MILAN FASHION WEEK - WHAT TO WEAR - OUTFIT 1

Street style photography has manifested itself so firmly as an independent industry, that it's hardly possible not to consider this form of media when attending fashion events. Unlike any other event, there is no dress code, yet nobody arrives looking overdressed or under styled. I still find it difficult to decide what to wear to Fashion weeks as one is inevitably permitted to be a little avant garde, yet one should not look like a spectacle. I suppose it's all in the eye of the beholder, but one cannot dress to the occasion unless you have some idea of what is worn by others. First and foremost, one should be comfortable in what ever it is you decide to don. If ever you're indecisive about what to wear for such an occasion, take to the Internet for style cues, by simply looking at street style blogs and posts of digital media to find an idea of what to wear to such an event. My idea to wear a full skirt was born locally when I saw a women wearing a skirt as big as a satellite dish, looking like a diva from the 50's, hence my full skirt with box pleats. This trend is something that was seen on every street corner, each and every one being worn in a different style and length. Some were fuller than others, and some so short you could see into the future. I settled for something in between, leaving something to the viewer's imagination. I must say, considerable self control was exercised not to add a pair of earrings, but considering the size of my neck piece, I decided to go minimalistic ....

Top & Skirt - Belle Epoque

Shoes - J Renee

Accessories, various from Prada to Vintage

MILAN FASHION WEEK - STREET STYLE

One of my favourite past times being at an event like Fashion Week, is watching show goers or passers by. It can be both enlightening and frightening to see how fashion is interpreted, particularly having regard to the fact that Milan is considered to be the birthplace of fashion. What struck me in particular were the absence of to many accessories, much like the French women are known for. A lot of monochrome was seen, and the level of shoes varied from flat ballerina pumps to stratospheric heights, with women performing balancing acts on cobble stones. I find it quite nerve racking that many women who spend more money on a pair of shoes than on a month's groceries, would embark on a mission  walking over cobblestones and metal grids, destroying those dainty heels with one misstep.

 

Unfortunately, I also inadvertently slipped my petite little J Renee heels into a grid and nearly fell over face first,  but thanks to the kind Italian who held me up preserving my grace, I was saved from the embarrassment.  While walking along, observing everything else but the pavement, I found myself firmly entrenched in the flood grid having my heels fixed between the bars. Much to my horror, my shoes were ruined. However, it does not deter me from wearing great looking shoes with high heels, nor does it mean I cannot enjoy anybody else prancing around in these life threatening objects! These photographs obviously don't represent the whole gamut of style, as my personal preference is the primary consideration when taking street style pictures. I have also made a conscious decision not to photograph anything that is remotely associated with a circus or horror film theme party as some attendees seem to think of Fashion week as a platform to enable to them to elevate their ridiculous outfits to the status of fashion.   

 

 

 

 

 

MILAN FASHION WEEK GIORGIO ARMANI SHOW

The Giorgio Armani show was certainly a highlight of Milan Fashion Week, drawing to a close today. Apart from the inspirational and sensational outfits displayed on the sidewalk, the prince of fashion showed a stunningly beautiful kaleidoscope of colours today,  luring  us into summer with a multitude of Purple Pinks and floral prints. How lucky can we be, being from the Southern hemisphere with summer on our doorsteps, and ready to slip into these awesome outfits? Some outfits were complimented with hats as big as satellite dishes, with most ensembles presenting soft, flowing and feminine lines, allowing for movement and comfort. The beauty of Armani is that the structure and style of its designs are so wearable, and not only looking good on size zero models, making it accessible for women of a certain body shape, not to even mention women of a certain age..... 

 

Photo credits Imaxtree.com

MILAN FASHION WEEK

Most of us associate Tod's with soft comfortable leather pumps and handbags. The brand has been in  existence  for many years and had an inaugural show at Milan fashion week under the skillful hands of Alessandra Facchinetti whose first collection for Tod's emphasized the brand's artistic craftsmanship for working leather with the utmost creativity. Ms Facchinetti needs no introduction to those who sport the lux of Valentino who she's been associated with before.

They showed a variety of items  from crisp cotton shirts which every women should have at least a pair of,  to wide full skirts with fabulous double breasted suits. They made a strong impact and displayed a well understood flair for practical and wearable clothes. It's refreshing to see a brand that promotes the concept of comfort and who clearly understands a women's need not having to sacrifice style for it! 

 

 

PHOTOS: IMAXTREE.COM

NEXT STOP, MILAN

Packing for an event like fashion week can pose as quite a challenge, especially having regard to the fact that one has weight restrictions on aircrafts! Besides, a girl has to have a pair of shoes for each outfit..... The only option is to consider outfits of which the accessories can perhaps be restyled, or bottoms and tops mixed up in a "mix and match" combination. Then you have to reckon with the shopping opportunities abroad, requiring us to leave some space for the unexpected object wanting to travel back home with you! The best advice ever received was to fold up each item and then rolling it into a sausage, carefully wrapping it in tissue paper, filling each and every cavity that your suitcase might have. It's surprising how much more you can pack if you follow this simple advice. The weather also poses a problem as one cannot always rely on the absolute accuracy of forecasts. My solution to this problem, is to always pack one jacket or coat that shelters against the cold and that matches up with every outfit, allowing you more creativity. Colourful tights also come in handy to allow for sudden cold weather. On that note, I am zipping up my suitcase, hope to see you girls soon with a bucket load of pictures taken from street style and attendees in Milan, the sidewalk sometimes being more interesting and inspiring than the runway! Off to the birthplace of fashion.....

 

 

 

COLOUR ME BEAUTIFUL!

I was thrilled to be able to share  in my friend Dee's birthday celebration with a number of girls who had great fun at the beautiful Forest Lodge at Grootbos on Saturday. It never once crossed my mind that this might pose as an opportunity to do a post on style. However, when I noticed Dee's beautiful jacket and how this stunning colour flattered her complexion and lovely Blond hair, I had a fleeting moment of creativity and decided to line her up for a post on inspirational women! She celebrated her birthday in great style and wore a colour so vibrant that I could not help myself or resist to ask her to strike a pose, and so it turned out that the beautiful décor with scatter cushions at the reception area of the restaurant, matched up with her stunning colour scheme. She exudes energy and I suppose being a dedicated yogi, she obviously ascribes her good looks to regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle! Happy birthday Dee!

 

After all, this is a blog about inspirational women!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 Have a look at this stunning venue: www.grootbos.com

ANNA PIAGGI, THE LEGEND

Anna Piaggi left a legacy that is in a league of it's own. She was a remarkable women and style icon who was never afraid to wear exactly what she wanted, a little eccentric but with a huge following. She was always adorned with a spectacular head piece, and turned heads when she entered a room. Milan hosts an exhibition on her fascinating legacy which runs concurrent with Fashion Week next week, with the opening event taking place at the Palazzo Morando on the 21st September, and open to the public from the 22nd to the 30th of November. If hats take your fancy, you should not miss this opportunity to get a glimpse of her world of fantasy.  She was a remarkable contributor to the fashion industry for many years, editing and writing on the subject.

 

Quoted from the website of Camera de la Moda Milano:

 

“My hat is personal.  It is what contains the soul, the feeling, the sensation that moves this little world around”. A world where Chanel Haute Couture creations live alongside a Prada baseball cap and with which the “mad hatter” Stephen Jones, Piaggi’s friend and exhibition curator wanted to recreate the atmosphere.“

 

 

OVERSIZED COATS AND PRINTED TIGHTS

Like most things subjected to an audit, you should always balance things out, only this exercise performing an audit of my wardrobe, was completely devoid of balancing! So I delved a little deeper with my evaluation  and arrived at the horrifying conclusion that my entire kaleidoscope consists of  primarily Black, White, Citrus and Coral colour schemes, leaving me with a huge discrepancy! The absence of colour suddenly left me feeling empty, and completely lacking a sense of adventure. The only way I could do a balancing act was to add a little funkiness with print. Given the fact that my profession does not allow much creativity or opportunity to display my sense of dress adventure, I naturally gravitate towards the corporate colours and styles. If you're in the same rut, the easiest way of introducing some excitement in your mid season outfits, is by wearing printed tights.  Printed tights should not however be worn with anything to busy making it appear like a jigsaw puzzle. Combining to much accessories could also render it looking a little Burlesque! A simple pair of pumps or high heels would suffice, and if you wear a skirt, unlike me, show a little leg to emphasise the print! If you shorten the hemline to just above the knee and wear it with high heels it instantly elongates the legs, and worn with a flimsy little box pleated skirt, who knows where it will take you? Be brave girls.....seeing this in print, definitely spurs me on to shorten the skirt's length! An over sized coat like this also requires the hemline to be tapered down and should not be worn with to much bulk in the bottom since it could easily make you look to heavy.

 

 

 

 

 

Coat - Asos

Turtle Neck - Primark

Skirt - Studio W

Shoes - Dorothy Perkins

Handbag - Louis Vuitton

Tights - V & D Amsterdam

MILITARY JACKET

Although the 1st September  officially announces spring down South, the weather has not really allowed us to turn to summer clothes yet. I am yearning to slip into something cool and to sport a lighter image, ridding myself of the weight and bulk of heavy winter fabric, allowing myself to feel the softness of chiffon and cotton on my pale winter skin. We are slowly coming out of winter hibernation and feeling the increase in day temperatures, but not warm enough yet to shed the load. It was like a breath of fresh air when the early morning temperatures indicators allowed a lighter set of clothes this morning, hence the bare legs with lighter shades. So I introduced spring with a military style jacket which is one of my own collection of custom made items, and very useful for mid season days. The military style never really seems to be unfashionable or dated, and it allows you various option to either sport a rather casual image by simply wearing it with boyfriend jeans, or dressing it up with heels. I find particular comfort in boyfriend style jeans as the over sized style gives an instant appearance of having slimmed down, really shedding the winter bulk in minutes.

 

Now all that's required is to move onto lighter food, reducing the bulk of the fleshy parts that developed in response to taking comfort in the warmth of slow food and bucket loads of soup, pancakes with sugar and cinnamon. I'd say it's about time to liberate my eating habits from the joys of winter. I'm starting with a delicious salad that I found a recipe for on  Peony Lim's blog, a scrumptious  Ginger, Beetroot, Fennel and Pomegranate Asian Slaw.....to be found at www.peonylim.com/ginger-beetroot-fennel-and-pomegranate-asian-slaw/

 

Happy weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

Jacket - Belle Epoque

Pants - H & M

Shoes - Next

Handbag - Louis Vuitton

 

COLOURFUL INSPIRATION

Being a girl of a certain age, it doesn't mean you have to put your wardrobe into retirement. Although some of us may sometimes feel as if we've become invisible, we still deserve to be respected. We ought to uplift our spirits with positive thoughts by grooming ourselves to feel good. Nothing recharges the mind as quickly as a bright colour, and if you suffer mental stress the colour Turquoise gives you an instant lift, invigorating and calming the senses. It helps to create balance in emotions and brings calmness to the mind, so why no embark on a colourful expedition into your wardrobe, putting your closet on Botox?

 

Read more on the psychology of colour on the following website:

 

www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com

 

Variations of the Colour Turquoise

 

Aqua: Closer to green than blue, aqua is refreshing and uplifting. It is creative and light-hearted, yet strong and individual.

Aquamarine: Enhancing creativity and inspiration, the color aquamarine calms and balances the mind and the emotions.

Teal: A more sophisticated version of turquoise, teal signifies trustworthiness and reliability. It promotes spiritual advancement and commitment.

 

 

 

 

Trench Coat - Trenery

Skirt - Belle Epoque

Boots - Graziana

Turquoise Neck Piece - Siem Reap Craft Market

YELLOW FEVER AT CAPE TOWN FASHION WEEK

There is something remarkably energetic about the colour Yellow, from Mustard shades to luminous citrus, and Canary to Neon. I always shied away from the Canary shades since it is known to render pale complexion looking a little washed out. However, the ray of sunshine instantly draws attention and although not exactly featuring on my list of favourites for shoes, I'm beginning to grow on this vibrant colour. There were a number of shades seen at the recent Cape Town Fashion week, from the runway to the sidewalk, with turbans to shoes, and skirts to body hugging dresses. Some were kitted out in shades bright enough to warrant sunglasses. Some of the shades were gravitating towards the Mustard Yellows which I found rather attractive, especially if it's worn with winter textures, giving it a warm feeling. Many of the designers exhibited a hint of Yellow, but it was David Tlale who stole the show with his men's collection as seen below, bringing something tender to the boys......Yellow is perceived to be the colour of creative thought, so if you're experiencing creative block, change your surroundings to Yellow! The full skirt made a dramatic entry, as can be seen below in the photograph with the Mustard print by Loincloth and Ashes, who made this skirt available on the www.spree.co.za website. No need to mention, it flew of the shelves! The knee length coat at the bottom is from Zara, following in the footprints of a recent collection by Louis Vuitton, presenting subtle and soft pastel Yellow squares, looking particularly good worn with Black. The photographer second from below wearing a citrus Yellow pair of pants, is Clouds Drummond, a blogger from Cape Town.