NYFW Designer Profile: Jason Wu

It's that time of year again when fashionista's flock to the upper east side for New York Fashion Week, where the top designers showcase their ready-to-wear collections for A/W 2011 and S/s 2012. It would honestly take me all week to go through every collection that I loved, so instead I've just picked one.

The manhatten-based fashion designer, Jason Wu, was born in Taiwan in 1982. He learned how to sew by designing and sewing for dolls, and went on to study sculpture in Tokyo. Wu continued this career path at sixteen by learning to create freelance doll clothing designs for toy company Integrity Toys under the lines "Jason Wu dolls" and later "Fashion Royalty". Later he studied at Parsons: The New School for Design in New York and went on to intern for Narciso Rodriguez.

Jason Wu debuted his first Ready-To-Wear Collection in 2006 with a unique and distinctive aesthetic, Through merging American sportswear with old world sophistication, he established a supremely feminine and modern sensibility.

“I have always found a woman’s body to be especially beautiful ever since taking my first life drawing class as a teenager. I was drawn to fashion design as it is my passion to create garments that enhance and flatter the female form,” explains Jason.

So, onto his showcase of the S/S 2012 collection! 

Jason Wu debuted a collection fit for modern sophisticates who aren’t fussy or stuffy. Inspired by pop art, he played with proportion as well as contrasting black, grey and white basics with sherbet brights of pink and yellow in his colour palette. The models were styled with waist cinching narrow belts,  hair was pulled up into messy spiky updos and flashed bright tangerine lips as they came down the runway, walking to 'Grace (Sleeparchive Remix)' by Miss Kittin. Click here to listen!

~ P

Is Men's Grooming Out Of Control?...

...I don't think so!

Right guys i thought i would share my top 5 tips for keeping that body in top knotch condition this winter!

1. We all know that washing is important but i believe using bodywash products that are made from natural ingredients give our bodies that best protection in day to day life! So throw out them chemicals and welcome 'The Body Shop' into your Bathroom!

2. I like to think that shampoo'ing and conditioning are best done seperate! I always feel the silky smoothness difference after every wash! Plus it prolongs them split ends coming as fast as they do! For this i recommend Avon Shampoo! It works wonders and it is also made from natural ingredients 

3. Keep the Knashers Clean and white by using 'Pearldrops' or 'White Glo' toothpaste and remember to Floss and Mouthwash!

4. Electrified Hair! To maintain your hairstyle i use 'Toni & Guy' Wax/Gum followed by a little hairspray, makes my hair last all day and all night! Great for those busy lifestyles!

5. Finally! ALWAYS REMEMBER TO MOISTURISE! Its not just for the girls, Our skin is also capable of drying out and causing itchiness!! Again i would recommend the bodyshop for this too.

So this winter get yourself to; 'The Body Shop', 'Boots' and 'Avon' to maintain a healthy looking Fall!

~ W

Buttons Up Guys!

Listen up guys, so this season walk into the office or class with your shirt buttoned up high and the knit hanging low! All the major high-street retailers are filling their Fall look books with this trend, including International retailer Zara, see image below;

Thought i better share with you this finding before you rush out to get your clothes for this coming Winter.

~ W

Home, Sweet Home: Complete!

So, after a long day of shopping, DIY, styling and champagne sipping, W's flat is finally complete! Everything came together just as we'd planned resulting in a cool, sophisticated city apartment that was worth every penny and minute of hard work to achieve, even if we did go slightly over budget for an amazing £40 throw!

Here are the results...

Bedroom

 Kitchen

Hall

Lounge

We'd love to see what you all think, so please leave us a little comment below!

Or if you'd like to hire us, our rates our very reasonable, haha! ;) 

~ P & W

City Living? Home, Sweet Home!

For the past few months W has been working hard waiting for tomorrow to arrive: payday! And it's a big one! So for weeks we have been planning how to decorate his city centre apartment - spending evenings surrounded by our laptops, home catalogues and lifestyle magazines picking out every single last detail and compiling our 'little black book' for the huge shopping trip tomorrow, 31st of August!

This post is just a little heads-up because, no doubt, by tomorrow evening we shall be sipping a glass of something yummy and uploading photos of his new bachelor pad!

~ P

Accessory Trend Alert: Laser Cutting

Popular on the beige handbags of your great auntie, but never really a noticeable micro fashion trend, well thanks to designer Christopher Kane, the accessory market is going crazy for cutouts!

Kane's new season collection, found here! at Net-A-Porter, showcases cut-outs on purses, skirts and tops. The highstreet must have seen it coming as all the major retailers are flooding their accessory departments with gorgeous cut-out items that fit nicely with the current 70's bohemia and colour blocking trends. 

Here are some great pieces that are on trend, on the highstreet, and most importantly on the money!

Teal laser cut platform shoes, £40, from Dorothy Perkins

Buy them here!

Skinny belt with flower cut-out detail, £10, ASOS

Buy it here!

Silver cut-out cuff, £4.99, New Look

Buy it here!

Silver cut-out purse, £6, Marks&Spencer's

Buy it here!

~P

'Till Death Do Us Part

US Vogue may have her on the cover of their coveted September Issue, but British Vogue have her editorial wedding photo's as a spread in theirs. Iconic model Kate Moss married musician Jamie Hince on 11th July 2011 in the Cotswolds. After, photographer Mario Testino, who also photographed Royals William and Kate for their engagement photos, captured their day in an elegant collection of shots. 

Kate's dress was designed, on her request, by disgraced designer John Galliano, who is currently on trial and Paris for the anti-semetic allegations made against him. The shoes were exclusively designed by Manolo Blahnik. The groom wore a light blue Yves Saint Laurent suit and a pair of dark sunglasses to accompany his rockstar persona.

Close friends Naomi Campbell, wearing Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci, Bryan Ferry in a Gucci suit and US Vogue editor Anna Wintour are understood to have attended the ceremony.

~ P

The September Issue

Yes, it's that time of the year when the 'Fashion Bible' comes out and this year American Vogue splash British Kate Moss on their cover! I hope your excited to find out whats in this Fall, i know i am

~ W

The 10 Autumn Fashion Trends from ASOS.com (Part 2)

6. Mod Squad

The best way to mix-up this summer's colour blocking trend; lets go retro! Boxy coats and boy-ish shaped dresses in pastels or block prints that Piet Mondrian would be proud of, and knee high boots are essential for finishing off the look.

7. Wild Thing

Two of last year's biggest trends, animal print and florals, are back with a vengeance to see you through those cold nights of partying still to come this A/W. Faux fur jackets, especially Gorilla, floral trousers and snakeskin print are the easiest ways to bring the jungle to the city.

8. Ladylike

It's time to put away some skin and bring back a little bit of mystery with this autumn's most sophisticated trend. Over-the-knee pencil skirts and high-neck collars are the key basics for this look, with skinny waist belts, pointed court shoes and a gorgeous hand bag to finish it off.

9. Jewel Box Colours

Possibly the most fun trend for autumn: it's time to push all those colour-match cliche's a side and mix mustard with purple and green with blue and become a super stylish, confident woman! Bright knits, winter sandals and tonal socks will help you pack a punch (in a good way) where ever you go.

10. LA Vintage

Last but not least, LA Vintage is a perfect trend for all you jet-setters, keeping it 'real' and relaxed with midi-skirts, slinky gowns and culottes. This trend channels the 70's bohemia summer trend with easy day to night looks, whether you're at a festival abroad or shopping with friends back home, this really is the most laid-back trend of the season.

~ P

The 10 Autumn Fashion Trends from ASOS.com (Part 1)

1. Cowboys and Indians

We saw this trend creep it's way into our wardrobes throughout the year, but this autumn it's time embrace it fully: blanket dresses, navajo prints, denim-on-denim and miles and miles if fringe are they key to surviving fashion's Wild Wild Winter!

2. Fetish

Kinky is in and it's time to crack the whip and become your own mistress of style. Bondage style bodycon dresses or knee high boots are great fun for an evening outfit, but why stop there? Wear a leather pencil skirt or a black waist cinching belt to the office and show them who's boss.

3. Girl-Boy

As if we could forget the androgynous look? This is a great trend if you're heading to any big interviews anytime soon: get yourself suited up with one of the Teddy Boy, MOD or Psychobilly styles, pairing crombie coats with ankle length trousers, socks and loafers. You'll be hired in no time!

4. Heritage

Yes, Heritage is still on trend, so pull out your hunting jacket from last year and borrow your old man's fedora, it's time to holiday in the country, darlings! If it's tweed or has a herringbone print, buy it now and show you're never afraid to go back to British!

5. The Power Jumper

If you buy just one thing this winter, let it be an absolutely to-die-for piece of knitwear. Oversized knits from last year are still on trend, but why not have fun with some texture? Bobbles, cables or mix-and-match yarns are the easiest way to get yourself felt up on those approaching winter evenings!

~P

Fall Films

So, we all love to watch Rom-Coms when we are feeling down or fancy that quiet night in we deserve. Well we have a treat this year as we have 2 films which feature the TV Queen of Style herself Sarah Jessica Parker. This Fall SJP stars in ‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’ and ‘New Year’s Eve’. ‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’ is about Motherhood and reality clashing together, in which you might give your boss head lice and then ironically forget to go to your sons haircut but somehow everything will work out in the end.

But, we all loved ‘Valentine’s Day’ last year and now from the same creators we have ‘New Year’s Eve’ in which we follow a collection of couples around trying to find their new year’s kiss. This all-star cast not only includes SJP but also Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Katherine Heigl, Robert De Niro plus many more. This film is sure to send us looking for our romance in 2012.

~  W 

Freja - The Current Face of Fashion

The 23 year old danish model, Freja Beha Erichsen, really is taking the fashion industry by storm as one of the most wanted runway and campaign models of the year. She was signed to IMG Model Agency in 2004 and made her debut, the next year, walking for Prada and Louis Vuitton in Paris and Milan.

Now she's Karl Lagerfeld's 'muse' and the repeat face of Chanel, as well as on the current cover of British Vogue - she has become a global sensation, and we're not likely to see her disappear anytime soon.

~ P