BFC’s Caroline Rush: “London Has Incredible Talent”

CAROLINE RUSH described this season's London Fashion Week as "the perfect storm". The British Fashion Council chief executive believes that the autumn/winter 2013-14 schedule was one of the capital's strongest to date - thanks to the timing (following the London 2012 Olympics), its selection of "incredible" diverse talent, and the fresh bout of "energy and enthusiasm" brought by new BFC chairman, Natalie Massenet. 

"We've been building on strengthening London Fashion Week over several seasons, but now it's almost the perfect storm," she told us. "It's post-London 2012, where there was a huge amount of attention on the UK. We have incredible designers - not just creatively, but which are now developing sustainable profitable businesses - and the internet now gives immediate access to a global audience."

Thanks to a partnership with Righster and YouTube, 21 of this season's shows were broadcast live online this season - not even taking into account the social efforts from the likes of Burberry and Topshop, labels which consistently push the bounds of public interactivity. And speaking of Topshop, Rush was delighted at the increase of British high street presence on this season's schedule.

"It's an opportunity for the general public to access fashion and trends that all start here at LFW, so it's no bad thing at all - [high street brands] are all building international businesses too, so it makes sense to show here when they've got the world's attention and international retailers and department stores in town," she said. "Of course Topshop have been part of London Fashion Week for many years supporting NEWGEN - they're an incredible global fashion brand in their own right now."

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SARAH KARMALI | FEBRUARY 20, 2013 | Article Link

Stella McCartney Advised Christopher Kane To Sign PPR Deal

CHRISTOPHER KANE turned to Stella McCartney for advice ahead of selling a majority stake in his eponymous label to PPR in January. McCartney signed an acquisition deal with the luxury conglomerate in 2001.

"I know some people will wonder why we sold a majority share," said Christopher Kane. "But looking at PPR's history of nurturing the creative as well as the commercial side, and talking to Stella, who said 'go for it', it seemed right. There's freedom within a framework. We need that infrastructure. I don't have ultimate control and if it ever goes wrong… but it's not going to go wrong."

The next step for the British brand is to hire a CEO, so that Tammy - Christopher Kane's sister, who is known for overseeing the business side of the company - can dedicate more time to her role as creative director. A London store opening and a website launch is in the pipeline, as well as a new accessories line.

"We're also surprised sometimes that we made it this far," Tammy Kane told The Telegraph. "There were times when there was no money in the bank and we'd be hammering things ourselves into clothes the night before a show thinking: 'What the hell are we doing?'"

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ELLA ALEXANDER | FEBRUARY 20, 2013 | Article Link

The Secret Weapon Behind Rihanna’s Look

After the Rihanna for River Island presentation during London Fashion Week, its namesake designer, the biggest pop star on the planet, came out for a bow. Accompanying her was a boyish, mustachioed fellow. Most of the audience had no clue who he was. Beaming, he turned to Rihanna and applauded.

This was Adam Selman, Rihanna’s costume designer, who worked with her on the collection. You’re probably more familiar with Mr. Selman than you think. He makes the costumes the singer wears for appearances and videos — those that are not culled from high-fashion labels — like the pink faux-fur bomber from her 777 Tour and the white halter dress from the “Battleship” premiere. The list is long enough to stock a department store. One creation is particularly ubiquitous: the pineapple bikini in her Vita Coco ad.

“I made a mini-collection,” Mr. Selman said, “a whole rail of pineapple clothes. She came to the set and loved it. Every country we go to, there’s a billboard with that pineapple bikini.”

Mr. Selman’s relationship with Rihanna goes beyond pineapples and is close to symbiosis. “Our working relationship is seamless,” she said. “I am so particular and hands on with everything I do, and that can be difficult, but with Adam, it never is. Oftentimes, I describe what I’m thinking for my show or my collection, and his execution is exactly what I wanted.”

In the Rihanna for River Island presentation, slicked-hair bad girls paraded in variations of the Michelle Pfeiffer “Scarface” slit dresses, cheeky skirts and T-shirt dresses that looked like tied-on shirts (complete with sleeves used for belts). There were more exposed midriffs than in a belly-dance troupe.

In fact, the clothes were clever and tough, yet feminine and wearable — and largely affordable, with prices like $200 for a jumpsuit and $75 for zip-back knicker shorts. They go on sale Tuesday at Opening Ceremony stores, and the New York flagship will celebrate with “RIHtrospective,” a museum treatment of her past outfits. In England the line will be hyped by a Mario Sorrenti advertising campaign.

A few weeks before the River Island debut, Mr. Selman was in his scruffy garment district studio, an inauspicious locale for a major player on team Rihanna. “There are a lot of furriers in the building,” he said. “In summer they stretch out big pieces of fur and dry them on the rooftop, and clumps drift past.”

He was brought in to work with Rihanna on her 2011 Loud Tour by his boyfriend, Mel Ottenberg, her stylist. The gig was intended to be temporary, but he kept being called back, and it’s now a full-time job.

“We bounce ideas off each other,” he said of Mr. Ottenberg, “but it gets to a point where we’re like, ‘O.K., we can’t discuss Rihanna at dinner, we have to shut it off.’ ”

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WILLIAM VAN METER | March 1, 2013 | Read More. Article Link

H&M Crashes Paris Fashion Week

Three days after crashing the Oscars red carpet by dressing Helen Hunt in a strapless gown, H&M, the Swedish fast fashion retailer, crashed Paris Fashion Week.

It has been eight years since H&M presented a runway show for its signature label, not counting its big promotions with Donatella Versace and Maison Martin Margiela, so executives at the company evidently decided it was time to pull out all the stops with an elaborate show on the grounds of the Musée Rodin. H&M’s previous show, by the way, was held in the Central Park Zoo. So it has come a long way.

It says a lot about the state of fashion shows, which are increasingly becoming entertainment vehicles designed for the public as opposed to events for industry insiders, that H&M chose Paris, the city of haute couture, for this one. Previous designers to have shown their collections in the gardens behind the museum include Dior, during the late John Galliano years, and Tom Ford before that, when he was at Yves Saint Laurent. And yet H&M’s production seemed even more over the top, and the audience appeared at least as wowed.

Guests entering the show Wednesday night walked along a candle-lit pathway to an enormous tent that had been decorated like a fantasy apartment, with more than 15 small rooms where editors were seated on couches, beds, marble slabs and at gilded wicker seats around a dining table. Each room was decorated in a different style, including a Moroccan lounge, an Art Deco sitting room, a marble bathroom and a kids’ bedroom with an outer space motif. Finding your assigned seat through the winding rooms was like walking through Ikea, only with better furniture........

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ERIC WILSON | February 27, 2013 | Read More Article Link

Michael Kors Named Most Popular US Label Online

MICHAEL KORS is the online world's most sought-after US brand, according to Digital Luxury Group, an organisation that provides the luxury industry with market intelligence. The American fashion stalwart beat competition from Marc Jacobs who came second and Ralph Lauren who ranked third.

DLG discovered that Kors stole 19.6 per cent of more than 31 million internet searches, covering 35 countries - including the UK, France, China, Brazil, Japan, Russia and the US. The research was carried out from January to June 2012. Calvin Klein came fourth, followed by Vera Wang, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Diane von Furstenberg, Betsey Johnson then Tom Ford. Interest in Kors was related largely to the label's leather goods.

"Search engines better reflect customer interests than social media," David Sadigh, founder and chief executive officer of Digital Luxury Group, told WWD. "The problem with social media is the buzz. Search engines are usually much more accurate in understanding primary interests."

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ELLA ALEXANDER | FEBRUARY 20, 2013 | Article Link

VIDEO: Jennifer Lawrence for Dior Handbags

FACE OF FASHION.
 Jennifer Lawrence in a still from the Dior Handbags
behind the scenes video.
Screen grab from YouTube (Dior)

MANILA, Philippines - Fresh from her Oscar Best Actress win for "Silver Linings Playbook" on February 24 (February 25 Manila time), Jennifer Lawrence debuts as the new face of Dior Handbags via a behind-the-scenes video posted on YouTube.

It was posted on February 24 and has 68,150 views as of writing.

Watch the video here:

Lawrence also wore Dior Haute Couture at the 85th Oscars, famously tripping as she was about to go on stage to accept her Best Actress award.

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KAI MAGSANOC | Rappler.com | March 1, 2013 | Article Link

Light and lovely: Pastels for spring

SINGAPORE- Spring 2013 has brought a palette of blossoming pastel colors to all fashion enthusiasts.

Matching the sweetness of cotton candy and ice cream, the colors of baby pinks, dusk blues, and grayed greens have been spotted across several catwalks and sidewalks alike.

Other light colors according to Pantone.com’s Spring fashion forecast include: linen (a light, “nude-like” color), African violet, and a burst of lemon zest. A touch of these colors easily adds grace and lightness to your look.

On outfits

Dainty dresses are a classic way to wear this trend

Another option is to match ethereal tops with light bottoms (pants, short, and skirts)

On accessories

If you feel that a head to toe look is too much for your personality, you can opt to add small accent pieces to your look

Wrist bangles or necklaces can soften your outfit, along with bags

On makeup and nails

Who said pastel is limited to your wardrobe? This trend is also spotted in beauty/makeup looks and nail colors

Doll-up with a fresh face of pastel eye shadow and pink/clear lip-gloss

Candy-colored nails also makes a delicious appearance this Spring 2013

Spotted in Singapore were a few of these colors. Here are Rappler's sartorial picks:

Soft and casual

Light pink dress from SportMax.
Shoes from Converse.
Sunglasses from River Island.
Bangles from Forever 21

Read More: Rappler.com

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VICTORIA HERRERA | March 2, 2013 | Article Link