3/06/2010

The feeling's neutral.

When I say Summer's about going nude, I don't mean that indecency is the new black, but that neutral tones are making a come-back as the weather hots up!

Ever since I saw the "Pasarela Nude" ("Catwalk in nude") article of February's VOGUE España, I've become intrigued as to the way in which one of the most difficult colours can be worn to maximum effect!

Take a look at some of the VOGUE magazine pictures..


The outfit combinations are absolutely gorgeous. I love the ethereal quality that the sheer fabrics and jewelled embellishments give the outfits..a perfect mix of romanticism and understated 'sexy'! Sheer materials and mesh are going to be a big trend this season!


..Trust me to spot the Christopher Kane number (above center)! Kane's work with mesh has always been fantastic. I like the way that the summer florals trend has been updated to give a more sophisticated and less girlie look.


I love the contrasting pastel tones (e.g. the pale blue dress with a pale pink belt) I also think that the pairing here of a light blue dress and tan coloured belt looks very chic!


Towards the end of the spread, the outfits get more structured and move more towards graphic prints and edgier cuts. The flourishes of neon add a more modern, avant-garde element to the outfits.

The versatility of nude and neutral tones is definitely underestimated. Nude tones are not solely associated with 'girlie' dress-cuts and fabric romanticism, something which is clearly reflected by its different treatment on the catwalk. If you take a look at the picture below, the wide scope for interpretation becomes clear:

TOPSHOP Unique uses nude to create a 'sport luxe' look, Versace draws inspiration from the 'underwear as outerwear' trend, Donna Karan creates a grecian vibe, Lanvin develops the asymmetrical look, Burberry toughens up the trench and Valentino works with a feminine cut.

Each of the different interpretations demonstrate that nude can be worn in a variety of styles and can work on a range of different skin tones. Naturally, it is imperative that a degree of care must be taken when choosing the neutral shade you want to work with. If you have a very pale complexion, very creamy or pinky nudes will 'wash you out', so maybe look for nudes with slightly more brown in them. If you have darker skin, nudes should be slightly easier to work with, as light and darker nudes will compliment your complexion. To give your outfit the 'wow' factor, pairing nude with a bright colour - like coral or an intense blue - can kick the impact of a neutral tone up a notch!

Take a look at the 'nude' mood board I've created for some 'food for thought':


Will you be wearing your nudes this summer? If so, how will you be tackling the trend?

je-suis-style
xox

2/21/2010

Model 'du jour'


This dutch beauty, famous for the gap in her front teeth and her unconventionally curvy body type, has caused a lot of controversy in the fashion world and is now one of the most prolific models of the moment. Signed to IMG models, Stone has worked with a whole host of top designers and has been featured in magazines such as VOGUE, Elle, i-D and V.


One thing's for sure..this girl's got that certain 'je ne sais quoi' about her..and what a figure!


je-suis-style
xox

2/20/2010

What's in the bag?!


Any guesses?

I think it's the first time I've hit a store on the day a designer collaboration collection's come out (N.B. omitting the time I stayed up most of the night waiting to see Christopher Kane's 2009 Topshop capsule collection go online!;)), but I was keen to see what the atmosphere would be like in my local Spanish H&M for the new Sonia Rykiel collection. I had quite a busy day, so arrived around late afternoon to encounter a much busier H&M than usual. The atmosphere was civilised (no pushing and shoving at all), much to my relief! (I think my preconceptions about exclusive collection launches have been coloured somewhat by the media..)


Anyway, I walked through the men's section, straight towards what appeared to be a treasure-trove of bright colours and glinting rhinestones. As I'd expected, there was quite a range of age groups - from girls around my age (mainly looking at the dresses, jumpers and accessories), to mothers with young daughters (a double breasted blazer in one hand, whilst trying to force a pink beret over a cranky 7 year old's head!) and a few older, very well dressed women (who were looking at the Rykiel knits.)

I was immediately drawn to the Rykiel iconic stripe dress, but looking at the price tag, I was surprised to find it more expensive than I'd expected (See previous blog for the Sonia Rykiel look-book and english prices) At 60 euros, I wondered why a random price inflation had taken place..I'm not sure what the prices are like in England, but everything was more expensive in euros! I tried on a couple of things which were nice, but nothing that particularly said 'wow' to me. The one thing I was tempted to buy, was the "Mon pull Rykiel" jumper, which I talked about in my last blog post. Priced in Spain at 40 euros, I decided that if I did buy it, I'd be paying solely for the brand and not garment quality, as it was very thin material!


I am glad, however, that I took a look at the 'accessories section' of the Rykiel collection, as I picked up a "mon pull" rhinestone brooch and a limited edition Sonia Rykiel UNICEF shopper bag. At a mere €2.95, i figured I couldn't go wrong, and I love that the bag's for charity. The proceeds go to a project called “All for Children”, which is a five year initiative from UNICEF and H&M, which aims to protect and improve children's lives in areas of cotton cultivation in India.


I love French-inspired clothing and accessories, so the "mon sac Rykiel" UNICEF bag and "mon pull" brooch are perfect for me. (The pink carrier bag my purchases were put in is also super cute and good quality!) I'm looking forward to pinning my "mon pull" brooch on all sorts of cute knitwear and jumpers (See picture below right - me with my brooch and shopper bag!)


All in all, it's been a successful day in many respects, so I'm full of 'joie de vivre'..and not just because of my Sonia Rykiel goodies :)

je-suis-style
xox

2/18/2010

Sonia Rykiel's new collection for H&M!



H&M has partnered up with Parisian designer Sonia Rykiel for a second capsule collection, set to storm around 250 H&M stores on the 20th February 2010! With just two days to go, the fashion pack are picking out their favourite pieces and the question on everyone's lips is whether Rykiel's collection will be as popular as H&M's Jimmy Choo capsule collection, which was snapped up like hot cakes only a few months earlier!

Sonia Rykiel's first designer collaboration with H&M launched on the 5th of December 2009, concentrating primarily on Lingerie and luxurious loungewear: 50's style bras and bodysuits, bow headbands, pillows, slippers, brooches, chic slips and bralets, using fabrics such as velvet and chiffon coupled with diamanté rhinestone detailing.

Some of the pieces in the lingerie collection included:

I personally didn't buy any of the collection, but I liked the bodysuits and zip bras the most, as they're feminine with a touch of vintage glamour! The chiffon slips and rose-detailed bras are also quite sweet and add a touch of romance to the collection.


Sonia Rykiel's new collection for Spring/Summer appears to have an even wider range of garments, which targets women of all ages - the collection doesn't just have a women's wear section, but also has one for little girls! The collection quite fittingly showcases classic Rykiel designs - trademark colourful stripes, iconic sweaters with printed words and bow and crown rhinestone motifs. Rykiel isn't called the "Queen of knits" for nothing you know!

(Sonia Rykiel, catwalk: Autumn/Winter 2009-10, vogue.com)

As you can see from the video below, the focus for the H&M knitwear collection is on very bright colours, giving the garments impact and make for real statement pieces.



And now, for the Sonia Rykiel look-book pictures (with thanks to Nitrolicious.com):


LEFT

JUMPER • GBP 24.99
JUMPSUIT • GBP 49.99
BERET WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 12.99
BRACELET WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 6.99
PLATFORM SHOES • GBP 34.99

RIGHT

FRILL JUMPER WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 34.99
SKIRT • GBP 19.99
PATENT LEATHER BELT WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 17.99
BRACELET • GBP 3.99
PLATFORM SHOES • GBP 34.99


LEFT

LONG JUMPER • GBP 34.99
PLATFORM SHOES • GBP 34.99
BERET WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 12.99
BROOCH WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 3.99
BROOCH WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 3.99
BRACELET WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 6.99
BRACELET • GBP 3.99
THIN BRACELET • GBP 3.99

RIGHT

FRILL JUMPER • GBP 24.99
LEGGINGS WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 24.99
BERET WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 12.99
BAG WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 17.99
PLATFORM SHOES • GBP 34.99
BRACELET WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 6.99
BRACELET • GBP 3.99
THIN BRACELET • GBP 3.99


LEFT

JUMPER • GBP 24.99
SKIRT • GBP 19.99
ALICEBAND • GBP 12.99
PLATFORM SHOES • GBP 34.99
BRACELET WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 6.99
THIN BRACELET • GBP 3.99

RIGHT

DRESS • GBP 34.99
SCARF • GBP 17.99
SOCKS • GBP 3.99
ALICEBAND • GBP 12.99
PLATFORM SHOES • GBP 34.99
BRACELET • GBP 3.99
THIN BRACELET • GBP 3.99



LEFT


JUMPER WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 24.99
WAISTCOAT • GBP 34.99
SHORTS • GBP 24.99
BROOCH WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 3.99
BRACELET WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 6.99
THIN BRACELET • GBP 3.99
PLATFORM SHOES • GBP 34.99

RIGHT

JUMPER • GBP 34.99
LEGGINGS WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 24.99
THIN BRACELET • GBP 3.99
PLATFORM SHOES • GBP 34.99
BAG • GBP 17.99


LEFT

BLAZER • GBP 49.99
STRAP TOP • GBP 17.99
SHORTS • GBP 24.99
ALICEBAND • GBP 12.99
BROOCH WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 3.99
BROOCH WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 3.99
BROOCH WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 3.99
PLATFORM SHOES • GBP 34.99
BRACELET WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 6.99
THIN BRACELET • GBP 3.99

RIGHT

FRILL DRESS • GBP 34.99
WIDE BRACELET • GBP 6.99
BRACELET WITH RHINESTONES • GBP 6.99
BERET • GBP 7.99
PLATFORM SHOES • GBP 34.99


There are a few pieces of the collection that I really like, but i'm not normally one to wear loud colours and designs. I think it will sell very well though, as the prices are just a fraction of Rykiel's standard designer collections and her knits are very sought after! My favourite pieces are:

I'm above all tempted to buy the "Mon pull Rykiel" jumper in black as it's classic Rykiel and very versatile. If not, I might just pick up a "mon pull" brooch to pin on a plain black jumper!

What do you think of the collection? Will you be buying from the collection and if so, what?

je-suis-style
xox

2/13/2010

Roses are red, violets are blue...

As we all know, it's Valentine's day tomorrow and as with every year, there's been the usual commercial furor leading up to it. Valentine hearts are in the window of almost every shop, supermarkets are stocking special Valentine chocolate boxes and card shops have cards with just about any romantic message you could possibly imagine! Couples are planning their romantic day, secret admirers are writing their cards and the single people are arranging a big night out...(or are planning to stay in with a huge tub of Ben & Jerry's and some soppy rom-coms for company!)

If you are planning something special, make sure you step out in style! I've created a little picture brain-storm of some outfit ideas, depending on your personal style! I'm sure we've all experienced the indecision that comes with outfit planning just before going out!

Oh, que c'est beau l'amour!





je-suis-style
xox

2/11/2010

Alexander McQueen - Death of an icon.


It saddens me to learn that today (LEE) ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, one of Britain's most well-known and prolific fashion designers has passed away. It is undoubtedly a shock to anyone familiar with the work of the "enfant terrible" of fashion.



Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue puts it pretty succintly: "His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs. His death is the hugest loss to anyone who knew him and for very many who didn't."

What's for sure is that McQueen will be greatly missed, but his fashion legacy will live on..

RIP.

je-suis-style
xox

2/04/2010

VOGUE España arrives!

So I got home the other day, only to find out that the first issue of my subscription to VOGUE España had arrived! (It states that it's the February issue, so I'm not exactly sure what happened to January's issue, but nevermind!) I was met by the image of Kylie Minogue on the front cover, with the title of "un baño desnudo, SEXY KYLIE: confesiones de una super estrella" emblazoned next to the image (which was surprisingly tasteful, given the dubious insinuations of "un baño desnudo" - bathing nude?!) Kylie looks particularly demure on the cover, so my worries that my subscription had been substituted for FHM were quickly dissipated!


I was reading on the Fashion Spot that a lot of people were not 100% sure about the Kylie cover image, declaring it was a bit 'boring' compared to the cover image that was on the accompanying VOGUE BELLEZA beauty magazine. (Interestingly enough, both cover stars sport similar poses!) What do you think? Kylie or Isabeli Fontana?


Personally, I think the Isabeli Fontana shot leaps out at you more than the image of Kylie does (perhaps due to the paleness of Isabeli's complexion contrasted with the piercing blue eyes and femme fatale scarlet lips), which makes for a more eye-catching front cover. The whole point is that on a magazine stand, you should be immediately drawn to a front cover and consequently buy it! However, the more I look at the other cover, the more I appreciate and am drawn to the sensual beauty that Kylie exudes. It captivates me rather than accosts me with colour.

On further inspection, the 15 page Kylie spread is most certainly a visual delight - The photographer, Vincent Peters, portrays Kylie as a mixture of 1920s movie starlet in the black and white images, dreamy and romantic painter's muse and seductive vintage pin-up! And goodness gracious, does she look amazing for 41!

Take a peek at some of the images...







And here's the 'behind the scenes' video:



I think Ibiza was a great shoot setting and I adore the sun-set field shots! The soft-glow back lighting is truly stunning! The cover may not have first grabbed you, but the shots in the magazine are really something else!

Moving on to the fashion spreads, there was a spread entitled "show de jeans", which pictures an array of different types of denim and displays their day to night wearability and versatility.


However, I was less interested in the denim, and more interested in the amazing photographs..and above all, the model! I skipped to the end of the article, hoping to find out who she was, but it wasn't included in the credits..Luckily, after a bit of online research, I've found out that her name is Elena Melnik! I think I have a new model crush! (Seriously, look at that bone structure and jawline!)


Another of the fashion spreads which deserves a mention, is the "Happy face" shoot with american model, Chanel Iman (photographed by Michelle Ferrara). For this shoot, the emphasis is on textural volume, evoked by mini-dresses with puffed sleeves and lots of ruffles, pleats and petticoats. I particularly like the orange jewel-tone Jorge Vázquez dress (pictured below) and the shape of the ethnic print Juanjo Oliva dress (bottom right). I was at first a little bit skeptical about the 'happy face' expressions Chanel sports, but coupled with her effortless and fluid high fashion poses, it works and stops the shoot from feeling too contrived!



All in all, a good introductory issue to my VOGUE España subscription. I wonder what's in store for next month...

je-suis-style
xox

(With thanks to thefashionspot.com for the additional pictures of Elena & Chanel. All other pictures used are my own scans.)