In The Red?

Maison Martin Margiela


Dolce & Gabbana

I'm feeling a bit blue today (couldn't resist!) so I thought I'd have a look through some of the red pieces from the AW 10/11 shows. I think I'm too obsessed with neutrals and, more recently, everything military, to embrace red- no matter how momentarily appealing it seems!

I know the Dsquared2 show was labelled tacky by most, but since when have those Caten boys ever presented a cookie-cutter collection? Flicking through the looks, the word "domanatrix" sprung to mind- especially upon the final emergence of Carmen Kass in that spangled, sparing, thigh-baring dress. Anyway- back to red. Below is one of quite a few looks featuring red thigh-high (p)leather. Doubt I'll be seeing this on the streets of Adelaide anytime soon- so best get my fix now!

Loyals of the hue didn't fail to disappoint- Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, Stella McCartney and Tommy Hilfiger all featured (or at least included) the shade in their collections at some point. Where on some runways the colour was either made a feature or stood out as showpieces, we did see some great ways to wear red in keeping with the current seasonal tones. Of particular mention- French designer Isabel Marant with her fifties style three-quarter pants, trés cute.

For the Red Carpet: Valentino

My favourite red of the whole A/W season at Tommy Hilfiger (AND, it's wearable!)

Red tapered pants at Isabel Marant

And for those who don't want to go red all-out, Lanvin (pictured) and Gianfranco Ferré have the answers- and it's all in the shoes.

Photos: Style.com

"Elle" is for Louis

Paris Fashion Week- and the entire AW season- ended today, meaning all the fashionistas can happily swan around Paris for a few days without having to rush off to another exotic location for more jam -(doubtful)- packed days of shows (it's a hard life isn't it?!) Bringing the week to a close was Marc Jacobs' latest showing for Louis Vuitton- a collection which pretty accurately pieced together much of what was showcased throughout the rest of the fall collections. With the theatrics on the back burner (did Marc Jacobs really design this?!), LV's fall collection was awash with shapes reminiscent of the 50s and 60s; a well received break from the (disappearing?) power-loving 80s obsession. With circle skirts, bodices, nipped waists and trimmings a plenty- it wasn't just the curvier girls who were Brigitte Bardot-esque. These girls, by the way, included Victoria's Secret regulars Karolina Kurkova, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - somewhat of a "trend" this season that Miuccia started on the Prada runway. Another familiar (fuller) face was that of Aussie Cat McNeil, who has made this her comeback season, walking for a select few shows including Hermès, Stella McCartney and said Prada.

Before I post anything else on Milan or Paris, here are some pictures of the one and only Elle Macpherson, who closed the show for Louis Vuitton.


Backstage at the Cu Carree du Louvre in Paris


The last look for LV- and the entire AW10 season (almost!)



photos: style.com and Zimbio

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

Parisian Memories...

It's Paris Fashion Week as we speak (or as I type), and I'm looking back of all the photos I took during my weeks there- safe to say I am missing it- a lot. What I loved most about Paris was not the famous tourist destinations and monuments such as The Eiffel Tower or the Louvre (don't get me wrong- these things were also amazing!) but the everyday life and people within the city itself.

Everyday Paris.

a wintry day inside les Jardin de Versailles

Spot the Dalmatian

Christmas Markets

and one for the blog... being a pap outside Elite's headquarters

Sushi and wine with friends on Rue Raynouard

Paris polaroids

Me! Outside Moulin Rogue

Cobblestones, brass rails, narrow stairs, creeping ivy, breadsticks, Parisian ladies, Parisian ladies with dogs, Parisian ladies with dogs in shops, shops!, arrondissements, the metro, gilded ad columns, bridges, la Seine, cheese, chimneys, shuttered windows, wine, wintry picnics in le Jardin de Luxembourg, New Year's morning snow, shoebox apartments, Saint Germain, class, Rue de Sevres, history, Versailles, The Garden of Versailles, listening to Phoenix on the way to Versailles, culture, Christmas markets, symmetry, bustling streets, the sky, the grass, the air, life... Paris.

I'm baaa-aak

After taking a break from blogging (and life in general)so I could wander the perfectly cobbled streets of Europe (jealous?!) I have finally snapped back to reality. Actually, my last week in London coincided with the beginning of London Fashion Week, so I had a bit of a wander around Somerset House to try and catch a glimpse of some models-off-duty....but- to no avil. Sadly, due to the fact I am not a member of the press (yet), a buyer, or a celebrity, I wasn't allowed to get in the thick of it (believe me, I tried.) Adding to my devastation, I left London just before Fashion Weekend; the ticketed event the public could attend.

Inspired by my Parisian sighting of French model Constance Jablonski (wandering along Rue St. Honoroe with her very attractive man in tow) I am going to share with you some of my favourite looks (and models) that have been snapped on the streets of the fashion capitals of late. And with Paris Fashion Week just about in full swing, I'm sure there'll be plenty to come... Enjoy!


Constance Jablonski (not the Rue St Honoroe sighting) in Manhattan


Ultimate model bad-ass Freja Beha Erichsen off-duty in London.


Tao Okamato during London Fashion Week- love her take on knit.


Alexander Wang (studded carry-all) with Ruby Aldridge. Sigh.

and... just because, (why bother give an excuse for these beauties?) here's some snaps by Jak & Jil's Tommy Ton for Style.com...



Always an eye for the shoes- here's my favourite favourite favourite Chloé boots. Great autumn colours too- and all cleverly sourced from the spring collections, no doubt.


Celine. Pheobe Philo. Leather. Bliss.



And finally, The Wintour herself leaving a show in Paris.


photos: Tommy Ton for style.com

Celebrities as models

The industry's obsession with celebrities continues to grow, with big name designers opting for stars to front their latest advertising campaigns rather than models. The actress-over-model preference isn't a new phenomenon; Anna Wintour was one of the first to harness the selling power of those dubbed 'celebrities,' by featuring actresses on the cover of Vogue after taking over the magazine in the mid-80s. The original idea behind this shift was to allow readers to identify with these faces in a way they couldn't do with mere models, something not unlike what is happening now in the new wave of editorials. Otherwise known as 'celebrity endorsements' a company will select a high-profile actor, singer or elite sportsperson to become the face of their brand, which works to generate publicity and in turn, sales. Unlike these endorsements, where the celebrity is acting as themselves and lending their names for publicity, these editorials feature celebrities AS models.

Last year Madonna featured in two campaigns for Louis Vuitton (hand-picked by designer and good friend Marc Jacobs), and this time she's back in front of the camera, but for Dolce & Gabbana.


Madonna for Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2009


Madonna for Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2009


She's back: Madonna eating spaghetti for the latest Dolce & Gabbana campaign


For the record, LV have chosen Dutch supermodel Lara Stone to replace Madge as the face of their Spring/Summer 2010 campaign. Good choice, I say.



Over at Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld's current muse, Lily Allen, features in the latest ad for the brand's newest line of handbags: the Chanel Coco Cocoon.

CFDA/ Vogue Fashion Fund

2009 winner of CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, Sophie Théallet, with Lanvin's Alber Elbaz

Anna Wintour and CFDA's Steven Kolb

Nicole Kidman in Lanvin with Alber Elbaz

Previous finalist Jason Wu, with Alexa Chung, wearing one of his designs

Supermodel Chanel Iman in Thakoon, with the designer, former finalist Thakoon Panichgul


Queen of Spades, I mean Vogue, Anna Wintour’s mentorship and assistance coupling with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, aptly named the CFDA/ Vogue Fashion Fund, held their annual Awards Dinner a few weeks ago, announcing this year’s winner. The aim of the fund, according to their website, is to “provide financial awards and business mentoring to emerging fashion designers.” It’s not the only fashion initiative supported by Wintour, who also hosted the inaugural Fashion’s Night Out in New York in September. This was the sixth time round for the Fund however, with Wintour acknowledging the importance of the City of New York to fashion: “New York is the place to come for young designers to show what they’re capable of.”

Our very own Nicole Kidman introduced the keynote speaker, “the visionary, incomparable Alber Elbaz” wearing Lanvin, of course. Up-and-coming French designer (who will be more up than coming after this nod) Sophie Théallet was this year’s winner, and was awarded US$200,000 to assist her in establishing her designs in New York. Théallet favours dresses; her aesthetic is simple, and with an amazing eye for detail, the French native designs clothes women want to wear (no wonder she is a Lanvin fan). “I try to make beautiful and functional clothes that a woman can work and travel in.” Previous winners of the fund have all gone on to become huge success stories: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez with their label Proenza Schouler, Doo-Ri Chung and her doo.ri and my favourite, the (almost child) prodigy that is Alexander Wang.

Showing us why she is reigning monarch of fashion, Queen Anna proves why anything and anyone with her kiss of approval is going to make it, and make it big. In the aptly named documentary of the making of the September 2007 issue of Vogue (the biggest in the magazine’s history,) we saw a glimpse of designer Thakoon Panichgul, who was named a finalist in 2006. Thakoon’s status skyrocketed last year when Michelle Obama wore one of his trademark printed dresses as her husband accepted his presidential nomination. Fellow finalist, Jason Wu, is also a favourite (as is Théallet) of the First Lady- Wu was responsible for that white Inauguration gown. Other now well-known finalists include the Mulleavy sisters, responsible for the amazing Rodarte, Phillip Lim, red carpet favourites Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig (Marchesa), and David Neville and Marcus Wainwright with their label Rag & Bone. Watch this space for things to come from Théallet - if she’s anything like her predecessors, her name won’t be anonymous for much longer.

photos: Style.com & Vogue