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.

Lust list..

After a predictably busy weekend at New York Fashion Week here are my top favourite collections in for Winter 09.

Alexander Wang's show was to bubble with press interest and the recent winner of the Vogue Fashion Fund did not disappoint. Models were heavily lycra clad with cycling shorts and leggings galore this was complimented with tailored jackets and a lot of skin! Panels of fabric were creatively slashed out of tops and dresses in a development from this seasons panelled bodycon trend.

A lady like front was presented by United Bamboo with tweeds, silks and satins. Vintage shifts and pussy bows mixed with graphic prints and sporting style cropped slouch pants. Grey was a definite core colour. This collection oozed a mature preppy style that will definetly be catching.

The Adam collection was super luxurious with it's relaxed, dripping silhouettes. Loose draped fabric in expensive silver and ruby red. Clashing prints with texture and chunky, stiff knitwear with fluid light knits. A celebration of wearable, comfortable style.

My absolute favourite was undoubtly Vena Cava’s, see picture, Winter 09 offering. A collection brimming with rock and roll attitude, angry graphic prints, attention seeking sequins and serious structure. A matured, developed bodycon style was noted with sophisticated and reworked panelling. Effortless success.

Here are a few of our 'Favourite Things'.

Brimming with optimism, and like other fellow designers showing at N.Y.F.W returning to his roots, designer Peter Som’s Fall 09 collection showcased yesterday. A premier of quirky feminine glamour.

A tastefully tactile assortment. Hushed heathers and greys with emerald greens and yellows. Fabulous animal prints and stylised furs styled with bright, graphics and trims. Som presented us with what he does best, mixing colours, prints and textures in a way only he can.

Entitled 'Favourite Things', this collection has put next Winter on the style map.

Come round to my house, we'll have a fashion show..

Day one of New York Fashion Week and a clear sign of the times. There was to be no huge shows, extravagance had well and truly left the building. Instead the first designer of the week, Jenni Kayne, showed her new collection at her parent’s home and the second to show, Lyn Devon, invited guests to a local interior design store. The subdued mood echoed the mood of New York’s current financial climate. It wasn’t all doom and gloom though and the choice of venue shows a willingness of the fashion world to alter itself appropriately.

Lyn Devon’s clever collection encouraged us to mix pieces from this Spring/Summer with Winter key buys. She worked bright florals and metallic’s with winter hues of grey and lilac and the odd splash of warm red. Devon presented a great understanding that people may only buy one or two key pieces in Winter 09 with such a workable collection. Next Winter is looking good already.

The look of love...

With the day of romance looming, shades of pink and red made a huge impact on Spring/Summer 09 catwalks. My personal favourite was Richard Nicoll’s collection. His truly drool worthy show popped with bright shades of the colours of love.

He was yet another designer to make tribute to colour blocking this season, working panels of zingy oranges, punchy pinks and hot reds together in one look. It was a refreshing collection of self confidence, one that wasn’t tempted to mute it’s excitement at these times of hardship. I say lets paint ourselves happy and get ready to make an impact this Valentines day.

Get geeky on the latest big trend...

As ever, the V&A hits the fashion zeitgeist right on the head with it's latest exhibition. 'Fashion V Sport' presents itself as an inspirational exploration of the two disciplines. The exhibition showed at the beginning of the year at the V&A and was so successful is now to show at the Walker Art Gallery of Liverpool.

'Fashion V Sport' shows how the two worlds collide, how sports styles are adapted to make fashion statements and how fashion styles have entered the competitive world of professional sport.

If you are lucky enough to visit, it would be rude not to wear your latest purchase from the current Sport Lux trend with 80's styling to boot!

Date for your diary...

'Fashion V Sport' - Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool: 13th Feb -31 May.

We will doodle our way happy..

With our fashion thoughts once again plagued by the Credit Crunch and news more stores that form our diet as ‘fashionistas’ are beginning to struggle yesterday, it’s easy to crave a bit of happiness, a slice of boom instead of a generous helping of gloom.

It seems this is a shared want. Images of hope and of glory are beginning to be sloshed on many of this season’s high street ‘It’ tees. Faces that smile, faces that wink, clever one liners and love hearts are popping up all over the shop! I say let this crazy doodle fetish be the beginning of a trend that lightens the mood of the British high street.

We rate the 'Heart Face Girl Tee' @ Newlook from £8.

Snow hope!

With all my recent reports on the new season’s trends I am getting a little impatient. It seems that Mother Nature is determined to keep us in our winter woollies for a while yet. With much of Britain shut down due to dramatic snow fall and more expected, our new faded denim minis and shrunken jersey brights will have to wait a while yet!

If you simply can’t wait to get new season chic, but are not that keen on getting frost bite to boot, may I suggest we accessorise! Choose statement pieces that will bring our now boring winter wardrobe into the future, and, which will cunningly take us till next winter. Excellent.

Gigantic Jersey.

This season brings luxury sports chic and a renewed love of all things jersey. Best worn draped to emphasise the extravagance intended by the trend. Throw-on-tees and over-sized vests in slinky, soft jersey should be worn layered. Buying baggy means jersey tops look fab with tight skinny jeans, Bodycon skirts or leggings and can be controlled with a denim shrunken jacket, a key piece for Summer 09.

Natasha Stolle’s Spring/Summer 09 collection, see image, encapsulates the look perfectly. Using knots and tying techniques to make giant jersey tees fit slightly better is going to be huge. Take on the trend yourself, buy soft jersey tees, a good few sizes too big, and get creative with pulling the excess fabric into knots.