Milan Fashion Week 2007

September is the month for fashion designers to present their clothing creations for the spring and summer season for the following year.  Leave it to me to be also looking at photos of fall and winter clothing for 2007 from Milan Fashion Week.  I have to say, all the clothing posted today can be worn this year, and probably the next year and the next.  The pieces are very current still.

Have you ever been interested in attending a fashion week?  Here's what I found out.  For the Milan Fashion Week, for example, about 100 fashion shows are presented.  The audience are made up mostly of vip's and people in the fashion industry who've been invited.  It's rare to be able to purchase tickets, but if you can, they cost between $450 - $1300.  If you're desperately want to attend, there's one more way you can if you can't afford tickets.  Dress in your best outfit, wait outside where the shows are being held, and maybe, just maybe one of the few fashion editors with complimentary tickets to be given to fashion fans will choose you to attend.

Antonio Marras, Milan Fashion Week 2007, www.fashionweekphotos.com

Haute, Milan Fashion Week 2007, www.fashionweekphotos.com

Missoni, Milan Fashion Week 2007, www.fashionweekphotos.com

Unknown designer, Milan Fashon Week 2007, www.fashionweekphotos.com

Brioni, Milan Fashion Week 2007, www.fashionweekphotos.com

I love the color combinations, the draping, and the layering of fabrics.  Till next blog!

Plaid's New Look

When one thinks of plaid, let me correct myself, when I think of plaid, I think of the 1970's.  I was younger then and plaid was one of the fabrics that was popular.  I remember clearly the plaid pants that my mother purchased for me and my sister (along with platform shoes) that I, and I believe she, were very proud of.  Most likely we were going to debut our new and far out look on the first day of school.  Ahh, memories.   

The plaid originated from Scotland, where the name for plaid is tartan.  Plaid, in Scotland, is the name for tartan fabric placed on the shoulder or a blanket.  The plaid, or tartan, was, and continues to be, made in wool, usually for clan identification and for kilts, but now we can purchase this fabric in any material, and any style as well. 

Girl's dress, www.weblo.com

Cap, www.pronto.com

http://shop.sivletto.com

www.stylehive.com

by Mod Retro, www.stylehive.com

by Mod Retro, www.stylehive.com

Plaid is looking even better.  Till next blog!

So Suitable for Fall - Leather and Suede

I received my avon catalogues two days ago.  While looking through the Avon book campaign #20, I read "fall is all about leather and suede".  When you think about it, Avon is absolutely right.  Leather and suede are colored usually in dark and neutral colors such as black, brown and tan, and are strong materials.

1982 jacket, www.bijouliving.com

The first time, I think, my full attention was brought to leather was through the guy I had a crush on in grade 11 and 12 in high school.  His usual "uniform" was a white t-shirt, denim jeans, and a black leather jacket.  From then I loved black leather jackets.  I wonder what he's doing now?

Dior Nappa Patent Leather Tote, www.ling-replicas.net

Suede jacket, www.newseasonfashion.co.uk

Suede Booties, www.the-covetech.com

Trendy men's leather hoodie jacket, http://trend-men.com

Till next blog!

Somalian Twins Design: Mataano

Ayaan and Idyl are fashion designing twin sisters from Somalia who came to the U.S. at the age of nine.  They completed college and both were interns for famous fashion designers.  Ayaan interned for Jill Stuart, and Idyl interned for Betsy Johnson.  

By Mataano, htp://visionaryartistrymag.com

The twins' first collection of ten dresses was introduced in 2009. Their brand name, Mataano, is a Somali name which means twins.  How appropriate!  To Idyl and Ayaan, the Mataano woman is a mixture of different cultural influences.  

View the twins' website at http://mataano.com.

By Mataano, www.ciaafrique.com

Till next blog!

Inspiration: African Designers

We're all hearing about the terrible famine hitting the Horn of Africa, which includes Somalia and parts of Kenya.  It's devastating! I decided to look for Somalian fashion designers (I discovered a pair of twin designers, no, not the Olsen twins...) and got sidetracked looking at wonderful clothing by other African designers.  This post is for Somalia and Kenya.  I'll have to follow up on the Somalian designers next week.

When one views fashion from other countries/continents, there's a whole new and fresh look to fashion.  I've got to post pictures from other countries in the future blogs.

by Oswald Boateng, www.fashionjunki.com

by Chichia, http://africabatik.wordpress.com

by Nana Boateng, www.jamati.com

http://reesaspeaks.com

photo by Damien Meyer, www.independent.co.uk

Keep Africa in your prayers. Till next blog.

I Counted 32 Shades of Blue!!

Last week I discovered over 11 shades of pink.  This week I counted 32 shades of blue from a list I found through Google!!  I was expecting to find about 11 shades of blue, not 32!!  Whoa!  I'm in my element.  Blue is my favorite color.  Blue is a shade that gives an air of coolness, airiness (as in the light blues), royalty (the deep shades).  I'm not going to list all 32 shades of blue I found (should I?), but I'll list 16 of them.

1. Sky blue  2. Baby blue  3. Cobalt  4.  Neon blue  5.  Navy  6.  Azure  blue 7.  Denim blue   8.  Prussian blue  9. Steel blue  10. Aqua 

11.  Cerulean blue:                                                          

Vintage silk scarf top, www.stylehive.com

12. Brandies blue:                                                  

Slouch bag, Tory Burch, www.toryburch-shoe-sale.com

13. Powder blue:                                                            

Crochet scarf by I Should Koko, www.etsy.com/shop/ishouldkoko

14. Cornflower blue:

 

Pebble Print flats, www.sambag.com.au

15. Night blue:                                                            

by Donna Karan, www.stylebop.com

16. Periwinkle blue:

Men;s vintage 80s Guayaber shirt, www.rustyzipper.com

Till next blog!

Eleven Pinks and Counting...

Just for fun yesterday, I looked up pink clothing. And just for fun, I googled the different shades of pink.  I found eleven, 
and I don't think that's all.  It seems that 
brand names work on different shades 
and give them enticing names.  So when a woman buys a magenta pink dress for example, the specific shade name gives the clothing even more enticement.  That's clever.

Bare with me as I name the shades of pink I found:

1.  Carnation pink     2. Salmon Pink    3.  Neon pink (I don't think I'd like that one)
4.  Blush    5. Tamarisk

6.    Persian pink:    

http://40smodernhepcat.blogspot.com

 

7. Coral:

www.onestopplus.com

 
8.  Rose pink:

by Catherine Malandrino, www.shopstyle.com

 9. Cranberry pink   9.  Magenta   11. Puce pink
(And still more pinks were added to the list)


12.  Cerise:

www.shopstyle.co.uk

13.  Fuschia:

www.chictopia.com

 Now, this jacket is said to combine fuschia and hot pink fabrics, so:

14.  Hot pink    (Also I found today)  15.  Light pink

Some of the shades of pink look somewhat similar, but I guess the name depends on the mood of the designers and brands.  I may very well do a blog on the different shades of blue as that's my favorite color.  Maybe for next week...

Till next blog!