Louis Vuitton ended the show in style.

Louis Vuitton ended what has been a brilliant, jam packed, Winter 09 presentation yesterday.

The offering had a, now familiar, 80’s feel but with a new saucy, frivolous character. Peplum jackets, bubble skirts and jeweled leggings styled with sheer laces and delicate ruching and shirring. A bucket full of Gothic leather and lace met with navy, emerald, ruby and refreshing nudes.

Marc Jacobs' (the designer brains behind the collection) presented big shoulders on box like felt jackets. This was one of the last designer offerings of what has been a cautious, financially aware season and I am happy that it ended in such a hopeful, extravagant way.

A collection to leave you doting, Winter 09 by Dries Van Noten.

Over at Paris Fashion Week Dries Van Noten has made waves. Vintage inspired dressing gown coats and ladylike courts oozed grown up chic and were styled with slinky silk dresses, skirts cut mid-calf and sequinned jackets for a truly elegant collection. It seemed that there was no real trend prediction in terms of garment shape, instead, a new way to style existing pieces and colours.

Powder pink, sherbet orange, medium mustard, pale blue and grey sat with navy and salmon for exciting colour combinations. Outfits that looked like they had been successfully thrown together. This collection offers a bright and cheerful wardrobe for Winter 09, one that we will no doubt enjoy opening.

Hip hip horay, Barbie is 50 today!

Barbie is 50 today. Shocker. She hasn’t aged a bit. With no wrinkles, a full head of golden blonde locks and that perfect figure she is still capable of turning heads. She’s ditched Ken and is dating Blaine and will celebrate her new age in style. It is her ability to move with the times that has allowed the heroine to stay at the top. In the five decades since launching, the fashionista has continued to evolve, from the pill box hats of the 1960's, to the sun-kissed Malibu Barbie of the 70's, and the big hair of the 80's, becoming the top selling doll of all-time.

When it comes to fashion, Barbie, like many of us, has made many mistakes, but when she did get it right she could have walked down catwalks with the best of them. In this picture, the 50th anniversary doll, Barbie works Summer 09 chic at its best. Nude meets metallics in a high glamour, high impact way that only she could get away with at this milestone. We say Barbie ‘You go girl!’

Milan moments...

Here’s the round up of those truly ‘WOW!’ moments over at Milan Fashion Week…

Bottega Veneta's collection had Grace Kelly personality. Slinky, long flowing gowns full of assured attitude. It was a soft, beautiful offering spiked with feminine aggression. Ruffles met creases met folds. Nude luxurious organza coated leathers and hand loomed wools refused to take current financial troubles into consideration. Thomas Maier, the talent behind this offering, told press "With all that's going on, I just switched off the TV news and thought about designing appetizing clothes to make women feel pretty and attractive".

There was a familiar '80s theme at Gucci. Tweed power suits, peg leg trousers and a generous helping of glamour. One shoulder dresses styled alongside double breasted jackets and sleek accessories. Lashings of black and grey were brought to life with ruby and emerald highlights. Frida Gianni took inspiration from Tina Chow. "She had many sides to her personality, dangerous, tough, feminine, androgynous and fetishist, which is very important for this collection."


Peter Dundas for Pucci made a clear move away from traditional Pucci prints for his first collection for the Italian fashion house. There was a rockstar theme with skin tight trousers, super mini dresses, and an unfamiliar dark palette. The occasional print emerged as was enclosed in chic simple garments, marking a modern switch for the Italian fashion house.

My attention was fully focused on Blumarine’s Autmn/Winter 09 offering, see picture. Splashed in glorious, crystalised neon pastels the rock chic collection again referenced the 1980's with funky prints. Quirky, loud animal prints shown along with very wearable knitwear. A beautifully, simply cheerful collection.

Untouchable glamour...

Another day of fashion, another day of inspiration. Yesterday saw Erdem’s Winter 09 collection, it was powerful and didn’t dwell on current hard times. Such surface detail that screamed expense and luxury. Ederm seemed to capture the essence of what high fashion should be about, a seemingly untouchable glamour to aspire to.

It was an extravagant offering of embroidered prints and superb colour combinations. Rich, oriental prints clashed with black lace and ruby red silks. Looks that were reminiscent of Russian dolls with simple silhouettes and layers of print, lace and embroidery. Garments that expected praise, for the high level of skill and workmanship needed to produce such work, garments that got it.

London's calling...

With London fashion week now in full swing there’s plenty to talk about. Here’s the best of the weekend’s British crop...

Chloe Sevingny’s collection was brimming with school day glamour. Preppy style at it’s understated best. Re-worked street style that reflected a high level of intelligence, a sort of scruffy neat. Stripes of colour met muted cottons and still knits. A collection of dual personality, at first glance it’s super cool laid back menswear, but, Sevingny offers the whole offering in scale downed women’s sizes too.

Kinder Aggugini produced an endearing Winter 09 offering. A mature, sophisticated, at times beautifully unpredictable presentation of tailoring. Fluid, feminine florals kept under control with structured jackets and sheer dresses styled with aged, knee high leather boots. Highlights of poppy red met subtle lavenders and autumn shades. Aggugini’s early fascination with the punk era echoed throughout.

My favourite? Design duo Sinha-Stantic, see picture. Graphic prints and blurred, sheer fabrics were worked perfectly into pleats, tucks and folds. Explosions of fuzzy feathers and chunky, bobbled knits clinged to slinky printed lights. Sinha-Stantic presented us with a rock chic persona that has moved with the times, a softer, prettier mood with just a hint of cocky, self assured attitude.

Watch this space for London's latest and a Winter 09 trend walk through...

Beauty really does comes from within..

Wowed. John Patrick’s offering for Winter 09, beautiful in its own right, has an inner beauty, every garment is produced from certified organic materials and in an ethical way.

This collection did not hope it's ethical practices would be enough, it did so much more. Quirky bordering on eccentric Patrick produced an exploration of silhouettes. The John Patrick female this winter will be strong, modern and confident with a soft and loving side. Preppy, high waisted suits and work pants with rock chick character met relaxed, slinky dresses and knits. The highlight of the collection for me was a sleeveless trench-dress , see picture, made from recycled polyester, true brilliance.