An announcement yesterday heralds a new era for fashion and film in the UK, the British Fashion Council is joining forces with Bafta “create and develop links between London’s fashion and film industries”. This sets the stage for next week when London Fashion Week and the Baftas coincide making it a glamorous week in the capital. After the huge success of the 25th anniversary of London Fashion Week in September last year now is a great time to boost the popularity with two huge events that take place in the capital.
Designers will be fighting to have their newest creations show cased on the stars who attend the Baftas not to mention the ones who are up for awards, it will be a great way to advertise but also give the Baftas the style boost it lacks compared to our American counterparts who manage style so easily for their awards shows like the Oscars. On the first day of Fashion Week designers get the chance to speak to nominees at a cocktail party held by Lancôme and British actress Kate Winslet in the hope of getting them into their creations for the big night.
This season the catwalk was awash with texture so you don’t need to put your ghd straighteners or curling irons down just yet. You can go sleek and straight like at Donna Karan or brushed out crimped lengths at Diane Von Furstenberg or rough, matte braids at Alexander Wang. Waves are also back with force with variations seen across the catwalks like Dior or Versace.
These styles can be easily recreated with either your ghd’s or curling tongs to get great glamorous looks like the designers.
This season’s women’s clothing is all about bringing out your girly side and saying good bye for now to black with pretty ditzy flower prints in cute pastel colours, think light and whimsical when taking inspiration for your outfit. Many designers featured soft flower prints on their catwalks like Missoni, Alberta Ferretti and Dior wearing light pastel patterns with soft barley styled hair and minimal makeup.
Look for soft prints on candy shades like the dresses below and team your accessories to match, nothing too heavy that can make the look too hard. It’s an ideal look for when the weather gets warmer and the sun starts to shine.
pretty flower prints
Jeans are the key in men’s clothing for comfort, ease and style hence if you’re looking to be trendy and comfortable then a great pair jeans is where you need to start. Depending on the style of jeans you can dress either smart or smart casual, if you’re going for smart casual but want comfort for everyday wear, try a faded loose fit jean and team it with a funky t-shirt and hoody as well as a pair of smart trainers and a belt, like below.
G Star comfort
If you want something for a night out and need to look fairly smart to get into clubs and such opt for a smart straight cut jean, shirt or smart t-shirt and jacket, not forgetting a funky hat, you still get the comfortable jean style but with a smart dressy edge.
Crafted smart casual men's
Many fashion brands have been creating fashion t-shirts featuring many different bands old and new in a vintage style, but sometimes it can be hard to find a t-shirt featuring your favourite band in the styles you want. If you create your own design easily done on your computer now you can use t-shirt printing to create your own individual look.
plain t-shirt
You may have a favourite album cover or poster, or a awesome picture from a gig all can be used for you to create your own personal design that no one else will have, ideal way to support your favourite band if you go and see them live. They also make great present ideas for someone who loves music. You can have them printed on a range of clothing from t-shirts to vest tops and hoodies.
Blondie - Parallel Lines album cover
Picture courtesy of Nesster
This season notice me prints are big in trend and style, many designers such as Alexander McQueen, Versace, Moschino and Matthew Williamson featured many bold designs in their collections for Spring/Summer 2010 with eye popping dresses.
Many styles feature abstract effects in their graphic print with lots of clashing colours creating a statement, the dominant prints in all their vivid colours are a contrast to some of this seasons other trends of pastel colours and nudes.
This trend is best worn in thigh skimming dresses, shorts, or funky t-shirts with simple accessories and if you’re not brave enough you could always add a splash of colour with a bright handbag.
Vivid prints
The cold weather seems set to stay for a little while longer and although the spring/summer collections seem to be seeping into the shops most people are still interested in keeping warm in this cold weather we are currently experiencing.
With temperatures below freezing it’s always a good idea for people to wrap up warm before they venture out. It doesn’t mean that you have to go out and buy all new snow wear which is more used to ski slopes but just being more practical with what you already have, like having vests on underneath warm jumpers or fleeces on underneath coats. Double up your socks when you wear your wellies or walking boots for extra warmth and dryness and of course you do not want to forget hats, scarves and gloves.
From one of the most glamorous actresses in Hollywood to becoming Princess Grace of Monaco in a real life fairytale story, Grace Kelly’s style has not been matched since. Her chic sense of style and natural glamour spilled out into many of the movies she starred in from Rear Window in 1954 to the 1955 classic To Catch a Thief.
The display will showcase many of dresses from her films, as well the gown she wore when she accepted the ‘Best Actress’ Oscar in 1955, the outfit she wore when she met her future husband Prince Rainier of Monaco and a collection from her opulent haute couture wardrobe from 1960’s and 1970’s. The actress was known to be the type who wouldn’t throw anything away and wouldn’t stop wearing something because it went out of fashion, she was very sentimental about her clothes and never purchased large amounts of cloths all at once instead she was much more modest with her purchases.
However her effect on the fashion world is still present today with The Hermès saddlebag she carried to conceal her pregnancy bump that was named after her, the Kelly bag still has the longest waiting list in the world today, despite prices starting from around £5,000.
The Exhibition which will be on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum next year from the 17th April to the 26th September, it will feature her fashions across four decades and will include eight dresses by Christian Dior, an extravagant, beaded Balenciaga jacket, Yves Saint Laurent’s ‘Mondrian’ dress of 1965, Coco Chanel suits, jewellery by Van Cleef & Arpels and of course, the famous, original Hermès ‘Kelly’ bag. The exhibition will also feature archive film and video footage as well as film posters, family photographs and magazines.
Grace Kelly
Picture courtesy of carmendy
According to the “global authority in colour” Pantone, the colour for 2010 will be turquoise, which is believed to offer protective qualities in times of stress. Executive director of the Pantone colour institute Leatrice Eiseman explained “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a colour of deep compassion and healing, and a colour of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky,”. Turquoise will be picked up by designers for 2010 and you will be able to wear this classy and elegant colour when the new fashions hit the shelf soon.
According to Pantone turquoise acts as a “great accent colour”, so you will be able to accessorise your outfits with turquoise jewellery, shoes, scarves and handbags, adding a splash of colour to neutral shades such as brown and beige and complements pinks and reds as well as picking up on the nautical theme on the runways recently. It’s also been predicted that it will be a big feature for weddings from accessories and flowers to dresses.
For many people turquoise makes people think of sitting on a tropical island looking out upon a tranquil ocean, just the lift you need when the weather is still grey and murky.
turkquoise sea
Picture courtesy of mattk1979
Now you can show people the money with designer clothes from Money, their Money Wash Chain Jeans feature a one dollar bill sewn into the back pocket, but don’t worry about you money being laundered and lost in these jeans as they are in a wash resistant plastic case! Money is favoured by many celebrities including 50 Cent and Mike Skinner and their designs been adorned by numerous hip hop artists in music videos, so now you can recreate the look of your favourite artist in these funky designs.
Money Jeans