Milan fashion Week: mini trend

A little delayed report on Milan fashion week, been having an internet access crisis.  Opposing colour statements were made with a head to toe black and bold colour blocking the key messages of the week.

1.  Black

2. Bold Colour blocking

The 60s was a dominant theme that continued from the previous shows in London and New York with shift dresses becoming the shape of the season.  A new eddition of boxy woven blouses and outerwear teamed with skinny bottoms was a fresher take.

1. shift dress

2. boxy top

 Another look to take a slightly more formal slant than previous seasons is the androgynous dressing. Milan presented a structured, tailored look with DB tailored jackets and tux styling looking refreshing for the more daring.

London Fashion Week AW11 Trend Report :Key Shapes

Last week London was awash with colour for the AW11 presentations setting a bright light on the dreary wet weather.  I’ve already discussed key colours in my post yesterday, but feel an overriding theme of the week was colour blocking in various manifestations.  From tipping and collars in pops of varying shades to monochrome outfits, colour block shifts to using solid brights’ in contrasting colours for outfit building. I particularly like Jonathan Saunders surprising combination of bright, vivid blues next to a deep berry shade.

Shifts were the dress shape of the week throwing out modern takes on the 60’s siren staple.  A line, mini, midi, straight, wrapped, colour blocked, printed, sheer, knitted... you name it was in a shift.  Aquascutum’s slightly slouchy orange number took a newer slant, but would almost certainly only flat those sizes 8 and below with model stature.  For a more commercial take Topshop Unique presented a super cute mixed print version with a sweet peter pan collar.

It’s all about the shirt..... Paula Reed of Grazia fame said on her blog she wouldn’t know what to do without her jeans and shirt these days and neither do London’s fashion pack.  The shirt is the wardrobe staple of AW11, casual and washes, clean and minimalistic, printed and cute.  Or for an alternative more feminine look wear the shirtdress with the Jaeger style the most commercial, but long and lean for the cool acne take.

London catwalks continued to promote the winter crop, following on from the dominance of this shape on the New York catwalks.  A surprising and exciting note to be made on the return of the roll neck, shown printed, plain, layered, alone its definitely a one to watch. Think a really nice update for winter logo shapes shown on the Giles catwalk.

1.       Colour blocking

2.       Shifts

3.       Shirt/ shirtdress

4.       Crop  trouser

5.       Roll neck  tops

all images courtesy of style.com

London Fashion Week AW11 Trend Report :Colour Update

London Fashion Week was on fine form with its top designers presenting innovative collections.   Jonathan Saunders was the stand out star with a superb execution of colour and print into simple understated shapes, surely a major house will be knocking on his door soon.

Burberry continued with the 60’s theme from their pre-collection, but offered a more desirable collection with beautiful tailored trousers, shifts and their usual outstanding outerwear.  I particularly loved the suede and boiled wool mix tunic over textured tweed flared trousers.

Acne and Jaeger both moved on their collections with their branded shapes and look into the colours of the season.

And some of the UKs favourite designers Christopher Kane, Giles and David Koma all played with layer to different end results.  Christopher Kane’s take on craftwork techniques showed the designers innovation whilst the unusual gel filled panels on the shift dresses were not only futuristic, but an exciting and modern way of dressing.

As far as colour stories go London confirmed the Red dominance of New York the week before with strong tomato, Betty Jackson led the pack with a head to toe red collection.  Mustard and Chartreuse were also prominent colourations supporting the mustard and yellows from New York.  However the newest and most exciting colour combinations came with colours mixed back with grey. Used as an outfit statement with solid garments, colour blocking and trims.  It looks fantastically sophisticated in an Aquascutum mac, but also delivered in a fun and young way from Topshop Unique.

Key shapes and looks to follow. All images courtesy of style.com

Grey with Brights



Yellow and Chartreuse

Tomato