New Look Opens in Fgura!

Dear Readers,

I'm lying in the sunshine, pretending to sip cocktails - I'm really drinking iced tea, close enough? - with a handful of papers to read and a new pair of sunglasses. Whereas the former have been accumulating for a while now, I just got the latter in a goodie bag at the New Look opening in Fgura which was held today.

I arrived on site - with horrible hair, mind you - at around 9:10am to find dozens of people already waiting for the store to open its doors. The first hundred customers were going to receive a free goodie bag with a voucher and some New Look merchandise and people definitely wanted to make the most of that offer. Apart from the two rude, style-impaired women standing in front of me, the queueing experience was enjoyable as well. Got to meet some of my readers and Denise from All Things Fabulous!

Doors opened at 10am. I met the lovely Kristina, a marketing representative, who welcomed us in and handed me my own goodie bag. I was pleased to find some sweets, a ten euro voucher, a pair of wayfarers, discounts and make-up items, including an amazing Bourjois mascara. How cool is that?

I spent my voucher already, on a mint shirt to be precise. You'll be able to see it very soon I promise! I have a haul coming up in the next few posts.

I'm so glad to have New Look within walking distance. My bank account, however, doesn't seem as happy.

-B

William Wilde at Runway Malta

Dear Readers,

As I've said endless times on my Facebook page, I felt William Wilde, a London-based designer I interviewed for this entry, was the the gem of last Saturday's edition of Runway Malta. His latex designs, the models' attitude on the catwalk and the music used for the show was pure genius! However, let's look at the collection in a little bit more detail.

I may be into androgynous details - maybe a little too much - but there's a side to me that is very 'va va voom', especially in Spring and Summer. I'm a little bit like Nicki Minaj - for want of a better analogy - I seem to have different and contradicting personalities. Anyway, what's the point of my psychoanalytic rant over here? Well, just to make you understand that this glamourous, feminine collection appealed to me as much as a sharp, androgynous collection would have.

Another thing which tickled my fancy was the interesting play between femininity and edginess. I mean, the cuts are pretty 'traditional', nothing too extreme. However, the latex textures gives that conventional feature a more playful, mischievous, almost 'fetish' feel that I appreciated immensely. Needless to say, the models looked beyond stunning in that figure-hugging latex.

Variety was present in William Wilde's collection. Each piece was different from its predecessor, even though the recurring colour palette was kept intact. The collection included bows, peplums, stripes, sequins, different lengths, flares and even those hot-pant shorts everyone is working out so hard to fit it!

When I asked William Wilde about his favourite piece in my interview, I remember that he mentioned the Union Jack jacket in the photo below. I find it less easy to select my top piece. It would be a tie between the sequin skirt, the pastel skater dress and the striped peplum jackets. Oh wait, there's the mermaid gown too. Geez, I'm overwhelmed.

I may even dare to say that Mr. Wilde was the best international designer to have visited our forlorn islands in a while. There I said it.

-B

FCUK, Marius Op't Eynde and TK at Runway Malta

Dear Readers,

It's high time I address three of the major collections showcased at Runway Malta last Saturday. Overall, I did feel that the Autumn/Winter edition of Runway Malta presented a better ensemble of 'bigger' designers. However allow me to focus on the three labels I want to share with you today (a day which shall soon end for I am writing this post half asleep!)

My observations start with one of the leading high-street stores: FCUK. Now I admit that I don't usually go to the said store to browse through their collections as I do with other high-street shops, but I confess I have a soft spot for their advertising campaigns. In fact, as press we were given a booklet with the latest collection, obviously set against the typical FCUK campaign. Sadly, I do have to state that I enjoyed flicking through the pages of the booklet much more than I enjoyed watching the collection unfold on the runway. And please let me explain why. Apart from a cream dress, a sequin ensemble and a plunging-neckline top, pictured below, I found the collection quite uninspiring. Too far away from my expectations. I don't know why.

FCUK

On to Marius Op't Eynde and his cycling inspired menswear collection. My interview with the designer built very high expectations in me and after watching the show live last Saturday, I can say I liked almost everything. I could definitely discern the cycling-inspired features - including very fast models who barely gave me time to photograph them. Good one though! Tied in well with the theme! - and the statement prints he also spoke about. In general, the collection was bright, sharp and an interesting play between muted edginess and everyday wear. My vote on the wearable-meter? A good 7. I think the pieces are quite high-street friendly. Thumbs up!

Marius Op't Eynde

The final designer in this post is TK, who joined us after travelling all the way from New Zealand. TK's highly feminine collection, with a predominantly black and gold colour palette, is probably the one I'd give the highest vote in terms of wearability. Then again, that does not imply that I was necessarily impressed by this collection. Don't get me wrong, but I  kind of felt this collection missed a special something. I largely blame it on the fact that it was shown in between two much stronger collections, which I found to have slightly shadowed it. Nonetheless, I'm a great fan of the fabrics used. They drape very gracefully. The little feminine features, like the lace skirt and the sequin under-dress in the photos below, were also a pleasant touch to TK's work.

TK

Join  me tomorrow for my favourite collection from Runway: Mr. William Wilde.

-B

NewGen Designers at Runway Malta

Dear Readers,

I hope you are all having a great weekend. I'm sure I needn't tell you where I was yesterday evening right? I was at Runway Malta, taking photos of the collections on the Runway and - ideally at least - street style shots. I'll express my disappointment with the latter in another post. On to the subject of this post, the new generation designers at Runway Malta 2012. Also, just in case you overlooked this detail, one of these designers was chosen to showcase her collection at FASHIONCLASH, an amazing opportunity for someone making her first steps in the industry. Can you guess who won?

Ewa Nowacka

Ewa Nowacka is truly in a league of her own. Probably my favourite local-based designer at the moment, Ewa Nowacka presented a very different collection from the one she showcased in the previous edition of Runway. Her new collection verges on the couture, with an interesting mix of textures, coloures and fantasy-inspired shapes. Thumbs up!

Nicole Cuschieri

I've never seen anything from budding designer Nicole Cuschieri before yesterday, but if this is what she's made of, I can't wait to see more! I know, you can't really go out in a cage-like skirt or with a butterfly-bowl headpiece, but it's the creative process that matters. This dreamy ensemble was a breath of fresh air and probably the one I would have personally sent to Maastrict. I'm nobody though. Hah!

Geneva Corlett

Geneva Corlett, the winner of the NewGen competition, put forward a highly wearable collection. Kudos to Geneva for the panel work as well as the choice of colours. I think Miss Corlett's pieces were such a hit because they represent the ideal balance between runway and high-street clothing. Best of luck to Geneva, hold your head up high, you deserve it!

Enrique Tabone

My apologies to Enrique Tabone for failing to take a photo of your last number. Well actually I did take one but it was the most out of focus snap I ever caught on my camera. Oh well, tough luck. It's up to my readers to imagine the sheer beauty and elegance of the final piece. All I can tell you is that it was as breathtaking as its friends. Black and gold always works in my world, especially if set against a sleek background!

Celeste

Wow, Celeste has sure improved! Martina Spiteri, the creative mind behind Celeste, seems to walking down a different road as of late. Whilst I'm not sure what path she's following, I'm very well impressed with this new Celeste woman. Brilliant choice of colours and fabrics. 

Who would you have sent to FASHIONCLASH? 

Stay tuned for more Runway posts in the coming days (or hours?)

-B

Men's A/W 2011-2012 Trends

Dear Readers,

Since I believe in gender equality, I decided to write about men's fashion A/W trends after writing about women's trends yesterday.

Relaxed Tailoring: Loose Pants

I have good news for all those men - and I know there are plenty of them - who hate skinny, figure hugging trousers. Whilst skinny pants are not completely 'out', this Autumn and Winter designers have opted for more relaxed, loose, drop crotch trousers. If you want to follow this trend, look for tailored trousers which are loose around the thigh and crotch areas. Many argue that loose tailored trousers undermine the 'formality' associated with tailored trousers, but I think that unless they're excessively baggy, they're still more formal than your casual pair of jeans.

Relaxed Tailoring: Jackets

The relaxed tailoring trend is not solely relevant to trousers, it's also applicable to jackets. One dominant element of this trend is the 'seamless shoulder', which can be explained as the lack of a stitch line where the shoulder meets the arm. In many ways, the shoulder style is very similar to a kimono sleeve. The 'seamless shoulder' trend was spotted in several collections on many different pieces, from casual sports clothing to more structured outerwear. 

Another element of the relaxed jackets trend is the 'deep shoulder seam / dropped shoulder' detail. This implies that the shoulder seam should rest somewhere beneath your shoulder and closer to your bicep. I haven't been to men's stores recently so I've no idea whether shops are stocking these jackets already, but just in case they don't, get a size larger and it will do the trick. As long as your jacket looks oversized from the shoulder area, then you're acing it :)

Plaid

This is probably my favourite men's trend for Autumn and Winter. Though plaid has been around for a couple of years already, it has never been this popular. This pattern will dominate men's collection in the coming season, so make sure you stock on your tartan, dogtooth and Sherlock Holmes-like garments. This trend is not only limited to jackets by the way!

Double-breasted suits and coats

Whilst sleek single-breasted suits are also in fashion next season - they never go out of fashion anyway! - we're going to see a huge return of double-breasted suits! The cut of the double-breasted suit is different this time. Whereas originally double-breasted jackets were intended to hide a fuller figure, this year's double-breasted jacket is in a V-neck form which accentuates a well-built body. For inspiration, consult Chuck Bass.

Overalls

I've mentioned overalls yesterday when I wrote about women's trends and here I am again exalting the charm of the one-piece! Overalls / Dungarees / Boilersuits are an incredible statement piece for men and I just can't wait to see people strolling around the street in them :)

Tonight, before going to bed, I'll pray to God and say, 'Dear God, please make many men follow at least one of these trends this Autumn. Make them throw those white undervests away! Amen.'

-B

The Boffism Guide to A/W 2011-2012 Trends

Dear Readers,

As I was telling my family earlier, I start gearing up for Autumn after the 15th of August. I love Summer, but I miss my blazers too much, so I can't wear to start layering things on. Before clearance sales end, I thought of giving you the lowdown on some of next season's biggest trends, just in case you wanted to bag a few bargain buys before they're gone.

Black and White
Thank you God. This a very easy and doable trend and you can hardly do it wrong. Black and white outfits are so easy to put together and dress up and dress down. You can adapt the trend to your workwear, and you can spice it up for an evening look.

Boyfriend Looks
Get your hands on any boyfriend blazers you find on sale women! Masculine looks are going to be BIG next Autumn and Winter, so you want to make sure you're equipped. I'm not going into too much detail on this trend because I intend to dedicate an entire post to the topic during this week. This is my favourite trend, hands down.

White Out
This look has also been en vogue during Summer, and as you might know I'm not one of its biggest fans. I have this little aversion to white trousers, bags and shoes, so I'm definitely not going for the look. But you're free to challenge  me :)

Maxi Dresses
YES! I love maxi dresses in Autumn, especially when paired with a boyfriend blazer or a cute denim jacket. Oh, one thing to keep in mind, never wear maxis during a rainy day unless you want to dry the land you're walking on. This is experience speaking.

Fetish
I must admit I chuckled when I read about this trend. You might be wondering what 'fetish' implies in this context. Well, easy, it implies plenty of latex, leather and textiles you're likely to see in a porn movie. Whilst I don't encourage any of you to go out looking like a hooker or a call-girl, I do encourage some 'softer', 'milder' experimentation. On my part, I'm glad that I'm going to have an excuse to wear my recently purchased leather top (what I tend to call my 'bulletproof vest'). It's a difficult trend to adapt, but we oughtn't give up!

The Parisian Look
Well, you know what I think about this trend. I won't be making too much of an effort this Autumn to follow this trend, considering this is my 'go-to' style every consecutive Winter. If you want to have a go at this trend, stock on tweed, dogtooth, sombre colours, refined jackets, and clear cut short coats. Ask yourself, 'Would Blair Waldorf wear this?' and if the answer is 'Yes', then you're doing it right.

Seventies Style
The seventies trend is still alive and kicking! It's been around for a couple of months now and we can't get enough of it! I personally love the trend, even though I usually avoid some of its most typical elements like flared trousers and platforms. But, having said that, bring on those floppy hats and huge sunnies, Jane Fonda ain't got nothing on us dear readers!

Lady in Red
Yikes, as much as I love red, I'll have to go slowly with this one. As a redhead, I try to avoid red as much as I can, although sometimes I just can't resist it. I'll have to stick to my loyal red lip but you readers can go for it, especially if you're blondes.

Pencil Skirts
As I read about this trend, I nearly screamed with happiness. Damn, I love pencil skirts. Forget those miniskirts ladies, midi-length is the way to go. Do you know what the French equivalent for 'pencil skirt' is? It's 'jupe crayon'. I think that's the cutest thing ever.

Fur
I won't go into ethical considerations and all of that jazz, because we all have opinions about the subject and this is not the place discuss the issue. I love fur, though I go for faux fur myself, just saying. If you're a fur newbie, then start with a fur scarf and work your way up gradually. Psychedelic / Multi-coloured furs like the one in the picture will be very, very in.

Spots
Yay, that's a very easy trend that practically everyone can enjoy! It's simple, fun and easy to come by. I've seen a hundred and one million spotted items on the racks already. So go for it, girls!

Brocade
I'm rather obsessed with brocade. I've got a brocade desktop background, a brocade iPod Touch wallpaper, a couple of brocade inspired room decorations and plenty of brocade clothing items. Without further ado, I declare that I'm all for brocade and so should you! For anyone who doesn't know what brocade is, it's a  type of embossed material which is usually made from gold or silver threads. I ADORE BROCADE! This reminds me I need a brocade blazer, mhmmm!

Overalls / Dungarees
Bingo! I can proudly say that I just bought one for 4.99 Euro last week. Many people don't like dungarees, but some people like me love them to death. The problem with overalls is that I barely see any in shops, which is totally unfair.

Snakeskin
Animal Print? Hell yes. Go.Buy.Now.

Aztec / American-Indian Prints
At the moment, Bershka are full of these designs and I just want to buy the entire section. Pair these items with feathers or fringes and you''ll give Pocahontas a run for her money!

Orange
Boo! This is such a big no-no for me unfortunately. Orange-haired women aren't meant to wear orange unless they want to look like the Annoying Orange. But, you all know I like challenges, so I'm going to try and defy this belief. I'll do it, I hope. I found an amazing orange blazer that I can't afford to leave in the shop. I must do this!

Mustard
Mustard is one of my favourite colours. My favourite blazer is mustard. My favourite coat is mustard. I needn't say more right? Oh, I want this gorgeous mustard Lanvin dress, pretty please!

I'm having an pleasant, crazy Summer but quite frankly, roll on Autumn!

-B

(all pictures via Vogue.fr)

When Disney meets Art and Eyeshadow.

Dear Readers,

I don't consider myself to be particularly talented at applying makeup. I can do a decent smokey eye. I somehow manage to pull off flicked eyeliner. I can follow an easy tutorial on YouTube and recreate, say, 70% of the look. But that's it, nothing too fancy. (Yet, enough to know that extremely drawn eyebrows look tacky. For Christ's sake, I just wish the woman I saw this morning reads this..)

But, unlike me, some people are really talented! Like, REALLY talented. One such person is make-up artist Katie Alves, who creates stunning and very elaborate looks. Some of her looks are inspired by our favourite Disney movies. As soon as I stumbled upon some pictures of her work, I felt like I had to share this incredible talent with you all! I have heard about make-up artists who did 'Cinderella looks', 'Snow-White looks' or something along those lines. However, Alves work is different. She literally paints a scene from Disney movies on her models' eyelids. How cool is that?

Take a look at some of Alves' work below. Let's see whether you can tell which movie inspired which look :)

'Aladdin'

'Alice in Wonderland'

'Lion King'

Awhh my fave! 'The Nightmare before Christmas'

'Snow White'

'Tangled'

Oh geez, all these looks make me feel like a newbie!

Don't forget to visit Katie Alves' Facebook page here, and like my page here..while you're at it :p. All pictures used above were taken from Styleite.

-B