Cuuurrrrrvvvvvalicious!!!!!!!!!!!!

Words by Rachel Cowey :

Yes that’s right, curves are back in fashion!!!!


Lying on a sun bed on holiday, sweltering in the heat, the last thing I want to look at is woolly jumpers and fur coats. Yet this year, I was actually pleased with the magazines. And why? The statement that curves are back!

Although I am slim myself, I’ve become bored with the fashion and media Industry’s obsession with size zero, especially when only about one percent of us could actually gain such a small figure.

However, autumn/winter 2010 seems to have turned its back on the size zero epidemic. Designers instead are celebrating women!! Proper womanly bodies, with breasts and hips.

There was “All Woman” at Louis Vuitton with boned corsets and grown up circle skirts. “Hourglass” was celebrated at Dolce and Gabbana who showcased corsets and roses into womanly shapes. It is time to be your favourite Jane Austen character with a heaving cleavage and tiny waist.

The must-have pieces are corsets, nipped-in at the waist dresses and pencil skirts. Think Mad Men’s Betty Draper as your role model.


I am interested to see how the high street will incorporate these feminine trends. And whether curves will finally evolve from a gimmicky trend to something considered normal.

Hmmmm well we shall wait and see ;)

FREEZE 4 FASHION?

As we are still enjoying the abundance of sun that’s hit us this summer, high street retailers are constantly reminding us all that autumn and winter are just around the corner. Weather wise, this is sad however fashion wise, things get interesting. Though as I browsed through Topshop’s ‘Dark Nouveau’ Autumn/Winter 2010 range, it became apparent that winters clothing appears to be summer’s best friend. With this, were a number of tiny hot pants, lace dresses and light chiffon pleated skirts.


The underwear as outerwear trend still remains with merely some thin two toned tights to cover the leg. Undeniably the stylistic image created is hot – unfortunately for us this statement is not literal. The absence of a snood and a chunky knit jumper for the winter weather, admittedly brings fear upon us women, though a true fashionista would freeze for fashion, no? Baring the cold does indeed attract attention, “She’s brave”, “She looks fierce” though the failed attempt simply reads, “She looks cold”.


It is a known fact that fashion and comfort do not often sit in the same boat, though is there a limit? Topshop’s translucent dress (above) clearly shows that there isn’t, though with its careful detailing and sheer finishing, who can complain? And so, we must embrace the cold (now and then). As easy as it is in winter to throw on a stylish jacket over a grubby outfit in the hope that no one will ever know, the waistline must be revealed from time to time. With this theory, the Cape fits nicely – a style no longer meant for the Superhero but the Superwoman. The chequered, leather shoulder form of outerwear from the Dark Nouveau collection caters for us less brave winter wearer’s. The sheepskin inner collar adds an aviator edge which makes up for the loss of the snood and with its a-line opening the outfit underneath is revealed– no more hiding ladies.

So resultantly we appreciate the collection - a superwoman silhouette, a nice mix of textures and hot pants which no longer allow our pins to undergo hibernation. Get as much sun as you can now ladies because freezing for fashion seems to be the new way…

Words by Samantha Bobb-Lucus

Chicago based designer Borris Powell to showcase at the ‘A La Mode’ London Fashion Week 2010 show

Born in Alabama, Borris Powell has showed all over the world with his feminine designs epitomising elegance and class. With echoes of Chanel in his last A/W collection, Powell’s designs combine great tailoring with sharp lines and vibrant colours. Inspired by watching his mother getting ready for parties as a child, the old fashioned glamour is subtly highlighted in his designs and are worn by strong women who still want to retain their femininity and show their figure.

From tweed grey mini dresses to tartan jodhpurs and floor length sweeping red double breasted coats, Powell’s collection hints at 1920’s sophistication with a twist of the contemporary city woman. Using traditional fabrics Powell stays true to classic style but adds his own quirky sense of modernity into his designs, teaming the jodhpurs with heels and a crop jacket.

“I always wanted to make women feel beautiful” Powell says, his designs undoubtedly showcase this wish successfully. Borris Powell is definitely one to watch this fashion week as he shows new his A/W 2010 collection at the LGN Events ‘A La Mode’ Catwalk Show, this February as part of the London Fashion week off-schedule programme. His show will be part of an international showcase at the Charing Cross Hotel on Friday 19 Feb 2010.

For further information and tickets to the show contact:
W: http://www.borrispowell.com/
La Geneve North Events
E: theresa@lagenevenorth.co.uk
W: www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk

New Zealand based designer flies in to showcase at off-schedule LFW Show ‘A La Mode’

Chrystal Sloane, the New Zealand luxury label known for their beautiful designs aimed at real women with an impeccable fit, will be flying into London to showcase their latest Autumn Winter 2010/11 collection as part of the LGN Events off-schedule London Fashion Week show.

The event entitled ‘A La Mode’ is now in it’s 3rd season and will take place at the prestigious Charing Cross Hotel in Central London on Friday 19 Feb 2010 from 7.30pm – just a stone’s throw away from the official LFW venue, Somerset House.

Chrystal Sloane Designs only creates a limited number of each piece in the collection which make them extra special for customers who want to own an exquisite fashion piece inspired by the timeless 40’s style and glamour.

Their Autumn/Winter collection is inspired by glamorous sirens of the 30’s and 40’s like Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich’s evening attire gave an amazing direction for the collection. Exquisitely embossed, sequined and embroidered fabrics are some of the textures for cocktail and evening attire as well as beautiful soft silks for elegant blouses and feminine dresses with full skirts and to figure hugging styles with godets around the hemline. The fabrics are flirtatious and rich and stretch beautifully over the contours of the body. All wrapped up with capes and fur jackets to add the finishing touch for that very special occasion.

The decedent collection will certainly be a key talking point of this seasons’ LFW programme.

ENDS

For further information and tickets to the show contact:

W: http://www.chrystalsloane.showcaze.co.uk/

Australian Designer to showcase at La Geneve North’s ‘A La Mode’ show.

Estelle Annabel is the new label awakening in Australia by Melbourne fashion designer Estelle Annabel. She is now soon to be catching the eye of the British press as she showcases in London in Feb 2010.

Having studied at the Canberra Institute of Technology, Estelle has now been in the fashion industry for 12 years. Her loyal following of customers are constantly bewildered by the intricate hand stitched details of each piece, as well as the beautiful fabrics she sources for her collection.

Estelle has a way of reflecting her work to suit each customer’s personality and manages to fuse vintage and modern styles to create her masterpieces.

It was Estelle’s attention to detail that caught the eye of press at the Melbourne Cup. Melbourne press flocked to see her works and they were not alone; the judges of “Fashions on the Field” have now voted Estelle as a finalist 7 times.

Estelle Annabel is definitely the milliner to watch this fashion week as she shows her new A/W 2010 collection of hats and fascinators at the LGN Events ‘A La Mode’ Catwalk Show. Her show will be part of an international showcase at the Charing Cross Hotel on Friday 19 Feb 2010.

For further information and tickets to the show contact:
W: http://www.estelleannabel.com/

La Geneve North Events
E: theresa@lagenevenorth.co.uk
W: www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk