NYFW/LFW Favourites

Mary Katrantzou (LFW)

It has become pretty much a given that Mary Katrantzou will be featured in my favourites. She has never done a collection that I've disliked and I fell for S/S13 hard. I love the exotic stamp theme that runs throughout it and the odd structures to some of the dresses.

Lacoste (NYFW)

I'm not usually one for sports wear but this was by far one of my favourite collections from NYFW. I love the repeat pattern sports detailing on some of the pieces, especially the polo shirt print and the simple outfits. It seems I love the two extremes: crazy structures (Mary Katrantzou, Vivienne Westwood etc) or just really simple like this Lacoste collection. The splashes of cobalt blue throughout the collection went well against the crisp clean white.

3.1 Phillip Lim (NYFW)

Dungarees are that one item I've always secretly wished I could get away with. So when these wonderful pink creations graced the catwalk at 3.1 Phillip Lim I was over the moon. I'm also quite taken with the floral word t-shirts, they remind me a bit of the craze for Frankie Goes to Hollywood style 'RELAX' t-shirts that were everywhere in 2006 but in a good way.

Mulberry (LFW)

Didn't like the ochre leather at the start of the collection (for some reason it reminds me of the 1970s, in the worst way possible) but as it went on it just got better and better. I'm really into tailoring at the moment and can't seem to get enough of the metallic brocades that are popping up everwhere. There is a rather lovely pair of metallic brocade cigarette trousers in Topshop at the moment that are tempting me...

House of Holland (LFW)

I loved the House of Holland collection so much. It feels a lot more grown up than any of his previous collections but there were still elements of his trademark bursts of youthful fun. This dye tie was a particular highlight for me and I am desperate for it to trickle down into the highstreet!

What have been your favourite collections from the recent fashion weeks?

All images: style.com

Dolly's Delights

Published on Forge Press Online, the University of Sheffield's Student Newspaper 10/09/12

Back in May, Lifestyle went down to the Nicholls Building in Shalesmoor to speak with Dolly (AKA Jan Lupson) of Dolly’s Delights. Saturday August 18 marked the first birthday of her vintage clothing business, based in the vibrant setting of the Nicholls Building, with a weekend full of celebrations to mark a very successful year. Alice Burrow went to represent Lifestyle and see what was going on…

It was my first visit to the Nicholls Building and I couldn’t believe that I had been missing out for all this time! Situated on the main road in Shalesmoor, the Nicholls Building was home to a grocery wholesalers from the late 1800s but it is now home to an eclectic mix of vintage clothing and antique dealers, Dolly’s Delights being just one of them. It is the first unit you are greeted by when you enter the large first floor of the building, bursting with antique treasures. I spent ages browsing through Dolly’s wonderful wares and was particularly taken with an amazing vintage fur stole and a kitsch Coca Cola tin.

I found Dolly (Jan) upstairs in Gordie Cavill’s studio amongst piles of vintage clothing and I was immediately graced with some free dolly mixture (much appreciated!). Fortunately, the strangely murky weather hadn’t damped spirits and she excitedly ran over the day’s events, which had included a radio interview with BBC Radio Sheffield.

As part of the birthday celebrations, Dolly was collaborating with photographer Gordie Cavill of Source Photography who occupies the top floor of the Nicholls Building. He kindly let me take a photo of Dolly and it was much appreciated that he didn’t laugh at my simple point and shoot camera, which looked pretty feeble amongst all his equipment! Dolly’s Delights was offering 10% off all weekend and released 12 red balloons, one for every month of the business, into the Sheffield sky with gift vouchers attached. They’re still out there so keep your eyes peeled for deflated red balloons lurking in the bushes! For those who sadly missed out on the weekend, there are still various competitions running onDolly’s Facebook page. If vintage clothing, crafts and creative vibes are your kind of thing then get yourself down to the Nicholls Building and explore the treasures lurking within.

We’d like to wish Dolly’s Delights a very happy 1^st birthday, hopefully there will be many more years of antique treasures and celebrating to come!

Alice Burrow

The Nichols Building Website
Dolly's Delights Facebook

Photos by Source Photography
http://www.sourcephotography.co.uk/

A/W Trend #2: Dark Glamour

I've coined this term myself because to me its all about luxury with a gothic twist. In the dark glamour trend, black is the integral colour. It is brought to life by metallics (particularly gold) and jacquard patterns. Think smart cuts, tailoring, metallic detailing and classical prints like baroque and jacquard. Soften the trend up with velvet and light fabrics like chiffon.

Gucci Fall 2012Gucci is one of the main collections that comes to mind when I think of the dark glamour trend. It was mainly black but the velvet brocade detailing brought the tailored suits to life and I love the harsh militaristic styles against the soft chiffon fabrics. 

Dolce and Gabbana A/W 2012Dolce and Gabbana's collection was notable for its use of mixed textures like lace, velvet and fur. The gold baroque applique also sums the dark glamour trend up pretty well. Dresses with this kind of detailing are all over the high street at the moment such as this one below which I've spotted in River Island. Pairing a (faux) fur jacket with dresses in the evening would be perfect for this look.

Black foil baroque dress - River Island - £40

Gold Jacquard Jacket - £60 - ASOS

Jacquard Coat - Zara - £79.99

Jacquard Loom Trousers - Zara - £39.99

(Primark have a similar pair of trousers for £16)

This trend aso translates into beauty. Dark lipstick with simple eye makeup was huge in the fall collections and a particularly favourite of mine was Pat McGrath's work on the Gucci collection which was all about bleached eyebrows, simple eye makeup and strong lipstick.

Gucci A/W 12 Makeup Details (Image credit)

MAC Dark Shine lipstick / NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss / OPI Nail Varnish

(Runway photos from Style.com)