Waisting Away: Acne AW12

It's very difficult to keep up with all the shows during fashion month. Usually I'm so busy looking at the big names and getting the posts out there that I forget (or don't have time) to look at the little guys. But let's not patronise. The point is: I've found some great new AW12 shows I didn't blog about that I'm very excited to share with you...

Feast your eyes on Acne: a study in the AW12 big belt trend. There are so many ways to wear it: here are the best ones.

LEFT: With a puffa jacket: thanks to Peter Pilotto, the puffa jacket is back. So give it the AW12 treatment by belting it... And add some ski pants for some sporty style.

MIDDLE: Business class: Okay, maybe this look is a little too sexy for the office. So lose the hat, add wide-legged pants and pair of platforms and you're good to go.

RIGHT: Pop that colour: In a see of black, black and more black, a pop of bold colour is very refreshing. This belt gives things more of a corset feel - what a statement.

 

Opt for the softer (colour) side of the season with yellow, a peak of metallic, and romantic prints. The matching pant and belt create a fun illusion.

 

So what will it be? Corset belt, or regular belt?

 

You could always just delay your choice. Remember, sometimes not making the statement can make an even bigger statement.

 

Images: vogue.it

 

The Fashion BenchMarc

I once read in an article that says Marc Jacobs IS fashion. Now, I'm not too sure that we could say that without people trying to smother us in Prada and Burberry jackets, but he certainly is a very important part of the industry. I have great respect for someone who can produce three collections every season. The spectacle at LouisVuitton often distracts us from his other work: this week I fell in love with his eponymous label all over again when I had another look at the AW 11 show (the trends of which is now hitting the Cape Town shore now).

So here is a closer look at the three latest Marc Jacobs collections. Oh, the places they'll take you...

Autumn/Winter 2011

Spot the trend here, it's not so hard to do. This collection had a decidedly futuristic feel about it, contrasted by those Edwardian collars. The rock and roll soundtrack upped the cool factor even more, getting us extra amped for the fall season. South African fashion lovers take note: this is the new mood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring/Summer 2012

If I had to list the trends and inspirations in this show you'd probably get a bit confuzzeled. So let's stick to the flapper at the cabaret with Amy Winehouse. How could this not be fun?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn/Winter 2012

The ultimate escape to a magical land of mad mad hatters, cocoon silhouettes, and shoes you'd only need to tap once to be transported back into a Marc Jacobs store to add another precious item to your collection. A triumph. The reason we love fashion... And Marc.

 

 

 

No, Marc Jacobs is not fashion. Is he?

Images: americanvogue.com and vogue.it

Paris Collections AW12

The Paris collections were too good to round off to just ten. So here are the eleven best moments with their creative minds right next to them.

Undeniable style begins at Haider Ackermann.

Haider Ackermann

Jean Paul Gaultier upgraded grunge to the red carpet.

Jean Paul Gaultier

The suit has never been this cool. Work that Miu Miu.

Miuccia Prada

Crystal clear Chanel.

Karl Lagerfeld

A great Stella McCartney number will leave you in stitches.

Stella McCartney

Who's the most feminine of them all? Dior, of course!

Bill Gaytten

The lineup at Céline once again proves irresistible.

Phoebe Philo

This is what the Balenciaga girl wears to work.

Nicolas Ghesquière

The last time Yves Saint Laurent does Pilatti(s).

Stefano Pilatti

That's the future you see. Alexander McQueen.

Sarah Burton

The country mouse moves to the big city in Louis Vuitton.

Marc Jacobs

 

 

 

 

My Next Move

Last year I was given the amazing opportunity of editing the first issue of the new Oude Libertas digital magazine. It celebrates all things local and all things culture.

Yours truly styled the cover and wrote both cover stories – I’m very proud of them. But let me not ramble on… check it out for yourself!
http://issuu.com/thessner/docs/libertas-mag-first-edition

Another Header

For more info on the fierce new header (styled by me) click on the link below.

http://www.thoughtoffashion.blogspot.com/2012/03/imprinted.html

Imprinted

Just before packing my bags for UCT, I decided to style one last shoot for my school magazine, ULTIMATE. The story is a sort of last-of-the-summer-clothes situation with fun and eccentric prints against the colour of SS12, white. I had a really great team on this shoot: everyone from the model to the photographer and the makeup artist did an outstanding job. Here's the result.

 

 

Milan Collections AW12

The ladies on the Milan runways were dressed to the nines. So here are my nine Milan favourites. And let's not forget to acknowledge the hands that dressed them.

Dim the lights, wear your Gucci.

Frida Giannini

 

Let's go to school in Milano. Maybe we'll learn what Dsquared means.

Dan and Dean Caten

Versus would have pattern be your new style mantra. They're onto something...

Donatella Versace and Christopher Kane

The painting jumps onto your Dolce and Gabbana dress.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana

Wrap it up in Missoni.

Angela Missoni

Show your pleated side in Fendi.

Karl Lagerfeld

Show some skin in Roberto Cavalli. (just not your own)

Roberto Cavalli

Raf's final embrace at Jil Sander. Applause.

Raf Simons

Prada is more than another label. It's a cult now.

Miuccia Prada

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica Does A Demi... And Other April Covers.

The April issues have all been released in their respective countries. You can see the Olsens on the cover of UK ELLE here: http://www.thoughtoffashion.blogspot.com/2012/03/olsen.html

Meanwhile, over at US ELLE, Jessica Simpson striped down for an Demi Moore-style pregnancy cover. Althought the whole idea is by no means original, I think it makes quite the statement. It's certainly the most exciting US ELLE cover I've seen in a while.

The US VOGUE Shape Issue covers are always a winner. Last year Rihanna looked incredible, and this year Jennifer Lopez doesn't disappoint. The cover is fresh, bold, and crisp. My favourite US VOGE cover this year.

And back in Britain, UK VOGUE chats to Sienna miller about privacy and pregnancy (consider it a trend). While I'm not so much a fan o f her, I am a fan of that Stella McCartney dress and her joyful expression.

The 16th birthday edition of SA ELLE hits stores tomorrow. Expect to be blown away.

 

 

London Collections AW12

In case you were wondering, London did it again. This year the (arguably) best group of designers out there took us on another amazing journey of design brilliance and beauty. And on top of that there was the rain at Burberry and the flash mod at Stella. If this is the future of fashion (or at least LFW) we've got a lot to smile about.

...And let's now forget the brilliant minds that made all this possible. They're a rather attractive lot.

You can thank Peter Pilotto for bringing the puffa jacket back - it's not just for Avatars.

Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos

House of Holland plays with shapes and has fun doing it.

Henry Holland

 

Dark and twisty... You know you love it. Christopher Kane.

Christopher Kane

This nurse definitely got the memo! (Doctor Simone Rocha sent it out.)

Simone Rocha

Hear the rustling leaves and feel the soft sunlight on your skin while walking thought the park in your Erdem dress.

Erdem Moralioglu

I'm out of compliments of for Mary Katrantzou. Make your own.

Mary Katrantzou

A unique brand of fun. It can only be Meadham Kirchhoff.

Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff

There's something so workable about Jonathan Saunders.

Jonathan Saunders

Nobody's allowed to rain on a Burberry Prorsum parade.

Christopher Bailey

Paint the town blue, yellow and green in Stella McCartney evening wear .

Stella McCartney