Wednesday 27 February 2013

Mickey Take Fakes


Street-spotted at the S/S 13 shows

Many of today's fashion trends start from being spotted on cool city sidewalks and areas that surround the international fashion weeks. Check back to street snappers and blogger's reports from Spring/Summer 2013, and you will notice that behind the fashion scenes there was a small rush of sweatshirts and tees emblazoned with mis-spelt-but-the-same-font of top international fashion brands.  Sported by a few of fashion's elite personnel, a crowd who usually are styled and trend perfected to within an inch of their lives, and who are also well versed in the knowledge that images of themselves casually crossing the road, invite in hand, will be beamed around the world for fashion industry insiders and fans to peruse, judge and almost certainly copy.
So doesn't it seem funny that within this bunch, whose every fashion choice is scrutinised, that there are a few who would rather wear a misappropriated version of a designer logo than the real thing?
The Style Eye set to work to discover who was behind the 'Mickey Take Fakes' ....

Celine? No, BLTEE by Brian Lichtenberg

Our search led us first to Brian Lichtenberg, who has been pumping out the 'Homies' jumpers, T-shirts and knitted beanie hats, and if you didn't go to Specsavers,  could easily be mistaken for a piece of original Hermes. The Style Eye's personal Lichtenberg favourite would have to be his take on the Celine branding and logo,  'Feline - Miaow' sweatshirts & hoodies.

Benzo Bronx by C.O.I

Casual wear brand Conflict Of Interest are also producing a small range of T-shirts that also fit into this latest trend genre. Miu Miu, Kenzo, Balmain, Jil Sander, Givenchy and Bottega Veneta all get a comedy makeover courtesy of C.O.I. 'Benzo - Bronx' is a nice take on the recent fad for the Kenzo branded tiger knitwear and sweat jumper range. The creators have applied much attention to detail to recreate a Mercedes Benz front grille which cleverly imitates the popular Kenzo original version. 
With brands like Brian Lichtenberg seemingly getting away with producing and selling these versions, then there is probably room to create your own take on a designer brand classic, Chanel-esque 'SuperChic' anyone? 

Wednesday 20 February 2013

London Fashion Week Events

This week The Style Eye has been visiting fun, filled fashion events. And not just the usual up-and-down the catwalk shows, oh no, more than that! Hour-long relaxed events where one was fed, watered and superbly entertained . Who knew that upstairs at the Swarovski Crystallized mega-boutique on the corner of Regents Street, that there sits a fantastic disco-party space with bar and DJ? We didn't until we called in for an exclusive showcase featuring lingerie and swimwear collections by What Katie Did, Dirty Pretty Things, Kiss Me Deadly, Fred & Ginger, Posh Totti and Paolita. Armed with champagne vouchers, we climbed the stairs to the sound of some very cool party beats, I wanted to dance, but alas no, we were there for a fashion show.
Pre-show we scoffed handmade chocs and had a set of lustrously gorgeous SheebaRaye eyelashes applied for our pleasure. We took our seats for the show, and the tunes kept on coming, but still no dancing - since the show was about to open. As our feet tapped in time, we saw an array of silky intimate separates from designers What Katie Did and Fred & Ginger, neon babydolls a la Yootha Joyce on acid from Dirty Pretty Things, an amazing sheer floor length boudoir robe by Kiss Me Deadly, expertly wrapped, twisted and folded printed sarongs by Posh Totti and Masai inspired printed swimwear from Paolita. We left with totally uplifited, minds, bodies and eyelids!



Checking her pocket watch, Alice realises it's time to open the presentation





The Tea Party
Over at Fashion Scout, we arrived at the decadent surroundings of Freemason's Hall for Liz Black's A/W 13/14 'Wear Me' presentation. To get us warmed up for the collection inspired by the world of Wonderland, we were given Campari and Cutesy Cake cupcakes, of which the latter was plucked from the tea party table, the central point of the presentation. Models playing the part of Alice in white scupltural show piece dresses, walked the red carpet handing out a couple of silk roses by So-Handmade. We were lucky enough to have been handed one of these artfully made pieces in crafted in white silk stained with red paint, presumably after the Queen of Hearts demanded all the flowers in the garden be painted red. The next moment the Red Queen makes her entrance in a stunning red zip front mini dress with a raised collar that spread into over exaggerated  shoulders and sleeves. If you think this sounds rather like something Lady Gaga would wear, then you are on cue as she has worn Liz Black's designs several times on the international red carpet. Although the show was centered on the eye-catching Wonderland designs, the presentation also included mannequins with designs that reflect Black's minimal and elegant aesthetic, for her collection of chic and tailored pieces for A/W 13/14. 
The Queen Of Hearts


Chic and Tailored. Liz Black's Wear Me A/W 13/14 Collection  

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Valentine's Inspiration


Maison Martin Margiela Ostrich Feather Pen

The big debate amongst friends and colleagues this week has been 'What to give my loved one for St.Valentines day?' It's not like a birthday or Christmas when one is readily willing to present a gift and card. It's slightly trickier... Firsly, what to get? Most gift ideas for him or her would have been used up as Christmas gifts & stocking fillers with the giant gift-giving season just having passed only short while ago. The obvious choices of chocolates, champagne and flowers just seem a little tired, boring and an over used cliche. So what else is appropriate to exchange with a loved one over the candle-lit dinner table tomorrow night? And how much should we spend? And of course, how romantic should the gift be?

New Paris Style by Thames & Huson

Ok, so The Style Eye has ideas for those of you in this quandry. Think slighly quirky, fun and don't spend a fortune. On both counts, one must remember it's just a made-up day to remind the one you love you love them. You both know you do so a lighthearted token is totally sufficient here. How about a fancy Martin Margiela feather pen to inspire a flurry of hand written love notes throughout the year? Fun, functinonal and fairly resonable at £35.00 for a piece of an avant-garde fashion designer. If you didn't quite make it across the channel for dinner in Paris then how about browsing where cool Parisian folk maybe spending their Valentine's night in with Thames & Hudson New Paris Style interiors tome. And finally a cushion to cuddle up to, especially if it's printed with a dressed up version of their favourite pup!
Dachshund Cushion by Maison Trois Garcons. Other dogs and cats dressed as historical figures also available

Thursday 7 February 2013

The Knicker Factor


Eva Lai uses modern green flashes to bring freshness to vintage style
 Playful Promises, the hip London lingerie, swimwear and gifting boutique recently set a competition to find an emerging design talent to collaborate on a limited edition collection to add to their already successful range of ladies undies. The competition was open to all and was promoted mostly through design colleges. The response was overwhelming. Yet, Emma Parker and Louise McNaughton who design for Playful Promises had to choose a final winner, or three even? Just like the last season of Masterchef, whereby the last two finalists shared the winning trophy because Greedy Greg and his pal John Torode couldn't decide which finalist's plate to go for, the girls at Playful Promises went one better and indulged themselves to three final winners! After carefully studying the entrant's submissions, Emma and Louise selected a handful of the best aesthetically pleasing designs that captured the Playful Promises signature style. Delphine Thwaites of Playful Promises outlines the x- factor the judges were looking for "It was vital that the design had something that was signature to Playful Promises, something a little retro but with a quirky and directional design. But we were also looking for something a little new and exciting and unique. And we found three!"



Inspired by the '50s, Carli Pullinger's retro graphic design
 The three winners were Eva Lai, Carli Pullinger and Pippa Davidson. Pippa was inspired by the fusion of eastern design and western beauty, her contemporary purple and pink print was applied to a retro bra and brief set. In contrast, Carli Pullinger and Eva Lai took inspiration from the 1950’s. Carli focused on the female figure and 1950’s glamour and Eva used a nude and pink colour palette with a hint of lime green  detailing. The limited run of pieces will be available from May 2013 as part of Playful Promises SS13 collection, online at www.playfulpromises.com and at the Playful Promises Boxpark boutique in Shoreditch . Playful Promises intend to launch another design competition in May for AW14 designs, so watch this space for more emerging lingerie talent!

Pippa Davidson's print applied to a retro-styled set