Shoes are fabulous items. Some creations should be worn on the upper part of the body instead of the lower. During Milan Fashion Week, Aquazzura presented its Fall 2019 collection that gives the word “bling” a new meaning. My first thought, call Beyonce. Queen B needs to wear these on stage.
Creative Director and Founder Edgardo Osorio creates footwear for celebrating life. As a designer Edgardo confidently uses expressive colors to form his aesthetic.
Sponsored by #CanonDEU
Valextra, the Italian handbag maker produces pieces based on luxury not overstated flash. Each bag makes a statement. I have been a fan of the brand for many seasons. The brand is a favourite of Oprah Winfrey.
Checkout the video from Milan Fashion Week.
During Milan Fashion Week I had a very pleasant surprise. I did not plan on attending this presentation. A friend of mine had to talk me into it. Keep in mind on top of the 100 or so appointments I had on this day adding another was not something I wanted to do. I decided to go along with my friend to the presentation. Great surprises come from the unexpected. Curiel started in 1945 as a dress maker for the La Scala Set in Milan. Since that time the brand has stayed true to its origins. Making dresses representing LA DOLCE VITA! Classic, feminine, and beautiful.
I met the 2ndgeneration owner of the label. A wonderful person radiating elegance. Raffaella told me the history of the her family’s brand.
Going over looks not pandering to the “now” trend went down like a glass of wine. I had to enjoy the moment. Understanding modern clothing is about being seen. Perhaps Curiel would seem old fashion in today’s Instagram scene. No matter, the ultimate test is time. The brand’s heritage looks could still turn heads.
Want to know what my experiences were like in Paris during Couture Week? Check out some of the videos. It was never boring. Sometimes a challenge overcoming old values. All things considered, I plan on returning. But Paris always excites me.
A Big Thank You to Canon. They loaned me a camera.
As Paris Fashion Week Men continues, labels have been affected by the Let’s See What Works” era. Many are going in new directions. What to make of Virgil Abloh at Louis Vuitton? My first impression was the Three Stooges short “Slippery Silks” from 1936. Moe, Larry, and Curly inherit a dress shop. The guys are really furniture makers and carpenters. The Stooges put on a fashion show with models wearing designs resembling furniture pieces. I laughed so hard as a kid watching this on television reruns.. Now, I am not a child.
The June 2019 collection from LV Menswear felt like an Ikea collaboration. Yes, the location was made for modern media, a square in Paris. But going over the looks, HUH? Gender free, skirts, structures on the body, rain boots, was there a sale at a local flea market? I had a feeling of discomfort thinking about wearing many looks. The kite or lamp or table over the shoulder came across as a bit over the top. How one wear this without feeling a bit ridiculous is beyond me.
The Louis Vuitton menswear client is a first stage luxury buyer. He wants to show-off his money with the giant LV logo plastered on everything worn. In the Social Media Age this is acceptable wealth display behavior. The #LV attracts a lot of “likes” on Instagram.
Personally, I would not buy a single piece from the runway. But Virgil is savvy, established. The saying goes, “Don’t Hate! Appreciate! One cannot guilt the brand or designer for going after the market. Asia is fueling fashion’s growth. LV is a business eyeing big profits. As fashion decides to push boundaries, reject many social conventions, the balancing act is a fine one. Success, ridicule, losing touch, or irrelavance can pop out of the one hat.
Press Days is an event when media, agents, and designers come together to discuss the latest looks and trends in fashion and lifestyle. Sustainability and colourful branding are coming to retailers soon.
What stood out from the crowd?
Gitti nail polish, the new eco-friendly beauty brand looks to break out. Stay tuned for the interview with the founder.
Frau Frieda is a bag brand making the case for German luxury craftsmanship.
Skullcandy’s new earbuds peaked my curiosity. The new ear devices are fast charging with long battery life.
Moose Knuckles sheering outerwear makes wearer statements.
I produced these images using a Canon Camera.
Times are changing but some things are always the same. Menswear style is evolving quickly. Subculture trends continute to elbow their way into the mainstream. Gender free looks loved by millennials. As a fashion term, “gender free” is lost term on me, coined by the media to keep up with general public’s lifestyle acceptance. Streetwear now conveys credentials of modernity. The more you look “in today” the more out you look tomorrow.
While 2019 is not short of trends. Some feel fleeting. Contemporary man may explore different fashion avenues but mens styles absorb then veers towards classic. Style Maestro David Bowie transitioned from flamboyant showman to tailored threads.
Since the Industrial Revolution masculinity has been based on a physical appearance with upper class perspectives. A man wearing a nice suit goes to the head of the line. As my grandmother said, “always have a nice pair of shoes.” Mix and match if you can.
Stay tuned for my recommendations on what a man should have in his closet. Secondly, how to mix and match pieces for a “max effect”.
From Milan Fashion Week Men, Dondup offered a fresh lively take on outerwear for Spring 2019. The collection veered to the masculine side but in a soft way. Men who are looking for wearable pieces should check the label out.
The right #jacket can add 3 points to a #menswear look. Dondup #outerwear has a swag. #mfw #milan #fashionweek #menswear #ootd #SaturdayFeeIing #mensstyle #fashion #fashion #mensfashion pic.twitter.com/O8xjqsqPmR
— BlackandPaper (@BlackandPaper1) March 16, 2019
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.
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.
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.