LADIES, breathe a sigh of relief. After seasons of teetering on towering stilettos, battling with abstract wedges and navigating the perils of platforms, spring/summer brings an end to the balancing act. Welcome the new low heel.
We know, they haven’t always scored high on the lust front, but with Chloe, Stella McCartney, Marni and Missoni pioneering the new heel height you can expect to be impressed. Chloe’s take their shape from a pirate boot, with wide saddle leather buckled straps, while Marni’s bronze and black suede sandals make a great evening option, and Missoni’s boast a wooden sole (jump on the bandwagon; wooden soles are everywhere this season).
Warning: once tried, you’ll never want to wear heels again.
The Haute Couture Fashion Week has begun and the high fashion market has posted some very positive sales news. Top Parisian labels, including Chanel, Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier, have revealed a marked increase in both sales and demand. ”We have received so many orders, we are not sure we can deliver them,” said Dior ceo Sidney Toledano. “The demand is here. The number of clients has increased – they are looking for high quality, and haute couture is the summit. I’m very optimistic for the future,” he continued. “In the business of couture, the numbers are becoming interesting. The rise has been credited to an influx of orders from China, the Middle East and Russia. Chanel has seen a rise “between 20 and 30 per cent” over the past year.
“There is no end of the season,” said Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion at Chanel to WWD. “The people who are interested in couture, they are quite active at the moment. They can come at any time.”
Kicking off this week’s shows today are Bouchra Jarra, Dior, and new comer Axelis Mabille. Tomorrow sees new offerings from Armani Prive, Chanel and Givenchy – the last time the label will show its highest end collections in catwalk format after it opted to conduct individual appointments. Elie Saab, Gaultier and Valentino will round up the event. This year’s event will also see the introduction of jewellery on the official couture schedule. Van Cleef & Arpels and Chanel Joaillerie will both present their new collections.
Fashion News, Fashion Profile, Fashion Trends
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Armani Prive, Axelis Mabille, Bouchra Jarra, Chanel, Chanel Joaillerie, Dior, Elie Saab, Givenchy, Haute Couture, Jean Paul Gaultier, Sidney Toledano, valentino, Van Cleef & Arpels
Amsale Aberra was born in Ethiopia, Amsale at first just want to come to the United States to study commercial art courses for some time, but left her hometown of political turmoil had to remain in the United States to continue their studies. In order to work-study program, Amsale started trying to design their own clothes, and all kinds of different kind of African style clothing for her customers greatly welcomed. Amsale at the University of Massachusetts political science degree after leaving Boston, and went to Fashion Institute of Technology to study fashion design after graduation, Amsale smoothly as Harve Benard designers. In 1985, Amsale found in organizing the wedding to find an elegantly simple wedding turned out to be so difficult, so she decided it-yourself design aesthetic dream wedding, this same time she also found that waits to be the wedding design industry Perhaps it would become a turning point in her career, so she chose to rent a loft in her new career began. Experienced 20 years of ups and downs, Amsale wedding today has grown to include series, gown series, and custom evening wear fashion brand in New York.
In autumn and winter 2010 conference in New York, whether it is Kenneth Pool’s gorgeous dream, or Christos Bridal elegant atmosphere, or Amsale simple, attention to detail style characteristics, are beginning to pay attention so that everyone behind the scenes of the soul of those dazzling wedding master of Amsale Aberra .
Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce celebrated 20 years of their menswear business in Milan on the weekend with a multi-media event, exhibition, and gala in Piazza della Scala. The duo were joined by Hollywood heavyweights including Rachel Weisz, Morgan Freeman and Matthew McConaughey and by some of the biggest names in Italian fashion - Franca Sozzani,Francesco Scognamiglio, Giovanna Battaglia, Roberto Rimondi and Tommaso Aquilano and Margherita Missoni.
Eva Herzigova, Peaches Geldof and Monica Belluci were also a part of the Dolce & Gabbana-clad crowd that toasted the boys’ menswear success with the new Martini Gold by Dolce & Gabbana – a fitting tipple for such a milestone.
Many models were in different stages of undress; this was a Dolce & Gabbana show after all. Bare-chested and in boxer shorts or swimming trunks (which at one stage appeared in a 1970’s stripy retro guise), the beefed-up models stormed the catwalk from a back stage area which was filmed and broadcast live on screens in the main hall. It turned out to be a ‘Best Of D&G’ collection, with a distinctive rugged and ripped look, dominated by braided leather accessories and rustic knitwear.
Fashion News, Fashion Profile, Fashion Trends
| Annie Lennox, Dolce & Gabbana, Domenico Dolce, Eva Herzigova, Franca Sozzani, Francesco Scognamiglio, Giovanna Battaglia, iazza della Scala, Margherita Missoni, Milan, Morgan Freeman, Peaches Geldof, Rachel Weisz, Roberto Rimondi, Stefano Gabbana, Tommaso Aquilano
The ashes of late British fashion designer Alexander McQueen have been scattered on the Isle of Skye off Scotland’s west coast,
in line with his final wishes, his family said on Monday. McQueen, who rose from a modest background to become one of the world’s most flamboyant and high-profile designers, committed suicide in February on the day before his mother’s funeral. A family statement said: “On the 29th May 2010, Lee Alexander McQueen was laid to rest on the Isle of Skye. ”Lee cherished the times that he was able to spend on the Isle of Skye — he enjoyed the beauty, peace and tranquillity. It was Lee’s final request that his ashes should be buried at Kilmuir,” it said. They also thanked Isabella MacDonald and her family at the local Kinloch Lodge Hotel on Skye, “whose support at this sad time was of immense help in making it possible for them to carry out Lee’s wishes.” The body of the 40-year-old was found hanged in a wardrobe in his central London flat. An inquest into his death concluded in April that he had taken cocaine, sleeping pills and tranquillisers before killing himself. McQueen was one of fashion’s superstars and designed for Givenchy before being creative director of his own label. His death cast a cloud over New York’s and London’s Fashion Week, which was just about to start when he died.
JONATHAN SAUNDERS was last night crowned Scottish Designer of the Year at the fifth anniversary Scottish Fashion Awards, held at Glasgow’s Science Centre. Complete with its own tartan – as opposed to red – carpet, guests to the annual celebration of Scottish design talent included David Gandy, Amanda Wakeley, Graeme Black, Antonio Berardi, Markus Lupfer, Peter Jensen, Holly Fulton and Louise Gray – all of whom enjoyed a VIP dinner and runway show from Swarovski after the night’s winners were revealed.
Holly Fulton scooped Scottish Young Designer of the Year, while Scottish Accessory Designer of the Year went to William Chambers. Lisa Omond took home the award for Scottish Model of the Year and Markus Lupfer won International Designer of the Year (for use of a Scottish fabric), and, as we revealed last week, Malcolm Edwards was inducted into the Scottish Hall of Fame. ”Tonight the Scottish Fashion Awards have once more proudly showcased and celebrated the best of the country’s fashion talent, talent that can be seen taking over the industry all over the world, in every role – from models to designers, photographers, hairstylists, textile designers and more,” said Tessa Hartmann, founder and producer of the event. “The event has proved yet again that Scotland’s so-called ‘fashion moment’ is in fact no such thing – Scots are ruling the runways and they’re not going anywhere.”
Fashion News, Fashion Profile, Fashion Trends
| Amanda Wakeley, Antonio Berardi, David Gandy, Graeme Black, Holly Fulton, Louise Gray, Markus Lupfer, Peter Jensen, Swarovski
Rachel Zoe (born September 1, 1971) is an American fashion stylist and author best known for working with celebrities, fashion houses, beauty firms, advertising agencies, and magazine editors. In 2008, the first season of her Bravo reality television series The Rachel Zoe Project debuted. She is married to Rodger Berman, with whom she went to college at The George Washington University, in Washington, DC.
After years of speculation, it’s all happening! Rachel Zoe–she of the catch phrases and maxi dresses –is launching her own apparel collection, which will be manufactured by mammoth firm Li and Fung. The celebrity stylist already does accessories and outwears collection for QVC, but this line will be a little more upscale. She’ll be selling to boutiques, as well as department stores like Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. In fact, it seems like the line will be competing against former protégé Nicole Richie’s collection, Winter Kate, for floor space. Zoe said that her signature looks–fake fur, Halston-inspired dresses–will be present. (However, she’s still in the midst of hiring a design team.)
June 2010, Johannesburg – African designers from all over the world are jetting in to showcase their Trans seasonal 2010 collections at the Sandton Convention Centre during Africa Fashion Week which starts on June 30, only days before the FIFA 2010 World Cup Quarter Finals.
Established South African fashion-world heavy-weights including Marianne Fassler, Errol Arendz, Stoned Cherrie and David Tlale will show alongside global talents like Deola Sagoe (fresh from New York Fashion Week) and current celeb-favourite Laquan Smith.
Xuly Bet, the Paris-based go-to label for many celebrities, including Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill and Neneh Cherry, will be opening this years’ Africa Fashion Week. The award-winning label recently made global headlines with the ‘Obama’ dress at New York Fashion Week.
Marianne Fassler, who has not shown for two years, will be showcasing a collection entitled Global Gathering. The collection, a multi-layered extravaganza will focus on the idea of beginning: Africa as the birthplace of mankind and children as the original designers – her show will open with a small capsule collection designed under her direction by two children Adam (7) and Sibella (9), before continuing on a journey that pays homage to Africa’s polyglot of nations. Joining her on the schedule is New Yorker-based label Mataano. The soft, feminine line is designed by the Somali sisters Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim who have been likened to the Olsen twins of Africa and have featured on CNN and Oprah.
Other designers traveling from the US include Laquan Smith, the current favourite of Rhianna (he designed the gold dress for her Rudeboy video) and Lady Gaga.Mimi Plange, who has worked with designer Rachel Roy and Patricia Field, the famed Sex and the City stylist, will be bringing her sophisticated, yet deeply romantic label Boudoir D’Huitres to Africa Fashion Week. Bunmi Koko, a British-based label has been garnering UK press attention over the past year with her innovative, structured designs favoured by celebrities such as Mel B (who chose a Bunmi Koko couture dress for the 2010 Brit Awards), Alesha Dixon, Alex Curran, Sadie Frost and Kate Middleton will also be showcasing on African soil. Local South African brand Stoned Cherrie will be marking their tenth anniversary with their Africa Fashion Week show – their Summer 2010 collection is a retrospective look at the label’s silhouettes throughout its history.”Africa Fashion Week is providing a platform for shining stars from across the diaspora, the continent and the country,” says Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Chairperson of African Fashion International. “The world continues its love affair with all things African, African as a point of reference, not as a cliché and it’s very important we here in Africa continue to support that.” Completing the line-up of designers at Africa Fashion Week 2010 are Sakina Msa, Ituen Basi (last year’s Africa Fashion Award winner for Innovative Designs), Soucha, Heni Este-Heijzen and Christie Brown (joint winners of last year’s Emerging Designer Award), Noir, Qumi Bespoke, Koketso Chiepe, Gloria Wavamunno and Abigail Betz, Thula Sindi, Carducci and Fabiani. The four day event features more than 30 designers from Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Uganda, Botswana, Ghana, Somali, Tunisia, French Commores, South Africa, Mozambique, the United States and the UK. Africa Fashion Week runs from June 30 – July 3 2010 at the Sandton Convention Centre
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| Abigail Betz, Africa Fashion Week, Alesha Dixon, Alex Curran, Ayaan Mohallim, Boudoir D'Huitres, Bunmi Koko, Carducci, Christie Brown, CNN, DAVID TLALE, Deola Sagoe, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Errol Arendz, Fabiani, FIFA 2010 World Cup, Gloria Wavamunno, Grace Jones, Heni Este-Heijzen, Idyl Mohallim, Ituen Basi, Kate Middleton, Koketso Chiepe, Lady Gaga, Laquan Smith, Lauryn Hill, Marianne Fassler, Mataano, Mel B, Mimi Plange, Neneh Cherry, Noir, Oprah, Patricia Field, Qumi Bespoke, Rachel Roy, Sadie Frost, Sakina Msa, Sex and the City, Soucha, Stoned Cherrie, Thula Sindi
Sarah Burton, has a large pair of shoes to fill in becoming the creative director of the brand. The parent company Gucci Group which owns 51% of the McQueen brand, announced that Burton will supervise the creative direction and development of all collections of the brand going forwards. Burton, 35, was born in Manchester, began working for the late designer, in 1996, while she was in her final year at Central St. Martins – McQueen’s own alma mater. She was appointed head of women’s wear design in 2000, and was working closely with the designer right up until his untimely death by suicide, in February. due to this she probably knows McQueen professionaly as well as anyone as she worked wit him for 14 years. we wish her the best of luck but she might not need it, as she is as safe a pair of hands as the brand could get.
Not quite, but the English-eccentric label has ceased trading with long-term financial backer Club 21, which pulled its support for Luella. VSQ, a Club 21 subsidiary, decided “not to invest further in its relationship with Luella Bartley Limited” after Luella’s ready-to-wear manufacturer, Carla Carini, closed unexpectedly last month, leaving Spring/Sumer 2010 orders unable to be fulfilled.
“This is a very disappointing situation for everyone involved with the brand,” designer Luella Bartley said in a statement. “I very much appreciate the support that VSQ has given me, but it is upsetting not to be able to protect jobs in this difficult economic climate. I love the Luella character and hope that after we have survived this challenging time the Luella girl can have an exciting future ahead of her, whichever incarnation she takes on next. We have a number of options open to us, and are considering these over the coming months.”
With an estimated $16 million turnover and glowing reviews for its last collection, not to mention legions of celebrity fans including Alexa Chung, Zooey Deschanel and Lily Allen, we’re sure Luella is down but definitely not out.
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