Here come the MEN!

With Milan and Paris menswear fashion weeks over now, it's time to reflect I think. I've had a browse through some of the images from the shows, unfortunately I wasn't there, and it looks like a good summer next year for us gents! Having said that, it's been the most unassuming and surprising designers that have caught my eye for next season. It's rather refreshing not having to talk about, dare I say it, my favourite, Westwood or the usual Margiela or Rick Owens. I know, it scares me too!

Obviously I still love Westwood, she'll always be a part of my wardrobe, but I do feel like I've seen the same stuff for many a season now (OMG, can't believe I just typed that - BREATH) and if you ask me, I'm not all that impressed with Sarah Burton's first stand alone McQueen collection (don't hate me). I think she had to be careful for certain reasons, but really studying the outfits, I'm not sure I'd want to buy any of it. I did have a chat with my fashionable friend Sophie and she did point out that the way the jackets are fastened is a lovely detail, and I agree. If you're talking detail, McQueen is always up there. It just looked a bit... grey to me.



Back to the good stuff. To pick apart men's shows by trend is seemingly a bit harder than the women's shows and let's face it, a lot of men don't actually 'do' trends. They just do 'that looks alright with that'. But, to go back to trends for just a minute, I have seen lots of lovely greens and blues on the catwalks, especially mint green, which is now my favourite colour - fickle I know! Also, the best news/trend of all... HARDLY ANY SKINNY TROUSERS! Loving all the wide leg and baggier shapes. It's all about cruise-wear now. I'm SO happy.

D&G surprised me. I don't like tennis particularly, ball games are progressively getting more boring for me, but their Wimbledon-ready collection put a smile on my face! The greens, dusty pink and blues really bought the collection to life. Every box was ticked for me!







Paul Smith was another shocker! Ordinarily I'd associate PS with classic tailoring and a ditsy floral print thrown in. Next season it's all about the rock star for the super brand. Lots of boots, (unfortunately) skinny shaped trousers, graphic tees, bold prints, pussy bows and just lovely relaxed, versatile pieces. Never thought I'd say that! Love to be surprised.







Loved the colours at Calvin Klein, again more gorgeous greens and multi-hued blues:



And these GORGEOUS desert-ready, super relaxed suits from Bottega Veneta, complete (obviously not the price tags) with bags too. I admire these whole ready-to-wear outfits in one look. Yum.





I was really impressed by the very Western collection that Junya Watanabe sent down the catwalk - he obviously loves a bit of boating! I often yawn at nautical collections, but this caught my eye. Some of the coloured stripes were really interesting and the summer duffles will be widely coveted I'm sure. My only criticism (sorry to be negative) - why all the HORIZONTAL stripes?? I can only do vertical, it's more slimming!





And the biggest, fattest, hugest question mark for the season? Givenchy's head to toe leopard print mess, I mean look... is it one Joan Collins/Bette Lynch step too far?? You decide!

Milan Lovliness

I suppose a designer has done a good job at showing their new collection when people are praising it, after all measuring by sales is not possible for the catwalk pieces of Spring Summer 2011 yet. They must, in fact correction... their people must scout websites and magazines for positive press, crossing their fingers that the big wigs liked what they saw.

And now, in an age of 'online-means-everything', it must be quite important for them when online writers and bloggers alike are nodding ferociously at their new garms. Well, I can honestly say that I feel like the nodding dog on those Churchill TV ads times 100 after perusing Salvatore Ferragamo's new range.

Rich lovely tones of creams, beiges and caramels mixed with some navy and grey made this collection one of the standouts of the new season for me so far. For a label I've never actually bought into, it's really quite bizarre how much I love everything for 2011 and how much I can actually see me wearing it all - and I don't even do cream or white usually!

Back to the clothes. Gone are the days of the skinny shape trouser, Ferragamo has spoken. The new shape is South of France floaty chic, and thank God for that. Taking inspiration from that region, all the clothes spoke loud and clear of sun, sexiness and glamour. Tailored but not sculpting, smart yet with a sense of casual, the Italian fashion house has made it easy for the mere mortal to mix and match trousers with jackets and light summer knits for next year. And, as if they can't do any more right, they've bought my beloved horizontal stripes back!

I applaud you. And I also want everything. Thanks!

D-lightful

The Canadian twins have spoken loud and clear. It's all about Vamp chic next season.

Showing this morning in Milan, D Squared presented a collection full to the brim with black and red pieces, leather, feathers and fur. Opening with a coat equipped with the biggest fur trim collar and middle I've seen for a while and a flash of red knickers, I knew we were in for a treat.

Leather is the fabric de jour for Dean and Dan; be it in the many pairs of gloves used during the show, a belt, a corsage, a shoe strap, sleeves on a coat or even head-to-toe - black, red, and tan. All the models sported pillar-box red Dita Von Teese style lips and a pushed back hair do taking nothing away from the clothes and adding an extra sexy touch to the already on fire collection.

There was also some FAB structure and amaze tailoring thrown in - belted waists, a leather jacket that flared slightly at the hips, a one-armed blazer and pencil skirt suits which skimmed and hugged in all the right places.

The show came to a close with five gorgeous dresses which screamed of Victoria Beckham slinky-ness yet kept hold of the D Sqaured signature (slightly rocked up) style; a slit-to-the-thigh and red feathered gown and the high neck/long sleeve to the floor option caught me eye.

I could go on forever talking about it, but best let you see for yourself. Needless to say, it was Very gorgeous!