Happy Birthday Christian Louboutin!

Yesterday was Christian Louboutin's birthday, and seeing as he has brought so much joy to the feet of women worldwide, I thought I'd mark the occasion by sharing a few of his current designs. The AW13 collection features plenty of regal colours and gold embellishments, which were brought to life in Louboutin boutique windows using elaborate displays inspired by Ancient Egypt.

The collection also includes this year's new So Kate pump (possibly the ultimate stiletto!), with its classy super-slim heel and pointed toe. It is reminiscent of Louboutin's original Pigalle, but slightly more modern and sleek.

1) Miss Loubi spiked patent-leather clutch, £995
2) Estanado patent-leather ankle boots, £675, 120mm heel with 10mm platform
3) So Kate suede pumps, £395, 120mm heel
4) Daffodile crystal-embellished suede pumps, £3,795, 160mm heel with 60mm platform

Louboutin and his iconic red soles are instantly recognisable, but here are a few facts that you might not know:

• Before setting up his company in 1991, Louboutin worked for Charles Jourdan, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Maud Frizon and Roger Vivier.
• The shade of red chosen for his soles was inspired by an assistant in the office who would wear the same vibrant colour on her lips and nails every day.
• The Louboutin red is officially registered as Pantone shade 18-1663 TPX.
• His single biggest client is Danielle Steel who owns more than 6,000 pairs.
• He refers to his six-inch heels as 'bed shoes' as you can only lay down in them.
• One New Yorker reportedly told her husband that the Christian Louboutin who kept appearing in their bank details was her gynaecologist!

Happy Birthday Christian! Here's to many more years of fabulous footwear to come.

Paris Fashion Week AW13 – runway highlights (part 2)

As promised, here are the next five shows from Paris Fashion Week that made my heart melt and my credit card shudder.

Possibly my Paris Fashion Week highlight, Lanvin’s was the kind of show you really wanted to be at – not least because of the popcorn and mini bottles of champagne that were served to the waiting audience! I failed to pick just one look, so here are two that I think capture the collection well; a selection of beautiful dresses, inspired by various eras, toughened up with chain accessories and Oxford-style shoes. Attention to detail was everything and I adore the bee brooch. And that box bag? I. Want. One. Now.

Alber Elbaz’ use of graphic slogan necklaces gave the looks a more youthful spin, and they would look just as at home over a simple T-shirt as these beautiful dresses. It really was a great all-rounder – a fusion of classic design and street style that felt completely modern.

Hermes

Hermes’ was an utterly Parisian affair. Paris wasn’t just the setting for the show, it was right at the heart of it, flowing through the veins of every single look. It was chic and understated, not overtly sexy, with hemlines that crept ever lower and waist bands that edged gradually higher. A largely neutral colour palette and a whole host of incredibly wearable separates, resulted in a collection of workwear staples – tasteful but never boring – and the holy grail in items like the perfect white shirt or woollen shift.

Admittedly this aesthetic is still too grown up for me – can you really imagine the Hermes woman spilling beer down her immaculate white blouse or doing the walk of shame in a shift dress? Maybe one day I’ll be strolling down the Champs Elysees in all my Hermes-clad glory having finally nailed grown-up chic… but I wouldn’t hold your breath.

Givenchy

The much celebrated Givenchy collection was actually not my favourite as a whole, but Riccardo Tisci won me over with this look. It is a mishmash of what Tisci does best, and drew inspiration from his extensive eight year archive at the house.

Tisci says, "I always go to the Givenchy archives. I was in the room with all my stuff, and I found things I did when I was younger. I was like a gypsy—gypsies are always recycling old clothes. It was really one of the most fun collections I've done in my career."

A Bambi sweatshirt, sheer polka dot skirt, and sexy leather boots? This look covered a whole lot of fashion ground in one fell swoop.

Louis Vuitton

Again, I wasn’t enamoured with the Louis Vuitton collection as a whole, it featured a few too many silk PJs for my liking, but I loved this look so much I had to include it. If this isn’t the epitome of old-fashioned glamour then I don’t know what is! Silk, fur, acres of bare leg and berry stained lips – it screams luxury.

Like Prada’s, this collection had a seriously femme fatale feel, with a bobbed Cara Delevingne playing the role to perfection. I can just see her now with a cocktail in one hand and a vial of opium in the other… beautiful, glamourous and deadly.

Viktor & Rolf

There was plenty of monochrome on display in this collection, with many of the looks all wrapped up in a typically Viktor & Rolf bow. Given the duo’s eccentric back catalogue, I found everything in their AW13 collection surprisingly accessible – these pieces are made to be worn rather than to make a statement. It wasn’t as edgy as you expect from Viktor & Rolf, but even the classics had a very definite twist. They might be producing more marketable pieces, but they certainly aren’t dull.

This won’t go down in history as Viktor & Rolf’s most memorable collection, but there was plenty to enjoy, and it is nice occasionally to see some looks that don’t require any dilution to be consumed by your average fashion-loving lady.

Images from Style.com

Paris Fashion Week AW13 – runway highlights (part 1)

So the madness of the four big fashion weeks is over for yet another season, and I think the best was saved until last! Paris produced many of my favourite collections, so this will be my first of two posts, as it is impossible to pick just five collections to share.

Valentino

Oh dear lord I’m head over heels in love with Valentino this season. The collection had an austere formality to it that was refined and glamourous… and I wanted every single look. The long-sleeved mini dresses were beautiful, with strict white collars and cuffs, in laser cut leather.

The collection was largely monochrome except for the odd flash of electric blue or deep berry red, and the stunning Chinese ceramic-style blue and whites in the dress shown here. The attention to detail was exceptional and I truly loved everything, right down to the accessories; red nails, neat side plaits and Alice bands, T-Bar shoes, pearls. Love it, love it, love it.

Chanel

You can always rely on Chanel to put on a spectacular show, with grand set designs. (Remember that iceberg in 2010?!) Well this season’s show, held as usual at the Grand Palais, featured a gigantic, revolving globe as its centrepiece, marked with the exact locations of Chanel’s 300 stores. The collection was equally impressive featuring gorgeous coats, snugly fur hats and thigh high leather to stop it all becoming too cutesy.

A largely wintery palette of black, grey and blue was livened occasionally by dusky pink. “I wanted a very monochrome silhouette – dark but not sad – a touch of shine, a touch of pink,’ says Karl Lagerfeld.

And sad it was definitely not! Coco's traditional tweeds were brought up to date by Karl’s darker aesthetic – think cute A-line mini skirts paired with leather and chain accessories. My favourite bag was the stunning black, mini globe, with the classic interlocked Cs logo and chain handle.

Saint Laurent

Heidi Slimane’s second womenswear collection for Saint Laurent took its inspiration from 90s grunge and was more than just a nod to the past, as it didn’t necessarily cover a lot of new ground. Many of us already do a pretty good line in 90s grunge for a fraction of the price, so I think this is a typical case of taking inspiration from the streets and selling it back to the masses with a hefty price tag (but isn’t it always?).

There’s no denying I loved this collection though, and it had me wondering whether I’m too old for a return to the fishnets and boots combo. And you know what? Despite the look being modelled by a girl half my age I’ve decided I’m not. Fishnets here I come.

Zadig & Voltaire

I chose this Zadig & Voltaire look because the 90s inspired trouser suit is very definitely back, but this suit is a really nice take on a classic. The fabric and colour choice are unusual and make it much more contemporary and less officey. (Cast aside all thoughts of nasty polyester and terrible tailoring now…)

This was Zadig & Voltaire’s first runway show and had an androgynous feel, thanks to artistic director Cecelia Bönström’s choice of muse, David Bowie. Perfect timing as Bowie releases his first album in ten years and the V&A prepare to host a hotly anticipated retrospective. Leather shorts, knee-high boots, men’s ties, fur coats, tailored jackets – this was vintage rock n roll at its androgynous best.

Emanuel Ungaro

It was nice to see an AW13 collection making such a good use of bright colours at the Emanuel Ungaro show – sunshine yellows and turquoise. The colours weren’t the only bold elements, with polka dots, leopard print, fur, tweed, leather and some slightly garish gold embellishments all jostling for attention – thank goodness the hair and make up was kept simple!

When you look past the ‘shoutier’ elements you can see some nicely tailored trousers and jackets and interesting dress shapes. Plus a few exaggerated shoulders that are a nod to the house’s eighties heyday. Many names have designed for Emanuel Ungaro over the years and therefore the brand has lost a little of its identity, but Fausto Paglisi has put his own stamp on it this season. While some of the results were a bit too garish, other times, such as with the understated pinstripes, he seemed to get it just right. There’s no denying it is fun collection though, and a nice change in pace from the season’s often monochrome runways.

Images from Style.com

Prada AW13 at Milan Fashion Week

We all know that Milan Fashion Week will deliver a big dose of glamour from some of fashion’s biggest names; Gucci, Fendi, Moschino, Versace, Marni, Dolce & Gabbana, the list goes on…. and much as I would like to write about every show, the day job has a tendency to get in the way. So I’m dedicating this post to Prada’s AW13 show, which had so many great looks that I struggled to edit it down to just five!

The show was staged on a shadowy set that screamed film noir; the perfect backdrop for a steady stream of femme fatales, sporting pencil skirts and lipstick pouts – their wet, somewhat bedraggled hair and metallic peep toes giving them an edge and dragging this nostalgic look into the 21^st century.

The strong silhouettes are familiar territory for Prada, and coats are one of the few things I enjoy about winter, so Prada’s were hugely appealing for me, with bell sleeves, belted waists, neat collars and  oversized buttons.

Greys, browns and blacks are obvious winter staples, so it was nice to see them punctuated with emerald green, sugary pinks and bright reds. Gingham was another playful touch, with candyfloss pink and white for the girlier-girls amongst us, or my personal favourite – the more muted version that you can see below. Block colour was also broken up with bold wide stripes in muted shades of red, mustard yellow and turquoise.

The fabrics ranged from lighter cottons to heavier blanket-like tweeds, which made for some interesting layering, with long sleeve tees adding a pop of colour under a more formal dress.

This being Miuccia Prada, an Italian with an appreciation for all things luxurious, it was no surprise to see fur, particularly a rather cosy-looking chocolate brown coat. If anyone knows of a good faux-fur high street version it would make a very useful addition to my wardrobe!

Accessories continued the playful retro feel, with over sized bowling bags and dark, aviator style sunglasses. You never know, AW13 might just be the season that we actually see some winter sun! And if not, we'll just have to hop on a plane and find it elsewhere…

Images from style.com

www.prada.com