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Getting it NAILed
This season is all about bright and wild or pastel-colour nails. There is a wide choice of colours, textures (see caviar on the left) and even glue-on designs (think zebra, leopard, zig-zag patterns). You can pick these up either at the pharmacies or stores like Topshop, American Apparel or Selfridges. Personally, I am more of a red and deep purple (aubergine, to be exact) nail polish girl, but this season I just couldn’t resist the bright colours. The inspiration came from deep blues that are all over 2012 fashion collections and in my own closet. So, to achieve the desired effect, I combined two different polishes – blue and sparkle.…
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Colours of Ikat: When Fashion Meets Tradition
Having grown up in Central Asia, my early memories of Ikat associate with colourful dresses and baggy pants of the Uzbek women in Jalal-Abad. The Ikat fabric with its zig-zaggy pattern usually came either in black-and-white or multi-colour combination. Now that I haven’t lived in the region for a long time, every time I see Ikat a feeling of something precious and familiar takes over me. Ikat has been popular for few years now and was featured both in the home design and high fashion. A more modern version of Ikat has been popularised by such great designers as Oscar de a Renta, who visited Uzbekistan and fell in…
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Tutty Frutty or Wearing “Food” Jewellery
When I created a necklace “Fruits of labour” with various bead fruits and vegetables (not shown here) many years ago, little did I know that this jewellery trend will take off and find itself in many different forms and shapes in the fashion world. Made from real fruit (as seen below), plastic or expensive gemstones, food somehow landed on our necks and ears! de Grisogono Bo Baumer Puces Poireaux Piaget These pieces, made out of gemstones, are very quirky yet luxurious. BUT wait! In 2012 season, Dolce and Gabbana took “food as your jewellery” to the next level! Being truly Italian, not only they celebrated women’s elegance and style, but also showed their healthy…
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Man Enough to Wear Skinny Jeans
I have admired London men in skinny jeans for few years now. And it’s only fair that I dedicate a part of my fashion blog to them. I have to say that may be apart from few New Yorkers, London guys are the only ones who can really pull off the “skinny jeans” look. I applaud these men who not only have a great sense of style, but are also comfortable with their sexuality and masculinity. So, why skinny jeans have become so popular among men here? According to some, “while many men have fallen in love with the look of skinny jeans, others are left baffled by this trend.…
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Race for Lace
Romantic lace is one of the key trends for Spring 2011. Black lace dresses are back with their usual strong and sexy feel. Monica Belucci, recreating the feel of her infamous Malena, is shot in black lace dress in the Dolce & Gabbana for Martini Gold ad. Dolce & Gabbana dress However, in addition to classic Sicilian black ones, white and red lace dresses have been featured in various runway shows. Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2011 Oscar de la Renta Spring 2011 Oscar de la Renta Spring 2011 Erdem Spring 2011 Anna Dello Russo’s (editor at large for Vogue Japan) take on lace dress, which may not be practical for daily wear! Here…
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As Braids Come Back
Did you think braids were only for school girls? Think again! Ukrainian politician, Yulia Timoshenko, has reinvented the traditional braid, which since then has been replicated on many catwalks and by celebrities. Today, braids are hot again in various shapes and forms and have been seen in many 2010 fashion shows. But it seems the relaxed side braid is both easy to do and gives “no effort” yet fashionable look. To try the new trend I did loose french braids on the sides leading to one bigger braid hanging on my left side. I love this playful yet somewhat romatic look. And here are other variations of braiding I do…
