New York Fashion Week's SS'13 Trends

After eight days of being glued to the shows at New York Fashion Week I have been shown an insight into what next year's fashion holds in store.  Amongst the sporty references, monochrome combinations, oversized silhouettes and powerful prints, there were four main trends which I could see standing out above the rest...

1.  FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

An S&M influence was clear to see on the catwalks, and although this has said to have been inspired by famed fashion photographer Helmut Newton's iconic black and white images, I think it may also be accredited to the bestselling novel, 'Fifty Shades of Grey.'  When even Oscar de la Renta, known for his ultra feminine style, succumbs to using leather and latex, you know next Spring's wardrobe will be all kinds of racy.

Above: Herve Leger By Max Azria

Above: Jason Wu

Above: Oscar de la Renta

2.  CUTAWAY

Following on from the previous trend, even more skin was shown on the SS'13 runways this Fashion Week with several designers slicing and dicing their dissected garments.{cke_protected_1}

Above: Peter Som

Above: Victoria Beckham

3.  FEARLESS SHEERNESS

Once again, MORE skin!  This trend however, is a far more subtle way of showing off your body, with sheer paneling and 'peekaboo' layering.
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Above: J Mendel

Above: Charlotte Ronson

4.  BOLD STRIPES

Horizontal, vertical, monochrome, colourful, barcode, prisoner... you name it, the NYFW SS'13 runways had it!  There were dizzying zigs and zags in every direction! 
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Above: Marc Jacobs

Above: Michael Kors

Above: Oscar de la Renta

NYFW - New Kids On The Fashion Block

Watch out Suri Cruise, there are two other mini fashionistas in New York this week. 

Below:   Harper Beckham made the most adorable addition to mum Victoria’s front row.  Wearing a little white summer dress with a matching bow in her hair, the oh-so-cute 14 month old Baby Beckham was particularly distracting for the audience invited to watch the Victoria, Victoria Beckham (VVB) SS’13 collection during New York Fashion Week. 

Below:  Another little trendy tot to hit New York Fashion Week was designer Alexander Wang’s three year old niece, Aila.  Wearing a custom-made Wang dress, accessorized with teeny tiny Nike trainers and a teeny tiny Chanel bag (probably stuffed with sweeties and crayons) Aila was the most fashionable of mascots at her uncle’s show.  

NYFW - Marchesa SS'13

Keren Craid and Georgina Chapman delivered the Indian Summer I had been praying for with their stunning collection of beaded gowns with sari style layering.  Although the Marchesa designers used a vivid colour palette (fuchsia and garnet featured) it was the shimmering white gowns with their sparkling bodice detailing that had me entranced.

NYFW - Carmen Dell'Orefice: The Oldest Supermodel

The world’s oldest supermodel, 81 year old Carmen Dell'Orefice, elegantly strutted not once, but twice, down the catwalk today during New York Fashion Week to rapturous applause.  The beautiful, silver haired octegenarain looked totally chic as she walked for the designers Norisol Ferrari in a caramel 1940s-inspired gown and then again, barefoot in a technicolour jersey dress, by Finnish label Marimekko.  Carmen, a well established and iconic member of today's New York fashion scene, first began modelling in 1947, at the age of 15, when she was photographed for the front cover of Vogue Magazine (above).

NYFW - Zac Posen SS'13

Oooh Laaa Laaaa! I LOVED  the SS’13 show in New York Fashion Week by Zac Posen:  Super Dresses on Super Models. Naomi Campbell, Coco Rocha, Karolina Kurkova, Alex Wek and Erin O’Connor all took to the catwalk in Zac's unbelievably elegant and timeless gowns. There was a clear ‘Old Hollywood’ influence with the designer having created floor length dresses with mermaid pleats and sweetheart necklines in the most luxurious of coloured silk and delicate chiffon. Totally stunning. Coming to a red carpet near you. 

Simples

Vogue's Fashion Night Out, London 06/09/12

Fashion’s Night Out was initially created by Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America as a way of encouraging fashionistas to hit the shops as the economic downfall kicked in. For real fashion lovers this day has become like Christmas… Well, if the North Pole were Bond Street, stockings were made by Mulberry and Santa was Alexa Chung...

Now on it’s 4th year, this global phenomenon (with events also taking place in Manhattan, Milan, Atlanta, etc) saw London’s biggest luxury stores throw open their doors after hours, inviting us all in to celebrate and shop with a glass of bubbly.  The whole evening felt like a stylish carnival, with live music blaring, show stopping outfits and fashion-friendly food from a Missoni ice-cream van, a Dak’s popcorn stall and a Hotel Chocolat pop up (apparently fashionistas and models will eat junk food – if its designer.)

I began my evening in Covent Garden where I visited the newly launched Ruby Ralph Lauren shop on King Street, the first to open in Europe.  The shop has such a fun and vibrant energy to it that I immediately got into the spirit of the night, having my pictures taken (below) holding their skull and crossbones tote and listening to great music spun by the gorgeous DJ Izzy Lawrence (above) wearing head to toe Rugby Ralph Lauren.

Next stop was the jam packed, unusually pedestrianised, Bond Street to visit Joseph where a dapper, suited and booted Henry Holland (below, in House of Holland) headed up a fashion Bingo competition.  The prizes were incredible and the cocktails were a plenty.

The epicentre of this most stylish of street parties was undeniably at Mulberry, where Vogue’s Alex Shulman and Mulberry’s Emma Hill held the official Fashion’s Night Out soirée. With goody bags, prizes, live music and a healthy dose of celebrites and designers (including Matthew Williamson, Roland Mouret, Laura Bailey and Daisy Lowe) queues to get in the shop were lengthy… to put it mildly!  Below (L-R): Joseph's Alex Eagle and her ah-mah-zing Nicholas Kirkwood shoes, and with my girlfriends Jessica, Emma and Lauren.

The official Vogue's 2012 Fashion's Night Out cotton T’shirt (top, worn by Edie Campbell) designed by London-based designer Jonathan Saunders in collaboration with The Gap, sold out at the Condé Nast Worldwide store in less than an hour.  The limited edition piece is now only available for you to own if you subscribe to Vogue (£19.99 for 10 issues) here.

Anna Dello Russo's 'Fashion Shower'

Self-proclaimed 'guardian of fashion'  Anna Dello Russo, the Japanese Vogue fashion director renown for her creative style, has released a bonkers music video to promote her upcoming accessories range for H&M (that I wrote about here.)  In this music video, whilst adorned in her H&M accessories and a skin-tight PVC mini dress, Anna Dello Russo advises her more than captive audience to take a ‘Fashion Shower,’ whilst chanting her golden rules of style.  Juuuust incase you get mildly distracted by the video itself, Anna's fashion rules (which must obviously be read in an elaborate Italian accent) are as follows;

1: Fashion is a declaration of your own freedom.
2: Between style and fashion? Absolutely fashion.
3: Fashion is always uncomfortable; if you feel comfortable you never get the look.
4: Fabulous at every age.
5: Wearing night clothes in the daytime is unexpected.
6: Somebody wearing your same outfit? Wonderful, you did the right choice.
7: You must wear outfit once.
8: Wear coat as a dress.
9: It doesn't matter the size of your body, fashion flatter everything.
10: Fashion jewels personalise your style.

"Accessories are like vitamins to fashion — as such, you should use them liberally."

The Anna Dello Russo for H&M accessories collection arrives in-store on October 4 2012. 

British Style Award Nominees 2012 - Vote Now!

Who do you think most embodies the spirit of London? 

You can once again vote to decide the winner of the British Style Award brought to you by Vodafone for this year’s British Fashion Awards, on November 27th 2012.  

The nominees for this award, which was (unsurprisingly) won by Alexa Chung in both 2010 and 2011, was complied by a panel of key industry opinion formers and includes Cara Delevingne, Florence Welch, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Victoria Beckham...  And of course, Alexa Chung.  A few boys also made the list; David Beckham, David Gandy and Tinie Tempah.

Interestingly, after the Jubilympic summer we have just had, there are also several members of the Royal Family included on this year’s nominations, including The Queen herself… HOW I would LOVE for her to win/reign over all our favourite fashionistas!

Voting is open until the 31st October 2012 and you can vote here. You will be entered into a prize draw to win two tickets to attend the British Fashion Awards ceremony.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley for Autograph, M&S Lingerie

This morning Rosie Huntington-Whiteley officially launched her much anticipated ‘Rosie for Autograph’ lingerie range at the M&S flagship store in Marble Arch.  The 33-piece range of underwear features luxe lingerie sets, a teddy and a beautiful silk kimono, and with their rose-prints and art deco inspired detailing, the collection has a very 1930s boudoir look to them – the Devon-born supermodel’s favourite era of fashion.  Rosie said: 'M&S is an iconic British brand, adored by many so I'm very excited to be launching my debut lingerie line with them.'  The stunning collection is available in store today and online here.