Festimode Casablanca Fashion Week 2012, Day 1

The seventh edition of Festimode Casablanca Fashion Week (FCFW) 2012 started yesterday with two shows of Fadila el Gadi and Mehdi Khessouane.

Fadila el Gadi has been working as a fashion-designer since 1990, and she is probably one of the few people in the fashion-business who has been working with the legendary Yves St. Laurent. That experience opened some doors for her, but it is of course Gadi’s talent that made her design for Barbara Streisand and Beyoncé. You can find her work in boutiques in Paris, Madrid and Saint-Tropez, in Morocco she has her own boutiques in Tanger and Marrakech.

Mehdi Khessouane was always surrounded by art and design, since his father is a interior-architect and his mother has a passion for art. Besides that Khessouane also had a passion for science. No wonder he studied Biology at the university and Fashion at the l’Ecole superieure des Beaux Arts in Casablanca. He is not only fascinated by designer Amina Agueznay but he also stands up against global warming. In 2009 Khessouane joined the selection of young talented designers at FCFW. This year he returned with an avant-garde collection for men and women.

Please enjoy the pictures of the first day of FCFW, with a selection of back and frontstage and some atmosphere during the event.

 

 

 

Streetstyle Trend: 50 shades of burgundy

Just when you thought everyone was going for purple this fall, Burgundy seems to be autumn´s hit color #1. A huge trend, even more on the streets than on the catwalk, and it goes well with just about every style. Sportive, dramatic, minimalistic or posh; everyone is craving for Burgundy. We spotted models, bloggers, editors, photographers and designers in the color that seems to look good on everyone and anyone. Choose your favorite shade (there are at least fifty different tones) and wear it with class. Burgundy might just be this season´s black.

Casablanca Fashion Week 2012 Preview: Said Mahrouf

One of the designers who will show his collection at Casablanca Fashion Week is Said Mahrouf (40). He is the one who invited Team Peter Stigter to Casablanca. That’s no coincidence, since Mahrouf lived for more than 30 years in the Netherlands – he came to our country with his parents when he was 9 – and studied Fashion Design at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. This year in January he presented his collection for the first time at Amsterdam Fashion Week.

Mahrouf is fascinated by the interaction between human movements and space. He gradually focused his work on designing costumes for site-specific performances. His work has been displayed at the New Museum of Contemporary Art and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, both in New York, the Utrecht Central Museum, the Amsterdam Municipal Museum, Carriage Works Gallery in Sydney and in Casablanca’s Loft Gallery. In 2011 he was appointed artistic director of the 15th edition of Morocco’s main traditional fashion event, Caftan, which was broadcast live from Marrakech. Said Mahrouf presents a ready-to-wear collection at Festimode-Casablanca Fashion Week annually.

His fashion-collections are an ode to femininity and elegance. The soft, sensual lines of his designs truly come to life on a female body. And his clientele in Casablanca loves it. After years of living in Amsterdam and traveling the world, Said Mahrouf returned  to Casablanca in 2010 definitely. In his atelier he designs and sells ready to wear de luxe. And it made him a celebrity in Morocco. Moroccan fashion is often traditional in spirit, what Mahrouf designs is considered avant-garde. And elite wants that.

Team Peter Stigter visited the designer in his atelier in Casablanca for a preview of his new collection, which is inspired by the colors of Marrakech.

More information about Said Mahrouf and Casablanca Fashion Week

 

Streetstyle Trend: Take a Bowtie

You don´t have to wait for an invite to some fancy ball to put on your bow tie. You can easily rock the streets, the nearest supermarket or your Friday afternoon lounge cafe in it as well. Just have a little fun with ´em and choose casual designs to fit your easy going looks. Do it like these streetstyle lads and opt for stripes, dots or checks. Pair ´em up with a shirt and shorts and perhaps a woolen cardigan. No need for a suit jacket: you´ll even look top notch without it.

 

Meanwhile, in Casablanca

Team Peter Stigter has arrived in Casablanca, Morocco. For the first time the Team is shooting the Fashionweek over there. And of course we will keep you posted on that. But first Peter and Jon want to share some pics they made during their first meeting with this modern city in the North of Africa, which is the biggest city of Morocco with the most important harbor. They visited the old town, the Hassan II mosque and some interesting shops and people. Please enjoy.

Streetstyle Trend: Heavy Bearded

One day without shaving is not enough to join the latest streetstyle trend. You have to grow a beard…for weeks! Forget those perfect and all too clean babyfaces; without a beard you´re only half a man (just kiddin´)! Take some inspiration from these streetstyle wonders who, whether slouchy or slick, sported their heavy beards with an outfit to match. Let´s just hope your boss will approve…

Streetstyle Trend: Show your Socks

 

Looking like a gentleman means putting thought into every little detail of an outfit. So attention must be paid to the socks as well! Whether you go for bold, bright or printed, make sure you have a little fun with it. And even though there´s only the slightest chance an inch of your socks might be visible; think about it. You don´t want Fred Flinstone looking up from under your striped suit. Take a look at how our streetstyle gents worked their sense of style into their socks.

Trend Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Cap Chic

This fall you no longer have to be a skater or high school kid to be able to wear a cap. A casual suit or a bodyfit turtleneck go pretty well with this type of headgear too. Just look at how designers presented this trend on the runway. Mixed with a slim fit shirt in matching shade at Bikkembergs, combined with a navy green turtleneck at Dior, worn in a more obvious way (with sweatpants) at Dsquared and paired up with a black suit at Acne. Leather or woolen caps add a richer feeling to the look. And men might not step into their Monday morning meeting wearing one of these, yet it´s perfect when stepping out of the office. Bad hair day covered and yes, you may, once in a while, wear it backwards!

The Big Round Up Womenswear SS2013, part 3

Spotting trends, common threads, strong statements and influences was not an easy task this S’2013 catwalk season. What does this tell us about the present status of fashion? Is this the outcome of the current economic turmoil? Making designers opt once more for carefulness, minimalism and restraint? Does this push immaculate tailoring and supreme crafts? Excitement more hidden in cut and materials then in expressive aesthetics?
Reflecting on this we concluded that there was pure concentration on the making of beautiful clothes rather then strong fashion statements. Today, part 3 of our list of 9 inspiring directions ss2013-collections are taking us:

TIE DYE

Graduated coloring adds an exclusive, crafted and lively aspect to fabrics and garments. Here it reflects many moods. Acid and intergalactic at Missoni, bohemian at Versace, dreamlike at Blumarine, 70s at Jonathan Saunders and poppy at Cristopher Kane. These lovely graded coloring and subtle ombres become classics over time.

PRINT POWER

We DO believe in the power of print. This season they are scarce but smashing. Patterns with heritage and pedigree: inspired by hand pained glazed terra cotta at Dolce & Gabbana, to reworked animal skin classics by Stella McCartney as well as Kenzo. Fresh and modern are the vibrantly printed volants of Peter Pilotto and the wild ink outburst on red by MiuMiu.

 

FRESH STRIPES

Stripes are going to make it BIG! This parade of bold striped dresses breath crisp retro reminiscence yet the designers stated their inspiration was found in more obscure places.

From historic couture at Dior, disco at Jonathan Saunders, Sicilian souvenirs at Dolce & Gabbana, to 60s graphism at Sportmax and glam sports at Michael Kors.

Stylespot is a collaboration with Stijlinstituut Amsterdam

 

The Big Round Up Womenswear SS2013, part 2

This is part 2 of our list of inspiring directions the new ss2013 collections are taking us.

SHEER LAYERING

When there isn’t the urge to change shape and silhouette, when restraint and understatement reign, interest in intriguing and manipulative fabrics raises. Here the playfulness is not in the cut yet in the cloth. Translucent layers cover simple shapes. Not so much about sexy sensuality but all the more about moderation and adding a faint touch of magic. Stella McCartney, Dior, Sportmax, Lacoste and Givenchy.

JAPONISM

Yoga suits and kimonos inspire minimalist silhouettes. Layered and gently wrapped; reinventing the dress as well as the suit. Subtle origami folds in soft plains with sophisticated shimmer, polished sheen or simply matte surface looks. Padded aspects, square trims, knotted belts and obi’s. At Prada, Lanvin, Mugler, Gianfranco Ferré and Haider Ackermann.

GORGEOUS COLOR

Gucci, Costume National, Dior, Lanvin and Jil Sander show that intense and passionate colour is just part of the message. The silhouette is the big story. As sharp as its shades, these forms are bold, square and boxy. Form fierce symmetry as well as sensual, bare-shouldered asymmetry. Power dressing is not just reserved for suits.

 

Stylespot is a collaboration with Stijlinstituut Amsterdam

 

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