It seems in fashion we always want to be at the next destination, now. So it is that we haven’t even hit August yet and some of us are already thinking ahead to what to wear in the fall. Of course, the fact that collections are shown out of sync with actual seasons doesn’t help. An extreme example I’m faced with is wanting ALL of the McQueen shoe collection from S/S10 right now.
Selectism.com have been giving sneak previews of the McQueen S/S10 shoe collection, when THOSE paint splattered lovelies, will apparently also be available as trainers. Picking up on the folk-art patchwork and paint splattering seen in his recent film-presentation-as-show in Milan, the trainers seen here feature both of these themes as gorgeous detailing. Patience is, I guess, a virtue but in the wicked world of fashion it is sometimes sorely tested.
Alexander McQueen‘s menswear collections get more and more interesting by the season. This latest show was a clear departure in mood from his last show, ‘The Queensberry Rules’.
There was still a menacing undercurrent, with vibes of tortured artist coming through, but the overall atmosphere was that of a more feminine creativity. McQueen’s traditional rustic tailoring the look reminded me of some of the Italian workmen that the Sartorialist sometimes snaps.
Onto the gushing, the patchwork shirt and jacket are utterly gorgeous, and regardless of being a woman I want! Similarly the paint effect items moves the digital print trend forwards and the paint-spattered pieces deserve to become a fully-fledged DIY blogger trend.
Best worn: When (pretending) to paint the front room of your Milan apartment.
As tributes for Michael Jackson continue to pour in, Sir Paul Smith made the ultimate gesture to the late King of Pop during his closing menswear show in Paris yesterday. The British designer danced his way down the catwalk to Jackson’s iconic “Thriller,” together with his light-footed models. It was a happy and celebratory moment as the audience clapped and bopped along. Catch sight of grey-haired Paul getting down to MJ by clicking play on the video above – fun!
Proving that shoe obsession isn’t just a girl thing, a recent Twitter debate with fellow shoe lovers on designated #shoesday (every Tuesday for the uninitiated) led me to that rare thing, a new shoe brand.
With a history steeped in the dual Italian loves of football and shoes, the Pantofola d’Oro brand includes a range of luxury sports shoes, the most interesting to me being the Cereço line. Taking the correspondent shoe a step further, the Cereço range features a half-and-half construction of distressed canvas and luxury ‘only the Italians’ leathers. Including crododile skin! Where to find these beauties? So far, the only UK-focused retailer I can find is online store The Corner, who include an example of the Cereço line in their range at £118. With shoes like these you can step out like an old-school Italian footballer and fell those foam rubber Nike-lovers without even moving.
Working within the confines of the grey suit Miuccia Prada played around with masculine conventions. Slashed shorts and sleeves nodded to a violent outburst against formalwear. Shoulders are very much the focus, even without jackets they were shown off in tank tops and sleeveless cardigans. Textured tops and greyscale prints conveyed the feel of newsprint.
This isn’t the first catwalk show where we’ve seen sheer tailoring, it looks like SS10 will see lots of sharp, sheer menswear pieces on the high street.
A retro silhouette dominated the Missoni collection, it was all cuffed trousers and shirts teamed with trenches and faded denims.
Patchwork knits and David Byrne-esque tailoring carried on the throwback theme. Hints of safariwear came through in the muted palette of washed-out neutrals hinted and sherbet accents provided a delicate burst of colour.
Best worn: while being a foreign correspondent in the Sahara.
Following Isabelle’s lead in previewing some A/W looks, here is another collection of relaxed and very wearable clothes, this time from US designer Steven Alan. Whilst not a household name here in the UK (though he has been stocked at places like Liberty) it would be unusual for a well-dressed New Yorker to not have at least one SA piece in their wardrobe.
Loved for his spin on American classics, Mr Alan treads the line between formal and a slightly crumpled. I love the tweeds in this collection, especially the pleated pants and whilst I’m not sure how much plaid I’ll be wearing this Autumn, dressed up with a tie or interesting layers it can be excused. Great styling, too – love those battered workboots!
See more of the A/W lookbook courtesy of A Continuous Lean. Or look here If you’re intrigued as to what Steven Alan offers for the current Spring season.
Topman is great for its designer collaborations and its ‘Priceless’ range, designed by celebrated fashion designer and tailor Antony Price, delivers every season. The range has just gone up on Topman.com and with its wonderful waistcoats, brilliant blazers and perfectly pleated pants (in the American sense of the word,) I can’t wait to get a piece of the action! The look on the left is almost exactly what I outlined in my ‘Will’s Summer Wants’ piece only last month and the peach colour is perfect for summer.
Other standout pieces include the taffeta suits in purple and green as well as the ‘ice grey chintz’ suit. Most jackets are around £140 with trousers at £60. Why not enlighten us as to what you plan to invest in by chatting to us on Facebook?
We featured a sneak peek of the 3sixteen A/W collection recently, and they’re back, this time Johan Lam, one of the 3sixteen designers, answered our questions about his sartorial summer.
What are you going to be wearing this summer? Any new trends/pieces that you’re going to be cracking out?
It gets pretty hot in LA during the summer, so my uniform these next few months will be Quoddy boat shoes on my feet, seersucker button ups and solid colored v-necks on top, and a combination of cuffed denim or chino’s, cropped khaki’s, and knee high shorts on bottom. Ankles out!
Nicola Formichetti’s blog is a haven for fashion-friendlies worldwide. From Japanese karaoke to Lady Gaga in the dressing room via iD and plenty of Hedi Slimane, this blog is always full of intimate shots and fashion-star exclusives. Nicola recently featured images from his latest shoot with Slimane for Hedi Slimane.com. The shoot, entitled ‘California Teens,’ includes only two models but shows a huge variety of sets and looks including dog heads with Swarovski eyes and Rodarte worn as a balaclava.
The more I write about summer clothes, and slowly accept that summer isn’t actually coming, I look to next winter and start structuring my cold wardrobe. Coats are a notoriously hard thing to get right and a single inch too short or too long can ruin not only an entire look, but an entire wardrobe (well, almost.)
The Fashionisto has lifted the lid on the latest H&M collection for A/W 2009 and this faux-crushed velvet coat has a bit of an edge on other high-street pieces. With what looks like a simple collar and in solid black, the material of this coat allows it to be easily worn with any items while being a stand-out piece in itself.
I would keep to simple tones but contrast fabrics and textures to build up the layers of an elaborate get-up. Throw in a bit of tacky bling-age to mix up the expensive looking coat but keep it minimal; garish garb is best when less.
The tie-obsessed Alexander Olch recently invited Todd Selby into his home to snap the man behind the ties in his natural habitat.
It’s a cluttered, messy place but not without charm and proves that creative people do need lots of ‘stuff’ around them. Phew, that lets me off the hook! Looking through the images of his New York home it’s easy to spot why Olch is such a meticulously obsessive character, especially when it comes to neckwear. Watch him show you how to tie a bow tie here.
Since turning up at the Met’s Costume Institute Gala with a trinity of her Hollywood girlfriends, Stella McCartney has had a whirlwind week involving everyone from Simon Doonan (creative director of Barneys) to Michelle Obama.
While chatting to the gloriously over-the-top Doonan, Stella was asked about lending her ethical hand to a menswear collection. “Yes, I would love to!”- so what can we expect? I’m hoping for vegan-leather brogues and penny loafers, baggy suit jackets, chunky patterned knits for men, modern shapes and shirts in innovative fabrics.
McCartney, herself, spoke recently about her love of menswear: “I’ve always been a bit obsessed with men’s tailoring. When I was in St. Martins, I’d take time out at night and go work on Savile Row. I was always influenced by my mum and dad’s wardrobe and they always had really cool bespoke suits.”
In the aftermath of the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute Gala, fashionistos/as across the world have been gorging over that turban, Madonna’s wackiness, Rihanna’s brilliant tux and Naomi’s beautiful boycott. However, it emerged today that off the red carpet a fight was on and statements are being made across the fashion universe in response to reports that Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCullough was headbutt by 24′s Keifer Sutherland after McCullough supposedly knocked Brooke Shields over.
Surely not, I hear you cry. But yes, McCullough’s rep has confirmed today that “anyone who knows Jack McCollough knows that he would not hurt a fly…all we can say at this point is that he was the victim of a vicious, violent, unprovoked assault and that the matter is in the hands of the authorities.” How delightful!
The question stands- are you Team McCullough or Team Sutherland?
Patrik Ervell‘s SS09 collection is looking very right now. The Swedish-born, NYC-based designer has a way with stripes. This summer I’m still planning to wear the super-slim, tailored shorts in a vintage, broad striped fabric I bought in New York last year. Though pricey, Mr Ervell’s pieces definitely feel like an investment.
My attention now is on the anorak/Harrington jacket styles for spring, combining quality fabrics (linen/suiting) with interesting shapes and of course: STRIPES!
As ever, Valet puts its finger on the pulse, listing Ervell as one of several designers tracing a path from minimalist, stripe-loving artist Frank Stella.
It seems in fashion we always want to be at the next destination, now. So it is that we haven’t even hit August yet and some of us are already thinking ahead to what to wear in the fall. Of course, the fact that collections are shown out of sync with actual seasons doesn’t help. An extreme example I’m faced with is wanting ALL of the McQueen shoe collection from S/S10 right now.
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