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 

Anne Hathaway Apologises For Oscar Dress Swap

ANNE HATHAWAY has explained why she opted to wear Prada over her expected choice of Valentino on this year's Oscars red carpet - because another attendee was set to wear a very similar gown. The Les Misérables star - who went home with the Best Supporting Actress award on the night - issued an apology for "any disappointment caused".

Confusion first arose when Maison Valentino released a statement only hours before the red carpet began, confirming that they were to be dressing the actress in a couture gown - as well as Jennifer Aniston and Sally Field. However, when Hathaway arrived at the Dolby Theatre, it quickly became apparent that she was wearing a pale pink Prada column dress. She told press: "I didn't know what I was wearing until two hours ago. I tried on a lot of dresses, but at the end of the day, I loved the simplicity of it."

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SARAH KARMALI | February 27, 2013 | Article Link

Iconic Diana Princess Of Wales Dresses For Sale

TEN of Diana, Princess of Wales' most iconic dresses will go up for auction on March 19. The collection was originally bought at a charity sale held in New York in June 1997, arranged by the Princess a few months before her death in August that year.

The upcoming Kerry Taylor Auction will feature gowns by designers including Zandra Rhodes, Catherine Walker and Bruce Oldfield. Highlights include the midnight blue velvet Victor Edelstein gown that Diana wore when she danced with John Travolta at a State dinner given by the White House in November, 1985, an experience Travolta later described as being "like a fairytale".

A dark green velvet dress features a small hand print that could have been the mark of one of the late Princess' then-young sons. Many of the creations appeared in portraits taken by legendary photographers such as Lord Snowdon and Mario Testino. Estimates range from £20,000 to £200,000.

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ELLA ALEXANDER | FEBRUARY 21, 2013 | Article Link

The art of the LBD

MANILA, Philippines - Ever since Coco Chanel revolutionized the way women dress in the 1920s with her sleeveless black sheath just cut above the knee, the Little Black Dress or LBD has become a timeless fashion classic.

More than that, images of Audrey Hepburn in her Hubert de Givenchy LBD and pearls as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, French folk icon performing her poignant songs in a black sheath dress, and the Duchess of Windsor’s quote (“When a little black dress is right, there is nothing else to wear in its place”) have elevated the LBD to iconic status.

Wearing the LBD has, in fact, become an art form of sorts, as it brings to mind everything that is elegant, modern, functional, and chic. And with LBDs on the 2013 runways of designers like Valentino, Prada, and Dior, SM Ladies Fashion brings its latest incarnation to the store racks with shaped shifts, peplum and drape detailing, neat A-line silhouettes, embellished pieces, and luxe lace numbers.

The LBD has survived the test of time and trends because of its versatility. When combined with a blazer, it can make a stylish work outfit. Throw in a pair of high heels and a pearl necklace, and you transform it into a formal outfit. 

Art meets fashion as SM’s LBD collection is photographed amid the beautiful and insightful works of contemporary artists Carlo Gabuco, Nolet Soliven and Lyle Buencamino at the Finale Art Gallery at Warehouse 17.  Like art, the LBD is only limited by one’s imagination. And one thing is sure: the little black dress will never go out of style.

The Little Black Dress collection is available at SM Ladies Fashion of SM Department Stores.

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The Philippine Star | February 20, 2013 | Article Link

Rihanna Interview Exclusive

SHOWING at London Fashion Week was not something that Rihanna nor her River Island co-designer, Adam Selman, took lightly. On Saturday night, the Vogue cover girl unveiled her debut collection for the high street brand.

"Obviously, it is a huge honour to be able to show at LFW alongside some of the fashion greats," Selman told us. "London has such amazing support for original ideas and concepts, especially in art and fashion. Since the show didn't start out meaning to be a full fashion show, I've tried not to stress myself any more than I have. I've been trying to take it all in stride and enjoy the whole process instead of getting lost in it."

Selman - who works with the singer on her tour costumes, including her 2012 Victoria's Secret outfit - has been developing the collection since June last year. He maintains that, unlike many celebrity-fashion collaborations, Rihanna has been "heavily involved" in designing the line. The pair emailed and called each other frequently in the early stages of the project and the star has been present for all recent fittings.

"This collection is very based upon Ri's style and her mood - so it's evolved a lot," said Selman. "There were things that she couldn't find in the shops - for example simple, black, beautiful dresses, so she created her own. She was really interested in how things sit on the models and how they're cut. This all comes from her - it's very personal. She's at the top of her game right now in terms of her career and in herself. She's in a really good place."

Selman describes the collection as "urban-inspired, unfussy with a hint of uptown" and is targeted at "cool hip girls who aren't super thin". He admitted that the pair did have a few differences when working together - something he believes improved the overall results.

"There were times when I said to her, 'Ri you've got trust me on this.' Then she'd put her foot down and I'd have to let it go," he said. "Other times, she'd go with me. You can't always change or read someone's mind. A little tension is good though. We made a good team - there was never any shouting or screaming."

Selman and Rihanna will soon start work on their next collection for River Island - this time for autumn/winter 2013-14.

"I'm looking forward to getting into it fully," he said. "This is just the beginning of Rihanna's design career."

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ELLA ALEXANDER | FEBRUARY 17, 2013 | Article Link

Vogue UK

London Fashion Week kicks off in monochrome and metallics

(Reuters) - Monochrome dresses inspired by Italian architecture and mirrored skyscrapers kicked off London Fashion Week on Friday as designers showcased elegant and minimalist creations for Autumn/Winter 2013.

British designer Zoe Jordan opened the London leg of the international fashion circuit with grey corseted dresses and flowing skirts, spiced up with splashes of bright amber and dashes of fur.

An architect by training, Jordan said Italian cathedrals and the urban skyline of Hong Kong inspired the sharp silhouettes and metallic finishes of her designs.

"Living amongst those metallic, mirrored skyscrapers all the time does definitely alter your vision a bit," Jordan, who recently returned from a trip to Hong Kong, told Reuters after the show.

"What we are trying to do is that nonchalant glamour, it's a very London thing, you know, the girl who doesn't try too hard," Jordan said of her collection.

One of the big four catwalk fixtures alongside Paris, New York and Milan, London Fashion Week is best known as a cradle for cutting edge talent and avant-garde trends.

The city blends up-and-coming names with veteran designers like Vivienne Westwood in a semi-annual burst of creativity to entice recession-weary consumers back into shops.

The direct value of the British fashion industry to the UK's $2.5 trillion economy is 21 billion pounds, the British Fashion Council (BFC) said.

"London really stands out as a fashion week because they are trying to help support younger designers and find emerging talent. It's not just about praising the big guys, they're looking for the next big thing," Jordan said.

London's art and design schools have been a treasure trove for fashion talent, producing designers such as John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and a raft of others.

Monochrome was echoed by the design duo Fyodor Golan (Fyodor Podgorny and Golan Frydman), who presented a collection of black, ivory and burnt pumpkin, adorned with baroque sketches or embellished with beads.

Skirts and dresses were subtly sexy keeping thighs and chests covered while showing off shoulders and the nape of the neck.

"For us it's all about sexuality - exploring, showing it but not in a perverse way - just going for it," Podgorny said of London Fashion Week.

Looking ahead, the spotlight will shine on American designer Tom Ford, who will be showcasing his womenswear on the catwalk for the first time in London, having previously limited viewings to select fashion insiders and editors of glossy magazines.

Singer Rihanna will add a touch of A-list glamour on Saturday with the launch of her first clothing line with British high street retailer River Island, one of the 56 catwalk shows taking place over the five-day event.

"London fashion is crazy because you've got new designers, you've got fashion, you've got parties...for me it's just about showcasing your talent really," said British actress Jaime Winstone from the front row of Jordan's show.

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Alice Baghdjian | Reuters | February 15, 2013 | Article Link

The Designer behind Carrie Underwood's Grammy Awards dress reveals how he created it

Are you still wondering what made Carrie Underwood's dress light up on stage at the 2013 Grammy Awards? Well, it's a little bit complicated. But, Don O'Neill, the designer behind the dress, didn't want to leave people out in the dark. So, recently, he sat down with ABC News to talk about how he was able to design a dress "that could have a movie projected on it" in just—get this—two weeks. It took a lot of sketching, a lot of imagination, and a lot of trial and error on O'Neill's part, but he eventually found the right design to help Underwood's dream Grammy dress come true.

Watch the clip below to see exactly how the whole thing came together. If you weren't impressed by the dress before, we promise that you will be when you see how much hard work went into it.

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Vibe.com | February 14, 2013 | Article Link