FASHION & LIBERATION

How many of you ever give any thought to the idea that being a girl of a certain age, is hugely liberating in that it allows you to pull off outfits that you lacked confidence for when you were at a more tender age?

 

Isn't it comforting to know that having reached that stage in your life,  you can wear just about anything you like, even if nobody else likes it?

 

Wearing a skirt of this girth, I became funnily aware of the fact that when I was 21, I may have had the body, but at 51, I now have the confidence. I would have been acutely aware of stares and looks, to the extent where abandon would probably have been the only escape, yet I felt rather comfortable provoking looks and stares of me being engulfed in 2.8 metres of fabric, spurring me on to sway the hips, rocking the look, and quietly giggling at my own nerve to provoke,  whatever the response may be.

 

My skirt may have been conspicuously huge,  but I happily pranced along the cobbled streets sporting a skirt like a guild of liberation.  There is however, a word of warning, if you dress like a clown, don't be surprised if you are laughed at, and if you wear something this loud and expansive, be ready to receive some stares. Either they love or hate the look. My forecast is that big skirts are going to make a comeback next season, hugely so......

 

 

 

 

Fruit Printed Shirt - Old

Skirt - Belle Epoque

Shoes - Zara

Neck Piece - Zara

 

MADE IN ITALY

Brace yourselves girls, this is all about shoes. Travelling always conjures up visions of fashion, food, flavours, sights, sounds, memorable architecture, and off course, a little shopping. These  things are all interconnected, allowing us to touch, see, feel, hear and taste. And so it should be. What fascinates me about travelling to Fashion Week events, is how styles differ.  Although the French claim ownership of style and fashion, the rightful propriety, to my mind, belongs to the Milanese, being the birthplace of all things luxurious and well crafted, and the city with the most stylish and sophisticated women. Luxury knows no boundaries in this modern European city, and if you thought that you could do some thrift shopping here, you may be gravely disappointed. Most of the Fashion Outlets like Fox Town on the Swiss border, or those on the outskirts of Milan, sell overstock  or previous season's branded items at a fraction of the original price, but still tipping the scale on the higher end. After many years of experience, I've also learnt that instead of having hundreds of pairs of low end and poor quality shoes, it's better to invest in the odd excellently crafted Italian pair. Nowhere in the world is craftsmanship better defined than in Italy. My most sought after and cherished pairs, all originate from the skilful hands of the Italian people. Attending Fashion Week in Milan stimulates all the senses, requiring considerable self constraint not to venture out into the shopping alleys of the Quadrillatero filling up your coffers with extravagance and piling up receipts with more zeros than your Iphone calculator can account for. However, it doesn't mean that a girl shouldn't have any fun. It just requires some careful planning and deliberation when shopping for things this special and unique,  and perhaps not otherwise obtainable from your home country. Although most of the Italian brands can be found elsewhere, the flagship designer stores all hail from Milan's part of the world, and obviously offers a much bigger variety. The most stressful difficulty I then had to face, was being a little spoilt for choice. I took revenge on the damage caused to my shoes spoken about in a previous post on Milan, and did some justice to my bruised ego by replacing them with a pair commensurate with the hurt I felt when I discovered my ruined heels which got caught in the metal grid. Go on girls, start planning ahead. Remember, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail, so if you have baggage restrictions when travelling, start shopping for couriers or shipping agents...... but don't come home without a dainty pair depicting the label  "Made in Italy". If timeless style and quality is your criteria, don't settle for anything less.  Fortunately this is one event where nobody takes offence if you point your lens at their feet, so I hope you enjoy my take on shoes as spotted in Milan during Fashion Week.

 

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 STREET STYLE DAY 5

Saving the best for last has definitely not been a cliche in this instance, as Milan Fashion Week drew to the close on a note leaving us all in awe. One of the highlights has been the Giorgio Armani Show that took place on Monday morning. The crowds filled the streets to the brim, all hoping to get a glimpse of the well heeled, snapping away at famous fashion editors and front row regulars. With bloggers giving just about the same amount of publicity to the event as fashion editors of the glossy magazines, this new phenomenon sure is a force to reckon with. What drew my attention when a certain Ms Wintour walked passed me, was her distinct flair for classic cuts, wearing a sophisticated Boucle suit she made quite an entrance!

The recognition given to this new breed of media members should not be under estimated, as flashes lit up the shade caused by the tree lined street, capturing the whose who, clearly un phased by the photographers. It almost appeared as if some of them planned their strategy in anticipation of the paparazzi firing away at them, with some parading the mile up and down much like a horse being let cold. It doesn't render the street scene any less exciting, as bloggers were rubbing shoulders with the so called celebs of fashion glossies getting a live view of how fashion is interpreted by show goers and major role players in the industry. Seeing elegant women arriving on a bicycle is rather refreshing, clearly style doesn't always come with a price tag.....and their mode of transport looking perfectly comfortable amongst the luxurious textures of a certain desirable brand's boucle worn by well known fashion editors.....This is the most fun I had aiming and shooting at people, using only a Canon....

 

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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

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.“