Backstage at Roberto Cavalli Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2011

We were able to go backstage at Roberto Cavalli and watch the hair- and make-up team transforming the models in Cavalli-beauties. We actually spotted a new way of killing time at the models: reading thick novels. Our fashion-booklist will follow soon!

Streetfashion Milan Womenswear FW2011 Day 4

What are you wearing during the coming fashionweeks? Your Prada-shoes, your latest Jil Sander-dress or that vintage Yves St. Laurent? 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.

Roberto Cavalli Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2011

It was a typical Roberto Cavalli-show, full of boho-chic in muddy colors, faded animalprints and thin layers.
Cavalli took last season’s hippie babe and pushed her forward a decade for a futuristic Eighties/baroque mash-up. There were some tribal elements (feathers, prints) and the models hungrily stalked the catwalk like they were recovering from an all-night rager. Also present were strong-shouldered jackets over pants and short drop-waist dresses.  They were over-embellished and rendered in a myriad of ways: spliced, sliced, fringed, feathered and beaded, in a palette of gold, bronze, blacks and blood red.  Cavalli explored a different sort of decadence by night with gowns skewing from gothic to ethereal.

Emporio Armani Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2011

As always Giorgio Armani is choosing his own direction when it comes to fashiontrends. For him no fancy colors, no Mod-style, no dressing up at his Emporio Armani-collection. Instead he plays his well-know play with fabrics, textures, black and white. He got inspired by a film noir, where beauty is concealed behind a pair of dark glasses and under a hat. This resulted into a total black collection, with flashes of white and blue. There were jumpsuits, sharp cut full trousers and  sculpted jackets. The silhouette was long and fluid with raw-edge finishes, fabrics were matt, velvety and mongolian fur added a touch of luxury.

Remarkable were the detachable details, like pockets on a belt around the waist, balloon-shaped sleeves, cuffs and leather kneehigh bootcaps.

Jil Sander Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2011

Raf Simons sent out another strong collection for Jil Sander. Coming fall it’s about streamlined ski-wear with a classic early 60’s twist and – again – couture-inspired volumes. In bright colors but also darker ones, like forest-green and blue. And in thick, dense fabrics, even puffed up like down.

The collection focused again on cut and shape. Simons started from the couture sensibility of spring but with a Sixties vibe. Ski-pants with hooded sweaters with ski-motifs opened the show, followed by waffled knits.  Then came the big clothes,  cut in dense, solid, bold-toned fabrics with considerable self-structure. Simons added more volume with a broadened dropped shoulder that fell into folds in back. He used this technique for coats and dresses,  sometimes with loose half-belts in front or back.

It was not an easy collection. But new fashion is never easy to congest and accept. But someone has to stir up things and Raf Simons is doing a good job. he started the whole colorstory that’s filling the streets at the moment. And the next change is volume and proportion. It’s just a matter of time.

First View Milan FW2011: Mod Now

A modern Mod-look was clearly reminiscent and very much fashion on Milan runways. Prada was brave, prim and square cut, with strong statements in shades with a faint Marni flavor. Graphic details as contrasting trims, patterns, insets, and wide, low-slung belts. The dense and sculptural fabrics reminded us of 60’s Mod looks.

Alberta Ferretti softened her silhouettes with shimmery velvet legs. Where Prada dropped the waist, Max Mara contoured it. Worlds apart, yet showing clear common interest in bold statements.

This is definitely a look to watch; adult women dressed like dolls, yet definitely not to play with.

Stylespot is a collaboration with Stijlinstituut Amsterdam

Bottega Veneta Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2011

The collection of Bottega Veneta was about color, textures, proportions and a very feminine, grown up image of women. The program-notes said the collection was something  “between restraint and exuberance.”
But this collection was more about fabric development, this fall with a deliberately weighty, homespun feel for daywear, often in bold colorslike dark pink, mustard, pale yellow, orange and deep red. It looked inviting in thick tweed wools but a bit itchy on mohairs. The look became ladylike thanks to Sixties retro hairdo’s. The coats were minimalist and skirts were above the knee, with off-white stockings and high heels. Some of the other looks included jersey tunics and blousons — like sweatshirts – and very simple dresses in black-tinted white silk overlaid with black lace.

Streetfashion Milan Womenswear FW2011 Day 3

What are you wearing during the coming fashionweeks? Your Prada-shoes, your latest Jil Sander-dress or that vintage Yves St. Laurent? 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.

Versace Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2011

The Versace-show gave a slightly baroque feeling due to the enlarged motifs at dresses. Lots of white, black and dark-blue, and a little red and green. Donatella Versace kicked things off with military precision — a black admiral’s coat with bold, gold buttons that was as chic as it was streamlined. Then came the LBDs, sharp and angular in silhouette, and more jackets and coats in the season’s soldierly vibe. To both, the designer added a pretty baroque motif of large-scale swirling floral scrolls in bright purples and yellows.

The pleated skirts and jackets, cut from hard, thick leather, worked the pretty side of tough chic while  a long white coat sported patchworked fur sleeves. And if Versace showed fewer eveningwear contenders than usual, no matter. The sexy goddess gowns she did send out, with bondage-y busts and gentle feathered trains, were striking.

Talking about color. At Blumarine

Designers are trying hard to tempt us with color. At Blumarine it was head to toe purple, yellow, blue or orange – bags included.

« Previous Page — Next Page »