A Dazed & Confused Kinda Day

This afternoon I finally took a trip to Somerset House to see the Dazed & Confused 'Making It Up As We Go Along' exhibition. Me being me I left it until the last minute, getting there before it closes tomorrow. The exhibition is a retrospective of the last 20 years of the magazine, featuring images of past covers, editorials and pages from the publication's beginnings to the present day. Personal highlights include work by Dazed's mega-stylist Katie Shillingford, editorial by Nick Knight featuring amazing people with physical disabilities and topless Kate Moss. Standard.

I also picked up the book that sits alongside the exhibition, which I hinted at for christmas but nobody picked up on...whatevs. Again, the book is packed with fashion stories, features and interviews from the last 20 years of the magazine. At over 300 pages, there is lots to keep me busy and out of trouble, and it will look nice on my bookshelf too. What's not to love?

Karl Lagerfeld Interviews Himself for Net-A-Porter T.V.

As most will already know, this week saw the launch of Karl Lagerfeld's diffusion line on Net-A-Porter. As part of the launch this video was released featuring the man himself interviewing...himself. Answering questions on the value of a muse, what it takes to become successful, and his opinions on 'fashion freaks'. Great fake diva storm-out at the end too. What a guy.

Marni for H&M Campaign

The first image in the Marni for H&M campaign has just been released, which has been directed by Sophia Coppola along with the accompanying video. The collection will be launched on March 8th. Hopefully the crowds will be smaller than the Versace launch, and will consist of less opportunists hoping to make some money on the re-sale.

Source: FASHIONISTA

Augmented Reality in Retail

This week saw several cities around the globe go crazy for the new Karl by Karl Lagerfeld diffusion line, sold exclusively on NET-A-PORTER.COM. The line itself was not the only attraction however. In New York, Berlin, Paris, Munich, Sydney and in London's Covent Garden, Net-A-Porter set up pop-up-windows making use of the latest in augmented reality technology. Iphone and Ipad users with the corresponding app could hold up their device to the window and be showed the full collection, and were given the chance to win pieces or shopping sprees on Net-A-Porter. The hype was understandable and crowds formed in the hundreds.

Although this was perhaps a fun and different shopping experience for the visitors, events like this show how technology is changing the way we shop. Online retail giants including NET-A-PORTER.COM and MY-WARDROBE.COM have already had a huge impact on retail with many people choosing e-tailoring sites over actual retail spaces.

However, these events were not the first to use augmented reality. Some Ray-Ban shop windows already use augmented reality allowing users to try on different sunglasses without actually having to enter the shop itself. Tissot also made us of this technology at Selfridges, London allowing visitors to try on their watches, this time providing shoppers with a paper cut-out watch to wear on their wrist.

Augmented reality technology for some may be nothing more than a gimmick however it is one technological leap among many that are moving towards changing the way we shop. Perhaps sometime in the future technology such as this will take over the traditional retail space and our methods of shopping, or may render it obsolete altogether.

Image source: NET-A-PORTER

Tom Ford: Inside the Creative Mind

Tom Ford has been considered one of the fashion giants of our time for decades, and this documentary provides a rare insight into his creative process, featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the run up to his return to womenswear under the TOM FORD label. A must-see!



VISIONARIES: Inside the creative mind TOM FORD from Cielo Magazine on Vimeo.

Paris Fashion Week - Menswear - Part 2

Here is the second part of my picks from Paris menswear week. Although there were a number of standout shows (Givenchy, Lanvin etc.) these are the three that caught my eye and had me adding look after look to my autumn/winter wishlist.

First up is Acne. With excellent use of what seem to be the season's big materials - faux leather and fur - the collection looks to be one of Acne Studios' best yet. The colour palette was fairly muted with black, navy and wine shades complimented by the occasional punchy bright.

The collection at Maison Martin Margiela also used faux leather and furs to compliment tailoring providing a luxe feel that I forsee being a big trend next season. This time using camel colours to lift the collection, and interesting use of materials (see the bin bag coat in the full collection).

Bill Gaytten's first collection for John Galliano was a high-glamour thirties inspired affair. The belted silhouette was key, with leather and furs big on the agenda once again. I personally would kill for the fur coat pictured below.

 

Last on my list in Damir Doma. The collection was inspired by the global traveller and collector, with Siberian and Tibetan influences in the print and material choices. Furs were key (there is a pattern emerging here) and a rich colour palette was used.

 

So there you have it. It seems we're all going to be wrapping up warm in faux leather and furs come next autumn winter, and I for one am on board.

Source: STYLE.COM
For full collections click HERE.

Ones to watch in 2012: Film

By the looks of things 2012 is shaping up to be a great year for film. My new year's resolution this year is to do and see more in London, so here is a shortlist of films I intend to see...but probably wont.

First up... everyone loves a good fairy tale re-imagining and following on from Alice in Wonderland, the heroines of these tales are no longer the doting subservient girls they once were. So expect to see armor-clad Kristen Stewart take on Charlize Theron in a Battle of the Babes. Kinky.

Next up is Martha Marcy May Marlene. A mouthful but according to all sources, Elisabeth Olsen plays the part of a young cult runaway rather well. Out in cinemas February 3rd.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who was excited to hear that Peter Jackson had taken over as director of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (no offence Guillermo del Toro). It will be a long wait until the release in which time plenty of people will be debating his choices down to the smallest detail... see movie message boards for further details. Anyway here is the trailer. Look out for a surprisingly good-looking dwarf...just sayin'.

Up next is The Dark Knight Rises. As a bit of a superhero geek I have been looking forward to this one for a while. The final chapter in The Dark Knight saga sees the arrival of super-villain Bane...complete with roid-rage I'm sure. Anne Hathaway also steps in to fill the rather large Catwoman boots that Halle Berry left (cough). Exciting stuff.

Another superhero film now (not sorry). This time it's Chronicle. It chronicles what happens when teenagers gain superpowers. And as we all know, with great power comes great responsibility. In cinemas February 1st.

Paris Fashion Week - Menswear - Part 1

So here are my picks from the menswear shows in Paris so far.

Firstly, Yohji Yamamoto showed relaxed tailoring with hints of smarter wear - think Victorian gentleman meets civil war officer. A match made in heaven.

Viktor and Rolf provided tonal suiting and the interesting use of leather and fur. This fur coat and leather trouser combo will be on my Autumn/Winter wishlist.

 

Nicola Formichetti at Mugler showed suiting again, this time in high-shine furistic fabrics. The military influence was evident and the collection pointed to the off-duty soldier - the directional Mugler equivalent anyway.

 

Finally Kim Jones for Louis Vuitton showed super-clean tailoring with a vintage edge. The WWII naval influences were clear, and standard black and navy was complimented with camel tones in knitwear and outerwear.

 

Source: STYLE.COM

Gisele Bundchen for Versace

Here is Gisele for Versace's Spring/Summer '12 campaign, shot by Mert & Marcus. Good lord.

And here is Topshop's take on the trend. Keep your eyes peeled for this in stores.