Posts for February 19th 2012

fashion week

LFW Dispatch: Highlights From the London Runways

Our FabSugar UK editor Jamie has been hitting the top shows at London Fashion Week, getting backstage access and sending us her firsthand account from the runways.


Our FabSugar UK editor Jamie has been hitting the top shows at London Fashion Week, getting backstage access and sending us her firsthand account from the runways. Here are some of her highlights so far:

  • Mulberry: Michelle Williams, Olivia Palermo, and Lana Del Rey were in the front row. Seats were covered in black fur and they served drinks and bacon baps after the show! My favorite pieces were the coats — lots of shaggy fur, superwarm and cozy. You can see all the pics from my morning at Mulberry.
  • Topshop Unique: Alexa Chung and Anna Wintour were in the crowd for one of the most anticipated shows of London Fashion Week. I went backstage to check out the scene, including the makeup, hair, accessories, and even the food they serve! You can read all about it here.
  • House of Holland: The houndstooth-painted nails were amazing! Such a quirky complement to the clothes. I went backstage to see the makeup and it was so much fun!

    Check back for more of Jamie's inside look at London Fashion Week!

  • London Fashion Week

    Topshop Unique Fall 2012

    Topshop is one of the most anticipated collections from London Fashion Week, as the trendy retailer with plenty of under $100 options often fills our closets each season.
    Topshop Unique Runway Fall 2012

    Topshop is one of the most anticipated collections from London Fashion Week, as the trendy retailer with plenty of under $100 options often fills our closets each season. For Fall 2012, expect a cool military vibe via utilitarian details and olive tones, slouchy leather, and the structured balloon sleeve that made a big splash in New York to hit a minidress near you.

    London Fashion Week

    Twenty8Twelve Fall 2012

    Even though sisters Savannah and Sienna Miller left the brand earlier this year, the ultra-cool Twenty8Twelve girl that they created is still very much present in the Fall '12 collection.
    Twenty8Twelve Runway Fall 2012

    Even though sisters Savannah and Sienna Miller left the brand earlier this year, the ultra-cool Twenty8Twelve girl that they created is still very much present in the Fall '12 collection. Designers Vanessa James and Elsa Elphick offered a '60s mod grouping for the season, featuring Beatnik-style babydoll frocks with tights, slim-fitting trousers and flawlessly-cut coats — all perfect pieces for the seemingly effortless girl-about-town. They also played with prints — we saw the Prince of Wales check on tailored trousers, a silk blouse and skirt were cut in bold florals, and a psychedelic pattern popped up on a pair of slouchy shorts. Overall, Twenty8Twelve still has the same pretty, cool-girl appeal, and we're really feeling this Fall collection.

    • Trends: Menswear-inspired trousers, tailored peacoats, short babydoll dresses, leather touches.
    • Colors: Black, gray, camel, petal pink, navy.
    • Key Piece: The Pepto Bismol-pink peplum dress caught our eye immediately.
    • Accessories: Sculptural colorblock heels, black leather gloves, printed head wraps.
    • Who Would Wear It: Retro-chic types like Kirsten Dunst and Zooey Deschanel.

    Photos courtesy of Twenty8Twelve

    London Fashion Week

    Mulberry Fall 2012

    Thanks to Mulberry's fur-covered Fall '12, staying warm will be the least of our worries next season.
    Mulberry Runway Fall 2012

    Thanks to Mulberry's fur-covered Fall '12, staying warm will be the least of our worries next season. Creative Director Emma Hill served up a cozy, woodsy collection inspired by Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, and with a star-studded front row including the likes of Azealia Banks, Pixie Geldof, and Lana Del Rey (who even got a bag named after her this season) who sat on fur-covered seats, Mulberry's runway show was a heavenly romp through a wooded forest, playing nicely to the adventurous "girl against the elements" vibe — the color palette was earthy and natural, with bold pops of striking brights, and Aztec-inspired zig zags and painterly prints were also peppered throughout. Stylist Jane How did a fantastic job of setting the sartorial scene; fur vests were cinched with skinny belts and paired with sexy pencil skirts, chunky knits were layered over super-luxe silk and lace dresses, and models were swathed in sumptuous oversized scarves. After a veritable blast of color and patterns, Hill switched things up by ending the show with fluid, black-on-black ensembles — and the overall unexpected contrasts and eclectic styling gave us lots to look forward to this Fall. For more details on the show, read our UK editor's firsthand experience here.

    • Trends: Fur, fur, and more fur; ethereal silhouettes wrapped in oversized, Eskimo-inspired outerwear, romantic lace dresses; did I mention fur?
    • Colors: Burnt orange, gray, blue, petrol, bark brown.
    • Key Piece: The full fur dress was a knockout.
    • Accessories: Foldover wedge ankle booties, supersize scarves, chain and double wrap belts, the new Del Rey bag.
    • Who Would Wear It: Eclectic girls who like to mix a bit of British schoolgirl with their Winter fare; stars like Alexa Chung, Kate Moss, and Emma Watson.

    Photos courtesy of Mulberry

    London Fashion Week

    Vivienne Westwood Red Label Fall 2012

    Vivienne Westwood brought her signature brand of punk rock glamour for Fall, showing a collection of easy, hipster-cool pieces for Red Label.
    Vivienne Westwood Red Label Runway Fall 2012

    Vivienne Westwood brought her signature brand of punk rock glamour for Fall, showing a collection of easy, hipster-cool pieces for Red Label. The designer pulled out all the stops when it came to styling — stripes were jauntily mixed with plaids and polka dots, menswear-inspired fedoras were tied with colorful ribbons, and models were painted with crosses, hearts, and other symbols, playing to a vibe of '60s-era protest chic. One print that carried through the collection was a large-scale geometric design; it was shown on wrap dresses, tie-neck blouses, skinny trousers, and even a slouchy jumpsuit, adding a fresh dose of tribal cool. Get the full breakdown below.

    • Trends: Plaids, geometric prints, trousers, Grecian draped dresses.
    • Colors: Black, red, gray, violet, orange.
    • Key Piece: The slouchy printed one-piece was gas station attendant gone glam.
    • Accessories: Ruby red tights, fedoras with colorful ribbons, printed neck scarves, ankle-strap heels.
    • Who Would Wear It: Girls with a rocker-cool, vintage aesthetic, like Gwen Stefani.
    How To

    How to Style Winter Boots With Breezy Spring Outfits

    Any chance we can get to preemptively boast some of our favorite Spring '12 trends — bright floral graphic prints, soft pastel color schemes, and sheer separates — we take it.

    Any chance we can get to preemptively boast some of our favorite Spring '12 trends — bright floral graphic prints, soft pastel color schemes, and sheer separates — we take it. Although the snow hasn't cleared and we haven't seen the last of the rain, we think it's totally fair game to style up your favorite pair of Winter boots with lighter layers, vibrant accessories, and feminine pieces. To keep your wardrobe fresh and weather-functional, we've outfitted five looks, complete with cool boots and even cooler Spring '12 selects. Click through to glean some seasonal styling inspiration and shop the picks you love most.

    Source: Fashion Gone Rogue

    community

    Looks of the Week!

    This week, we looked to our expertly dressed community for finicky weather styling solutions.

    This week, we looked to our expertly dressed community for finicky weather styling solutions. One day it's raining, the next it's warm and sunny — what's a style setter to do? Your layered looks, refreshing color palettes, and overall sense of chic know-how had us totally inspired. Here are our favorites: red zone, prepping for Spring, weekend casual, leopard, olive juice, dressing up denim, Fashion Week, here I come, layer me this, layer me that, goth?, and soft colors. Congrats all!

    fashion news

    Fab Recap — Fall '12 New York Fashion Week, Grammys Red-Carpet Glam, and More!

    While we catch our breath from all the New York Fashion Week shows and Grammys red-carpet coverage, we leave it to you to peruse the chic outcome.

    While we catch our breath from all the New York Fashion Week shows and Grammys red-carpet coverage, we leave it to you to peruse the chic outcome. From Marchesa's ethereal gowns and J.Crew's insanely cool must-have Fall '12 wardrobe to Rihanna's custom Giorgio Armani dress at the Grammys, we've got every look captured and every style tidbit noted. Make sure to peep Topshop's latest designer collaboration, Zara's Spring-perfect lookbook, and our Fashion Week Instagram snaps (an unfiltered photo-filtered look into the stylish mayhem), too. Don't waste a moment more; click through to get caught up on all the week's most fashionable happenings.

    London Fashion Week

    Issa London Fall 2012

    Issa showed off bold graphic prints against softer feminine silhouettes for Fall '12 — a perfect combination of bright and ladylike.

    Issa showed off bold graphic prints against softer feminine silhouettes for Fall '12 — a perfect combination of bright and ladylike. Abstaining from customary Spring florals, Issa opted for two distinctly different designs: a 1960s-inspired paisley pattern and a Far Eastern-influenced screen print. The colorful prints took shape in kimono-style caftans, knot-cinched dresses, tunic-and-trouser combos, and jumpsuits – all of which had a totally wearable retro-fun vibe. In addition, we spotted an emerald green, Kate Middleton-worthy wrap dress and a funkier fur-enhanced, cap-sleeved frock that were just begging to be added to our Fall must-haves list. While Issa maintained its casual, eclectic feel, the collection, as a whole, gave us even more reason to believe that the dress-over-pants trend is coming back, the resurgence of opera-length gloves is real, and Asian-inspired silhouettes are here to stay. For more details, see below.

    • Trends: Japanese-inspired silhouettes, '60s prints, dresses over pants, and fur-enhanced sleeves.
    • Colors: Green, red, blue, brown, gold, and black.
    • Key Piece: The form-fitting emerald green wrap dress and the Asian-inspired metallic sheaths with fur capped sleeves.
    • Accessories: Fur cossack hats, fur handbags, strappy gold sandals, red-and-black T-strap heels, and riding boots.
    • Who Would Wear It: Issa's core group of fans, including Kate Middleton and Madonna.