Paris F/W Fashion Week Event- Alexander McQueen

This year’s Paris Fashion Week sure packs a punch with an explosive surge of energy, style and freshness from the exhilarating line up of designers, varying in style from sophistication of Chanel to edgy Rick Owens. It was certainly a three-fold utopian dream.

The weather might be chilly, the skies might be dark but the passion for fashion is definitely burning furiously amongst those at the late Alexander McQueen’s show at the La Conciergerie, Marie Antoinette's prison - the same location where we all clearly remember live wolves being sent down the runway. Over here, they anxiously anticipate each intricately designed piece being sent down the runway. The show was slightly sinister accompanied by a soft touch of romance created by the play of monochromatic colours. It was a slow waltz through the story behind each piece of garment and the audience is constantly kept in wonder as each model enters the runway with a ‘new story’.

Sarah Burton cleverly fits everything right into place. The location was unconventional yet it fits perfectly into the look this collection is channeling, the music sets the mood tuning it to a somber note and by the time the model braved the runway, the curious crowd were appeased. The use of broken china, feather and the bondage-style leather harness were all well received. The black, the white and the purple exploded and dispersed into a beautiful frenzy as the crowd applauded at the final walk down, giving Burton the nod of approval and appreciation.

Paris Fashion Week would not receive a proper closure with the absence of Alexander McQueen but Sarah Burton has slipped into place, carrying on his legacy and at the same time, loosening the aggression and molding it into a collection even fit for a princess. Just look at the stunning Kate Middleton donning a custom made McQueen bridal grown when she wedded Prince Charles; it was delicate and remarkably fairytale-like.

At the end of the show, a gush of appreciation, positive feedback came rushing in as fashion editors, celebrities and socialites such as Naomi Campbell and Andre Leon Tally, spilled it all at the backstage. The remaining audience left in awe, awaiting the next mind-blowing show they can only imagine..

The Row Fall 2011

The 4-year old brand of multi-millionaire twin sisters Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen has outdone themselves yet again. In this Fall 2011 Ready to Wear collection, they returned to the warm palette of Spring and Summer and injected lovely earth tones into their designs and of course, brightening the dull looming winter season.

Like a leopard, the model prowled in confidently, clad smartly in a calf-length leopard printed fur coat, and donned with a slouchy fur headpiece and peplum stained lips. With that, we can be positive that we will not be short changed for the rest of the collection. And indeed, we were intrigued when the pop of colour has been introduced. As seen above, the range of yellow hues has been injected into different styles such as a structured blazer matched with a pair of wide legged pants, yellow neck pelt accompanying a structured pale yellow sixties-style dress. Mary Kate and Ashley is definitely greeting fall with much optimism don’t you think?

Further down the collection, we see a fusion of sharp and slick black trench coat, faded brown wide legged pants, demure body-fitting dresses extending below the knee. The climax was raised when a long sleeveless fur coat and a powder blue chubby fur jacket were introduced, pumping up the level of fun and luxe n this collection. Fall doesn’t look glum at all with such exciting colours I must say.

The smart pair then balanced the colours in the collection with a touch of monochrome. As seen above, they toyed with the proportion of a white oversized top over a sheer and light maxi skirt, added a tinge of playfulness and feminism in their sheer skirt which has been embellished with white jewels. To tone down the mischief, they paired it with an ivory knitted jumper. It was brilliantly pieced together and there is no wonder why Mary Kate and Ashley has been the style icon of many.

If we have been religiously following the style of Mary Kate and Ashley, we will all be aware that black is a staple in their choice of apparel therefore, we can see how they are channeling their personality into The Row with the creation of each unique black number. From interpreting their designs, black is basically not a flat piece of canvas to them. They see the potential and create layers and textures by using fringe details on dresses, leather for matte colour, creating a contrast by assembling sequin with mesh fabric. The Olsen sisters have a bohemian style in them and it seems to exuberates subtlety in their designs with the appearance of long maxi dresses paired with flats for a laid back look.

Being versatile in their style, I must say they are slight androgynous in their dressing as well. Such style is exemplified in a collegiate manner and it makes perfect sense when this pair does it.

My favourite look is seen here as Hyoni Kang carries it off by slinging an oversized and almost floor length cape like coat over her shoulders casually. A juxtaposition and play of proportion added the appeal factor with the hot shorts she has on. Her exotic Asian face with plum lips also upped the ‘dark’ factor in the entire look making it whole.

Coming close to first a “Persian lamb jacket with a kicky peplum that was paired with matching bordeaux velvet pants” – as mentioned by style.com upped the luxe factor by a notch as Hyoni graced the runway. I must add, “amazing” is just an understatement to describe this beautiful ensemble.

The Row Fall 2011 is definitely a work of brilliance and a little contribution of fun and personality from the Olsen sisters. It is minimal yet unconventional and noticeably, the center parted hair done for the models reflects the sisters’ style as well. The Row Fall 2011 is somewhat personal and fun yet corporate and mature enough. This is definitely a well thought collection

Trendspotting

As the number of natural disasters escalates, doomsday seems to be approaching but the easiest remedy to turn that frown upside down is with nothing else but with colours!

All these bold colours have been going strong since Jil Sander introduced an array of neon colours down the runway, Mary Katrantzou’s China Dynasty inspired designs, Stella McCartney joined in with the fun and colourful fruit-prints and how can we forget Miuccia Prada’s bright yellow mischievous shirt with prints of bananas matched with clashing colours and prints. Oh the joy!

What does this season has to offer then? Well, to summarize it with two words it’s all about “colour blocking”. As seen down the runway, Balenciaga has recently pair a two-toned monochrome dress over a pair of ultraviolet pants, Chloe enters with a large quilt-like cape with mash up blocks of colours, Pedro Lourenco’s white-blue graphic print knitted top, Prada’s kitschy yet cute modrain-inspired shift dress. It seems that colours are bursting at the seams of this year’s trends and it is not going to die off so soon.

What more, extravagant fashion daredevil – Anna Della Russo and quirky cute Susie Lau, fashion blogger of stylebubble.com have been spreading the love of colours and it is definitely working its magic through the fashion industry. As colours start to into the grounds of runways and into the heads of fashion geniuses, we should mentally prepare ourselves because fashion is about to take a break from somber colours and hop right into colours that literally chase away the blues.

Behold the reign of colours, clear your wardrobe and inject some fun into it! Ironically, bold colours are the new black now.