Tuesday 15 March 2011

High Summer 2011 Trend Report

With High Summer products about to hit the shops, it’s time to spruce up your wardrobes and get ready for the sunshine! There are some great trends emerging for this season of sunshine, so read our trend report for the latest must-have looks!

70’s
The seventies are back with a bang! Easily one of the biggest trends of the season, this can be split into two main aesthetics: 70’s bohemian, and 70’s sophisticated glamour. Think tassels, bold prints and loose shapes for seventies bohemian and tailored, high-waists and elegance for sophisticated seventies.

Stripes
Stripes are a dominant part of any Spring/Summer season. Spring 2011 sees stripes with an unsurprising nautical dominance, but hey, it’s a look that works brilliantly in the sunshine so why change it? Dominant stripes are key for this season, navy and white and black and white are the way to really work the look.

Floral Garden Party
What better way to get in the mood for summer than with pretty floral patterns? Think summer garden-party chic, with a bold colour palette and eye catching patterns. Pinks, greens, reds and yellows are key for this look.

Colour Block
It’s about about colour this summer! The colour blocking trend is here to stay right through to Autumn, so get clashing! The brighter the better! Combine two trends in one by colour blocking neon brights and really make a statement.

Denim
The most versatile material in our wardrobe is taking the limelight this season. Double denim is a great look, but if you prefer a less out there look then accessorising with denim is the perfect way to work the look. Our Taylour bag is the perfect for this trend!

Wednesday 9 March 2011

McQueen is safe in Burton's hands - Paris Fashion Week AW11

So, more than ever, all eyes were looking to see what the latest Alexander McQueen would bring. Since McQueen’s tragic death last February, his close friend Sarah Burton has taken over as creative director, and has brilliantly bridged the gap between celebration and still-shocking disbelief surrounding McQueen’s unexpected death. 
Taking a different direction from her first stand-alone collection for the label, this season saw a collection of exquisite pieces, created by outstanding workmanship and attention to detail. Corsetry was contrasted with amazing pleating, presenting a confident collection that still represented the label perfectly, but also added its own stamp.

The styling will still generate shock and horror (it’s McQueen after all!), with silver metallic skull caps and leather shoulder harnesses, however, there was a real sense of brilliant construction to create beautiful clothes.

A soft, almost monotonal colour palette gave the collection a soft finish, yet the McQueen feeling was maintained with whiteout make-up and spray on leggings. Feathers were a huge theme, along with strong shapes and structure which gave the collection a sense of robotic elegance. The bird theme continued at the sound of a flock of birds taking flight played over the speakers as a mix of tweed and feather suits took to the runway.

It’s safe to say that the house of McQueen is safe in Burton’s hands.

Tuesday 8 March 2011

Chanel explodes at Paris Fashion Week AW11

It’s International Women’s Day and Karl Lagerfield’s collection for Chanel literally exploded onto the catwalk! Fire and brimstone, boiler suits, biker boots, a wooden boardwalk over smoking piles of lava and a CC drawbridge appearing out of clouds of dry ice ensured a dramatic post-apocalyptic feel at the most anticipated show of the week.

Models were wrapped up in trouser suits with cropped jackets and pleat front trousers teamed with heavy, flat brogues. Tweeds were thick and dense, with raw edges and finished in black and grey, with bold flashes of red or green, or metallic weave – adding a touch of glamour to an otherwise raw survival theme.

It was a classic juxtaposition of tough vs. feminine, with boiler suits made of fine, embellished lace rolled up in leather at the cuffs and ankles to reveal pointed kitten heel court shoes. Princess style coats and empire line dresses were embellished with feathers and lace, giving a fresh play on the typical texture seen at Chanel. In an uncharacteristically serious show, Lagerfield injected some humour with a quilted, rubberized felt boiler suit.

A strong move forward from Lagerfield’s couture show, which was young, girlish and full of sweet dresses and pumps. This was hard and androgynous.

Monday 7 March 2011

Sexy 70's at Chloe - Paris Fashion Week AW11

Hannah MacGibbon has done it again and delivered a collection that is full of signature pieces synonymous with the Chloe girl – ponchos, dungarees, denim and super-wide trousers. It is a classic Seventies look with a modern attitude that makes us proud to know that a British designer was behind it. 



The big story of this collection was snakeskin. It was printed on soft, chiffon blouses, paired with suede and leather panels on jumpsuits, dyed and knitted into dresses and even bucket-shaped leather bags had snake’s faces for clasps.

A bold colour palette also added a new dimension to the brand, with slashes of red and green, mint and grey and a rainbow of blanket kaftan. Mixed textures were also key, with leather, cashmere and knits all blending together.

MacGibbon has reinvented Seventies clichés – giving previously frumpy shapes sex appeal and teaming classic shapes with modern lines to provide an instant makeover.

Family Girl - Stella McCartney at Paris Fashion Week AW11

Stella McCartney’s show provided a much-needed bright start to Paris Fashion Week, after the solemn mood that took hold after all the controversy surrounding Galliano.

Family was a big theme of the show, perfectly personifying the yummy mummy that Stella dresses oh so well - Natalia Vodianova arrived surrounded a brood of gorgeous children and Paul McCartney was in the audience and, as usual, had his voice playing for the finale of the show, which was, again, dedicated to Stella’s family: “to all my babies, husband, family and team” said the show notes. 

The season’s trend of menswear for girls was perfect for Stella’s collection – oversized blazer dresses with exaggerated shoulders in soft, brushed cashmere floated down the catwalk, as well as large cable knits over loose trousers. A real sense of wearability came out of the show – practicality was teamed with new fresh ideas. Don’t get too comfortable though… Stella showcased some serious sexy dresses, featuring chiffon panels slinking around body con styles, bustiers, and bold, gold and black patterned mini dresses.

A combination of soft vs. structured seemed to define the show, with rippling organza tops being tucked into tailored, high-waisted pencil skirts or trousers. A striking colour palette, primarily comprised of white, black and blue was accentuated with circular detailing.

All in all, a refreshing show from McCartney.

Friday 4 March 2011

Paris Fashion Week 2011 – Thierry Mugler


Lady Gaga, the world’s biggest music star, made her catwalk debut last night as a supermodel on the Thierry Mulger catwalk. The outrageous songstress brought some much needed glamour and excitement to Paris Fashion week, which has been someone plagued by the allegations surrounding Paris’ most revered designer, John Galliano. 
 
The Mulger brand has recently been revived by Gaga’s stylist, Nicola Formichetti, and promised a collection that would shake and shock Paris. The catwalk was designed to resemble a futuristic Gothic Cathedral, and Gaga made two spectacular appearances clad in white and pink latex corsetry, pencil skirts, smoking a cigarette and balancing on height defying platforms.

Delivering his first womenswear collection for Mulger, Formichetti delivered a sex-symbol silhouette with sprayed on stretch, PVC and rubber donning most of the collection. The colour palette was a mix of black, powder pink and cobalt and extreme shoulders and micro bustiers and skirts were the main shapes. An intriguing collection, that delivered a much needed injection of excitement into Paris.

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Bonjour! Controversy at Paris Fashion Week

It’s been a rather controversial start to Paris Fashion Week with all the trouble surrounding John Galliano and Dior. Rumour has it that Dior have now severed all ties with the famed designer after claims emerged citing Galliano as racist. Despite a somewhat somber start to the week, designers are working extra hard to lift the tone and re-focus the attention on the clothes.

Turkish designer Hakaan Yildirim made sure that his AW11 collection on day 1 was remembered, with Natalia Vodianova, Mariacarlo Boscono and Freja Beha Erichsen all taking to his catwalk. Last year, at London Fashion Week, Yildirim won the ANDAM prize, which subsequently took him to Paris and is where he made his first appearance last season with his futuristic and body-conscious designs.



In his show today, we saw his collection take a more masculine turn, with the introduction of slouchy boyfriend blazers and wide-leg trousers. Sheer tops slinked underneath, adding a feminine touch and presenting a lovely contrast between the sleek black and leather looks.



Still a relatively new name on the scene, Yildirim is working hard to earn a much-deserved place in the fashion scene and, without doubt, he did that today. He made a huge impact thanks to a strict colour palette only strayed from cream, black and grey with different hues of red – including bright tomato splashes on dresses and jackets and pillar-box red lipstick on the models.



Return to http://www.fiorelli.com/

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Oscars 2011

Ok, so our Oscars blog is a bit late…Forgive us – it’s all been so manic in Milan that we just haven’t had the time to sit down and get everything updated. I know, you won’t have much sympathy for us, as we have been living the high life in the fashion capital, but it’s worth a try! So here it is, our Oscars fashion report from the Holy Grail of the red carpet. The Academy Awards frequently provide history-making fashion choices, so here are our best and worst dresses straight from that world famous red carpet!

There’s really no excuse for getting it wrong at the Oscars. The world’s most fabulous gowns, hot off the runways of New York, London and Milan fashion weeks were flown straight out to LA for our leading ladies to choose from. The best hair and make-up stylists were on stand-by, ready to preen and primp until that flawless look was achieved.

So, who got it right? And what were the trends from the night? It seemed to be a bit of a standoff between vibrant, classic colour and gentle, pastel shades. Leading the neutral palette trend was Gwyneth Paltrow. Smoldering down the red carpet in a custom-made sparkling gold Calvin Klein dress, Gwyneth looked positively stunning in the floor length number. With its interesting plunging neck and just the right amount of shimmer, Gwyneth looked radiant.

Our next favourite neutral pastel came from Mila Kunis. The Black Swan beauty looked stunning in a lavender Ellie Saab dress. Her petite frame and minimal makeup and accessories ensured that the detailed lace dress was the focus of attention, without being too ‘fussy’.

The main theme for the night was, without a doubt, fiery red dresses. Co-host Anne Hathaway wore a stunning archive Valentino gown, accessorizing with Tiffany jewellery and the man himself, Valentino. Last year’s big winner, Sandra Bullock, looked flawless in a Vera Wang dress and Jimmy Choo shoes – the perfect way to present Colin Firth with his Best Actor Award for The King’s Speech.
 

Colin wasn’t the only Firth making the headlines at the Oscars (despite reports that he left his Award in the toilets…!). His fashion-forward wife, Livia, was at the forefront of the media attention thanks to her monumental Green Carpet Challenge. In true style, Livia looked breathtaking in a dress created out of eleven dresses. Yes, eleven! Vintage/thrift/charity shop buys all from the era of The King’s Speech were recycled, repurposed and up cycled into one incredible creation. A big risk (especially when you’re husband is the centre of attention all night) Livia pulled it off in spectacular style.
 


What were your best and worst looks from the night?