Bardot does Givenchy

For those of us who can't fork out the thousands for an original Prada bag or Burberry coat, there is a solution. It's called proliferation (think of this in fashion terms, not binary fission). When a high-end designer comes up with a genius cut, print or colour, the next minute other designers, who design for various socio-economic groups, take that original design and recreate it.

Enter Bardot SS12.

The look on my face as I walked into their store a few weeks ago was of utter excitement. I couldn't believe they had managed to recreate the Givenchy AW11 show in a handful of carefully selected styles. Yes, it bordered slightly on design theft, but no, not everyone can pick up on that. I don't know about you, but for me, its great when a designer piece is recreated for a, dare I say, poorer target market. It means we can all have a slice of the cake and eat it too. Where once being 'in fashion' was a sign of wealth and fashion was reserved for the upper class, today, fashion is about meeting the needs of the consumer. And if the need is to look like you just walked off the Givenchy runway, I think its safe to say that Bardot has met your need.

Givenchy Fall 2011

Bardot SS2012

Vision Builders Dinner @ The Westin Hotel Sydney

Moving away from the celebrity red carpet, I thought it would be nice to put some of my friends under the spotlight for once. Enter Vision Builders Dinner 2012. A night of great food, greater company and the greatest cause - giving to those who need it most. Having an eye for style, I like to spend the night picking out my favourite looks from the crowd, seeing what Sydney-siders are wearing at this moment in time. The variety is incredible...everyone has their own idea of the word 'cocktail' and that's the most exciting part for me. Here are the top looks:

Matt & Jenny Webb with Justin Richards

David Young

Doctor Phil Pringle and I

Michelle McKune

 

Manon Soubeyran's 'IT girl' hair do

Nancy Panetta

 Mikayla Vangestel and Estee Louise

 Lynette Yahya

Nik Karlin and Eugene Choi

Tyler Antcliff

Bonnie Zhang

Emily Gilbert and Caleb Westwood

Arnel & Aida Sarian with Caroline & Sam Madikian

As far as standout trends are concerned, the men seemed to opt for a dark shirt complimented by a standout tie or bow, or, coloured pants. For the women, the bold lip stole the show, whether it was a coral red or a fuchsia pink. Surprisingly, prints of all kinds were plentiful, a trend not usually seen at formal events. Black also made itself known, but that was expected wasn't it?

I hope you enjoyed the slight 'curve jump' today... :)

Pre-Fall Review: Get To Know...(Part 2)

Some more awesome designers you should get acquainted with.

Mulberry (designed by Emma Hill)

Models (clockwise from top left): Camilla Babbington & Ella Kandyba

This was the first Pre-Fall collection for Mulberry, and inspiration for this collection was drawn from the English countryside. The colour palette of course was based around the earthy and the neutral, with occasional pops of intense green. The usual tweeds, checks and knife pleats were present but made modern by adding oversized buttons and sequins. Another feature that stood out were the large pockets. Most of the looks seemed fitting for the office and there was a lot to mix and match. This outing had a clear message, 'We can compete with that other British heritage brand'. I think they mean Burberry.

Elie Tahari (designed by Elie Tahari)

 Model:  Jandra Dziaugyte

 Tahari has decided to change tracks, at least for a season. The label recognized mainly for its corporate clothing is now moving into the realm of eveningwear. This collection was all about elaborate details, but everyday basics weren't all forgotten, just vamped up. The standout piece for me was a lace trimmed leather LBD. Lace and leather? Why aren't more people doing this!

J. Mendel (designed by Gilles Mendel)

Model: Lisanne De Jong

 "It's the sensibility of Spring, but with more tailoring". For the audience, this meant weightless floor-skimming gowns paired with structured outerwear. Cashmere coats came in black and camel, and were lined with lamb skin. The dresses on the other hand were made from fine mousseline, chiffon and organza, sometimes reminiscent of the costumes from the movie Black Swan. The word beautiful would be deemed an understatement. A seamless continuation from the Spring collection.

No. 21 (designed by Alessandro Dell'Acqua)

Model: Marique Schimmel

 Alessandro Dell'Aqua has had to leave behind his once glorified past and start afresh, hence the new label named after his birthdate in December. And with a new label comes a new concept. More daywear and more knits, in other words more casual, less cocktail, even though we still saw glimpses of seductive eveningwear in the collection, which his old fans will love. Dell'Aqua's new silhouettes might appeal to a wider audience...the androgynous, the teenager, the 30 something mothers. In any case, the new brand is sure to create revenue for this fashion industry veteran.

I hope you learned something new today. Feel free to comment for more info or to make suggestions!

Just Because...

...Diane Kruger is a glamazon.

Diane Kruger in Nina Ricci