; these pants were beautifully cut slim-line versions of their 70s counterparts. The silhouette moved seamlessly from day to night, to ensure it's not just the boys who get to rock a tux when the sun goes down. And just like that, Bailey is back.   

via: style.com

Welcoming Winter

I can't wait til the cooler months arrive... so I can start layering up in all my European purchases. In my home town of lil' ol' Adelaide we don't get all that much cold weather, so best to make the most of it while we can. I think this season I'll be layering up in slouchy pants and blazers a plenty. Blazers! Don't know what I'd do without them. Now all I need is my shipment of (free, please) Burberry coats/jackets/parkas to arrive. Actually, anything military inspired is going to be veeery high on the list this year. I knew I was on to something when I purchased my army green silk-cotton blend tee from Cos in London.

On second thought, probably a good thing there's not a store in Australia, otherwise I would be one very broke (yet well-dressed) girl.


Photos: All Burberry Prorsum Fall 2010 at style.com

More-bidly obsessed with: Knuckle Dusters

Cocktail jewellery is not a new phenomenon by any means (unlike the earthquake that just happened in Adelaide- ha! Had to). The likes of Rachel Zoe and Nicole Richie have been banging on about "more is more is more" for years (Mademoiselle Chanel would be turning in her grave at this sentiment.) What is it with skinny chicks and their giant rocks? Is there some kind of unwritten rule that the smaller you are the more (gold, not pounds) you pile on? Hmmm.  

When I was in London recently, I found this really cool ring at a market stall in Camden. This little (ha! I'm not wrong!) Asian guy handmade all this really quirky jewellery with a friend of his, and the first one I liked was this twisted gold ram ring. It was quite weird actually, because I'm not the superstitious type, but I remembered something about a ram being a symbol for a star sign... so my friend Google-d it (good ol' iPhones) and turns out ram=Capricorn. And, in case you can't tell where this is going, Capricorn=Me! Fate. And - cute.

Lanvin Spring 2010 had some amaaazing standout pieces; think heavy gold linked-chains, jewel-encrusted cuffs and strands upon strands of shiny metals and stones. The good thing (well, one of many) is that these pieces can (almost) be justified through their versatility- you can wear them alone or layer them up- and up and up. Great against an LBD or even with an embellished outfit- preferably the sequined romper from the same collection...

Perspex jewellery was also huge on the Spring runways- Burberry Prorsum and Michael Kors are two shows that come to mind here. Not sure how I feel about the retro baubles at MK, but I loved the angular, smokey quartz-like perspex Christopher Bailey sent out at Burberry. I thought the sharpness of the jewellery made a great contrast to the soft twists and drapes and muted pastels of the clothes.

Oh, and since I'm on the topic of all things sparkly, I have a huge thing for double-finger rings. I first saw one on the Hills' Lauren Conrad, who actually has her name as the ring. It's like Carrie Bradshaw's "Carrie necklace" (you know, the one she thought she lost when she had to 'bend and scoop in Dior'), but in a ring version. There's heaps of websites out there trying to make a quick buck (or hundred - these things aren't cheap!) offering customised double-finger rings. These aren't quite as dangerous as the more typical cocktail rings, but trés chic all the same (I'm serious- some of these things are like weapons). Who needs a man to engage (pardon the pun) in some serious knuckle-dusting? Not me.

Photos: style.com and personalizedboutique.com

More-bidly obsessed with: Heeled Booties

Ever since I laid my eyes on THOSE Chloé boots from Fall 2009, I haven't been able to get enough of these babies. You know the ones I'm talking about; gorgeous tan seude with supple leather trimmings and cream laces. Just in case you don't (gasp) here's Sigrid Agren opening for Chloé for the Fall 2009 show where Hannah MacGibbon received (and rightly so) all that praise for.

 This is one of my favourite favourite favourite collections in a long time (yes, those booties helped), with all those belted high-waisted pants that were so effortlessly tailored, soft collared silk and cotton shirts and that leather-trimmed cape that has been the basis of many a chain store design since.

Anyway, back to the dust-kickers. I was browsing through Style.com's Fall 2010 Accessory Report (compiled by the ever-so-lucky Candy Pratt), and I came across this gorgeous pair of Thakoon suede metallic wedge booties (yes, that is their real name). These things are amazing. Double points for the wedge. And the metallic. Actually, there wasn't a single pair of boots in the entire Thakoon collection I didn't like. Too bad I can't have any...

Another mentionable pair from the Accessory Report were Burberry's leather bootie with shearling trim. They were like a footwear version of the lined Sherpa bomber jacket. Nice.

All of the shoes I bought while overseas recently were wedge booties. My favourites are a black seude pair that sit tight just below the ankle, and a tan leather pair that lace up just past the ankle (both from Zara of course).

The more I look at pictures of the latest offerings of these boots, the more I want them...all! While I was in the fashion cupboard of Harper's Bazaar last week (more on this later) I have found two pairs I pretty much haven't stopped thinking about since. One is a really cool pair of lace up open-toed Acne wedges, which are actually a great idea if you cannot wait til winter (like me) to wear your booties. The others aren't reeeally a boot (as the name "mule" suggests), but who's going to pick me up on it? I've loved these Alexander Wang Allah leopard print wedge mules from Spring 2010 for aaages, but it wasn't until I saw them on one of the fashion assistants I really got jealous. Actually, another really great collection for boots. And clothes. And hair. Loose, side-swept plaits anyone? Let's just say it was a really great collection and be done with it shall we? Oh, and if anyone with lots and lots of money is reading this wondering what sort of present they can get me for being such a cool and nice person? Anything by Guiseppe Zanotti for Balmain wouldn't go astray, thanks.

Acne Pose lace-up wedges

Alexander Wang Alla leopard print wedge mules

Photos: Style.com and Acne

Some Loves of London

On one of my last days (and nights) in London, I wandered around the Victorian Embankment up to Somerset House, London's venue for the Autumn/Winter 10/11 shows. Just spending time in London makes it easy to see where London-based (and many other) designers get their inspiration from! There's so many different places, people, buildings, art spaces, markets, colours, noises, influences... inspiration, that saturates the city it's no wonder British fashion is as eclectic as it is. And, a reason I love it even more, is amongst all this eccentricity and eclecticism are things that are simply plain and traditionally... British. (Burberry and its famous houndstooth check come to mind here).

Below are some of my snaps of the surrounding area- along the Embankment, then around the Strand (Monopoly references never become the norm!), and up to this little area called Covent Gardens, which had some very cool markets and performers (this is the theatre area, after all).

Skulking around the back of Somerset House... dying for a glimpse!

One of the most talked (or tweeted) about shows on the London circuit was newcomer Hakaan, a Turkish design contest winner whose show was apparently the reason French Vogue's Carine Roitfeld made the cross-channel journey. Apart from his of-the-moment figure hugging sheaths and sexy tailoring, he managed to pull Natasha Poly, Lara Stone, Anja Rubik and Natalia Vodianova for the catwalk. Not bad for a first-timer.

Natalia Vodianova in the first look for Hakaan A/W 2010


Other favourites of mine from London included the mash-up of prints and textures at Peter Pilotto, slinky knitwear (on some not-so slinky girls) at Mark Fast, Matthew Williamson's pairing of silky drapes and heavy layers, and cabled, knitted, pocketed... everything (include new campaign girl (woman?) Tilda Swinton) at Pringle of Scotland.

Pringle's Pockets

And, seeing as I already mentioned the supremely (dare I say original) British brand, here are my favourites from Christopher Bailey's latest collection for Burberry Prorsum. Plenty of coats for Emma Watson to model in yet another fabulous ad campaign I say. The jackets have spoken, bring on winter.

Photos: mine! and catwalking.com

The British are coming (actually, they've been and gone...)

Front row at Burberry


Alexa Chung and Agyness Deyn at Burberry's afterparty


Looks from the Burberry Spring 2010 collection


Julien Macdonald finale

I know it's a bit late to be posting on London Fashion Week seeing as though we're already up to Paris, but London's always so fashion-forward that even the lengthiest of delays can't make this week seem old. The week just gone celebrated 25 years of fashion week in London, and what a week it was! London's Br-It girls Alexa Chung, Peaches Geldof and Hermione Granger's alter-ego Emma Watson were out in force for the week, where the London-cool was translated both on and off catwalk.

Actor-turned-designer Sienna Miller showcased her second collection for label Twenty-8-Twelve with sister Savannah, while Aussie Duo Sass & Bide also showed for the tenth time in the 25 year history of the major event. I wasn't quite sure what to make of the pair's latest showing, with the collection emanating that British cool factor but seeming to rely too heavily upon inspiration from past collections. One particular look- a plain grey tank and denim cutoffs weren't particularly inspiring; but the beading detail of other garments added a much needed element to the show. The highlights of the duo's latest showing included their modern take on gathering which has become their trademark of late, and glimpses of cutouts; a trend that won't be disappearing anytime soon.

An interesting take on glamorous sportswear was seen at Julien Macdonald, where the British maestro paired gauzy fabrics with jersey to create a mermaid slash scuba-inspired collection. After taking the plunge the designer recreated that feeling in a collection: "I felt so good in the suit, I thought, why wouldn't a woman want to feel that way in her clothes?" If scuba was the theme then tight was the motto, with of-the-season body con dresses featuring cut outs and cobwebbing in a palette of building block colours. Sheer panelling helped to give an updated edge to some of the overtly repetitive trends of the season, making Macdonald's minimalist pairings a highlight of London.

Among the atypically quirky shows such as Vivienne Westwoods's Red Label and Christopher Kane, without which London wouldn't be the same, was headline act Burberry. There was definitely no question when it came to the premier show, with the quintessential British brand, headed by Christopher Bailey, ensuring London went out with a bang. An afterparty DJ'd by retired models Alexa Chung and fellow Briton Agyness Deyn (already?), helped along with Brighton outfit The Kooks and attended by fash-pack co-founder Vicky B didn't hurt Burberry's new-found cool factor. The label's latest poster child Emma Watson, previous muse of Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld had the prime seat in the house, upstaging fellow fashionistas Victoria, Gwyneth and Mary-Kate. On-runway also gave us something new to talk about, with the laid back country tailoring of seasons past banished by Burberry-gone-short: draped minis teamed with the updated (read: shortened) version of their iconic trench. With a palette of creamy pastel-ly goodness with a hint of metallic, Bailey was a man with a mission, proving why Burberry is back: and better than ever.

Photos: Zimbio