Paris Fashion Week is in fill swing. The report from France 24.
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Author: Editor
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Byblos Northern Lights
Forgive the crazy review. When I arrived in Milan on Wednesday morning of Fashion Week the schedule went off the rails quickly.
The Byblos winter 2019 was suppose to be the 3rdshow of the day for me. A tad wind blown when I arrived to the location by press shuttle, I knew the brand but had no clue what to expect. Navigating through the crowds to get to the door I made my way to my seat in a white event area.
Creative Director Maniel Facchini was inspired the by the colors and science of Auroras Borealis according to the press release. Another aspect of the collection was the use of sustainable materials. Recycled bottles for accessories along with nylon made into outerwear looks are brands eco-friendly direction.
Moving from puffer jackets to skin tight dresses the brand is positioning itself as high end sportswear and streetwear for the bling set. Embellishments, geometrics prints, 3D projections were on full show.
Hockey knee pads, knee high boots, furry booties, and chunky sneakers rounded out the get noticed footwear.
With model Winnie Harlow strutting the catwalk , Byblos is chartering a new course, upping its profile. The brands flagship store on Via Montenapoleone opens this Spring.
My overall impression of the collection: all about youth, on the street.
Sponsored by Canon Germany.
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Fashion Theatre from Marras
The Antonio Marras Show at Milan Fashion Week combined a catwalk with live performance theatre. I was not sure what I was suppose to watch, the models, the singers, the stage shows. The unique setting in an antique space made the event all the more theatrical.
The Performers 
The Setting
The collection mixed dark romanticism with a 1930’s feel of frivolity.
Music from Bensound
Menswear 
Womenswear
Sponsored by Canon Deutschland
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Milan Impressions
Going with the flow.
Milan Fashion Week is over. I love the Italian city with all of its creative instincts. Designers are always enthusiastic ready to speak about their latest works. I had detailed collection tours.
Fall 2019 will be about the bling. At least that is the word from ateliers in Italy. In other words, social media has affected fashion in many ways. Instant recognition means getting noticed. The right image on Instagram attracts free likes, comments, and shares. Fashion brands have leapt onto the instant fame generation.
Inspiration mixed with heavy doses of commercialization took over. These days fashion is shared not personal. Style liberation has been replaced by forced digital integration. Milanese designers continue to evolve this year. Incorporating social media friendly colors, shapes, and rebranding logos
Many fashion looks upcoming looks are based on the modern “It Girl”. A person who cannot live without a smartphone. Constantly connected with many followers. An existence centered on posting.
Not an insult
I viewed lovely collections not influenced by social media. Sophisticated, the tag inside, sadly, not sure if these brands would would be popular in Fall 2019. After a chat with one public relations representative, we agreed. Can reconciling elegance in the digital world work? On one hand, I want to say “Yes”. After I got back to my hotel, I looked over the feeds of a few “fashion influencers”. I wondered. Ostentatious has become a compliment.
Milan has stepped out of the shadow of Paris. Tailoring looks with an appreciation of the physical form, fitted silhouettes.
I attended many shoes and bags presentations, many brands are extending lines to accessories. A business strategy to counter Michael Kors recent acquisition of shoemaker Jimmy Choo. A country with a history of leather design and production, it was not surprising. Leather shoes prevailed. Some incorporated exotic skin and diamond materials.
Stay tuned for more reports.
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Buy Fab! Return Later!
Inside many of us lurks an Elisabeth Taylor trying to get out. Glamour requires the right clothing. Everyone wants to lead a glamorous life. Getting the right looks are a part of the formula, overcoming the obstacle of costs is simple: buy today, wear tomorrow, return the day after tomorrow.
During Fashion Weeks the “outfit of the day” is crucial for getting noticed by street style photographers. Dressing like a brand groupie gets the shutters clicking while standing outside the show. Getting the attention of a Getty or Vogue Photographer is the ultimate badge for an Instagram post. The lust to appear a part of the “in” crowd. I have often asked how do some afford looks and pieces. They can’t. All a part of the plan to keep up an appearance, to get noticed. Look at what I am wearing!
Buy the latest bags, coats and other pieces online or for those bold enough, at a store. Wear it once with the tags carefully pinned inside, show off the fashionista devotion, the fabulousness. Then return for a full refund. The style of a legend does not come cheap but can be obtained during a return policy window. “OOTD” went to the next evolutionary level.
Buying online from one of the many high end portal sites is the easiest and most face saving way to become an instant luxury label horse. The return polices are liberal, the reason for not wanting the purchase; no excuse needed.
Not everything worn is real or even owned.
Covering Milan Fashion 2019, we are thrilled to crown the city the “Fabulous Shoe Capital of the World”. Designers have upped the ante. A woman does not merely wear these creations, she has to live it. If footwear is your religion, make a pilgrimage. Stay tuned for more coverage.
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A review of the SX 740 HS Powershot
I used the Canon Powershot SX 740 HS camera during Pitti Uomo in Florence and in Milan for Menswear Week. I found it hand and practical for my needs because the best feature was I could slip it into my pocket on the run. There are many other features to this solid point and shoot including, a zoom lens and top video recording quality. It is made for being on the go.
I am not a photographer. I appreciate their work. It is an art form and skill set I value.
Stay Tuned, I will have more after Milan Fashion Week.
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Remembering Karl Lagerfeld
From France 24, remembering a legend of fashion, Karl Lagerfeld.
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Faces or Shoes?
Which would you choose?
Sponsored by Canon Deutschland.
Rejection is a form of Protection
“It is not enough for a film festival to be righteous. The films shown should be engaging.” I did not attend the Berlinale this year “because of the limited space”. The likely reason, the Chat Cinema podcast I produced criticising the festival. Someone took offence.
Reading over the reviews of the 69thannual event, “the press offices rejection is a cinema lovers protection.” It feels like I did not miss much. More like, saved. I support filmmaking. But when a film festival states “your attendence is not wanted”. I can take a clue. Although, I wanted to see Monos and What She Said.
If a person is going to spend time in a dark cinema, the very least to expect is engagement on a some level, not a sermon with a heavy dose of pretensions. This has been lost on the Berlinale team.
Congratulations to Me
While there were many tributes to Kosslick for helming the festival since 2001, this years Berlinale lacked a well received Competition entry. I spoke to a writer colleague who described a film as “Just Boring!” Why the lack of high powered wattage for the creative heads final walk on the red carpet? But with celebration of Dieter continuing, why notice the many mediocre to average films? Instead, focus on the face saving self-congratulatory events took precedent. The Guardian’s festival review of “hapless” seemed fitting.
I believe women should have more opportunities to direct. Sadly, the film business has not felt this way. But I say, a female helmer can make a Heaven’s Gate like her male counterpart. Being on the political left side of social movements, the Berlinale showcased many women directors. Too bad their films were not up to par.
I asked about fest opener, screened out of Competition, The Kindness of Strangers from Danish director Lone Scherfig. The words used, “Repetitive” and “too long”. The 34 metascore out of 100 says it all. Gender does not make anyone a good filmmaker. Holland’s Mr. Jones, screened in Competition, nodded audience to sleep with its 141 minutes weightiness.
Enjoy
Regardless if the Berlinale denies Chat Cinema/Black and Paper accreditation for 2020. Allow as many Instagram Influencers on the red carpet as possible. This is a festival in a transitional crisis having lost its artistic and commercial way.
Will Carlo Chatrian change course? One can hope, taking pleasure from attending the Berlinale should not be a mortal sin.
Perhaps I will attend the the 70th edition of the Berlinale. If I am not on the blacklist for honesty.