Geekly Chic: aprilie 2012

luni, 30 aprilie 2012

H&M LIFE

Celebs have jumped on the paisley trend resulting in some very eye-catching looks.

Paisley is definitely the hit print of the season – it’s whimsical, opulent and fresh all at once. So it’s no surprise that some of the most fashion forward celebrities were quick to show off their paisley wares.

The queen of laidback chic, Alexa Chung paired her J.W. Anderson paisley trousers with a grandpa cardigan and shiny metallic heels, a look you can easily pinch right now. Meanwhile, for those who dare to be a little bolder, make like Florence Welch, who recently opted for a head-to-toe paisley ensemble by Kenzo – the matching blazer, shirt and trousers (another trend this season) looked amazing against her fiery red hair.

And for those who can’t quite disassociate paisley from pyjamas, you only need to point them in the direction of Anna Kendrick on the red carpet at the Independent Spirit Awards. In a stunning McQ dress, the Twilight actress accessorised with fierce black heels and a smile, showing just how modern paisley has become.

ON TREND

Energetic colour and hyper print collide on the runway and the running track.

There’s no escaping the colour-meets-print explosion for this season. It’s everywhere here at H&M (with sporty Klein-blue shorts and orange and paisley blouses) and naturally it’s everywhere on the catwalks, too. Even the once-minimalist sportswear trend has been reinvigorated with an injection of maximalist pattern play and bold colour clashing. Taking inspiration from 1990s surf culture, designers have reinvented wetsuit neoprene for city life with elegant cuts and otherworldly digital prints. Peter Pilotto give their sports-couture sheath dresses a modern flourish with the kind of vibrant underwater prints that sum up the season’s get-up-and-go vibe. Just as athletic are Stella McCartney’s cutaway silhouettes, given a sophisticated layer of polish with chic ‘foulard’ prints that fast track them from day to evening.

Whether printed or plain, the essential colour palette is rooted in zesty shades of lagoon blue and lush greens with accents of sunny yellow, coral pink and hyped-up Emergen-C orange. Why not add a boost to last year’s cycling shorts with a graphic-print sweatshirt in aquamarine and white?

Not surprisingly, accessories also get the hi-energy treatment with backpacks, visors and haute sneakers amped up to the max. Like a demanding personal trainer, designers have pushed their creativity to the limit (and then a little bit more), with ever-inventive takes on gym-kit staples. From Diane von Furstenberg’s punchy-print backpack, Céline’s hi-vis skate sneakers or Christopher Kane’s jewelled pool shoes, sports chic is anything but basic.

WAYS TO WEAR IT BY H&M

Play around with different accessories and moods for looks that are as fun as they are stylish.

1. Layer upTake a racy body-con dress, layer lace bike shorts underneath and a fabulous bib necklace over top, and you’ve got a modern take on 80s cool.

2. Cute collarA sweet detachable Peter Pan collar instantly adds panache when paired with a printed tank dress.

3. Bomber beautyThrow this cream satiny bomber jacket with burgundy contrast details over everything from pretty dresses to black shorts.

4. Bust a moveWhy not try a bustier top this season? Just pair with a floaty open cardigan and high-waisted shorts if you don’t feel so daring.

5. Back in blackWith a simple black sleeveless dress, it’s your chance to let your accessories shine – pile on the jewellery and add a fun headpiece!

All clothes by H&M.

STYLE INSIGHT

Punk-inspired looks don’t always have to be so hard-edged. Try softening things up with girly shapes and details.

Although punk-inspired fashion has been a mainstay in many wardrobes for a while now, with all things sugary and sweet happening this season, it’s the perfect time to inject a little girly fun into those rebellious looks. Think pairing lace with your biker jacket, a sweet detachable collar with a body-con bandage dress or a flouncy mini-skirt with a loose, worn-in t-shirt.

Look to some of the It-girls of the moment for the inspiration – Alice Dellal, Daisy Lowe and Rihanna. Dellal may belong to a well-known fashion family (her sister Charlotte designs shoes, while her mother is a former model), but her style is uniquely her own. With her half-shaven Rapunzel-like hair and smudgy kohl-rimmed eyes, she’s never far from combat boots or a beaten up leather jacket, though also never shies away from a girly babydoll dress. Even Karl Lagerfeld tapped into Alice’s punk-meets-pretty aesthetic when he chose her to front the new campaign for Chanel’s “Boy” bags.

Another Brit who’s perfected the cheeky yet cute look is Daisy Lowe. Playing up her curves, Lowe prefers dresses nipped in the waist, often with a full skirt, but is just as comfortable in tough denim cut-offs to show off her mile-long legs. Meanwhile, across the pond, Rihanna is the ultimate in melding rebellious style with feminine wiles – ball caps with red lipstick, oversized denim jackets with classic black stilettos, sweatshirts with eye-catching gold jewellery.

On the catwalk, Diesel Black Gold, Christopher Kane, Cushnie et Ochs and Felder Felder showed items like biker jackets and jeans alongside girly silhouettes like short A-line skirts or dresses and floaty fabrics. Perfect for those days when you want to look tough but sweet. Or in other words, oh-so-now!

H&M LIFE VIDEO

In Palm Springs, British Vogue is shooting a story of H&M clothes with model Heidi Harrington-Johnson. Playing a girl looking for the simple life away from the large metropolis, she hangs out in her designer villa and an old school diner.

Rate clip and view comments

View more videos

WAYS TO WEAR IT BY H&M

Make the retro holiday look into a style that says now (and wow).

1. All white and ready to go
The all-white look is kept interesting with a jumper that has a wide round collar and a patterned shirt.

2. Neutrality issues
Neutral colours are great because they are so easy to mix – even an undershirt looks right. Add a jacket to make the look less casual.

3. Strike a balance
The holiday feel of no socks and a relaxed shirt is kept in check with dressy shoes and trousers. Just add a hat and you’ve found the perfect vacation equilibrium.

4. Accent play
To make pastels and other soft-spoken nuances more edgy, mix patterns with solids, and then add a darker cardigan to shake it all up.

All clothes by H&M.

H&M FASHION

Sporty, edgy and with street cool. The season’s best casual menswear takes us down rude boy lane.

Photos: Marcus Ohlsson

All clothes by H&M.

STYLE INSIGHT

1960s movie stars on vacation form the basis of a relaxed yet dressy look which is perfect for this season.

Spring is in full bloom and summer is on our doorstep. Fashion, always one step ahead, is already travelling to warmer climes to enjoy the sunshine.

Taking cues from 1960s inspirations such as the original movie about “the talented Mr Ripley”,Purple Noon (Plein Soleil, 1960), starring an incredibly striking Alain Delon as Tom Ripley, this is a look that is as relaxed as it is dapper. White open shirts, pastel trousers and beige jackets set the stage for the perfect vacation look. Or channel Michel Piccoli in Jean-Luc Godard’s masterpieceContempt (Le Mépris, 1963) with sorbet nuances and a fedora hat, at the Casa Malaparte on the island of Capri, Italy.

Designers updated and twisted the style on the catwalk this season, sometimes adding a crinkling effect to neutrals and injecting sporty elements, as was the case at Missoni. Marc Jacobs nailed the relaxed feel of the silhouette with loose-fitting beige trousers, mixed with an apricot sporty jacket, while the new designer at Louis Vuitton, Kim Jones, played off strong accent checked scarfs against top-to-toe neutrals. This was also the route favoured with Miuccia Prada who paired bright floral patterns with low-key beige cardigans.

The key elements of this look are simple enough. The fit should be relaxed, but the look kept slightly dressed up – think American celebrities vacationing in Europe back in the 1960s. Richard Burton with Elizabeth Taylor on his arm in Portofino – or why not John Kennedy enjoying a quiet day on his sailing boat. To keep it modern, look for a linen feel to the garments, soft clashes between accents and neutrals and cropped trousers. Top with a hat.

H&M FASHION

Hang out with your friends and enjoy the year’s first really warm day. This is the time to be a punk rocker with flowers in your hair.

Photos: Marcus Ohlsson
Styling: Robert Rydberg

All clothes by H&M.

CONTENTS 30 aprilie 2012

PICK OF THE DAY

Brighten up your day with this colourful satin jacket, from H&M's Fashion Against Aids collection

NEWS

Prepare to live a bit on the edge and get yourself a pochette.

You see it at the fashion weeks, not only worn by girls, but now by guys, too. Yes, we’re talking about the clutch for men – also known as the mlutch or pochette – and it comes in every shape and colour there is. One of the early originators of the trend, H&M collaborator Consuelo Castiglioni often includes them in her collections for Marni, and even though it has yet to make it big time, let this be an indicator of things to come. And if you can’t find it in the men’s department, just nip over to the ladies and grab one that tickles your fancy. After all, the girls shop in the men’s department all the time.

NEWS

Easy minimalism reinvents itself.

How do you take a minimalist style and turn it into something with a more luxurious, decadent feel? That’s the challenge facing us all after the onslaught of neo-minimalism over the last few seasons. Designers like Stella McCartney led the pack with laidback-luxe pyjama suits in paisley and super-fine clover prints, while Haider Ackermann turned the minimal into decadence in metallic fabrics and more paisley prints. The trick for making your minimalist separates seem a little more upmarket? Pair them with some vivid colours and be selective with your bold prints this summer.

H&M STREET

Hong Kong is a magnet for playful fashionistas and fast becoming one of the hottest places for street style. We sent a photographer to investigate and here’s what he came up with!

1. Ziggie, hairstylist
How would you describe your style?Anything comfortable.

Best styling tip? You should always match your personality and figure.

Favourite item from H&M?Everything’s nice from H&M!

Best place to party in Hong Kong?Causeway Bay.

2. Maggie, student
How would you describe your style?Mix and match.

Best styling tip? Try florals this season.

Favourite item from H&M?The shoes and accessories

Best place to party in Hong Kong?Lan Kwai Fong.

3. Edward, product developer
How would you describe your style?Refined.

Best styling tip? Keep things simple.

Favourite item from H&M?The basics.

Best place to party in Hong Kong?Lan Kwai Fong.

4. Chloe, fashion designer, stylist, graphic designer
How would you describe your style?Colourful, young, edgy.

Best styling tip? Wear one trend at a time, but be yourself.

Favourite item from H&M?A floral blouse.

Best place to party in Hong Kong?Tsim Sha Tsui.

5. Winnie, student
How would you describe your style?Grand.

Best styling tip?Play with your hair colour.

Favourite item from H&M?The blazers.

Best place to party in Hong Kong?Lan Kwai Fong.

6. Pinky, Student
How would you describe your style?Tone-on-tone.

Best styling tip? Accessorise with colour.

Favourite item from H&M?The dresses.

Best place to party in Hong Kong?Lan Kwai Fong.

Photos: Kristopher Ho

NEWS

With its ethereal looks, the 19th-century artistic Pre-Raphaelite movement is an undercurrent running through this season.

VIEW FULL ARTICLE

NEWS

It’s not all rock ’n’ roll, mud and tents – there’s a summer festival in Europe whatever your style.

The Hay Festival, United Kingdom
31 May–10 June, Hay-on-WyeBilled as “ten days of music, comedy, argument and literature”, this one is for bookish types. Bring your reading glasses and a cardigan.

Hovefestivalen, Norway
26–29 June, ArendalHove has an exciting line-up of music from around the world and is set in an idyllic setting on an island on the southern coast of Norway, but it’s also an eco-friendly festival – the first carbon-neutral one in Scandinavia - so pack wellies and a trendy tote for your rubbish.

Flow Festival, Finland
8–12 August, HelsinkiTaking place in a former power plant complex in Helsinki, Flow features design events and arts workshops alongside big-name music acts. It’s intended as a celebration of urban culture and it attracts a hip crowd, so wear a cool tee and some practical shoes for instant street cred.

Sonar, Spain
14–16 June, BarcelonaSonar is an electronic music and arts festival taking place across the city, so there’s lots of opportunities to soak up some culture between clubs. There are parties on Barcelona’s city beaches, too, so bring your bikini and sunscreen for a chance to cool down after the show is over.

QUICK TIP

The best way to quickly spice up your wardrobe is adding a red lipstick to a ‘normal’ outfit. You'd be amazed at the difference it makes in the way you look and feel. I'm also a big fan of mixing things up – you probably have lots of great pieces, but you're used to styling them a certain way. Look at your favourite magazines and get inspired to make new combinations with the clothes you've already got. Of course, if there's a trendy print you saw on the runway that you're dying to buy, H&M probably has something very similar!” – Faran Krentcil, Digital Director Nylon magazine

VIEW FULL ARTICLE

ONLINE FASHION

Some savvy fashion bloggers have taken their sites to the next level. Here's how:

What do you do when your blog outgrows Wordpress? You expand into an online zine, a print magazine or a book! That's what some of our favourite blogs have done, proving that the humble blog can be a great stepping-stone to a successful media career. Whether it's a street style blog, an online diary or a celebrity style decoder, the daily update site has become one of the biggest sensations of the online revolution. While one-woman fashion blogs like Style By Kling and Style Rookie have recently launched online and print zines to reach more readers, others have published books to take their commentary further. Who What Wear and Go Fug Yourself are two celebrity blog-to-book success stories, while the friendly tone and how-to tips of Emily Schuman's Cupcakes & Cashmere (published this summer), make up the perfect handbook to keep on a real desktop or bookshelf. Even menswear bloggers have capitalised on their success with the cult F**k Yeah Menswear Tumblr due to publish a guide for guys in November.

But if there's one type of blog that looks even better in print, it has to be the photo blog. Scott Schuman's famous street style blog, The Sartorialist launches its second book in September while London youth culture blog ISYS publishes Back Then Right Now, a book of photos from its 'What I Wore' feature next month. Conclusion? A blog is not just a blog, it can be the start of something even bigger!

LOOK BOOK

If you won’t come to the beach, the beach will come to you – in the shape of surf-inspired clothes, that is.

The relaxed and laidback vibe of surfing paradises like Hawaii and California is our inspiration for this great casual look for spring and summer. To stay on top of this trend, opt for smart trousers or shorts, then mix with tropical-patterned shirts and sporty hoodies or t-shirts with retro prints. This will make your look perfect for city dwelling, but casual enough for lazy days outdoors.

All clothes by H&M.

GET THE LOOK

Keep it girly and fresh this spring by pairing lace pieces with a toned-down pastel shade.

Rachel Bilson shows us how to do demure the fun way with this simple, feminine look. She’s dressed down her cute white eyelet-lace dress with a casual jacket in a muted pink. It’s a great way to rock spring’s big pastel trend – lemons, pinks, lavenders and turquoise are all big hits – without going too sugary-sweet in tone. But at the same time, Rachel’s dress shows us how fun a girly accent of cut-out white lace can be, so keep an eye out for items with white or cream lace trims or panels to wear with your new toned-down pastels.

Abonați-vă la: Postări (Atom)