ISLA MODA

The dream of international fashionistas is about to come true. An island dedicated to fashion is already drafted and ready to be built 20km off shore from Dubai, on 111.483.648 m². And who else can be the creator of such and exclusive and surreal place other than the always innovative Karl Lagerfeld?

Together with an American architect and a famous hotel group, Lagerfeld has projected the futuristic island which is supposed to be built by 2014. It will host 150 luxury properties, several five stars hotels, most famous fashion brand's boutiques as well as space for fashion related shows and events.  Other famous designers are expected to offer collaboration in this project as well.


The CGI images of Isla Moda promise a wonderful and exclusive getaway for the international fashion jet setters.

SKY HIGH

This autumn I've fallen back in love with high heels. For some time I've been avoiding to wear them as I was feeling that it is much more comfortable to wear flats. This might be true, but the fun is not the same. High heels make the figure more noticeable, make you feel more confident, and can come in so many great forms and designs that they can represent real pieces of art. 

Speaking of arty shoes I think I have finally found my favorite shoe designer - Nicholas Kirkwood. This Englishman has introduced the "sculpture" shoe, which has a unconventional form, very high and architecturally designed heel, many details and is made of wonderful and specific materials like satin, hand-printed suede and leather, laser cut mirror leather, rubberised leather and the like. 

Kirkwood started creating his shoes after working as a milliner in Sir Phillip Treacy studio in London. There he realized that as hats make the outfit complete, so do shoes, and outfits from designers like Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan simply didn't have a decent supplement in the shoe department. That was when Kirkwood enrolled to study about shoe making and soon started cooperating with designers like Rodarte, Ghost, John Rocha...In 2008 KIrkwood was appointed accessories designer at Pollini. Since July 2009 he has his own space in London. 

Speaking about inspiration Kirkwood states that there isn't anything in particular that inspires him, sometimes as he says the design comes out of nothing. He also explains that a certain design goes thorough many changes in the designing process. First it is an idea, a scatch on paper, then it is being developed and a 3D model is made, and then the final design is defined. 

For season 2010/2011 Kirkwood has created shoes inspired by the art of the American contemporary artist Keith Haring. These shoes are very pop and a bit different from what has Kirkwood done so far, but still have his very creative moment embedded in the designs. The collection will be available worldwide in February 2011.

Keith Haring collection

Fashion moodboard for SUNDAY 26th SEPTEMBER

This Sunday is probably one of the last incredibly warm and sunny autumn days. It feels like the summer is not ready to settle and you can still feel it in the air...Days like this are perfect to enjoy the sun and spend time outside. Be old-fashioned and prepare a romantic picnic in the park, dressed accordingly in 50's outfit, feeling feminine and lovely; take a book and go back in time where glamour was part of everyday life...enjoy!

DESIGNER WATER

Evian is continuing the tradition of collaboration with fashion designers to make special designs for its bottles. The Evian Issey Miyake bottles add to the tradition of making colorful bottles that bring about positive thoughts and feelings. Before this, Evian Paul Smith bottles were made in this direction. The Issey Miyake bottles carry the recognizable flower element. The accompanying web site is made very thoughtfully as well.

Time to FALL...into new clothes

The collections for Fall 2010 promise a time of year filled with classic elegance, luxury and femininity. Lines are both straight and more subtle, and the colors are mainly basic with clash of dominant and beautiful accessories giving the tone of the outfit. I have selected some of the most interesting trends in clothes and accessories for this season. 

B(L)CK TO BASICS

Every season black is to be found in the fall/winter collections, but this one we can see the real comeback, which is evident through using the color in all kinds of outfits - elegant, extravagant, casual, with straight lines or with a softer shape...

A REAL WOMAN

Femininity in a form of 50's like dresses or simple French chic creations is present again on the runways. Not only these outfits are beautiful and remind us of a different era, it is a fact that they encourage curves as part of the women silhouette again.

COVER UP

Coats and capes are a must have for Fall 2010. They are both useful to keep as warm, give elegance to the outfit and can vary in shapes and colors. Below are my favorites.

 

 











AUTUMN PASTELS

         

DECOR

 

Lanvin + H&M = A GREAT DUO

Exciting news come from H&M - another collaboration with a luxury fashion brand and this autumn it is the great LANVIN. The wonderful clothes, which we only saw on the runways and in exclusive boutiques, are now available for all fashion (and high street) lovers. 

Not much is known for the collection so far, except that there will be both women's and men''s collections, designed by Alber Elbaz and Lucas Ossendrijver respectively. However, the focus will be on the clothes for women (yeee!) which means that we will enjoy wonderful outfits with French elegance, pearls, ribbons and other Lanvin typical embellishments, immaculate cuts and silhouettes. Lanvin wasn't expected to accept the cooperation as Elbaz has stated before that he is not interested in making the brand a mass product. However, what changed his mind is the fact that H&M was willing to go luxury, not the other way round. Ifthis means that the H&M - Lanvin pieces will have luxurious prices is yet to be discovered. 

The collection will be available in stores from November 23rd. 

VISIONAIRE for the VISIONERY

The tribute paid to Alexander McQueen doesn't seem to stop. The latest honor given to him is the entire issue of the publication VISIONAIRE dedicated to his work. Famous people who have collaborated with McQueen, like Mario Testino, Stephen Meisel, Lady Gaga, Steven Klein, and many others, share images that depict his talent and creativity. The cover of this issue is made of satin with metalized brocade, a detail from his spring/summer 2010 collevction. Inside, the pages are made of paper with embedded sunflower seeds, which when planted, watered and given sun, blossom, just like his work did!

                                     VISIONAIRE "ALEXANDER MCQUEEN" issue

VISIONAIRE is known for producing this kind of marvelous, creative and beautiful issues. This publication cannot be called a magazine, nor a book, but as its publishers say it is more a "multi-format album of fashion and art", which comes out 3 times a year since 1991. Works from well-known but also emerging artists, art directors, fashion desginers and the like, have appeared on the pages of VISIONAIRE.

One of the really inspiring issues of VISIONAIRE is the WORLD issue. It is made of photographs of people from all around the world (over 150 contributors) ranging from the unknown to the well-established. Via chain e-mail they were asked to send photographs of the places where they live or work, spend their free time or what fascinates them. The issue is delivered in a specially designed GAP "travel around the world" bag.

                                                    VISIONAIRE "WORLD" issue