Driven to Distraction!

What is the best way to distract myself from actually sitting down to do my uni assignments?

I know! Lets watch all the show footage of London Fashion week so far shall we? Yes? Good!

With it's new live streaming and videos online the BFC have succeeded in making it yet more difficult for any discerning fashion enthusiast to concentrate on much else for the next week.

If you fancy some heavy weight procrastination! Check this out!

londonfashionweek.co.uk

After watching all of the shows featured on the website for AW11, here are a few that really caught my eye.

Maria Grachvogel is a designer renowned for pushing the boundaries of the conventional fit and adapting it to compliment and accentuate the female form. 

The AW11 collection showcased Grachvogel's perhaps unrivaled ability to transform the figure by using clever cuts to narrow the hips and lengthen legs from the towering silhouette of a maxi dress through to the trousers that are affectionately known in the industry as, "the magic pants."

Keeping the colour palette mostly muted throughout the latest collection a splash of colour was injected to dilute the sea of greys and hand painted digital prints with two pieces that were a rich and vibrant burnt sienna shade. 

The majority of the collection featured a mainly monochromatic palette, peppered with digtial prints that were originally hand painted by Grachvogel so that the pattern would fall correctly and compliment the curves and contours of the body.

Here are a few of my favourite pieces!

Digital Printed maxi! Somewhat reminiscent of the McQueen Atlantis Prints!

Full length Ivory coat with over sized, fur lined lapels. This is probably my personal favourite. A classic and timeless silhouette that has been slightly tweaked in order to achieve an entirely original look.

Cleverly draped fabric enhanced and accentuated the body, from dresses, to jumpsuits, to overcoats. 

Another designer who really wowed me with his AW11 collection was Jean-Pierre Braganza.

Having cut his teeth at Roland Mouret before setting up his own label Braganza knows a thing or two about structure and constructed tailoring.

Exhibiting both menswear and womenswear this collection is by far one of the most exciting I have seen in a long time.

Inspired by nature, science and anatomy, Braganza experiments with panelling and specifically directional tailoring in order to create the desired aesthetic. 

Here are my favourite pieces from the collection. 

Innovative, experimental and technically impeccable Braganza is definitely one to watch out for!

Wow! what a long post and now I feel extremely guilty for having neglected my Comparative shop report for so long! Oh well back to the grindstone! 

Here are a few of the shows I'm particularly looking forward too! Make sure you check them out too!

Acne

Erdem

Meadam Kirchhoff

Aquascutum

Ashish

David Koma

For a full list of shows, schedules, designer profiles and everything you need to know about LFW AW11 visit londonfashionweek.co.uk/schedule.

Under the Boardwalk?

With the success of Mad Men going universal within the last twelve months, and it's undeniable influence on both women's fashion from the boardroom to the catwalk, it's time to see if HBO's new phenomenon, Boardwalk Empire has got what it takes to send the series stratospheric!

With the likes of Scorsese behind the prohibition period drama, there is no doubt that the story of the sin-filled Atlantic city is set to be well and truly a story of epic proportions.

Set in the 1920's the women's attire is a mix of drop waisted, calf length dresses, complete with details like fringing, beading and of course delicately designed broaches adorning their elegantly wasted décolletage.

In a time when women were kept to the confines of a concubine, it is the men in Boardwalk that will inspire and influence the discerning fashion forward male in 2011!

If only we could go back to days of the decorated button hole and the three piece suit! Back to a time when even the hardest gangster and bootlegger didn't dare to leave the comforts of the local speakeasy without first donning a fedora.

The bespoke Gangster style has even found it's way into the self proclaimed men's style bible, Esquire. 

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/mens-fashion/boardwalk-empire-costume-designer-091510

Instead of wearing vintage the Boardwalk actors were made new tailored suits by Martin Greenfield, of Brooklyn NY.

"New Dandyism," the Martin Greenfield Collection

Safe in the knowledge that the dapper gent is set to turn heads in 2011, the catwalk is following suit!!!

Lanvin

Burberry Prorsum

Ermenegildo Zegna

Vivienne Weswood