Monday 28 January 2013

Contrast : It's Black+White



Photographer - Noell S. Oszvald

Hungarian photographer, Oszvald, has created a series of self-portraits that are both intriguing and striking, evoking a sense of black and white contrast within an elegant and sophisticated medium. 
-Oszvald believes that the use of colour distracts from the form and composition of the art.




A/W 2013

Alexander Wang / Anthony Vaccarello / Celine
Giles / Jason Wu / Jill Sander
Chanel / Diane Von Furstenberg / Diesel Black Gold
Michael Kors / Maison Martin Margiela / Marc Jacobs
Miu Miu / NarcisoRodriguez / Oscar De La Renta
Phillip Lim / Zero+Maria Cornejo / Roland Mouret
Ralph Lauren / Prada / Valentino

Paris Fashion Week A/W13

Christian Dior
Anne Valerie Hash
Balenciaga
Isabel Marant
Rick Owens

On The High Street

TOPSHOP >


KAREN MILLEN >
"Black and white colour blocking reflects the modern, graphic attitude of the new season! Monochrome comes in the form of collaged panels, strict blocking and black and white prints that are designed to look both chic and striking. These pieces are perfect for the office, and can then take you through into the evening on trend and in style" Karen Millen store

Knitwear takes a modern turn with contrasting monochrombe ribbing and panelling whilst incorporating bold panels into a black pencil dress creates an enviable silhouette.




Friday 4 January 2013

Suit Up!

The transition from winter to spring is always a tricky one; how do you capture the SS13 trends early enough to remain ahead of the curve whilst remaining appropriately covered up in the wintry conditions of January and February?

This post identifies one possible solution. The pant suit.

The colours vary from bright shades of red to subtle hues of grey but the arrangement remains the same, it's the season of the alpha female.

On the catwalk:

Balmain SS13
Calvin Klein Collection SS13
Cedric Charlier SS13
Christian Dior SS13
Jonathan Saunders SS13
Mary Katrantzou SS13
Mulberry SS13
Pedro Lourenco SS13
Saint Laurent SS13
Stella McCartney SS13
Theyskens Theory SS13
Trussardi SS13
Victoria Beckham SS13

On the celebs:


Amanda Seyfried during Paris Fashion Week in October wears a 3-button suit from the Prada Resort collection teamed with purple Mary Jane platform shoes.



Christy Turlington shows off a slime silhouette in a black and white combo at The Tracy Anderson Method Pregnancy Project in New York City, October.



Actress Emma Roberts wears a Nanette Lepore outfit in a subtle black and grey geometric pattern teamed with a Claire Vivier clutch and Christian Louboutin shoes in New York last October.



In a grey suit and patterned shirt, Gabriella Wilde goes for a preppy look at Burberry's SS14 Womenswear Show in Kensington.



Kate Hudson wears a striped blazer and trousers by Alexander McQueen to the September premiere of Glee in Los Angeles



Mandy Moore wears a slim-fitting suit at the Centre Studios, New York, in September.



Similarly to Emma Roberts above, Nicola Roberts incorporates subtle print into her trouser suit, wearing a soft animal print at the Stand Up To Cancer fundraiser in October.



Swedish actress Noomi Rapace wears smart green and mustard separates at a London premiere of Great Expectations in October.



Rachel Zoe during Paris Fashion Week in October wears a 70s-style Hutton suit from her own collection.


On the high street:

By investing in a statement trouser suit (by statement this could mean: print / colour / amazing tailoring) you can swap and change the accessories and layering to keep the outfit season friendly, this also helps with the transition of A/W > S/S!

Here I have chosen a very bold floral trouser suit from Topshop to prove the above, in the first outfit picking out the black in the collar and the stripes running down the sleeves and leg makes the floral seem autumnal and wintry, if you add black tights you have an outfit that is also practical for those bitter mornings.


1. TOPSHOP floral blazer, £68
2. TOPSHOP floral cropped trousers, £40
3. NEXT perfect shirt in black, £35
4. LK BENNETT ava leather envelope clutch, £350
5. HOBBS invitation adria shoe, £169

I the second outfit option we see a composition and is reminiscent of springs ever-recurring trend of pastel and floral. By using layering and accessories in paler colours, this highlights the pale flowers in the suit creating a fresh look that is great for the start of Spring, which let's face it, in England, is still bitterly cold..


1. TOPSHOP floral blazer, £68
2. TOPSHOP floral cropped trousers, £40
3. REISS silk front t-shirt in cream, £59
4. LK BENNETT ava leather envelope clutch, £350
5. LK BENNETT abigail patent leather strappy sandal, £295