This week we were caught up in the romance of the Paris couture shows- how can you not fall back in love with fashion when Chanel show sneakers with their gowns, and Georgio Armani hosts Eccentrico, a retrospective of eight past couture collections? And in anticipation of great things to come, we caught the announcements of two notable Australian designers showing at New York Fashion Week. Plus we’ve got the down low on all the big announcements and sales just in time for Australia Day.
xx Bianca Healey
Weekend News Flash
Dion Lee’s Pop-Up shop in the Strand Arcade is Open for Business
Following from Dion Lee’s ‘Resort’ sale last week, the enigmatic designer has officially opened his first concept store for business. Located at the Strand Arcade, the boutique carries all of the designer’s collections, including Dion Lee mainline, Line ll and the newly launched (WATER) Swimwear collection. Filled with mirrored metals, wooden boards and sharp lines, the store feels like an extension of Lee’s designs, with that perfect balance between cool lines and dynamic movement.
Take a look. Details and store address at www.dionlee.com
Chronicles of Never Sale
Chronicles of Never approach design in the same way a poet approaches their verse; with a perfectionist’s eye for every little detail and the effect each element has on the finished product. Grecian drapery and subtle folds of leather are their specialty, translating from men’s to women’s garments with ease. You can score an entire outfit, with basics, jewellery, leather and footwear on offer at the sale next week, which runs from Wednesday 29th of January until Saturday on level 3, 16-28 Foster St, Surry Hills.
Check out their Facebook page for further details.
Terry Biviano to be Stocked Exclusively at David Jones
Sydney based footwear designer Terry Biviano has long been a favourite for fashion-forward shoppers looking for statement designer shoes- and an Australian label. This week, David Jones announced a exclusive supply agreement with the designer. Terry Biviano shoes will be available in six David Jones stores nationally and online this July.
David Jones Group Executive of Merchandise Ms Donna Player explained;
“Our Australian designer fashion business has been embraced by customers and they are now looking for that distinctly Australian aesthetic to be expanded to Shoes and Accessories.”
“Last week we announced that we would be expanding our Australian designer shoes and handbags business with the addition of designs by Kym Ellery, Willow, Camilla and Camilla & Marc.”
TOME Launch Exclusively at Myer
And in a new addition of the department store wars, Australian born, New York-based fashion label TOME have been added to the Myer family of local and international designers. After 13 years working as designers and stylists in the fashion industry, Ryan Lobo and Ramon Martin launched TOME in 2010. The label quickly became an industry favourite, known for its beautiful fabrications and contemporary take on tailoring.
TOME joins the likes of Toni Maticevski, Aurelio Costarella, Kenzo, Vanessa Bruno, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel and Isabel Marant at Myer and will officially launch at the Myer AW14 Fashion Launch in Melbourne on the 20th February.
Keep your eyes peeled.
Images: The Dion Lee Concept Store at the Strand Arcade, and an image from the TOME AW12 look book.
Australians Showing at New York Fashion Week
There’s nothing we love more than seeing Aussies making it big in the Big Apple, so we were thrilled to hear the announcement that Zimmermann will once again be showing at New York Fashion Week, following their successful outing last September. The official schedule has been released for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York, and the label is set to reveal its collection on Friday, 7th February. Designer Nicky Zimmermann has described the upcoming collection as “quite textured and detailed…with contrasting fabric bases and different metal details.” We can’t wait to see what their Fall 2014 collection has in store for us…
Rebecca Vallance is another Australian who has announced her place at the New York shows, announcing her Fall 2014 collection presentation at super cool location The Hub at Hudson, a few blocks away from the main space the Lincoln Centre, and geared toward up-and-coming designers.
Check out the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week website for news, schedules and lifestreams of the shows.
Couture Shows at Paris Fashion Week
We can’t deny that the Chanel Spring Couture show was up there on our list of top shows. How to resist a show that features Cara Delevigne staging a wedding scene with a small boy while wearing sneakers? And in case you were wondering, the sneakers, featuring python, lace, pearls and tweed probably cost something in the vicinity of 3,000 euros.
Christian Dior was also a highlight, filled with feminine, ethereal shapes that seemed to float atop the model’s skin rather than hang off their bodies. Overlays of sheer silk, latticed and slashed, contributed to the femininity of the collection, that felt sombre, yet playful, intimate, as well as a dramatic display of showmanship.
Check out the video below:
The Atelier Versace show also turned heads, channeling the strong, powerful women that Donatella Versace favours. Cocktail dresses in sumptuous velvet featured, along with tiny chains, geometric black cut outs, and draped hoods that accompanied slick suits and figure hugging dresses. The tone was unashamedly sensual, and a points, even sexy.
Check out the video below:
