The Year That Was

Vogue Italia celebrated their 25th year with their 'Revolution" covers for the July issue

Another year over, and another wave of changes in the fast-paced fashion industry! A year in fashion encompasses many changes that reflect the evolving zeitgeist of society and the business's rapidity, spanning from music, art, film and of course, events. 2013 brought about comebacks from pop culture's fashionable icons, with Lady Gaga channeling a more demure self and bringing her little monsters back to the forefront with her album, ARTPOP, and Beyoncé collaborating with some of fashion's finest for her surprise visual music album, the first of its kind.

Lady Gaga brings a new era to her musical career - ARTPOP

Beyoncé gives us a taste of the future of music albums

Significant milestones in fashion journalism were celebrated this year, including the 25th Anniversary of Vogue Italia, marked by designers such as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace curating the special edition July covers of the magazine, and the 15th Anniversary of Russian Vogue, with influential fashion editors giving their congratulations to the magazine and wishing Editor-in-Chief Victoria Davydova the best. A whole new array of new titles have also been welcomed - Vogue Ukraine, 10 Men Australia, 10 Australia and Elle Australia all releasing their first issues this year.

The first issue of Vogue Ukraine, released in March

10 Men and 10 Magazine's Australian editions were launched during the Spring/Summer season

The fashion industry is notorious for its extravagant events, particularly those during Fashion Week, and besides the fact that it was my first Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia as official media/press, a few stood out in the worldwide fashion scene. The revolutionary Paris Fashion Week show of Rick Owens Spring/Summer 2014 collection broke the norm, using "plus-size" models, or rather dancers, to show off his androgynous designs down the runway, bringing him critical acclaim. The Met Ball for the respective annual fashion exhibition, this year based on the Punk movement - Punk: Chaos to Couture attracted the public eye's attention, especially the bold fashion choices of a few celebrities who attended the event. Finally, the opening of Prada: A New Place for Stories, a literary space in New York City where the designer label's short story competition winners were awarded and where their works will be available for viewing. 

A shot of Vanishing Elephant's Spring/Summer 2013 collection, shot by myself at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia

Anne Hathaway and Valentino Garavani at The Met Ball

Rick Owens' Spring/Summer 2014 collection, modelled by step-dancers in Paris

The fashion film of the year brought about a new perspective of costume design, with the release of Baz Luhrmann's 3D remake of The Great Gatsby. Some of the hype that surrounded the film was created by the news of Prada, Tiffany & Co. and Brooks Brothers contributing costume designs, all presenting a modern interpretation of the greedy and roaring '20s. 

Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan in a promotional editorial for The Great Gatsby in Vogue Australia

Prada's costume designs for The Great Gatsby

The Gatsby Collection by Brook's Brothers

On a final note, some of the world's well-known clothing labels experienced shifts in direction, with Alexander Wang presenting his debut collection for Balenciaga, due to Nicolas Ghesquiére's departure from the historical label, who swiftly came back into the fashion scene this year with his appointment as Creative Director of Louis Vuitton after the shock announcement of Marc Jacobs's retirement from the label at Paris Fashion Week. Notable designers who have also left include Ann Demeulemeester and Jil Sander, both leaving their namesake labels. Unfortunately this year, we also had to say goodbye to the labels Nicole Farhi, Farrell and even Ksubi, all filing for bankruptcy.

Alexander Wang's first collection for Balenciaga proved to be a hit, this crackle jumper being the key piece

Marc Jacobs at his final show for Louis Vuitton

2014 is now here and the cycle of change is already happening... who knows what will change this year! Happy New Year readers!

Jil Sander at her final show of her namesake label

Images courtesy of Swide.com, Lady Gaga, Pierre Debusschere, Cacolyte, Fashion Bomb Daily, Highsnobiety, Design Scene, Esquire, DIY Fashion, Ellies Blog, Vogue Australia and Say I Love Mary

H&M loves Australia

Karl Lagerfeld x H&M

Versace x H&M

The excitement within the local fashion-conscious community is rising as the first ever Australian H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) store is set to open in 2014. The fast fashion label, known for providing the mass accessibility to the luxurious fashion designs of Karl Lagerfeld, Lanvin, Marni, Versace, Maison Martin Margiela and more recently, Isabel Marant, have a little surprise for keen Australian fashionistas...

Maison Martin Margiela x H&M

News has hit that the multinational Swedish label will release a specially designed collection for Australian customers, aptly named "Australia Exclusive". The collection, according to the press release, has been designed to suit the outdoorsy lifestyle of Australians. The pieces will only be available at the Melbourne flagship store, meaning Melbournians will be in for a fashion riot worth seeing, if of course they aren't there amongst the chaos.

Isabel Marant x H&M

The Australian H&M Flagship store will open in 2014, with menswear, womenswear, underwear and home wares available throughout.

Images courtesy of H&M

Vogue Italia's 25th Anniversary

The Prada cover

The Giorgio Armani cover

Famed fashion magazine, Vogue, has come a long way since it's beginnings in 1892, and has expanded to editions that cater to the different tastes of women worldwide. Vogue Italia has become distinguishable due to the open-minded and realistic focus on social issues such as the unethical motivations behind war and plastic surgery and the featuring of plus size models within the issue, which has all been thanks to the ever-creative Editior-in-Chief Franca Sozzani.

The Dolce & Gabbana cover

To celebrate her 25th year as head of the magazine, six designers have produced individual fold-out covers, which are no doubt a collector's item for those who praise the magazine. Photographed by famous fashion photographer, Steven Miesel, the covers feature some of fashion's favourite faces, the models Gisele Bundchen and Linda Evangelista, in the latest fashions by global Italian luxe labels (detailed on the photographs). Each cover reflects the unique ethos of each label and designer, in turn highlighting the talents of all the creative forces which have contributed to the celebration of Ms. Sozzani's leadership.

For the complete gallery of covers, CLICK HERE

Images courtesy of Styleite and Vogue Italia

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The First Screen Test

A collaboration between the punk Versace diffusion line, Versus, and renowned British fashion designer, J.W. Anderson, has been tightly wrapped for a while now. The diffusion line has been inactive for a quite a long time, and it's been interesting to think such an eccentric label such as Versus by Versace would be revived by a strictly minimal designer. But at last, the first "screen test" has been released, giving us a preview of the clothes in the collab collection and a look at the models who are going to be the faces of the collection. 

Just from the preview, hints of Donatella's influence over the design of the clothing is already noticed - the wild, hypnotic black & white print being the standout so far. The rawness of this Andy Warhol x Calvin Klein Jeans style ad is the type of advertising that is missing in the fashion industry nowadays. This type of ad allows us to relate to the people who are representing the collection and look at the clothes - without all the flash and extravagance. Here, take a look for yourself:

THE COLLECTION AND WEBSITE IS DUE FOR RELEASE ON THE 15.05.13
http://www.versusversace.com/

For a closer look at the collection, CLICK HERE
Images and videos courtesy of Models.com and Dazed Digital

Milan Mens Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013, Day 1

The Spring/Summer fashion madness continues on from London Collections:Men at Milan Men's Fashion Week!

The fashion industry's best bloggers, editors, stylists, photographers, buyers and the like gathered to have a gaze into what designers think will hit big in the upcoming Spring/Summer season!

Day 1 of Milan Men's Fashion Week featured shows from Dolce & Gabbana, the Queen of Minimalism Jil Sander (who came back to the label since Raf Simons' departure), Les Hommes, John Varvatos, Neil Barrett and Costume National.

My favourite collections from the day were Versace, Corneliani and Burberry Prorsum.

First of all, I was invited by the esteemed label, Zegna, to watch the live stream of the fashion show for their Ermenegildo Zegna collection. Here are a few of the shots I took during the live stream:


Ermenegildo Zegna SS13

All images taken via Zegna.com


Ermenegildo Zegna's collection epitomizes the modern gentlemen - with a mix of classic printed statement shirting and pants and futuristic detailing (the mesh windbreakers, stiff silhouette leather jackets and scientist-like sunglasses). The colours are vivid yet not outrageous, bringing out the beauty of the garments and the striking affect of monochromatic outfits. The intimate show space gave both the live audience and us fashion bloggers who viewed the collection online, a closer look at the garments, which is sometimes not granted when attending a fashion show. 


Watch the show on Zegna.com


Versace SS13

It seems as though Donatella has now brought back Gianni's vision with the label, with this season's collections featuring a Gladiatorial theme, and maybe even a bit of 80s new wave and hip hop. The first thing that captured my attention was the fact that the models are muscular, which is further becoming a rarity in the men's fashion world, and it is good to see that Versace has opted for strong, masculine models for the runway. The abundance of metallic, shoulder pads, sneakers and monochromatic outfits symbolized how well and truly '80s statement fashion is making a comeback. 


Watch the show HERE


Burberry Prorsum SS13

Burberry Prorsum's Spring/Summer 2013 collection may be the label's most bold in recent times, with the collection affirming the fact that metallic may be continuing in Spring/Summer in 2013 from Fall/Winter 2012 as a major trend. The shimmery metallic pieces are muted down with the neutrals, creating an array of outrageously wearable ensembles. If you also notice, socks with sandals are prominent throughout the collection. Even though the socks/sandals combination is usually frowned upon, Burberry Prorsum knows how to pair them well as part of the look.


Watch the show HERE

Corneliani SS13

Of course, the day is not complete without a show full of refreshing white and greys and minimalist design. Corneliani brought a breath of fresh air amongst the beautifully bold, presenting sheer sweaters, panelled jumpers, and textural suits. The pieces are individually highlighted in each look, with the monochromatic theme flowing throughout, and only with the slightest colour change.


Watch the full show HERE


All images courtesy of GQ and Vogue