Snow outside....a warm room with fireplace...glass of wine...nice music, movie, book...it seems that one can enjoy like this forever! But what happens when we need to actually go outside in times like these? Can we stay well-dressed and stylish and feel warm in the same time? The answer is YES! You can be stylish even when it is snowing, even when you are in the mountains, even when skiing....there is a great choice of wonderful, winter clothes and you only need to choose those that suit your taste and needs most. Here is a my selection of favorite winter pieces - UGG boots, because they look and make you feel warm; Lacoste booties, because they are cute and functional; Mittens rather than gloves, because they are warmer as the fingers are kept together; Cashmere scarves, because they feel oh, so, comfortable; Coats with fur, because not only they are warm but they encompass a season trend; Big, cozy sweaters because they are always useful and stylish; Aviator hats with ear flops, because they are again, warm and trendy...
This has been quite a prolific year when it comes to movies dedicated to one of the greatest fashion designers in history. We have already seen Coco Chanel and Coco avant Chanel, but now here comes a new and exciting story about the intimate affair between Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky in the movie with the same title. The movie was first shown on the Cannes Festival 2009 and will be released in cinemas on December 30th, 2009.
This passionate love story is based on the book "Coco&Igor"by Chris Greenhalgh and revolves around the time when both Coco and Igor achieved the greatest success in their lives. They actually met in 1913 during the scandalous performance of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" and tough everyone was shocked, Coco was impressed by the composer. The next time they met seven years had past already, Coco was on the top of her career but had lost her love Arthur 'Boy' Capel. Igor, was also facing problems as he had to leave France because of the Russian revolution. Coco offered him and his family to stay with her in the villa outside Paris and that is when their love affair begins. The passionate relationship affects both of them in a positive way as Coco creates her most famous perfume Chanel No.5 at the time and Stravinsky starts composing in a more liberated style. Karl Lagerfeld also supported the making of this movie.
Tough we got used to the nice surprises from H&M expressed via collaborations with famous designers who create pieces with the high street prices for this brand, it is always great to hear about some new project of this kind. From December 5th, 2009 in the H&M shops the lingerie and nightwear collection from Sonia Rykiel will be available.
The collection was presented on Tuesday in Paris' Grand Palais with an extraordinary fashion show where models paraded, glitter and confetti were thrown and an Alice from Wonderland scenes were created. Additional element to all the 'drama' was the glamorous 50's feel of the presented soft pink boudoir style bras and briefs.
A knitwear collection which, will also be available in H&M shops in February 2010 was presented at the end of the fashion show. What differs the Sonia Rykiel collection from the others collaborations of H&M with famous labels is the fact that it will be also sold in Sonia Rykiel shops.
He is the master of hat making and a favorite choice for a hat designer of Vivienne Westwood or John Galliano for Dior. Stephen Jones is one of the leading milliners (makers of women hats) known for his eccentricity, creativity and high level of quality of making hats for famous women from different parts of the world. The exhibition, curated by Jones, "Hats: An Anthology" has been opened in the Victoria and Albert museum in London.
With this post I am sharing several of his designs, but also other hat creations as I believe hats are important fashion items, which have lost their popularity over the years but are slowly having their come back. Hats have been important throughout the history for several reasons - first, they were used for protection of the head, then they have become a status symbol, an art form, important and inevitable accessory. The magic of wearing a hat rests in the fact that by wearing it you attract attention to your face straight away.
The term milliner was born in Britain because of the hat makers who came from Milan, Italy. The women hat makers in France are called 'modiste'. Coco Chanel first started as a 'modiste' when she came to Paris.
In the beginning of the 20th c. both, men and women wore hats as an inevitable part of their outfit and changed them according to the occasion. There were hats for people from different social status, but in general everyone needed to wear a hat and for the higher classes gloves as well (women especially). Later on, when wars started, the entire clothing became simpler and easier to wear in the given circumstances. This can be called the demise of the hat wearing.
There have been periods in the recent fashion history when hats were worn more than in other times, but they haven't become as popular as they were in past, more romantic times. Still, there are some occasions and events (like the horse races in Ascot) nowadays which are all about hat wearing. Also, fashion desginers have re-introduced hats for this and the next season through more formal and elegant ones, those which are creative and crazy or those which simply are there to protect from the sun.
November 14th is the day when shoe lovers should hit the H&M shops near them. This is the day when the latest collaboration of the high street brand H&M with a premium designer will be finally available to all those of us, who have impatiently anticipated it.
After its many successful collaborations with clothes designers like Roberto Cavalli, Karl Lagerfeld, Victor&Rolf, Matthew Williamson, H&M this time has made a phenomenal deal to cooperate with the shoe magnate and favorite of the Hollywood stars - Jimmy Choo. The H&M collection offers not only beautiful shoes and bags but, also clothes to complement them, as representatives from Jimmy Choo claim. The recognizable glamorous style of this famous shoe maker is present through leather, suede and lots of glitter details. This collection consists of women's and men's pieces. Jimmy Choo for H&M will be sold in 200 selected stores only, so make sure you find yours on time!
One of the current trends for 80's brands is their revival in a retro style, but ultra popular brands. This was the case with Reebok, and lately a completely different brand has been going through the same process - the well known and for many of us favorite toy brand Lego.
Tough Lego has been developing and stands amongst the besttoy brands now it has become part of the street style brands. Lego motives appear in design of watches, bags, belts, mobile phones, cameras and even cookies. Designers like Marc Jacobs have introduced the trend on the catwalks already last season with accessories made of Lego parts.
Jean - Charles de Castelbajac has even created a video fashion show where models are replaced by figures made of Lego (http://vimeo.com/2150757). Castelbajac has recently made a collection based on Lego colors and shapes. These recognizable toy colors and shapes integrated into outfits or accessories are a refreshing experience, in the same time bringing the smell of our childhood and nostalgic memories.
A place where fashion, and more importantly style are being celebrated through items presented because they have fascinated me in some way. Worn by ordinary people or models, creations by famous designers or beginners, shot by professionals or amateurs...it doesn't really matter as long as they tell a story in a unique way...
