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Crystallised optimism

One of the most fascinating aspects of fashion for me is the creative process designers go through. How can they constantly turn over fresh ideas whilst staying true to their ateliers heritage? If I told you that Perspex heels, beach scapes, frayed hems and crystal drop tops were all seamlessly woven into one collection you would be forgiven for thinking I was mingling at a strippers' beach soiree. These components do in fact emerge from Miucciu Prada’s endlessly fascinating design psyche. First shown in September 2009 in Milan (I also find it fascinating how much time elapses from showing to selling) her pieces are trickling into the high street and conjuring images of fun in the sun for her weary fashion troops.

The collection was an iridescent burst of beach babes and glistening girls. There was a distinct element of youth as if Mrs Prada’s younger sister had come out to play. Her hair in playful bunches mussed up by licks of seaside breeze. Playing dress up in her mother’s clothes she coyly blurs the lines of innocent little girl to alluring young lady. She is adorned in sparkle to attract a mate-the most primitive mating ritual known to little girls. Jewels to make the boys drool.

The athletic pants in beach print (which is in fact a man made beach in Japan see end of post) keep the innocence alive as the glossy pouts pucker up for some summer loving. Perspex glasses in a rainbow of colours could have been purchased along the boardwalk for the cost of a pink lemonade. Her shoes however look decidedly more pricey.

Somewhere between the little girls jelly sandal and the heels of a stripper these shoes were fashioned . Dripping in crystals yet velcroed like diving shoes. Prada’s attention to her theme is quite unrivalled. Imagine how fabulous you would feel slipping your feet into real life Cinderella glass slippers? And then discovering you could actually dance well past twelve? Their forgiving square heel and sporty fastenings ensure you will be the last belle to leave the ball. Magnifique!

The bags too are a bambinos dream. One can imagine them being coveted by a younger sister for years-her vowing to take better care of it than her sister ever did. She was more deserving; she would carry it every day. Store it carefully and keep it out of harm’s way. How indignant fashion can make the young. How powerfully a jewelled item can ignite passion in women of all ages. Provoking lust from the first glance of gilded grandeur.

When asked about the uplifting collection Mrs Prada’s outlook was as sunny as her beachscapes, "When things are bad, you have to come out from that. Optimism," she declared, "is a choice." And who would dare to be anything but optimistic when living out the Prada dream of a seaside romp in cascades of crystals. A postcard of fashion cheer,

Wish you were here xxx

Fashion. Free. For All.

Something happened when the recession hit. People got savvy. Marketers, producers, editors and shoppers alike. The fashion industry exploded with the help of new media and became the new ‘in’ industry. In a sense fashion became fashionable. Never before has the industry been so in demand by the public. It’s early adaptation of new media meant that every aspect of the fashion world was shared. Films like “The devil wears Prada”,shows like “The City” and blogs in abundance have propelled the fashion world to the forefront of everyone’s minds. And now it is the consumer who wields the power.

The democratisation of fashion has made everyone an expert. Bloggers such as BryanBoy and Tavi are becoming more influential than editors. Much has been written about the new upstarts upstaging the old guards of the industry. Whispers of mutiny in Milan and corruption in New York set the fashion press a buzz this past show season. And who can blame them? If one were an industry veteran with thirty years experience and one is seated behind a teenage twitterer at a Chanel show one would be terribly incensed.

What you can’t be mad at is the voracious appetite for fashion the masses now have. Bloggers are quenching the publics thirst for everything in vogue. PR maestro and all around power player Kelly Cutrone offers her two cents on the shift in power “The thing that’s exciting right now is that the keepers of the gate are being knocked over the head with the new social media, and their opinion is less important”. Consumer demands means bloggers who operate in real time will always have the edge over journalists and editors whose considered opinions will be voiced in print later. New Media + Globalisation = the consumer is in control.

Nowhere is the consumer power wielded with such desirable results than in the online stores. The new supermarkets of style offer every conceivable look your heart desires all year round. In these shopper led havens there are no seasons. No over riding trends. And definitely no rules for shopping. Gone are the days of procuring for a cold or hot spell. Online the shopper can buy bikinis in November, ski pants in July and straw boaters in January. This demand for seasonless dressing is a direct result of our increasingly global lifestyles in which we travel casually and sometimes frenetically. We need a retailer who can provide for our needs all year round.

The ever media savvy Diane Von Furstenberg has recognised her customers needs and has adapted. For SpringSummer’10 she showed a collection inclusive of wide leg trousers, capris and harem pants alongside miniskirts, baggy jumpsuits and knee length dresses. No wonder she agreed to be on the City- she’s a marketing goddess.

D&G have also adapted to the new consumer. For the past four seasons they have reinvented their sister line to coerce the global market. Satisfying shoppers is now more important to designers than fulfilling their own aesthetic agenda. Last seasons velvet ladylike luxe is transformed into the wild west woman of SS’10 to satisfy the new stylised market. Fast trends for the fast consumer.

Could it be that fashion is the only industry where the consumer wins the war on the recession? The ones spending the money wield the power. We are proclaiming trends rather than following them. Commanding the previously secret world of industry and electing new creative forces to the forefront of the fash pack (in exchange for behind the scenes tweets of course). Fashion is finally firmly in the shoppers hands. Praise your gods, and pray it lasts.

Power Bitch

In the true spirit of research (or procrastination) I am an avid follower of The City and The Hills. Never am I happier then when MTV shows a marathon of episodes. I love studying the girls clothes, obvious plastic surgery and inability have a conversation composed of more than 5 sentences.

My favourite character has always been uber business woman and self confessed “power bitch” Kelly Cutrone. Maybe it’s because she says what’s on her mind, or her unwashed vampire like presence or her cutting one liners,

“The truth doesn’t always come like a shiny bluebird on your shoulder....the truth hurts”

“You may wanna kiss her on the cheek, but put a gun to her back to make sure she stands up straight.”

So imagine my delight when I discovered Ms Cutrone now has her own show aptly entitled “Kell on earth” on the Bravo USA. I jus watched the first episode and I’m hooked. The series follows her PR firm Peoples Revolution set in New York. I was terribly vexed after watching one episode. The stress on her poor interns is monumental. Her assistant Andrew is set to be a star-he reminds me of a gothic Christian Siriano from Project Runway.

Please bear my burden of procrastination and watch the show on the following link.


Kell on Earth

I will leave you with a brand spanking new Kelly quote

“We’re all hookers”

Enjoy.

My name's Miss M, and I'm a makeupaholic

Money burns a hole in every fashionable girl’s pocket. In fact the fashionable student is much akin to the alcoholics of the world, no money for food but always cash for a bottle of vodski. My brown bag used to be a Topshop one. Disguising a few accessories I would convince myself I was not spending money. Well my poison of choice over the past few weeks has been makeup and it seems I’m not alone. There’s something stirring in the waters this spring that sees make up come to the forefront of every ladies look.

We have been stuck in a bronzed and beautiful J.LO look for a near decade now. We shunned it for a smoky Kate Moss eye for a while and a bright red lip on VERY fancy occasions. Not anymore. The tides are turning and a full face of make up in all manner of hues is crashing over us in 2010.
Blame it on the makeup heavy stars like Katy Perry, Rhianna or the stage goddesses GaGa and Florence for injecting some theatricality to the muted masks we have worn for so long. Recessionistas are realising that make up is an affordable way to update your look. A splash of colour on your lips or eyes can dramatically change a ladies face when they usually wear browns and taupe.

I know what you're drinking, makeup isn’t exactly groundbreaking blogging. We are all aware of the lipstick effect in times of financial crisis but what I’m talking about is the new hold make up now has on us. Ever since Girls Aloud launched their eyelash range I am struggling to find a girl who doesn’t use them as part of her nights out. This new staple of lashes were brought even more into the limelight because at the time the X Factor had just recruited one of the bands members and Cheryl mania had taken hold. Not since Britney Spears wore silver eyeliner in her “Oops I did it again” video did a fashion idol ignite such a fire in makeup lovers across the globe.

For many girls the made up face is becoming more important than the outfit. I recently bought a bright plum Armani lipstick and have since been pairing it with outfits rather than picking clothes first. It has become perfectly acceptable to wear a full face of makeup every day. I regularly spot women on the tube with fake lashes and blush on their way to work. I also spy women shopping in m&s with pastel nails and bright pink lips. French tips, matte nude lips and lashings of bronzer are on the outs. Women are allowing themselves to experiment with colours and styles of make up more and more.

It’s not surprising that women are looking for a more statement look these days. There is such an emphasis on the individual that in actual fact we are all ending up looking the same. Blame the high street if you will but the point is that with a celebration of individuality (Lady GaGa, La Roux, Dita Von Teese) we are more likely to copy them than create our own individual look when it comes to clothing and accessories. Make up gives you free reign to create your own persona without labels and price tags. And of course you never have to show your brown bag and admit you’re an addict.

All Hail

I worship her and so should all of you. Vogue's March cover star Rosie Huntington Whiteley is F.L.A.W.L.E.S.S.

Let the stalking commence.

Rosie's fashion diary on Vogue

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