QVB celebrates Wool with international designers

When I was down in Sydney for fashion week and doing a little shopping in the Queen Victoria Building, I stumbled across these glass cabinets of pretty dresses and accessories. To my surprise that when I looked closer they were all made out of wool.

Wool Modern exhibition has collaborated with designers from around the world on celebrating wool as part of a broader global initiative, ‘Campaign for Wool'. The campaign's Patron, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, is a passionate advocator of manufacturers, retailers and designers choosing real wool and educating consumers on the environmental benefits.

QVB is proud to present Wool Modern – A Celebration of Wool in the 21st Century.

This free exhibition is set to break traditional perceptions of the wool fibre and create a new platform for wool in the 21st Century. It features custom designs from top international designers including Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Charlotte Olympia and more plus local designers such as Camilla &Marc and Josh Goot.

When: From 3 May to 28 May 2012

Where: Level 1, QVB, Sydney

P.s KL's favourite is the Camilla & Marc dress. I would wear it in a heartbeat! Also love the Josh Goot rose print.

Nasir Mazhar

Camilla: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Australia

The Camilla show was nothing short of a performance: the splashes of colour, the mass of accessories, the flock of models + one guy strutting the runway and the horde of children that ran down alongside Camilla Franks in her finale celebratory walk.

Firstly, lets discuss the snafoo that had the fash pack all a-twitter for the duration of the festival: The Great Invitation Debacle. It became apparent on show day that Camilla HO and their PR firm both seem to have invited a full capacity crowd each. Ordinarily this wouldn't have been a massive issue, but this is Camilla we are talking about here! Her reputation for the aforementioned colour, accessories and an all-out spectacular ensured that there were none of the usual no-shows, and everyone who had been invited turned up with bells on.

This crowd queued for over an hour, and the show actually ran another 40minutes late. Due to the invitation mix up, many of the invitees were omitted from the entrance list, and found themselves without an allocated seat, standing behind the back row. 400 or so general admissions were simply turned away, in what I would consider not the label's finest PR moment. Camilla should be satisfied knowing everyone wanted to see her show, especially in such hard retail times, but let's just hope that what the crowd remembers about Camilla is the spectacle, and not how they felt slighted or forgotten.

That little negative aside, Camilla did present a collection of multi-coloured, beautifully embellished kaftans that women will swoon over. Beautiful coloured patterns used in every shade of the rainbow, there is definitely a kaftan for every woman.

I have to say the accessories stole the show. Whilst watching the show, I was overwhelmed with the mass of accessories packed on to every model. A little too distracted I must admit, instead of watching the actual kaftans.

I know you can't always have just the kaftans but I do feel last season her show showed the kaftans in their true glory. You could fully see the detailed pattern, embellishment and the actual cut of the kaftan. In her recent show, the over accessorised looks were very creative but weren't really able to see the kaftans. I suppose that is always a designer's dilemma by showing the fit and cut of a garment but also styling the garments enough to create an exciting runway look.

Overall, Camilla stayed true to her aesthetic providing a colorful collection and a great runway show. I'm sure many women will be waiting on tender hooks for the stock boy to deliver the collection in store.

Maticevski at MBFWA

Maticevski was my favourite show of the week, purely because everything that came down the runway was magnificent with such a mix of styles all in one collection. There was seriously something for every woman's style.

The collection contained structure, soft and drapery, silks, sequin, brocade, with colours of grey, charcoal, black, gold, cream, chartreuse. The collection was a mix of dresses and separates with pants, tops, skirts, vests and jackets. This collection could definitely be mixed'n'matched to create lots of different outfit looks for both work and play.

I do have to agree with blogger Bryan Boy that a lot of the skirts had dangling string tie detail, I just want to cut them off as I think it's distracting to the shape of the skirt.

KL's favourites:
- jackets! Beautifully cut, flattering shapes in good quality fabrics so good investment piece.
- 50's inspired shift dress in plain black and flower brocade-style fabric
- effortless outfit = cream shift tank tunic with white-silver sequin legging
-sheer mesh below-the-knee pencil skirt worn under dresses and peplum long tops

BEAUTY LOOK: LOVE!!!! especially loving the navy half moon nail on the baby pink nail.

Anna Dello Russo for H&M collaboration

H&M have been having great success with their designer collaborations with fashion leaders including names such as Versace. Now, Anna Dello Russo, editor at large and creative consultant for Vogue Japan is launching a collaboration collection with H&M.

A purely accessory based collection including bags, shoes, sunglasses and jewellery with a focus on "bling" accessories at affordable prices.
Anna Dello Russo said, 'Accessories for me are a focus in my life, I collect them, everything special, everything sparkly'.
This collection has been inspired by a pop-up version of Lewis Carroll's book, Alice in Wonderland.  'It inspires me because it takes me to another reality,' she said.
Margareta van den Bosch, Creative Advisor at H&M, said: 'Anna has a fantastic eye and a strong taste, apart from being a veritable fashion icon.
She produced an extravagant range of accessories that will get H&M customers and everyone in love with fashion excited. The collection is a celebration of excess, fantasy and decoration.'

The collection will be available instore at 140 H&M stores from 4th October this year and lucky for us here in Australia it will also be available ONLINE!!!

Images from annadellorusso.com

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2139432/Eccentric-stylist-Anna-Dello-Russo-design-Alice-Wonderland-inspired-accessories-H-M.html#ixzz1u2w90ffV

VIDEO of Anna Dello Russo about H&M collection

Toi et Moi SS12-13 at MBFWA

Toi et Moi was an absolute surprise. I was totally attending the show thinking it would be a young teeny boppers collection however it was a mix of young influenced fashion pieces that even a woman in her 30s could wear however staying away from the super mini skirts.

Inspired by its French influence the show opened with a young little girl singing a French song followed by outfit styling of clean patent pointed pumps, velvet ribbon neckties and ankle straps all strutting down the catwalk to French pop music.

The collection was a mix of bright fun coloured combos especially surprised with the fruit tingle striped and patterened knits paired with a pink sequined skirt and a pair of patterned wide leg Pajama inspired pants. The key highlight colour of the collection was a pinky coral however a lot of neutral combinations of black, cream and variations of beige were very strong making it a very wearable collection. A few black & white outfit combinations with the finale dress being a black & white striped shirt wrap style full length dress with slight train.

Overall a very wearable collection that women of different ages can wear. Definitely my surprise show of fashion week.

KL's picks of Toi et Moi

1.- Racer cut in singlet- such a flattering cut for a lot of women especially those with really toned arms or skinny arms, great cut of top to show them off. Love the cut of the top teamed with the sequined belted gypsy skirt. This outfit can be worn with jeweled or metallic strappy sandals or a cool chunky black wedge. For trans-season, you can team this outfit with a cool leather jacket and a chunky heeled biker boot.
2.- Again same top, great cut this time teamed with striped maxi skirt made in a knit. This combo is great to be worn with a wedge heel and some chunky silver necklaces and bracelets. The stripe on the skirt is flattering as its a vertical stripe in a maxi skirt which extends the length of the legs. The stripes also start lower on the skirt, starting past the hips so much more flattering option if you're wanting to wear a stripe.

3.- For those of you loving the pajama trend, this I feel is inspired by the pajama trend however made in a washed gold sequin fabric. Alot more luxe and much more dressy and I doubt this outfit will look like you've just rolled out of bed.
4.- Loving the colour combination of the orange, pink and lilac all in a more muted pastel tone. A new take on a patterned or striped knit, this spar-attic square pattern makes the knit interesting and fun without being too overwhelming or people only seeing the jumper not you.

xKL