Wednesday 29 February 2012

See And Be Seen

Fashion week checklist. Eye-catching outfit- check. Invites to the best shows - check. Giant camera - check.



Anna turns the lens on the paps.

 
What's going on at the International Fashion Weeks that are happening right now? Plenty this season- and not just inside the shows and on the catwalks, where a feast for the eyes in the form of new threads is being unveiled. For real (ish) fashion as it happens the streets the place to go. Last March on this here blog, I posted a piece entitled 'Fash Pack News Flash'. I was talking about how nowadays what happens outside the shows is as important as what goes on inside the shows. Move on one year and it's not just fashion folk being fash-papped but them themselves photographing other visitors to the shows. This season its a case of 'who's watching you and you watching them'. Browsing through the street images from outside the shows it was clear that this season the look du jour for the fashion press is not just a super on-trend, eye-grabbing outfit as well as, an invitation to the best shows,  and a pair of those Acne heels but also a camera to document at a moment's notice all the important sightings. Best of all, was Anna Dello Russo. For wherever Anna goes in one of her amazing and out-there outfits, so do the fashion photographers. So it was great to see her in her trademark giant cherries hat and an equally matching fashion-bonkers outfit with huge camera lens in hand photographing the clamouring Fash-arazzi in front of her, possibly to use on one of her posts for her own blog? And now that ADR is now photographing others, it just goes to prove, once again how important fashion blogging has become. What if one day in the future nobody even bothers to even go to the into shows? And that leagues of the best dressed folk stand around in various cool locations and simply photograph each other for their own media? Now there's a crazy thought - and it's nearly as crazy as one of Anna's outfits!
Camera and those Acne heels! Thats 'So this Season'

Monday 20 February 2012

'We Could All Look Good In Some Italian Fashions'

Well, 'We ALL, could look good in some Italian fashions' if - you are a savvy shopper. I quote this line from Chevy Chase in the classic eighties comedy, National Lampoons European Vacation, because last week I was lucky enough to have a little shopping trip to The Mall, just south of Florence in Italy. For those of you who are not aware of this gem of a shopping location, set in the backdrop of the stunning Tuscan countryside, I shall inform you that it is a chic shopping mall,  full of designer boutiques selling last seasons collections at a heavily reduced price ( between 50-70% off to be precise). And for those of you who are not familiar with the 'shopping in Italy' scene from the aforesaid movie then click the link below to see what I mean! A quick synopsis of this scene is that the Griswald family take a detour to an Italian fashion boutique and leave looking rather over the top, in medieval meets the eighties garb. Fine, when in Rome and all that, but how did those costly outfits look, I wonder, once back home in middle America?
The Mall
So this week's post is my top tips for getting some fashionable bargains at a fraction that will get an airing and wearing in Rome or at home.

Tip 1 - Make A List
Obv, yes I know but it does help, trust me.
Think about maybe what you need to get you through the coming season or,  what you really could have done with last season. Perhaps it's an outfit that will go nice with those boxed shoes you bought because you loved them, had to have them, yet still haven't worn as you had nothing to wear with them?
Or it could be an indulgent accessory (Prada key ring anyone? or maybe a piece of Marni costume jewellery) or a more daily usable piece like a Bottega Veneta real Croc hip belt (yes, I said real, no mocking) reduced from 800 euros to a mere 90 euros. Classics like that never date or age.

Tip 2 - Have a Budget
Give yourself an affordable figure in your head and stick to it. This saves on purchases that give you guilt trips if you realise it probably was too expensive. You can't easily return these items once the 'Griswald Effect' kicks in. You could always Ebay-It but I think the pleasure is in the purchase - so enjoy it guilt free and get excited about bagging a bargain that you really love.

Tip 3 - Know The Sizes
It can be quite confusing in Italy coming from the UK or the US when selecting sizes. As it is an outlet centre - albeit a very flashy one, do remember there are limited stock sizes available. The sales people can be very pushy and tell you whatever they think you want to hear to make a sale. Italy has just been declared officially in recession so they are even more eager to make you buy it (more of this subject later).
French and Italian sizes are not the same either but very close in number so this can also cause confusion - check with the Pushy Parade i.e. the sales assistants, if the sizes are in French or Italian and do your own fashion maths. Here, I have listed how it works on a women's UK size 8 - move up accordingly in increments of 2 on each size to work out yours- so  
An American size 6 is the same as UK 8, which is comparable to a French 36 which equates to an Italian 40. Yes confusing - do keep a note of this while shopping.

Tip 4 - Don't be Suede
Do not be - as in ' Love those suede thigh-high Sergio Rossi boots but they are a little too small' If something doesn't quite fit or not quite right don't buy it. You'll regret it even if they were reduced from 900 euros to 200 euros. You'll never wear them if they are a killer to walk in. Also in this paragraph, ignore the coos of 'Bellissima..Stupenda...Molto Carino' etc,etc from the Pushy Parade as they discuss between themselves, but in your direction when you exit the fitting room. A Miu Miu dress that, even without a bra flattened my chest, did not sit on my shoulders properly and was baggy on the hips was quite frankly not 'Bellissima' Mrs Prada shop lady!  
Fashion Valley

So there you have it - go and enjoy yourselves for a day at The Mall and the nearby,  recently added Fashion Valley outlet boutiques - but do keep in mind Chevy Chase in that movie - always brings a smile to my face! Click below to see what I mean.

National Lampoon's European Vacation - shopping in Italy

Sunday 5 February 2012

The 'Sjujsch'


Alexa Chung

B&B Texture Creme
Ladies, it's time to ditch the electrical hair appliances. Be free and store all your straighteners, rollers and curling wands for another day, for this is the season of The 'Sjujsch'. Although, do keep the blow dryer in easy reach to perfect an imperfect hairstyle. Formerly known as 'bedhead' or 'tousled' this hairstyle requires simple management. Championed by international style-setters such as Alexa Chung, Caroline Seiber and Lou Doillon, this hairstyle may look a bit messy and a fashion contrast to their chic high fashion looks, but their 'do's' are never more than six weeks away from a professional cut and colour.Starting with a great easy cut - say a long bob with an optional fringe and well-placed layers, wash and rough dry hair, followed by a smoothing down with a tiny blob of serum and blow dried into place. Then go for it and 'Sjujsch' away with your finishing product of choice. How to Sjujsch? choose from backcombing and lifting from the roots followed by a spritz of Elnett, or scrunch curl and flip around with Bumble and Bumble's Texture Creme or simply tousle with mousse. 
Caroline Seiber