Milan Fashion Week Spring Summer 09

Fabrics and patterns mix and matching at Marni

Mix and matching colours at Moschino

Marni

Mix and match of patterns at Missoni

Auras of gauze made strong fabrics ethereal at Marni

Soft and strong fabrics at Moschino

Kimono inspired silhouettes and soft and strong fabric patchworking at Missoni

Missoni

Origami shapes at Pollini

Pollini

You will go to Milan for strong house looks: Versace, Fendi, Gucci, these are just as many names you know what to expect from, recognizable silhouettes and tailored looks, great couture, no disappointment, even when a few catwalk models make fashion faux-pas for one of these labels like at Prada.

Milan, like other Spring Summer 09 Fashion weeks, was all in whites and floral. You want a good idea of the SS09 key seasonal look, check out the new Luisa Beccaria collection: it is white, flowery, frilly, feminine, shapely, pretty pretty pretty and borderline sickeningly sweet... but very pretty.

It was all that jazz at Alberta Ferretti with sleek 30's low-waisted dresses in silvery silks, and Bottega Veneta came up with an interesting kind of tuxedo dress, but what made things truly interesting in Milan was the way designers played with fabrics and patterns, patchworking muslins with taffetas, making heavy shantung silks ethereal by combining them with an aura of gauze, mix and matching patterns and colours into part-retro, part-futuristic mind-blowing creations. Mix-and-match was the magic tool that made things happen on runways.

Oversize took a new meaning at Moschino with statement flowers and bows, while Missoni and Pollini gave a new sense to Japanese influences with kimono and origami shapes. Pollini was the definite pick-me-up collection, cheeky, girly, and funny in an all psychedelic mise-en-scene. Heart crush on Marni: these three were the most inventive, interesting and accomplished collections in Milan this year, and should give our fashionista readers plenty of ideas come wardrobe-making time for the new season.

By Champagnista V

Images from Style.com

Eva Erzigova for Dom Perignon

I just came home from a girls' night out to pick up a friend who is having some serious boyfriend trouble (where I still want to hire a 6-pack-boy to beat the hell out of him), and the girls being English, Australian and Irish, they outdo my drinking capacity like you wouldn't believe: I wish I could just crash in bed, so I am going to keep this post short...

Apart from Milan, on which we are going to give you a thorough update at the end of the week, the latest big fashion news is the Lagerfeld-Erzigova collaboration for Dom Perignon. Starring in the new Dom Perignon 1996 cuvee campaign shot by Lagerfeld, Eva's 34 DD perky curves in playfully minimalistic lingerie. That's the last part of the campaign story, but I'm guessing that's what everybody is going to be most interested in, right boys? A sex kitten purring for champagne in a luxury hotel suite kingsize bed? No turn-off here...

Nothing too surprising about the Perignon-Erzigova pairing, fashion has always gone hand in hand with champagne, and high class one, not Brut de Blancs mousseux: Dom Perignon's choice is well-studied. Eva is classily elegant and bubbly like their product, and her hair is all in blonds, beiges and pinks like the tones you see when looking through a glass of Dom Perignon champagne in the twilight.

Having said that, maybe the whole story with its checking into Le Meridien, going shopping and meeting the perfect guy for the night (who would turn out to be the perfect boyfriend in a Hollywood movie) might make you just a little sick (like after a few glasses of champagne, were they not Dom Perignon)... But the campaign does work well, and the imagery is nicely framed and filtered, so thumbs ups on Eva's curl(ve)s! She is the perfect beauty to fill the ambassadress' part for such a glamorous name. Dress or undressed, the robe of a Dom Perignon bottle will remain the same elegantl image under her parentage.

By Champagnista V

Lucky Voice opened in Islington

They are playing 'Walk the Line' tonight on TV and I love that movie: whenever I'm on my own I sing along to it with all my heart and picture myself with Kansas riding boots and a cowboy hat. All because I am on my own though: I have such a voice, I actually dread singing in the shower, I am too afraid the ceiling would crack and fall over, or a flatmate might overhear me (especially the cutie with the blue eyes... if you've seen the pictures of our Champagnista night... bad bad delightfully bad boy!)

So it will come to reason that when my good friend Miss Conde Nasty invited me to the opening of Lucky Voice in Islington, I should jump on the occasion: I love a karaoke, I dread a karaoke, I hate a karaoke, I love a karaoke! It's always a wonderful time to dress up and play the character you want to sing: this might be the moment when I tell you that I fell in love with fashion when I was a (very young considering I am not that old) struggling actress (/struggling model, /quite successul waitress, /time to drop back in university because I missed it!...) and used to dress the part I wanted to play on the night: fashion offers you such a multitude of opportunities to create the character you want to play on the occasion you want to play it, it is the most wonderful role game.

So tonight, I dressed as a rock chick with slim dark jeans and a pair of lace-up ankle boot platform shoes with a big buckle on the instep, and I prepared myself psychologically to sing Amy Winehouse's 'Rehab'. Miss Conde Nasty and I met up at Highbury & Islington tube station, and I cannot begin to tell you how happy I was to learn that all her other friends had bailed out: thank GOD, nobody was going to witness the fiasco!

Lucky Voice is on Upper Street, opposite the Town Hall, and I must say they did a pretty good job with the decoration: the wooden bar is sleek and square, and the dark leather sofas spouse the same kind of efficient shapes, urging you to do something dynamic under the concert-ambient lighting, meaning, moving to one of their private boots and singing the tunes you've kept mumbling to yourself for the past few weeks... In my case for the past few months since my 5-year-relationship breakup (no no I am not that old) so namely Marley's 'every l'lle thing 's' gonna be all right' (title please?!), U2's 'Bloody Bloody Sunday' and the Rolling Stones' 'Painted Black'...

After the few obligatory drinks (which were obviously not enough), we went in one of the private rooms that was provided with all the accessories we could wish for: colourful wigs, fake fluff guitars, and even an unlikely tambourine... and vodka. And REVELATION: Miss Conde Nasty has such a beautiful voice, she now has to switch careers! I am not joking, I had no idea, but she has the strongest and most original voice I had heard in a while! So if you have heard her from outside and are a music promoter, do contact me and I'll put you in touch.

Yes, because whatever the staff tell you when you get in the boot, you can hear everything from outside, and it is a lot of fun.

It was quite a good training, because on 14 October, my boss is taking the whole team on a bonding day, beginning with kart and ending at the Oxford Circus Lucky Voice. Now I know I shouldn't try to sing Candy Man... or Valerie... or a lot of other songs... I would stick to French songs because I could pull out the husky voice and pretend, but dammit they don't have any!

Lucky Voice is on 173-174 Upper High street, 2 minutes away from Highbury & Islington Tube station, and it has 7 private boots which can welcome about 8 people+ to spend an evening at large. http://www.luckyvoice.com/venues/islington

Ps: By the way, I did bail out of Fash Off and the BFC Candy Man... I was in bed by 9pm, shame on me, and then I got my first ever booty text around 11:30pm, saying 'I had forgotten my phone in my hotel room, I am back, where are you?'... More 'drinking with the mates and didn't want to call before', but I kind of deserved it.

Pps: I totally agree with Champagnista M's last post, a T-bar should always be seen on your foot or remain hidden, unwarned slutty underwear is always so much more efficient!

By Champagnista V

Fashionistas- say no to crack!

Misleading

Reality

Everyone knows that fashion is an opportunity for everyone to embrace the trends with gusto and brilliance but then there are the small few that take that passion a tad to far. What am I babbling about? Well I am talking about the “mind the crack” gang.

They are the females who still think it is cute to walk around adorning a pair of jeans that makes everyone get close and personal with the bum crack. I do not understand that even when they compliment their latest 7’s jeans with a trendy belt, why do they insist that their beloved the crack is still visible. Why, oh why, should we have be privy to some strangers privates.
Case and point, I was on the bus this morning heading to work and in comes a size 14 with skinny jeans that are hung a tad too low giving me and the suited and booted city folk a glimpse of her red g string (I mean red, come on) that barely covered the crack. I mean forget the muffin top on show we were all instead mesmerised with what the fact that we were being exposed to that much bottom at 8am, I mean I had not even had my morning latte yet!

So as I glanced at the fashion car crash that was the size 14 in low rise skinny jeans I wondered whether if I was ever given the opportunity to go back in time an convince Kate Moss not to have left her house with skinny low rise jeans and start a trend that refuses to quit would I? Most definitely, and whilst I am there I will be sure to enjoy a cup of tea and a digestive with Miss Kate.

Any who to continue, this is a trend that has long since gone, so why have some fashionistas refused to let it go. It was never an attractive trend in the first place, even the forever frisky men found themselves being turned off the forever there bum crack, so why not grab pair of wide legged high rised peg trousers that are all the rage this season and please say no to crack because this is truly a trend exclusive only to builders working on the building site!

Champagnista M, Gros Bisous

Peter Jones, Shopping for fabrics, September 08

His boyfriend made me laugh... I know it was to be expected at some point, but he did ask 'why her and not me'? a question I couldn't quite answer because he had a good style, just (well, I guess that's where the answer goes) not quite edgy or quirky enough for the blog... I am just a bit anal about it, amn't I? I LOOOved the frilly flowery dress accessorized with a big waisty belt.

By Champagnista V

Best Of London Fashion Week Spring Summer 2009

Giles

Peter Pilotto

Erdem

Sorry for not having been in touch yesterday, but I desperately needed 72 hours sleep after the series of late nights last week... Looking back at London Fashion Week, Spring Summer 09 showcased the renaissance of strong couture shapes, beginning with a rebirth of the sheath dress, above: after last season short swing dresses, designers are going back to a more grown-up silhouette, longer skirts and more fitted busts. Classy and sexy, this is a shape that is easy to wear and to dress up or down, so it is going to make us women happy!

Peter Pilotto

Richard Nicoll

Sinha-Stanic

Vivienne Westwood

Sinha-Stanic

There is a strong accent on drapes, with a new incredible fluidity to them: no more odyssean togas like you see on greek scupltures, the new drapes embrace the curves and movements of the body. Electric in futuristics fabrics and metallic colours at Vivienne Westwood, they were at their liveliest at Peter Pilotto, who came up with the most natural of them all by combining them with ethereal prints inspired from butterfly wings.

Giles

Vivienne Westwood

Richard Nicoll

Richard Nicoll

Luella

It was all very colourful, with a special emphasis on pinks and oranges. The colours at Luella were strong but sweetly faded, in an old-fashioned British vintage way, mixed with tweeds and patchworked fabrics. Luella's collection this season was crafted to the the smallest detail. Adorably ugly and beautifully skilled, it is the kind of designs that will draw a smile on all faces: you will instantly love it or hate it. Less Gainsborough and more post-modern, Richard Nicoll's designs displayed strong chromatic tones on long boyish silhouettes, reminiscent of Rothko paintings.

Erdem

Luella

Modernist

Spring again so flowers everywhere, very British in new traditional prints at Luella, three dimensions in statement dresses at Erdem, or creeping up to underline a womanly figure on a sheath dress at Modernist.

Erdem

Luella

Modernist

Modernist

Erdem

There is something bridal in the air... white and trousseau-like at Modernist, the designs took a Victorian turn at Luella and Erdem, with frills and laces, and fancy net hair accessories that looked like another take on the Marry Poppins' straw hats featured at Marc Jacobs in New York.

Champagnista M and I are on our way to Paris Fashion Week on 30 September. In the meantime, stay tuned!

By Champagnista V

Pictures from Style.com

One pack of Berocca to go please!

Alber Elbaz, Lucas Ossendrijver and Mika at the Lanvin Store opening

There is something in the air during fashion week, that makes you nurse a migraine in mornings... and go to the Boots counter to ask for your pack of anti-hungover Berrocca, the ultimate Fashion week accessory. A little tip I had to explain to the pharmacist this morning, who when I asked for Berrocca tried to sell me a flu vaccine when he saw the colour of my face at 8:30am...

Time for a fashion week update, so that you can understand what led me to Berocca-stacking: on wednesday night, I went to the Carlotta Gherzi show with Champagnista M, then hit the after-party at the Burlington club, then popped in the Lanvin Menswear store opening on Savile row where I spotted Yasmin Le Bon (where IS my camera???) and Lucas Ossendrijver, the very handsome designer of Lanvin menswear, who completely revolutionized the label by introducing a modern high-waisted full-chested shoulder-lifted manly silhouette of the most sartorial and seducing kind...

Then yesterday I met a friend for a quick catch-up drink, then went to the Peacock after-party at the Burlington Club (it seems that everything is there this week: and everybody... namely Damien Hirst or the icon of Cool Brittania, the Pussycat Dolls, et cetera), then spent an hour at the Emma Jane's party organized in conjunction with fashion week, where James Roper and Max Vallot were DJing, then met a friend who took me by the hand and got me in the Vivienne Westwood Red Label After in Earl's Court, however wobbly I was on my heels at that point... I had no idea I would end up there and -dammit- I wish I had not downed that many cocktails before hand, because after 30 minutes and 2 canapes I suddenly felt the immediate need to leave... No idea how such small canapes could do so much damage. Very classy!

I cannot quite believe it, but I have not missed a deadline and have been on time at work every day this week. I think I have to send a big thank you letter to the Berocca Lab Company because they had my back.

Ooooh. Fash Off tonight. Then I'm supposed to meet The beautiful International Fashion Party by BFC man, but... It seemed like a good idea earlier in the week and now I feel like bailing out. And I just realized this morning I have never had a one night stand before. Well, matter of looking at things really... You know this odd moment when you're dressing at each side of the bed after the 'stand'? You're exchanging embarrassed giggles and clothes, the weird kiss on the cheek and... BANG! I always end up trading numbers. And maintaining contact. Maybe there is no such thing as meaningless sex? It does create a connection no matter what?... It seems. But BFC man is going back to New York tomorrow, so I'm wondering what the point would be... And really, it would take too much energy and I just want to curl up in my bed and feel comfortably sorry for myself.

God, the only thing that Berocca lacks is a touch of Zoloft to become the perfect hungover miracle remedy! No more hungover blues...

By Champagnista V
Image from Vogue.com

Is the end nigh...?

Recently I noticed that one cannot open ones paper without coming across stories on the recent closure of the old respectable bank Lehman Brothers and how 100’s of distraught bankers have lost their jobs. All I have to say on the matter is that “City Bankers you are not alone.”

The world of fashion has been suffering its own financial setbacks with the closure of popular publications NW and First, and now more recently there is the threat of Eve magazine (a Haymarket publication) closing.

Alex Stedman, Senior fashion assistant at Eve told moi that “Haymarket is currently consulting with staff about the potential closure of Eve magazine but we will continue to work on the November issue and will make a decision later in October whether to continue the magazine or close it”.

To be jobless in an industry that has such few jobs and a brutal hierarchy I must say I feel genuine sympathy for Eve girls (and guys). I just hope that they made enough contacts to help them get their next opening, because there is nothing more sad then seeing a fabulously dress fashionista in her Choo's standing in the queue at the jobcentre waiting to pick up her dole cheque….

On a more positive note, it is nice to read about magazine’s celebrating their miles stones like Marie Claire which recently celebrated 20 years of producing a “gloss with brains” and also Company magazine who will be celebrating 30 years of existence in a very competitive market of glossies. Happy birthday to you both and long may you continue!

Gros Bisous- Champagnista M

More Photos of the BFC International soiree- enjoy!

Sado' is still fabulous

Sado' the up and coming fashion label headed by Carlotta Gherzi and Evan del Franco showed its SS09 collection last night to rave reviews from fashion's hard to please elite.

It was a very clean collection with perfect detailing and amazing cuts. Reminiscent of Ralph Lauren's classic touch, it is most certainly different from last season- which was more couture- and most definetly is more consumer friendly.

For more information please contact SADO' at sado@sadofashion.com

Gros Bisous- Champagnista M

Images courtesy of SADO' fashion house

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Going Canary Yellow for fashion

With many parties to go too during LFW i have been calling in favours left right and centre with my designer friends. Last night i wore a dress once adorned by Lindsay Lohan by up and coming designer Jeminee Solanki.

The itty bitty canary yellow see through dress was a hit. It also meant that i couldnt eat a thing because the see through dress threatened to show my flabbiness that usually comes after i have eaten a good hearty meal. So i left the after show sushi alone and enjoyed a diet of Champagne and Fiji water all night, knowing that i once i got home i will pig out on a yummy crispy bacon sandwich!

Gros Bisous- Champagnista M

THE BURBERRY SPIKED CLUTCH

Today is Burberry day.

I was at the Burberry sample sale at lunch time: it has been running for almost a week and when I went last Saturday it was pretty quiet, but yesterday there was a big arrival of Prorsum stock and today the sale was a jungle. Fashion chicks stomping on each other's feet, fighting on bags, tearing trench coats off each other Cinderella way: scary show! I'm slightly agoraphobic, so I bought my £75 Prorsum dress and got the hell out... I do not want to look at my bank statement this month! Non non non!

Then I discovered that Burberry was launching a very special spiky clutch bag in limited edition. It looks rather rock'n'roll Gucci, and it is going to be the perfect accessory for you girls who need to fight off drunken men at the end of a night out: Pick up your clutch and go for the eyes!

Have you noticed how Burberry have something about degrades at the moment? Degrade leather bags slightly washed off at the seams, degrade strokes on silk scarves died with watery colours, and now degrade metal, with the spiky clutch whose spikes go from a dark nickel to an almost golden shade. What is Burberry guru Christopher Bailey trying to tell us? Be more nuanced? It's all in the detail?

If you want this clutch, you'll have to register online on burberry.com... and save about £1500, but at least you can be sure you're not going to see it at everyone's hand.

By Champagnista V
Photo from Vogue.com

International Fashion Party, 16 September 2008, May Fair Hotel

Diane Pernet

Sandi Thom

Hannah Marshall and model

This morning was a struggle, and even now my head is still pounding slightly, but last night was a million times worth it!
The creme de la creme of fashion gathered in the May Fair Hotel where the British Fashion Council was throwing their seasonal International Party. Guests included designer Hannah Marshall in a minimalistic and very modern dress, singer Sandi Thom in a glamorous red carpet bright red gown, Jonny Woo in his, her?, a vintage dress in a beautiful blue colour, and fashion blogger Diane Pernet in ... ah... the most incredible outfit (see for yourself). Moet et Chandon Rose and sushi were in plenty and at everybody's hand, so I was not too far from heaven. Isn't the key to happiness so easy to find? Pricy, but easy!

As I was being hit on by a 14 year-old-male model (I still can't believe it!), I remembered how fantastic it is to glide in an environment full of handsome and stylish people: it is so pleasant to the eye, I am sure it releases endorphines just like sun, chocolate and good sex do. Oh Happy days! Blessedly, there were also rare specimens of an endagered species in the fashion world: straight men, handsome as hell... I thought they had all disappeared in this industry. After a few drinks Champagnista M and I found ourselves sharing a bottle of Moet with them, and soon enough a conversation, and one thing leading to another...

Well, let's say I started the evening at the May Fair Hotel at 9pm and left Le Meridien on Piccadilly at 3am. Although I have been good! Well, I just postponed the treat till Friday after Fash Off. He's going back to New York on Saturday, and he is in my phone contacts as SexyMAN... That because I cannot remember his name as you pertinently guessed. Time for a little beauty sleep now otherwise I won't be of much use on Friday.

By Champagnista V

Images from Zimbio.com

More OFF than ON|OFF

Last Night's fashion mess that was ONOff's celebration of 10 seasons had to be seen to be believed. We were promised that we will be celebrating 10 seasons of success of OnOff and that the party will be packed with performance artists, unique illustrators and VJ's, selected DJ sets from DJ78 and more. All guests where to be given the chance to view the retrospective exhibition with work from Zoe Bradley, Wrap 3, Avsh Alom Gur and Gardem with selected guests given the limited edition OnOff book-mmmmm thats not how it panned out!

Turning up at the soiree with my fellow Champagnista, what i witnessed was something completely different. First and foremost, I spotted the first bad sign- a queue no one queues at fashion events especially 30minutes after it is supposed to have started. It was the sight of fashion hanger ons and budding designers that put the fear of God in me as I entertained the thought that I might actually have to queue.

Waiting my turn to enter what promised to be "the" event of the night i decided to do a spot of people watching, but after 5 minutes boredom dawned as i realised that there was no one of concequence around. All I witnessed instead was the big mess that was ONOFF as C list celebs in their limos where denied entrance, the daily mail social reporter was told he wasnt going to come in and up and coming designer Hannah Marshall was left in the cold.

With the PR girls running around like headless chickens, I knew this was indeed fashion at its worst. If ONOFF was determined that no one entered their domain even if there were the movers and shakers of the fashion industry than they pretty much dug their own grave.Which left me wandering when they finally opened the red velvet rope to let moi and fellow Champagnista in, was it RIP for ONOFF.

With the curtain drawing for ONOFF at the Royal Academy Arts was this the end? Well if i had to judge based on the mismanaged mess that was their party then i am afraid i would have to say "yay" because one thing for sure tomorrow AM Lee Hawthorne will have alot of questions to answer to the press regarding the mismanaged event that was ONOFF's party because that Daily mail reporter sure looked mad.

Anywho, check out some of the up and coming designers that will be showing with ONOFF this season...