A Study in Contradictions for Fall 2011
Catwalks are known for outrageousness, high fashion, and the unexpected. Runways mean many different things to many people. One thing that is rarely ever associated with runway fashion is practicality. This fall, anyone from fashion moguls to busy moms on the go will be able to take designs straight from the runways to the street.
Two of the most practical of the high fashion designers have long been the usual suspects when it comes to wearable fashion. Calvin Klein has always been a brand that is synonymous with simplicity. Their Fall 2011 line falls right in line with that sentiment. Black, gray, camel, and light brown make up the line’s subdued colour palette and the use of texture in lieu of print makes this line one of the season’s most wearable. While the line’s palette may be somewhat dull compared to the polka dots and goldenrod hues of other designers, Calvin Klein makes a statement with perfect swing dresses. Flattering lines make even the simplest piece stunning.
Another winner in the wearable yet fashionable category is no surprise either. Ralph Lauren features dramatic gowns in leather, velvet, and satin with a heavy emphasis on 1920s glamour and Asian inspiration. Like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren utilizes classic silhouettes and simplicity to make a statement while designing clothes that will not distract from a woman’s natural beauty.
Once over t-shirts with slogans on or comic pictures were normally reserved for the stoner types or band fans showing their allegiance, printed t-shirts were never really in the fashion arena, used more over as advertisement so weren’t really picked up by the mainstream.
However in recent year designers have opted for t shirt printing to add to their collection, usually quirky and whimsical designs that grabbed the attention of those in the fashion world. Many fashion followers picked up and this and thus the trend started and it seems unlikely to stop anytime soon. One reason for its success is that designers also started working in collaboration with charities to produce one off t-shirts at affordable prices that anyone could buy, with proceeds going to charity. Before we knew it many people adorned their charity t-shirts in the droves.
Since then the highstreet has also picked up on this trend, shops lined with every design imaginable really, changing each season as the trends change. It’s strange to think that t-shirt printing has been going on for decades yet has only reached popular levels in the last couple or so. The internet and the media have had a lot to do with it though, designer printed t-shirts seen on the celebs would soon be knocked out by the highstreet with a strikingly similar design, but noted not the same!
It’s not only highstreet clothing retailers getting in on the act many individuals used their own creative skills to come up with their own individual t-shirt designs and use t-shirt printing companies like Adlogo to print their designs onto clothing. For some people what started out as a personal hobby turned into a business which can be quite profitable if people like your designs, so it’s worth a shot if you fancy being a bit of a fashion designer!
The Dresses
The dress is one of the best things about being a woman. There is only one go-to garment that makes a woman feel like a woman. There is a reason that Cinderella, or any other fairy tale princess for that matter, never wore pants. Pants can be quite chic and a skirt can be sexy but nothing captures the essence of a woman like a dress.
There were many dresses worthy of royalty during Fall Fashion Week in Paris. Miu Miu channelled the sexy film sirens of the ‘50s with fitted knee-length dresses mostly in black with gold details. The dresses in this Fall line were focused on defining the waist and emphasizing a woman’s curves.
Alexander McQueen utilized form-fitting structure with a pouf of tulle below the hips. There was a curious fascination with wedding gowns as if to suggest that a certain royal to be might choose to wear one of them in her upcoming nuptials to a certain prince.
Valentino remained well … very Valentino. There was simple feminine sophistication using understated neutrals and body skimming fabrics. The fall line delicately touched on the plaid trend of the season and combined the typically fashion forward print with floral to soften the look. To contrast Valentino’s understated tone, Stella McCartney’s take on Fall included bold polka dots and curve-hugging sheer fabrics and pencil skirts for a look that is a tad on the sexy side.
Cruising Cannes
Karl Lagerfeld knows how to make an entrance. His 2011 Cannes Film Festival arrival was proof that no celebrity is immune to the star power of Chanel. Chanel’s Cruise 2011-2012 line made its debut at the crème de la crème of film festivals while the world’s most famous celebrities sat front and centre.
White satin gowns, palazzo pants, dropped waist dresses and shift dresses adorned with beads and other embellishments, all inspired by ‘20s and ‘30s glamour, did not disappoint. Almost as fabulous as the clothes were the celebrity onlookers such as Blake Lively, Rachel Bilson, Alexa Chung, Vanessa Paradis, and Anna Mouglalis, almost all of whom sported Chanel while on the sidelines.
What is Cruise?
While most are familiar with the twice yearly seasonal lines of Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer, few give much thought to the slightly more ambiguous line that lies somewhere in between. Cruise, also known to some as the Resort Collection or Holiday Travel Collection, is made up of clothing geared toward frequent travellers or someone heading out on holiday to escape the winter cold. Cruise wear is delivered to stores in early November and usually stays in stores until the Spring/Summer lines arrive in March and early April. The mid-season line is particularly attractive to retailers due to an extended shelf life and ample time to sell. As a result, Cruise collections are becoming increasingly important to designers.
Musicians have always had an impact on fashion. Michael Jackson and Prince are two of the kings of flamboyant male fashion styles, having inspired designers all over the world for the last thirty years. However, there is another fashion that is rarely acknowledged but very widely seen. It lurks in the back rooms and smoky bars, and everyone at some point has seen a long haired man dressed head-to-toe in a combination of ripped jeans and a leather jacket.
Denim and leather has become a uniform for rockers and ‘metal-heads’ over the last forty years and its esoteric origins all stem from one man: Robert John Arthur ‘Rob’ Halford of Judas Priest. Inspired by their song ‘Hell Bent for Leather’, Halford once wore a biker jacket covered with metal studs for a gig and the metal ‘uniform’ was instantly born. It was not long before kids all over Britain and America were stitching denim waistcoats onto leather jackets and covering them in studs and badges.
Those kids grew into musicians themselves and so the style was copied by just about every rock band to follow, which helped to cement the classic look it is today. Iconic bands such as Iron Maiden and Metallica owe their style to Rob Halford.
The uniform symbolizes the un-wealthy masses that exist in their own subculture, downtrodden by society, but proud to be part of something larger. Halford himself is now famous to fans for changing his leather trench-coats every few songs.
While being a comparatively small subculture, denim and leather has lived on through the birth and death of many fashion styles and still remains as strong as ever.
Men have been imitating women for centuries. In the theatre, the male would play the role of the female and that ideology carries on even today in pantomime. However, in the early 20th Century, men dressed like men. An entire two generations raised in the middle of world wars can be forgiven though. After all, they fought for freedom and once the wars ended a new era of creativity was ushered in.
Before the modern era it was only women who could dress glamorously. It seems that men had enough of being sectioned to a shirt and tie and wanted a slice of the attention. They took what got the women attention and adopted it for themselves.
Big shoulder pads, leather and ceiling-scraping perms became the staple of men back in the 80’s. It started off in the music scene and quickly bled over to the fans and before you knew it, people were forced to look twice at that pretty blonde over there. If it was not skin-tight, it was not worth it. If it was not over the top, it was not worth caring about. Fashion went out of its way to become more garish and loud to compete with the world outside. Men found that they could still be tough yet also feminine. Sure, they looked like girls, but cross them about it and they would still show who they were.
The glam fashions went somewhat silent during the 90’s when the world adopted a more slackened taste of baggy jeans and t-shirts, but elements of it were reincarnated in the teenage fashions of the 00’s.
In 1920 a young Italian man named Guccio Gucci opened a saddler’s shop in Florence, and a year later he began producing the fine leather goods that would become synonymous with the name of Gucci.
Guccio Gucci died in 1953 and family squabbles in the latter half of the century threatened to kill off this iconic brand, but after going public in 1995 Gucci is back on track, and 2011 is a significant year in its history.
The company is celebrating 90 years of accessory design by re-presenting that original first collection of 1921. All the items, which will feature some of the best selling classics such as the Horsebit bag, will come with a special commemorative label – G.Gucci Firenze 1921. There will be a wide range of fabrics such as calfskin and crocodile, and great colours – pink, cherry, dark green, dark brown and khaki.
There will also be a special line of belts, which will have the G.Gucci 1921 trademark as a silver clasp.
Also included in the ‘new’ 1921 collection will be shoes, including the trade-mark moccasins and loafers, and there will be special edition watches which will be of interest to collectors.
“Each item in the collection tells a story, representing a chapter within the house’s rich narrative history,” says Frida Giannini, the Creative Director of the House of Gucci.
The 1921 Collection is due to be launched in June in Gucci boutiques and online, and there will certainly be a rush for many of these unique items.
Gianni Versace created his Versace fashion house in 1978. It began successfully and has over the years progressed from clothes and accessories into perfumes and cosmetics. There is even a range of home furnishings under the Versace brand.
Originally an architecture student, Gianni Versace decided that designing buildings was not for him, but the idea of designing a clothing range appealed to him more. After working with several fashion houses he went out on his own and his own label was launched. He became so popular that he was asked to design costumes and clothing for a range of movies.
Gianni Versace had many friends within celebrity circles whom he regularly designed outfits for. Diana, Princess of Wales was a big fan of the Versace clothing line and celebrities such as Elizabeth Hurley and Madonna are regularly seen wearing the brand.
After Gianni Versace was murdered in 1997, on the steps of his home in Miami, Donatella Versace, his sister, took over the reins of the fashion empire. This was met at first with some uncertainty, although Donatella has proved herself to be just as competent within the business as her brother.
The company today is growing in strength and keeps its signature style for all to recognise. Not only does Versace create some of the most beautiful eveningwear dresses, but also casual wear such as jeans. Accessories such as watches, eyewear, both glasses and sunglasses and jewellery are all popular purchases.
Seeking out fashion advice not only helps you to achieve a look that is right for you but also enables you to find the best alternatives for dressing on a budget. Fashion tips can provide you with plenty of suggestions for finding a look that reflects your personality and enables you to feel and look good. There are a number of ways in which you can find the best advice for changing or improving your look.
Searching the internet is one of the best ways of seeking out useful fashion advice. With many official websites for top men’s fashion magazines and well known designers to explore, you can browse through the latest fashion news and advice to help you find your ideal look. Whether you need some help selecting the best outfit for a night out or simply wish to change your everyday look, you can find a wealth of information on the internet.
Another way of seeking out fashion advice is to ask for feedback on your current look from friends or family members that are likely to be honest with you. Alternatively, you can seek the help of a professional fashion consultant. Seeking advice from a professional will enable you to receive an honest opinion about your look and will not only help you to achieve a look that is right for you but also enable you to gain confidence, allowing you to improve your lifestyle.
Greg Lauren has released a line of clothing that may surprise some. On the shelves of Barney’s New York on Madison Avenue, the Barney’s in San Francisco, and smaller shops like Maxfield in West Hollywood is the debut line of Greg Lauren’s artwork.
Little need be known about Greg Lauren to appreciate his new clothing. Although, those who have been following him and managed to take a peek at some of his art exhibits will quickly see the connection. The art creations were simply blueprints for this upcoming clothing line.
Lauren has legally obtained a licensing deal with DC Comics, which has allowed him to add the characters to t-shirts in his new line. There is also a selection of women’s cropped coats, military duffel bags and other jackets made from old military tent fabric. A cashmere coat is closed with brass blazer buttons and there are a plethora of military jackets
In a February, 2011 Los Angeles Times article, Greg Lauren was quoted as explaining, “I’m continuing to look at that obsession we have about wanting to dress like a soldier without having been in a war. About male archetypes and the idea of the emotional connection of wearing somebody else’s clothes.”
The line also includes scarves, boots for women and a leather ankle boot for men. “It’s my take on an English ankle boot,” Lauren said. “Growing up, I was taught to love English shoes, and I saw my dad wearing boots like this all the time. These are based on the beat-up pair that I wear around my studio all the time.”