Milan Fashion Week FW07 Wrapup I

It's Milan time! While I don't care for all the collections shown in Milan, there are (exactly) five shows that I do look foward to each time.

Prada

The show that I look most foward to in Milan. I haven't seen something so fresh on the runway for so long, (granted, I've only been into fashion for a few years.) This collection makes one feel so many things, so many that I don't know how to describe this collection. It's simple, yet not so (in terms of fabric); it's not flashy, but it is still so strangely glamorous at the same time; it's a FW collection, but the colours were so fresh it felt like a SS collection; with the sober tailoring and expensive material, it's grown-up, but with the laminating colour flashes and knee-high socks, it seemed young. Can we say genius?

Simple, elegant grown-up clothes.

Weird fluffy, shaggy material jacket. And look, bright mustard yellow socks!

Solid blocks of colours -is that very 90's? Plus, the outfit with the coat without sleeves on the right -unsexy yet glamorous.

Look at the dress on Sasha (middle) -it looks like an ordinary black dress, but the skirt section is made of a different material as the top part. Plus, I really want that hat! Tada, Miuccia is already sporting her FW07 vision.

Miuccia Prada said, "simple and strange"; Suzy Menkes said, "Prada vision light year ahead". Loves it.

Burberry

I have to say, the key designers have really been surprising me this season in terms of colours and direction. This Burberry collection was a departure from the previous ones. It's so dark, elegantly edgy and slightly severe. I mean, I usually associate Burberry with older rich people who favour pretty, somewhat fashionable and elegant designs. Not that this collection isn't elegant -it is -but it's just darker than one would imagine. I like dark things, so I like this collection, but what do the normal Burberry fans think?

Dark, somewhat shiny coats of many varieties, including parkas. A-line silhouette created with above-knee dresses or coats and belts.

Tights with ankle boots continue to rock next FW.

I really like these edgy-feeling, pretty, knee-high dresses. The elbow gloves make the outfit look even more edgy sleek.

D&G

Hmm, I'm not much of a D&G fan, but it's always fun to look at the more youthful collections. This collection is all about leopard prints, leopard prints and leopard prints in a 50's way.

Is it just me or does this collection seem less trashy than the past D&G collections?

The colour palette was quite neatrual -black, cream, gold, red and err, leopard prints.

Observe the HUGE bag (in the right photo).

What did you think of these collections? Can't wait to see more from Milan!

Photo sources: Style.com, Elle

Rock and Republic Pockets

I've always been intrigued with the Victoria Beckham for Rock and Republic jeans. So the other day at Sak's I finally tried on a pair for fun- and wow!

They looked and fit great! I happened to have picked the wider leg one (Victoria Beckham La Jeans), so it made me look taller and more slimming. The wash was also excellent, in a gorgeous even indigo shade with just a hint of those engineering effect. I must admit, I was very surprised. First because I didn't think much of Victoria Beckham as a designer (although she probably didn't design it completely on her own anyway....) and secondly because it is by Rock and Republic, and R&R never used to fit me so well, particularly around the butt. But alas, they are priced close to $300 and I'm not sure I'm prepared to pay that much for them. Especially when I haven't decided if those gold crowns are tacky or cool . . . . . though i guess they are better than these skulls. At first glance, I really liked the intricate emblemic design. But once I realized there was a skull...well, lets just say they are not to my taste.
I much prefer their classic logo. Simple, sleek yet cool. Although by now, I must admit, it has become a bit boring seeing it on everywhere.

The gold stitching is a good twist to make it more interesting. Although again, it can potentially border on too much.

Thoughts on these pockets?

The Big Black Shiny Bag

Hit bags always leave behind a trail. Back when the Chloe Paddington became 'it', designers everywhere (mostly highstreet brands) suddenly started adding padlocks onto their bag designs. Last season, the oversized Chanel patent leather bag hit it bag after Kate Moss was seen carrying it, looking very cool and all. Then the editors of various magazines and super styish people wanted it. And then puff, it was all sold out! The bag caught on the trend for many reasons -patent leather, oversized, simple. Now, many similar looking bags have caught on:

Technically, this bag isn't a copycat -it's from last season's Marc by Marc Jacobs collection. I was quite surprised when I first saw this bag, because believe me, it was huge! It's also available in black/navy.

Tod's D-bag is simple and practical. Plus, it gives that big, black and shiny block feel that the Chanel bag gave off, except of course the Chanel one looked cooler, and this one more basic-looking.

This bag's by Marni. It's another big black of shiny black with the added Marni twist -bug-shaped and quirky.

This Marc Jacobs shopper bag is another lovely simple black patent leather tote.

The YSL Downtown patent leather tote bag is another super cool black shiny bag. I really like this one too (apart from the Chanel one).

And finally, I know this isn't big or black, but doesn't this Bebe bag's design totally remind you of the Chanel one?

Isn't it interesting to see how different designers and brands interpret the oversized, shiny, black bag design?

Photo sources: Net-a-porter, Chanel, Nordstrom, Saks

London Fashion Week FW07 Wrapup II

Sorry this post is so late people. I just got back from Barcelona and my first priority was to watch the new episode of Grey's Anatomy (SO touching -Derek was amazing; Cristina too. Who can't wait for next week?). So ya, I haven't really had a chance to look through all the collections, but I did look at Marc by Marc Jacobs, afterall how could I not?

Christopher Kane

His SS07 collection was amazing, esp since it was his debut show, so it was no surprise the buzz around this show was larger than the Marc by Marc Jacobs show. I remember when I first saw the SS07 clothes, I was like err, colourful and pretty, but how is anyone going to wear it in real life? But that collection has slowly grown on me in the past few months and I think it's mega-pretty. Now onto Kane's new FW07 collection: It was good, yes, but frankly, I was a bit disappointed. Maybe because this collection was less colourful (which I have come to associate with Kane), and I just didn't like the combination of some of the fabrics, colours and design. But anyways, here are some that I liked:

The dress on the left is fantastic in a catwalk sense, but that orangey jacket on the right? Seriously?

There were more styles in this collection than the last one.

And more dresses.

Marc by Marc Jacobs

One of the shows I most look out for each season (mainly becaues it's relatively affordable). This collection was typical Marc by Marc Jacobs -cute and youthfully styled, which is why even though it wasn't a directional collection, I still liked it, most of it. Sometimes, I think observing and learning styling techniques in Marc's shows is even more fascinating than the clothes.

Really like that coat (left.) And see that outfit on the right? There's a bit of the ladylike-style as seen in the Marc Jacobs show last week. Ooo, and see the white shoes in the middle, I want them! They're supposed to be ice-skating-inspired shoes.

Hemlines are high again. Girly girly girly.

These feel like a continuation of the FW06 collection in terms of the colour theme. Grey and navy are still prominent. And take note of the long gloves.

I love the artist look on Sasha (left,) and the dress on the right is an adoarable interpretation of the Balenciaga and ballerina style.

Photo sources: elle.com, style.com

Bobbi Brown: Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

Today, in an attempt to get my brows plucked (where I come from, BB has an absolutely fabulous eyebrow plucking service), I accidentally landed a make-up consultation at Bobbi Brown. So not only did I get my brows plucked, but I also got make-up done. And that led me to the discovery of the most awesome eyeliner: the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner.

I must admit, as much as we all swear by the MAC pencil eyeliner (which goes on super smoothly), it still smudges and just goes away in a hour or two for me. Plus, its really hard to line the top lids, without it looking too obvious. So I was amazed when the very nice lady at the counter convinced me to this eyeliner. I thought it would be hard since its liquid and everything (and really, my make-up application skills are abysmal), but turns out its super easy.

Using the ultra thin eyeliner brush, we dipped it into the gel (black ink color), dabbed it onto tissue paper and just gently brushed it onto the roots of our lashes-not the fleshy bits as I'd originally thought. First from below the lashes (lifting the lids a bit) and then on the top. Then we blended and smudged the top line with dark eye shadow. And ta-da the eye liner is seamlessly blended and my eyes looked big and defined. This gel eyeliner is just fabulous.

In case you are interested, they also added a dark shade on the contours, pale pink blush (which is now on my list of wants, because since its sheer, it doesn't look too unnaturally pink at all. It looks really nice and pretty), shimmer brick all over (also getting close to be on my list, because the shimmer adds a nice touch. Although I think I'll shop around more for this) and this under eye highlighter thing (which intrigues me, so I'm going to look more into this and compare the effects of this and the Benefit eye highlighter thing). Aw. . .make-up is SO much fun!

London FW07 Fashion Week Wrapup I

To be honest, I haven't been too inspired with the latest FW07 offerings. They all look very dark, grungy and baggy- not quite my thing. But anyway, here's my assessment of this week's show.

Preen
Preen have always been simple and oh so casual chic to me.

But this season, besides these few looks that is cool and chic (albeit a bit boring), everything else looks either. . .
robotic
or like a bag lady.

Aquascutum
Aquascutum on the other hand, was much more to my taste.

They had the more classic ladylike and simple pieces which I like.
And the more adventurous looks that are different but still very feminine and ladylike. Got to love the capes!

Biba
My favourite collection this week was Biba. While we may have seen some of these designs before, I am loving how they are flattering to the figure, feminine and fun.
The simple yet chic shift dress. The silk shirts. The tights. Who can get enough of that?
Perfect for casual, work to a night out!
Love Love Love it! She looks sooo cool and chic in that trench!

Photos credit: elle.com

Dresses For Valentine's Day

Obviously, people who have dates tonight should already have their outfits all planned out. But hey, I'll use any opportunity to ooh and ahh at pretty dresses. Here are a bunch of dresses I love and at least one should suit your different personalities, (unless we have very different taste; you're very quirky, hard to please, or very slutty.)

If you're a very simple girl and your date is during daytime, or you just like being casual, this tie-back dresses by Lux (from Urban Outfitters) is for you.

Since it is winter, long-sleeved dresses would be a good choice. Here are two classic LBDs -I really like the one by Marios Schwab for Top Shop (left), and the one on the right (by Top Shop) is just really nice and simple.

V-neck, empire-ish dresses are def the fun and sexy way to go. Go for a sophisticated one by Laundry by Sheli Segal (left) or go for a shocking pink one by Badgley Mischka (right).

Cute cocktail dresses, both by Mara Hoffman. Personally I like the black dress better -it's simple in a not-too-boring-way, young and can totally be reused in the future. But the red bubble dress is more suitable for semi-formal dinners.

If you want something pretty and delicate-looking, go for something like the Sue Wong dress (left) here. If you want something sleek and contemporary, I love this Graham & Spencer silk jersey dress (right).

And of course we have the lovely wrapdresses, which Lorelai wears all the time in Gilmore Girls. The dress on the left is by Diane von Furstenburg. For something less, err, wrapped up, this Catherine Malandrino bustier dress (right) is sexy without being trashy.

And finally, onto the expensive dresses. I absolutely love this version of the LBD by Marc Jacobs. It's fashionable, chic and flattering on the body, plus think of all those occasions you can wear it to. And that Vera Wang Lavender dress (right) is just divine. We can dream, can't we?

And yes, it is more than ok not to wear a dress to your date. Afterall, we are in the 21st century. Happy Valentine's Day people!

Photo sources: Shopbop, Urban Outfitters, Net-a-Porter, Nordstrom