Front Row Jan Taminiau Demi Couture

Expectations were high at the opening-soiree of the Amsterdam International Fashion Week.  Everybody was looking forward to the two shows of Jan Taminiau, Demi Couture and Haute Couture. We spotted Cecile Narinx of ELLE, Richard Kraijchek and Daphne Deckers and even James Veenhoff was shining in his tuxedo. Front row we pictured Hilmar Mulder of Grazia, Stacey Rookhuizen dressed in Jan Taminiau, models Dewi Driegen and Lonneke Engel and thank God Bastiaan van Schaik survived his scooter-accident.

Jan Taminiau Demi Couture Catwalk Fashion Show FW2011 AIFW

Tonight was Jan Taminiau‘s night. Everyone who is something in the Dutch fashion world was present to watch his very first Demi Couture collection (demi = half in French). A collection that more wearable and is less expensive, because to make one outfit only one appointment (instead of four or five) is needed. A great way to reach more customers, so we say: smart move!

Though the designs were a little less delicate then we’re used to from Jan, they were all still made with a very personal approach. Every single one of Jan’s Demi Couture outfits had a very specific look, yet the outfits can be mixed and matched with each other too.

In the typical Jan Taminiau shades (beige, light pink, gold, silver, light green) dresses, pants, jackets and skirts followed each other on the runway. All with Jan’s signature straight shoulders and accentuated waist and all very wearable indeed!

The collection felt classic, romantic and a little less dramatic than Jan’s haute couture collections. Perfect for a summer wedding, a premiere a cocktail or a fabulous rooftop party!

Backstage-snapshot at Jan Taminiau

AIFW Impression Day 1

The 14th edition of Amsterdam International Fashion Week is a fact. Today all crews gathered and put their gear and stuff at different locations. We already spotted Joost van Bellen from Star Studded Studios who’s responsible for almost every soundtrack we will hear during the shows, we saw the video-team of Frequin-productions  and Team Peter Stigter also took their places. Tonight’s the night of Jan Taminiau, who will show two collections: haute couture and demi-couture. We’ll keep you posted!

First some pictures round and about the AIFW-venue.

Team Peter Stigter is ready for 14th edition of AIFW

Hair Heroes in Amsterdam

Hair Heroes is a Dutch charity project instignated by  international renowned hair-artist Andy Uffels and Penny Slaney. The project is an independent working foundation that supports the Dutch foundation Stop Kindermisbruik (Stop Child-abuse). By organizing events in the Netherlands but also by supporting educational hair-dressing-projects in India and Cambodia Hair Heroes tries to make a difference. This sunday all Dutch top-hairdressers gathered at the Amsterdam Passenger Terminal for the yearly Hair Heroes-event, with a spectaculair show, performances, acts and an afterparty.

Team Peter Stigter covered the event for Hair Heroes.

Intermezzo: Klavers van Engelen Collection SS2011

In their ongoing quest to keep their design principles pure and their fashion elegant, Niels Klavers and Astrid van Engelen went back to their minimal approach. They wanted to create maximum effect with less and less interventions.

Square shaped panels turn into flowing, slightly complex yet easy fitting shapes once addressing the body. Seams, necklines and collars in draped silks (and fine blends) are glued instead of stitched, leather is left completely unfinished while other, more structured fabrics are finished with a tiny cover stitch only.  And for the first time Klavers van Engelen used prints. The color palette based on shadowy shades of black and sand perfectly balances out in an ocean of blue.

Again the designduo made a collection that looked simply beautiful from the outside, as if it was created accidentally. But take a closer look and you’ll see true designs that will keep surprising you by every movement and still make you feel elegant.

Claes Iversen Catwalk Fashion Show SS2011

On Tuesday fashion designer Claes Iversen presented his spring/summer collection for next year. He chose the Felix Meritis building (a meeting place for art, culture and science) in Amsterdam as his show location; the perfect spot for a fashion show.

To the sound of piano’s the first model appeared in the round show area. She wore a white dress embroidered with hundreds of butterflies. Even her braided hair had butterflies in it. While the model was waiting to start her runway walk, small butterflies came falling down from the ceiling.

Those butterflies appeared to be the theme of the show. For Claes they represented the passing of time, beauty and fragility. They were everywhere; attached to skirts and dresses, but also in yellow and white prints (and even in our goodiebag!). Though the butterflies were something new for Claes, they reminded us of the post-its he’d used is a previous collection.

Apart from butterflies Claes showed a lot of pleats in his summer collection. He designed pleated skirts, dresses and tops. Other show stopping items were several detailed corsets, made with lots of patience and combined with, for example, a pleated or a feather skirt. The sand-shaded jumpsuits and trench coat-inspired jackets were a little more save, but just as stylish.

Overall the collection was beautifully made, pretty wearable and feminine. The color palette existing of hues of beige and sand, mixed with coral/salmon pink, turquoise and light yellow seemed perfect for spring. And hats off to the styling team who combined nude-colored knee stockings with high heels, waist belts, eye-catching clutches and gorgeous hair.

STREETHEARTS

Een kijkje achter de schermen bij Team Peter Stigter over het Streethearts project. http://vimeo.com/13850271

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/13850271[/vimeo]

Joline Jolink Catwalk Fashion Show ss2011

Joline Jolink is one of the few Dutch designers who is working silently and serious at her oeuvre. She’s still developing, but her style is already visible and consistent. She sells mainly in the Netherlands (12 shops and a webshop) and probably soon in Belgium. It’s been a while since Joline Jolink  showed a collection to an audience, but yesterday she presented her spring summer-2011 collection to buyers and a small selection of editors. It was a very grown up, elegant and sporty collection. For the first time Joline Jolink presented some leather accessories, two small bags worn at the hip and a big bag inspired by oldfashioned schoolbags.

The designer is fascinated by strong women, their lives, way of dressing, way of thinking. And it always makes an interesting collection. For next spring it was Katharine Hepburn that inspired Joline Jolink. Especially her sporty/elegant way of dressing and her preference for menswear tickled the designer.

The result is a well balanced collection full of renewed classics, like the men’s shirt, the pleated trousers, the suit and the shirtdress. Jolink choose basic colors, like beige, marine, black, white and mustard. The only print was a wrinkled navy/beige striped jersey. eyecatchers were a soft, halterneck suit, a big poncho and a beige-colored silk suit. The flowing silhouet, the modern classics with a clean, sporty twist and the eclectic mix made it to a strong collection.

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