Winter Coat Trends – AW’12

Hello All,

I hope you had a great Halloween!

Here’s this month’s Metro column… how are you going to keep warm this winter?!

There are few purchases on the clobber calendar as singularly expensive and necessary as the winter coat. But, buy cheap and you’re certain to spend the following months shivering with cold or packed so tightly into your coat by other layers that movement is severely restricted. However, if you’re prepared to spend on a quality classic that you really love, you could end up with a coat for life.

Luckily the autumn/winter ’12 coat trends are all about classic styles with subtle and unique accents, rather than revolutionary shapes that will quickly date. Burberry and Topshop Unique, for example, gave us classic military trench coats, updated with contrast elements and bold buttons.

Jil Sander and Kenzo created beautifully oversized coats, the first with ¾ sleeves, and the latter in a vibrant monochrome geo-print. At Thakoon, the Princess coat in chic, camel wool incorporated flap pockets, a double-breasted front and fabulous skirt-volume.

Hem lengths this season are prim; think midi-length for trench coats and other styles come to the knee. Consider the collar; choose an open lapel on a black wool frock coat and accessorise with a bright scarf; go for a funnel collar in geo-print and button it all the way to your nose; or keep it simple with a classic, round neckline.

Top from left; Topshop Unique, Jil Sander, Kenzo. Bottom from Left, Burberry Prorsum, Thakoon

On the high street, Sisley’s oversized coat has ¾-length sleeves, and the red and black geometric print, although utterly A/W’12, is in subtle-enough colours to stand the test of time, (pictured €189 / £160). Monsoon’s Julieanna coat in black wool is a perfect mix of double-breasted tailoring and feminine frock-coat volume (pictured €263). / £169 If you want your military coat less uniform than anyone else’s then Star by Julien Macdonald’s version of the classic trench in contrasting black and grey with brash hardwear will do just that (pictured €194 / £125 available at Debenhams).

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A Style Post: Country Tweed & Urban Heels

Hello All,

You know, I was just looking back through a few past posts and I’ve only just realised how much I comment on the weather; it really is a lot.

It’s probably something to do with the fact that our Northern European climate and its unpredictable weather dictates exactly what we wear… Maybe my references to it are just an excuse when I write style posts as to why I’m wearing what I’m wearing. i.e. when I sat down to write this post, the first thing I typed was something along the lies of bright sunny autumn days. A description which easily explains why I’m wearing layers, which are necessary for those kind of days.

The boots and coat are set to be my October staples; the jumper I’ve had since last year, it’s a really loose knit so isn’t warm enough for the depths of winter, but it’s perfect for now.

Tweed Coat Zara

Vest Top River Island

Scarf Louis Vuitton

Cardigan Burberry

Trousers Karen Millen

Bag & Boots Kurt Geiger

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A/W’12 Trends: Embellished Jackets

Hey all,

Here’s this month’s Metro column… Embellished Jackets are this winter’s wardrobe essential…

Why wear something plain when you can go all out this season and dress like a shimmering, bedecked Bohemian?

Metallic, ‘rock-chic’ embellishments have been around for the last few seasons, but for Autumn/Winter ’12, embellishment just got a whole lot more serious. Brash metalwork gives way to sophisticated needlework.

No longer will a few studs on the shoulders of your T Shirt suffice; you need rows of beads, rhinestones, braiding, appliqué flowers, Grosgrain ribbon and lace, this is a cacophony of embellishment. It’s like opening your Granny’s sewing tin and fixing every button, bead, and strip of ribbon to a single item of clothing… in a neat and cleverly constructed way of course…

Before this season I’d really only saved heavily embellished pieces for special occasions; birthdays, the Christmas party, winter weddings. It’s because the embellished pieces in my wardrobe are nearly always black dresses. This season, thanks to designers like D&G, Balmain and Bottega Veneta we’re adding colour and variety to this trend. Autumn/Winter 2012’s embellished dresses, trousers, jackets and accessories arrived in rich sumptuous colours; gold, deep green, rich blackberry and opulent cream. By adding an embellished jacket to a staple outfit you’re creating a look to wear from now until Christmas.

The best high street offerings include the black, cream and gold versions from River Island (pictured £70/€107) and Miss Selfridge (pictured £85/€110). For something more subtle then Fran & Jane have this beautiful bead and sequin encrusted zip-up jacket (pictured £160/€199). All would look as good teamed with a chiffon dress, as they would with a pair of tailored statement trousers. If you’re planning on heading off for the bank holiday at the end of the month, it might be an idea to upgrade your luggage allowance though; this trend is definitely in the heavyweight category.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Next Season Now? This season now…

… & Warehouse A/W’12 Collection Round Up

Hi All,

I often debate whether or not I should post images from new season previews immediately or wait 6 moths for the appropriate season, when we can be inspired properly.

No sooner is there is a hint of mild weather and we’re considering ditching the opaques for summer, than I’m writing and posting about what trends are going to big while we warm up for the following winter. Besides, until we actually get there, we can’t possibly know what we’ll want to buy. How many times have I looked at next season’s trends, picking out my favourite pieces only to find that when the time comes, I change my mind. (Remember the aviator / shearling trend A/W’10?)

Fashion weeks SS’13 have the internet hash-tag happy at the moment, but al I want to do is throw myself into buying clothes that I can wear right now. If you follow my twitter @whistyblogs or my FB page then you may have seen my new Kurt Geiger black suede winter boots; the foundation to my A/W’12 wardrobe.

This season’s trends; printed trousers/trouser suits, embellishments, Baroque etc… can be found in pretty much all the high street stores, including Warehouse right now.

These are a few of my favourite pieces from the collection:

Happy Shopping

Whisty Xx

Metro Style Column – Transitional Tweed

Hello all,

Here’s this month’s Metro Herald Column:

Transitional Tweed

The summer sales are all but over and the new season collections are arriving in stores on a daily basis. As a rule I prefer the autumn/winter trends; they’re all warm colours, layers and textures so normally I wouldn’t have a problem prepping my wardrobe for winter.

But then I remember that I haven’t fully prepped it for summer yet, and because I refuse to believe that 2012 is going to be one long autumn/winter, (I’m holding out for an Indian summer). So it seems, dear readers, it is time to talk about transitional trends. Rather than trying to come up with a plethora of pieces that will still look chic when worn with black opaques, I’m looking at one trend instead; tweed.

It’s the staple cloth of the country set and the fabric that revolutionised the Chanel suit. Tweed, and in particular bouclé tweed, is big for A/W’12. But if you want to buy it now, it can be easily translated into summer wear if you style it right. The easiest way to incorporate tweed into your wardrobe is to add a jacket, but far from the prim, traditional styles, this year’s tweed jackets are laid back, functional and painfully cool.

This Yasmin Velloza cropped jacket, (pictured, part of suit €740) makes for pretty perfect transitional Tweed. I’d wear it with these Sandro shorts (pictured €135.00 from BT2) and a white cami for summer. Come winter, leather jeans and a pale denim shirt would complete my look.

However, I can’t think of a better way to wear the tweed trend through all seasons than in this Warehouse coat (pictured €124). The pretty colour and contrast sleeves give the quintessentially sixties cocoon shape, a fresh modern twist. Pale enough to wear on summer evenings and stylish enough to team with patent leather flats and a mini beehive for winter.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

River Island A/W’12 Round Up

Hi!

Embellishments, body jewellery, tweed, velvet, leather, lace, embroidery, tapestry and brocade

Downtown, Blogger, Maggie, Scandi, Baroque, Futuristic Goth

These are a few their favourite things.

River Island launched their A/W’12 collections last week in Dublin, with some pieces already dropping in store.

Futuristic Goth

Downtown

Blogger

Personally, both ‘Maggie’, a Tweed-heavy, ‘prim, proper and quintessentially ladylike’ collection and, ‘Eastern Baroque’,  a ‘classical, whimsical look’ in a ‘lavish and powerful colour palette’, will be reflecting my split fashion personality next season.

Maggie

Eastern Baroque

Blue Suede Boots

I tried…

Body Jewellery

Embellished Jacket

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Brown Thomas Autumn/Winter 2012 Fashion Show

Hello all,

Tuesday saw the bi-annual fashion fest that is the Brown Thomas pre-season fashion preview. Bloggers, fashion eds and stylists took their seats in the Grafton Street store this week to see the Autumn/Winter 2012 collection.

My Key Pieces:McQ

Tom Ford

Four main themes led the A/W’12 trends:

Print

Key Words: Digital Prints, Floral Print, Abstract Geometry, Lace Overlay

Labels: Peter Pilotto, Erdem and Mary Katrantzou

Dark Romance

Key Words: Velvet, Full Skirt, Lace, Renaissance, Gothic

Labels: Lanvin, Alexander McQueen, Dior

Folkloric

Key Words: Embroidery, Eastern Brocade, Suede, Peekaboo, East Meets West

Labels: Marni, Isabel Marant, Dries van Noten

Colour

Key Words: Flame red, Pine Green, Electric Blue, Ultramarine

Labels: Tom Ford, Diane von Furstenberg, Roksana Illincic

Yours,

Whisty Xx

New Shoes.

Hello All!

Thought I’d share my summer shoes with you… a mixed bag with Steal, Deal and Fo’ Real price tags too.

STEAL: Black Suede Hi Top Hidden Wedge Trainers

£24.99, New Look.com

DEAL: Snake Skin Leather Heels with Gold Toe Tip

£49.99 New Look.com

FO’ REAL: Ice Cream-Shades, multi-buckle flats

€220.00, Kurt Geiger @Brown Thomas

This last pair actually look pretty badass with black opaque tights.

I wasn’t sure they would because they’re such a summer shoe, but great; that’s them being worn through ’till Christmas then.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Chloe Sevigny & Miu Miu – A History in Pictures

From blonde screen siren to red-haired tomboy, Chloë Sevigny can assume many and changing hair colour aside, is certainly as diverse a model as any.  Although now known predominantly as an actress, she was hired by Sassy magazine in the mid-nineties due to her enigmatic street style.

Pre Miu Miu days: Chloë Sevigny, Street Style Shoot Sassy Magazine 1992(Before its time? It’s 20 years since this magazine feature was published; it seems nothing has changed?)

As well as working for the magazine, she did modelling work before moving onto acting in 1995, starring in the controversial, Harmony Korine movie, Kids.

A year later Chloë Sevigny was the face of Miu Miu Spring/Summer ’96 ad campaign (shot by Jergen Teller). Her short cropped hair and androgynous look, lent itself perfectly to the label’s, fresh young look at the time.

Kate Moss & Chloë Sevigny Backstage Miu Miu Fashion Show 1995

It’s 16 years later and she is back as the face of Miu Miu‘s  A/W ’12 ad campaign (Shot by Mert Alas); complete with cup of tea and perfectly printed trousers.

Chloë Sevigny Miu Miu Ad Campaign A/W’12

As a pretty big fan of both model and label, I think that Sevigny’s intangible cool and Miu Miu‘s eccentric chic are, once again a perfect collaboration.

Though featuring in its ad campaigns twice, Sevigny has remained a fan of the brand throughout; wearing pieces in both magazine editorials and at events on numerous occasions.

Editorial: AnOther Magazine 2006 in Miu Miu, photographed by Craig McDean

Editorial: Elle Magazine UK, April 2010, in Miu Miu Photographed By Rankin

Downtime:

Chloë Sevigny in Miu Miu Spring/Summer ’08

Chloë Sevigny in Miu Miu Autumn/Winter ’09

Chloë Sevigny in Miu Miu Spring/Summer ’10

Chloë Sevigny in Miu Miu Autumn/Winter ’12

Yours,

Whisty Xx

All Images via google.

Sinead Doyle A/W’12 Look Book

Hello all…

I’ve been a fan of Sinéad Doyle for a while now. I have watched as her collections have grown and developed over the past couple of years (see A/W’11 here). That progression resulted in some exceptional details in last years autumn/winter collections. The use of sequins, pleats, woven leather and wool and silk corsetry made for a unique and ultimately wearable collection. Double lapels being my personal favourite, the delight was in the detail indeed.

This A/W 2012-13, the ‘Resurgence’ collection still has the details but the collection has taken a more sleek turn. Structured jackets with chiffon sleeves, hoods and leather T.Shirts are key elements as are mixed textures and fabrics; namely knits and wool with leather and chiffon. Although in a mostly grey/black palette, the collection also includes some great, brightly printed separates in pink, gold and blue.

The Hood.

Knit and Leather Dresses.

Chiffon Sleeved Jacket

Coloured Prints

Mixed Textures

Yours,

Whisty Xx