Bag Lady Lea Michele

Lea Michele’s L’Oréal campaign. Click for the full story,pictures, and videos. 

Lea Michele needs better bags. Allow me to make several suggestions...

Suitable Occasions

Behind the scenes at SA ELLE's March 2013 Suit Yourself story shot by Ulrich Knoblauch.
Fashion editor: Poppy Evans. Photograph by Daniël Geldenhuys. Click to see the full story. 

The trouser suit is back. And there's one for everyone. 

A Shoe In On AW12

This season there aren't any shoes with leather flames on the back, but lightning doesn't strike the same please twice either. AW12 has produced some seriously loud statement heels, many of which are so meticulously crafted you could simply display on your mantlepiece... But what would be the fun in that?

My relationship with womenswear shoes is doomed because I can never wear them. Of course, it never hurts to look. These are the shoes worth looking at.

These boots are made for matching. (your skirt).

Versus

There is sand in these heels - no beach walk required.

Rodarte

Growl.

Fendi

You know, the mad hatter makes shoes too...

Marc Jacobs

Dynamic elegance. Sadly, there's no more where that came from.

Jil Sander

A modern day armour against bad taste. Courtesey of...

Proenza Schouler

Your ballet shoes are ready for the ball.

Dior

There's something charming about a professor on platforms.

Miu Miu

Just in case you weren't a burning shoe kind of girl.

Prada

No, this one doesn't come in a cake

Dolce & Gabbana

Look Mom, no heels!

Alexander McQueen

Images: vogue.it

 

 

Banned Fashion

The UK is my number one destination when it comes to really great fashion magazines. It's also the place a fashion ad is most likely to get banned or almost banned... Sometimes for a good reason and sometimes for a very very strange one. Take a look at these...

Exhibit A: The David Beckham for H&M underwear campaign has narrowly escaped a UK ban as reported yesterday by UK VOGUE. Apatantly there have been three complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority saying that the images are not appropriate for children to see and quote 'offensive.' The ASA replied by saying the images are mildly sexual at best, and left it at that.

Exhibit B: The Marc Jacobs 'Oh, Lola!' campaign starring Dakota Fanning was banned because it was seen to sexualise a child. I've just recently done a 1800 word analysis on this ad (don't ask) and I must agree. The ad has a strong reference to the iconic novel 'Lolita' which is about a man who has a sexual relationship with his wife's underaged daughter. So we can safely say they had reason to can this one.

 

Exhibit C: Hold on your seats people... This Miu Miu AW11 ad was banned in the UK becuse it placed a child in a potentially dangerous position. The argument goes that because 14 year old Hailee Steinfeld is sitting on a train track and wiping something (perhaps a tear) out of her eye, that she is going to commit suicide. Now, I'm sure I don't need a 1800 word essay to prove that's being a little redicilous. Fact remains, it's banned.

So, if you were king or queen of the world, which of these would you ban?

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

 

 

 

 

Dazzle Them Miu Miu AW12

It’s the final must-see show of the AW12 season and one of my personal holy trinity (Prada – Miu Miu – Burberry Prorsum). Miuccia was in a very good mood this season, continuing her Prada train of thought she delivered patterned pants suits with chunky shoes – there is lots to obsess about.

Miu Miu is certainly a whole lot more masculine than Prada – here you’ll find a woman wearing a suit and tie. Except for a few dresses half way through, the show was almost completely void of femininity. This could only mean one thing: the Miu Miu woman doesn’t need to show her femininity through her clothes, she can dress like a boy and still come out on top. Clever, Miuccia.

The optimism of the show lay in the pattern. Amazing clashes of spots, stripes, and numerous other dazzling prints brought a unique sense of eccentricity and individuality. As usual, it all feels just right. After all, Miuccia can do no wrong.  

 

Images: vogue.it

New York Fashion Now

I’ve just returned from the fashion capital of my heart: New York City. Obviously, I wouldn’t have gone without scouting some hot fashion stories. All my finds are featured on the ELLE SA website. So click on the link below to get the scoop on Miu Miu, Burberry, Gaga’s Workshop and much more.

The February issue of ELLE hits the stands this Monday and trust me, it’s a great one!

ELLE: DANIEL IN THE BIG APPLE