Creatures of the Wind Summer/ Spring 2012

Thanks to the influence of my own little fashion guru Tavi Gevinson of the Style Rookie, I was lucky to be exposed to the wonders of the Summer/ Spring collection for 2012 from 'Creatures of the Wind'. Unfortunately there's very little given information about this fashion label, as far as I know their earliest collection was from Spring/ Summer 2011 but there must have been an earlier beginning of toil and hardship as well as breaking into the world of fashion to become the shiny beacon of hope they've become today.

 I quite like the simplistic presentation of the models- they all seem to be placed within the exact point in each frame of the photograph and share the same distinctive and heavy brows in comparison to their near and delicately featured faces. There's also the thin strapped shoes worn with socks in a variety of contrasting colours as well as lengths depending on the lengths of the skirts and dresses in question. I love the feminine pleated skirts and floral prints from this collection- there's something so wild and colourful about them but the structure is tame and very familiar.

I felt terribly unsettled by the fake tan and deep set features of this model shown above- although I'm in love with the lace see-through and pink combination as well as orange socks and green strappy shoes One can't help but think a more neutral and less angry expression from the model would have helped sell the image of the brand a little better. Still, I don't think that anything could really deter me from a dress combining pink and blue together with lace inserts and rose motifs. It's the dress I imagine the mother of Alice in Wonderland wearing for a tea party which sens her daughter into a psychotic episode/ comatose.

The difficult thing about the presentation of collections in such a manner is that it's hard to know when a dress and blouse combination is worn together or it's a singular dress- especially when a jacket is worn over the top. Still, I am intrigued by this pink lace skirt, the small blocked section of floral material and the white top half of the dress. I wouldn't mind having something like this hanging around my wardrobe should I ever be called upon for an interview with a fashion company about my blog and written articles.

I think this was the quirky image that caught my eye and attracted my attention to the small collection of images hosted on the Style Rookie- the dress and smock/ kaftan style from the 1960s is so familiar but the glasses and eye wear with inbuilt forehead is new and modern. The trailing threads at the bottom hemline of the dress seems ripped and fraying but it lends me the idea of buying something plain in the same structure and taking up the sleeves and hem for my own curious and sinister purposes. I feel I should point out that the glasses shown above are very similar to the main image shown in the background of the Creatures of the Wind home site- with slight variation on the lens colour and the use of plastic gems. It's all very psychedelic and groovy, isn't it?

Although I do at times disagree with the casting for the Creatures of the Wild Summer/ Spring 2012 collection I adore the styling of this outfit and would love to buy the jacket and dress combination this very day (if I had the money to throw around). The shade of pink used isn't exactly fluorescent but the hue goes so well with the floral tones of blue and pink sleeves, hemline as well as collar of the jacket. The grey socks and white strapped shoes give that air of sophistication to such a bright and eccentric ensemble. Now if only I had somewhere to wear them my life would be complete...

It must be the combination of that rose lace effect in blue over contrasting pink for this jacket that draws me into this jacket- normally I wouldn't be attracted to tartan prints unless there was red, black and taffeta involved but this jacket is as dapper as it is sweet and looks wonderful worn with a plain pleated skirt- easily found in any vintage shop in any Western country. They would look even better worn with a pair of thickset glasses to really hype up the dapper and hipster appeal of ones outfit.

Although the Creatures of the Wind collection is plain and minimalist in some of their clothing for this resort collection, it's the imaginative use of head wear as well as ornaments and colourful pieces that really catches my eye. I always find that a collection being limited to the same shades of colours and pallet bores me unless there's imaginative use of structure and variation for dresses, tops and skirts to keep my interest keen. I'm most impressed with the variety of pink as well as the contrasting looks that creatures of the Wind has created in their neat collection presentation.

I love photographic and printed patterns on silk, including the jackets from Limedrop famously worn by fashion blogger Susie Bubble of the Style Bubble, but I think in terms of colour as well as variety of pattern this silk jacket worn witha pink smock dress takes the cake. The clashing of blue floral as well as strong geometric black and white works surprisingly well when worn with another strong blocking colour such as the fuchsia pink shown above. The distinction between patterns for the sleeves and main body of the jacket also creates an interesting visual link of staircases and Escher amongst a sea of black and white lines.

Once again, Creatures of the Wind proves that you don't need to match two pieces together to create a dazzling outfit, much in the way my fashion hero Tavi as well as Brooke Kao and Susie Bubble disregard clashing patterns and colours. The shade of blue is so royal for the shirt and the structure lends itself well to being worn with the high waisted skirt that goes past the knee. There's midriff appeal and a waist visible but the lace insert skirt and contrast between lime green and aqua tones the look down and gives it a vintage appeal. The wild and kooky glasses also remind me of the youthful eclecticism Tavi Gevinson so readily brings about any of her online publications and projects.

Wild, modern and with a hint of The Matrix about it, I adore this jacket and blouse combination, it's like a breathe of fresh air tainted with electronics as well as professor Frankenstein. Black and bright green are simply made for each other but this chic and formal ensemble is such a surprise but I can't feel but be completely taken with the imagination and sinister nature of the two worn together. Sibling London released  a collection featuring playful fluorescent green knitwear but there's the soft and feminine structure about this jacket as well as hints of yellow and green in amongst the uneven splotches that I just love.

The purple hemline peaking out from under the white dinner jacket shown above reminds me so much of the vintage kimono and Japanese textured jackets I've been hinting online for the past month or so and the pastel streaks of eyeliner and golden mask only emphasise that cultural influence in the design of this collection. I just wish there was an online store for Creatures of the Wind I could eyeball and stare longingly at to calculate how much I would need to work in order to find the perfect dress/ jacket from their collection. My only small and minute criticism about this mysterious label, that and the lack of information about the origins of this brand.

Longing to shy away from the sharp contrast of bright green and black? Seeking a flowing structure and loose witch-like appeal? Something I would love to one day wear is this tie-dye silk dress featuring moss coloured green and black and fluorescent green strappy heels to finish off the look. I'm sure an Olympia Le-Tan clutch is all that is needed to give the dress a runway appeal about it but with definitive grunge like appeal and an aesthetic of teenage angst. Despite all my heavy praise for other outfits and their well contrasting colours and patterns, this is my favourite outfit for the collection and I can't wait to hunt down a stockist available to help me let my fantasy dream of being a swamp witch a reality.

 

When the collection is finally launched on Net-a-Porter, you better watch out because I'll be aching to suss out the cheapest of the collection and maybe get myself a swish evening jacket. I really should be thinking of events such as masquerade galas to attend with friends and wild outfits to wear but it will be a while before I finally launch myself and become so sociable that I feel the need to impress everyone around me with amazing dress sense. Still, the kimono like marbling effect of purple and dark blue reminds me so much of oriental drawn clouds and it is rare enough as it is to find a pleasing patterned vintage kimono. Maybe I would be better off saving me pennies from something of this particular collection...

Prada S/S12

Just when I thought all was lost and the best of Prada, the 2011 Autumn/ Winter collection had slipped through my fingers my breath is taken away by the tantalizing temptation that is the new Resort collection of 2012 full of 50s inspiration. As well as patterns, bold and iconic sunglasses there's a lot of influence of hot rod cars and flames as well as tatoo prints. I can't wait to take strolls around Chadstone shopping centre again holding the hand of my beau once more and slowing down my pace and craning my head to look at the likes of Prada and Miu Miu as well.

The collection is about with pastel tones as well as striking and sharp designs such as the soon-to-be-coveted flame heels with flashing backing lights. Each collection seems to get bigger and better and there's also these small recognisable elements which is leading to a fashion identity for Prada- something I'm absolutely in love with.

My breath has been taken away by these gorgeous embellished jackets which seem to have a Chanel kitsch material about them but also in 40s colours that remind me a lot of fancy garden parties. This notion is further emphasised by the sweet garlands of pink flowers as well as roses in green and black- and the belt of crystal design and floral motifs is absolutely wonderful. Makes me want to pick up my novel of Alice and Wonderland as well as throw a splendid tea party and dress rather dapper. I can already feel my wallet crying out in pain...

Although the resort collection from Prada will be released when Autumn and Winter rears their ugly heads in the Southern Hemisphere, I can't wait to wear some chic boob tubes for myself as well as matching patterned skirts and antique looking jewellery. The earrings, necklaces and belts all remind me of the antique and vintage jewellery available from up-market store Barneys in New York.

As well as wildly designed heels, there's clutches featuring hot rods that are more shaped like sharks in contrast to the feminine floral prints in three-dimensional arrangements. This contrast between the masculine and feminine is also evident in the Men's runway show which is interesting in a design point of view but both of the shows are very rooted in the design of the clothing; it's the patterns and colours that are ambiguous.

The nude coloured make up as well as familiar side fringe high one the forehead echo the model presentation of my much beloved A/W11 collection but there's more pastel and stark shades about the models faces. I wouldn't be so keen to try it myself for everyday but I do quite like the soft ringlets over the shoulder. Depending on the materials and gems used for the earrings you see above I might be keen to get some for myself- it's all in relation to the price of real antique diamonds and similar designs. If not, I'll just opt for flat diamonds in cardboard from Alice Euphemia.

You can expect to see a lot of great Resort collections for big names such as Prada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Miu Miu. I'm delighted to see a hard copy of this very advertisement above in my March copy of Australia Vogue and I'm sure there will be many more great leads as far as collections, clothing and accessories goes and there will be plenty more pieces of gold to comment on for this blog.

I hate feeling conflicted about my own gender as far as clothing is concerned but I am rather envious of the Men's runway show for their great pastel coloured brogues full of tasseled detail and studded loafers as well. Then their dress pants are more like prints from the 60s and 70s; two eras I've been scouring high and low for on Etsy. Maybe if I could be bothered I could buy the largest sized pants available in the store and give them to be altered to fit the shape of a woman instead? I now, I'm absolutely hair-brained sometimes but it hasn't pushed away any one of importance yet.

The stiletto heels for these gorgeous heels are even made to mimic the antennae of a car! It seems no small detail has been spared in the design of these gorgeous and imaginative beauties, I can't wait to see them in store for myself and maybe even be daring enough to play around with them. There's thin spaghetti straps around the backs of the heels hidden by the flames in the side profile of this stunning runway shot. I can't imagine styling these with an outfit though; now that would be a rather promising challenge!

For those mushy hearted romantics there's sweetly coloured dresses in a lemon colour with high-necked structure and edgy car prints. Now this is something that seems quite versatile for someone of my dress sense as well as affordable without the added cost of embellishment. I can see around the waist a sort of elasticised ruching all the way around the front which insures a flattering fit and comfort when eating meals. I can't wait to see how Prada's craftsmen and sewing machines stitch what is traditionally perceived as a garish way of fitting a garment, along with just about everything else in between for this gorgeous and colourful collection.

Prada S/S11

From the year that was so promising, playful but full of work for me came the gorgeous Prada Spring/Summer 2011 collection which caught my eye with its mesmerising stripes, gorgeous baroque sunglasses as well as wild printed patterns full of streaking water colours in vibrant colours. I loved the presentation of the models, their wavy hair slicked with hair spray as well as perfect side parts and neat little buns on the side. The colours were truly a feast for the eyes and the materials luxurious, especially those devilish fake fur stoles and the real ones too. The sunglasses were like small sculptures and the shoes which came in chunky platform brogues as well as swirly leather patterned high heels made me fall in love all over again.

The collection graced many many magazine covers, and was the toast of the town and the fashion world as far as resort collections were concerned. I myself loved walking around Chadestone shopping centre and peaking into the Prada boutique at the chance of pouring my eyes over the sensational clutches I longed to hold in my hands. A pity the collection was released at the start of Autumn in the southern hemisphere and I was busy and in the midst of my study. I had to time to work feverishly towards earning money for a chance to own a small piece of the collection.

 

At first it didn't appeal to me, but looking back upon it I have grown rather fond of the banana print which came as both a shirt or a skirt for the resort collection. At first it seemed odd amidst the stripes and colour blocking pieces but I now realised that the bold design and stark colours are what make it apart of the collection. There were many gorgeous as well as intriguing patterns in what seem to be painted designs which are thickly outlined with a thick black brush.

One fashion blogger was clever enough to make a paper homage to the large canvas totes of the collection using craft paper, blue, scissors and ingenuity. If I can't have something lovely from a collection, maybe I should follow in her footsteps and aspire to make tiny craft replicas of the pieces and keep them away in a hope chest or something similar. While I may hate the idea at first, who knows? The trend may grown on me. I should have joined my mother on a trip to the library when she offered to scope out craft books but I was in no mood and instead made good use of my time by cleaning my room a little. What I like is the clasp and yellow latch of the bag and the tiny fine liner detail which has cleverly etched out both the stitching as well as the engraved mark of Prada to give the final seal of approval.

 

I went gaga over the pink clutches and the use of stripes throughout the collection. This trio of clutches was what made me aspire towards scouring the Internet and online world for a piece of the action. Even if I had managed to scrap the money together, I dare say I wouldn't have found a use for it nor an occasion to use it. No, it's better I save myself for Deadly Ponies bags which are closer to my price range as well as necklaces in Sterling silver from some of New Zealand's finest brands in the business.

 

My heart is alight by seeing the pink, white and black striped fox fur stole held daintily with the striped dark green and canvas clutch. This is what suckered me into lusting after the fox stoles, the colour and the way they caught the light as well as the soft texture of the fur was to die for, but the clutches were more achievable in the way of price. Still, both pieces seem to have directed me towards canvas bags as well as fox tail charms and woolly key chains. Being eighteen years old it would be remarkable as well as foolish to spend my money on high price pieces from the finest of fashion houses. Instead, I should focus on study as well as operating blogs successfully and having them reflect my personal style.

The Eleventh Hour: Melt

Melt is the second collection of this youthful Sydney label, The Eleventh Hour which featured more of their signature french seams, folding and almost "architectural" strtucture of their clothes in luxurious materials and classic colours. It was this collection that I frist spotted while milling about the Alice Euphemia blog site on brands that they sell and my imagination was captured by the alluring sheer material as well as the sharp collars and vintage strcture of the dresses. This dress features a cut-out section at the back as well as sheer sleeves to really establish itself in a league of its own in terms of structure as well as adding a clever new twist to the garment.

The style of garment construction that The Eleventh Hour really lend themselves to could be described as classic, stylish and chic but with the use of luxurious materials as well as sheer materials to create seductive pieces. I'd like to see their take and use of lace material in their next resort collection as well as colours aside from baby blue, white and black. The backdrops used for their pieces and collection folios really allow their to be a heavier emphasise on the craftsmanship of each of their pieces.

The shape and material of their collars in relation to the rest of their blouse construction is what catches my eye; it's reminiscent of the Miu Miu 2010 collection but a bit more minimalist and formal. That leaves it the versatility to be dressed up and styled with a range of different jackets and jumpers as well as pants to evoke a certain mood as intended for a stylist of fashion blogger. I really should get the motivation to do some of that myself but I have yet to clean out my room properly, sort out things to be sold on eBay or work to find a space for photography for this to become a proper styling blog. In the words of my wise brother: "Can't be assed".

Long have I searched for a bustier top that doesn't look cheap and isn't an expensive vintage piece being resold past it's intended value- I was almost surprised by the bold move in stucture and the garment The Eleventh Hour chose to take on but the result is fantastic! On a hot day in Australia I may be able to get away with wearing a piece like this with long and airy gypsy pants and long silver necklaces. The styling for the photo shoot advertising the second collection of the Sydney label, Melt, opted for classic and chic pleated pants that taper towards the ankles. I love the result of airy and free clothes with the formal and straight-forward and luxurious material that have combined to create such a signature look for the brand with a casual flair.

I only have to wear formal attire when the occasion calls for it or when I'm trying to dress to impress at a job interview but I really do love the long and trailing tails of the jacket, the large lapels and soft pleats of the jacket. This is what impression The Eleventh Hour have left upon me and what I believe to be their design and construction at it's best, relaxed and within its element. It makes me feel hopeful for young Australian brands such as themselves to make an appearance at RAFW. The slick design also reminds me of some of Ellery's more minimalist designs and dresses before they branched off to use more materials with texture and colour to them. Still- it's nice to find a brand with a greater focus on the fine details rather than the overall and sometimes, dramatic aesthetic of an outfit. Maybe what's most appealing is the way it's worn without a shirt and the bare skin showing in between the jacket.

I'm curious to know as to whether the fols and intricate pleats of this dress would fair well without the aid of a belt but I do like the use of folds of material that don't look stiff and uncomfortable. The design is eye-catching and perhaps the most far-fetched or rather fantastic of the Melt collection. Maybe something more suited to what performer Lady Gaga would wear at a funeral with the accentuated and winged hips as well as the ruffles of the skirt. In this minimalist shade of black in a near-transparent black material the black somehow catches the light in a way I haven't really seen before. I do hope that The Eleventh Hour continue to go from strength to strength and invest in making more of these types of pieces in their collection that are playful and whimsical in terms of their shape and movement.