Blooming Marvellous

LIBERTY LONDON is famed for its heritage floral prints, and for spring/summer 2013 they have once again been reincarnated by way of an exclusive collaboration with denim genius AG Adriano Goldschmied.

The 13-piece capsule collection comprises chambray shirts and shirt dresses, cut-off shorts, lightweight playsuits, and AG's bestselling Legging Ankle style - all of which are emblazoned with three of the prestigious department store's most distinctive designs.

But we're not talking your run-of-the-mill printed denim here - far from it. Using a new denim printing technology, an innovative dye-lift process removes the indigo pigment from the fabric, leaving behind the impressioned floral design. The effect is one that ties AG's vintage design aesthetic with Liberty's enduring patterns perfectly.

"Liberty's timeless floral prints and AG's peerless fit, fabric and finishes have resulted in a sublime marriage of floral print and denim," explained Samuel Ku, creative director of AG.

Understatedly chic, the collection will no doubt prove a huge hit with the discerning fashion pack, who are always keen to add a touch of statement to their denim portfolio.  

The collection launches in full on March 21. Get a sneak-peak preview here.

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SCARLETT KILCOOLEY-O'HALLORAN |  18 MARCH 2013  |  Article Link 

Exclusive: Celia Birtwell For Uniqlo Collection Revealed

UNIQLO has unveiled the fruits of its long-awaited Celia Birtwell collection for the first time today, ahead of the official launch on March 21. From dresses and cropped trousers to shorts and scarves, the range comes covered in the famed British designer's whimsical and witty prints.

"Uniqlo has grown over the years for me," Birtwell told us of her decision to work with the Japanese high street label. "I've always thought that they are very good at doing men's basics and at designing simple shapes. We had a very peaceful initial meeting, which was very appealing. I did think though, 'They could really do with a good print.' And that's how it began."

Uniqlo first became interested in Birtwell after seeing her Topshop collaboration, which first launched in 2006. The collection started out as solely T-shirts, but soon led to a larger-scale project.

"I showed them my archive and a selection of new designs and we went from there," said Birtwell. "Uniqlo were charming people to work with and had very sympathetic take on print. I like to amuse myself with my prints and they were receptive to that."

 Birtwell first became widely-known in the Sixties, when she worked with then-husband Ossie Clark as a textiles designer - together dressing some of the decade's most famous, from the Rolling Stones and Jimmy Hendrix to Twiggy and Marianne Faithful. She hopes that her Uniqlo range will bring her work to a new audience.

"It's very young and fresh," she said. "There's an accent of youth and something for every generation. There's understated prints and bolder ones, I hope it will cater for a broad range of people, in the same way my Topshop line did."

The project is also in keeping with what Birtwell sees as one of the most appealing aspects of Sixties style and fashion - low prices.

"Fashion is such a big business now," she said. "There was a real innocence about it then and an element of post-war austerity. No one would have paid £1,000 for a bag. It was much more democratic - things had to be affordable."

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ELLA ALEXANDER |  11 MARCH 2013  |  Article Link 

Enjoy the SUN this Summer

Go Mix and Match this summer, with bold prints, plaids, stripes, colorful denims, cut-out shorts, cargo mini skirts, sheer tanks, tees, and summer&polo dresses.. who can stop you? ABSOLUTELY No-One! You can even walk around the park with your sleep shorts on!

Gap Skimmer Jeans

a&f Sheer Tanks and Cut-off Shorts

 

Gap Dress

And many more..........


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www.gap.com
www.abercrombie.com

The GREAT WHITE!!

Great White........ in GAP!

Fashion Show: GIANFRANCO FERRE

TWIST it, turn it, work it, belt it: that was the message that Federico Piaggi and Stefano Citron were promoting with their Gianfranco Ferré collection today. No look was complete without a belt and it had to be fastened just so – elaborate and twisted and elegantly tamed to stay in line with the rest of the shapes going on around it.

This duo is known for their sculptural aesthetic, able to manipulate and elongate, smooth out and refine shapes to precise and futuristic effect. Last season they toned that down, a good move given they were still only one year into working with the heritage house. Today it seemed to simultaneously go up and down a notch – layers were the key here.

Jackets and skirts, tunics and coats all came with a severity to their cut but layered all together made for a less forceful and sci-fi approach. Something which worked for the better and put their clothes back in the real-world realms – though there was still a series of cloaks towards the end that might still be a little too other-worldly for some.

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JESSICA BUMPUS | FEBRUARY 25, 2013 | Article Link

Milan fashion week kicks off despite recession

Despite the looming financial crisis that has hit the Italian fashion industry hard and the general election from February 24 to 25, Milan fashion week kicked off with pomp, glitter and glamor as usual.

First to sashay down fashion week was Gucci’s autumn-winter collection, a luxurious play of gowns of feathers, ferns and netting that evoked exotic birds.

Leather, python and metallic sheens dominated the collection. Skin-tight outfits, fishnet stockings with a back seam and sky-high heels completed the noir and fetish look.

Gucci designer Frida Giannini said, “The Gucci woman... is steely yet sexy, defining her discipline with femme fatale vices.”

Frankie Morello designers Pierfrancesco Gigliotti and Maurizio Modica brought in “an army of super-feminine, mysterious femmes fatales” to the runway wearing ruthlessly slashed mini hot pants, sculpted jackets and full-length dresses embellished with shards of mirror.

Alberta Ferretti’s show brought in a softer sort of femininity with an array of ivory, black and white floor-length dresses, or ruffled skirts, worn with long-sleeved shirts and gem-studded cross earrings.

The weekend of February 24 to 25 will bring Bottega Veneta, Roberto Cavalli, Jil Sander, Emporio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana and Missoni to the runway. On Monday, February 25, fashion week will close its doors with John Richmond and Giorgio Armani.

Despite the pomp of fashion week, the Italian fashion industry is still reeling from the damage done by Italy’s 20-year recession.

According to the Chamber of Fashion, the industry's turnover was an estimated 60 billion euros ($80 billion) in 2012, down 5% from 2011.

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Rappler.com | Fabruary 23, 2013 | Article Link

Color therapy: Let the sunshine in

MANILA, Philippines - Everyone's counting down to summer and preparing what they can for the season of sunshine: weight-loss diets, exercise programs, and their wardrobes.

This 2013, black and white and Asian silhouettes dominated spring. Still, I believe that there's nothing like good ol' solid colors in Crayola shades to cheer us up. Even people who are into basics will enjoy looking at them.

Last time, I wrote about florals, how to wear them, how to mix and match them. This time we stick to plains with lotsa color — from head to toe.

The magic of monochrome

A monochromatic palette does wonders for your built: wear it in brights to create the illusion of volume; wear it in dark shades to create the illusion of a smaller size.

Color Burst: Sunny summer makeup

Like a rainbow

Now let us mix and match the basic pieces used in our monochromatic looks to create 4 new looks. With the right attitude and pizzaz, this is how you can expand your wardrobe.

        

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KAI MAGSANOC | Rappler.com | February 23, 2013 | Article Link

Dresses That Give You a Flat Stomach

Don't be surprised if people can't stop commenting on your leaner silhouette—it's up to you whether you divulge these crunch-free secrets.

The "Your Waist Is So Little!" Black Dress

The LBD is a wardrobe staple, which makes it all the more important that you feel more attractive than Victoria Beckham on the arm of David Beckham while wearing it. A mesh panel in the waist smooths out any would-be muffin top, so you're svelte without sucking in.

The "Have You Been Doing P90X?" Dress

This color-blocked style melts away pounds—or at least creates the illusion of it. The black band down the center widens just below your widest part, making your hips look slimmer, and the pale gray sides at the waist make your obliques look as toned as if you've spent a month doing Tony Horton's Ab Ripper X.

The Camera-Doesn't-Add-Any-Pounds Dress

The V-neck wrap style has long been a staple in TV anchors' wardrobes—the three-quarter-length sleeves keep your arms from jiggling, it's body-slimming without feeling snug, and in jewel tones, it makes your skin glow. This one goes a step further: The built-in undergarment makes you look like you've dropped a dress size overnight.

The "Wow, You Look Gooood" Dress

The navy stripe running from the boat neckline to the at-the-knee hem on this plus-size number means your face and ever-flattering collarbones are the first thing people notice—your tiny waist, the second thing.

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Candace Braun Davison | Read More Article Link