The Allure of Burgundy

Burgundy is a strong colour emerging in fashion, this shade of purplish red is named after the French wine from the Burgundy region. When you smell this wine, there's a distinctive aroma of red fruits. 

Marc Jacons, Haider Ackermann and Balenciaga. Source: style.com

Cherry, raspberry, redcurrant and strawberry blend with a woody bouquet and you can sense musky and spicy undertones. The flavour is a perfect balance between acidity, sweetness and tannins.

Orchids

This is a wine worth enjoying with beef, game and delicate cheeses so it's perfect for a cold winter night, to warm up the spirit around the dinner table.

Liam Fahy (liamfahy.com)

The burgundy colour cannot yet be considered a trend but if you walk around the high street you see some splashes of it on window displays, and you may also acknowledge it in interior design.

Lisa Armchair by Driade (ariashop.co.uk)

Madalena Frackowiak was photographed by David Roemer wearing a ravishing burgundy Emilio Pucci dress for the December 2011 cover of Vogue Mexico. Beyonce wore a similar dress in dark green for her Who Run the World (Girls) video.  

Vogue Mexico cover, December 2011

Burgundy is starting to emerge in beauty. Different blogs and magazines suggest it as the ultimate nail polish colour and makeup offers different tones for lipsticks and eyeshadows to play with.

Burgundy makeup. Source: eyeshadowlipstick.com

Prada has designed a beautiful python bag in both cream and burgundy with shoes to match! You also have the boots version.

Prada

Some designers prefer a more reddish version, my favourite is definitely Gucci, this dress is just to die for, the whole Autumn/Winter collection was brilliant!

Victoria Beckham, Gucci and Vionnet. Source: style.com

This is a good colour to invest, it's dramatic and poetic, a subtle expression of passion and glamour! You can add more wine or more cherries but the new red is definitely darker!

Other styling posts:
The Best Coats for Winter
Top Statement Necklaces
Leather's Touch... A Styling Trend!

British Fashion Awards 2011

Tonight London was home to the fashion event of the year! The British Fashion Awards recognise the most influential people in fashion and celebrate the creativity and success of British designers.

Kate Moss and Stella MacCartney
source: vogue.co.uk

All the fashion crowd gathered for the second year running at the lavish Savoy Theatre, wearing well thought out clothes, posing to the awaiting photographers and answering questions from reporters.

Tali Lennox wearing Mulberry photographed by Telegraph Fashion

Different celebrities were also invited, adding to the glamour and excitement of the whole evening. I've compiled a list of the awards, nominees and winners of this amazing ceremony hosted by George Lamb and Lauren Laverne.

Sarah Burton giving her acceptance speech

Designer of the Year

• Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

The British Fashion Council ambassador, Samantha Cameron, presented the ultimate accolade recognising Sarah Burton as an internationally acclaimed, leading British designer who has directed the shape of fashion in the past year.

Sarah Burton was not only able to maintain the high status of the brand after McQueen's death, undoubtedly an achievement in itself, but also moved the label into a new direction with her own style signature.

"I Want every piece to feel very special and very beautiful, but not in an overworked way. I want to get the balance of the lightness and the workmanship." Sarah Burton

This year, she put McQueen on a world stage by designing the exquisite wedding dress of the Duchess of Cambridge and the 'Savage Beauty' retrospective exhibition in New York was a record-breaking success.

(Other nominees: Christopher Kane and Erdem)

Hayley Atwell
(Photographed at the event by net-a-porter.com)

Outstanding Achievement Award

Sir Paul Smith

After a video in celebration of his career, British actress Hayley Atwell presented this special award to Sir Paul Smith to honour his achievement as a designer whose work has had an exceptional impact on global fashion.


 

Christopher Kane
(Photographed at the event by net-a-porter.com)

New Establishment Award

• Christopher Kane

Newly established this year, this award recognised Christopher Kane as sophisticated and exciting, he has surpassed being an emerging designer and is growing into a dynamic business with a global reach and a sustained impact on the way modern women dress.

His friend Alexa Chung gave him the award wearing one of his dresses.

(Other nominees: Erdem and Jonathan Saunders)

Alexa Chung being interviewed upon her arrival

British Style Award

• Alexa Chung

For the second year running, Alexa Chung was voted by the public as the individual who most embodies the spirit of London and is an international ambassador for the city as a leading creative fashion capital.

She dedicated her award to "girls who dress like awkward boys."

(Other nominees: Adele, Daisy Lowe, Daphne Guinness, Edie Campbell, Emma Watson, Florence Welch, Jaquetta Wheeler, Lara Stone, Laura Bailey, Lulu Kennedy, Poppy Delevingne, Samantha Cameron, Stella MacCartney, Tilda Swinton, Victoria Beckham and Vivienne Westwood.)

Victoria Beckham, Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss
source: vogue.co.uk

Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator

• Sam Gainsbury

This prestigious award was presented by his friend Kate Moss. Gainsbury has been a major inspiration and influence in the past year, he was the creator of the McQueen blockbuster exhibition in New York. He thanked Alexander McQueen.

(Other nominees: Guido Palau and Katie Grand)

Kate Hudson presenting the Red Carpet Award

Red Carpet Award

• Stella McCartney

Wearing a stunning Stella MacCartney dress, Kate Hudson puts on her glasses to read her witty prepared speech, saying how the designer made her first red carpet dress which got her on every worst dressed list at the Academy Awards but has been best dressed ever since.

Stella MacCartney is definitely creating global awareness of her designs in the media, her polka dress was one of the most photographed of the year, from red carpet events to fashion editorials and features.

(Other nominees: Antonio Berardi and Victoria Beckham)

Victoria Beckham backstage after winning her award
(Photographed by net-a-porter.com)

Designer Brand

• Victoria Beckham

She was almost in tears when she received the award from Marc Jacobs, giving an emotional speech, touching everyone's heart. Her status within the British fashion industry is finally cemented.

(Other nominees: Tom Ford, Stella McCartney and Burberry)


Menswear Designer

• Kim Jones

(Other nominees: Margaret Howell and Oliver Spencer)


Accessory Designer

• Charlotte Olympia

(Other nominees: Emma Hill for Mulberry and Katie Hillier)

Georgia Jagger
(Photographed at the event by net-a-porter.com)

Model of the Year

• Stella Tennant

(Other nominees: Kristen McMenamy and Georgia Jagger)


Emerging Talent Award - Menswear

• Christopher Raeburn

(Other nominees: J.W. Anderson and James Long)

Olivia Palermo presented the emerging talent award in Mathew Williamson
(Photographed at the event by net-a-porter.com)

Emerging Talent Award - Ready to Wear

• Mary Katrantzou

(Other nominees: J.W. Anderson and Peter Piloto)

Holly Fulton (2009 winner) and Nazir Mazhar 
BFA Champagne reception

Emerging Talent Award - Accessories

• Tabitha Simmons

(Other nominees: Jordan Askill and Nazir Mazhar)

Tabitha Simmons shoes

Manolo Blahnik: a Fairy Tale

Before working full-time as a BBC producer I had to make the most of my retail experience from my student years to cope with the high cost of living in London. 

Sarah Jessica Parker with the Manolo Blahnik shoe from the Sex in the City movie

By the time I left retail to embrace the false sense of security of a permanent position (my former department has sadly closed), my shop floor companions offered me a book by Camilla Morton 'How to Walk in High Heels'.

How to Walk in High Heels book cover

It was her first book and a UK bestseller which has been translated into twenty languages worldwide. Light-hearted and fun to read, to this day I follow Camilla Morton's recommendation about perfume, after the habitual spots, she suggests to spray perfume into the air in front of you and walk through it.

Manolo Blahnik and Camilla Morton. Source: vogue.co.uk

Middle East women always leave a trace of perfume behind them... No, I don't put that much on, but I love the way different smells evoke particular memories and cause a lasting sensation.

Perfume is a powerful weapon of seduction, as Diane Von Furstenberg has said when promoting her latest fragrance, but we should not underestimate high heels, they are also a killer.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex in the City with her 'Manolos'

In a Sex in the City episode, Samantha refers to them as 'f*** me shoes', and the man mostly referred to as the embodiment of women's passion for high heels is Manolo Blahnik.

Manolo Blahnik illustration for the book. Source: vogue.com

He is also the inspiration of the latest Camilla Morton's book published this week in the UK, Manolo Blahnik and the Tale of the Elves and the Shoemaker (HarperCollins), a fairy tale version of his life which includes whimsical illustrations by the man himself.

Manolo Blahnik illustration for the book. Source: vogue.com

We're already familiar with the wonderful sketches of his shoes  from previous books Manolo's New Shoes and Manolo Blahnik Drawings (both published by Thames & Hudson), so you can expect the same elegance of lines and striking colours, it's like caligraphy, each person has their own design signature.

Manolo Blahnik drawings

This is the second book of a series of fashion fairy tale memoirs by Camilla Morton, the first was Christian Lacroix and the Tale of the Sleeping Beauty also from HarperCollins.  

Her writing style is captivating and her ability to makes us dream has a feel good quality. If you have a friend who loves fashion and high heels this may be the perfect Christmas gift! (Note to my friends - this is not a hint... Or is it?)

The latest Camilla Morton's book cover

Other related posts:
Shoes for Show
Christian Louboutin: Shoe Artist 
Business Power in High Heels

The Best Coats for Winter

If you take a look at some of London's window displays for Christmas, you can acknowledge the proeminence of white, either as a background or as a dominant colour (Selfridges).   

Alexander McQueen, Prada and Halston. Source: vogue.it

White is usually associated with the heat of summer, it refects the sun rays kepping us cool and it's bright, creating a stark contrast with the sun-kissed skin.

But white is also the colour of snow, bringing winter to mind, most Scandinavians wear light colours, even though they live in countries which are extremely cold and dark during this season.

Reiss (reissonline.com) and Zara (zara.com)

There is something in white which brightens up our spirit and some designers have picked up this colour to create the most amazing coats, proving that if you want to be warm you don't have to walk around with something that looks like a sleeping bag... 

And of course, some high street retailers followed the trend. But if you're worried about your dry cleaning bill, you can always brighten up with different colours, I love the Diane Von Furstenberg option, adding a geometric pattern to what could be another conventional black coat.

Emilio Pucci, Diane Von Furstenberg and Gucci. Source: vogue.it

But black is always seductive and it goes with any other colour. That's why most people end up wearing a black coat every winter. The camel coat is also a safe option but it was so trendy last year that this year you may want to try something different.   

Rouland Mouret and Yves Saint Laurent. Source: vogue.it

Or not... If you're happy with what you have already in your wardrobe it's worth waiting for the sales which will start right after Christmas, London has the most incredible reductions, just remember to go in the early days, particularly if you're a size 10 or 12.

Kaufmanfranco and Vionnet. Source:net-a-porter.com

But if you're not on a budget, different designers gave us their own creative interpretation of the traditional black coat. Grey is also a recurrent colour for winter, Alexander McQueen is definitely a favourite! 

Chanel and Alexander McQueen. Source: vogue.it

I also like earthy tones so I'll leave you with this amazingly soft version of Reiss in a warm cherry... It reminds me of Christmas!

Reiss. Source: reissonline.com



Other related posts:

Top Statement Necklaces

Warm UP Your Hands in Style!

Pencil Skirt, a Fashion Statement

               

Candles, Books and High Heels

Today I was invited for breakfast at Miller Harris. The perfumer Lyn Harris has created the candle cardamon sucre, which infuses notes of lemongrass with sweet cardamon and bergamot, inspired by the romantic paradise Le Touessrok in Mauritius.

Le Touessrok, Mauritius

"My first impression of Mauritius was the view from the airplane of all the sugar cane plantations. The fragrance was very much inspired by this and the local spices." Lyn Harris


Le Touessrok candle by Miller Harris

We're far away from the hot sunshine and white sandy beaches but you can be transported there simply by the power of your imagination and through the incredible perfume of this candle.

One of my favourite winter indulgences is a hot bubble bath with a few scented candles to create a serene atmosphere. All your troubles leave you for a few precious and relaxing moments...

But I have to wait until tonight's new moon to be able to do so. This afternoon, Christian Louboutin, the man responsible for creating shoes that women just helplessly fall in love with, is going to sign his new book at Harvey Nichols and I want to join the queue!

No, I'm not a big fan of queues either, particularly when it comes to the most exclusive London nightclubs, but if I queue to have fun, I can definitely do the same to have a signed copy of this book.

Christian Louboutin's book cover (Rizzoli)

The author's signature gives the book a personal touch that makes it extra special. I have a particular place in my book shelve where I keep my treasured signed copies, from Viktor and Rolf to Naomi Klein and Isabel Allende, they represent different moments in my life.

I even have a poetry book signed by the Portuguese novelist José Saramago, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998 and who defended love as a way of improving the human condition.

Louboutin shoe

But back to Louboutin... In order to promote his new book celebrating the 20th anniversary of his career, he has been this morning to Woman's Hour, an insightful BBC Radio 4 programme.

He saw the show girls at Folies Bergères in Paris as 'birds of paradise' and became fascinated by the way shoes make a woman move differently and even change her attitude.

I'm sure many women are thankful to these show girls for inspiring such an amazing designer! He'll be signing his new book from 5 to 7pm at Harvey Nichols.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Yves Saint Laurent: Life, Love and Art

Yves Saint Laurent is a familiar name even for those who are oblivious to fashion. He put women in the elegant le smoking tuxedo suit, bringing them self-assurance, audacity and power while preserving their femininity.

Helmut Newton's iconic 1975 photo of YSL le smoking

"Fashion's role is not simply to make women more beautiful but also to reassure them, give them confidence and allow them to assert themselves." Yves Saint Laurent

The incredibly shy young man, who was only 18 when he started his career as Christian Dior's assistant and became his victorious successor at 21, will always be remembered for his amazing talent and incredible fashion legacy.




Yves Saint Laurent, 1958

But we cannot speak of Yves Saint Laurent without mentioning Pierre Bergé, the love of his life and business partner. L'Amour Fou, the latest fashion DVD released in the UK this week, is about this two remarkable men and the fifty years they've shared together along with their passion for art.

They met in 1958, the year Saint Laurent presented his much acclaimed first collection for Christian Dior, moving in together after only a few months. They opened their Haute Couture House in 1962 with the financial support of an American investor.

Yves Saint Laurent and his muses, Betty Catroux (left) and Loulou de la Falaise, 1969

In the film, there's a moving picture of Saint Laurent crying after the overwhelming success of his first collection as an independent couturier. At the end of his 44 year career, he declared living through his work and for his work.

But his life was far removed from all the apparent bliss, Bergé says the expression "fame is the dazzling mourning of happiness" sums up Yves Saint Laurent perfectly.  

Opéra-Ballet Russes Collection, 1976

"I have experienced many forms of anxiety, many forms of hell, I have known fear and terrible solitude, the false friendship of tranquilisers and drugs, the prison of depression and mental homes. I emerged from all that one day dazzled but sober." Yves Saint Laurent

When Saint Laurent pushed himself to the edge, Bergé left him for a while but moved to an hotel at the end of the street, admitting he couldn't be any further away from him. The love between them had an emblematic value, they were bound to each other, giving both courage and power.

Laetitia Casta as an YSL bride, SS 1999 couture show

They were very passionate about art, building up an impressive collection throughout the years which Bergé decided to sell upon Saint Laurent's death in 2008. Hughes Edmeades, deputy chairman of Christie's South Kensington, described the momentous auction as "a once-in-a-century sale".

Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé Paris home

It raised $477 million and the majority of the proceeds from the sale, held by Christie's in collaboration with Bergé's own Paris-based auction house, Pierre Bergé & Associates, have supported the couple's foundation and medical research against AIDS.

How could Bergé let go of such an amazing art collection which he described as being part of his soul and his life? The answer can be read between the lines, loosing such collection is nothing compared to loosing someone who has been by your side for fifty years.




Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé

I think it was also a way of Bergé preparing himself for his own death, leaving no attachments behind. He is a proper gentleman, whose elegance goes far beyond style, but his eyes in the film reveal an immense and inconceivable sadness. His tremendous loss is almost palpable. 

"The most important encounter in life is the encounter with oneself." Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent's last show was in 2002, when according to Bergé, the couturier profession had been handed over to tradesmen. The brand lives on through the capable hands of Stefano Pilati.

DVD cover with a dress from the Mondrian collection, 1965

Another fashion DVD released in the UK this month:
Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston

Christmas Window Displays

It's getting colder in London, days are getting shorter and coats slowly emerge out of the wardrobe... But this is also a sign that Christmas is coming, even if you don't believe in anything, all the shining street lights remind you of it.




Liberty

Many retailers are recruiting new staff to cope with the busiest time of the year and the window dressers push their creativity to the limit in order to lure customers into the shop floor.

Fortnum and Mason

I went to the most well-known shopping destinations in London - the department stores - where everything becomes more alive than ever, it feels like a city within the city, it's all about movement, lights and music and money just flows into the tills.




Selfridges

The first connection point with potential customers is the window display, that's why London's department stores invest a huge budget on it, sourcing the best professionals who come up with the most brilliant ideas.

Harrods

So I joined all the tourists and took pictures of the best windows displays for Christmas, when everyone spends huge amounts of money on gifts, so much so that some people may wonder if it has all become just a big commerce.

Harvey Nichols



Is Christmas dead? Are families collapsing? For lots of Londoners, Christmas is more about having drinks with their mates than about spending time with family members. Why do we give each other's gifts if we probably ignore each other during most of the year? 

Selfridges

Love is the essence of the Christmas spirit, it doesn't matter if you're religious or not. Is love dead? I don't think so, love will never die, families may be facing challenging times with high divorce rates but they're also opening up to more inclusive models embracing gay couples and the adoption process is being reviewed.




Fortnum and Mason

I believe in a brighter future of mutual acceptance and of a time when people are mature enough to realise that being financially independent does not mean emotionally independent and that love requires effort and a giving attitude, it's not about who loves me but about how I love others.

Harrods

But I'm getting off track, the point is, Christmas can be a multitude of transactions across different parts of the world, particularly in the West, but at least once a year people get out of their cocoons, practicing generosity and thinking of others.

Selfridges

It may be fuelled by advertising and amazingly beautiful window displays but when you see all the people moving around the busy department stores, this time, they have someone else in their mind.

 



Harrods


If you're in London during the Christmas period, be inspired by the creativity on the window displays and the street lights! This is a time when the city gets incredibly 'dressed up' reminding me of an old fashion song: Street Life. 

Oxford Street