Thursday 28 February 2013

KIEV FASHION DAYS - Iuliia Paskal AW13: Catwalk Review


My favest ever show at the AW13 London Fashion Week was PASKAL and here is the review that I did for HardZine - check it out guys, was suuuch a good show!


One of the most exciting events at London Fashion Week is the Kiev Fashion Days show, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, designed to showcase the huge talents of some of the many up and coming Ukrainian designers.

For me, the standout line was Iuliia Paskal, who has come extremely far in a short space of time - despite only founding her brand in 2010, this is already her sixth catwalk collection.  Paskal has captured the fashion critic's hearts and attention as a hugely promising designer with an enormously bright future in her midst.

Paskal admits that her pedigree as an architecture graduate feeds somewhat into her modern and sculptural designs, however, she says that her main aesthetic is suited to the creative and clear-minded woman, such as herself.  This was certainly evident in her AW13 show throughout the minimalistic and clean-cut collection.  However this season, there was a large emphasis on a more futuristic style with flashes of metallic and laser-cut print, which is a slight step in a new direction for the designer, as it features not only her niche of minimalistic monochrome, but also a wider colour palette of silvers, golds, and bright blues.  This in turn created a wonderful balance of both her classic, almost retro style, and something much more cutting-edge.  

In my eyes, the opening look of the show, completely embodies the whole spirit of the collection.  It features a striking laser-cut metallic blue tunic-style dress, paired with black trousers and bright blue ankle cuffs.  The flashes of the cameras only emphasised the beauty of the look, and gave the dress the appearance that it was made entirely from intricately-cut shards of glass.

Another impeccable look was the last of the show - a simple black tailored jacket, paired with a metallic laser cut pencil skirt.  The focal point of the look was the subtle yet pronounced panel of bright silver in the back opening fold of the jacket, complementing the sophisticated and refined use of what could easily have the potential to be part of a somewhat overbearing colour scheme. 

Completing each of the model's outfits were the sculptured crown-like headwear, which seemed to be a surrealistic cross-section of a motorcycle helmet-like creation.  These in turn added to the futuristic, sleek yet minimalistic feel which itself injected some ornamentation into the collection.

The show's review would not be complete without mentioning the music.  The soundtrack was indie rock band's Divine Fits' 'Would That Not Be Nice'.  It's eerie, cascading tone which blended with the strong and serious pulse, echoed the feel of the collection in general and convinced me that it's only a matter of time before Iuliia Paskal metamorphoses from an independent designer recognised and acknowledged only by the smaller European fashion industry into an global success story, influencing international consumers and designers alike, in the very near future.


Photo Creds to The Fashion Scout

LFW

I have been a bad blogger lately, and haven't updated you guys with the many wonderful things going on at the moment!

Buuuut... news for you - last week I went to London Fashion Week and it was  insane!!

Beautiful shows + incredible street style = very happy India.

Here are some of the what I wores and my fave photos:



Me and Susie Bubble. I die.

Day 1/ Day 2

 Oh, hey model

Sunday 23 September 2012

Zara Accessory Love


With the end of the summer months comes a new season, a new school year and for many, a new wardrobe.  For me, the beginning of October signifies the beginning of my first year at university, and for the poverty-stricken masses (moi included): university + becoming an adult (i.e paying for everything) + buying student necessities = NO MONEY LEFT FOR CLOTHES (things that actually matter).  Although, to be honest, I would rather shop than eat...  Only joking.  I think.

Anyway, seeing as I can't buy any of the things that i do actually want, I thought I would share with you my virtual wishlist and right now, I'm totally feeling Zara.  Even as one of my favourite shops of all time, Zara have definitely exceeded my expectations for their Fall/Winter collection.  Here are some of my favourite accessories from their website - enjoy!




I love these booties - they're so high street Marant!


Tuesday 11 September 2012

CAT MARNELL: "The Worst Beauty Editor in the World"

You know that thing with the "deep internet".  The thing where you find one website and that leads you to another and then another and before you know it, you've spent your whole evening and a bottle of wine, finding the weirdest websites and creepiest YouTube videos ever?  Here, watch Edarem's version of "Pretty Woman". 



OMG, HOW SCARY.
See what I mean?!

One good thing that has come out of my late-night internet cruising is my discovery of Cat Marnellxojane's infamous prescription-drug addicted beauty editor. That was until she quit her job there because she couldn't face spending another summer meeting deadlines and decided instead to spend her nights "on the rooftop of Le Bain, looking for shooting stars and smoking angel dust". She has since relocated to Vice where she writes about her life and experiences in the column 'Amphetamine Logic'.  



Cat's name was a buzz word over the internet this summer and as much as she has divided opinions and caused huuuuge controversy over her extreme honesty over such a taboo subject and her so called drug-glamorising, I can't help but like her.  She writes about her life as an active addict, as opposed to the ever-present recovery stories that the public are conditioned to.  

Blogger Andrea Coates wrote that "Hundreds of thousands of young girls are reading this and using it as the basis for what they see as cool", and while I disagree, I do believe that she has hit a nerve with teenage girls - no young, successful woman has ever written this frankly about active drug use.  I personally love her column and look forward to every new piece that she writes.  This one about Li-Lo is one of my faves. 

Cat is not claiming to be a role model; she instead is offering an insight into the logic and lifestyle involved in a world that few are privy to, and I find her work compelling reading.

Sooo..... go to Vice right now and read her stufffff - tell me what you think. You'll thank me later.

Sunday 10 June 2012

Old School

These NYC ladies are proof that good style never dies.  Ranging in ages up to 100, their life mottos include 'be curious and never stop having fun', 'celebrate every day and don't look at the calendar' and 'if everyone is wearing it, then it's not for me.'  Their elegance and class is timeless and is testament to the fact that personal style only grows with age.


These photos, shot by Ari Seth Cohen remind me of the poem 'I Shall Wear Purple' by Jenny Joseph and they really display a zest for life and a nonchalance that is so often lacking in the youth of today.

Saturday 9 June 2012

Lana Del Rey

LDR, one of the biggest stars to be born from the age of technology - bar my fave J Biebz, obvs.  She's nostalgic, she's americano and her voice is smoooooth like honey.
And that is all - no more words, just sweet music.

j

Friday 8 June 2012

The Basics: White Shirt

I love these two looks so much.  A white shirt is the most perfect item of clothing ever invented.  Dressed up, dressed down, dressed all around (another rhyme?) - it can be worn with anything and goes with everything!