Isabel Marant pour H&M

The last designer collection wasn't even in stores or people were already speculating about H&M's next collaboration. Begin this month was confirmed that the new designer is none other than Isabel Marant! This collaboration makes me happy as she always creates a style that is wearable, timeless, progressive, efforrtless and classic at the same time. Isabel Marant also has the ability to create something that women want.
'I aim to create something real, that women want to wear in their everyday lives, with a certain carelessness, which I think is very Parisian. I really tried to do the essence of my style, it's an ideal wardrobe that you can do a lot with.'
(by the way: she's also designing a collection for men, which she has never done before. I'm very curious about that!)

I made a list of Marant's signature pieces that I expect to be in the collection:

SS2012 /SS2010/SS2011
The boho jacket. Tie-dye, embellished or in a denim variation: we've seen it all. 

SS2009/SS2011/SS2012
Isabel Marant is equal to sportswear. 

FW2012/FW2010/SS2011
We were first introduced to the cropped pants at Marant's fall collection of 2010. Many varations followed.

FW2010/SS2013/SS2012
Also typical Marant are printed dresses: for the ultimate bohemian look.

FW2011/FW2012/FW2013
You can never go wrong with a black oversized coat. Easy to combine.

FW2009/FW2012/SS2011
Sexy, flirty or sporty: Marant's take on mini-skirts.

SS2013/SS2011/FW2010
The printed jeans, also spotted in many diffrent variations. Perfect to update your wardrobe.

SS2012/FW2012/SS2013
The peagant blouse is a summer essential.

FW2012/FW2011/SS2012
A white lace dress is a classic piece.

FW2011/SS2012/FW2010
The gilet: oversized, embellished or in a leather version. 

FW2012/FW2013/FW2009
Most of the time a leopard-print is vulgar. Isabel Marant shows us the opposite.

FW2011/SS2011/SS2012
The sweater has proven to be very versatile.

FW2009/FW2010/SS2010
What's more chic than fur? Perfect to create the very Parisian 'je ne sais quoi'-look.

Every shoe Isabel Marant creates immediately becomes the must-have of the season. The sneaker-wedges for example. Available in two variations, the Bekett and Bobby. Seen on Miranda Kerr, Beyonce, Kate Bosworth and many many more.

It's not just the sneakers that sell out when they are in stores, the boots too. The most popular are the Dicker, Blackson, Jenny and Caleen.

'Fashion is all about personality.' - Isabel Marant

Rumor Has It

There are very exciting things going on in the fashion industry. Most of the statements are rumors and are (yet) to be confirmed. 

Marc Jacobs leaving Louis Vuitton?

The near end of his contract provide a lot of fuss. Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton have been a winning team for years. He introduced Vuitton to ready-to-wear collections, collaborated with artists like Stephen Sprouse and Takashi Murakami. Jacobs' also gave one fabulous catwalk show after the other. Is he really leaving after 16 memorable years? 

Nicolas Ghesquière's to take over at LV?

The most likely successor to Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton according to insiders is Nicolas Ghesquière. The designer left late last year at Balenciaga after disagreements with the management. It was expected that Ghesquière would set up a label under his own name, BUT 'a realiable reached out to say that Ghesquière and LVMH are in serious negotiations and the designer is defenietly in talks to succeed Jacobs' as reported by Fashionista. 

Emma Hill quits Mulberry

Mulberry has announced that it's creative director Emma Hill will leave the company. The spring/summer 2014 collection has been finished and Emma's currently working on the LFW show which will be held on September 15. The timing of her departure is under discussion and has yet to be finalised. Hill's six years brought Mulberry in the spotlight with it-bags, campaigns by Tim Walker and a star-studded frow every season. A new successor has not been announced. 

Who could replace Reed Krakoff at Coach?

Wanted: new chief designer for Coach. Now it's known that Reed Krakoff will resign in June 14 to focus on his own label, they're eagerly looking for a successor. With the result that a lot of designers are mentioned as the possible new chief designer. Both Nicolas Ghesquière and Chloé's  creative director Clare Waight Keller as Derek Lam, Philip Lim and Emma Hill are called. Latest addition to the list of potentials is *drums rolls* Marc Jacobs!  

Luella Bartley comeback

Luella Bartley has made her long-awaited return to fashion. Finally! It's been four years since we last saw her designs for her eponymous label, which launched in 1999 but folded in 2009 after facing financial difficulties.  Bartley has been named design director of the Marc by Marc Jacobs women's collections, while accessories designer (and partner-in-crime for 10 years) Katie Hillier takes on the role of creative director. The duo will unveil their first designs for the brand for autumn/winter 2014. 

Jason Wu for Hugo Boss

Jason Wu will also make a career move. He joined Hugo Boss as artistic director of Boss Woman. The young designer will now oversee the overall image and design for ready-to-wear and accessories. His designs for Boss will debut for pre-fall 2014. Next february The First Lady-favorite, who launched his eponymous line in 2007, will show his creations on the runway at New York Fashion Week.

(more impressive news coming up on the blog soon)

Fashion To Die For?

My point of view on the whole Bangladesh situation:

It's time to go to the dark side of fashion: the world of low wages and poor working conditions. Things that we as Western consumers have no view on. 

It's true that if we don't buy any clothes at H&M, Primark, Zara and such that the working conditions are not getting better. But if we want changes in the industry we need a different mindset.

First of all, paying a higher price is necessary. For consumers it's no guarantee. You can still buy a more expensive shirt, by let's say Isabel Marant, that's still being made under bad circumstances. But for producers this choice would be a lot easier because the labor costs are only a fraction (5%) of the price of a garment in stores; as the advertising costs and profits are the largest cost components of clothing.

Secondly there need to be more control and supervision at factories, as this is probably not the first time that, in a low-wage country, a factory has collapsed. Control should be on the fact that there a too many jobs of  'safe' factories are channeled to the smaller, more unsafe factories. The producers have to pay more labor costs per garment and the consumers will then not pay more or less for a garment in stores (as I said earlier).

I also claim for unions for employers and employees to reach agreement on wages, working hours and working conditions. This may sound as an utopia, but I think that this isn't entirely impossible with full cooperation of both parties AND assistance from Western countries.

Further more there need to be more transparency from the clothing brands on their production. A good example of this is Belgian designer Bruno Pieters. Last year, he began Honest by, what claims to be the first fashion company that gives full understanding into the structure of the prices of the garments. Under the head 'price calculation' each garment on the site is decomposed to the smallest detail. 

This gives me hope for revolution in the industry. Though I doubt if it will ever be completely transparant. 

'It's never been the masters who change anything.' - Bruno Pieters

Rockstud Rouge

Who knew that tattoos and Valentino were such a good combination?

I didn't and I'm truly in love with the result.

It's the first time that designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli have worked with Terry Richardson.

'The sensual yet elegant nature of our accessories, described as object of desire.'

I love that contrast. The pictures are edgy but have enough class to showcase a brand like Valentino.

P.S. Can I have that bag pretty please? *drooling*

Punk'd

On monday, May 6h, the annual Costume Institute Gala, also known as MET Ball, took place in New York. 

The MET Ball is a gala that celebrates the opening of the fashion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The dress code of this year was 'PUNK: Chaos to Couture' (a.k.a. a lot of black, leather and studs). Of course Vivienne Westwood was present to, how punk is that, support WikiLeaks soldier Bradley Manning. She explained: 'When I did punk years ago, it was all about the same thing: justice and trying to have a better world.'

The exhibition is a tribute to and an overview of the term 'punk' both fashion and music, as the era and the political statements.

'No other movement has had so much influence on fashion.' - Andrew Bolton (curator)

Here's my best dressed list:

Rooney Mara looked angelic in a white lace Givenchy Couture gown of the fall 2010 collection.

I love that Hailee Steinfeld kept true to her style with this tea-length Donna Karan Atelier gown. Nice detail: the golden starbursts are made of safety pins. Amazing!

Gwen Stefani and punk are a match made in heaven. She looked stunning in an custom made Maison Martin Margiela design. The monochrome gown which includes an asymmetrical bodice was inspired by a look of the spring 2013 collection.

Anne Hathaway looked stunning in this vintage Valentino Couture embellished gown with feathered cuffs.

Emma Watson in a cutom made Prabal Gurung gown inspired by the fall 2013 collection. She looks very confident in her black silk crepe satin gown with cut-outs and a thigh-high slit.

Cameron Diaz is wearing this beautiful custom made electric blue gown by Stella McCartney which features a cape with open back and a gold spiked belt.

Elle Fanning made quite a statement in this psychedelic tie-dye Rodarte gown. The striking eyeshadow kept her youthful spirit.

It surprised me that on a huge event where it's all about punk, there were just three people wearing Vivienne Westwood (including mrs. Punk herself). Thumbs up for Christina Ricci for wearing this tartan ball gown.

Does Kate Bosworth ever something wrong? She looks radiant in this fully embellished hot pink Balmain dress with gold belt.

Sienna Miller was wearing a white gown with a gold-studded cropped leather jacket by Burberry. She accessorised her look with a spiked headband (and of course her handsome fiance Tom Sturridge).

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looked impeccable in her black-and-gold Gucci gown of the fall 2013 collection which includes a netted tulle top with metallic degrade embroidery and a satin skirt.

As the face of Givenchy's new frangrance there was no doubt of Amanda Seyfried wearing the brand. The dramatic printed gown with draped back is a vintage copy of the spring 2007 couture collection.

Blake Lively opted to wear a dramatic gown by Gucci Premiere which features a pale green bodice, a skirt with layers of black organza and feather motif embroidered details. 

Miley Cyrus fully embraced the theme in her long-sleeved black mesh gown with a nude underdress from the Marc Jacobs fall 2013 collection.

You can trust Paloma Faith for some high dose of glamour at the MET Ball. She did, with this fully embellished blood red, ombre-effect Michael Cinco gown featuring built-in gloves and an open back. The headpiece by Philip Treacy was the icing on the cake.

Allison Williams looked perfect in her sexy long-sleeved black Altuzarra gown with a sheer skirt and lace panels.

 Anne Hathaway wasn't the only one who underwent a transformation, so did Nicole Richie. She wore a white fully embroidered gown by Topshop.

Florence Welch looked fierce as always in this black fringe gown by Givenchy Couture of the fall 2012 collection.

Sarah Jessica Parker made a great entrance at the MET Ball in a paint-splattered Giles gown of the fall 2013 collection. To finish the look she wore a custom made Philip Treacy headpiece and over-the-knee velvet tartan boots by Christian Louboutin.

I always like Leelee Sobieski's minimal approach on dressing. For this occasion she opted to wear a white strapless bustier gown with a black t-shirt and long sheer sleeves with gold embroidery by Christian Dior Couture.

Who was your best dressed of the evening?

Queensday 2013: Style File

WHAT? Abdication

WHERE? Royal Palace, Amsterdam

WHEN? April 30

This tuesday was an memorable and historic day in my country. We welcomed our new king, Willem-Alexander, as his mother, Beatrix, ended her reign.

Balenciaga: The First Chapter

Sorry for being such a bad blogger lately. It has already been two months (!) since my last blogpost, due to a writer's block and lack of inspiration. But I hope I can make that up the coming days/weeks/and what's to come. Pinky promise!

Now back to business!

To Balenciaga to be exact. I was immediately enthusiastic and excited when I heard the news of Alex Wang being the new creative director. But did the expectations come true?
His very first collection was shown in an intimate salon-style setting on Avenue George V. The show was referred by Wang as 'the first chapter' in a mission to retell the story of Balenciaga.
To start with the semi-fitted silhouet. This was Cristobal Balenciaga's response on the hourglass New Look with which Christian Dior seduced the postwar fashion.
The signatures of Balenciaga, like the rounded shoulders, were combined with the sportive approach of Wang.
Me likey! What's your opinion?