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Autumn Trends

September 26th 2007 16:33
Its the holy grail for every high street fashion chain boss - take the cream of the best catwalk designs from London, Paris, Milan and New York and turn them into speed chic, affordable fashion that flies off the shelves.

In the golden years of Haute Couture (1947-1957) Dior, Fath and Balenciaga had a one month publication ban on all images of their runway, as the exclusive sale of one calico toille to a Ready to Wear house was often enough to fund the beginnings of their next collection; Those caught sketching in public faced public prosecution. Today copying is rife, and it seems that not an Australian Fashion Week goes by without another young designer being accused by the media of copying.

Our Australian version of the "UK Catwalk to Checkout" chart is topped by fashion favourite Sportsgirl, followed by Zara (soon to hit Australian shores) and newcomer MNG. Bottom of the list are Supre, Esprit and Gap who need to go back to the drawing board on cut and quality.

Just walk past the windows of your favourite stores, and it is clearly noticeable when a brand has worked closely with catwalk looks and chosen the correct designs to suit their brand.

The nine "must-have" looks that no store can be without for this Autumn are
- Block colour inspired by eighties pop
- Wide belts and corsets drawing attention to the waist
- Hitech details such as the sci-fi heels seen in the Balenciaga shows
- Minimalist looks in luxurious fabrics
- The 40's inspired "starlet" looks
- Modern boho- combining hippie trends with high tech themes
- The new "embellishment" style using ruching, quilting or feathers
- The dress up look of full length dresses
(Source : Retail consultancy Piper Jaffray 2007)

Sportsgirl has been leading the pack over the last three years taking up and coming designers and having them create "Exclusive collections for Sportsgirl". Other brands have hired these talented designers inhouse, while others have crudely ripped them off. The smart retailers get as close as possible to the originals while changing enough details to keep copyright lawyers at bay.

Head down to your local Westifelds and check out for yourself who is really delivering speed chic fashion to your wardrobe this season!

Must have Checklist!

- Metallics
- Fitted Waistcoats
- Military detail
- Jewel embellishments
- Funnel Neck Coats
- High waisted Trousers
- Bell Sleeves
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Queens of Bling

September 15th 2007 15:17
Designing a crown fit for a Queen is no simple feat but Jewellery Designers Ana and Contessa Nicolaou of Tessarella House have become quite the experts since being announced as the Exclusive Designers for Miss World Australia two years ago.

Miss World, tiara, Tessarella House
Miss World Australia 2006 wears Tessarella House

[ Click here to read more ]
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We have all seen the power of the stylist. Before we knew it, Hollywood stylist Rachel Zoe had Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Ritchie and Jessica Simpson all sporting drapey gowns over wispy thin bodies. One journalist touts that its only since Celebrities and Designers realised that revenue could be bought in from red carpet photographs, that the Stylist has forged a position in society on par to a Publicist and Celebrity Manager. They are THE ultimate accessory and Celebrities today dont leave home without them.

A new super power has emerged with the baby boom among CEO's, Supermodels and Hollywood's A-List - having on call one's very own Parisian Baby Stylist. I had the pleasure of catching up with the name in every starlets Little Black Book - Laetitia Lerouge


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Black pinafores a-go-go

May 17th 2007 05:59
For any young style monger the contradictions that are Sydney weather in May produce a host of difficulties and the only solution is layering. And the best kind of layering? Why the black pinafore dress of course!
I can hear some of you screaming, but Alice, didn't you say yesterday that ubiquity is death? Here comes the important distinction between an overdone trend and classical elegance. Trench coats, high leather boots, large (but not too large) sunglasses and black pinafores all have something in common, even if every second person on the street is wearing them, each item has sufficient flexibility to be adapted by the wearer. Audrey and Marilyn had entirely different body shapes but each worked the elegance factor in their dress styles.
The black pinafore can work for everyone, depending on the cut, obviously. So if you don't have one it's time to invest, they can be worn over long sleeved tops or under man-style jumpers for day, with bold jewelery and heels at night, over skinny jeans if you like that sort of thing and in just about any weather Sydney wants to throw at you in May
Classic not boring
. You won't regret it. Trust me.
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