The Metallic Trend 2014

Trendspotting

Metallics

Spring/Summer 2014

One way of updating your wardrobe this season is with glossy silver and gold metallics that have been all the rage from runways to fashion editorials and red carpet events. This is your guide on Spring/Summer 2014's major metallic trend.

Gold Metallics on the Runway

It all began on the SS14 runways, where we were treated to lacquered gold looks in rich lamés, liquid silk dresses and foiled pleated skirts. Christopher Kane and Blugirl kept it subtle with pale shades, whilst DvF, Altuzarra, Reem Acra, Givenchy and Saint Laurent turned up the volume with high gloss looks that glistened like melted gold metal.

Silver Metallics On the Runway

Designers provided an alternative to gold with polished silver dresses, seen at Altuzarra, Thakoon and Rochas. Roberto Cavalli presented slick metallic leather biker jackets, whilst Christopher Kane went holographic. Rachel Zoe and Zero Maria Cornejo took the pants route with laid back luxe. Proenza Schouler and Versace glimmered on with eye-catching evening gowns.

Celebrities and Silver Metallics

Cate Blanchett (in Prada), Kate Bosworth (in Topshop) and Giovanna Battaglia had a head start in this popular trend, pictured out in gleaming silver leather. On the red carpet, Taylor Swift (wearing Gucci) and Kate Mara (in J.Mendel) were statuesque in fluid silvery gowns.

Celebrities & the Gold Metallic Trend

We recently saw Lea Michele go molten gold in a glazed Altuzarra gown at the Met Gala. Sarah Hyland kept it short and shiny in Sass & Bide. Cate Blanchett (in Givenchy) and Jennifer Lopez (in Lanvin) both experimented with mixed bronze and gold coated outfits. Zendaya tried the metallic trend in a lustrous Gucci pantsuit. 

 Metallics in Editorial

Fashion editors have also been endlessly promoting the metallic trend around the globe. From Top: Beth Edwards in a gold foil ruffled skirt by Dries van Noten for Cosmopolitan France. Marikka Juhler in chainmail Versace for Harper's Bazaar UK. Kate King in a gold lamé look for How to Spend It. Magdalena Frackowiack glows in Givenchy for Vogue China. Anja Rubik is varnished in Altuzarra for Vogue Russia. Joan Smalls dons a gold Givenchy gown in Elle Italia and two glossy Lanvin looks are showcased in Elle Russia.

Get With the Trend

Try out the trend with a few of these well-priced looks which is sure to add a spark to your wardrobe. A glossy metallic dress or skirt can be toned down with a simple t-shirt and black biker jacket. Or start with simpler pieces like gleaming bags, flats and heels.

1. Metallic gold skater dress $34  2. Contessa gold brocade dress $58 Nastygal.com  3. Y.A.S bronze leather biker jacket $210.  4. Eleven Paris faux gold leather skirt $135.  5. Mink Pink silver metallic smock dress $72 6. Gold foil pleated skirt $30. All looks besides 2 are available via Asos.com

Metallic Inspiration

From Top: Gold asymmetrical slip dress $30 and Two-tone crossbody bag $32, both River Island.com. Steve Madden flat gold Mary-Janes $80. Gold wrap skirt $30 from H&M.  Silver shimmer jumpsuit $44, Paisley print silver top $35, Silver faux leather metallic pencil skirt, $49, all three by Dorothy Perkins.com. Two-tone caged metal box bag $60 and gold jeggings $80, both from River Island.com. Watches by Michael Kors. Bottom Row: Gold wedge heels $90, River Island.com. Matt gold embroidered shorts $50 from H&M. White and Metallic heels $110 by Dorothy Perkins. White and Metallic clutch $4o from River Island. Silver flat loafers $35 from NastyGal.com

Will you be trying out the Metallic Trend?

Who Wore Moschino's McDonalds Dress Better?

Who Wore It Better?
Moschino McDonalds Dress
Fall/Winter 2014

As much as it pains me to post on something this kitsch, curiosity got the better of me and I had to find out what you thought of Moschino's fast food fashion. Not even 24 hours after Jeremy Scott debuted his commercially flashy Moschino Fall/Winter 2014 collection, celebrities has snapped up this lurid ketchup red and mustard yellow sweater dress that bears an uncanny resemblance to that all famous fast food chain we find on every other city block. I never thought I'd see the day McDonalds became a high-ticket item on the fashion week menu.

1. Trend-loving Anna Dello Russo spared no time in nabbing the infamous Moschino McDonalds sweater dress, giving it sporty styling with lace-up Adidas heels, a striped knitted scarf and a $1265 quilted M insignia bag. My eyes will never forgive me for this.
2. British model Jourdan Dunn stepped out in the same Moschino FW14 sweater, toning it down with an oversized black furry coat, leather mini skirt, tote bag and buckled Oxfords.
3. South Korean model Soo Joo caught the attention of PFW paparazzi in the conspicuous wool-blend sweater dress, wearing hers with black tights, a backpack, sneakers and a pink beanie.
4. Katy Perry is no stranger to all things tongue-in-cheek, and she flavoured her recent trip to Japan with the popular McDonalds maiden look, pairing it with the Moschino golden arch logo bag, sheer black tights, red ankle-strap shoes and if that wasn't enough, she also added a hair bow. I'll have fries with my order Katy...thank you very much.

Polish model Natalia Siodmiak swaggered down the Moschino FW14 runway in this McDonalds monogrammed sweater and skirt, and just for the that max brash appeal, they even added matching shoes and giant yellow bauble earrings.  I have no doubt that this sweater will follow in the footsteps of the Givenchy Bambi and Kenzo Tiger street style trends.

In case you have fallen into the trend trap, you can purchase this sweater dress for £492 or $935 from the Capsule Collection on Moschino.com, and to my surprise, it is selling out like Happy Meals. Why anyone would want to pay that much to look like a McDonalds employee is beyond me. In fact, even McDonalds staff have called the collection "inappropriate".

If I were forced to chose 'Who Wore It Better?', I would go with Jourdan Dunn, because at least she added some class to this Pop-trash-tic sweater dress. I would love to hear your thoughts on this Moschino McDonalds fad...Are You Lovin' It? 

Zara's Trendy Winter Coats 2013

Get the Designer Look for Less
With Winter Coats by Zara

All those luxurious designer coats we coveted from the F/W13 catwalks aren't as far away from reality as we think. Luckily, we can always rely on Zara to create an accessible and more affordable equivalent of every overpriced out-of-reach chic coat we've seen in window displays of those swanky upmarket boutiques. Below are the seasons trendiest coats - the original deluxe designer pieces and their very worthy replicas by Zara.

Which of these Zara coats are on your winter wishlist?
Do you think any of them are worth buying the original?

This Season's Most Famous Sweater

Givenchy 
Bambi Print Sweater
Fall/Winter 2013

Who knew that a long forgotten cartoon character could cause a worldwide fashion frenzy? I certainly didn't. But Givenchy certainly did when they placed a beloved Disney character as the focal feature of their Fall/Winter 2013 collection. Bambi has stylishly sauntered his way from a 1942 animated movie to the catwalks of Paris. The endearing little deer has been superimposed on a vintage female figure to form this season's trendy new style emblem. From the creative mind of Riccardo Tisci to magazines and celebrity closets everywhere, this strangely adorable sweatshirt has claimed its title as this season's hottest commodity.

The highly popularized Bambi print comes in several editions; a black neoprene sweatshirt, a T-shirt, a lace-sleeved version seen on the runway and a sleeveless tank top.

The Runway

It took these two looks from Givenchy's Fall/Winter 2013 runway to spark a craze that compelled the fashion world into Bambi mania.

The Editorials

This fashion fad has found itself a favourite with stylists and fashion editors across the planet. American model Lindsey Wixon wears hers with a printed Givenchy skirt. Spanish belle Dalianah Arekion poses in black in white for V Magazine. Brit model Sam Rollinson features in I-D Magazine. Russian model Anne Vyalitsyna stands tall in the deer printed sweatshirt, with sheer spotted pencil skirt and ankle boots, all by Givenchy. Australia's Clare Byrne dons the cartoon patterned top for Interview Germany and Estonian beauty Alexandra Tikerpuu sweaters up for Stylist Magazine.

The Covers

Fei Fei Sun went from the Givenchy runway to the cover of Vogue China in the Disney inspired sweater. Elle Fanning brought out the softer side of this somewhat grunge piece on the cover of Miss Vogue Australia. Isabeli Fontana is striking on the cover of Telva Spain. Russian beauty Daria Strokous fronts Vogue Japan in the chic sweatshirt. Alexa Chung gets the opportunity to don this season's most wanted sweater on Madame France Magazine.

The Fashion Editors

Even the expert stylists have jumped on board the Bambi train. Vogue Japans's Anna Dello Russo and French fashion royalty Carine Roitfeld were both pictured in the famous sweater. Anna clinched hers in with a black belt and walked in imposing reptilian striped leather ankle boots, also by Givenchy. Carine wore the lace-sleeved sweater on two separate occasions. First she styled the in-demand jumper with a black pencil skirt and ankle strap sandals. Second, she wore it with a sheer spotted Givenchy maxi at the 2013 Met Gala. 

The Media Campaigns

The superimposed sweater has been a favored celebrity choice for media appearances and campaigns. Miranda Kerr modeled the look for Net-a-Porter's web magazine. Rising starlet Hailee Steinfeld picked a tank top in the memorable motif, prettified by a floral print midi skirt. Amanda Seyfried fronts Givenchy's FW13 campaign in the coveted piece, with a matching Bambi-stamped clutch. Miroslava Duma Instagrammed her doe-eyed look, styled with a belt and black and white tulip skirt. Beyonce wears the tank edition with denim shorts and South Korean actress Son Dam Bi wore hers with a leather skater skirt.

The Street Stylistas

Lala Anthony, singers Rochelle Humes and Monica all paired their Givenchy Bambi jumpers with leather leggings. Taiwanese actress Tiffany Hsu opted for a sheer black maxi skirt and Lily Collins daringly went without pants, along with Givenchy ankle wrap sandals. 

You can buy the original Givenchy Bambi print sweater for a whopping $1,375 from Net-a-Porter.com. Or you could settle for the generic version made by Primark for just €12 ($16).

Do you think Givenchy's Bambi print sweatshirt is worth the hype? Yay or Nay?
Judging by it being sold out on almost every online luxury boutique, it just might be.

See Right Through It

Trendspotting
Transparent Bags

In reality, if you had to carry around a see-through plastic bag with all the contents of your handbag, people may assume your actual bag has suffered some sort of drink spill somewhere or, that you're homeless. However, put a designer name onto that plastic bag and voila, you're an instant trendsetter! Transparent bags have become quite the style statement over the past year. Let's delve further into this translucent trend.

On The Runway

It all began where most trends do - on the runways of top notch designers during fashion week. For Spring/Summer 2013, Valentino and Jenny Packham presented clear coloured bags decked with studs and jewels. Stella McCartney sent down jewel toned box bags while Chanel ensured their version displayed their world famous insignia. Fendi introduced transparent panels to their tri-coloured totes. Simone Rocha, Marc Jacobs and Burberry saturated their see-through bags with vivid colour for a fun, youthful effect. As good as this trend looks on the catwalk, I have to assume it's because all the bags are completely empty.

See-Through Street Style Inspiration

The trend then spread like wildfire across the world's fashion capitals and beyond, seen on the arms of socialites, models, fashion week groupies, bloggers, editors and stylists. Each of them allowing photographers and the general public a glimpse into their clear clutches. A pair of sunglasses, an iPhone, all important press passes and some form of Chanel makeup is always seen peeking through these plastic purses. I assume that one has to carefully and fashion-consciously edit the content of their bags when opting for transparency. 

This is how the see-through trend has been worn in true street style...

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 *All street style images found via Tumblr, Vogue.com, Harpers Bazaar.com, Fashion Telegraph.co.uk and Style.com

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Celebrity Translucent Trendsetters

The see-through bag trend hasn't caught on to Hollywood as much as it has the rest of world, with just a handful of celebrities seen carrying their plastic hopes and dreams around. I am guessing this is to avert crazy stalkers and maintain their privacy. And also to avoid the inquisitive masses with a cover of their bag's contents on People magazine.

Bella Thorne wears a youthful neon yellow Juicy Couture clutch with chain handle. Sienna Miller carries a peach lined Charlotte Olympia perspex purse. Solange Knowles vivifies her look with a tangerine CC Skye lucite box bag.

Elisabeth Moss holds on to a Charlotte Olympia 'Pandora' perspex clutch. British model Abbey Clancy carries a see-through monogrammed Louis Vuitton bag. Olivia Palermo represents the high street with an orange tinted Zara minaudiere.

Get With The Trend

Try on the transparency trend with these pellucid online picks. A bright hued clutch will add a vibrant dash of colour to your outfit, whilst slightly shading in your bag's constituents. If you're the fashion-forward type, go all out and wear a clear clutch, where you will be guaranteed to make a few curious heads turn as you walk by, all eager to see what's inside your trendy tote.

Do you Adore or Abhor the Transparent Bag Trend?
Would you be comfortable letting the rest of world see what you carry in your bag?

Gingham Style

Trendspotting
Gingham Prints

Made popular in the sixties, and the 18th century before that, Gingham has been around for a long long time. Recognized by its distinguishable checked print, gingham has recently been reinvented on the 2013 runways to suit the modern fashionabilities of the 21st century girl.

On the Runway

The Spring 2013 runways were gingered with gingham prints, each designer using this timeless design in a unique and fresh way. Kinder Aggugini, Marc Jacobs, Lela Rose, Nanette Lepore and Prada kept true to the original essence of the tiny checkered print in their collections. Cacharel, Kate Spade, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Oscar de Renta and Henry Holland jazzed up the print with vibrant colours and trendy silhouettes. Aquilano.Rimondi went for a quirkier appeal, while Sportmax, Marni and Topshop Unique further advanced the print into a grid-like pattern. 

Celebrities Doing Gingham Style

Since it's stint on the Spring and Fall 2013 runways, the trend has been fervently adopted by starlets & socialites, each doing their own spin on Gingham Style. 

Cropped Gingham Frocks

Chloe Moretz went sweet and girly in a pastel pink gingham print Opening Ceremony dress. Sarah Jessica Parker wears a red and white wrapover dress by Oscar de la Renta. Nina Dobrev was onto the trend a year ago, spotted in a flirty denim blue gingham frock by D&G. Kirsten Dunst was delightful in a navy & white vintage-styled Miu Miu look. Even Anna Wintour has caught onto Gingham Style, seen in a red & white Marni dress.

Casual Inspired Gingham Styles

Dita von Teese went retro at Coachella in a black and white flower decked gingham dress. Amber Heard does gingham grunge in a red and black check print midi-skirt, paired with a white vest and black sandals. Miranda Kerr styled her gridded Stella McCartney blazer simply with a jeans and tee. Taylor Swift wears a classic red and black Topshop checkered shirt, with skinny jeans and brogues. Alexa Chung tried out the trend in larger checks, seen in a chic black & white shirt dress by Paul Smith.

Gingham Glam

Gingham can also be dressed up for more formal occasions. Marion Cotillard was elegant in a black and white checked Christian Dior skirt. Carly Rae Jepsen styled her black and white checkerboard dress with a bright red tuxedo blazer and Ruthie Davis spiked stilettos. Miroslava Duma goes for a bolder block print in beige and white by Louis Vuitton. Kylie Minogue wears multi-gingham print in a sexy cut-out Stella McCartney dress.

Get With The Trend

Gingham Style is easy to incorporate into any wardrobe, starting with a simple checkered shirt, t-shirt or skirt. If you prefer fully checking into the trend, why not try a gingham printed dress or jumpsuit. These are some gingham printed pieces available in stores and online.

Black & White

1. Midi checked skirt. $67.88 Asos.com
2. Grid-print white and black top. $49.90 Zara.
3. Window pane print jumpsuit. £38 DorothyPerkins.com
4. Check It Out cut-out dress. $48 NastyGal.com
5. Checkered Jacquard Blazer. $99.90 Zara.
6. Gingham print dress. $22.80 Forever 21.
7. Modern Fairytale dress. $154.99 ModCloth.com
8. Gingham black checkered shirt. $15.80 Forever 21.

Gingham in Colour

9. Lime green checked day dress. £27 H! by Henry Holland at Debenhams.com
10. Orange & white checked 'Kati' cardigan. $149.80 Kate Spade at Nordstrom.com
     Navy & White 'bromme street' denim capris. $118.80 Kate Spade at Nordstrom.com
11. Pink & orange 'Stacy' taffeta checked skirt. $348 Marc by Marc Jacobs at Net-a-Poter.com
12. Blue and white Ozzie Gingham dress. $48 NastyGal.com
13. Wine red and white skater check dress. $93.34 Asos.com
14. Classic pink gingham print shirt. $17.80 Forever 21

Do you Adore or Abhor Gingham Style?

The Cut-Out Dress Trend

Trendspotting

Cut-Out Dresses

This Spring, expect temperatures to rise, and I am not referring to the weather. Sexy cut-outs have scissored their way into mainstream fashion, influenced by the runway designs seen at SS13 fashion week. A multitude of different designers showcased cut-outs in their collections, each with their own unique spin. Here's a look at a trend that's a cut above the rest...

On The Runway

 Michael Kors and Emilio Pucci have already proved the marketability of the trend, with a slew of celebrities wearing their dresses. Balenciaga took the trend a step further by incorporating it into pants suits. Designers like Erdem, Jason Wu and Richard Chai showed off a more feminine side to cut-outs, while Alexander Wang and Cushnie et Ochs kept things perfectly parallel and geometric. Carven, Diane von Furstenburg and Narciso Rodriguez dealt in rich red hues, while BCBG and Roberto Cavalli stuck to a more monotone palette. 

Celebrity Inspired Looks

These stylish ladies have all opted for brightly coloured dresses whilst out advocating the trend. Zoe Saldana went for a safari print in Carven. I like Alexandra Daddario's more simple take on the trend in a pretty shade of pink. Nina Dobrev looked like a modern mermaid in her turquoise dress. Irina Shayk & Karlie Kloss were both striking in fitted frocks by Michael Kors.

Black and white has emerged as popular colour choices to display the precision of the cut-outs on a dress silhouette. Gwyneth was suave in a Michael Kors look similar to Karlie's, while Alexis Bledel combined both shades in her chic Pamella Roland dress. Selena Gomez played it risqué with side cut-outs and a high slit. Jessica Alba was already on top of this trend early last year, seen in a sexy white Narciso Rodriguez number. Kate Bosworth reinvents the Little Black Dress with slit shoulders and sheer panels, which is by Emilio Pucci.

Get With the Trend

1. Topform royal blue dress with one shoulder and cut-out side. $42 Nastygal.com

2. Lips Like Sugar mint green dress with cut-out strap back. $52 Nastygal.com

3. Lemon sleeveless dress with v-neck and midriff cut-out. $23 Forever 21

4. Peach Tasha dress with cut-out neck & pleated high-low skirt. $50 Boohoo.com

5. White sundress with cut-out back. £22 Asos.com

6. Black chiffon dress with criss cross cut-out straps and waist £45 Mango.com

7. Black and red colourblocked skater dress with cut-out neckline. $46 Asos.com

8. Cerise pink sleeveless cut-out neck skater dress. £32 RiverIsland.com

What do you think of the Cut-Out dress trend. Hot or Not?