THE ULTIMATE NEW EASY

Posted by The Fashion Junior at Large 

One of the biggest trends which seems to be emerging from the SS12 shows is what we at FEAL like to call 'the new easy'. Essentially, this comprises beautifully cut basics in luxury fabrics which you can throw on to feel instantly glamourous and dressed up but also super comfy too. On Saturday, I viewed the new collections from silk shirt stalwarts Equipment and L.A girl about town label Joie (which counts Rachel Bilson, Blake Lively and Kate Bosworth among its fans) Both, in their own ways, have nailed this New Easy. At Joie, there are riviera stripes, jumpers perfect for throwing on over denim shorts on a Summer evening and pleated sundresses in lots of hot colours.

Joie

Joie- These two pieces make a perfect L.A kind of casual summer outfit

Meanwhile, Equipment offers something altogether more classic but still totally lustworthy- the Fash Ed could barely contain her excitement when I told her about their pyjamas for day which come in their own fabulous silk pouch. In my own Summer holiday fantasy, I would mix up the pyjama top and bottom options, throw on some heels and diamonds before hitting the bar for cocktails with Coco Chanel and Elizabeth Taylor.

A pyjama really does sum up this new easy and seems to me to be a very welcome off-shoot of the twenties and thirties references which are threading through many of the keys shows. One look at Greta Garbo or Joan Bennet in their easy, chic pyjama-y get-ups and any sane designer would see they had an instant woman pleasing hit on their hands.

Greta Garbo (Image from Rex Features)

Joan Bennet (image from hollywoodheyday.blogspot.com)

 A smattering from the catwalks:

From this morning's Stella McCartney show (image from guardian.co.uk)

Silky nightdress at Lanvin (from catwalking.com)

Sheer at Richard Nicoll (catwalking.com)

 Unless otherwise indicated, photos are by Fashion Junior at Large.

DUCHESS KATE, WE HAVE AN LFW GUIDE FOR YOU...

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

Over the Summer, we heard that Anna Wintour had given London based designers a brief: your muse must be the Duchess of Cambridge. It has already been shown that, like it or not, our new royal sells clothes in unprecedented numbers. If she wears it, a certain kind of everyday-stylish blow-dry obsessed girl/woman will want it.

The Duchess of Cambridge is under considerable pressure to wear British designers so it makes sense for them to play to her clearly demonstrated taste levels. But they can't explicitly write 'This is for you, Duchess Kate' on their show notes now can they?

The Duchess has already dipped her toe in the water of experimenting the current London line-up by choosing Erdem to wear for stepping off the plane as she embarked on her Canadian tour. This initial promise though failed to materialise as she stuck mostly to old faithfuls Issa, Temperley and McQueen for the remainder of her time away (apart from another Erdem dress for morning prayer on Day 3)

Kate, in Erdem, and William arrive in Canada (image from Daily Mail)

So, how did the London crew approach Wintour's call to arms? It is likely that the idea of using Catherine as their woman might grate, she's hardly on the cutting edge of glamour and modernity in those nude heels and fascinators is she? Well, we noticed a number of references to a kind of deranged housewife figure. The next chapter in a book begun by January Jones' Betty Draper. And actually, at the moment, that is how many people see the Duchess because she is overwhelmingly defined in the public eye by her role as wife. We don't know what she thinks or what she's passionate about. So, in my first attempt at replicating the previous Fashion Junior's Big Head feature, I have scoured images from the past few days to see what we might be seeing HRH in next Summer, and she'll have a lot to dress for what with the Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations....

Burberry- Kate and Wills were engaged in Kenya so she might be quite taken with this Kanga print

Clements Ribeiro. Lace is a sure hit with the Duchess

She already likes Erdem, florals and shifts so this is a must-buy

Giles does classic Princess-y shapes

Kate is Issa'a number 1 fan but this would be a change from the slinky wraps she usually chooses from the label

Sara Buys, Harper's Fashion Director and a relation by marriage of Kate's, chose Osman for her outfit to the Royal Wedding so surely on the radar

The most Kate worthy dress from Peter Pilotto's offering

Add heels and a fascinator and ta da, a classic K-Mid wedding outfit from Richard Nicoll

Daytime prettiness from Jonathan Saunders

Perfectly demure for a black tie event, again from Jonathan Saunders.

I don't even need to add a head to this, it has vintage Duchess Kate written ALL over it...

Issa

 And what she won't be wearing....

Meadham Kirchhoff weren't bowing to Wintour's memo, and good for them!

Images from catwalking.com

RESORT 2012 - FASH JUNIOR GETS BIGHEADED!

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

Following on from the Fash Ed's Resort 2012 selections, I too had a go at our favourite 'dress up dollly' game to model my own top picks. Judging by these choices, I will primarily be wearing sky blue, hot pink, black, white and gold over the next few months, and acting like a starlet in a Sixties movie.

 Celine's hot hot hot pink throw-on shirt dress. For those 'I feel like Barbie days'.I'd probably have to pair it with a LOT of eyeliner or something to balance out the Pretty in Pink-sugary-sweetness...

 ...and would definitely NOT wear it at the same time as this flipping incredible Michael Kors coat. Wowzers.

 Marc by Marc's dreamy 60s party dress, for the Betty Draper days (and nights)

Whilst Roksanda's crossover playsuit is just classic cool.

 Richard Nicoll's gold dress has spot-on Sixties Sophia Loren style. Could also be teamed with sheer pale tights for an even more Carnaby Street feel, but I'd rather wear it whilst sitting at a cafe in Cannes (note: I am not a member of the Made in Chelsea cast. I'm talking about 1960's Cannes, with Brigitte Bardot posing on the beach in a bikini)

Back in Blighty, with a complete lack of summer weather, this more appropriate Stella McCartney ensemble is simple yet highly effective, Mod-ish awesomeness.  I'd swap the shoes for a nice patent loafer for extra Quadrophenia points.

 Bobby socks? Patent heels? A full tulle mini skirt? A JUMPER WITH A GOOGLY STRAWBERRY ON IT? Nobody does cute like Mulberry do cute. Did I mention it has a strawberry on it?!

 Peter Jensen has produced my favourite Resort images by far (above and below), ostensibly inspired by a silver-haired Meryl Streep, looking cool (as always) in various New York locations. Weirdly, my hair is the same colour as the model, which makes these Big Head pics look even more odd. Seriously though, the clean lines, pastel colours, loafers and general Sixties NY gal perfection made me fall in love with Jensen just a little bit more.

And finally, in true fashion show tradition, the bridal couture...

...er, not really! But this Lanvin number would definitely help me get my Jerry Hall on. Or look like a debutante. Either way, Alber strikes white gold with this one.

FASHION JUNIOR'S TOP TEN OUTFITS FOR SS11

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

As you might expect, my choices are somewhat different to the Fashion Editor at Large!

David Koma:
Caters to my inner ballerina. Simply graceful.

Givenchy:
I've always been a leopard print fan, and this updates it for summer. Plus - white leopard print will always super trashy, in a wonderfully 80s way.

YSL: For when I'm feeling ladylike again, this sheer dress combines my favourite colour with just enough vintage styling. 

Moschino Cheap and Chic:
My ideal outfit for Fashion Junior-ing in.

Marc by Marc Jacobs: If I manage to go on holiday next year, I would like to look exactly like this, thanks.

Erdem:
Absolutely dreamy, I would pretend I was the romantic heroine of a movie while wearing this.

Burberry Prorsum:
Because you can't be girly all the time.

Richard Nicholl:
for sheer outrageousness.

Preen:
Bringing elegance back to the fore.

HAS NET-A-PORTER MET ITS MATCH?

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

There's a new e-tailer on the block, and this one might just be good enough to rival net-a-porter...

Well actually mytheresa.com isn't exactly new, having launched in 2006 as the online arm of the German bricks and mortar store, and while we have been journalistically aware of it, we haven't really given it much thought as it served mainland Europe direct, not the UK.  But, it's fair to say you probably haven't heard of it before. Whilst our European cousins have been buying from the website's selection of 120 high-end designers for years, this is the first time the company is directly targeting the UK market.
Well not for much longer. Mytheresa.com is known for its designer exclusives, and pre-fall sees the arrival of exclusive pieces from Burberry Prorsum, Proenza Schouler and Erdem to name a few. FEAL has managed to get hold of this never before seen sketch from the latter (you know how I love fashion illustration).

'For the Pre-fall collection with mytheresa.com I wanted everything to feel bright and dynamic, and also very special for their customer' - Erdem

The pre-fall capsule collections go online in June. Until then you can click through to shop these hot SS10 offerings:

Blazer by Richard Nicoll (£803), Trousers by Stella McCartney (£415), Necklace by Dries Van Noten (£768)

Dress by Christopher Kane (£1517)

 Dress and necklace by Lanvin (coming soon), boots by ACNE (£348)

http://www.mytheresa.com/

AW10 LONDON FASHION WEEK: MY TOP FIVE SHOWS

Posted by Fashion Editor at Large

London Fashion Week was excellent. It was supremely well organised with solid shows delivering the creative and commercial. Burberry came out tops for me, with special praise going to Meadham Kirchhoff.  However, my main category of good show is here. These five collection gave me the jolt of the new that I need to keep engaged in the job. These designers are, for me, pushing fashion forward into this new decade.   

JOANNA SYKES

Joanna Sykes: Love!

PETER PILOTTO & CHISTOPHER DE VOS

Peter Pilotto: How chic?

Peter Pilotto: Excuse me while I swoon...

RICHARD NICOLL

Richard Nicoll: His new proportions threaten to make everything else look dated

AQUASCUTUM

 

Aquascutum: I love you Michael Herz! Cannot wait to wear Aquascutum this Autumn.. 

Aquascutum: Freja better not have the sample of these trousers. They are mine.

CHRISTOPHER KANE

Christopher Kane: S&M florals go Scottish dancing. Where can I pre-order?