MaryMe-JimmyPaul SS2014 Amsterdam Fashion Week

We have to miss Bas Kosters’ spectacle fashion shows this season, but tonight’s MaryMe-JimmyPaul collection was a nice surprising alternative. The designers presented an interactive show as the closing act of this Amsterdam Fashion Week opening night. Sponsored by Vodafone so phones were included in the interactive part. The audience was able to live vote for the looks while they were going down the runway. Doll-like dressed up models with pastel shades wigs and heavy make-up playfully walked the catwalk. They were dressed to the extreme sporting high heels, knee high boots, printed suits and spectacular fluffy/fur-like dresses and tops. With every look the outfits became more colorful, platform shoes got higher and the audience wilder. After the last look; the most hated and most loved models re-appeared. The finale for sure put a smile on everyone’s face when ‘ the designers’ were brought on stage and turned out to be two very tanned, strong bodybuilders in bikini. Bas Kosters too gave his sign of approval by enthusiastically applauding from the front row. What a spectacle; Amsterdam Fashion Week is officially started now!

Trend Report Fall/Winter 2012/2013: Ginormous bags

Remember the tiny designer bags in which we could barely put a set of keys and a cell phone at the same time? Well they’ve gone for good (ehh..for a few seasons). This fall it’s all about the ginormous bags.

According to Alexander Wang, DKNY, Chloé, Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs having to fit all your items in one bag is no longer a concern. What you need to start worrying about is the risk of packing way too much. Because the big fall/winter bags seem large enough for an entire weekend break.

We couldn’t be more excited. Now we just need to learn how to pack efficiently and neat, so we’re not searching and grabbing for our keys for over half an our.

Marga Weimans Amsterdam Catwalk Fashion Show SS2013

Marga Weimans’ models came down the runway tonight in almost impossible shoes (designed by Dutch shoe designer Jan Jansen) and larger than life printed dresses (items like the park dress and the skyscraper dress which form the skyline of Marga’s collection) while holding on to black frames on wheels. The show was a true spectacle of structured architectural looks in every possible shape and size. The dresses were all black and white printed shoes were made out of wood with holes in them. The show was closed by a ‘telephone dress’; a sheer black design with actual ringing cellphones in it. A great show to start the Amsterdam Fashion Week with and a nice introduction to Marga Weimans’ designs, who experienced her Amsterdam Fashion Week debut today.

 

Jan Boelo Amsterdam Fashion Week Preview

Going big
After having presented his previous collections in the afternoon Jan Boelo will hold a big evening show in collaboration with phone company Sizz during upcoming Amsterdam Fashion Week. And so Jan is going big with his collection too this season. “We’re creating about forty to fifty looks this time, twice the number of looks we did last year”, says Boelo. “Of course it tougher, but the number of team members working on the collection is doubled too and we’ll get some extra help the coming weeks, so we’ll manage. Since I only want to show the strongest looks we eventually might edit out about five of them during the styling process, but for now we’re just creating enough options.”

In the navy
The theme of Jan’s spring summer collection will be military, inspired by an editorial in French Vogue. “I’m showing all kinds of variations of the uniform. The army and the navy will be big themes in the show. The runway show will be a triumph, after battle. This means besides uniforms I will present garments men and women wear when returning home after war, for example leather long johns. All designs (in shades of sand, army, navy, red, white, blue, silver and gold ) will be slightly destroyed and the models’ hair and make-up too will look a bit off, in line with the theme”, Jan explains.

Seks & wax
The pieces will have a slightly different fit compared to last season, yet there’s no doubt they will still breathe the same amount of sex and rock. Jan: “The military jackets will be extremely tailored, T-shirts will be super tight, yet pants will be slightly looser and there is a focus on the shoulders. You’ll see my signature leather and jersey, plus I’ve used a special wax fabric for some of the coats and jackets. I will even present a sweater knitted out of chains, we are working on right now.”

Shine on
Jan already has a famous clientèle of mainly artists (Caro Emerald, Daily Bread and Ellen ten Damme) who wear his designs on stage. And it seems he inspires them as much as they do him. “The fabrics I use work really well on stage, since they’re often very shiny. It’s the stand out pieces (his metallic pants and baroque jackets from previous collections) that are selling the best. In Paris (where his designs are sold at Le Vestibule) a selection of Jan Boelo jackets was even sold out in four days. Jan: “The great thing is that even abroad mostly musicians and performers, people I’m inspired by, buy my designs.”

Celebs
And oh my do stars love Jan Boelo. Ever since his first fashion show he has had a star studded front row, something he never would have imagined. “I’m only 24 years old and I am actually just starting out. Sometimes I can not even believe some of the famous Dutch artists would actually come to my show.” Looking far ahead with his career is thus something Jan doesn’t do. “It’s hard to plan things, but of course I would love to expand. I would like to sell my clothes in London, Italy, Germany and Scandinavia, but time will tell if that will happen.”

Friday the 13th
For now Jan is finishing up his collection and is excited about the show. “I’m showing on the same day as Bas Kosters and Spijkers en Spijkers, so it will be a great day even though it will be Friday the 13th. I’m looking forward to putting on a great show together with them. ‘Cause I feel making Amsterdam Fashion Week a success is something you do together.”

Jan Boelo will show his Spring Summer 2013 collection on Friday 13 July at 09.00 PM

Bas Kosters Amsterdam Fashion Week Preview

Changes
After having shown his collection during the evening the last couple of seasons Bas Kosters is holding a matinee next week. “I decided it was time for a change. The previous shows were always one big spectacle, but this time the vibe will be completely different. Don’t expect it to be a quiet and calm event, but it will be different”, says Bas.

Couture-focus
Changes will be visible throughout the collection as well, since Bas decided to focus more on couture. “My previous collections were always very prêt-à-porter, but sometimes that can come across as too commercial. Therefore we’ve now added more unique pieces and we’ve created a different balance. These couture pieces are the showpony’s of the matinee. With them I can really show what I stand for. They’re easier to portray my vision with and they’re meant to eventually generate more sales.”

Love Fuck Yeah
Couture and prêt-à-porter will meet each other in Bas’ new collection, named Love Fuck Yeah. A collection which is about love. So is Bas very in love? Bas: “I am, but oddly enough I came up with this whole Love theme last year in August/September when I was actually heartbroken. Yet love is about so much more than just being in love. It’s about communication too, but on another level.”

No elite event
Like last season Vodafone is Bas’ main sponsor. Yet after the last show, which seemed to be all about telephones, Bas will now focus on the customer. “We want to involve the costumer. My show should not be this elite event. Therefore we also organized model castings this time, so the show is for ‘everyone’.”

Mystery
How the designs are going to look like, will remain a mystery for now, but there’s a few things Bas can reveal. “What I can tell you is there will be a focus on color, use of materials and dessins, which we’ve produced ourselves. We’ve used lots of cotton, as well as velvet and silk. Oh and the shoes will be sponsored by Nelly.com and Palladium.”

Bas Kosters will show his Spring/Summer 2013 collection on 13 July at 03.00 PM
A new edition of Bas’ magazine Extra Kak will be launched during the show.

Prada Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2012

Strength and the power of beauty, those seemed to be the idea s behind the Prada fall 2012 collection. The clothes were elegant, though a bit heavy sometimes, and contained all the classic elements Prada’s known for: the black, the appliqued stones, the suit, the awkward colors and vintage prints. New was the layered silhouette, that sometimes reminded of the way modern Muslim-women dress. The tailoring emphasized the high waist and long line as well as pants. Black dominated, followed by mustard, blue, orange and brown/pink. There were belted jackets, coats, tunics and dresses topping pants which were cut above the ankles.

Shoes were (platform) high, with a round toe and decorated. Bags started out big, but in the end  the became so small they could only carry an iPhone.

 

Bas Kosters Catwalk Fashion Show Amsterdam FW2012

On the first night of Amsterdam Fashion Week Bas Kosters blew us away with his spectacular show and performance. He started off playbacking (into an old telephone) to his own song, surrounded by five crazy dancers. Then his show started.

The influence of his sponsor for the night, phone company Vodafone, was clearly visible throughout the show. A fantastic mix of songs which involved telephones or calling (Lady Gaga – Telephone, Anita Ward – Ring My Bell, to name a few) was played. The song were interrupted a few times by a lady from a phone company saying something like: “We’re busy right now. Please hold the line” at which all models stood still.

Fashion wise it was a collection as crazy as ever. Telephone prints, letter prints, fluffly and fringed items came by. Bas designed printed leggings, long (dress-y) hoodies, structured pants and belly revealing tops. A black dress which had his face printed on it looked stunning due to the color combinations. The other prints just looked joyful and fun.

It-girl Valentijn de Hingh closed the show in an larger than life black and white printed dress with matching hat, wow!

For about twenty minutes we all took a trip to the Bas Kosters universe. In his own way the extravagant designer turned his Amsterdam Fashion Week show into one big party. Cheers to that!

Goodiebag!? Bas Kosters Catwalk Fashion Show Amsterdam FW2012

The goodiebag contained:

New edition of Bas’ magazine Extra Kak

Hairspray 60 ml – Redken

Pocket Mirror – Vodafone

Agenda – Paper Blanks

Flyer Anti Fashion Party

Phone cover with Prada folder in it

Mascara – Maybelline

Estimated Value: 20 euro

Rating: 7

Trend Report SS2011: Bright Bags

What better way to brighten up your outfit than by carrying a colorful candy-like bag? Burberry, Costume National, Fendi and Louis Vuitton surely all understood the power of that small colorful bag. A subtle extra to change your look from dull to dazzling.

The bag may have a graceful shoulder band; the best way to carry it around is by holding it in your hand. And even though there might be just enough room for a phone and a credit card these bags are the coolest items of the summer.

Whether fringed, patent, floral-shaped, embroidered or suede; as long as your summer bag has a bright color to it; you’re right on trend.

Wanna take this trend a little further?
Combine your bright bag with a full colorblockig outfit!

Catwalktrend FW2010: All that glitters…

After so many season of hearing navy or grey being the new black, this year’s new black comes as a surprise. Gold is the new black for 2010/2011. Though it’s not a very common color for winter, it certainly is a big trend.

It popped up at Balmain, Moschino, Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana and Pucci. At Balmain it matched perfectly with the whole baroque-theme and all the purple.

Moschino combined it with black. Rosella Jardini designed a golden fringe coat and decorated a black one with lots of golden (ear)rings.

Dolce & Gabbana showed golden headphones for your i-Pod and used small golden coins as emrbroideries on their clothes.

Donatella Versace mixed all kinds of metallics in her collection. Even her pants and bags had metallic pieces on them.

So, everyone saying gold looks cheap and trashy should keep their mouths shot for at least half a year. Cause it’s the trend. And even if it’s fake, it’s still fashionable.

For the winter of 2010 all that glitters IS gold.

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