Mango Spring/Summer 2009: Barcelona

The Spanish brand Mango presented its Spring/Summer 2009 Collection in Barcelona named “An Enchanted Garden.” The collection was inspired by “nature and modern landscape” as well as influenced by a strong Japanese touch on the shapes and prints of the garments. Brazilian model Camila Alves came down the runway, and it was her first appearance after the birth of her cute son from boyfriend Matthew McConaughey. The Enchanted Garden featured bright colors and prints, silk and chiffon softness, large flower accessories and exotic oriental flare. Watch out for these pieces to come out in stores next year and prepare for a bright, hot summer!

Matthew Williamson to design a Collection for H&M

H&M has revealed their next designer who will create a collection for the much successful brand and it is none other than Matthew Williamson. I have to admit that I haven’t been so excited about anyone else as I am about Matthew as he has become one of my favorite designers. His work at Pucci was admirable and his own collection for Spring 2009 at New York Fashion Week was breath taking. Matthew’s sense of style is stunning and you can always expect beautiful patterns and explosive palette of warm, rich colors.

“It is an incredible opportunity to be working with H&M creating a ‘Matthew Williamson for H&M’ capsule collection. I love the fact that H&M has created a new phenomenon in fashion through the pioneering concept of collaborating with high-end designers to create one-off limited edition capsule collections. I am thrilled that my creations for H&M will be accessible to and hopefully enjoyed by so many people around the world,” says Williamson.

“Matthew has such a good eye and a way for working with prints that he mixes up in a new way. When he combines these things, you get a very contemporary London look,” says H&M’s creative advisor Margareta van den Bosch. “He is fantastic with piling on color – it’s a very stylish collaboration for H&M, and very much in line with the way we’re thinking about fashion for spring/summer.”

The collection is expected to hit stores from April 23 of 2009 and I certainly cannot wait! Below are some of the looks from his Spring 2009 Collection at New York Fashion Week.

Victoria Beckham is The New Face of Emporio Armani

Victoria Beckham is the new face for the Emporio Armani underwear’s international ad campaign. The ad was shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and will debut for Spring 2009. Giorgio Armani is very excited about Posh Spice saying, “Who better than Victoria Beckham to launch our new global Emporio Armani underwear campaign? Victoria is a style icon, a dynamic lady whose influence and recognition will add great excitement to the continued international growth of our Emporio Armani women’s underwear business.” Her husband, soccer star David Beckham is the current face for Emporio men’s underwear campaign.

Giorgio Armani Not Ready To Retire

With Valentino retired and Yves Saint Laurent passing away, there are unfortunately only a handful of the grand designers left today. Giorgio Armani who is a favorite of mine, recently spoke to Italian magazine Il Sole 24 Ore about the idea of retirement.

“It is painful but you need to have the courage that, once it is done, not to have any claims over it,” Armani says. “In the case of reaching a certain age or the market needing a radical change in style, it is extremely difficult for someone who created a company to detach themselves from it.”

Giorgio adds, “The founder is linked to the brand and represents its style. When it comes to replacing the founder there is always a doubt as to whether to change the style. The young designers have all the talent that is needed but in a system made up of only ‘untouchable icons’ that cut off all oxygen, you can also die.”

But don’t worry! The talented designer is not on his way to retirement! “I have never posed myself the problem, looking at the pros and cons… I have not picked my ‘heir’. Touch wood, we’re not talking about it but an organisation that is so precise could easily survive me. I can easily manage this as I have always firmly kept the style, management and ownership in my hands.”

Armani’s Spring/Summer 2009 collections were spectacular and we sure hope that our favorite designer will continue to beautify the fashion runways and inspire our lives with his delicate pieces.

Gisele Bundchen: New Face For Dior Spring 2009

It has been confirmed that the new hot face of Christian Dior Spring 2009 campaign will be none other than Brazilian Supermodel Gisele Bundchen. The news leaked on her blog, where it said that Gisele “went to Paris, France, to shoot the ad campaign for Dior. Gisele is the new face for the new collection of the brand.” Although, the new collection is not available yet, it is certain that we all cannot wait!

Trend Spring 2009: Huge Earrings!

It is no secret that I love huge jewellery, anything from enormous necklaces, rings, bracelets and of course earrings! So, you can imagine how excited I was that huge earrings are the next major trend for Spring/Summer 2009. Also featured on the British Vogue Loves, these Zac Posen Spring 2009 earrings are a grand highlight! The chandelier style beauties are danggling, huge and a definite show stopper. Whether you chose silver styles, Swarovski sparling crystals or tribal colored stones, do not be afraid to experiment and let your imagination fly just as long as they are large. In fact, the larger, the better! Just remember to pull your hair back either in a French chic ponytail or styled into a quiff like in the Zac Posen fashion show. And of course, do not over-accessorize when you wear these beauties: chose simpler clothes and only one more accessory so that their magic appeal takes center stage.

Valentino Appoints New Designers; Facchinetti is Out!

Rumors have been flying for some time now, but it is now confirmed. After the Valentino Spring 2009 collection in Paris, the company’s CEO Stefano Sassi confirmed that this was the last collection of designer Alessandra Facchinetti for Valentino. The new creative directors for the Italian fashion house are Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, who have been designing accessories for Valentino for many years. Apparently Facchinetti wasn’t told of her dismissal and in fact she says the media heard of it first.

“It was with deep regret that I learnt from the press that I would no longer be working with Valentino… This news came as a great surprise since the company’s top management has not yet seen fit to inform me. I would like to thank Valentino s.p.a. for showing their appreciation of my ‘creative contribution and my sophisticated talent’ although I deeply regret the fact that this talent and contribution do not seem to have been adequately acknowledged,” Facchinetti writes in a public e-mail.

Ouch! But what went wrong? It seems that neither Valentino nor his his partner and president Giancarlo Giammetti liked her.

According to Valentino, “[Chiuri and Piccioli] always demonstrated an enormous respect and love for my work. There is an existing archive with thousands of dresses where they can draw and take inspiration from to create a Valentino product that is relevant today. It is a shame that their predecessor didn’t feel this need.”

Giammetti continues as he says, “To pretend to transform and revolutionise the Valentino style is a utopia which is a loss from the start … Pier Paolo and Maria Grazia are company oriented people and it is right to give them a chance to bring forward a style, which alongside Valentino, they have developed.”

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