My resolution for next year is to be a bit braver with colour and print. I used to love layering busy Kenzo-type prints but over the years I’ve got lazier and more classic in what I wear. This year, fashion has truly been ‘Bubbled’, with Susie Bubble‘s clashy colour-meets-print-meets-texture influence reaching far and wide and well into 2012. (more…)
Rather handily, the H&M press day had a couple of rails neatly arrayed with the Versace X H&M collection. I managed to inspect right up close with the Lumix and guess what? Some of the pieces aren’t half bad. I tend to sidestep high street clothes as I don’t really do fast fashion – I like things to last. So my high street shopping is mostly limited to Cos, American Apparel, Topshop, Whistles …and that’s about it. But there were some pretty good quality pieces on the Versace for H&M rail that I admit I didn’t expect to find for the price…
This leather studded dress is definitely worth £179.99 as the leather is super-soft and the seams properly aligned (the PR assured me this wasn’t just a lone perfect sample)
I was also mighty impressed with the studded biker jacket – at £179.99 it’s a great cut, the leather feels and looks luxe and it’s not too much of a one-season wonder
The other pieces that caught my eye for their better-than-expected quality…
Cropped bomber jacket
Men’s crocodile print jeans *paging Henry Holland*
Love the classic cut of this knit top – very Anna Wintour en vacances, no?
I think we all agree that a wardrobe of these suit carriers would be worth queuing for…
The collection goes on sale on Thursday and the rules for shopping are here. What will you be buying?
According to PR director Lauren Stevenson, the My-Wardrobe buyers have worked very hard to make sure 95% of the buy is under the £350 mark and 75% of the buy is under £250. Which is great news if you want ‘everyday luxury’ (the My-wardrobe tagline) at accessible prices. The key SS12 labels for me are Smythson (the stationery has been understandably popular so for SS12 there are bags as well), Carven (who doesn’t love Guillaume Henry’s couture-lite aesthetic?), APC (a new name for SS12), Joseph (on a roll), DVF, Anya Hindmarch and Sophie Hulme.
I had a good nose at My-Wardrobe’s SS12 highlights at their press day, where I also discovered Hermione de Paula, an ex Alexander McQueen print designer whose surreal prints in easy shapes are causing a bit of a stir.
Smythson
Printed denim by Current Elliot and J Brand’s Maverick jean – a skinny cargo pant that My-Wardrobe predicts to be a sell out
Bionda Castana shoes … the new Manolo?
Star Mela’s global-craft bags – I expect these crafty totes will be everywhere by May in some guise or other
D & G floral blouse – print on print whether matched or mismatched is summer’s mega-trend
Preen’s ‘couture tee’. “The couture tee is a trend for all our customers to get into,” says Eleanor Robinson, womenswear designer buying manager. “It’s ageless, flatters most body shapes, and fits into the wardrobe easily”
Scarf prints – no explanation needed
Sophie Hulme’s embroidered bag – more global-craft influence
Anya Hindmarch’s city-to-beach colour-block bags and Comme Des Garcons’ playful pochettes
I also love DVF’s neutral bag with a flash of pink that can be zipped according to whether you want to show it or hide it
Eres is taking a tip (pun intended) from Chanel by piggy-backing on the huge trend for directional nail polish. From next March, the luxury swimwear brand will launch a limited range of three shades (yellow, pink, brown) to clash or match with its bikinis.
Matching colour cosmetics to your outfit is quite the thing at the moment (hello My-Wardrobe) and quite frankly if there’s one place this idea works perfectly, it’s got to be the beach. Clever thinking Eres, I wonder who will follow suit?
UPDATE: More Eres news, the brand has just opened its first London standalone store in (where else?) upscale Knightsbridge. Head to 24 Motcomb Street, SW1 for the best bikinis in the biz.
