The Armani Handbag

Being an avid fan of the Armani house, mostly due to my mother's love of the Italian fashion house, having the chance to witness the careful construction and craftsmanship behind a beautiful Giorgio Armani handbag just further propelled my fanaticism. Watch the video as the artisans show off their skills in the various steps in the creation of a luxury handbag. But wait, there is more, to watch the handbag's completion, CLICK HERE.
Video courtesy of the official Armani Youtube channel
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The Best of Milan Men's Fashion Week S/S14

The collections presented at Milan this year seem to have reflected the designer's limited ability to deliver striking pieces, but maybe this is partly due to a change in the overall ethos of men's fashion. The extravagance has been toned down, with designers showing much simpler designs, focused on the rise of digitization and cleanliness of men's fashion. Of all the designers and labels who showed, besides Emporio Armani and Ermenegildo Zegna (reviewed in previous posts), notable Spring/Summer 2014 collections included Corneliani, Neil Barrett, Bottega Veneta, Iceberg, Fendi and Z Zegna.

Corneliani

Simplicity is the key theme of Corneliani's Spring/Summer 2014 collection, but it certainly isn't shallow. Although the crispness of simplicity is commendable, the attention to detail is what makes the collection a stand out. Creased collars, asymmetrical closings of coats and gradient circular tessellated print are plentiful in the collection, and are not necessarily easy to be seen, hence one's questionable first impressions of the collection are undoubtedly made false. A refreshing colour palette of white, nudes, navy blue and hints of teal emphasize the discreet details.

Neil Barrett

It's a risky venture for a designer to re-appropriate a classic pattern for the sake of revival, but Neil Barrett has done so without creating a tacky feel to the pattern. Checks came back into the forefront of fashion with the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2013 collection, but no menswear designer has effectively reflected that successful comeback since Marc Jacobs. The dissection of the checkerboard has appeared as an interesting motif throughout the collection, overshadowing the other details including curvaceous panelling, ribbed neoprene shirts, zipper pockets and texturised stripes. Imbalance is present, but execution of modernising the pattern is successful.

Bottega Veneta

As an avid fan of Bottega Veneta, it was no surprise that I would feature their new collection in my review of Milan Men's Fashion Week. Their signature aesthetic is apparent, with the calming colours of concrete, navy blue, sharp black and earthen browns and reds heightening the sombre diamond and iron grate patterns and embroidered stitching that flow throughout the collection. To many who are unaware of this illustrious label, the collection may seem tame and boring, but one must look further the craftsmanship of the pieces to appreciate its bespoke wonderment. 

Iceberg

Integrating artworks into fashion is another difficult endeavour taken on by fashion designers worldwide, and sometimes turn out catastrophic to both the credibility of the designer and the dignity of the artist. I cannot say this is the case for Iceberg, their careful selection of abstract artistic patterns easing into the structural, yet relaxed, look of the pieces within the collection. Panels of white and pops of orange are vivid, but no other detail within the collection stands against the artworks on the sweaters. 

Fendi

The desert stormed through Milan and is set to next season with Fendi's latest offering for the hotter months, just as they intended it to. The sand-covered runway fit perfectly with the Saharan-Mediterranean theme, making obvious the connection between the clothing and the ethos of the collection. Lightweight fabrics such as silken shirts, amassed with dusty and earthy prints, and wide-necked Sicilian shirts juxtaposed against the heavy leathers and out-of-context oxfords bring a modernity to the Ancient connotations of the collection. The fusion of past and future are clear with the structured feel of the garments and the colour palette reflecting the colours adorned by Desert Kings.

Z Zegna

The classic Zegna aesthetic has been glorified once again with a Spring/Summer collection from Paul Surridge. The enclosed, futuristic space in which the collection was presented contrast to the seemingly relaxed feel and look of most pieces within the collection, particularly shirting and bottoms, which loosely fit on the body without  blatantly hiding one's shape. A contemporary take on the honeycomb pattern is motif within the collection, with quilted jackets and leather jackets donning the pattern via embossing. In addition to this, a retake of the kaftan shirt, patterned trousers and kimono shirts deepen the relaxing vibe of the collection.

Images courtesy of Fashionising

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It's All Smiles at Emporio Armani

Armani is undoubtedly the leader in setting trends focused on the post-modern appropriation of the Bauhaus minimalist aesthetic. The Spring/Summer 2014 collection marks a stray away from the soft silks and harmonious colours seen in the previous collection, and more towards a hard-edged, tougher visual aura. The colour palette ranges from the sharpest of blacks to the eye-blinding silky white, with harder pops of colour scattered throughout.

The colour palette sounds harsh on the eye, but when used on wide-collar jackets, oversized windbreakers, heavy keep alls and silken shirts and trousers, the toughness breaks and creates an approachable collection that is easy to be worn, if one is daring. Even with the dominance of these pieces, the narrow fit of the trousers and body hugging tightness of the shirts bring a minor element of femininity, completely relevant to the fashion-conscious man of today.

This season, Armani assures you that coloured lenses are back in, with key pieces being acetate oversized sunglasses, shimmery leather jackets and bright silks, there is a contrast within the collection that many may ignore, reject or accept. For me, Armani should always remember his deceivingly masterful designs, without straying too far from his minimal roots. On a final note, Armani has also brought a much needed accessory to the runway once again - the smile. Always smile, it's your best accessory... as cliché as it sounds.

Images courtesy of Emporio Armani

Milan Men's Fashion Week, Day 4

The final day of Milan Men's Fashion Week offered shows from DSquared2, Jet Set, Diesel Black Gold, Roccobarocco and Enrico Coveri. My favourite show/collection from the last day was Giorgio Armani.

Giorgio Armani Autumn/Winter 2013

Giorgio Armani's latest collection is my favourite minimalist menswear collection, as far as what has been shown. Giorgio Armani has managed to design a collection that embodies Armani's signature style and the future of menswear. Thick patterned knits, geometric cotton sweaters, mink panelled varsity jackets, quilted jackets and soft robe jackets and velvet trousers fill the collection, in a sophisticated colour palette of ash grey, wine red, polished black and navy blue. The collection is bold yet simple, with hints of eccentricity and uniformity flowing throughout the pieces and looks.

View the collection HERE

Watch the fashion show HERE

Images courtesy of Armani LIVE

Vogue Fashion's Night Out Sydney 2012

The Vogue Precinct, where ASOS, Kora and live performances by dancers, DJs and Sarah De Bono took place

Every year for the past 2 years, Conde Nast Publications hosts Vogue Fashion's Night Out, a night of fashion, shopping and entertainment started by none other than the infamous Vogue USA Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour. The event takes place worldwide around the same date in the month of fashion, September, in cities such as Sydney, Paris, Milan, London, Seoul, Moscow, New York and Athens.

This year, I joined my friends Gabe Perez - stylist and blogger at FREEDOM GABRIEL and Julia Jerving - Marketing Manager for Ikon Model Management to frolic around Sydney, meeting other close colleagues, celebrities and of course, snapping up some freebies along the way to celebrate fashion!

Myself at the Gucci media wall

My dear friend and model from Chadwick Models, Rosie Morris

Gabe Perez and I at the Oroton party

Entertainment at the Vogue Precinct on Martin Place

The ASOS Pop-Up, where one could a bag of goodies including the latest issue of ASOS magazine for free!

Dancers going at it at the Vogue Precinct

Tiffany & Co. decided to illuminate their entrance with a vibrant shade of pink rather than Tiffany Blue

An old fashioned lemonade stand in front of Tiffany & Co.

Lemonade and Grenadine in Tiffany & Co. branded cups!

Yes, I did keep the cup :)

Under the Vogue Precinct lamp post, and yes I am standing in a crate, I'm that short!

At The Burberry Party, where one could win a free classic Burberry Trench Coat!

My friend Kenny Nguyen, who works at Burberry as a Marketing Assistant, and I

Gabe and Kenny chatting about all things fashion

The window installations by Yayoi Kusama for Louis Vuitton can now be seen in store!

Yayoi Kusama x Louis Vuitton

Fuzzy from Video Hits at the Armani Exchange party!

Ralph Lauren's Pink Pony project, an initiative to support women who have suffered and are suffering from Breast Cancer

Saxony's video installation, showing their latest runway show to passers by

CLUB HERMES HERE WE COME!

Julia and I at the Hermes Party - "Club Hermes"

All things Gucci for people to try on for the media wall

Julia getting a Christian Louboutin tattoo at the Louboutin party

Christian Louboutin's signature tattoo on Julia

Julia and I at the Hunk Station

One of the hunks stole my glasses, hence my look of non approval haha

Fuzzy instagrammed her picture of Gabe and I with her!

Gabe Perez and I at the Armani Exchange media wall

Unfortunately, we did miss a few good events on the night such as the David Jones Spring/Summer runway show, where my friend, Romika Ranu was working and performances by singers like Jessica Mauboy, but there is no doubt that this was the best Vogue Fashion's Night Out I've been to, so please if your city hosts Vogue Fashion's Night Out, make your way to next year's event to see the wonderful things happening, who knows, you may win free clothes, meet celebrities and meet fashion media like I did! 

All images are mine, Armani Exchange photo courtesy of Armani Exchange