Street Style - Milan Fashion Week Fall 2014

Street Style
Milan Fashion Week
Fall 2014

The heat has been turned up in Milan, and I'm not talking about the weather unfortunately. This fashion week, a glamourous spin on street style has been brought to us by the world's biggest stylists, socialites and bloggers. The Italians certainly gave New York and London a run for their money in the designer clothing department, there were labels Everywhere. These are a collection of trends to inspire our own winter wardrobes.

Red Alert

These traffic-stopping looks have been some of my favourite from Milan Fashion week, with red being depicted in different and unique ways. A ladylike crimson mini, a neon shift with Fendi fur coat and eye-popping plastic heels, a stunning tulle maxi skirt styled with a moto-jacket, a trendy tartan dress and a fringed rocker frock.

Hot Fuzz

Fringe, feathers and fur (hopefully all faux) have texturized street styles this fashion week with a fuzzy heap of lush coats, scarves and vests to keep the cold at bay.

Gilded Girls

The Italian fashion pack cemented their glamourous style status by showing us how to artfully wear shiny gold metallics during the day. I love the second look with burgundy coat, sequined skirt and aqua heels.

Suited Up 

There is probably nothing chicer than an Italian-cut suit and these ladies have certainly taken heed of that, displaying sophisticated menswear-inspired suits, styled with leather loafers, sneakers and simple tees.

The Right Stripes

Stripes were the go-to print during MFW, with a multitude of fashionistas opting for the linear look, showcasing vertical and horizontally striped coats, trousers, skirts and shirts. These are some great styling ideas on how to wear stripes in a new and modern way.

Minimalistic Chic

Taking a breather from all the extravagance off and on the catwalk, these minimalistic outfits present chic wearability in the highest degree.

Pattern Play

Leave it to MFW to visually engage us with a jazzy array of eclectic and electrifying prints.

Tough Luxe

The fine line between femininity is blurred by these toughened up jet-black outfits that bring leather and goth luxe to the forefront. 

Pastelletic

Pretty pastel pink and powder blue looks made a saccharine splash at Milan Fashion Week with chunky knits, overcoats, dresses & skirts. Wear it all in the same subdued palette or break it up with dark or light neutrals.

Colourful Coats

If you were not convinced by brights in my last two fashion week posts, this one ought to seal the deal, because vibrantly bright coats are In. A Very Big Way. Try your hand at this popular trend by pairing a solid coloured coat with neutrals & heels. Marigold yellow was a favored choice, with sightings of red, purple & blue.

Which is your favorite Street Style Trend from Milan Fashion Week?

*Images found via Grazia.it, Harper's Bazaar, Elle.com, Fashion Magazine, Flare.com and Vogue.

Street Style - London Fashion Week Fall 2014

London Fashion Week
Fall/Winter 2014
Street Style

I always look forward to the creativity that comes with London street style during fashion week. Many of the trends we saw in New York have been stretched out across the pond, and along with it, a whole new stack of cutting-edge ideas have emerged. These are a few eye-catching outfits I've collected from the streets of London Fashion Week.

London Brights

The very popular bright shaded coat trend has spread it's vivacity to London with great animation. It takes a certain amount of confidence to pull off such electric hues, but it's most certainly worth the camera flashes.

Leopardess

Add a dash of leopard print to your everyday outfit as these ladies did. The easiest way to incorporate this print is via bags, boots and shoes. Invest in an animal print dress or coat for a more brazen urban jungle look. 

Off The Grid

Forget tartan, it was grid prints that made a graphic splash at LFW. This bold checked pattern was seen on everything from coats to skirts, scarves, dresses and pants. Wear it head-to-toe for an impactful look or break up with plains for a more toned down version of the trend. A vibrant bag will add the perfect dose of colour.

Midi Mode

Another popular fashion week trend are midi skirts, seen in pretty hues and prints. It can be dressed up with a pair of heels and elegant blazer, or kept casual with a parka and cozy sweater.

Camel Coats

The classic camel coat is given the London makeover with slick styling. Wear with pinstriped shirts & cropped pants, ripped boyfriend jeans or even a sassy pair of shorts. Stilettos are a must to glam up the allover look.

Chic Modernity

Building the perfect modern day outfit begins with the perceptive use of layers a play on proportions and different textures. Spice with interesting accessories like hats and metallics.

Lady Luxe

I love the pairing of dainty lace pencil skirts and delicate blouses with hardy leather jackets and structured coats. This feminine blend of pretty pastels cleverly merges sheers, cashmere and woolen knits.

Pink Fever

The pink coat trend isn't going away anytime soon, so it's best to get onto the rose-tinted bandwagon and use these chic looks as styling inspiration.

Boy Meets Girl

Androgynous dressing takes the lead in the trend sets with an intriguing array of masculine inspired outfits, tweaked by feminine styling. Oversized overcoats, tailored blazers, languid trousers, prim buttoned shirts and knitted pullovers are mingled with loose locks, high heels and trendy totes.

Colour Code

The city streets were lit up by a divergence of beautiful brights, lending us exciting new colour combinations.

Which of these London Street Style Trends are you most interested in trying out?

*Images found via Vogue, Vanity Fair, Wmagazine, Harper's Bazaar, Elle and Eonline.

Parisian Chic - Fashion Week Street Style SS14

Street Style
Paris Fashion Week
Spring/Summer 2014

Our journey through the streets of fashion week come to a close in the City of Lights, where the world's trendiest editors, buyers & bloggers congregated to admire and be admired by their fashion peers. I've gathered a few of the best looks that made Paris Fashion Week stand out.

Red Tape

Brilliant flashes of crimson red weaved their way through Paris Fashion Week in elegant splendor. Fashion editor Caroline Issa (pictured first) was striking in a petal pink Balmain top with a red and black Paul Smith skirt. The second outfit is flawlessly put together with an animal print blouse and beautifully fitted red skirt. A red sleeveless gilet brings vigor to a simple white tee and tights (third), and a classic red sweater is savvily mixed by blogger Dana Rogoz with a chauffeur hat and black mini for that all chic preppy look (pictured last).

Ways With Plaid

 Plaid made its way from the pavements to New York, across the pond to London & Milan and now it's firmly rooted itself in the streets of Paris. This is a set of different ways to style this all-consuming trend. My personal favourite is Anne Catherine Frey in the first outfit with the flaired navy midi skirt & plaid shirt. The second outfit features Tiffany Hsu in a high-waisted maxi skirt by Rodarte. Veronika Heilbrunner (third) wears her Acne jacket with a cropped tartan trousers by Zara. Or be brave & go all out in a fully plaid printed suit like the last look.

Coat Rack

Covering up with an outstanding coat is one way to get noticed, and stay stylishly warm. The first white floral trench coat on Helena Bordon is down-played with a quirky tee, distressed denim shorts and a comic clutch. Natalie Hartley (pictured second) wears a serene powder blue oversized No 21 coat with a floral Preen top, boyfriend jeans and metallic gold Chloe heels. In Look 3, a pair of over-the-knee boots and leather skirt suitably style this elegant sienna pink coat. Pictured last is the imaginative stylings of Vika Gazinskaya in a voluminous flamingo print coat of her own design.

Black Ballroom Skirts

Bringing a touch of formal glamour to Paris Fashion Week were gracious black ballroom skirts. From left, fashion consultant Yasmin Sewell added a yellow printed tee to her look, ballerina Hannah O'Neill was lovely in a pastel pink & black Dior ensemble, Chiara Ferragni styled her tulle Alberta Ferretti skirt with a white tank & 3.1 Philip Lim handbag and lastly, Camila Coutinho paired her pink embroidered camisole & flaired skirt with a gold belt & Chanel bag. 

Greyscale

Shades of grey proved popular in school-inspired looks with pleated skirts, dapper hats and blazers (seen in Looks 1 & 2). The third outfit is smartly layered with a trim white shirt, grey pencil skirt and charcoal perforated jacket. Pictured last is a winsome grey dress with floral neckline, puff sleeves and a storybook clutch. 

Rose Trellis

 Embrace this sugary sweet pink shade with girly dresses, oversized sweaters and sophisticated suits. Mira Duma (first) dons the trendy rose hue from top to heel. Valentina Siragusa (second) was stunning in an embellished Blumarine dress. Designer Vika Gazinskaya wore a chic blush pink pants suit with impressive black and white heels.

Tapestries

Those retro curtains you never liked will come in handy now, as tapestry prints are in vogue, casting a baroque spell with florid embroideries in rich tones. From left, Maria Kolosova pairs her rococo blazer over all black, Anna Dello Russo takes a stride in a floral Valentino frock and Elisa Baudoin charmed in her quaint printed dress with floral crown. Magazine editor Mojeh Izadpanah and Nasiba Adilova both wear ornate Valentino capes styled to perfection.

Well Suited 

Sharply tailored blazers and well-cut trousers are elegantly styled in this menswear trend. Joanna Hillman looked exceptionally polished in the first black and white outfit, the third look sees Stacy Jean in a checked Asos pants with cropped Miu Miu top and black Maje blazer. Helena Bordon (pictured fourth) vividly lifted her slick white suit with a colourful top and pictured last, Catalina Denis glowed in an orange Dior look.

Green with Envy

If you don't already have something emerald in your closet, now would be the time to buy into this colour craze. Miroslava Duma (first) has her green Acne jacket with striped sleeves cliched in by a metal gladiator belt. In the third look is Veronika Heilbrunner sporting an interesting green toned outfit with layered skirt by Acne. Appealing to a more casual style, try out a forest green jeans like the fourth outfit. And pictured last, Yasmin Sewell stands out in her jewel green satin top and spotted tulle skirt by Chloe, which she cleverly wore over jeans.

Tie It Up

Possibly the easiest trend to achieve from Paris Fashion Week, any outfit can be grunge-d up by tying a tartan shirt around the waist. The versatility of this simple manoeuvre adds an edge to mini skirts, jumpsuits, dresses, jeans and just about anything else.

La Femme

 A handful of feminine dresses echoed the romance of Paris in this engaging set of outfits. Elisa Pelosini (pictured first) was pretty in an ivory lace Isabel Marant dress with fringed boots. The second gorgeous dress is one of my favorites from PFW, this sheer black maxi is dramatically paired with a matching floral crown. The third outfit brazenly features a sheer lemon lace skirt with a white lace jacket and eye-catching metallic belt. Look 4 boasts a sophisticated black and white Dior dress. 

Birds of a Feather

With fabulously feathered and fur looks like these, I wish winter never left here in the Southern Hemsiphere! A cozy display of shaggy coats, feathery skirts and velvety soft knits warmed up the streets of Paris in grand luxury, citing both comfort and style.

Which of these Parisian street style trends will you be wearing this season?

*Images found via Harper's Bazaar, Elle Magazine, Stockholm Street Style, Easy Fashion Paris and Vanity Fair.

Things I've Learnt From Fashion Week

If you are a fashion lover even in the mildest of forms, for the past four weeks, your world has been a whirlwind of catching up on countless catwalk shows from New York to Paris. During the time we all were glued to our screens, I found that there is more to fashion week than just clothes. Whilst I learnt a few new lessons, there are also a couple of things that have left me in complete bewilderment. Probably the most invaluable pieces of knowledge I have ever picked up - These are the things I've learnt from Fashion Week.

Things I've Learnt From Fashion Week:

*Fashion is what we see on the runway, but Style is what we see on the street.

*Some attendees aim to get noticed by photographers by looking effortlessly chic, while others gain attention by looking like they had 10 seconds to get dressed in the dark from a box of costumes that belong backstage at a Broadway production.

*I wonder whether some of the heavily beaded colossally large ball gowns weigh more than the models themselves.

*It truly is a miracle that models still have most of their own hair after all the pinning and pulling, heat styling, braiding, curling, crimping, brushing, blowdrying, wig glueing, ironing and extending. I need to find out what shampoo they are using.

*I still have no idea why British designers (like Victoria Beckham) show at New York Fashion Week, and American designers (like Tom Ford) show at London Fashion Week.

*Designers usually come on to stage at end of their show to take a bow and bask in the glorious applause...This is their moment in the sun, so one would at least expect them to look their best or brush their hair for goodness sake!

*Designers can create just about any type of commodity from clothes to shoes, bags, makeup, fragrances and sunglasses, you would think that the least they could do is manufacture some underwear for their models to wear on the runway. I don't see how nudity is necessary when no one in their right minds (besides Lady Gaga) would dress that way in public.

*No matter what your style - minimalist, glamourous, sporty, classic, feminine, bohemian, tomboyish or dramatic, there is guaranteed to be a collection that will suit you. 

*I've figured that a model's real talent doesn't lie in the way she presents a designer's clothes on the runway, it's in the fact that she can walk 20+ shows in death-defying heels (without stumbling) and still look darn good doing it.

*Each city brings it's own brand of uniqueness to the fashion week table. New York yields a cosmopolitan blend of modern finesse, London has its roots in edgy innovation and interesting prints, Milan brings the high end glamour and sex appeal, and Paris is all about demure beauty and feminine elegance.

*I've realized that as long as you're designing for a highly admired and historically renowned fashion house, it doesn't matter if the clothes look like it's been strung together from the leftovers of a circus convention, critics will praise your work nonetheless.

*Runway makeup (especially the type that looks like the spattered remains of a detonated disco ball) Never, I repeat, Never Ever looks good in real life.

*I haven't quite figured out why designers create clothes for Size 0, 1.85m tall models, when the average woman (who is their actual consumer) is far off from that unattainable shape. 

*If Anna Wintour makes an appearance at your fashion show, either you must be exceptionally good at what you do, or she has a lot of free time on her hands. Which I highly doubt.

*It's never really worth buying into a $5000 trend that will only last one season. Or two. 

*No matter how many times I see the same collection on different blogs and websites, I always find something new to admire about it that I had originally missed.

*I find that the success of a collection can be established by how instantly recognizable any of the pieces are when worn off the runway.

*If socialites, heiresses and celebrities get most of the runway looks free of charge for publicity stints, who, then is actually buying these outrageously priced clothes?

*And finally, I've learnt that fashion week is a celebration of creativity, where ingenious designers convey their art by way of impeccably sewn clothes in exquisite prints and fabrics, brought to life by a supernaturally perfect human species known as supermodels. And as for the rest of us mere mortals, we just watch on in awe...then blog about it.

What have you learnt about Fashion Week?

*Images via Vogue.com & Style.com

Milan Fashion Week Street Style SS14

Street Style
Milan Fashion Week
Spring/Summer 2014

Milan brought us unparalleled glamour this past fashion week, presenting more formal looks than we have previously seen in New York and London. Along with it were quirky clutches, thrilling shoes and that usual chic Italian flair. Here are some of the hottest looks and trends from the street stylistas at Milan Fashion week.

Maxi Mode

Beguiling maxi dresses and floaty skirts graced the Italian avenues. Only in Milan would you see evening wear worn in the day down the street as if it were completely normal...it probably is over there. I loved the coral clutch and braided hairstyle that complement the first animal print sheer maxi skirt. The second look sees a gorgeous emerald green skirt accented by bold jewellery. Patricia Mansfield is stunning in a charcoal grey plated Halston gown (pictured third) and Veronika Heilbrunner looked lovely in a white embroidered Cavalli dress (last).

Polished

Structure and sophistication is always prevalent at Milan Fashion Week, where inky black ensembles capture the mystic of the city. The first look is the height of modern refinement with a black skater skirt and sleek fitted top. Vogue Australia fashion editor Christine Centenera looked suave in a white shirt with black wrap skirt, leather leggings and edgy leather boots. Jong Kol (third) wore a poetic draped cherub print top and cigarette trousers. Bibi Bevza looked beautiful in a voluminous black dress with cuffed heels (last).

Midi Skirts Milan Style

The midi skirt trend has made its way to Milan with an array of uniquely styled looks. The cream Celine skirt proved to be a popular choice - pictured first on journalist Kate Waterhouse with a leopard print top and cap-toed shoes. Blogger Maria Kolosova paired her red leather skirt with a white shirt and dazzling sandals (second). Sofia Guellaty (third) wears a matching cropped top and vibrantly printed skirt with cerise shoes. The last outfit refreshing places flats in the mix with a cute sailor hat, white pleated skirt and playful printed tank.

Laid Back Glam

Easy glamour has never been this simple to follow, all you need is a flattering pair of trousers, an elegant blouse or blazer and interesting accessories like a designer bag and adorably chic hat. I love the white ruffled Chloe blouse Natasha Goldenberg wears in the second outfit and the flaired 70's inspired plaid pants in the third look worn by Maria Kolosova.

Floral Flair

Floral prints beautifully culminated the end of summer with this striking set of looks. Italian blogger Eleonora Carisi caught the attention of photographers in two different fully printed outfits (pictured first and third). The second and last looks are perfectly complemented by brightly coloured clutches and heels.

Girly Grunge

The balance between feminine and masculine style is maintained by adding heavier leather elements to dainty dresses. Look one teams a sporty grey sweater with a sexy white sheer lace skirt and sturdy leather sandals. Look two styles a bright pink dress with a slick black biker jacket, satchel bag and bulky boots. Oksana On (pictured third) pairs her pretty cream Chanel chiffon and lace dress with grungy Balenciaga buckle boots.

Metallics

Why save shimmer for the night when you can outshine the sun? This stylish set of ladies have proven that metallics can be worn during the day. Sara Rosetta (first) wears her glossy gold Zara skirt with a prim white Calvin Klein shirt. The second outfit boasts high shine sequins in a voguish mini dress. Anna Dello Russo glimmers in a gold Prada pinafore dress (pictured third). The last outfit features a bronze metallic jacket worn over all white.

Solo Tones

Rainbow shades brought a much needed brightness to Milan street style with bold monotones in colours that speak louder than words. Love the cobalt blue jumpsuit with printed blazer and the emerald green skirt (pictured last) worn with a Kenzo tiger print tank top.

What was your favourite street style trend from Milan Fashion Week?

*Images via Harper's Bazaar, Grazia, Elle and Marie Claire