AW11 Fav Show 3: Jason Wu

Last in show of my favorite AW11 collections hailing from Taiwan via Canada, residing and showing at New York Fashion Week-is Jason Wu.

His vision of the 'prim and proper' woman is truly stunning-with baroque inspired gowns and exquisite tailoring, it's evident why Michelle Obama see's him as the 'modern-day go-to man of all that is chic and austere' .

It's rare these days, that a young designer can deliver ever so elegant garments to this high level such as Wu has showcased here. Floor sweeping dinner skirts teamed with embroidered nude blouses balanced out the bloody red lace polo's and feathertastic cocktail dresses.  The silhouette is ballroom glamour fused with a modern day edge brought in through strategic use and placement of lace, but the few pieces with pop colour makes it all the more fantastic.  

His polished look is very classic, incredibly desirable and even though all covered up, it oozes sex appeal. 

With AW11 over, it'll be really interesting to see how the following designers extend their imaginations to the following seasons coming!

Images taken from style.com

Complied and arranged by Purple Tweed.

AW11 Fav Show 2: Doo.Ri

If I could have spent my autumn/winter in one collection for the whole season I think it would have been Doo.Ri's AW11 line.  A wardrobe with these amazing dramatic but ever so chic pieces would've helped me fight the winter blues and plummeting temperatures-setting me onto new fashion heights.

 Not so much of a newbie on my radar but her clothes and passion for craftsmanship are definitely beginning to make her a serious contender to make it to my 'favourite designers' list, which currently includes Max Mara and the incomparable Marc Jacobs. 

Deep hues of ocean blue in velvet, skimmed down the figures of the models. Draped in silk jersey with floor length cardigans showcasing breathtaking displays of an ultra stylish way to dress in winter. Coatigans, capes and shaggy shawls in contrasting shades of marl grey, coffee brown and taupe updated outerwear whilst supporting day wear in the form of turtleneck dresses.

What reigns true in this collection is the understated level of 'chic' that Doo.Ri has birthed into her clothes, and the high levels of wearability and fashionability in a non 'trend-following' way is what makes this collection one of my favourites.  

My most liked look has to be look number 26, the drop, the movement, the intensity of the hue and simplicity of this look speaks volumes.

Providing looks for every occasion; taking you from the the office to the Black tie event, to a winter wedding, or a starry night followed by days in front of the fire, but all very cohesive, and with a hint of femininity, is the edge that makes this collection exciting no matter how plain and simple the colour palette and designs may be. 

J'adore! 

X

Images taken from style.com

Complied and arranged by Purple Tweed.

AW11 Fav show 1: Alexander Wang

With the glorious snow pelting down outside I thought what better way to cheer myself up than to update you with my favourite shows from the AW11 season. With retail stores almost selling out on their spring looks (crazy I know right!)  the weather is reminding us what frame of minds we really should be in, and no-one did that better than Alexander Wang.

'I hope it's the kind of luxury she can still roll around in on the floor' 

Alexander Wang New York Fashion Week Feb 12th 2011 STYLE.COM

A beautiful hybrid of outerwear and practical elements came into play with this collection; knitted jumpers in shimmery shades-ombre'd into silk hems creating a day to night look and dramatic poncho's with fur collars and cuffs mixed with bomber style jackets to create a look for a woman who had places to go. 

The success of this collection lied in the editing. The colour story and use of texture through combining fabrics such as wool and silk/leather and nylon helped round off Wang's vision of creating a line which was incredibly versatile and pretty but brought a new edge with its practicality and difference. Even with sheer panels and floaty hems-it would be easy to forget that Wang's woman is all grungy hard edge with bucket-loads of cool and a slick of eyeliner to boot, but the juxtaposition of this was referenced in the combination of textures and styles.  With rich metallic and silvery hues, you could feel the midnight darkness in his skinny glitter effect trouser or feel well wrapped up and chic in his-what I like to call 'BON-CHO' (bomber and poncho mixed together). 

Definitely a collection I would like to rock into the day or night!

Who rocked your AW11 world this season,show wise?

Images: STYLE.COM

SS11 Fav show 2; Cynthia Rowley

Cynthia Rowley is one of the few designers whose style is not so obvious; she's not quite American but not really European either, she's sort of in-between; for every woman but only for a certain kind of woman if you get my drift. She caught my eye with her great attention to detail with the way she infused new techniques with her design ideas in the SS11 catwalks.  

Laser cutting is not quite new but it's considered a new technique as it isn't always featured in collections. Rowley used this in a smart way, by giving a chic modernisation to simple and sometimes overlooked parts of our garments like for example the hem.

A-line skirts were cleanly opened up with patterned polka cut-outs, whilst sheer layers of satin revealed playful stripes in a palette of minky and duck egg blue. She also paved the way for the AW11 trends with the revival of the shell top and bodice; mixing in stripy sleeves and contrasting collars. 

I'd say that her style is borderline clinical but she mixes this up with colour and texture producing clean lines with a feminine edge-something that is very difficult to deliver-and this is why a certain kind of woman would appreciate her clothes. 

I look forward to seeing what she has on offer for AW11 and with September around the corner SS12 too!

What are your views on her SS11 collection? x

Images courtesy of style.com

Topshop AW11 Preview

 

Looks 1-4

Looks 5-8

Looks 9-12

Looks 13-16 

Looks 17-20

With matte satin turquoise crops, leather jacket lapels, and nod's to the 90s's grunge revival;, Topshop has released a great preview for the oncoming AW11 season. A very balanced line of ultra glam and folklore chic as well as androgynous tailoring harking to the era that made grunge look cool- the 1990's a very big trend amongst the designer pack. Trims and finishes are quirkily adorned with leopard and fur and the odd splash of colour.  Personally I'll be wanting to rock the turquoise crops, alongside the mongolian fur leather jacket and play a game of peek-a-boo with the polka sheer-through top. Look no 18 reminds me of 'Lol' from the show and film 'This is England 86', in fact all the looks from 17-20 have alot of references to grunge/skinhead culture. 

What will you be wanting to wear?

xx

Images www.telegraph.co.uk