pictures from www.style.com

Last week , Alexander Wang was awareded the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award, worth US $200,000. I think he is definitely a deserving winner, with an amazing Spring Summer 09 collection and an army of dedicated followers including many celebrities. Alexander Wang has his own brand of laid back cool with his designs being labelled as ‘new grunge’.

Alexander Wang beat a whole list of promising hopefuls including Richard Chai, Alejandro Ingelmo, Irene Neuwirth, Juan Carlos Obando, Obedient Sons & Daughters and Organic. Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava and Albert Q Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus were each awarded runners up prizes of $50,000.

 The much talked about and coveted Spring Summer collection by Alexander Wang, featured his signature Grunge girl look but with a newer focus. More colour, more body concious and more sexy, his latest collection but still with that relaxed and ultra cool feel. Alexander Wangs clothes are also becoming more accesible for people like me with the launch of his diffusion label T by Alexander Wang which includes T shirt dresses and other casual pieces.

If you love the Alexander Wang Grunge Girl look, you will love this Farhi Sleeveless Knit Tunic Dress.

With the beautiful weather we are experiencing at the moment, my thoughts have moved away from the autumn / winter trends and back to light and bright summer clothes. This highly unpredictable and changable weather has me to-ing and fro-ing my interest from summer to winter. With the rare bit of sunshine we have had over the last week it would be criminal not to get out some of my summer favourites and make the most of them, lets face it they might not get a lot more wear this year. So today I have chosen to post about one of my favourite summer item of clothing. Something that I bring out year after year and that never really goes out of fashion- The Kaftan.

The kaftan is elegant and lady like and covers a multitude of sins, it is a great over bikini cover up and  an absolute must have for holidays. It is also very versatile looking equally great on the beach, with a pair of jeans or for an evening out. But the thing I love most about the kaftan is the array of beautiful colours and bold prints that it is available in.

Some of my favourite Kaftans for this year

I’m feeling a bit unsure of where I am fashion wise at the moment. On the one hand the likes of Vogue and Elle are urging me to move on to thinking about my autumn winter wardrobe and have already given me a huge amount of information on what I can look forward to next season. On the other hand the likes of Look are still talking about bikinis, summer dresses and sandals.

This season, fashion and art merge into one, as clothes are decorated with all sorts of artistic designs from geometric prints to water colour washes and splashes, splatters and daubs. If you are into DIY fashion and customising your own clothes, then this is definitely the trend for you. Create your own unique masterpiece using fabric paints and pens on your choice of white garment. Get some inspiration from the catwalk shows.

At Chloe, three wide brush strokes in purple grey and black look simple and stylish on a short A line skirt.

At Dolce & Gabbana dresses were covered with multi coloured paint splashes for a bright and edgy feel.

At Moschino Cheap and Chic frilly dresses were decorated with graffiti like designs.

At Sportmax, this simple shift dress has a geometric pattern that looks like it was drawn with a ruler.

pictures from Elleuk.com

For the best effect, use plain white garments, you could try using this classic white vest as a blank canvas for your painting.

Bangles are the must have accessory for spring summer 08 and what better way to bring your outfits right up to date. Add bangles, lots or bangles, right up your arm, all sort of bangles in all sorts of materials, then you have a great look for this summer.

Bangles were seen in abundance on the catwalk and with all different trends for this summer from tribal to boho from nautical to tailored. The bangles were chunky or delicate and juicy bright colours or monochromatic.

At Salvatore Ferragamo, a peach and cream outfit was accesorised with multi coloured chunky bangles on both arms.

At Jonathan Saunders a elegant and cool looking beige dress was accompanied by white bangles with gold edges.

At Emilio Pucci again a neutral beige outfit was accessorised with bangles. These bangles were chunky interesting shapes, made from raffia and other materials.

Peach, white pink and yellow bangles were used to mirror the pattern of this stripey dress as Salvatore Ferragamo.

At Gianfranco Ferre black chunky bangles complemented the tailored monochrome look.

pictures from elleuk.com 

 If you want to bring your look right up to date, try out a vareity of these Angie Gooderham bangles.

Natural slim resin bangle

Gold Chunky  Resin Bangle

Prada

Sonia Rykiel

Yves St Laurent

Roger Vivier

Paul Ka

Miu Miu

Jil Sander

Emilio Pucci

Armand Basi

Pictures from Elleuk.com

Spring Summer 08 is all about the shoe. Statement shoes strutted, stumbled and stomped down the catwalk with more than a touch of humour. The shoes is not just an accessory this season, but a huge style statement in its own right. As far as shoes go this season just about anything goes. Our traditional view of what a shoe should look like has been turned on its head literally with heels protruding at the wrong angle and soles being a key feature of the shoe designs. From clumpy heavy looking shoes with platform soles to delicate sandals with the thinnest of straps to shoes adorned with pom-poms and all sorts of interesting details, one thing is for sure these shoes are for feet that want to be the centre of attention.

But do these designer spare a thought for those who are to wear this shoes and of the discomfort, pain and injury some of these shoes can cause - I guess not. Whilst I love a really eyecatching pair of designer shoes as much as the next girl. I think that some of these statement shoes are just taking things too far. I will be opting for a really eyecatching but comfy pair of shoes with a chunky heels this summer like these Graffiamania shoes. They will add the height I need whilst being the most comfortable and  the easiest high heels to walk in.

I love wearing colours. Bright colours, neon colours, pastel colours, clashing colours. They really cheer me up and make me feel happy. Sometimes I wear neutral colours and then add coloured accessories; sometimes I just opt for all over colour. The shops are awash with colourful clothes for spring summer 08 and I can’t wait to start wearing all those beautiful colours. 

When it comes to wearing colours, the key is to find your best colours; these are the colours that really make you look and feel great. In the seventies colour analysis became quite popular with TV programs like “Colour me beautiful” but there is really no need to go to an image consultant to work out what your best colours are. Look at your skin tone and work out if you have 

A warm skin tone with yellow, brown, olive or beige undertones - you will look best in clothes in the yellow, reds and browns family.

A cool skin tone with blue, purple or pink undertones - you will tend to look best in clothes in the blue, green and purple family.

As a rule of the thumb the greater the contrast between your skin, eye and natural hair colour, the stronger the colours you can get away with. Of course as with most things this is only a guide, the only real way to find out if a colour will suit you is to try it on or hold the colour near your face. There will be a whole palette of colours that suit you so try out lots of different options.

If you have cool undertones to your skin, try this Ladies Outback Embroidered Shirt in Sage

If you have warm undertones to your skin, try this red organic cotton blouse.

pictures from Vogue.co.uk

In my last post I daydreamed about the beautiful romantic creations for Spring Summer 08. I failed to mention Julia Clancey one of my favourite British up and coming designers with a real flair for creating romantic dresses. Julia’s unique and glamorous style is increasingly recognised and sought after by ladies in the UK. Julia has no formal fashion education but has proved her ability to design beautiful and elegant clothes primarily from silk or delicate fabrics such as chiffon. Her clothes have a fairy tale like quality and are sensual with soft fluid movement. Her signature style includes classic pieces from ballet skirts, baby dolls, voluminous empire lines, satin bows, pleats and exotic trimmings. Julia was first noticed by celebrities such as Cameron Diaz and Mischa Barton and her clothes have been featured in Vogue, Glamour, InStyle, Elle, GQ, FHM and Tatler. For me Julia Clancey clothes embody everything I love about dresses and getting dressed up.

Julia’s Spring Summer 08 collection was, as usual beautifully elegant and feminine. With its softly draped shapes, it is gorgeously romantic but still grown up and not too fluffy. The colours are pinks and neutrals but not too sugary and sweet.

I really love this Julia Clancey Amber frock in baby doll pink silk chiffon with a pleated satin bodice and a gathered skirt with frill detail.

I am a bit of romantic and I can definitely say there was some romance in the air at the spring summer catwalk shows. I have fallen in love with this trend already. The beautiful sheer fabrics, soft tones of pink and white, the frothy frou- frou frills, swishing skirts and gorgeously feminine details. 

At Rodarte the dresses had a fairy tale quality with the diaphanous swathes of fabric

At John Galliano, dresses were frilly and pink with inspiration taken from the 1930’s.

At Roberto Cavalli seventies boho style dresses featured romantic lace and broiderie anglais detail.

Stella McCartney featured yet more frills and ruffles this time in sheer white.

At Zac Posen the floor length ruffled dress was dream like and just pure romance.

pictures from style.com

The romantic trend is a great look for summer parties, balls or proms. If you fancy a bit of romance yourself try this lovely tiered party dress by Sara Berman.

Stripes are a big trend for spring summer 08. They have been seen everywhere on the catwalk. At first I gave a big sigh, horizontal stripes don’t look great on me. At only 5ft 2 they make me look wider and shorter not something I want to be.

After a bit of consideration, thought and research, I decided stripes are not nearly so bad after all. The optical illusion can also work the other way, so if I wear vertical stripes they make me look longer and thinner like this Aftershock dress with sequin stripes.

This is just what I need. What’s more they are even cleverer than that, they can create shape or curves where you want it. Clever use of diagonal stripes can define a waist and horizontal stripes on the top half can balance out a heavier bottom half or pear shape. The width and contrast of the stripes also affects the intensity of the illusion. If vertical stripes are wide with a high contrast they have a greater slimming effect. I love this Boudoir by Disaya tank dress.

Multi directional stripes on an outfit also add interest as they do on this Boudoir by Disaya dress.