The Burberry Legend

The British luxury fashion house, Burberry Prorsum, has once again enchanted the fashion world with there RTW Fall/Winter 2012 collection, one of the most anticipated shows held in London. I personally like the brand more because of the association of Christopher Bailey with this heritage brand. The iconic trench coat and the tartan pattern will always be their trademark, yet the skillful designer has done great justice in carrying forward the legend. Its astounding how the designer mixed fabrics like herringbone, tweed, corduroy, velvet etc. with design elements like peplum, flap pockets, golden zippers, militaristic jacket lapels, leg-of-mutton sleeves, quilts, embroidered owls; everything was so whimsical. The collection had a lot of details to talk about and too many can be a little risky sometimes, but Bailey put them all together so chicly.
It's not the first time that I'm in love with a Burberry collection, but yet again the skirt with diagonal ruffles, the ankle boots, the bow belts, the draped lapel jackets, and the studded clutches and gloves all stole my heart. One can undeniably see the sartorial elegance that sizzles throughout every show put up by Bailey. How is it that every time Bailey puts up a great show? Needless to say, his design aesthetics, but its also the all time favorite muses of the designer, Cara Delevingne, Arizona Muse, Jourdan Dunn, Joan Smalls, to name a few, who filled all that warmth on the runway.

With the RTW Spring/Summer 2012 collection also, which was a medley of crochet, beading, weaving, braiding, printing, etc. the African ethnicity was so Burberry-ly displayed. Bailey blended tribalism with his designs keeping it all so British at the same time. And this was the first time that we received something this exotic from Bailey, for instance we obviously related the 2010 collection in knots to the brand despite the fact that it was also something novel, but certainly, the designer made it all look so alive, that an admirer like me would be wanting for those totes, clutches, wedges, belts, the pleated below-the-knee skirts, out there like desperately. 

Images Courtesy: Vogue.com

With this African Safari I just want to share a beautiful African Proverb, which I came across in my Operations Management text (I hate the subject, but quotes like these, I really preserve):
Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.
It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.
Every morning a lion wakes up.
It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.
It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle.
When the sun comes up, you better start running.

When Red is the color of the season...

It is hard to deny in this day and age, that almost everyone awaits for the V-day and paints the town red with great passion and affection for their beloved. Romantic dinners, cards, chocolates, red roses, gift boxes wrapped in red satin and hearts, is all what every lover expects to receive from their partners on the very day of 14th February. Spending time with your special someone on this day to instigate that romance requires every girl to dress in a special way and glow out there. Well I am thinking about going all red. Of course, it will be flashy and vibrant but then for seasons we have been mixing and matching colors, so this time why not go for a back to basics look decking up top to bottom in the color of love, red. I encourage all the fashion savvy damsels out there to don one of the following looks.

Prada paillettes scale clutch, Kotur clutch, Marchesa clutch,
The Pari - Baldass ring 

spring 2012 Arfango, spring 2012 Reece Hudson, spring 2012 Roger Vivier,
spring 2012 Oscar de la Renta

pre-fall 2012 Zac Posen, spring 2012 ready-to-wear Oscar de la Renta,
spring 2012 couture Christian Dior

spring 2012 ready-to-wear Andrew Gn, spring 2012 couture Jean Paul Gaultier,
spring 2012 ready-to-wear Antonio Marras, chanel-pre-fall-2012 

spring 2012 ready-to-wear Antonio Berardi, ElieSaab Red Dress Resort,
spring 2012 ready-to-wear Valentino, spring 2012 ready-to-wear Zac Posen

spring 2012 ready-to-wear Badgley Mischka, spring 2012 ready-to-wear Christian Dior,
spring 2012 ready-to-wear Miu Miu, spring 2012 ready-to-wear Emanuel Ungaro 

spring 2012 Burak Uyan, spring 2012 Nicholas Kirkwood, spring 2012 Alejandro Ingelmo,
Charlotte Olampia, zara tufted platform court

Every year I celebrate this day not just as the V-day, but also because my Mom & Dad celebrate their wedding anniversary on this day. Certainly, its the most cherishing day of the year for me, I wish you Mom & Dad, a very Happy Wedding Anniversary, love you both so much.
I also wish every one and especially my dearest a very Happy Valentine's Day. You'll be missed excessively.

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."