As I walked to the bakery on the wet, dreary fall day my mind went back to a fashion presentation at Milan Fashion Week. The problem: I cannot remember the brand name. I think the show was on the schedule but for some reason it evades me.
The brands looks were based on strong knitwear. Oversized pieces with lush feels,the looks were designed for women with a life.
When I find the designers name I will post it.
How about a collection that says “me now”? I did not know the Paula Cademartori until a fashion colleague asked me to accompany her to the presentation at a Milan antique store. The designer goes for strong fall statement accessories with bags and shoes.
From Milan Fashion Week
This season was not the strongest for the Italian Style Capital. A moment collective crisis or a shift to what it does best. Backing away from mixing streetwear to more tailoring and Italian chic style.
Armani stayed in his lane. Cool blue and pink pastels, metallics, and fluid materials made up his 78 look collection. The jackets were sleek. The embellishment heavenly. Normally his collection are shown at the Armani Solo, but this time it took place at his the corporate address in the courtyard.
It is hard to write about the Versace show without mentioning J.Lo walking in the iconic Jungle Green Dress. It does not matter what I write about the brand. Donatella knows what her clients want and she gave it to them. The mini dress is my favorite.
Bottega Veneta, not my cup of tea. I love the bags but with this collection I could not transfer the emotion. The leather luxury brand mixed leather, with seaters along with an interpretation of streetwear. I will give Creative Director Daniel Lee another chance.
I talked about Jil Sander at another show. A fashion journalist told me how she admired co-designers Lucie and Luke Meier. The brand has been in the wilderness for a moment. Prints and embellishments in a Sander show are a shocker. This collection had moments, enough for me to look forward to the next.
Normally I am fan of Retro 60’s looks but Alberta Ferretti’s collection of suede, tie dye dashiki’s “let the sunshine in” looks fell flat at times.
Ermanno Scervino’s feminine looks came across as a man who likes women in his clothes. No overdone looks, just get noticed without a spotlight. Leathers with silk, some animal prints, and blues made for a classy collection.
Why so basic? Tod’s showed making looks that felt generic. Not a single look stood out.
Fila is more known for sportswear. As the lines are blurred brands are moving in all areas. Shock! I have to say, I liked its first runway collection. Sexy, wearable, sporty rolled into one.
Fendi post Karl appears to be in good hands. Quilted pieces, suede, leather, and cotton, made for an expressive collection.
I attended the Bally Presentation. The return to the casual luxury looks were welcomed.
A adventure in Fashion Glamour or a woman who is eternally cool. Etro blended both. I liked the collection of prints, colors, suits, and short hemlines.
My first impression of the Salvatore Ferragamo collection. The looks did not wow me but some were better than others. The monochromatic blues, beige, floral, and leather pieces grew on me.
Iceberg decided on the get scene by wearing pastels in a big way. The looks work incling the mini’s, denims, and swimsuits.
A special mention to Fashion Shenzhen for an intersting show of Red Carpet Looks. Many looks were details and intricate.
The German luxury brand Boos debuted in Milan. This collection felt like left over pieces from other designers, a fashion Frankenstein. Patchwork creations pieced together. If there was a brand DNA, I could not see it.
Milan Fashion Week was exhausting, a tight and grueling schedule. Many shortened presentations and events running alongside Fashion Shows made for eleven hour days. Once again the reliable Milan Metro System became my best friend.
As a whole, the Furla collection was a bit underwhelming.
The Milan Fashion Scene is under going a crisis, a type of creative insecurity. The feeling was more in a neutral space with designers venturing to the demure side. No designs stood above the rest. Moving away from creative statements, commercial needs take precedent. At the time of writing I am going over the looks from the runways and presentations. My opinion may change in the future, stay tuned.
Bulgaria Bags with the Scarab clasp. The embroided handbag was a key piece.
Fashion like any business needs new ideas, renewel. A source of my appreication comes from independent designers. Talking to them, seeing the designs inspire me. If they hit it big I can say “I met him or her when”.
Luxury brand Cinzia Rocca stayed true to the classic form this season while introducing new accessories.
From Sketchers, A 90’s retro look. Chunky Sneakers are a part of the brand DNA.
BrunoThe Chunky Sneaker trend continues to reign supreme. Every house and designer have answered the call. As a non-fan, it is hard to write good things about this. Walking around with a tank on my foot is not my ideal of style. What was once a niche footwear has now gone mainstream. The other streetwear piece niche now in the style conscience scene, the belt bag. The inescapable fashion accessory piece is a must have. Will I buy one? NO! They lack an elegance I look for a bag. Not complementing but portruding from the waist the same as a hernia.
Bruno Cucinelli soft looks are made for easy styling. Each cable knit sweater takes 36 hours to produce.
Lastly, Instagram Ego’s were not in short supply. The business of “Selfie Promotion” has gotten so large, many Carrie Bradshaw Wannabes’s brought partners to take pictures and videos to records their experiences. A few seasons ago they were welcomed, now attendees are visibly rolling eyes. Weariness! How many Instagram Influencers posting a picture of themselves can attend a show? If any out there think this is a full time career, my advice would be to start acquiring new skill sets.
Stay Tuned for more coverage.
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.
Sorry, I have not been posting. A bit busy on this end playing catch up. Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture felt a bit overwhelming. Covering the event for the firs time started from the moment I arrived at the hotel. I dropped the bags at the hotel in the center of Paris then raced off. My first appointment was in the Vendome. HOT! The only word describe the scene, 32 degrees in a city lacking green spaces. Loud? Yes. Big cities are not places for medidating at 11am.
Rush! Rush! I wore comfortable shoes to get into the rhythm of the French Capital during PFW.
Unlike other fashionweeks Couture week is more exclusive. A smaller crowd of editors, buyers, and clients for one of kind creations.
I got invites from production houses Shout out to Mephistopheles, public relations agencies, and designers. The Couture Jewelry collection presentation events were also scheduled as well as showroom visits. Four full days were on my calendar.
Paris is not only a walking city, but also for running. Seeing fit Frenchmen jogging in skimpy shorts in the Tuileries Garden may seem like a Samantha Jones inspired fantasy but crisscrossing it during the day to make an appointment, well, I could not sit down to admire the sights, too much dust and lack of time.
Too Darn Hot!
Did I mention it was HOT in Paris during PFW? The metro was opened for free rides. Thankfully, many shows and presentation were in walking distance or 3 metro stops away.
Wearing Black was the summer look, not for me. This is a mixture of shameless product placement, sponsorship, and fashion practicality. Cividini loaned me a few silk and cotton polo shirts. Breathable materials saved my life.
Expecting brands tomeet a timetable would ask too much but starting 45 minutes to 1 hour late made keeping a timetable impossible. I missed 3 shows. Happily, I arranged for re-see’s.
I cannot wait until the next Couture Week.
Video and images made with Canon Camera. Sponsored by #canondeu
For some 13 is a number representing bad luck. For us, this number represents success. We were placed on 13 Best Dressed List from the Cannes Film Festival Fashion Reports. For our first job and collaboration, we are thrilled.
Cinzia Rocco is not one of those flashy brands but instead keeps it classy but chic. During Milan Fashion A few season I discovered the brand at Milan Fashion Week. These looks are available in stores now.
Haute Couture is for a few but inspiration for all. This is the week when fashion houses unleash pageantry at its most 17thcentury finest. Sheer splendor in the air meticulous designs, some taking hundreds of man and woman hours to produce. Shapes and colors in all structures combined for display on the catwalk, then on display for a few buyers, celebrities, and press.
Valentino’s head Piccioli is now the head of the optimistic club judging by this colorful collection. So Vivid!Not just colors, but shapes, lace, frills, ruffles, and extravagance of it all. Super model Naomi Campbell closed the show in a black sheer top.
What Armani does it is for Armani woman. Prive designs are about getting noticed but not in a noticeable way. The looks seemed inspired from a 30’s films. Suits, jackets, and dress fitted for the body from head to toe. The Woman in Red, look #34, has Joan Crawford written all over it, a jacket with a calf link dress stops the room.
Olivier Rousteing brought Balmain back the Couture zone. He took his moment, white, and soft pastel colors, but the shapes. The models donned looks small orbs on the wrist, and giant ones on the shoulders. Look #24, short, with the big fan and bow is a knockout.
A fashion show as a circus setting, Maria Chiura commands couture by making her looks themed around a most elegant clown. All the world loves a circus. I liked the 68 pieces presented. Look #4, sheer black stripped with collar, red sheet mini skirt is precious.
Jean Paul Gaultier presented 63 looks. The verdict, still on the edge but not fighting for the rest of us to catch up. The classic breton stripes, fringes, pointy shoulders from a Flash Gordon film could inflict harm but on a runway model proved visually dramatic. The soft baby blue, #56, halter top, mini ruffles with train peaked my interest.
Chanel’s homage to lush and wealth of past stood front and center. Lagerfeld focused on rigid forms and strong shoulders for the 62 look show at the Grand Palais. The embroided strapless of look #54 is a keeper.
Galliano at Maison Margiela destroys, interprets only to reconstruct. The two piece black look. #32, leather pants and cropped sleeveless bolero jacket is for the nightlife.
Guo Pei turns couture collections into Asian fairytales. Skirts, thigh high boots, silks, and floral patterns for the Femme Fatal of the Orient. The silver silk , #5, or organza dress with head piece is precious.