Hair for Summer

For Spring/Summer 2012, it's all about the (very) pretty up-do. Hint: start growing now.

Louis Vuitton. I really love this photograph.

Embellished and wet-look at Chanel.

Simple but beautiful at Roberto Cavalli. I love the loose strands, very late 90s.

Twisted plaits, like crowns, at Valentino.

Soft and demure at Christopher Kane.

And now for something a little different at Versace:

Barbie: long, shiny and soft.

As I said above, start growing now.

Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli S/S 2012

Just when I thought that next Summer's clothes couldn't get any better, Milan Fashion Week goes and proves me wrong.  This for me is fashion - ever-changing, ever-evolving, ever-surprising and yet it flows with the moment, representing the feel of the current time.

Dolce & Gabbana

Like a bountiful Sicilian feast, Domenico Dolce's and Stefano Gabbana's collection featured red peppers and courgettes, turquoise flowers and straw bags.  I love the exuberance of the clothing, so typical of the designers, and the cropped top and pencil skirt combination which is starting to 'crop' up everywhere.

Tomato red, purple eggplant and green and yellow foliage.

 There are actually courgettes!

Cropped top and shorts...yup I think Topshop just got the idea for their entire S/S 12 stock...

...with tomatoes.

The turquoise flower theme begins.

Bag lust.

I particularly love this outfit with the jewel-encrusted skirt.

Beautiful pale pink and white flowers with opal buttons.

A dress entirely covered with the motif!

See the black stigma of the flowers that perfectly offsets the innocent blue?

I love the boldness of the red straw bag with the aubergine and green outfit.

Hmmm, turquoise and purple and emerald...oh my!

The show then moved onto darker, glittering pieces for the night, one of my favourite of which is this jewel-toned mini skirt:

I love the flair and the black crop top underneath the shear lace.

Roberto Cavalli

I have always loved what can only be described as the intricacy of Roberto Cavalli's clothes, but the S/S 12 collection struck a new note with me: it is a fun salutation of youth (though of course youth is something we feel and experience rather than have), and the prints are a celebration of the beauty of nature.

Sequins galore!

Anyone remember the Skittles advert, "Taste the Rainbow"?

The tropical colours offset the gold and black.

Almost flapper-girl...

Definately flapper-girl. I love this in black.

I can't decide which is more fabulous, this jacket or Versace's (http://turquoise-pink.blogspot.com/2011/09/milan-fashion-week-super-shows.html). I would pair it with dark jeans and black suede heels.

I feel like one of the unicorns from Fantasia that danced in the rainbow puddles!

My favourite part of the printed jacket is the pair of lilac blossoms!

Beautiful evening maxi...only Cavalli could create this.

A skirt in a similar design.

I wonder if Chanel & co. will top all of this...

Milan Fashion Week: The Super Shows

Prada, Versace, Bottega Veneta - these designers ooze sex, power and money, hence the term 'Super Shows'.  They're the haute fashion houses of Italy, and in the S/S2012 shows they seriously didn't disappoint.

Prada

Silk car prints, broderie anglaise and pleats were the order of the day:

One of my favourite looks of the season so far.

Pale pink broderie anglaise innocence and a high shine power-bag? Of course!

Yup, this is the sunglasses shape of the season (see D&G in http://turquoise-pink.blogspot.com/2011/09/ss-2012-milan-fashion-week-highlights.html). I also love the pink and green diamante earrings, and note the pastel pleats.

More candy pleats.

Jessica Stam in a gold satin jacket and red pleated skirt? Genius.

Intricate leotard dresses...

...in pink and green beaded coral.

And the long-sleeved version for Hollywood glamour.

I wonder how many celebrity wish-lists this will be on?

Versace

I'm not ashamed to say that these photos actually brought tears to my eyes. It was like high-octane Disney, complete with The Little Mermaid.

White leather and gold stud detailing...classic Versace.

The crop-top and pencil skirt ensemble...next season's answer to the famous Givenchy example from this Autumn.

Princess alert!

 

And here it is, the most coveted print of next Summer.

 

Mermaids, seahorses and starfish, in pale blue and lilac. I think I'm in heaven.

More please!

In all its close-up glory.

Bottega Veneta

My favourite dress from the show, a shiny architectural feat:

How excited am I now for Paris!!