Olympic fever has already gripped the nation and it is not surprising that the up-and-coming London Olympic Games have inspired many of the looks for spring/summer 2012. At Paris Fashion Week, Givenchy’s Wimbledon-green suit won over the crowd faster than Usain Bolt can sprint his way to medal success, but while sport is the overarching trend on spring/summer menswear, the trend is associated with varying degrees of success. Turn to designer Dries Van Noten, whose Paris collection consisted of desirable yet minimalist sportswear-inspired looks, for an insight into how this trend can work for the not-so-sporty among us.
In spring 2012, expect to snap up a sporty parka or mac in navy, wet-look brown or upbeat yellow – perfectly practical for British weather. Dig out your old rugby shorts and embrace the look envisaged on the catwalks by Margaret Howell. If you don’t want to be missed or if you get caught in the rain, try a red nylon cape for size, as brought to the table by Martin Margiela. Perhaps the best way in which to rock the sportswear look – without forking out for a gym membership – is to dust down your old-school footwear. Think Nike and New Balance – but without the socks.
Olympic Logo
The famous dress worn by Amy Winehouse on her Back to Black album cover will auctioned to raise money for the charity created in her memory. It is expected to raise up to £20,000 for the Amy Winehouse Foundation which is a charitable trust set up by the late singer’s family.
The memorable printed chiffon dress was returned to Thailand-based designer Disaya after the album cover shoot in 2006 and now the designer has decided to put it up for auction at La Galleria, London, on November 29. All the proceeds will go to the foundation which has been set up to support charitable activities for vulnerable young people after the death of Amy Winehouse in July.
Fashion auctioneer Kerry Taylor said: “In my opinion, what makes this particular dress so special is that it is an emblematic reminder of the magic voice and sublime talent of Amy Winehouse – a sound that resonates with an entire generation, and always will.”
The Back to Black was a multi-platinum-selling album and sold at least 3.2 million copies to date and features chart hits Rehab and You Know I’m No Good.
Amt WInehouse Back to Black Album cover
You would easily forgive British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood if she made the decision to sit back, put her feet up, and take it easy as she enters her seventh decade in this world, but that is not how this godmother of punk chooses to operate and she has moved onto another bold new venture, this time aiming to help those in Africa take control of their own lives.
Speaking about her Ethical Fashion Africa Collection, Westwood said: “What I do, making bags, can make a difference. This project gives people control over their lives. Charity doesn’t give control, it does the opposite, it makes them dependent. These people have more control over their lives and can therefore choose not to exploit the environment because they have an alternative way of making money.”
New Range of Handbags from Recycled Materials
Westwood’s latest collection is a range of handbags that have been produced from a wide variety of materials including old tent fabric and recycled flip-flops. These have all been converted into highly desirable accessories by many of the poorest people living in Kenya, all the while ensuring they are working in the fairest conditions.
Head of the International Trade Centre’s Poor Communities and Trade Programme, Simone Cipriani, said “Our project enables some of the world’s poorest people to enter fashion’s value chain as producers.”
Vivienne Westwood
It has recently been announced that Azzaro, the fashion house and brand based in Paris, has appointed Mathilde Castello Branco as its new creative director. Branco, who has been the right-hand woman to Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz for the last 10 years, began her fashion career and education at Paris’ École Duperré before moving on to the Atelier Chardon Savard school of fashion. She then got her first experience in the fashion world by working at Hermès before moving again to Maison Martin Margiela.
The 39 year old Branco will be replacing Vanessa Seward who took over the brand’s direction following the death of Azzaro’s founder, Loris Azzaro, in 2004. Having been at the helm of Azzaro for seven years, Seward left the label earlier this year after guiding it from near-obscurity to the top of the fashion world and into the wardrobes of some of Hollywood’s best-known A-list celebrities. Azzaro’s designs can frequently be seen being worn by celebrities such as Natalie Portman, Cameron Diaz, Eva Mendes, Chloe Moretz, Emma Stone and Kristen Stewart.
Branco’s first collection for the brand will be presented for the autumn/winter 2012 season during Paris Fashion Week in March 2012. It will be both eagerly anticipated as well as heavily scrutinised, but after so long working in the industry it is unlikely that the collection will do anything but impress.
Azzaro
Perry Ellis was an American menswear designer responsible for reinvigorating the sportswear market in the United States and Europe. Considered instrumental in elevating the reputation of casual clothing to designer levels, Ellis earned a master’s degree in retailing from New York University, then worked for John Meyer, a sportswear company in New York. By 1978, he had launched Perry Ellis International, serving as both chairman and head designer.
His menswear line, marketed as the Perry Ellis Menswear Collection, was instantly successful and focused on ‘non-traditional, modern classics’. By 1986, the company had wholesale revenues in excess of $250 million. When Ellis died in 1986, industry insiders questioned the future of the company without his leadership.
Those fears have proven unfounded. Today, almost 30 years after his death, the Perry Ellis line earns more than a billion dollars each year in retail revenue, with garments distributed in more than 50 nations around the world. The line has 36 licensees, in addition to its own 12 international Perry Ellis brand stores.
The brand’s design aesthetic continues to be inspired by beachwear and the American culture, with today’s designers striving to keep each garment looking both masculine and modern. Other important considerations are that pieces appear timeless and sophisticated, yet remain unpretentious. Ellis once claimed, “I don’t make fashion. I make clothes,” and the company he founded has continued to use this philosophy as its guiding principle.
For those who like to keep up on the latest trends and have a passion for designer fashion, sometimes you can end up spending a small fortune to create the looks you want. This is where being an eagle eye bargain hunter comes in handy. Top brands like Diesel, Abercrombie and Fitch, Gio Goi and Firetrap can be pricy, especially their latest collection, but if you keep an eye out you can find some good deals around.
For many fashion savvy shoppers the internet has been a godsend, no longer do you have to traipse around the highstreet looking for a good deal or the best savings, all this can now be done from the comfort of your own home. Online shopping has not only revolutionised peoples shopping habits but it has also brought different fashion to people.
Other plus points of online shopping also includes the ability to quickly be informed about the latest deals, flash sales or voucher codes for money off. Technology has also helped the highstreet too; smartphones give people access to the web on the go so they can easily find stuff online wherever they are. Including places that have deals in the area you’re in and flash sales.
Following your favourite designers, brands and retailers online can also open you up to exclusive offers many places now use Facebook and Twitter to promote their brands and what offers they have on. So if your favourite designer; Miu Miu, brand; Voi or retailer; H&M use social media sites then it’s worth giving them a ‘like’ or ‘follow’ to keep up to date on their deals.
This year we can see men leaning towards a distinctly nautically influenced ‘Preppy Boy’ and distinguished urban gentleman image as a favourite. Designs showcased by Michael Bastian and Dolce and Gabanna on the spring/summer catwalks inspired this trend which has truly taken hold of the UK.
While many designers including Duckie Brown, Zegna and Antonio Azzuolo accentuated their designs by contrasting oranges with blues, Dolce and Gabanna displayed an abundant prominence of the use of layering black on black in their 2011 spring summer collection. Using earthy undertones such as browns, dark greens and greys to accentuate and woven detail reminiscent of fishing nets to finish, the designs were masculine, street ready and on trend with rolled up trousers.
Michael Bastian’s offerings were heavily themed by a sporty, nautical influence with nostalgic undertones. Stripes and plaid in a range of bold colours including blacks, oranges, greys, yellows, greens and brown were used to accentuate his designs.
To create the perfect ensemble for an urban city gent, simply wear a well-tailored, double breasted suit with loafers without socks and roll the jacket sleeves up to the elbow and trousers up to ankle level. If you prefer a modern take on the old fashioned preparatory school look, pairing blazers, full length chinos, tailored shorts and slim fit shirts with soft shoes such as espadrilles and boat shoes worn sockless or a pair of leather sandals, creates an effortlessly high-fashion ensemble.
Men, if the big fashion shows in Paris, New York, Milan and London are any indicator, have found a remarkable new sense of confidence in what they choose to wear. They have also found a refreshing eagerness to express their personality through fashionable and cutting-edge clothing, a situation long familiar to the women. Trendy men’s clothes that combine a sense of fun with comfort and supreme style is the name of the game in men’s fashion this year, after some years of almost seeming intimidated into the traditional staple of smart suits and well-tailored trousers with a subdued range of accessories.
Linen is the fabric of choice in the exclusive ranges, unveiled by the likes of such luminaries as D&G and Armani this season. Linen jackets are the hotcake items, worn loosely with an open linen shirt and skinny tie for a studiously laid back and cool look. Primary colours for the ties and double-breasted jackets for formal affairs, with suede shoes and a leather shoulder bag for a safari look, are recommended.
Jewellery is making a comeback too. This is great news, when you think about how ubiquitous it was until quite recently with both sexes. Women have had it too good in this department for too long. Designers are now lavishing their skills on male jewellery and accessories, to bring out the innate qualities of the clothing.
Sun-weathered linen, in creams and light beige for a slightly uniform look, will see you through this year with no trouble.
Summer has barely begun, but already the fashion experts are weighing in on what will be the hottest trends for next winter. Among the predictions are an emphasis on pleats, real and faux fur, and 1970s elements such as wide legs, bell-bottom pants, and the sheer maxi dress.
Pleats are versatile design elements in that they can be soft and billowing or sharp and precise. Pleats began coming back into vogue with this year’s spring collections, but they will continue into fall designs and the winter collections coming out near the end of 2012. Far more controversial is a return to using real fur. Beginning with the fall collections and continuing into winter, expect to see far more fur clothing on display. Some designers will use faux fur but others are opting for the authentic article.
The 1970s will be fashionable again, as can be seen in some radical alterations to women’s trouser styles. The bell-bottom is in vogue once again now that skinny jeans are almost ubiquitous. Along with bell-bottoms, there is a move toward wider pant legs, and not just at the hem. Expect to see flared pants and loose, comfortable, harem-style pants on the runways come winter.
A final trend is the return to the maxi dress of the 1970s, but this time with a twist: both maxi dresses and maxi skirts will be rendered in sheer textiles that allow light to peek through even while they maintain a heavy weight appropriate for winter fashions.
Who knew bullet bras would ever be popular again? They have been gone for years and appeared to be forgotten, except in old black and white movies. Yet, now people are hunting them with great enthusiasm.
Lingerie is one area where the vintage clothing trend has really come into its own. Whether you buy authentic vintage pieces or detailed replicas of modern manufacture, it seems the demand just keeps growing.
Setting aside the possibility that your lingerie could well be more experienced than you are, what reasons do people give for wanting vintage-style lingerie?
Vintage fashions are apparently sized differently and give you a more flattering fit. Materials tend to be of better quality than their modern counterparts and the fabrics more luxurious. More care was devoted to assembling and finishing of the garments and many have detail/decorative work that simply isn’t available any more.
Finally, there’s the element of fantasy that comes with elegant silk, satin and lace from other eras. All that Victorian and Edwardian repression can give you naughty and rebellious ideas when you lace up a corset or slip into a teddy. Rolling up your stockings to fasten a lacy garter belt feels risqué after living your life in tights.
Really, don’t many of us secretly harbour the desire to own a little something with marabou trim to ‘swan about the boudoir’? You do not have to own a chaise lounge to recline like Jean Harlow or Mae West but it does have that femme fatal mystique…
Keep in mind that lingerie has taken to the streets in recent years. Some pieces team up wonderfully with contemporary fashion; try a lacy satin bed jacket over that bare little sun dress!