Streetfashion Paris Womenswear SS2016, day 2

What are they wearing during the international fashion weeks? A Valentino dress, that vintage Dior or their latest Celine skirt? During the fashion weeks we refresh our streetwear posts regularly. We don’t judge, we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy fashion and your own personal style. Next stop: Paris Fashion Week.

Dries van Noten Catwalk Fashion Show Paris Womenswear SS2016

When attending a Dries van Noten catwalk show, you can expect two things: there will be lots of colour and there will be even more prints and textures. And you’ll probably gonna like it big time. It’s what we call the magic of Dries. He has been putting a spell on us for many seasons and it doesn’t seem to stop. Do we mind? Not a bit.

Flamboyant, bold, impulsive, vivacious, observant, infatuated, jubilant, kinky, fearless, flirtatious, those were some of the show notes expressing the feeling of this spring collection very precisely. At first sight it was a very feminine collection, with the bra tops, tulle baby-doll dresses, lots of sheer fabrics, brocade and jacquard, ruffles and many 1940’s en 50’s silhouettes and references like the sunglasses and arm length gloves. Van Noten added sparkly embroideries and sequins on to the already shiny fabrics and exuberant prints. The clashing colours such as mustard, purple, hot pink, orange and gold didn’t hurt our eyes at all. It was the rock ‘n roll victory hair roll (a Gwen Stefani No Doubt kinda style) and layering that gave it the unexpected and less serious twist, like the bra tops and blouses worn over tattoo-print sleeves and tulle tucked underneath bra’s. The double-breasted jackets, oversized blazers, slouchy trousers with exaggerated bows and some hands in the pockets gave it a more manly touch, to balance it out in that tangible Dries van Noten way. This is a woman well aware of her femininity and elegance, but she never likes to play it completely safe. On the contrary, this was the perfect dress up party.

Chloe Catwalk Fashion Show Paris Womenswear SS2016

What would happen if you mix up western and 90’s grunge-era influences with sporty vibes? Well, you get the Chloe look of spring 2016. It’s like putting together Kate Moss and Courtney Love with the girl from the prairie; sounds like an odd combination, but somehow it works perfectly fine. The result is an interesting mix of its signature bohemian chic hit pieces such as airy maxi dresses -off-shoulder and halter neck-, printed tunics, gladiator sandals, lace details and soft colours, combined with tracksuits, sporting stripes, raw edged denim, harem pants, jogging trousers and tank tops. And did you see all those amazing rainbow colours? The flowy rainbow maxi dress, softly hovering around the models body, was definitely a statement item. Just imagine yourself in this summer stunner(can we skip winter, please?) Designer Claire Waight Keller obviously had a more youthful focus this time, though without completely falling back on the girlish and innocence again. Perhaps she felt it was time for a change and for the Chloe girl to see what’s still intact of her sturdy, grungy side. Well, it seems she’s doing just fine.

Liselore Frowijn Catwalk Fashion Show Paris ss2016

For her SS16 collection Liselore Frowijn has been playing with the word power and the meaning of it. A powerful woman is the one who dares to stand at the frontline, to be bold and brave. Frowijn was touched by the boldness and pureness of the monumental colorband-works by artist Sol Lewitt. It were these paintings she used as an inspiration to develop screen-printed, knitted and embroidered graphics in the collection.

She worked with fresh primary colors together with whites and tones of brown, to create a laminated and edgy look, playing with voluminous and tight silhouettes. She wishes to create an optimistic and energetic image. A dynamic universe is created by using organic and geometric shapes; the collection is like a cubistic kaleidoscope.

Jan Taminiau Haute Couture Fashion Show FW2015 Amsterdam

While the fashion-circus moved from Milan to Paris last monday, Jan Taminiau decided to present his new haute couturecollection in Amsterdam in an intimate setting. Artist Trudy Derksen opened her atelier to guests and clients and it proved to be a great setting for Taminiau’s dresses and pantsuits. It was all elegant and feminine and made for those women of the world, who divide their time between work and social events. Especially the evening-dresses were impressive, esspecially the ones with embroideries and handpainted flowers.

Mattijs van Bergen Show Photomuseum Rotterdam

Dutch designer Mattijs van Bergen presented his first collection after a difficult time with financial problems. He seems ready for a new chapter and has decided only to design collections on demand. And one of the projects is this new collection ZWART in collaboration with the Dutch Photomuseum in Rotterdam. The designer got inspired by the black and white photos he found in the archives of the museum of Ed van der Elsken, Aart Klein and Cas Oorthuys. He designed a collection of 16 pieces in black and white and used photo-prints of the artists in an abstract and sometimes recognizable way. The result is a strong, elegant and light collection.
It is the first time the Dutch Photomuseum has an exhibition about photography mixed with fashion. And it turned out very well.
Photo to Fashion
Until january 10th 2016
Nederlands Fotomuseum
Gebouw Las Palmas, Wilhelminakade 332 Rotterdam

Milan Womenswear SS2016 Trend Round-up

Bonjour Paris, see you next year Milan! Stuffed with pasta, espresso’s and loads of fashion, we head towards the European fashion capital. But before we open up the French chapter of this new season, we’d like to look back on the biggest trends straight from the Italian catwalk. Let’s see what summer 2016 has in store for us.

Stripes
As seen at Pucci, Prada, Giorgio Armani and Max Mara.

Colour me blind
As seen at Marni, Missoni, Jil Sander, Sportmax and Moschino.

Sheer me up
As seen at Blumarine, Pucci, Fendi, Prada and Alberta Ferretti

Boho babes
As seen at Alberta Ferretti, Etro, Gucci and Roberto Cavalli.

Asymmetric shoulders
As seen at Versace, Bottega Veneta and Pucci.

Floral Fest
As seen at Dolce&Gabbana, Gucci, Fendi and Etro.

Statement jewellery 
As seen at Marni, Prada, Dolce&Gabbana and Missoni.

It’s a time of (the)waist
As seen at Roberto Cavalli, Versace, Dolce&Gabbana

The bomb
As seen at Emporio Armani, Roberto Cavalli and Bottega Veneta.

Giorgio Armani Fashion Show Milan Womenswear SS2016

Famous for his self-titled shade of ‘greige’ Giorgio Armani presented us with a rather colourful collection for coming summer. Navy and icy greige were given feminine touches of flame, lacquer, and geranium. Proof that it’s never too late (Armani has been celebrating it’s 40th anniversary) to shake things up a bit. The overall feel of the collection wasn’t necessarily different, but all creations did have an uncommon sense of lightness. One that made sassy cocktail looks (in the form of high waisted shorts, sheer tops and embroidered tailored jackets or see through billowy skirts and macramé tops) appear even more elegant. Fresh felt a floral printed red jumpsuit in contrast to some of the more classic Armani ensembles of long wide legged pants and red/white striped tops. Models may have been fully dressed, airy materials turned their clothing into the chicest fashion pieces. While transparency might turn out cheap or trashy in the hands of other designers, maestro Armani made his weightless designs highly desirable. Whether office bound or off to a fancy party Armani’s weightless spring summer attire will make sure you’ll float off to any occasion.

Dolce&Gabbana Fashion Show Milan Womenswear SS2016

How many times can you reinvent Italy? And how many times can you redefine Italian elegance and bravoure? As many times as you like, if you ask Dolce&Gabbana. The show was obviously about their home country, their roots. They’ve been working with this feeling of nostalgia for years now, creating the Italian myth. The main question this time: how do people outside Italy see Italy? To answer this, we traveled around Italy. Starting in the 1940’s, its post-war period. The models strutted down the catwalk in the most romantic, feminine and typical Italian creations. Fifties sundress silhouettes, appliquéd flowers in every colour, corset tops, cocktail dresses, silken striped caftans, short bouncy skirts, Peruvian pom-poms, all highly decorated, embellished and embroidered with classic Italian emblems and symbols, like the tower of Pisa and Michelangelo’s David. And how fun are those dresses with vintage postcard print and handwritten letters from Capri, Palermo or Lago di Como. We couldn’t think of a better postcard to send home.

However, they haven’t lost touch with the here and now, and that’s when the most loved and hated Selfie came in. Models pretended to be tourists, making selfies while walking through cozy Italian streets and venues. The festive images immediately popped up on screens flanking the catwalk. Needless to say the #DGselfie, #ITALIAISLOVE or #dolcegabbana was on top of the social charts. And it was Italy that was on top of our minds for the rest of that day, because a great and fun collection it was. Like Dean Martin sings, “That’s Amore!”

Roberto Cavalli Fashion Show Milan Womenswear SS2016

A trademark isn’t a trademark for nothing. It means you love it, you own it and you’ll use it in any possible way. For Cavalli that means a collection full of his famous exotic elegance, wild prints, vintage looking denim, flashy metallics and bohemian glamour. And glamour by Roberto Cavalli means: sexy, sexy, sexy. Important ingredients that are inherent in every collection and his seductive take on clothing and women have provided lot’s of women to look their best. Wether in real life or on the red carpet. Since Brigitte Bardot wore his creations in Saint Tropez in the early ’70s, Cavalli has been the king of party glamour. And it is up to the new appointed creative director Peter Dundas, Pucci’s former head designer and former chief designer at Cavalli, to evolve the Cavalli staple and get everyone excited again. Yesterday was his first attempt.

Keyword? Eighties glamour. The era of Dallas and Dynasty. Over the top fashion. It was all in the boxy jackets, high waisted trousers, shiny fabrics, lots of embellishments, acid wash and neon colours (that lilac and pink denim!), oversized waist belts and dresses in all sorts – some with ruffles, some with cut-outs, some flowy others body-con as can be. Don’t worry too much about the combinations, as long as it looks extravagantly glamorous. No question about it: this woman rules her own empire, symbolically translated into a large dose of a digital image of a lion’s face on tailored suiting and dresses. Something that would fit us Dutchies perfectly, as it is our national symbol. You have to start somewhere to get world domination…

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