MILAN FASHION WEEK-WEEKEND ESCAPE

No visit to a country like Italy is complete without at least seeing one historical city or village, allowing yourself to indulge in all things nice and delectable,  taking proper advantage of the fact that the concept of slow food originates from Lombardy. A trip to the upper city of Bergamo, or Citta Alta, is an absolute must, not only for the culinary delights, but also for it's tranquillity and panoramic scenery. Situated high up on  a hill, the old city can easily be reached by way of train from Milan, and then onwards by bus, dropping you off virtually on the doorstep of the magnificent walled city, perched high up on the hill. For the brave, you could stand in the cue to take the funicular that moves at a snail speed, or hop onto  a Vespa scooter, and drive up the hill, saving your feet for later...... 

I couldn't resist digging into the traditional Polenta and Osso Bucco dishes, a sinfully delicious meal served at most of the many local restaurants.  Time is of no essence here, and nobody seems rushed to do anything, with most inhabitants lingering at local bistros and restaurants, sipping on Chianti while doing some serious people watching. After considerable effort to locate all the venues for the different shows during fashion week, this was a good place to spend a Sunday afternoon, meandering the cobblestone streets, kicking up your heels-what a relief after 5 days on stilettos! My choice of outfit for the day was something that could take me from the sophisticated streets of Milan to the unpretentious cobblestones of Bergamo, and with a change of shoes, I was rather comfortable in my geometric print, ready to kick start the Vespa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top - Belle Epoque

Pants - H & M

Shoes - J Renee

Flat Pumps - Parfois

Handbag - Chanel 2.55

Sunglasses - Ray Bans

Earrings -Miglio

 

 

 

 

 

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

FINDING MYSELF IN THE FRONT ROW AT MBCTFW

The diversity of outfits and different styles worn by the audience at Fashion week events across the globe, is a subject to be discussed independently from the runway. Fashion is what we are being dictated to, and style, the way that we interpret it to make it our own. One could walk into the atelier of a designer and have garments custom made, and then combine it in a manner to create your own look, or you can buy pret-a-porter and just wear it as is,  or you can give it your personal signature by styling it in a manner that turns heads, or simply to make you feel comfortable. The Black & White trend was something that has been sported by many women, and I only mention women since the event is mostly attended by females. I've also seen a good share of flamboyancy, which I seem to think is quite at home for the event.

Some attendants wore spectacular outfits, and some seem to think  of it as a freak show, clearly the latter was not given any space on my precious memory stick which I chose to save for the chic and fabulous. Naturally, I am featuring my own outfit since it falls into the category of Black and White, and besides, it is a blog about how I interpret style! The David Tlale show took place outdoors, with Table Mountain as a backdrop, he could not have opted for a better venue!

Courtesy of Mercedes Benz, Juliana and I were entertained very lavishly in the lounge, and shuttled to the front row for David Tlale's show that took place on the Eastern Boulevard on the highway, and below, yours truly is engaging in conversation with the king of fashion, David Tlale who stunned New York in February 2013 with his elaborate designs and flamboyancy.

This stylish women was sporting the Black & White trend with serious finesse....

The uber chic and stylish Juliana Roux, sporting Kluk, as in Kluk CGDT, a well established designer team from South Africa, and highly sought after designers. Juliana wears a beautiful brocade dress with a full box pleated skirt, and lace overlay with a slight peplum.

The flamboyant foursome, also featured above, an Italian group of friends, the two guys being Carlo & Carlo hair stylists from Seapoint, Cape Town, known for their ability to create hairstyles that leave you breathless, and guaranteed to turn heads!

Photograph courtesy of www.sdrphotography.com

And the birth of my outfit, but with temperatures having risen to about 24 celcius in Cape Town on Saturday, the outfit was not complete, and the silver fox fur had to be disposed     of....

Shoes from J Renee, at Spitz

Pants - Country Road

Zebra Print Blazer - Belle Epoque

Handbag - Chanel

Neck Piece - Sass Diva