St.Gallen Embroidery

While in 2009, when I was in Switzerland for my Summer Exchange Program at Swiss Textile College, I happened to visit this eminent textile museum in St. Gallen, where we can see beautiful exhibition of historical laces, embroideries & cloth-pieces. Since the Embroidery has been made by machinery, the work has died out as a trade manufacture. Nowadays, only a small textile industry had been able to survive in St. Gallen because of high specialization and the production of powerful embroidery machines. The St. Galler Spitzen (as the embroidery is also called) are still very popular as a raw material for expensive haute couture creations in Paris and count among the most famous textiles in the world. Michelle Obama wore a St. Gallen embroidery dress at the inauguration ceremony of her husband on January 20, 2009.  Prominent designers such as Akris, Pierre Cardin, Chanel, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Emanuel Ungaro Hubert de Givenchy, Christian Lacroix, Nina Ricci, Hemant and Yves Saint Laurent have used the embroidery from St. Gallen in their collections.

Slipknot !!

When we talk about the American heavy metal band Slipknot, what comes to our minds are their identical jump suits, unique masks, attention-grabbing image, aggressive music style, and energetic and chaotic live shows. The band's deadly exotic style has acclaimed them to become one of the most popular bands of the late 90s. Their album 'All Hope is Gone' received the top position on the Billboard.

And I believe we can quite relate the band's image to Thom Browne's Mens Fall-Winter 2012 collection. The theme tries to denote a situation wherein 'Punks face off against Jocks'. With low-slung pants, skirts, jackets with spikes, huge shoulders, grotesquely exaggerated musculature, spiked leather masks, the show was quite an entertainment to the audience. And if we talk about the mid-reef baring in menswear then I guess its not something new and designers have been doing that since quite long. The look was sartorial yet raw. Also, the animal print on the pants and jackets kept the sophomore image of the wearers.

Hot Heels for SS12

Shoes is all what you need sometimes. A hot pair of them and no one can watch down at your feet just once. And if you are wearing one of those terrifically designed shoes by the acclaimed names in the industry, then you are definitely going to be featured in the trend portals the very next day. For the coming season of spring, whether it be the Michael Kors knee-high Gladiator sandals, or the tattoo-print  boots from Jean paul Gaultier, any of these are worth going gaga over them. How far is Prada from giving away hot heels when instead they have come up with Hot W-heels in their shoes, I hope it does remain fiery all throughout the season. Personally, I heart the Alexander McQueen collection. The architectural touch, the femininity, the soft color palette, the ruffles, and the glossy black leather straps all together have made them so drop-dead gorgeous.

Marc Jacobs, Marni, Michael Kors 

Vera Wang, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace

Prada, Nicholas Kirkwood, Roberto Cavalli, Altuzaara, Charlotte Olampia, Prada 

Balenciaga, Balmain, Gio Diev, Missoni, Diego Dolcini, Versace

Alexander McQueen

Get Dotted...

How many of us knew that the Polka dots which became common on clothing in the late nineteenth century in Britain, were actually named for the dance of the same name. Well, fascinating isn't it. The fashion was made a lot famous by Venezuelan fashion designer Carolina Herrera, who used polka dots on most of her dresses during the late 80s and early 90s.
Polka Dots have really become a must-have this season. Where earlier we used to associate polka dots with Minnie Mouse & Kids wear, today all these fab designers are making them appear on their ensembles & accessories. The trend can be worn in an incredibly chic manner or a casual sports look. Designers have also experimented a little with the shapes of the circles, patterns & colors, making them look definitely eye-catching. Its a classic yet it becomes fad as it really comes & goes often.

fall 2011 RTW David Koma

Rubin Singer, fall 2011 RTW Marc Jacobs, fall 2011 RTW
Diane von Furstenberg

spring 2011 RTW Moschino, spring 2011 RTW MaxMara

resort 2011 Moschino 

fall 2011 RTW Topshop Unique, Iceberg, Michael Kors

resort 2012 Oscar de la Renta, spring 2012 RTW ADAM, resort 2012 Marc by Marc Jacobs

Emma Stone for Elle wearing Stella McCartney Dress & Pumps, Emilio Cavallini Tights.
 Hailey Clauson- Vogue Russia, August 2011 wearing Stella McCartney

Graffito in SFO

I just got an update from my dearest, who apparently happened to celebrate his New Year holidays in San Francisco. Apart from visiting the famous landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge, & cruising in cable cars, while strolling around the downtown he came across some beautiful scribblings and drawings on the walls of the streets. That street art, which we call Graffiti, was worth stopping by and have a closer look. He captured few of those awe-inspiring drawings on those walls.

Sometimes it is very heartening to see that even today people have this incessant love for ART, that creativity has no bounds, and that some people want to give a social message remaining in anonymity. Really, hats off to all those anonymous artists.
Now, these arts have indeed inspired a lot many, either to change themselves, or the society, or the nation as a whole. Here I would like to mention a few of the innovative designers, like Douglas Hannant, Versus, & Vivienne Westwood, who further supported this art by beautifully rendering them in there collections.

Now since we are talking about art, colors, & fashion, why would MAC, the uber chic cosmetics brand, stay behind. So I came across this enthralling MAC Street Art Eye Shadow.

Well, I wish there should be an award to felicitate all these street artists, because honestly these great pieces of artwork are so full of zeal and passion. These artists have rendered some great inspiring works, even though they'll remain incognitos all throughout there lives, but that is how, I guess, they have chosen to let it be.
Someone has rightly said, "Where there is a will, there is a way."

Plethora of Pleats

A very Happy New Year to all!
Last weekend, apparently the new year eve, I was just googling for some thing and I dont remember what was it that prompted me to search for Princess Diana's fashion moments. Well, she was not only a beautiful woman but also made fashion statements with utmost grace and charm. She had adorned clothes of many internationally renowned designers viz. Chanel, Versace, Catherine Walker, Christian Lacroix, etc. Her romantic ball-gowns, big shoulder looks, hats, business suits etc were all the rage and imitated by many. She was a fashion icon during the 80s. Here is one stunning picture of hers which definitely held me breath-taken.

Princess Diana

Now this is indeed one of my favorite fashion moments of hers. The floral print blouse complemented with this beautiful pleated midi skirt, the fusion of the emerald green color with orangish red purse, and accessories to the minimal, make her whole outfit chic and look so poised.
As we see on the runway of late, I would rather say the iconic fashion of Princess Diana is back from the 80s creating statement once again with many couturiers embracing the pleated skirts of varied lengths in their collections.

Images courtesy : Style.com

Images Courtesy : Style.com

A beautiful quote by Princess Diana: "I wear my heart on my sleeve." She was a beautiful woman inside and out and a lady of great warmth, modesty and solicitude.

The Flouncy Peplums

The curves are back in fashion. And so, designers are donning the flouncy Peplums once again in their collections for the season, which were actually introduced during the fifties as a part of the New Look by Dior. A peplum is a short flared, gathered, or pleated strip of fabric attached at the waist of a woman's jacket, dress, or blouse to create a hanging frill or flounce. They secure the waist and highlight curves in a way that’s enticing yet modest.

The peplum can be made deliberately flared and enhanced to accentuate greater curve to the hips or closely fit to the stomach and the hips to emphasize on the tight waist of the garment. A peplum can either be part of the dress or worn as a belt over a bottom half. Peplums add an extra charm to simple pieces of ensembles. They are a kind of über feminine. It is also one of the most-liked on the red carpet at the moment.

"My Week with Marilyn" UK Premiere, Emma Watson

2011 CFDA Fashion Awards, Chloë Sevigny

Blake lively

Cannes Film Festival 2011, Aishwarya Rai

The latest among the repertoires on the runway which were among my top-list can be seen here. Not only the designers have made these peplums look so chic once again but also they have used sumptuous fabrics & colors. Some have even reinvented the original peplum into avant-garde shapes.

fall 2011 couture Chanel

fall 2011 ready-to-wear Cynthia Steffe

fall 2011 ready-to-wear Mary Katrantzou

fall 2011 ready-to-wear Moschino

fall 2011 ready-to-wear Sportmax

pre-fall 2012 DKNY

spring 2011 ready-to-wear David Koma

spring 2011 ready-to-wear Juan Carlos Obando

spring 2011 ready-to-wear PPQ

spring 2012 ready-to-wear Christian Dior

spring 2012 ready-to-wear Jason Wu

spring 2012 ready-to-wear Vera Wang

Inspired by this coming back of a lovely trend, I had my imagination go wild. So I just made a random illustration in between my classes on the Sketchpad in my Mac. I wish to own a peplum dress or make one myself sooner. :)