Posted by Skattie | Comments Off

Is ‘heirloom sustainability’ a pipe dream?

I’d like to think that we could buy wonderfully expensive designer items with the intention that they form part of our children’s dowry, but is this wishful thinking or wise purchasing?

Read More

Posted by Skattie | Comments Off

Who wears Resort wear?

As someone who likes to think they have their finger firmly on the pulse, I have been thrown off track by a rogue email. At 6.45 yesterday morning, Vogue’s online database swung into action and sent its millions of dedicated fans a Trend update. Having fully immersed myself in this season’s shows back in September and October 2009, I assumed this was old news. Email recycling. That was until I noticed the date for this particular email claimed that the latest and greatest fashion trends were shown on 11th June 2010. How on earth was this possible?

Read More

Posted by delicia | Comments Off

Football Fever Spreads To Fashion

Branded team uniforms aside, sports and fashion are not usually equated with each other. Yet a well known South African designer is of the opinion that the soccer fever that has been gripping the country for the past month, courtesy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, will be reflected in our clothing long after the tournament’s final whistle has blown.

Since the World Cup kicked off here on our sunny shores, South Africa has been awash in a sea of bright, cheerful yellow as fans of all ages enthusiastically donned Bafana Bafana’s colours to show their support to the national team. Not even chilly winter temperatures and the team failing to quality past the first round managed to turn the country blue.

Read More

Posted by Skattie | Comments Off

Gaga’s Gala

The New York Costume Institute Gala falls on the first Monday of May and is hosted by Vogue. It is the premier party for aspiring fashionistas and those lucky enough to attend allow us an insight into who Fashion currently believes is a la mode.

Read More

Posted by delicia | Comments Off

Proof That Style Has No Age Restriction

Normally, when waif-like girls who have barely entered their teens make waves in the global fashion industry, it is as the Next Great Supermodel. They hardly ever garner attention as widely respected commentators on high fashion.

But if you are still under the impression that Vogue’s devil editor Anna Wintour has the final and most influential say about what is à la mode these days, then you are hopelessly behind the times. (And not necessarily in a cool, vintage or retro way either!) Because for the last few years, those shoes – and in this instance the shoes in question are often outrageously towering Miu Miu platforms – have increasingly been filled by one Tavi Gevinson.

Read More

Posted by Skattie | Comments Off

Things that have tickled me this month

Why you have to bag a bag

Being interviewed this week in The Guardian newspaper, Mulberry’s chief executive Godfrey Davis said that, “women use their handbags all day every day, so it is very easy to rationalise why having a jolly nice handbag is a good thing”. This is the company’s reason for calling their bags ‘heirlooms’, enabling them to convince women that spending £1,000 on a handbag is an investment for the future. Read more…

Spending again

It was reported in Wealth Bulletin that the wealthy have finally become bored with acting frugally. They believe that their enforced austerity can now stop and they will cease to no longer spend by getting right back to building up their wardrobes. This is supported by the fact that top fashion brands are outperforming others on the MSCI world index – splendid news! Read more…

Cheap chic

J.Crew, the American clothing chain continues to make headlines with its affordable fashion.  Spearheaded by role models like Michelle Obama, the brand is apparently the ‘go to shop’ for fortysomethings in need of a chic reality check. This high-street brand puts it high fashion credentials down to one thing – Jenna Lyons (their hyper-trendy creative director). Where they differentiate themselves from throw away fashion is that while affordable, there is an inherent quality to their garments. What impressed me is their attention to detail.  Take, for instance, their boucle tweed jacket that sold out moments after it was seen on the First Lady; the tweed came from Linton, the Cumbrian company that also makes tweeds for Chanel. Read more…

Virtual advice

‘Ask a Stylist’, a fashion application which threatens to take away my job was released on 12 April 2010.  iPhone have released a real-time fashion best friend, one whom you send pictures of yourself in certain outfits and ask for feedback; or ask specialist advice such as “can you wear a spaghetti strap with a chunky chain link necklace”. The worst bit it that it is free – unlike me. Read more…

by Léonie Tovell

Read More