John Galliano Catwalk Fashion Show Paris SS2011

Attending the John Galliano show this Sunday felt like going to a theater. Once again the designer used every opportunity to wow us. First of all a beautifully led golden backdrop, but also hats, wigs, eccentric make-up and large painting frames. Not to mention the models who were each playing their own individual character during the show. There’s was so much going on, we’d almost forget we were supposed to look at the designs.

And they deserved some attention too. John Galliano combined thick leather coats with delicate sheer nude skirts and dresses. In fact there were a lot of jackets, most of them worn with a clashing scarf tied around it.

Colorful designs had butterflies and flower prints on them. A model carrying a wooden umbrella seemed to stress the eastern twist of some of these looks.

The color palette changed from nudes to pink, blue, turquoise and red. The finale was a parade of floor-sweeping ivory gowns. Every single one looked perfectly handcrafted and had some very nice silver embroideries on it.

It was a spectacular show with a very pleasant vibe. Yet maybe the fashion part got a little overshadowed by the whole theater Galliano had set up. Nevertheless, we enjoyed it.

Backdrop of Viktor & Rolf made by fashion illustrator Piet Paris

For the spring/summer fashion show of Viktor & Rolf fashion illustrator Piet Paris created a wonderful backdrop. The colorful and fashionable illustration looked fantastic and everyone really seemed to love it.

Viktor & Rolf approached Piet Paris, who was their teacher in art school before, for this project, because they love his work. They gave him a short briefing and let Piet Paris fill in the rest of the picture.

So far Piet Paris has worked for big international clients like Vogue, Harpers Bazar, W Magazine and Saks Fifth Avenue. And we think it’s absolutely great that he and Viktor & Rolf worked together on this. It once again proves how much talent we have in the Netherlands.

On 14 October Piet Paris will launch his own book, which will cover his best illustrations from the past twenty years. On that same day he will present a stamp he designed. Backstage at Viktor & Rolf Piet Paris said: ‘I started this year by designing my own small stamp and it’s funny that it seems like it ends with an enormous backdrop of 18 by 6 meters.’

Jean Paul Gaultier Catwalk Fashion Show Paris SS2011

The summer collection of Jean Paul Gaultier wasn’t the best we’ve seen so far, yet it was clear JPG himself had a great time working on it. Like at his last menswear fashion show he designed several 3D items which the audience could watch through their 3D glasses.

And if you think 3D-fashion is strange; the rest of the collection was just as crazy. Singer of the band Gossip, the curvaceous Beth Ditto, opened the show. But she wasn’t the only ‘fuller model’. JPG hired several other plus-size models for his show. Although you can hardly call Crystal Renn that nowadays.

The girls all had wigs on, the kind that reminded us of David Bowie’s hair back in the late sixties. Their hairdos in a way matched the tough leather jackets, lace up boots, sheer lace, denim suits, printed tights and leather shorts.

Red patent leather formed quite a contrast with the softer leaf and floral prints, but so did the red & white and blue & white stripes JPG never misses in his collections.

Another trademark you’ll always see in his shows: his famous cone bra corsets, which were just as pointy as the shoulders on some of the jackets.

Beth Ditto’s closing performance made the show unforgettably entertaining, yet we were not fully convinced by JPG’s new summer wardrobe.

Comme des Garçons Catwalk Fashion Show Paris SS2011

For spring/summer Rei Kawakubo decided to turn her clothes upside down. Quite unexpected, yet it turned out alright. The models wore many different jackets at once, which according to Kawakubo had everything to do with the multiple personalities theme of the show.

Jackets and coats in black, grey and white were the key items of the show. Kawakubo used lots of black leather and added corset-details, hair nets and multiple belts to her looks.

Some models carried so many clothes at least three models could be dressed in them. And at the end of the show pairs of models were dressed in clothes which actcually left room for a third person in the middle. It all was part of Kawakubo’s multiple personality-inspiration.

A daring collection, but that’s probably what makes Comme des Garçons such so successful.

Moschino Cheap and Chic Catwalk Fashion Show Milan SS2011

The Moschino Cheap and Chic fashion show was different than we expected. There were no seats so people were standing in front of the runway. Also there was loud music and pizza and prosecco was being served. So it felt more like being at a concert or a party than attending a fashion show.

But it set the right mood. We saw Anna dello Russo dancing like crazy and everyone else was enjoying themselves too. And as soon as the models appeared the crowd was smiling even more.

The joyful collection was an explosion of prints and color. Some outfits had more than six different bright colored prints on them. But still Rosella Jardini managed to avoid a clown-y look.

There were summer dresses, blouses and over the knee skirts. Airy silk skirts were matched with knitted sweaters and waist belts. Colors like turquoise, coral, lilac and orange were combined.

A T-shirt with a piece sign on it which read ‘Piece & Irony’ was worn with a pair of salmon pink pants. And a gorgeous lemon print could be seen on a skirt, a blouse and a sexy asymmetrical dress.

Bright red lips, colorul headbands, flower corsages, check-printed shoes and eye-catching necklaces brought even more joy to the collection. The blowing kisses-thing the models did was maybe a bit too much, but we sure had a fun night.

Versace Catwalk Fashion Show Milan SS2011

It was clear Donatella Versace wasn’t into the seventies theme for her spring collection. Unlike at other big shows this week, at Versace there was not an airy, long, loose dress in sight. In stead Donatella opted for body-tight designs and stayed very true to the key aspects of the Versace brand.

The models looked fierce in their tight-fitting pencil skirts and dresses which stood out because of their multiple cutouts in so many places. Shades of blue, red, white and black were used for the looks and were even combined in several graphic prints.

Big pockets and large buttons were placed on a few skirts and jackets. They didn’t look very flattering. Yet towards the end the designs became more gracefull as goddess gowns with tight bodies and loose fringes at the bottom concluded the show.

Streetfashion Milan Womenswear SS2011 Day 2

What are you wearing during the coming fashionweeks? Your Louboutin-heels, your latest Dries van Noten-jacket or that vintage Prada? Maybe we’ll spot you in Paris, Milan, New York or Amsterdam. During the fashionweeks we refresh our streetwear posts regularly. We don’t judge, we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy fashion and your own personal style. Next stop: Milan Fashion Week.

D&G Catwalk Fashion Show Milan SS2011

The D&G invite appeared to be a big hint on the theme for the actual fashion show. It had a colorful floral print and a little envelope with actual (floral) seeds in it. So when we arrived at D&G the whole show area was filled with the most beautiful flowers. It was as if we had ended up in a fairytale, but in fact it was D&G’s spectacular Garden Party.

Hurts’ Wonderful life came out of the speakers as the models came on to the runway. The fact that they wore floral prints too came as no surprise, in fact the floral prints were the main aspect of the collection.

There were floral prints in every variation you could think of. They came by on tops, floor-sweeping dresses, jumpsuits, overalls and shorts, alternated by red and white picnic cloth checks and some images of Disney’s Snow White.

Several lace outfits popped up too, as well as some patent red leather. Shoes with flowers around the ankles and headscarves, gardening gloves and tools completed the fresh-looking summer collection.

And just when we though it was over Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce sent all their models out on the runway wearing ultra-feminine, long, airy, floral printed, seventies dresses, each with a different print and color. A perfect bohemian-chic ending of a great garden party full of romantic, yet playful designs.

Fendi Catwalk Fashion Show Milan SS2011

Last season was all about the fifties and sixties and their feminine Mad Men-inspired looks. Now, just one season later, Fashion Week is all about the seventies. It started last week in New York with Marc Jacobs and Anna Sui and this week the seventies were all over the place at Gucci and Fendi.

The two Italian fashion houses not only promoted the style from the same period, they also showed their designs in the same color palette, existing of turquoise, orange, purple and blue.

Harem pants and tops with puffy sleeves were combined with bright waist belts. When Karl Lagerfeld added 3-tone belts, shoes and bags the color blocking theme was complete.

Still there were some graphic prints too and some of the first outfits were white dresses with a remarkable burning passion cut flame print. Just like we saw at Alberta Ferretti the Fendi show had asymmetrical dresses (with just one sleeve) in it as well. We didn’t necessarily love them immediately, yet by the time it’s summer again we certainly will.

Overall the collection looked glamorous and, apart from the high heels, very wearable. We got a feeling fashion is going to be so relaxed next year.

Streetfashion Milan Womenswear SS2011 Day 1

What are you wearing during the coming fashionweeks? Your Louboutin-heels, your latest Dries van Noten-jacket or that vintage Prada? Maybe we’ll spot you in Paris, Milan, New York or Amsterdam. During the fashionweeks we refresh our streetwear posts regularly. We don’t judge, we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy fashion and your own personal style. Next stop: Milan Fashion Week.

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