Fashion vs Fashion

They say a true Chelsea girl will always be in love with London - especially King's Road. Yet just one trip to the heart of New York can change everything. Not only are sample sales served for breakfast, lunch AND dinner but the platters they are served on are also a lot cleaner and bigger. Yes, in true American style I found myself walking a couple of very long Avenues, from the upper east side all the way down to the garment district (ironically called Chelsea) and my collection of shopping bags just wouldn't stop growing. Whereas a trip to Sloane Street followed by King's Road only takes up half a day max, this new territory remained partly unexplored even after 7 days of hardcore dollar loss. Sometimes bigger really is better.

Fashion Avenue - New York City

Fashion Street - London

The Sloane Ranger Rides Again

Minus three degrees. Snow everywhere. Pathways frozen. No, this is not Antarctica: this is London during a February weather-break-down. Yet, a little snow doesn’t stop a true Chelsea girl from venturing out to the shops on King’s Road. But what does one wear? One thing is certain: heels simply can’t be swapped for slide resistant wellies – no one wants to be seen sluggish; not even when the weather brings the whole of London transport to a standstill.

I knew I was destined to break an ankle, or at least fall on my backside, but surprisingly neither happened. The heels, similar to football shoes, functioned like an anchor by piercing into the snow and forming a secure platform to walk on. This even enabled me to walk faster than most people wearing Hunters.

But of course, once I had spotted my friends they were all dressed in snug Ugg boots – nothing can beat comfortableness on a day like this, but only a true Sloane Ranger can pull it off.

Here are some must-have items for the Princess’s of 2009: 

                                                Chloe boots 

                                            Jimmy Choo patent black boots

                                             Sass & Bide Vintage Blue Jeans

                                            True Religion Jeans

                                      Ralph Lauren

Our Hearts

Only two things are certain in LIFE: at one point we are all born and at one point we will all die. Yet, obstacles and misunderstandings diminish the little time we have to make our mark in this world. The word FRIENDSHIP is destroyed by religious conflict. The word LOVE is destroyed by war. And in between we try to LIVE. Giving a Palestine boy and an Israeli boy the chance to walk ARM-IN-ARM in a country they have learned to SHARE should be OUR goal. But not to let them grow up in a world where chaos, power, war and religious differences predominate. If you think this has nothing to do with you as an individual, rethink. War affects us all; there are people out there who rely on your help – act on it. Leaders of the WORLD help us to live in unity. Let there be PEACE FOR ALL. Let our hearts beat as one.

Happy New Year

Sorry, I forgot to say Happy New Year to everyone!! Hope you have a good one :) 

Tribal on a leash at Dior

John Galliano mesmerizes his audience by capturing tribal influences.

Manganese blue rays started to flash on the forest of metal poles. It was only then that the celebrity packed front-row hushed. Amongs

t them, pop starlets Katy Parry and Lily Allen; actresses Eva Green, Georgina Chapman and Emma Watson; and burlesque diva Dita Von Teese – Galliano would have to work wonders to please all.

And so he did. Models with rouge coloured lips and accentuated cheekbones appeared, parading a multitude of structured python bustiers with cinched waists, suggesting a restrained 1980s comeback. Floaty chiffon knife-pleated and micro-skirts in white or tiered, transparent black enabled bustiers to emerge as wearable outfits and softened gothic elements. With 1950s inspired pants to counteract sheerness, Galliano reflected on previous decades to combine classic with modernity. Deriving from Dior’s infamous ‘New Look’ collection, the ‘bar’ jackets reminded of this period through enhanced hips and soft, sloping shoulders. Updated using less restrained waistlines, introduction of deep v-necklines and added flap pockets; jackets were ready to hit the urban-jungle.

To satisfy expensive tastes, Irina Kulikova opened the show clutching a fan shaped bag, similar to last season’s soft bebe bag, with embroidered monochrome coloured shells. The ‘tribal chic’ leashed out, wearing six-inch sculptured high-heels embodying an African fertility symbol. In addition to providing safe childbirth the 19^th century figure, called Akua'maa, represents youth – a petit touch à la Galliano to exhaust Dior’s Mademoiselles wallets. The ancient African theme continued, with hair crimped and pulled back into chignons or sculptured to resemble a tribal drum and extended eyebrows to look feline and strong.

Back in the future playful daffodil yellow, satsuma orange, delphinium blue, fuchsia and bubblegum pink mini dresses complimented the otherwise earthly colour pallet. The most eccentric look derived from a raspberry pink suede shoulder strap dress with embroidered cowrie shells, achieving a modernised tribal look through its subtle fringing. Although the faux-ivory jewellery looked diminished, reminding of a holiday gift-shop purchase gone wrong, elegant full-length mushroom-grey cocktail eveningwear, made from tulles and chiffon offered sophistication for the grown audience. Choose strapless or halter necks to highlight collarbones or shoulder blades.

Abandoning last season’s sensible tailoring, pleasing aristocratic Dames and the First Lady, John Galliano’s tough but elegant collection wins back Dior’s young, wealthy and influential clientele. Using luxurious and expensive fabrics in these fragile times, verifies Dior’s immunity to the current recession – rejoicing in a healthy 1.54 billion Euro profit for the first half of the year instead.  Yet, Galliano’s creations refrained from their usual grandeur. Actress Milla Jovovich sums it up nicely: “It was restraint for John’s normal style”, she continues, “Still, it was wearable. The look is totally chick of this world”. No wonder Galliano has been head of design for over 11 years.

Distill Magazine Party

Being an Intern often involves a lot of hard work and no play. Yet, every now and again a glimpse of light appears through the cloudy sky, especially when you landed a work experience with the nicest people imaginable who invite you (as little reward) to their second issue launch party.

 

Arriving at the Distill Magazine party at the Bluebird shop on Kings Road, I was greeted with a display of refreshing cocktails. As I sipped on my drink my eyes gently swayed over the large shop floor and only stopped occasionally to inspect a few Chloe dresses in more detail.

 

The gathered crowed included an array high profile guests, amongst them Editor-in-chief Colin Mcdowell, and model Jamie Gunns and Jade Parfitt.

 

A personal highlight of the evening was meeting designer Anya Hindmarch and chairman of the British Fashion Council Harold Tillman.

 

Here are a few images to get a flavour of the evening:

  

CHRSITIAN DIOR: A Purse

The Quilted-Lady-Dior-Pouch-with-carnage-stitching-six-card-slots-three-billfolds-and-one-zipped-pocket-with-two-compartments had finally arrived. It had to be the last of its kind in succulent fuchsia pink. Black-is-back was not an option, even if it meant the shop assistant had to call Paris to order it and a week of storing coins inside a folded tissue.

During those recession stricken times it is advisable to opt for the ‘investment piece’, which in fashion world translates to: spend as much on a 19.5 x 10cm small purse as one would on a full-grown Louis Vuitton handbag in a financially secure climate.

So is it worth it? The pouch will remain hidden inside, and cost more than most bags transporting it – certainly a rival to any Chihuahua, with the exception that the dog can be washed. With a heavily stained purse, a mere two weeks later, back at the store and all the once-so-eager-to-sell shop assistant can utter: “Madame, there is nothing I can do, a Dior portemonnaie is not for every day use.”

Parfait.