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May 23, 2012 2:03 pm
The fashion set has seen its fair share of tropical prints following last summer, when Stella McCartney showed her Hawaiian-infused Resort collection with its colorful palm trees and deck chair stripes. Since then, it seems that almost every designer has caught McCartney’s case of jungle fever—see Joseph Altuzarra’s Spring 2012 show (where the models sauntered through an actual jungle) and Riccardo Tisci’s killer pre-fall looks at Givenchy. At Sydney fashion week, the runway trend hit the streets hard, where a Stella McCartney-clad Yasmin Sewell (pictured, above) caught Tommy Ton’s sartorial eye. With Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, it’s not too late to try the punchy prints on for size. For starters, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites, below.
From top left: Altuzarra Ash silk crepe de chine shirt, $825, available at www.net-a-porter.com; Equipment sheer floral Daddy blouse, $228, available at www.shoplesnouvelles.com; Stella McCartney Hawaii printed blouse, $821, available at www.farfetch.com; Emma Cook silk blouse, $330, available at www.farfetch.com.
tags: Emma Cook, Givenchy, Joseph Altuzarra, Memorial Day, Riccardo Tisci, Stella McCartney, Tommy Ton
Is Africa Fashion’s Next Big Thing?
May 18, 2012 4:15 pm
What’s the next big thing in fashion? Lately, signs are pointing to Africa. For starters, Franca Sozzani dedicated the entire May issue of L’Uomo Vogue to celebrating the continent’s intrinsic allure and creativity. This year’s International Herald Tribune Luxury conference will examine the growing African middle class as an emerging consumer as well as the region’s potential for manufacturing. And last night, Essence editor in chief Constance White led a panel discussion entitled Design Africa, where she and political journalist Chika Oduah held forth with Rogan and Loomstate co-founder Scott Hahn, Suno head of production Nadiyah Bradshaw, and Bantu swimwear designer Yodit Eklund about the future of design on the continent.
The consensus: There’s plenty to be done, but the potential is great. “China did not become China overnight,” Bradshaw said, going on to explain how at Suno, she helps Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty find ethical workshops and factories and effectively create needed job opportunities in places like Kenya. Panelists mused on the potential of African manufacturing and hoped that one day, a “Made in Nigeria” tag would be as highly regarded as a “Made in Italy” or a “Made in France” one.
In the meantime, people like panelist Enyinne Owunwanne (the founder of online African fashion retailer Heritage 1960) are working to promote Africa’s rising design stars. Owunwanne works with promising up-and-coming designers including Jewel By Lisa and The Summit, as well as artisans in South Africa, Nigeria, and Rwanda, which she features on her site. “Until recently, Africa has largely been underserved within the global fashion and design scene, but the continent has always been chock-full of amazingly talented designers and artists,” Owunwanne told Style.com. “It was only a matter of time before the world stage started to give due recognition to the talent stemming from Africa. Diasporan trailblazers such as Duro Olowu and Ozwald Boateng set the stage for an appreciation of African designers. The fashion industry has barely tipped the iceberg with African designers and inspiration coming from the continent, though. There is so much more to discover—this is truly just the beginning!”
tags: Chika Oduah, Constance White, Duro Olowu, Erin Beatty, Jewel by Lisa, L'Uomo Vogue, Laurence Airline, Loomstate, Maki Oh, Max Osterweis, Ozwald Boateng, Rogan, Scott Hahn, Suno, Yodit Eklund
Hot Under The Collar
May 16, 2012 3:33 pm
The arrival of spring—despite the rain—makes it very tempting to throw on a pair of printed pants with a white T-shirt several days a week. But how do you keep the repeat-offender outfit fresh? Take a cue from the lavender-haired Caroline Kan (above), who landed on Stockholm Streetstyle when she brought a little life to her separates with a ruby red Indian wedding necklace that she snagged on eBay. If your own auction trawling isn’t as successful, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite statement pieces below.
From top left: Tom Binns Splash Out rhodium-plated Swarovski crystal necklace, $1,400, available at www.net-a-porter.com; Assad Mounser Shine a Light gold-plated necklace, $430, available at www.assadmounser.com; Kenneth Jay Lane 22-karat gold-plated Swarovski crystal and resin necklace, $325, similar styles available at www.shopbop.com; Oscar de la Renta, 24-karat gold-plated cabochon necklace, $995, available at www.net-a-porter.com.
tags: Assad Mounser, Caroline Kan, Kenneth Jay Lane, Oscar de la Renta, Stockholm Streetstyle, Tom Binns
At The Met: Cape Town
May 8, 2012 12:27 pm
We’ve already noted the influence Angelina Jolie had on this year’s Met ball red carpet. No less influential: Gwyneth Paltrow. Paltrow’s cape-and-gown Tom Ford look was Oscar night’s best, and it’s proven to have legs at the Met, too. Gwyneth’s stylist, Elizabeth Saltzman Walker, told me at an event in Paris that she was inspired by Jackie Kennedy’s timeless chic when working on Gwyneth’s Academy Awards look. Last night, some of those donning capes, like Maria Grazia Chiuri, in Valentino, went for classic, too. But there were just as many others who chased glitz and glam. Lana Del Rey sparkled in custom Altuzarra, and Bianca Brandolini d’Adda, in Dolce & Gabbana, reminded me of an Italian movie star from the sixties. Sally Singer was lacy in Nina Ricci, but the cherry on the surrealist cake goes to Linda Fargo in custom Naeem Khan. Shocking, Schiaparelli-style.
tags: Bianca Brandolini d'Adda, Elizabeth Saltzman Walker, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jackie Kennedy, Lana Del Rey, Linda Fargo, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Nina Ricci, Sally Singer, Tom Ford
A Leg Up
May 8, 2012 10:18 am
Where Angelina goes, the red carpet follows. It’s been scant months since Jolie bared her now-famous leg in Atelier Versace at the Academy Awards—the leg that launched a thousand tweets and at least one Twitter account—but hipbones and acres of thigh made bold appearances last night at the “East Coast Oscars,” the Met gala. Gisele Bündchen made the leg-jut her own in Givenchy Haute Couture, as did Anja Rubik in impossibly slit Anthony Vaccarello. The lesson: Make a statement if you can pull it off, but this is not a look for mere mortals. (There’s a reason “super” is typically appended to “model” in their titles.) Do not try this at home—you could pull something.
tags: Angelina Jolie, Anja Rubik, Anthony Vaccarello, Atelier Versace, Gisele Bundchen, Givenchy Haute Couture, Met gala
Black And White
January 3, 2012 2:49 pm
In 2011, vibrant colors made their bold return to the runways. While the Spring ‘12 and pre-fall collections have shown no sign of the color trend disappearing, black and white is popping up in a big way. Designers including Monique Lhuillier, Maria Cornejo, and Phillip Lim all worked the classic color combo into their pre-fall collections. Karl Lagerfeld even managed to make black and white looks a centerpiece of his Indian-inspired Chanel presentation. (Black and white might be quintessentially Coco, but in Bombay, that’s not so much the case.) As pre-fall collections continue to roll out, we’ll be watching to see if the trend carries on.
tags: black and white, Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Maria Cornejo, Monique Lhuillier, Phillip Lim, Pre-fall
The Enduring Influence Of The Other Taylor
December 2, 2011 12:32 pm
This week, the buzz has been about Liz Taylor, whose collection of couture, jewels, and accessories has just hit Christie’s. But on the pre-fall rounds, it’s another Taylor being name-dropped: Colorado socialite Ann Bonfoey Taylor. Taylor’s been in the news as well of late, thanks to a recent Phoenix Art Museum retrospective of her enviable collection of Balenciaga, Charles James, Madame Grès, and Hermès. We spotlighted Taylor as a Beauty Icon earlier this year, and for his pre-fall collection, Michael Kors chose her as his inspiration—”Nan Kempner on the range,” he said. That influence worked itself out in Mongolian lamb and cold-weather chic, especially coats. Above and below, Taylor herself, alongside a few of Kors’ creations in homage.
tags: Ann Bonfoey Taylor, Michael Kors
Under The Sea
October 6, 2011 5:02 pm
There’s something in the water this season. The sea (and its denizens) proved a major inspiration to designers in Europe and gave rise to some seriously covetable accessories. On the runways at Chanel, Versace, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, and Alexander McQueen, sea creatures had their day, from shark tooth pendant necklaces and seahorse wedges to starfish rings. Here, a few of Style.com’s top picks.
tags: Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Charlotte Olympia, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, sea, Versace
Top Honors
October 3, 2011 5:53 pm
Noticed in Paris: Throughout fashion month, clutches have reigned as the It accessory for showgoers, but in Paris, Style.com noticed tastemakers like Emmanuelle Alt, Géraldine Saglio, and Samira Nasr trading their clutches and their trusty Celine totes for the LV Sofia Coppola leather top handle. Could this be the new editor go-to bag?
Above: Louis Vuitton SC Bag Calf Leather, $4,560, available at www.louisvuitton.com.
tags: Celine, Emmanuelle Alt, Samira Nasr, Sofia Coppola
Forecast: Sunny
September 29, 2011 4:28 pm
Throughout the Europe shows, brilliant shades of yellow, ranging from mustard all the way to chartreuse, have been turning up everywhere. In particular, we have noticed a host of street-style stars sporting vibrant yellow accessories. Here, we’ve called out a few Style.com favorites, snapped by Tommy Ton, including the Bottega Veneta python clutch that Anna Dello Russo can’t get enough of these days (pictured, top left).
tags: Anna dello Russo, Bottega Veneta, Tommy Ton
