t.r.e.n.d: Rockabilly Baby

Rockabilly is back! Think tough leather, leopard prints, biker jackets blinged up with sequins and metallics. Every rock fashionista would crave for a piece of DSquared2 - printed tees, loud prints and leather skinny pants, paired with oversized sunglasses and a regular starbucks coffee creates a casual-meets-rock image. Charles Anastase punks up his sheer cropped organza pants with a glossy biker jacket and oversized white tee. This fall Blumarine turned to neons, leopard prints and bling to present a Balmain-inspired collection. The jacket-and-flashy-jeans combo may seem OTT, but it still oozes an ideal dose of rockabilly attitude.





From top: DSquared2, Charles Anastase, Blumarine

The 5os vibe is present in beauty editorials such as April's Vogue China. Du Juan and Sara Blomqvist show us what rock is with uber doses of rock attitude and uber loads of hair. Hair was toussled and teased to the maximum, like a huge beehive. Black winged eyeliner and strong brows also topped off the look.

Image source: thefashionspot, style.com

Let the Ad out of the Bag -- Glorious Light of Nature

Hermes S/S 09

A picture speaks a thousand words. I can faintly hear the wind caressing supermodel Angela Lindvall's hair, I can smell the whiff of fine sand grains, and I can feel the warm heat radiating from this gently-sunkissed ad. Hermes' ad campaigns never fail to stun. What more can I say? The ad is glowing gloriously, and the background - be it the sky or the desert - glitters beautifully against the divine bags and shoes.

Hermes was not the only campaign to embrace mother nature this season. Sisley too, shot the ad in a desert, but with a more abstract concept. The clean compositions and down-to-earth perspectives are definitely a thumbs up for a perfect juxtaposition with the rich flowy textures of the clothes. While the clouds and sand patterns converge to the middle, leading the eye to the models, the golden frame adds an element of interest to the neat campaign, giving an ancient classic touch to the ad. All in all - the simplicity is overwhelmingly powerful. It feels as though the ads are singing a song of praise to nature, and celebrating the creation of light at the same time.

Sisley S/S 09

Image source: The Fashion Spot

Style Scout: Models off-duty

Sometimes the best of fashion week is seen off the runway. I do find streetstyle more inspiring and down-to-earth than some avant-garde designers' runway looks, which are meant to stay on the runway. The models' streetstyle introduce nothing new, but nothing short of chic too. Their back-to-basics outfits never go out of style as shown in the fashion week snaps below.

Tailored

Chanel's double-breasted blazer is one statement-making basic to appear effortlessly chic amidst the clamour and glamour of fashion week. Imogen Morris-Clarke shimmery minidress and black buttonless jacket stood out against a backdrop of European city lights.

Military

Military-style coats with brass buttons and checkered scarfs never fail to look chic and keep out of the wintry cold.

Leather

Black leather is everywhere- paired with graphic tees, checkered shirts or simply an all balck ensemble as worn by Kiki Kang.

Fur

Sara Blomqvist balanced her oversized fur coat with a waist-cinching belt and basic black leggings, while Skye Stracke's black fur-trimmed collar trench is a classic staple in a fall wardrobe.

source: thefashionspot, altamira nyc/teen vogue, maydele

t.r.e.n.d: dark sheen

fall 09/10: Balmain, Karl Lagerfeld, Preen, Costume National, Giorgio Armani

This season what's black and shiny strut down the runway together, like a lock and key. Designers embraced the darker side without forsaking shine.

Futurism was present at the house of Balmain and Karl Lagerfeld, wherein the former, a metallic and geometric bodice added a futuristic feel to a ruffled mini dress, while the latter showcased a classic LBD embellished with a crisp shimmery neckline. At Preen, a figure hugging number was brought to life with swirls of violet sheen that reminds me of molten lava. An asymmetrical dress at Costume National was well balanced with two minimalist black and crinkled golden halves. Giorgio Armani's show was nothing short of classic with a prettily draped silver and black sweetheart dress, paired with a lush velvet coat.

source: thefashionspot

Arty-farty: Extreme Beauty in Vogue

Unknown Models, by Clifford Collins

WWD.com- Dolce & Gabbana, American Vogue and the mayor of Milan will fete the Extreme Beauty In Vogue exhibition at the Palazzo della Ragione with a red-carpet event on Monday March 2, with the likes of Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts. “This show is about the beauty in its most challenging sense,” Vogue’s Anna Wintour said at a press conference Saturday. “It’s not about lipstick, it’s not about hairspray, but about the very definition of beauty in complicated and sometimes disturbing ways.” The exhibition is designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and features 89 photographs from the past 80 years of American Vogue, exploring contemporary ideas about beauty and coincides with Dolce & Gabbana’s launch of its debut makeup collection. Photographers include Edward Steichen, Erwin Blumenfeld, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton and Steven Klein, plus an entire section is devoted to Irving Penn. “The photographers that you see on the walls have thought deeply and creatively about these questions,” Wintour continued. “Looking at their work from the perspective of the challenges that we are all facing today, offers a reminder that sometimes the most difficult times can be the most productive in the arts.… As [Italy’s] own great poet Dante wrote, ‘Beauty awakens the soul to act.’ I hope you will feel this after the show.” The exhibition opens Wednesday March 4, in Milan and runs through May 10, before moving to London, New York and Tokyo.

Beauty is "the only thing that time cannot kill. Philosophies die, religious creeds vanish, but the beautiful lives forever. It is the gift of all the ages, the sustenance of all peoples everywhere, and an eternal treasure" - Oscar Wilde

How I wish that I were in Italy! This exhibition is simply breathtaking -- I love how the photographs look like paintings, esp. the work of Clifford Collins, which appears to emerge from the Surrealist movement. Aimed to investigate the role of beauty in our culture, this exhibition captures the cultural attitudes towards female appearance and self-expression while audaciously challenging the limits of contemporary ideas about beauty as we perceive and aspire to it. I'm amazed at the diverse range of ideas of beauty executed in the masterpieces, for example the two works above. While one portrays an abstract fleeting moment of beauty, the other is a classical portrait of Coco Rocha, depicting a traditional concept of beauty. In all, 'Extreme Beauty in Vogue' is definitely an iconic exhibition, what do you think?

Spotlight: Burfitt Spring 09

images: www.burfitt.com

Burfitt is a Swedish upbeat brand designed by fashion illustrator Lovisa Burfitt. It is known for its pret-a-porter with an artful and dark aesthetic, mixing whimiscal elements with a rock-and-roll grungy sensibility.

Always featuring strong concepts in their catalogue - the spring 09 campaign appears vintage yet trendy with a nautical twist. Models are dressed as pin-up sailor dolls against a backdrop of the seashore. Fresh and summery, Burfitt's clothes do live up to its timeless aesthetic while playing up various spring trends - from the playful denim corseted playsuit, navy preppy jackets, to vintage floral frocks accesorized with sailor berets and beach hats.

Fresh Spreads: Acid Wash

Plastique #4 S/S 09

Acid Wash
pH: Jeffrey Graetsch






source: thefashionspot


Plastique's editorials are chock full of great models, gorgeous lighting and artful styling. This spring, the bi-annual magazine's choice of bright acids for has made it one of the outstanding spring magazines. This beauty spread is amazing, as acid shades take the stage. The colours so vibrant, yet both clashing and harmonious. I really like the way the make up colours are painted on her face in colour blocks and shapes. The model's wispy white hair puffed into a ball adds to the geometric appeal too. Overall this looks like a great interpretation of spring's bright colour trend with a quirky kitschy twist.

Runway Rave: Medieval Austerity at Prada

aus⋅ter⋅i⋅ty   /ɔˈstɛrɪti/

1. austere quality; severity of manner, life, etc.; sternness.
2. Usually, austerities. ascetic practices: austerities of monastery life.
3. strict economy.

Hammered with bolts and nuts in contrast with bold colours, the heels definitely stood out for me...yet another hit this season! The inspiration of the collection is obvious... the medieval times, of WAR and CHIVALRY. Yet coupled with a tinge of austerity, the collection's colours were kept rather tame, and the structures were clean, such as the deep v-neck shift dresses tailored immaculately so as to flatter every female form. Towards the end of the show, the medieval knight inspiration was even more apparent -- the dresses - what seem to be dismantled armors - made it's way down the grey carpeted runway, strong as ever. The word AUSTERE seems to be the keyword too. According to the definition from dictionary.com, AUSTERE indicates a stern quality, and also a strict economy. A dual meaning? Perhaps. Challenging the credit crunch and economic downturn with an austere collection is, in my opinion, 100% appropriate.

Medieval sledge boots

Photo source:

http://www.medievalware.com http://www.a2armory.com/ style.com/ coutorture