Fashion’s Dangerous Game

As high end designers continuously put in hours of effort, love and care into their products, the high street stores are producing knockoffs in a matter of weeks. So is it better that we spend a large amount of money on a valuble item, or is it ok to buy the cheaper version from the high street? In my opinion buying a high street product may eventually cost the same amount as a high end product. For example after you fork out a whopping €2,ooo on a Prada bag, you most certainly may not be going shopping the following week. When buying a high street product, it is likely you may be in the same store buying something new the next week, and end up throwing out those purchases after a year or two while the good quality of your Prada bag may still be as good as new! of course it is easy to spend money in a high street store without the bank balance guilt, but after you have ran out of the store with a few new jackets and €300 less in your wallet, you have practically bought a few high street pieces with a high end price tag. So what is the difference?

Lets take a look at some of the high street designer knockoffs this season:

Burberry

River Island

Versace

River Island

Miu Miu

Topshop

Mary Katrantzou

Penneys/Primark

Givenchy

River Island

Stella McCartney

River Island - Gavin Norton

GN

 

Filed under: Burberry, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, High end, High Street, Mary Katrantzou, Miu Miu, Prada, River Island, Stella McCartney, Topshop, Versace, Burberry, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, High end, High Street, Mary Katrantzou, Miu Miu, Prada, River Island, Stella McCartney, Topshop, Versace

The Rooney Mara Look

With her jet black hair, perfectly cut fringe and classic but interesting style, the ‘Rooney Mara look’ has been gracing the runways from New York to Paris for Fall 2012. With designers such as Versace, Marni and even Calvin Klein (where she sat front row) on board, it’s time we all add a little bit of Ms. Mara into our wardrobe.

Rooney Mara

Calvin Klein

Versace

Marni

Givenchy

GN

Filed under: Calvin Klein, Fall/Winter 2012, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, Marni, Rooney Mara, Style, Versace, Calvin Klein, Fall/Winter 2012, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, Marni, Rooney Mara, Style, Versace

Paris Fashion Week – Top 5 Shows

At last we come to Paris….

The atmosphere in Paris this week was exciting as designers continued to present enthralling shows to the fashion folk. Alber Elbaz’s 10 year anniversary show at Lanvin had the crowd cheering as bright and uplifting colours made their way down the runway and as Alber sang a solo to take his bow. Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci is at the top of his game. The confident designer showed a gothic, romantic show. With a collection mostly containing black, it was the slight shift of colour at the end that made the show. The Yves Saint Laurent show was a special one. Since taking over the label in 2004 Stefano Pilati announced he was leaving. His final collection payed tribute to the great Saint Laurent with a Pilati twist! Alexander McQueen continued to be one of the star shows of Fashion Week. Sarah Burton’s feminine petal-like silhouettes took my breath away. Finally Louis Vuitton closed the four weeks of fashion shows. Marc Jacobs’ (Creative Director) 1930’s inspired show included Willy Wonka shaped glasses, servants carrying the models luggage and a steam train. Now whats more glamorous than that?

Louis Vuitton

Alexander McQueen

Lanvin

Yves Saint Laurent

Givenchy

GN

Filed under: Alexander McQueen, Fall 2012, Fall/Winter 2012, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Paris Fashion Week, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Fall 2012, Fall/Winter 2012, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Paris Fashion Week, Yves Saint Laurent

Tropical Prints

You might not be jet setting off to some exotic tropical island this summer, but you certainly will be wearing one! For Resort 2012, designers such as Stella McCartney and Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy ventured for the colorful surroundings of a Hawaiian jungle. Go wild and wear print with print; Hawaiian shirts with Hawaiian trousers, or even better, mix it up with another print like McCartney’s stripes. So do not be afraid to dig out that hawaiian shirt that was soooo embarrissing for so many years! It’s time we add a little more fun into our lives, and there’s no better way to do it with then that tropical fever.

Stella McCartney Resort 2012

GN

 

Filed under: Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, Resort 2012, Riccardo Tisci, Stella McCartney, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, Resort 2012, Riccardo Tisci, Stella McCartney

Love For Lara

Love is in the air. Especially between Calvin Klein and super model Lara Stone. Francisco Costa and Italo Zucchelli, who are the Creative Directors of Clavin Klein, say they love Mrs. Stone so much, that they are dedicating their Fashions Night Out celebrations to the model of the moment.

Vogue Paris August 2011

Stone, who is famous for her gapped front teeth and ‘I don’t belong here’ runway walk, has been named the number 1 model in the top 50 models list and has landed major campaigns like  Givenchy, Giorgio Amrani and Calvin Kelin (of course!).

Calvin Klein campaign

So pop in to Calvin Klein (if you’re in New York) on Fashions Night Out for a room filled of photos of Lara, a specially designed t-shirt and a chance to meet the model legend.

Vogue Paris October 2010

GN

Filed under: Calvin Klein, Fashion, Fashions Night Out, Francisco Costa, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, Italo Zucchelli, Lara Stone, Riccardo Tisci, Calvin Klein, Fashion, Fashions Night Out, Francisco Costa, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, Italo Zucchelli, Lara Stone, Riccardo Tisci

Couture Report Fall/Winter 2011

Chanel – Karl Lagerfeld brought us back to the forties with tightened waists and exaggerated hips all in classic Chanel fabrics. It felt like a couture show.

Chanel

Valentino – Velvet, silk and sheer where just some of the many fabrics used in Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli’s (design duo of Valentino) show. It felt very light and delicate, but at the same time it had a winter feel to it. Perfect for the Valentino customer.

Valentino

Givenchy – White white and more white. Riccardo Tisci opted for light color and light fabrics for this couture collection. The top half of the garment was the detailed and delicate part using feathers and pearls to create a dramtic piece. The bottom half was light, airy and sheer. Beautiful, but I want to see something a little different next year.

Givenchy

Armani Privé – Does he ever get it wrong? This season, Giorgio Armani dedicated his collection to Japan. Using floral prints, vibrantly coloured sequins and hats by Philip Treacy, the whole collection tipped off perfect and pristine…..as usual.

Armani Privé

Jean Paul Gaultier – These days people take couture too seriously. Apart from Jean Paul Gaultier of course. Fun, glamorous and crazy. They are three perfect words to describe JPG’s couture collection. It’s always nice to put the madness back into fashion.

Jean Paul Gaultier

Giambattista Valli – I was wondering how Mr. Valli would carry off his first ever couture collection. There was absolutely no disappointment with dresses flowing right down the runway in lipstick red, leopard print and  floral prints added to red carpet ready dresses. Bravo Valli!

Giambattista Valli

Azzedine Alaia – With an EIGHT year break, Azzedine Alaia has come back to couture bigger and better. The collection was nothing but perfect with fitted wool coats and jackets and trimmed mohair dresses. That expalins wht the crowd gave the design genius a standing ovation. He deserved it.

Azzedine Alaia

GN

Filed under: Armani Privé, Azzedine Alaia, Chanel, Chanel Haute Couture, Fall/Winter 2011, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Giambattista Valli, Giorgio Armani, Givenchy, Haute Couture, Jean Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Philip Trracy, Pier Paolo Piccioli, Riccardo Tisci, Valentino, Armani Privé, Azzedine Alaia, Chanel, Fall/Winter 2011, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Giambattista Valli, Givenchy, Haute Couture, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino

Best Dressed

I don’t usually do ‘best dressed of the week’, but after seeing this outfit I felt I had to. How Fab does Daphne Guinness look in this couture kimono at model Natalia Vodianova’s love ball? The hat is also a couture piece designed by Philip Treacy for Armani privé, seen at the show just a few days ago. Best dressed by far…..very far!

Daphne Guinness

GN

Filed under: Armani Privé, Daphne Guinness, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, Haute Couture, Love Ball, Natalia Vodianova, Style, Armani Privé, Daphne Guinness, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, Haute Couture, Love Ball, Natalia Vodianova, Style

Do You See What I See?

Alexander McQueen

Prada

Dsquared

Burberry Prorsum

Givenchy

Louis Vuitton

GN

Filed under: Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Burberry Prorsum, Dsquared, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Spring/Summer 2012, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Burberry Prorsum, Dsquared, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Prada

Rumours, Rumours, Rumours

Rumours have raised yet again in the fashion industry. Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci has supposedly been telling his close friends that he is the new designer at Dior, replacing John Galliano. During Paris Fashion Week, suspicions were that Riccardo was leaving Givenchy and joining Dior, and Haider Ackermann would become his successor at Givenchy. So are these rumors true?  Although Dior may not release a press statement until September, at this moment in time it is quite obvious that Riccardo Tisci is the Chosen one.

Riccardo Tisci

GN

Filed under: Christian Dior, Dior, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Dior, Fashion, Gavin Norton, Givenchy, John Galliano, Riccardo Tisci