Sheer at the SAG

Sheer will be one of the biggest trends for Spring & Summer 2013.  Sheer tops and skirts top the fashionista's shopping list.  At the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards 2013, sheer took the center stage in the Evening Gown category.  Here are a few of them....

Anne Hathaway

Kelly Osbourne

Jenna Fisher

Michelle Dockery

Nicole Kidman

Amanda Seyfried

Naya Rivera

'Tis The Season To Be Bright & Sparkly

It’s that time of the year again fashionistas.  Time flies so fast and the gloomy streets are filled with dark daunting neutrals to match the grey skies again.

Would it be nice if we see colours?  I mean a lot of colours.  If I can oblige the public on their wardrobes, this is the season to be all bright and sparkly with our colourful coats and shiny metallic accessories.  Match with bright tights and handbags to beat the depressing weather. 

Isn’t it that grey can be matched with bright pinks, royal blues, sunshine yellows and lime greens?  Whether it be your coat, shoes or tights, this is the way to be.  Imagine a mono street with colourfully dressed people on it.  Its like a “photoshopped photoshoot”.. . artistic ... attractive... a smile generating scene.

Here are my personal picks ....

Bright & Colourful Winter

What are the colors to keep you winter warm, bright and sassy?

 A play of dark, neutral and intense shades to fancy the eye and spirit and inspire stylish mash-ups, we say.  Combine seasonal practicality with a dash of boldness by wearing a merry mix of versatile neutrals and perk-up brights.

Traditional grays and blacks are complemented this season by creamy chocolate and deep shades of khaki and olive green. These richer neutrals spice up somber and heighten the comforting nature of the winter palette.

You likewise can do no wrong by wearing jewel tones of emerald and purple. They provide that exquisite, perfectly poised note for the season. On the other side of plush are royal blue and wine red, two colors telegraphing elegance.

For a shot of bright amidst the cold, opt for youthful hues of carnation pink and orange. At Pantone, the color forecast specialist, they come in the vibrant, inviting  shades of Flambe Pink and Tangerine Tango. 

This winter’s signature orange works especially well with the misty neutrals that round out the color story-- rose and peach are the milky pastels of the moment. The contrast of veiled tones and earthy brights capture the delicate enchantment of the season.

Toned down shades of bright colors, notably mustard, are a smart winter choice, warm and calming as they are. 

Black, of course, is the default option for every winter wardrobe but contrasting it with the brights of the season certainly extends its fashion mileage. 

- Joyce Fernandez

*Photos courtesy of Gossip Girl and Jimmy Choo

ECO KNITTY WITTY by Joyce Fernandez

Give it a few more seasons and sustainable fashion will come into its own. The latest outing of Esthetica at London Fashion Week saw eco-fashion longer on design and lesser on the pieties, signaling an exciting and bankable future for ethical fashion and fair trading practices. 

The 15 designers invited by the British Fashion Council to show their sustainable fashion collections at Somerset House not only gave good green but great ideas as well. This is just what eco-minded fashion needs – design-driven excitement, not just conscience.

There was certainly a lot of interest around Jerome Lorico’s collection of knitted sheaths inspired by Inca sacrificial virgins. With intricately folded bodices, robe-like protrusions and trains, the dresses would catch the fancy of any It Girl looking for fabulosity on a night prowl. Or anyone with an eye toward high feminine seduction. 

Lorico, who designs home décor and paints as well, has a constructivist’s sensibility for shape and form. He also has an intuitive feel for sensuality. The combination makes for a fresh, innovative and exhilarating collection by any reckoning - the most frequent comment heard from buyers and press who happened by his space: “Amazing”.

There’s a bit of handcrafting here, with the bodices painstakingly folded by the designer to resemble Inca armour. But the real sustainability element is how he ingeniously combined cotton with pineapple fiber, an organic fiber used for traditional textiles in the designer’s native Philippines. 

Pineapple fiber is normally made into a special, light and airy, handcrafted fabric used for formal wear (especially for the traditional men’s formal shirt, the Barong Tagalog, check any photograph of the Philippines president at work), but has limited commercial fashion use. The production of pina fabric in the Philippines is a treasured cultural heritage and a cottage industry in a clutch of regional communities. However, like most traditional crafts, it is in danger of dying out, if the craft cannot sustain the interest of the next generation of pina weavers.

By combining cotton knit with 30 percent pineapple fiber, Lorico has hit upon the idea of how to make knitwear lighter but more heat-retentive and has found a potentially lucrative commercial application for the pineapple fiber as well.  “It improves the properties of knitwear and at the same time it offers greater income opportunities for pina-weaving communities,” he says. “I truly believe this has global potential.”

Last season, Lorico exhibited men’s knitwear using the same material as part of the global fashion showcase.  

Philip Lim Pops In Selfridges

Photo courtesy of Grazia

Philip Lim's 31 hour series is now in the heart of London's Shopping District.. and right inside the recently awarded Best Department Store in the World 2012 - Selfridges!

Cool, Chic and Classic... the 3 C's I can give Philip Lim's Spring Summer Collection.   Colour-blocking styles highlight this season's collection. 

Minimalistas have less than 90 days to come and feel Philip Lim's collection at the Selfridges this summer.  The pop-up store packs up before summer ends.

Transgender Beauties Strut the Catwalk in London

Filipino-British Costume Designer Neil Medina showcased his eccentric creative works at the Pacha London last 13th April 2012 featuring Transgender Beauties as his main models.

Whilst the world is still debating on Transgenders taking part in Beauty Pageants, Designer Neil Medina did not have any second thoughts making use of their beauty and grace on the catwalk.

Let's admit many of them are really stunning and really pull it off.  Some of the works featured were gowns made from crisps wrappers, London Olympic inspired gown and a Filipiniana inspired gown.

London Olympic inspired gown

Union Jack Dress

 Neil Medina's Eccentric Costume used in a Beauty Pageant

 A gown made from recycled crisps wrappers.

Dee Chanelle

Filipiniana Dress inspired gown

The models at the end of the show

Neil Medina with some of his guests

Neil Medina

Basic Black Picks for Autumn/Winter 2012

London Fashion Week AW 2012 kicked off last week at the Somerset House and here are my black basic picks from selected designers..... You are the judge!

Corrie Nielsen

Fyodor Golan

Caroline Charles

Jasper Conran

Mark Fast

Michael van der Ham

Pilotto

Sophe Hulme

Todd Lynn

Photos courtesy of London Fashion Week

All In One Outfit for the Budgetista!

Imagine .... Friday... much awaited weekend, and at......

9am    Go to work

1pm    Business Lunch

4pm    Presentation at the Office

7pm   Best friend's 30th Birthday Party

You turn up at your BFF's city bash in a stunning outfit matched with a nice handbag and a silly ol' tote bag to carry your spare shoes and spare clothes for the day :(

These days its a bit of a challenge to find a wardrobe that will suit all types of calling in one day (+ within our budget).

I do not have the exact statistics but just so you know dear budgetistas, there's more clothes hanging on the online rail now than ever before, which is why I am here to help you find just a few of them.

Now imagine Friday.....

Wait, don't spoil the surprise.  This is your £20 frock (www.my987wardrobe.com) for your BFFs bash but you are going to be in it when you get in to work. How? Roll the belt and keep it in your handbag for the evening bash.  Instead, wear an "easy to roll" spare belt  from New Look (Stretch Beaded Belt £6.99)

Do you think I am going to let you turn up in your office with "one shoulder"?  Cover up with a decent and classic Blazer from H&M at £24.99.  Perfect cut for this frock because it won't cover the belt.

Shoes:  I checked out this pair from www.discountshoestore.co.uk:  WAS £12.00 Now £7.00!!!!

Make up: LESS IS MORE.  Please do not carry the whole wedding make-up range of Max Factor with you.  Take only the essentials: foundation, eyeliner, eyeshadow and lipstick (preferably two in one that you can smudge on your cheeks for a natural blush look!)

Now keep all these and other essentials in this classic vintage faux croc handbag £25.00 from JulyTwenty.com.  Don't forget the rolled up belt for the evening event.  It will fit, promise!

Now you are ready to go to work, business lunch and presentation.

6pm...top up your make-up and add some gold tone accessory set £25 from JulyTwenty.com.  Change the belt.  Now you're ready to party!

The above items are classic pieces and can be worn again via mix and match.  You can always change the look of the frock with a different styled belt or a patterned blazer.

-----------------------------------------------
Photos courtesy of the respective retailers.  Prices at the time of blogging.

Trend for Spring 2012: Saturated Sorbet

Winter will be over in a few weeks, that's how fast time flies. 

This Spring 2012, there's something sweet in store for us.... Saturated Sorbets....

http://www.julytwenty.com

http://www.julytwenty.com

Clothing courtesy of H&M & Topshop via MSN.  Handbags courtesy of JulyTwenty London.

Hot New Clutch Bag Trends for 2012

Happy New Year to all!

Here are my top picks for SS 2012 Clutch / Handbags

This year's theme are Tribal, Futuristic, Floral and Saturated Sorbet.

Burberry  Bottega Venetta

Proeza Schouler

Chanel

Prada

Prada

 

 

 

 

                                                  Photos courtesy of Harpers