New York, New York!

Today I thought I'd post about four of my favourite shows from New York Fashion Week.

                                                              Ralph Lauren

We were taken back to the 1920's with Lauren's Gatsbyesque s/s12 collection. A dose of masculinity was added to beautiful and romantic feminine materials and cuts. There were silk pyjama trousers and midi skirts that flowed and frolicked with the movement of the models, teamed with loose fitting shirts, floral scarves and heavily fringed bags that were amazing. Materials and textures were also played with, with ostrich collars and throws, silks, intrically embellished flapper dresses and feather trimmed ball gowns all in elegant and pale shades of lemon, salmon, mint green, cream and baby blue. I especially liked the short suits with silk ties, a fun and sexy way of doing work wear. 

Proenza Schouler

The design duo once again created a collection which made my lust list grow dramatically. The exotic and jungle inspired collection experimented heavily with texture and print, hawaiian florals on high waisted knee length skirts and dresses, zebra print trim and panels on structed 1950s style dresses, colour blocking in corals and shocking yellow. In the material department there were raffia, mesh, wood grain heels and eel skin (yes, eel as in the fish) to look like leather. I love the striped white shirt with eel skin pocket and full knee length skirt.

                                                            Alexander Wang

Wang brought the race track to the runway with an elegant nod to New York sportswear. There was mesh galore with pretty much everthing being covered in the fabric from anoraks, dresses and shorts all laden with utility pockets and zippers. It was then some what softened with floral prints and sheer fabrics but even these garments still had a mesh and zipper coating as well as some with leather detailing in a deep burgundy or black. My favourites however were the racing suits which made the models look like a tribe of new-age, speed hungry warriors, all with tribal style prints in rich mulberry, gold, turquoise and orange with perforated leather bandanas. Actually no, it has to be the leather clad biker tribe with burgundy perforated leather jackets or black leather crop tops with sheer sleeves all with matching skirts. I suppose it calls for a fast and furious street race to battle it out to see which Wang tribe is triumphant.

                                                            Prabal Gurung

It's time for my favourite, drum roll please. Prabal Gurung. I have already mentioned my love for him in an earlier post when Rooney Mara wore on his dresses so I had to share with you some of his collection which is beautiful and breath taking. I want every single piece from it. There's dark violets, bold aquas and blacks in florals and fluid, sensual prints. Overt sexuality was seen with peekaboo cut outs showing models waists, hips and thighs and bondage style detailing with black leather and silk cord harnessing on silk dresses. Layering was used in abundance with outlayers of chiffon and appliqued sheers floating over layers of expertly printed silks and other fabrics that were cut and slashed. It's a perfect combination of romantic shapes, materials and print simmering with edgy, dangerous and naughty undertones.

Trends

• Similar to LFW, it's prints galore
• Playing with texture
• Sports wear
• 1920s
• Leather
• Ultra girly
• Androgyny

Going for my meal with the girls tomorrow, so excited and I shall take lots of pictures. Hope you've all had a good start to your weekend.

Love
Jade x

Style Icon-Rooney Mara

There's quite a few celebrities who I constantly love and admire for their style. I've decided to do some posts featuring these ladies. I've already written abit in an earlier post on my lust for Florence Welch and her boho, vintage style and today I decided I'd focus on up and coming actress and style icon Rooney Mara. I thought she was the ideal candidate with it being awards season and the fact her new film, 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' is everywhere.

(wmagazine.com)

It wasn't just her quirky clothes and blunt hair cut that caught my eye but also the complete transformation she undertook to take on the role as Lisbeth Salander. I have read and loved all of the Stieg Larsson novels, it's such an epic triology and made even better that the leading lady is strong, hardcore and independant. I have also seen the Swedish version of the film, so was intrigued as to who would be chosen to play such a complicated and unconvential character. Rooney beat many actresses to this role after being spotted by director David Fincher in the brilliant 'The Social Network' and she clearly took the bull by it's horns and committed to it, dramatically changing from a pretty girl next door to an edgy, rebellious woman. Away from the film this evolution has remained leaving a fashion forward fashionista.

                                                               (telegraph.co.uk)

Rooney before the transformation in April 2010 looking young and girly at  'The Nightmare On Elm Street' remake. She wears a pale pink pinafore dress teamed with a clutch bag and cute embellished headband.

                                                        (screenrant.com)

After the intense and brutal make over as Lisbeth Salander. She had her long brown hair dyed black and cut blunt, short and jagged. Gone were the pink dresses and in it's place were leather trousers, baggy vests and piercings, which Rooney actually got done for the role. Now that's definitely taking method acting seriously. You would never say fashion when describing Lisbeth but her biker, bad-ass style has had a big impact on the fashion world with high street giants H&M releasing a 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' ad campaign.

                                                           (telegraph.co.uk)

Back to reality, this is when Rooney started catching by eye; at the Rodarte show during New York Fashion Week. I love the androgynous styling, the skinny black trousers and sheer shirt with a beautiful fringed hand knitted cardigan. It's simple yet clearly well put together and really interesting. I'm going to show this photo to my mum and hopefully she will be able to knit me something similar. Rooney has had a love affair with Rodarte and has worn many of their pieces since.

                                                               (glamcheck.com)

This is one of my favourite Rodarte garments she's worn at the Milan premiere, a breath taking halterneck gown. I love the simple design with the pleating across the shoulders to highlight her tiny frame along with the darker trim around her waist and the bottom of the dress. The pale grey suits her ivory complexion so well, it's such a perfect leading lady outfit, extremely elegant and different to the other outfits she's worn.

                                                          (bohemea.tumblr.com)

I love this Givenchy dress on Rooney at the premiere in London. It couldn't be anymore different to what Lisbeth would wear with its revealing back and the stunning white lace detailing. I'm always drawn to any thing with sheer fabric, so the long sleeves is one of my favourite parts to this dress, that and the daring cutout back. It's really classy yet still has an edge to it which suits Rooney's new look perfectly.

                                                      (mydaily.co.uk)

The number one spot has to go to this Prabal Gurung cheeky, very small and sheer cut out dress Rooney wore at the New York premiere. I love how fun and flirty it is, yet quirky and edgy and in no way slutty which is very hard to do with so little fabric and so much flesh on show. I love everything to do with it, the cut out shoulders, button detailing down the back and the frilly sleeves and a-line shape. Her simple make up and slicked back hair is perfect as it keeps everyones eyes on the dress. This was definitely her night.

Love
Jade x