Bally AW09 Women’s Presentation
Bally’s AW09 collection is all out glamour!
Perfectly combining sumptuous elegance of the 30s with the soft and sexy tailoring of the 80s. Rich fabrics and textures - velvet, hand-painted silk prints, lace and marabou dominated. Shoes and peep toe boots (ankle and thigh-high) had either a unique gilded lattice heel or gilded lattice detailing.
I’m already saving up for a fabulous slinky marabou and chain coat and the most incredible lace-effect jacket that was made from patent leather and chain.
It will sure be as close to couture as I’ll ever get and will go just perfectly with the chic set of Bally luggage with printed-lace silk lining – all I need now is to book a trip on the Orient Express to show off my wares!
Brand events, Fashion and Milan
Benefit at Vauxhall Fashion Scout AW09
This week I was backstage at Vauxhall Fashion Scout checking out this year’s A/W make–up trends. Heading up the team was the lovely Rachel Wood from Benefit, who talked me though all the key looks and trends for next season.
Working across some fab shows including, Alexandra Groover, Harriet’s Muse, Hemyca and Ones to Watch, there was a definite pattern of make-up styles. There were two looks for A/W – the very natural or the extremely dramatic.
For the natural look, Rachel explained that it’s all about getting the right base this year and keeping the eyes and lips and neutral as possible. The dramatic look for A/W is going to be Gothic and Vampish with a pale base, dark eyes and / or plum and red lips.
The Make-up this year was outstanding and I’ll definitely be attempting some of these looks for my next night out!
Beauty and Runway Shows
Things fashion folk are talking about on the front row # 8 - WHERE’S KANYE?
Seemingly everywhere…
All week we have been reserving seats for Mr West who is in town and keen to be seen front row. After a couple of no shows we were giving up on the American Boy – as the lights dimmed for the Giles show word reached the front row that he was in the house. I will hand over to WGSN for the rest of the story….
GOSSIP: KANYE WEST, who’s been trotting round the womenswear shows in London this week with shaven-headed model and reported new squeeze AMBER ROSE, tried to make a grand entrance at the Giles Deacon show last night by arriving late in nauseating look-at-me showbiz style. But as any true fashion insider knows, it’s best to arrive early to Giles. No matter how late you think it’s running, seats always vanish quicker than Peaches Geldof’s wedding vows.
Stalking the length of the runway, Kanye failed to find a free spot big enough for his mulleted head and eventually reached the top of the catwalk without success. Friendly front-rowers kindly squeezed up enough for one bum cheek, which he rather gentlemanly gave to Rose. Meanwhile he shiftily stood behind the second row with the other standing-ticket holders before a PR scurried backstage to get a fold-up chair. But in Kanye’s defence, we must report that he took it like a man and there were no histrionics or stamping of red Louis Vuitton’s - even though what must’ve been really irksome was that mumsy daytime TV presenter and fashion-scene oddity LORRAINE KELLY had a perfectly comfortable spot a few seats down. Ouch.
Things fashion folk are talking about on the front row # 7 - BIG LOVE
It’s finally here – LOVE magazine. Well done to Katie and the team. We heard that the 6 months supply has already sold out and another print run ordered. The cover wrap of the International Herald Tribune was a master stroke.
Giles AW09
It’s always the hottest ticket of the week and the most packed as any Editor will tell you. This season did not disappoint with over 50 models and a band, numbers would be very tight and challenging to keep within those ever important health and safety guidelines.
Relinquishing my usual Sergeant Major position at the door was hard but necessary as I marshalled Editors and VIP’s to their seats and answered a 100 questions simultaneously. Finally we were good to go and bursting at the seams when we were told Kanye West had arrived, greeted and dually walked down the catwalk to a space in the front row which appeared much smaller than the one I had found seconds before he graciously gave up the space for his girlfriend, not a PR to have an A lister standing I dashed off to find the last chair I saw at the other end of the catwalk, it seems others had that idea too and Kanye ended up with two seats!
Relieved I watched an amazing Giles show that explored his fabulous imagination, strong and sharp with nods to his graduation collection. Extraordinary oversized knitwear and wonderfully wearable strapless dresses teamed with killer Louboutin’s and elegant Stephen Jones hats, lively hand printed dresses and an outstanding ‘egg coat’ were drawn to a final conclusion with a beautiful grey diaphanous ballgown.
Things fashion folk are talking about on the front row # 6 - Hats - An Anthology by Stephen Jones
The long anticipated exhibition at the V&A of Stephen Jones’ wonderful creations has opened during fashion week. Where else would you see a crowd make such an effort with their headgear.
People Behind the Scenes at LFW # 2 - Julian Watson
Über agent – Julian represents the great and the good in hair, make-up and more recently photography. He has managed and created the careers of some of the world top session stylists including Guido, Paul Hanlon and Diane Kendal.
We met up backstage at Twenty8twelve show.
Erdem AW09
Erdem staged his AW09 Collection at the Embankment Galleries at Somerset House. There was a jaunty mood in the air, as Ooh La La treated us to some authentic toe tapping French folk music. Models delicately sashayed down the catwalk in expertly embroidered, boldly coloured silk dresses.
The ethereal feel of last season has evolved. The girl who had been so happy running in the meadows in Spring Summer 2009 had now bought a red lipstick and hopped onto the train to the city! The colours were vibrant, cut-out black lace was dramatically applied to red duchesse Taroni satin.
Tiny red, purple and black flowers were embroidered and adorned with Swarovski crystals. Empire lines and puffed out skirts ruled the catwalk with the additional introduction of slim fit print trousers and mismatched print tops. The feeling was Parisian meets Russian doll, a vast departure from previous seasons but equally as breathtaking…
Backstage with Aveda at LFW - Maria Grachvogel AW09
It was chocks away for the Aveda team backstage at the Maria Grachvogel show yesterday, with flying hats galore.
Lead hair stylist Antoinette Beenders created a complicated flat-wrap to ensure tresses were kept well tamed and tucked away – obviously except those fly-aways helping emphasize the windswept look around the hairline. And those eyebrows!
All hail the strong brow for AW09!
Jaeger London AW09
Jaeger London took to the catwalk for the third time this season and again to great acclaim from UK editors.
A very desirable ticket; the show was watched by a posse of past Jaeger models including Erin O’Connor, Jade Parfitt, Laura Bailey, Jacquetta Wheeler and the super chic Carmen Dell’Orafice as well as aspiring starlets Tamsin Eggerton, Alexa Chung and Nicholas Holt. Leah and Jo wood also made it a family outing to give us a very fabulous front row!
The collection explored Mondraian and Art Deco references with a strong nod to Russia, with its beautiful sheepskin coats and jackets with varying lengths of wool. An amazing Parchment colour coat with black angora stripes really stood out as key piece - or so I was reliably informed by the wonderful Hilary Alexander, Fashion Director of the Daily Telegraph as I fact checked fabrics for her with Design Director Karen Boyd backstage as she had to dash to the next show.
People Behind the Scenes at LFW # 1 - Nina Ferguson
After featuring Charlotte Clark last season – I felt it only fair to give some limelight on my fashion week blog to Nina, Charlotte’s business partner and sister-in-law. We have worked with Nina on a number of projects and events in London and Paris – always the professional and fantastic to work with.
Twenty8Twelve AW09
Savannah and Sienna’s first ever Twenty8Twelve show was London’s hottest ticket of the week. The girls had very strong ideas of what they wanted their first show collection to be about ‘great wearable fashion for the cool London girl’.
Backstage pre-show was a hub of excitement; final steaming and tweaking was taking place whilst the girls enthusiastically showed a few select editors through each look of the collection. Top hair and make-up artists Luke Hersheson and James Kaliardos arrived with their teams and got straight to work on the models, the look: natural and glossy.
As soon as the doors opened, top UK and International editors were swiftly sat and eagerly awaited the show. Front-rowers Alexa Chung, Jade Parfitt, Skins new it girl, Kaya Scodelario sat amongst Sienna and Savannah’s proud family and friends Matthew Williamson, Leigh Lezark.
The lights went down and the models strutted to the sounds of Prince’s ‘When Doves Cry’, Hot Chip, Elastica and Tone Loc: the collection consisted of gorgeous dresses, super tight denim leggings, jewelled waistcoats and Twenty8Twelve’s trademark butter soft leather jackets. The last look was worn by model of the moment Jourdan Dunn; an amazing jade green backless dress glittering with Swarovski crystals.
The girls take a bow to a cheering audience. We’re backstage again, editors, family and friends queue to congratulate the girls, everyone is elated, cracking open the champagne. We all then head off to the after party at Whisky Mist and danced the night away to the Duke Spirit and DJ Hanna Hanra until the early hours of the morning.
Margaret Howell AW09
The Margaret Howell team quickly transformed their Wigmore St boutique into a show space and the loyal fans within the fashion press turned out in their droves for the AW09 show.
The collection was quintessential Margaret Howell with a neutral colour palette and classic stripes which was teamed, for AW09, with a vibrant fuchsia pink and a duffle coat which was instantly coveted by the Modus fashion teams.
Sinha-Stanic AW09
Fiona and Sacha decided on a more low key presentation this season to a small more focused audience. Showing in a raw gallery space in the Brunswick centre, Modus were on hand to distinguish between the Saturday shoppers and fashion folk.
The show was a perfect example of what they do best – a tight collection of 19 draped dresses and one pantsuit.
PUMA Central Saint Martins Dinner at the Design Museum
With Louise Wilson and Hussein Chalayan doing the inviting you know that dinner is going to be interesting. Held at the Design Museum – the location for the current exhibition of some of Hussein’s work over the last 15 years, 100 people were treated to an evening of Ducati Motorbikes customized by St Martins MA students; a close up view of the Puma Bursary winners from yesterdays catwalk and a delicious meal from Urban Caprice.
Central Saint Martins MA Show Supported by PUMA
It’s a Puma marathon – a show, a press day and a dinner at the Design Museum.
It’s Puma’s third year of support Saint Martins MA course. The fabulous Louise Wilson OBE presiding. This year the project was focused on Ducati with students redesigning iconic leather jackets. Tyson Beckford opened the show. The winner Katie Greenwood received £8000.
Some favourites included: Michael Van De Ham’s mix of fabrics to provide drape and structure. Laura Mackness’s double-knit jersey pieces in bright colours with playful placement printed illustrated patch pockets, guns and hand motifs. Abigail Briggs with her dribble glitter printed dresses that inflated by model power as the girls walked down the runway.
Fashion and Runway Shows
London Fashion Week AW08
Back in London after a week in New York. The mood in London is so positive compared to the doom and gloom in NYC. New Yorker’s seem to be looking for their MOJO, lack of financial stability seems to have really knocked them.
London Fashion Week however seems undeterred. Perhaps because London fashion is used to having no money there is this feeling of ‘let’s have a party’. Designers are finding more interesting ways to show their collections or downsizing the scale of the presentations.
So here goes six shows, a dinner, a presentation, two after parties…
Calvin Klein Collection for women AW09
The tail end of a hurricane did not stop the International fashion pack and New York’s elite coming to view Francisco Costa’s Fall 09 Calvin Klein Collection’s women’s wear show.
Francisco succeeded in wowing his audience once again. (Said audience also consisted of the gorgeous and very glam actresses Eva Mendes and Kate Beckinsale). His vision for this season consisted of sensual yet experimental clothes with a focus on fabrics and texture.
New fabric treatments and techniques created interesting results such as felted wool that resembled lace and velvet became nearly unrecognisable. Accentuated shoulders, asymmetry, close-fitting tailoring and crescent hems dominated. For evening, a sequence of black stretch silk plisse dresses was utterly divine.
Credit crunch. What credit crunch? I wanna get me one of those dresses!
Fashion, New York and Runway Shows
Things Fashion Folk are talking about on the front row # 5 - BARBIE at 50
She’s been through a lot of outfits, accessories, homes, vehicles and pets but still the ultimate fashion heroine.
Barbie celebrated her 50th birthday during New York Fashion week with her own runway show – how else?!
Nanette Lepore AW09
Nanette Lepore toughened up her signature girly style for Fall 09. The line up of girls rocked the runway in sassy leather trousers, chiffon blouses, plaid jackets and silk mini dresses. Flirty gold sequins and pops of coral and purple accented the look.
The UK’s favourite prime-time TV presenter Lorraine Kelly loved her front row seat at her first ever New York show. Lorraine was so taken with the collection she said she couldn’t wait to get shopping!
Fashion, New York and Runway Shows
Things Fashion Folk are talking about on the front row # 4 - TOP OF THE SHOPS
Excitement is building for the opening of London’s latest export to the big apple.
The store is getting it’s finishing touches on Broadway. Interesting to see how New Yorkers react…
Things Fashion Folk are talking about on the front row # 3 - UNIQLO’S Minature Mannequins
Uniqlo’s Broadway Flagship store featured Minute Mannequins wearing miniature versions of the spring summer collection.
Their resident seamstress has recreated the looks complete with tourist camera and accessories.
Calvin Klein Collection for men AW09
Italo Zucchelli was delighted to present Calvin Klein Collection’s Fall 09 menswear show in the brand’s HQ in New York for the first time.
Kanye West, Jared Leto and Chase Crawford were the well received eye candy for us ladies and dare I say it, some gentlemen too… Italo’s collection featured highlights of futuristic fabrics such as heat-bonded foam and moulded nylon.
Stretch wool and liquid twill acted as a base. The mix of tailoring with sportswear was resoundingly American in feel. A strong, tough and confident look that managed to simultaneously push the boundaries whilst maintaining its commerciality.
Fashion, New York and Runway Shows
Things Fashion Folk are talking about on the front row # 2 - IceBox
The chicest water this season wasn’t from a far flung island in the South Pacific and didn’t have silver sparkles inside but was in a carton.
The bottled water industry never saw this coming…
“Think innovative. Think ecological. Think fresh. That is Glacia’s IceBox™. A one-of-a-kind package that delivers the world’s finest water in a convenient and biodegradable box. That’s right, we said “box.””
Lacoste AW09
For this season Christophe Lemaire showed the collection against a James Turrell inspired backdrop.
The army of models strut the catwalk in muted tones of yellow and blue while the light installation behind them moved through a rainbow of light.
Favourite footwear: knee high sock boots.
Fashion, New York and Runway Shows
Things Fashion Folk are talking about on the front row # 1 - Traffic stopping Neon on Madison
Italo Zucchelli’s neon suits from his Spring Summer 09 collection for Calvin Klein arrived in store this week.
The red colourway sold out in a day – what better way for a fashionista to cheer-up in these fashion-crunching times…
Uniqlock
Tells the time by the medium of dance. Oh yes. Clothes change as new items are introduced and seasons change… It’s rather good, innit? Oh, and it has a very nice soundtrack - turn up the volume and have a listen.
Take a peek at the Uniqlock microsite where you can view it full screen, or download it as a screensaver should you so desire… It’s even available as an app for your iPhone.
Golly. I’ve come over all web 2.0… must sit down.
Fashion and Modus Loves
Snowday!
A gentle dusting of snow fell on London on Sunday night, and we all awoke to a winter wonderland on Monday morning. Being the resilient world city that it is, London’s infrastructure instantly collapsed, leaving stranded Modettes with no choice other than to make snowmen.
Bonus points go to Louisa (top left), who managed to maintain press relations despite the severe weather conditions by roping in Bejal from Glamour magazine. Contributions clockwise from top left: Louisa with Bejal, Jack, Rodrigo, Richard, Persephone, Giorgina with Joe.
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