Opulence & Embellishment
Sequin, Bead, Brocade, & Lace Looks
Sequin, Bead, Brocade, & Lace Looks
Celebrity Kate Moss, favoured a shimmering spangle shift tunic dress for the Swarovski Fashion Rocks event earlier this year. Of course wannabes hunted for one just like it. Needless to say, every fashion collection seemed to manage to slip in a heavily embellished dress and this gorgeous dress right, in flesh tone is from Blumarine.
All the major retailers have sparkling sequin, bead, spangle or Pailette dresses in the Autumn 2008/Winter 2009 ranges. But for this look to be on-trend keep at the knee or higher, and keep the accessories simple and plain in contrast. The brave can buy sequin trousers, while the not so brave can stick to simple sequin additions such as sequin shoes.
Cleavage exposure has taken a dive, but in the other direction! Necklines are more modest and provide interest with key holes, peek-a-boo sheers and lace effects. Glamour no longer means show-it-all exposure, but understanding the subtle nuances of statement with style.
The stunning lace dress on the far left is from designer Eli Saab. He is a master of sophisticated womanly styling.
Clearly the high street rates this style too, and here is a lovely black lace dress near left from Wallis. Wallis Autumn/Winter 2008 - Black lace dress £60/€95.
Lace is a sure winner this autumn and was much favoured in Prada's catwalk show. Prada pulled out all the stops with her use of Swiss lace, in fact it's so crusty that was also used to make lace handbags. In my mind there is no doubt that the lace trend will slowly grow and become a huge fashion statement. But Prada's version is not the itsy-bitty pieces of lace trim on the edge of a ruffle. This is lace used to make whole garments in the style of covetable whole lace garments of 50 years ago, along the lines of work by Irish designer Sybil Connolly.
Real lace is back in the high street, even though manufacturers won't be able to make the Swiss lace so beloved by Prada. The thickness of it puts it in the passementerie category. But, they will be able to produce jolly good substitutes for the mass market. Watch this lace fashion trend rise and rise in the next 2 years.
Gorgeous, feminine, understated, but sophisticated and lace looks await women and the elegant dressing will delight men.
Boho Folk - Paisley Prints
This decade has been one in which women have openly embraced ethnic folkloric styling in their dress. No sooner is Boho thought to be on the wane, when it resurfaces on the catwalk with even more authority than before. Women loved the vibrancy of gypsy skirts of a few years ago and the oh so easy to achieve styling possibilities of eclectic ethnic folkloric dressing.
The Gucci collection ensured we all became reacquainted with the richest of Boho Folk patterns and fringe. Folksy Boho alternatives were provided by DKNY too as 70s hippy dresses with peasant appeal in browns, gold, orange, rusts; all are a highlight of the DKNY collection.
This is such an easy look for both the high street and the average female consumer to translate from the catwalk, so expect to see plenty of Boho Folk items this forthcoming winter.
Key pieces of the Boho Folk look include the paisley/folk print dress, the coat with embroidery, the richly printed/embroidered scarf, the wild fur or print bag, and fringed boots.
This folkloric dress left is from Warehouse and is styled to give you are real feel for autumn looks. This image shows two key trends to watch out for in autumn 2008 - the gilet and the folkloric print dress.
Right - Rock Stylist Dress £60/€95, Gilet £50/€80, Jean £40/ €62, Belt £35/€55, Scarf £16/€25, Skinny Scarf £25/ €40,