RiRi Roams London Streets Secretly For Fashion Inspiration

RiRi Roams London Streets Secretly For Fashion Inspiration

London, August 13 (ANI): Rihanna has revealed that she secretly wanders around the streets of London to check out what the Brits are wearing.The 24-year-old, who is producing Sky Living series 'Styled To Rock', also confessed that she loves the capital.

"London has always been one of my favourite cities to come to. I always go out on the street walking around to see what the kids are doing. They always set the trends for the designers," the Sun quoted her as saying.

"I find that the kids in London have so much style, so much street style and so much talent. This show was a way for me to give these kids the opportunity to see how far they can go.

The show, whose pilot launches on Tuesday, will hunt for a new British designer, who will create an outfit for the Bajan beauty to wear at London's Wireless Festival next July.The show will be fronted by Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts and feature designer Henry Holland.

"We're hoping to find the next superstar designer to dress superstars. What I'm really looking to find is the next innovative young designer, someone like Vivienne Westwood or Alexander McQueen," Rihanna said.

"These designers are actually the fashion kids on the street who don't have the opportunity to get to the next step.

"The fashion kids always do something new, always do something innovative and that's what this competition is all about, and that's why I came to London. I really wanted to do this show because I love discovering new designers and finding things that are fresh and trendsetting," she added.

Each episode of the show will also feature famous celebrities, including Cheryl Cole, Katy Perry, Little Mix and Pixie Lott. 

What Happened To The First Lady Of Fashion?

What Happened To The First Lady Of Fashion?

 

Michelle Obama has been living up to her 'First Lady of Fashion' nickname this weekend in an array of bold looks.So it came as some surprise to see her watch Team USA beat the French in today's preliminary basketball game wearing an uncharacteristically understated outfit.A far cry from yesterday's mismatching monochrome and Friday's  the U.S. First Lady went for a soft grey top and matching cardigan, with cream trousers.

While it was by no means lacking in style - her hair was worn back in a ponytail and she had accessorised with a double-strand silver necklace - it lacked the bold style statements of other ensembles she has worn during this London visit.

Yesterday, for example, another jam-packed itinerary, saw Mrs Obama go for a more typically fashion-forward look to watch Ryan Lochte take Team USA's first gold medal in the 400m individual medley.The green, black and monochrome-patterned top with a triangular cut-out at the neckline was a $138 design by BCBG Max Azria.

Earlier that day, for Serena Williams' opening tennis match against Serbian Jelena Jankovic, she was seen in prints again, in an artfully clashing number from one of her favourite designers, Tracey Reese.The $388 dress, from the label's latest collection, was designed to look like a patterned top and checked skirt, creating a daring multi-textured look.

But perhaps Mrs Obama's decision to play it low-key today is a reaction to criticism for her rather more divisive fashion choices on Friday.Though the dazzling J Mendel jacket and skirt worn for a pre-Opening Ceremony Buckingham Palace reception won critical acclaim from the style set, some political commentators are furious that she elected to wear a garment that cost $6,800.

The design was almost armour-like in style and embroidered in shimmering silver, with cap sleeves that showed off those famously toned arms.
However Gateway Pundit has taken issue with the fact that the design 'cost more than the average American family makes in a month ($4,284)'.'She does this as Americans continue to suffer through a deep recession and record unemployment,' writer Jim Hoft said. 'Michelle feels your pain.'

Burgundy, The Color For Fall 2012

Burgundy, The Color For Fall 2012 

 Fashion designers couldn't get enough of the 50 shades of red this fall. Not with standing the prevalence of fire-engine red, burgundies reigned supreme on the Fall 2012 runways. Like your favorite wintner's selection, the wine colors ranged from red tinged with brown, oft called oxblood, to red tinged with purple or blue, like a good Bordeaux. These lush colors showed up on dresses, fur coats, leather skinny pants, suits, jeans, bags and shoes. Often, as at Peter Som in New York, varying shades of burgundy were combined into one look.

Aside from the hot monochromatic look of burgundy head-to-toe, the color most paired with the dark red was black. Black leather trim on an oxblood leather skirt at Tommy Hilfiger; black fur sleeves on a burgundy jacket at Jason Wu; black velvet belting a flowing Bordeaux goddess gown at Gucci. Other ways to wear burgundy? With rich fall colors like burnt orange and cobalt blue or more subdued with olive green and camel.

For those used to navy and black, burgundy is a good color to try. It looks great on most complexions and blends seamlessly into any wardrobe. Celebrities - Natalie Portman at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Emma Stone at the Golden Globes - have turned to the elegant color for red carpet appearances.

Comic-Con 2012: Comic Book-Inspired Fashion

 

 Today marks the opening day of the annual Comic-Con International. The San Diego convention has evolved into a popular mecca for comic book lovers to mingle and share their passion for the medium  not to mention dress up as some of their favorite characters.

Those of us in the fashion industry are increasingly feeling the influence of comics. DC Comics, for example, is building a legacy of fashion collaborations (past partnerships include Lanvin and Pierre Hardy). Designers are also sending comic-inspired looks down the runway. Contemporary footwear virtuosos Jeffrey Campbell and Giuseppe Zanotti have recently contributed to the comic craze with limited-edition footwear that incorporates a vintage pulp comic print and a snazzy Spiderman influence, respectively.

Even if you can’t join in on the fun in San Diego over the next few days, you can always flaunt your love of comic books with a plethora of fashion choices.

Pakistan Hosts The Lux Style Awards 2012

Pakistan Hosts The Lux Style Awards 2012

Pakistan holds its most celebrated awards ceremony, The Lux Style Awards (LSA) 2012 in Karachi. It was a grand evening hosted at the Expo center in Karachi on Tuesday evening.

The function included presence of renowned actors, fashion designers and celebrities of Pakistan. Shoaib Mansoor's Bol won the Best Film award, whereas Lux Style Achievement award went to Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy for her Oscar winning documentary Saving Face. Pakistan actor Humaima Malick bagged the best female actress award for her stellar performance in Shoaib Mansoor's Bol. Also Best Film Actor award went to Manzar Sehbhai, for his powerful performance in Bol.

The function concluded with a spectacular performance by Pakistan singer turned actor Ali Zafar along with Coke studio band members Kamran Mannu Zafar and Asad Ahmed. Ali's performance included a special tribute to the late Ghazal maestro, Mehdi Hassan.

The Allet US Finalist For Woolmark

 

 

After being unravelled by competition from cheap cashmere and hi-tech fabrics, Australian wool returned to the fashion map in New York yesterday with designer Sophie Theallet announced as the US finalist in the International Woolmark Prize.

Theallet faced stiff competition from Prabal Garung and Naeem Khan before winning $100,000 and going in the running for the top prize, a further $100,000 and the opportunity for her clothes to be stocked in US department store Bergdorf Goodman, London's Harvey Nichols, Italy's 10 Corso Como and David Jones in Australia.Chinese, Indian and European finalists will be announced in the coming days, with the Australian finalist to be announced on Monday.

Australian designers Dion Lee, Magdalena Velevska, Christopher Esber, Kym Ellery, Song For The Mute and Carl Kapp could win $50,000 and the opportunity to represent their country at the finals in February at London Fashion Week."The International Woolmark Prize was initiated through the evolution of the global marketing campaign and the need to reinforce merino wool's position as a premium product supplying the world's luxury brands," Woolmark managing director Stuart McCullough said."The designers who have been nominated for the prize are the fashion leaders and decision-makers of the future."The International Woolmark Prize is awarded to budding designers.

Valentino Has Reportedly Been Sold For €600 Million Euro

Valentino Has Reportedly Been Sold For €600 Million Euro

The Italian fashion house was bought by private equity firm Permira five years ago. The company worked hard to improve Valentino’s finances and is now selling it to an investor.According to British newspaper The Telegraph, the sale will be worth €600 million.The buyer has not been identified yet, with the publication only saying it is a “sovereign wealth fund”.

Last year, Valentino’s sales had soared by 20 per cent when compare to 2010 and totalled €322.4 million. The before tax earnings had gone up 300 per cent to €22.2 million. At the time Permira bought the fashion house, things weren’t so good. The label’s namesake designer Valentino Garavani left which plunged the company into problems.

Designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli were brought in to try and open up the brand to a wider audience. The move worked well, with the pair’s forward-looking designs praised when they were presented at Paris Haute Couture Week this month.

Lulu Kennedy Sees Herself As A "Foster Mum" To Young Designers.

Lulu Kennedy Sees Herself As A "Foster Mum" To Young Designers

           Lulu Kennedy sees herself as a "foster mum" to young designers

The designer is renowned for honing talent - having been instrumental in the rise of designers including Roksanda Ilincic, Gareth Pugh and Jonathan Saunders - and advises all hopefuls to seek help and collaboration in their nascent careers.

She told The Guardian newspaper her best advice was: "Don't try to do everything by yourself."

Of the role her Fashion East company plays, she added: "I'm just a foster mum. The designers are with me for one or two seasons and then I let them go. I can't grant them wishes. They make things happen. They've got to put the work in."

Lulu - who describes her personality as a "bossy big sister" - also explained the way in which the non-profit Fashion East initiative can aid designers in launching their careers.

She added: "Yeah, they're all friends. Basically, what we do is select designers we believe in the most and who need some support and then we give them sponsorship, a show, advice and mentoring. We bring a good audience into the show and we give them a small bursary as well, which doesn't get very far. The equivalent would be a music industry showcase