Scottish Textiles

Emporio Armani debuted their spring 2012 line recently, using the theme of “Grey Lightness in an Urban Haze” for inspiration. This inspiration extended from their understated collection of light fabrics and colours, everything from silk to translucent. The fashion world is abuzz about this men’s collection because of the cool, minimalistic looks seen on the runway.

Emporio Armani’s collection is also indicative of what fashion savvy men should be on the lookout for this spring. The trousers are low on the waist with multiple pleats, and are cut at the ankle right where the fabric meets the shoe. Shirts were collar-less and buttoned up to the throat. Unlike the sharp and perfectly fitted looks of the past few years, these looks were much more sober and unpretentious, a bit more loose fitting and crumpled.

The looks spanned the spectrum from techy to fashion forward, and unlike many other lines that are going with cold, bright colours for men this year, Emporio Armani delivered their usual cool, classic looks in various shades of grey. The monochromatic theme of this year’s collection does not mean boring or drab, however, and in fact came across as modern and edgy.

Everybody wants to look perfect on the big day.  A woman’s wedding day is a once in a lifetime experience that will be cherished forever, so nothing short of the best will suffice.  If you are planning to marry in 2012 and want to stay on trend, then read on to discover the latest wedding fashions and ideas for this year.

Embellishment

Beautiful and delicate embellishments in all shapes and sizes are a definite trend for 2012 weddings.  Inspired by Kate Middleton’s royal wedding dress and designed by Sarah Burton, embellishments in the form of beaded bodices, precious stones and net are all signs of a fashionable gown.

Vintage

Simple and vintage style silks are what the 2012 wedding dresses are all about, with designers such as Valentino drawing inspiration from former eras and adding modern day glamour. 

Boho Bride

Kate Moss embodied the boho bride look during her celebrity wedding last year, she looked elegant and chic, fashioning a dress by designer John Galliano.  Loose fitting dresses, layers and a simple headscarf will all bring the boho vibe to any wedding look.

Ralph Lauren may have just the thing if you are longing for some colour in your wardrobe to brighten up your style this spring.  Traditionally, effortless elegance has tended towards favouring dark tones, as they are easier to wear, suit most people, and leave considerably less margin for disaster.  However, the catwalks in 2011 suggested that 2012 would be a year for colour, and this new range is no exception.

The new styles remain faithful to the Ralph Lauren brand, with the famous polo shirts, jumpers and shirts all represented, but this time in far bolder colours than we are used to seeing.

The range, termed “Bright Escape”, includes light blues, bright purples, yellows and oranges, as well as a number of bright checked sports shirts.  Sweaters are made in Pima cotton, making them suitable for a range of spring weathers, and the collection also includes several designs of swimming trunks and golf shorts which continue the bright colour theme.  A lightweight cotton safari jacket completes the collection, although this is the exception to the bright theme as it is only available in aviator navy, although this of course means it teams well with pretty much anything else in the collection.

Colour really hit the catwalks big time for spring/summer 2012, with numerous designers featuring striking selections using neon, fluro and candy colours. Colour blocking moves on from autumn/winter with plenty of high voltage neon’s seen on the catwalks and now filtering down onto the highstreet, Republic clothing have a fantastic selection of bright colours as you can see from the picture below. Make sure you add these into your wardrobe and start working your colour blocking.

Designers such as Peter Som, Jason Wu, Rodarte, Ruffian and Nanette Leopre all chose the colour blocking route with their collections, the clothes were also teamed with brighter, than bright coloured accessories, so don’t be afraid to mix and match clashing colours.

It’s not just brights either which are dominating this season, candy colours also proved big on the catwalks. Jill Stuart, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and Kurt Geiger are all making the most out of the candy pallet which has also filtered down to the highstreet. 

Try mixing bold bright colours with more subdued candy colours for a stand out look, with shoes and accessories perfect to brighten up dreary days.

Colour burst

Garavani Valentino is a top fashion designer who has had nearly forty years of experience in evening dress design.  He is famous for his designs along with selling his company for £211 million.  This article offers more information about Garavani Valentino.

Garavani Valentino was born in Italy in Many 1936.  He took an interest in fashion early on, and learned French and fashion design at the Accademia dell Arte in Milan.  Following this he went straight onto the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.

Garavani Valentino’s successes started early.  When he was just a student Valentino won a prize by the International Wool Secretariat for fashion design.  This prize was later awarded to both Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent.  In 1950 Garavani Valentino took his first job with the couturier Jean Desses.  Garavani Valentino was just 18 at the time.  Following this job he worked for Guy Laroche.

Garavani Valentino’s first collection was started in Rome in 1960, and he became famous for full length skirts, and he was quoted as saying, “I don’t think any man in the world wants to go out with a woman dressed like a boy”, as a result of his distaste for mini skirts.

To mark the anniversary of 30 years working within the world of fashion, Garavani Valentino hosted a party to celebrate.  The party lasted for three days and had 1600 guests.  It is said to have cost £2.5 million.

Then in 1998, Garavani Valentino sold his company for £211 million.  To mark this occasion he threw another party.  The party was in Rome, and it was here that he announced who his successor would be.  Alessandra Facchinetti, former designer for Gucci, became Garavani Valentino’s successor.  He was awarded by President Chirac of France  the Italian Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur in 2006.  He then retired in 2007 at the age of 75, having led a successful career within the fashion industry.  Garavani Valentino then chose to settle down and relax with his pugs.

Valentino

Established in Preston in 1988, Voi Jeans have become a staple of the British highstreet, ranked above the top UK brands such as Diesel and Henleys and they are one of the top 5 bestselling brands on ASOS.com. Voi clothing has become increasingly popular since its conception, a brand started by two brothers who took their inspiration from Italy, incorporating the style the Italians have and their love of denim.

The company expanded on from their denim range and started offering a whole range of garments for men and women, which include t-shirts, shirts, jumpers, and hooded tops as well as plenty of accessories for both sexes. There are numerous online retailers from where you can buy Voi clothing as well as the companies own website, if you’re looking for good deals the Designerwear for Voi clothing is one online stop for you.

The foundations of designer menswear are very often overlooked when trying to define a distinct image.  Accessories add that finishing touch that will not only make you stand out, but can turn your outfit from good to outstanding.  The most important aspect of dressing is simplicity, and when dealing with accessories less really is more.  Just the simple addition of a watch or necklace could be enough to complete your look.

What Accessories to Wear

There are some accessories that are essential regardless of your outfit.  The wallet is one of the most important aspects of fashion and with hundreds of different styles, there should never be an excuse not to find something that suits your style.

Many people claim that they don’t suit hats but in most cases, this is false.  There are literally hundreds of different styles of hat.  Usually when shopping, a man will completely ignore the hat section of a shop assuming straight away, that nothing will be found.  Hat shopping can be difficult, but with a little perseverance you could find a hat that will suit any style.

One of the most recent fashion accessory trends is the men’s leather necklace.  Necklaces can be worn both under and over a t-shirt.  Most people choose to wear a necklace over a t-shirt if the clothing has minimal design, this will give the t-shirt a more interesting look.  The most recent range of Julie Ann Turner leather necklaces are currently on the rise.

Formal Fashion Accessories

Ties are probably one of the most overlooked parts of formal dressing.  The tie can add an elegant touch to your outfit.  Not wearing a tie can look great if you are going for a smart but casual look, however a tie can simply be all you need to bring your outfit to the next level.  It’s always worth having a selection of ties to choose from, this should include skinny and thick ties in a variety of colours.  This way you will be able to adapt your tie to the style of your outfit.

Watches, cuff-links and tie-pins can also be a great addition to a suit.  When buying jewellery it’s important that you keep the same contrast across the board.  Being subtle is key and there is nothing more obvious than having a mixture of colour when wearing accessories.

If you’re looking for a distinct collection of designer men’s fashion accessories, why not check out Designerwear.co.uk to spruce up your outfit.

The high street is lined with clothes of different fabrics, and it will come as no surprise to learn that the type of fabric you choose affects not only the price that you pay but also the longevity of your item.

Wool

If you’ve ever purchased an expensive suit, you may have found that it is made out of wool.  Wool is a favourite for suit creation but in order to ensure that your purchase lasts, you need to lean towards the use of super-wool.  Super-wool has a thread count of between 120 and 150 – this means that has been 120 and 150 threads woven together in any one square inch of fabric.  Super-wool is perfect for both cold winter nights and hot sunny days.  If you’re purchasing a suit for wear in winter only, opt for a thread count of around 200.  For a summer suit, a thread count of 100 is ideal. 

Cotton

Cotton is a classic material for informal suits.  However, if you travel regularly, you will find that folding your suit can cause troublesome creases.  Cotton suits are ideal for spring/summer use.  Look out for designer cotton suits from Zegna and Ralph Lauren’s Black Label. 

Linen

Linen is the ideal material for hot, summer days.  Like cotton, linen is prone to creasing your style – literally – yet linen’s creases can contribute to its appeal.  If you desire a white or cream coloured suit, linen should be your desired material. 

Velvet

Velvet is a statement fabric best suited to those who wish to turn heads.  Velvet is at its most luxurious when worn during the evening.  A velvet sports coat is easier to pull off than a full suit.  Deep purple, green and blue velvet never fail to look on trend.

When you think of velvet you think of a thick, luxurious material which is really associated with this time of year. Velvet is perfect for Christmas night outs and adding a bit of luxury to your everyday wardrobe. When choosing party dresses why not try some velvet Republic party dresses to add a touch of old school glamour.

This season velvet has graced many of the catwalks but rather than in the traditional black, designers such as Ralph Lauren, Michael Van de Ham and Peter Dundas opted for paint box colours instead. There were plenty of dresses in rich jewel colours such as; ruby red, emerald, amethyst and warm rich autumnal colours such as navy blue and mustard yellows.

Velvet really does make a statement on its own, however to give it a regal edge look for jewel embellishments or opt for chunky jewellery to make a big statement. Velvet is a heavy fabric and you don’t want to be layering it up really so if you have a gorgeous velvet skirt or even a pair of velvet trousers look to pair it with lighter materials such sheer silk and lace, plus it also gives it a lovely romantic edge.

If full on velvet isn’t for you why not opt for some soft velvet accessories, velvet wedge shoes and platforms are hot and make a change from glossy leather, team with a velvet clutch bag and you add a nice hint of luxury to a plain outfit.

Marni clothing was especially popular at recent Milan fashion shows. The line of clothing offers British women a look that works especially well for the spring and summer months. New favourites featured at the shows included bright pastel colours. They make an impressive statement in a way that broadly appeals to women of various age groups. Coat dresses and A-line dresses are some of the most popular new looks in this line.

What to Expect

The dresses are some of the most popular items in the line’s collections. Bold colours and patterns are used on many of the dresses. There are also find dresses in this line that use solid colours that can be paired with a jacket or cardigan. Many of the jackets are available in darker tones that compliment dresses of any colour. You can also buy bold-looking jackets that use leather in bright colours or fleece material. Skirts and trousers are available in several styles to match the tops available.

Exciting Accessories

The Marni look will be complete with some of the available accessories. Shoes are available in several colours, and many feature wedge heels for additional height. Some are in a sandal style that looks great during the warmer months. Lace-up shoes are perfect for the cooler seasons of autumn and winter. Outfits can be teamed with Marni wallets or bags, which are available in typical leather colours, such as brown, black and white, as well as brighter colours. There are also several belt designs available that are designed to go with the current dresses. 

Marni Spring/Summer 2012 Collection