D for Dot

Just spotted these ice-cream concoctions over at AnOther magazine – they are inspired by the latest Spring/Summer 2012 trends, created for the sweet-toothed fashionista! How can anyone not love ice-cream as stylish as these?

Created by illustrator Tom Baxter, I think they are pretty spot-on as representations for their corresponding runway looks. Can you identify the featured designers above?

I believe many of you would have already seen this beautiful pop-up invitation to the Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2013 runway presentation. If you have not received one of these, fret not because you can still watch the show on livestream online at 11PM tonight! I have partnered the British heritage brand in bringing its latest designs to a greater audience for quite a few seasons now and am very happy to be doing so again. As before, you will be able to tune in to the pre-show red carpet happenings and the show itself right here on the blog.

I am very excited to find out what Christopher Bailey has in store for us this season and if you are too, be sure to be check back here later in the day!

I never thought that I will ever be able to put the word “clumpy” next to the word “chic”, but I guess impossible is nothing in fashion. Here’s the most intriguing beauty trend I’ve seen in a long, long time – deliberately clumpy eyelashes, as spotted on the runway of 3.1 Phillip Lim’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection. Created by NARS to reflect a gritty rock-chick cool, the lashes have to be “hand-clumped” (i.e. pinching them together to make little triangles; sort of like cartoonish, Minnie Mouse lashes, only better) and the look requires at least 10 coats of mascara to perfect. To help you along, here’s a how-to video by Garance Dore. [Note how the mascara has to be painted on with a brush at one point.]

For a couple of reasons, I feel that I am destined to try this out: 1. I just brought new mascara and 2. I am going for a concert tonight. One really shouldn’t argue with fate. I promise to report back.

(Image: WWD.)

I know, my eyes should really be on New York City after Fashion Week season kicked off last week in The Big Apple. I have been looking in that direction – love the incredible cut-out floating dresses at Alexander Wang and Jason Wu‘s elegant take on the dominatrix – but what really caught my attention today was the beauty look from Cheap Monday’s Spring/Summer 2013 runway show at Stockholm Fashion Week last month. Those almost-cartoonish painted on lower lashes is such a great parody of our obsession with long, thick eyelashes and huge doe-eyes. And they look stunning.

This look may look like it will only work on the runway, but I think that it is perfect for a punk-rock concert. Or Halloween – I’m sure it can work with a large number of goth-inspired costumes (e.g. a young Morticia Addams).

(Pictures: Fashionising.com)

Over the weekend, I flipped through The Great Gatsby again because 1) I cannot get over how tragically wonderful (yes there is such a thing) it is and 2) I wanted to prep for when the movie hits the big screen (Leo and Carey are going to be so great). One of my favourite things about the story was its setting – the 1920s will have to be the most unapologetically glamourous decade of the 20th century; it was bling and glitz all the way. I love the fashion and the (carefully beautiful) hairstyles have me enthralled. I have always wondered if those finger waves can be translated into the 21st century and found my answer at the Spring/Summer 2012 runway show of avant-garde English designer label Belle Sauvage.

Inspired by 1920s silent Hollywood movie stars, the widely lauded design duo worked with the stylists at Rush Tunbridge Wells to create a futuristic, post-punk look that combines the iconic finger waves with the bold silhouettes, bright palette and unique prints of the collection – the result is surprisingly harmonious. The tightly wrought waves that stuck close to the head were topped by quirky plastic head-pieces, which gave them an unmistakeable modern touch.

It may be charming to go full-on twenties (with the flapper dresses and all) but mixing up the eras like this is just a lot more fun and interesting. [If you think creating finger waves takes far too much effort, here's a useful tutorial that teaches you how to achieve faux finger waves at home!]

(All images from Belle & Sauvage.)

Remember how I took inspiration from Carey Mulligan’s incredible in-between hairstyle when I was wondering how to grow out my own bangs (and not look like a madwoman in the process)? As it turned out, I never managed to pull off that braided fringe look and get through most days with my hair pinned back with some black bobby pins I got from the drugstore. If you are about to diss me for resorting to this unglamourous method, don’t be so quick to judge. Quite simply, they work - and can actually be chic, as Cacharel has shown with its AW12 fashion show.

The look is decidedly 1920s – the hair secured neatly in a low braided bun with the fringe side-parted and pinned down with four bright (red/blue) bobby pins. It is pretty, sweet, practical and most importantly of all, easy to re-create on your own sans stylist. What more can one ask for? You can even create your own colourful bobby pins by transforming your black ones with nail polish and perhaps a little glitter. Now, growing out those bangs need not be such a nightmarish experience.

[Tip: This goes so well with a bold red lip!]

You must have seen Raf Simon’s first haute couture collection for the house of Dior by now. After all, other than being one of the most highly anticipated shows to be unveiled in recent years, it is absolutely everywhere you look (in the fashion world, at least). Universally lauded to be a triumph by the fashion press and media, it is indeed a lovely debut by the Belgian designer. While I love Simon’s minimalist, modern updates on some of Christian Dior’s most well-loved mid-century silhouettes and styles, it is the spectacular floral set that stunned me into awed silence and took my breath away.

The Dior show took place in a series of salons that has been transformed into a dreamy labyrinthe constructed by high walls of blooming flowers. Completely hand-assembled by an army of floral designers, the set is an architectural feat that features more than a million flowers, which inclues tens of thousands of delphiniums, peonies, roses, orchids, mimosa… the list just goes on.

I wish that I could have seen it in person, but since that is not possible, these gorgeous pictures I found on the Dior Magazine (didn’t know that it exists until today) will do just fine. You should also watch this behind the scenes video of how the set was put together – it is pure magic.

Just when I thought that the fashion week mayhem is over for another season, Style.com started its second Video Fashion Week a couple of days ago. It allows smaller brands that may not usually show at fashion week to present their collections via a original video. This may not be ground-breaking in itself, considering how designers have already been using videos to share their work, but these MTV-like new clips are well-worth a watch.

While it is Creatures of Comfort‘s sparsely dotted outfits that I like the most, it is Mark Lupfer‘s Korean girl band inspired video (complete with coloured wigs) that had me smiling.

I have alway had a soft spot for Loewe‘s Amazona bag. It may not be typically me (whatever that is), but its understated simplicity and structured boxy shape really appealed to me. Although it comes in a myriad of hues, with new ones being added each season, it is the Oro ones that I like the most. This particular shade of golden beige is warm, lush and inviting. More importantly, it seems impervious to the whims of fashion. While my head knows that calf leather is a lot more practical for our tropical, thunderstorm-prone climate, my heart leans towards the softness of suede. The good thing is, you can have more than one of these, so there is really no need to choose.

The new Oro collection was unveiled last week and I love how the pieces are presented – on park benches, against a bright orange door and perched on the top of a suitcase pyramid. The timeless colour and shapes of the bags were updated with neon pink, orange, green and blue handles and straps to add a dose of youthfulness and fun. Other than the classic Amazona, the Amazona Weekender and the Lars crossbody bag are also personal favourites.

The beautiful collection campaign was shot in Madrid and features some of the city’s most talented and stylish creatives, many of whom are the offsprings of artists who led the cultural golden age of the Seventies and Eighties. Watch the campaign video below and flip through the campaign images over at Facebook.

It may be due to the fact that she is heavily pregnant because Phoebe Philo’s Fall/Winter 2012 collection for Celine consist of just 22 looks. At first glance, I found myself wondering if she is losing her touch – it is still the same (almost brutally) minimalist clothes that she has became so well-known for. There are the same old leather, the structured silhouettes and the super-luxe sporty elements. It is true; these are still iconically Philo. But it is not boring… yet. And it may never be, not when the clothes are not designed to be trendy in the first place. Personally, I am a little disturbed by how much I like those pink (what a perfect shade of pink!) pants. I swear I am not a pink girl. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I just am not.