The catwalk at Dolce and Gabbana

Milan Fashion Week got off to a typically glamorous start, and as usual, there were so many dazzling pieces to look at and exciting events going on, it was hard to find time just to sit back and take them in. 

One thing that was obvious immediately though, is that bold, bright colours look set to play a leading role in next season’s trends, particularly since they were a dominant presence at big hitters like Prada, Fendi and Gucci. 

Bold looks at Marni

This was certainly true at Marni, where Consuela Castiglioni sent out strong, vibrant shades. So elegantly cut were the pieces, that even in block colour, leather, or clashing prints, they looked effortlessly chic at all times.

The catwalk at Marni

Dolce and Gabbana chose to buck the trend, with a mainly monochrome collection. It was a characteristically sexy, smouldering show from the dynamic duo, splashes of print brightened up summery white pieces, though the real show-stoppers were the breath-taking Swarovski crystal-encrusted gowns that finished off the proceedings. 

Andrea Molteni.

Category : Fashion Week-Round up

Last month saw the inaugural farfetch.com Global Gathering and we’re delighted to report that it was a HUGE success. The farfetch team, and our boutique partners from all over Europe met up together at our offices in Portugal for a summit to discuss our joint venture and how we can make our online fashion market place into the ultimate retail experience. Lots of ground was covered, progress was made, socialising was done, and most importantly, everyone simply had a really amazing time. Here’s to hoping it was the first of many!

Category : News

The last day of LFW started with Marios Schwab, where lingerie inspired dresses were toughened up with leather harnesses, messy hair (or were they messy wigs?) and running make-up. This time around, it was Marios’ take on Nineties grunge which dominated the catwalk, but with a very feminine approach. 

Marios Schwab

 Heroin chic was left aside at Todd Lynn where his elongated warrior goddesses stomped down the catwalk with assurance. Snakeskin panels, sometimes in the form of a flap collar completed Lynn’s beautifully structured collection. 

Todd Lynn

Back to the Topshop Venue for the much anticipated Fashion East show. The editors are always excited to see which designers Lulu Kennedy has picked to represent the best of new talent. This season the line-up included Heikki Salonen, Felicity Brown and Simone (daughter of John) Rocha. My personal favorite had to be Felicity and her eye-candy ruffled cocktail numbers.

Felicity Brown

 My last show was Ashish, the king of sequins, and God did I have fun! His Rodeo Drive collection was made of heavy fringing, bandana prints and sequined cowboy shirts. What’s not to love? And his cowboy boots, a collaboration with Topshop, had ‘It shoes’ written all over them… And I never say ‘It shoes’!

Violaine Bernard.

Category : Fashion Week-Round up

Holly Fulton

Day 4 of Fashion Week was another early start at the Topshop venue with Peter Pilotto. Far away from their shield dresses, for S/S 11 Pilotto and de Vos were offering a grown-up yet fresh collection. The flapping panels at the back of some of the dresses were reminiscent of the 1970’s Saint-Laurent era where, according to Peter Pilotto ‘your silk scarf is elegantly flying in the air on the back of a convertible’.

Peter Pilotto

 I left the old Eurostar Terminal and made my way back to Somerset House to catch rising stars David Koma and Holly Fulton (ex-Fashion East hopeful) who were showing back to back (a LFW tradition). Koma’s ballerina inspired dresses with full, heavy skirts and skin-tight bodice had some sheer organza panels for a sassy effect, with python peplums added too. It was a different story altogether for Fulton’s glamorous Riviera collection. Her trademark graphic prints on Sixties shifts definitely had punch and the ‘Lauren Bacall cruising on a yacht’ hair complemented the looks perfectly. 

Mark Fast

At Mark Fast, figure-hugging, open stitched knit dresses were completed with some heavy fringes and I was happy to see some incandescent colors, particularly candy pink and flaming tangerine. I also liked that Fast ended the show with a bridal gown.

Mark Fast 

 

Roksanda Illincic’s Seventies inspired collection was airy and elegant in pure Roksanda style. Think sorbet colors and Loulou de la Falaise inspired headscarves for another echo to the Saint-Laurent heydays.

Roksanda Ilincic

 I couldn’t finish this day in a better mood after the Meadham Kirchhoff show. Those guys are geniuses! Some would argue than starting the show with a tape of an old Courtney Love interview wasn’t the best intro, but for me it was the a good way of putting the record straight. They embodied and revisited 90’s grunge with layers of luxurious chiffon, lace and detachable collars for a slightly odd, broken doll feel. You couldn’t help but feeling inspired. And I totally dig the Goth princess’ multicolored hair. 

Violaine Bernard.

Category : Fashion Week-Round up

Needless to say that the next morning was rather difficult… I pulled myself together to catch the Bernard Chandran show, also known as the Giorgio Armani of Malaysia, and not only did I enjoy his organza cocktail dresses, but he also brought Mr Hudson to DJ, even Tori Amos was tapping her heels.

 After my well-deserved bacon sandwich I made my way to Emilio de la Morena, which was definitely a highlight for me. It felt like LFW had finally started, and what a start! The colour combinations of hot pink, canary and aqua were genially refreshing after all the beige of last season (I think if I hear someone say “camel” one more time I’ll hit them with my Fashion Daily). The mix of textures such as suede, leather and perforated chiffon was inspiring.

Emilio de la Morena

 Next stop was the BodyAmr show, with his infamous draped gowns. Lily Allen was there supporting her mate Daisy Lowe who opened the show.

Daisy Lowe at BodyAmr

 Back to Somerset House where Osman's show was held. It was a very beautiful, clean collection, although maybe too reminiscent of the Celine mania last year.

Osman

John Rochas’ aesthetic always moves me and his S/S11 offering didn’t disappoint. But it was Charles Anastase’s Peter Pan collar and 60’s sweater dresses that made me finish the evening on a high. With a setting like a Parisian courtyard and Serge Gainsbourg blasting out, his leggy models walked down in pure Anastase style. When asked backstage who his inspiration was, he named Sixties icons like Francoise Hardy. Is Valentine Fillol Cordier, long-time friend and stylist, his muse? "Bien sur"he intoned. "She actually cut the models' hair to look like her…I think she already started a trend!" I went home dreaming of a shaggy fringed bob.

Charles Anastase

Day 3 started with digital print maestros Basso&Brooke in the sunny morning. The old maps and manuscript-inspired prints were surprisingly toned down but the floaty 70's dresses won my heart nonetheless. We then dropped by Somerset House's Portico Rooms to check out the Ann-Sofie Back intimate catwalk presentation with its Hellraiser inspired jewellery. After those first 3 days running around trying not to look too disheveled - the style bloggers are the fashion pack's paparazzis after all - I can clearly say that so far the highlight was Michael van der Ham and his awe-inspiring collages dresses. Dreamy, mesmerising, you name it, Michael is definitely the one to follow. 

Violaine Bernard.

Category : Fashion Week-Round up

London Fashion Week is upon us once again and I have to say that after a course of fifteen hundred vitamins and filling up my clutch bag with Compeed, I feel quite prepared to brave the fashion crowd.

Jade Parfitt at Jean-Pierre Braganza

Day 1 started with the Jean-Pierre Braganza show at the Victoria House. For S/S11 he decided to surprise everyone with a palette of lilac and hot pink, although his dark side did shine through at the end, with Jade Parfitt sporting a mini dress featuring a very Donnie Darko-esque skull print. The shoes were courtesy of Nicholas Kirkwood. 

Among established brands such as Mawi, Jas MB and L’Agence, the exhibition at Somerset House, was also packed with designers to watch, a case in point being ‘The Only Son’.

The Only Son

 Next on my list were Felder Felder and Hannah Marshall showing back to back. Hannah Marshall started with a steamy but beautifully shot video by Rankin appropriately followed by a collection of sexy leather dresses, black chiffon shirts and touches of suede in acqua. The Sass & Bide collection was very cute with lots of jumpsuits and desirable bustier dresses worn with ankle boots.

Sass & Bide

Back to the On/Off venue at the Victoria House for the last show of the day, Aminaka Wilmont and their infamous draped wonders. Some appliqué of little butterflies was added to the show-stopping pieces, but my favorite had to be the multi knotted asymmetric mini in silk jersey, with a long sleeved black tee underneath. And the bird’s nest hairdo was a plus too. Feeling the fashion week buzz I dropped by Alto club on Carnaby St to congratulate Mr Braganza, and then made my way to the PPQ after party where The XX were playing the decks.

Violaine Bernard.

Category : Fashion Week-Round up

L.A.M.B

I am SO relieved fashion week is over, though I had a wonderful time.

I only had two shows to review the last day - and lucky, because there was an insane storm brewing that stopped trains and made getting around impossible.

I went to Oscar de la Renta which was a couture-like dream, and Sarah Jessica Parker was in attendance looking so cute as she lovingly eyed all the creations on the runway.

Oscar De La Renta

 Last I went to Gwen Stefani's label L.A.M.B's Spring/Summer 11 runway presentation - it featured some great crazy ruffle and ruched African-print dresses, but the streety basics that made up the majority of the collection didn't really work on a catwalk...

Phew, DONE! Now I can sleep!

Good luck to the reporters in London! Can't wait to see the collections!

Category : Fashion Week-Round up

Creatures of the Wind

Day 6 was THE day… and it all began with Rodarte, which was absolutely beautiful, and multilayered in concept and execution. I was instantly obsessed with the elaborate gold party dresses, but the more pared-back daywear-inspired pieces with delicate print were gorgeous too.


Rodarte

 Outside Rodarte I was snapped by magazines – I was wearing my favourite label LOVER, and one of the publications happened to be the NY Times, and the fashion writer Cathy Horyn placed me in a feature she did on ‘what the editors are wearing’, along with seven others including Carine Roitfeld and Hamish Bowles! When I met Cathy later that day – she recognised me from the photo she’d used – it was a magical moment, she is my absolute favourite style journalist. Anyway, after Rodarte I went to CREATURES OF THE WIND which was gorgeous! Those designers are so talented, and so totally lovely – I interviewed them for Lula magazine a little while back, and so it was lovely to meet them again at their first-ever show, which went off without a hitch.


Creatures of the Wind

Marc by Marc was next – and I loved it, it’s just so easy to wear and fun – not particularly original, but really just the kind of clothing we all want to wear. I popped in to Temperley and chatted with Alice Temperley about her latest collection for spring.


Marc by Marc Jacobs

Day 7 was all about 3.1 Philip Lim – which was gorgeous. The neutral palette was beautiful, his interesting ‘puzzle-piece’ garments; diaphanous sections of fabric that layer over one another to create one piece, were winners, and the chunky clog-style heels were great.


3.1 Philip Lim

Also Day 7 highlight was the fabulously 'derelicte' collection from Jeremy Scott! Crushed aluminium cans made up entire looks, and tank-tops and dresses featured NY bodega shopping bag label logs - 'I love NY', "Thank you for shopping here' and then in the same vein, with a slightly different effect, a plain old 'Fuck You'. Amazing! It ended with a structured, skin tight bridal-cum-straightjacket mini dress... Jeremy Scott then stepped out in angel wings and crotchless white leather chaps. He's in a punk-rock-fetish world of his own, and you have to admire it - or atleast give him props for his continually audacious vision.

Category : Fashion Week-Round up

The online fashion magazine for the insider, www.pret-a-rever.com, (which translates as ready-to-dream) is not dedicated the things we love now – but the things we will love next, highlighting the intelligence of luxury fashion and eschewing celebrities and the high-street in favour of high culture and couture.

Category : News

Marios Schwab's Halston presentation

Day 4 was all about just one show as far as I am concerned- Marc Jacobs! I can say without exaggeration that it was my favourite show ever, and I was beyond ecstatic to sit front row and be able to really take in all the amazing sartorial action without obstruction. The look for the season ahead, according to MJ, is 70s-inspired and super-real. It was a fantastical reality on the catwalk, which was actually a sheet-metal installation not unlike a Richard Serra large-scale sculpture, that I think we would all like to be a part of. Such positivity, fun, bright colour and disco glamour - love!

The Marc Jacobs runway

Oh - the Halston presentation was really beautiful too – Marios Schwab has done an amazing job taking the iconic house back to its heyday.

Category : Fashion Week-Round up