TopShop... the bloody gem's

and if that isn't enough ... the unique collection which we featured here 

Spring Summer London 2012 

on the blog last year, has finally landed on the topshop website!

All images and text from Topshop.com

The Notorious P.I.G

You may not be aware but there is a new muppet movie being released and I could not be happier... I love the muppets and I love.... of course.... Miss Piggy!

Her latest PR mission has seen her gracing the pages of alot of the current fashion magazines, including a fabulous shoot for the Sunday Times Style magazine at the weekend, wearing the lastest spring/summer 2012 collections. 

... and just for your veiwing pleasure here are some of my favourite fashion shots of the lady herself .... a true fashion icon!

Paris Haute Couture Spring Summer 2012

The HC collections this year for me all had one major thing in common - wearability!  Except of course for Alexis Mabbile who's collection was a little eighties and not in a good way. The painted faces, crazy headpieces and tacky dresses were tres not for me.  The rest of the designers however presented modern, wearable collections with added sparkle, dazzle and romance.

Valentino Couture 

Valentino brought us a beautifully romantic collection in icy hues.  Full length dresses reminiscent of Carries prom dress in the Stephen King film of the same name with billowy sleeves, high Victorian necks and gathered waist and cuffs.  Tailored trousers and skirts with elegant jackets and Count of Monte Cristoesque capes.  Delicate materials with rich embellishment give the collection a luxurious feeling, my favourite touch being the slipper loafers made in the same lavish material as the outfits they were worn with.  Overall a very pretty feminine take on couture which looked like it was designed with the new young couture buyer in mind.  

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul's spring summer 2012 couture collection was obviously inspired by the late great Amy Winehouse with models wearing her trademark beehive and swaggering down the catwalk with cigarettes and general Amy attitude.  However the collection was also a bit of a tribute to himself as there was all the trademark gautier magic included.  There was forties moll inspired style with sequin pencil skirts, tied at the waist shirts, polo shirt inspired gowns and blouses, lace clam diggers and luxurious college jackets.  There was also however the legendary, wonderful JPG corsetry that took me back to Madonnas conical bra days and tailoring that simply blew my mind! And at the end all of the models came back to the runway wearing mourning mantilla veils which made us think of the fashion Icon we lost last year and how it was nice to remember her in a way which would have made her very very proud.  Well done JPG and goodnight Miss Winehouse.

Armani Prive Couture

Mr Armani delivered a very elegant contemporary couture collection with digital reptilian prints on strong structured trouser and skirt suits and modern tailored gowns in all the green and blue shades you could imagine. This collection oozed edginess, with lots of bear chests, slick hair and mysterious headpieces, Armani really took it to a new level... his recent collections haven't really excited me in the last few years but this one really really did, my personal favourite being the voluminous skirt with the black silk slip top (above).  I can see a similar skirt to this being made for myself soon, definitely on the inspirations list!

Givenchy

Ricardo took his inspiration from the 1927 Fritz Lang Film - Metropolis

The collection had all they tell tale Tisci trademarks, chunky chains, studs, zips and edgy modern elegance.  There was also an art deconess to the looks and luxurious details like recreated reptile skin in bead work on weightless chiffon, simply amazing.

The show took place in a gymnasium with basketballs placed strategically around the models, it was a simple background for such grand growns and a positive difference to some of the BIG set productions that some of the other designers had staged during the week.

Ricardo also included some of the attitude that we have come to love and expect from Givenchy in the form of  huge tribal earrings and nose rings which looked impossible to wear but the models did it beautifully.

Chanel

One of the biggest shows of the whole week was Chanel.  Karl boarded the audience onto a futuristic Air Chanel jumbo jet set, complete with illuminated gangway runway and bucket air plane seats.  As much as the set looked amazing the dresses were simple and elegant and a contrast to the brash and bold set.

There was simple dropped waist funnel neck dresses and skirts in icy blue tones (seems to be one of the stand out colour pallets of couture week) and lots of chiffon, boucle and Karl sparkle.  Overall this collection was similar to the Valentino collection in that it was a very contemporary, youthful couture.

Giambattista Valli Couture

Giambattista, the new man on the couture street (only featured as a guest last year... this is his first certified show) showed a super luxurious collection, with classic Italian tailoring and feminine romantic embellishments.  The colour pallet of Black, White, Cream and Wine featured on trademark GV cocoon shapes skirts and dresses, beautifully soft tailoring, gorgeous lace pleated dresses and tulle gowns with bowed waists. Molte Bella!

Dior

For the first time in what seems like a long time that you could actually believe you were looking at a Dior collection, one from the 1950's, when Christian himself was at the helm at that!  Gaytenne brought us Mad Men couture and classic fifties Dior glamour.  There were beautiful tulle gowns with full skirts and see through coat dresses with 50's knickers (another favourite this couture season) along with pencil skirts, see through shirts and hounds tooth.  One of the more traditional couture collections of the week. 

Versace Atelier

Finally there was the return of Atelier Versace and what a return it was.  Dontallea took it easy for her return to the realms of couture and instead of hosting a big spectacular show she simply presented 20 or so looks in a presentation type display.  The pieces did not disappoint, it was like a gorgeous Grecian fashion gladiator meets lady gaga.  There was strong sexy dresses with dramatic pointed shoulders, jackets and tiny shorts with gorgeous over the knee leg covers that sat over dramatic pointed court shoes and gorgeous constructed gowns all in delicate lilacs, sea grey, lime and acid yellow.  This collection was what couture is all about .... fabulous gowns that dreams are made.  I would bet next months wages on one of these beautiful dresses making the Oscars red carpet in March.

All pictures taken from Vogue.co.uk

I'm sorry ..... Sooooo Sorry

Oh god .. I have just looked back at my time line and realised how long it has been since I last blogged and for this I am ever so sorry!

However to be fair it has been a busy start to 2012 for discofashionartsugar with many new projects in the pipeline and the little matter of designing the new website…. I haven’t had time to think never mind post.

…I am currently working on a review of the couture collections that came out of Paris last week, it will be posted shortly and yes it will include a review on JPG’s Amy Winehouse inspired collection!

I know some people think that reviewing the couture collections is a little pointless as the looks are so expensive and unobtainable…. However the spring / summer PARTAY season is just around the corner and I don’t know about you but for me the couture collections will definitely be inspiring some of the frocks I purchase over the next few months for my upcoming events!

I will not leave you hanging though… I had a little twitter conversation this week with Justine, owner of the legendary Cricket Boutique just as she was on her way to Paris for a meeting with Lanvin about their spring summer ready to wear collection!!! I told her how jealous I was…. How she should wear a glittery bow tie in case she bumped into Alber and how excited I am that this fabulous collection will be available in Liverpool! She told me that Alber in fact might be there… and how friendly he is with everyone who comes to the studio! The result…… me = green with envy! And just so you can get as excited as me I will leave you with a taste of the collection …. I think you will agree with me when I say that once again Alber did not disappoint #tresfab

OOOOO that's nice!

Some pretty things to give you inspiration, like they have me, or for you just to slobber over!
Damn I want this Giles Gremlin Bag.... and Santa where's my Givenchy heels huh? I am going to make this T shirt though (look out for a DIY post soon!).... Can't wait for LIL Kim to show Niki Minage how its really done later on this year! Oh and I'm sorry but I think that 2012 may just be Ms Lohan's year, she is quietly making a sartorial comeback and with Oliver Zahm in her corner the girl can do no wrong... go Lindsey #frecklesrule.... oh and this is definitly my magazine cover of 2011.... Lara & Amsterdam on the cover of T magazine!

Pictures by Purple Magazine, T Magazine, Katelovesme, and Jak&Jil

Barbados Wish List! So Far..... TBC

Barbados 2012! | Fashiolista

Just a little catch up

Went to see Coldplay in the M.E.N on Sunday... it was amazing but its left me a wee bit tired so this blog will be short. We got a wristband that lit up to certain songs, I'm sorry but it was genius. I do heart Chris Martin and Co.  My other half took this photo of the crowd with his the 360 degree camera on his iPhone...

My outfit you ask ... well I wore my new leather jacket that is meant to be for Christmas so I won't embellish just yet and ........

Finally... as Christmas Jumpers go this is a wee bit naughty but I do like it.... unfortunately its only on the Urban Outfitters Americas site! : (    Shrooms, Weed, Pills, Beer and Ciggies .... Merry Christmas indeed!

Coldplay Manchester 4.12.11 (Digital Tour Pack Video)

Oh so special!! My little ass was wiggling in that crowd on the floor somewhere! #Amazing

My latest project... sorry for the lack of blogging!! Back soon!

www.ishmaelimages.com 

Coming Soon

November #justwhatImthinking

I'm having those booties... end of! I'm thinking the office Christmas shindig... I've got some ideas about what to put them with but I'll keep them to myself for the minute (think gun metal, sequins, Hollywood glamour)  A little snippet from Toronto fashion week.. The Chloecommeparris collection was a little bit of me for spring and summer next year.  Hats and Jumpers from Topshop because its freezing!  Kanye x Hov or KanJay as I've nic named it. I think it looks like a African American homer from the Simpson's #justsaying (can't stop listening to Otis from Watch the Throne on the bus).  A little pic from the Satorialist ... loving the Peruvian belt.. my other half's aunty is in Peru at the mo and so I'm hoping she gets me a belt like this! Imagine!... I just wish it was warm enough to wear that outfit.  Some Sequin Graffiti in Reykjavik, Iceland by Theresa Himmer... Amazing.  Finally some of the latest designs from Wah Nails... I need to get down to London and get these nails of mine DID!