Sometimes, it’s Paris – and sometimes, it’s Harris that you want.
Many a mood can be tailored by mode.
Auntie Viv's Harris Tweed will smarten you up, Scottish style.
Image: Liberty.
Holi Colour, Batman
While Batman preferred the cover of darkness and all things noir, this is not the time for it.
It’s Spring, my dears. Whether you measure it by groundhog predictions, or calendar dates or Supermoons, the ushering of a new season is upon us.
For me, there is only one start to this season of all things new – Holi, which is celebrated with vigor, vibrancy and a joie de vivre by the people of India, a place I lovingly call the Motherland.
I remember Holi celebrations of my childhood in (old New) Delhi – wearing old whites and then spraying family and neighbours with powdered colours and colour-filled water balloons. It truly was – and is - a celebration of joy, of colour, of the welcoming of Spring and all its glory into your world.
So, do that today. Surround yourself with colour.
1. Sunburst: Christopher Kane's stamped florals for SS11.
2. Issey Miyake's SS11 smock dress.
3. Turn things around this Spring - Atsu Summer Resort 2011 dress.
4. Haider Ackermann sTeals my heart each season.
5. Poetic licence - Haider SS11 gown.
6. Peel me a grape. Ports 1961 SS11 gown.
7. Fade in: this Dries jacket for SS11 lets you slowly ease into colour.
8. You'll get lots of compliments wearing these complementing florals by Dries.
9. Like something out of the MoMA - Raf Simons for Jil Sander SS11.
10. Little Shilpa, an accessories designer from India, was all about blooms for Summer Resort 2011.
11. Any damsel in this dress would emerge golden. Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen SS11.
12. 3-D florals at Vera Wang SS11.
13. Sultry spring in the tropics, according to Marc Jacobs for SS11.
14. Floral armbands at Mary Katrantzou SS11.
15. The master of prints and pattern, Sabyasachi X 3 for Summer Resort 2011.
16. Stella was all about the juicy details for SS11.
17. Butterfly Babe at Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton for SS11.
18. Subtle hues at Dries SS11.
19. Bang on bangles at Manish Arora SS11 - a bolder take on an arm full of clinking, thin, glass bangles in India?
20: Manish Arora has never been shy with his use of pigments. SS11 printed coat and technicolor PVC leggings.
21. The printed palette of Erdem, SS11.
22. A shred of decency at Vivienne Westwood Red Label SS11.
23. Don't turn your back on the possibilities. Vera Wang SS11.
24. There is hope and redemption in the coming months. Vera Wang SS11.
25. A wild and bold runway at Burberry SS11. Your own runway awaits.
26. Soft, billowy stripes at Rimi Nayak Summer Resort 2011.
27. Loden and behold - Akris SS11 buttery leather jacket.
28. Creative colour blocking at Jil Sander SS11.
29. A petite floral lace frock at Erdem SS11.
30. This Oscar de la Renta number would be great for a stroll along distant shores.
31. I might also need this to celebrate Canada Day this year. Vera Wang SS11.
32. Grecian goddess of the coral sea, according to Shantanu and Nikhil, Summer Resort 2011.
33. Laxmi Menon in ODLR SS11.
34. Wearing colour - and life, really - is all about balancing the details. ODLR SS11.
35. You just have to be smart about both, and face each with absolute confidence. Costume National SS11.
With all of the darkness we have been enveloped by lately and the heaviness that hangs over us, take the time today to celebrate all that is good, all that is joyous in your own life.
That collective energy, those positive thoughts are immense in their strength.
They can move more than you think they can.
The sky is powerful right now and the planets are listening.
Shout it to the top!
Images 1, 7, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 24, 29-31, 33, 34 – Vogue.com. Images 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 19, 20, 22, 27, 28, 35 – Elle.com. Images 3, 10, 15, 26, 32 courtesy of Lakme Fashion Week. Image 11 courtesy of Alexander McQueen. Image 13 by Scott Schuman. Image 17 by Peter Stigter. Image 25 courtesy of Burberry.
God Save the Queen
God save Auntie Viv, the reigning monarch of British fashion.
If pomp and circumstance made you Queen for a day, wouldn’t you want to wear this?
Vivienne Westwood Red Label FW 2011
Eccentric or electric?
Image: Vogue.com.
Tell Me Why…
…I don’t like Mondays…
…but I do-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoooo…like Mr. Geldof’s offspring Pixie in this little number from Ms. Westwood.
Pixie Geldof, rocking the runway at Westwood FW10.
Classic Westwoood off the shoulder? Check.
Gothic black? Check. Military? Check.
Requisite tattoos? Check.
Bleached hair? Check.
Scowl? Check.
Cross to bear? Cross to wear? Definitely, both.
Image from Style.com.
Frocks Rock at London Fashion Week
Everyone in London was frocking out for Fall Winter 2010.
Girlishness is in – whether it’s the sweet girl next door or the bad girl of the rock star variety.
It doesn’t matter what type of girl you are – the London lot of designers want you to look like one.
In a proper dress.
Erdem Moralioglu continues his floral fancy for Fall.
While Erdem is known for his optical floral prints, a few others took a walk down the garden path also. Surprisingly, one of them was Christopher Kane.
Yes, the sunflowers are on black patent leather, but still they are flowers!
Christopher Kane FW10
Vivienne Westwood Red Label FW10
Auntie Viv optimized her florals and colours for maximum impact. These are more colours than I wear in a week, but I adore the in-your-faceness of the look. She certainly doesn’t bore you, does she?
As a side note, promptly after this show, Ms. Westwood advised us to put an end to consumerism and to not buy any of her clothes.
Oh, to have a pot of tea with my Auntie Viv one day – if only to intently listen to the best British accent. Ever.
Paul Smith's pretty ladies FW10
Speaking of proper Brits, Mr. Smith has come for dinner and he’s brought a few ladies with him. What’s a frock without some flounce, I always say. The rest of the collection was very English as well…I’ll show you more of that in context as the Fall Fashion Weeks actually start to contextualize as a unified story or three.
Softeness at Paul Smith, neatly belted.
The florals got curvier at Berardi – a man who knows how to cut a piece of fabric.
The panel chooses this panelled dress by Antonio Berardi FW10.
I love the echo of this past Fall and Spring’s big shoulder, the brocade mixed with what can only be a stretch crepe or jersey – it makes a vintage-y fabric wearable and young. The slit is perfect in its asymmetry and that neckline? That neckline is divine beauty. You wouldn’t catch me in sheer hose and pumps with a dress, so I’d wear this with a pointy, butter-soft leather stiletto boot – in a forest green if I could find it – or in black, in a pinch. And remember that Tom Ford for Gucci long to there clutch? Can’t you see it here, held by the tip, sashaying with your walk?
This other option, also from Mr. Berardi is more true to his form – more structured and angular – but those angles never interfere with a woman’s curves. One of my favourite things in my own closet is a Berardi suit.
A complex form is as simple as black and white at Berardi FW10.
So, the London lesson for today is that frocks are props for all walks of life.
Mind your manners and pick up a few. Please and thanks.
Oh, but not Auntie Viv’s. We don’t want to be all consumer-y.
Westwood image from Style.com. All other images from WWD.
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