Brown Sugar Better Fashion Week 2012

 Coco Chanel once, cleverly commented that;

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”  

The links between fashion, people and the environment are inextricable, one nurtures the other.

Image via Better Fashion Week

 The month of April is an exciting time for fashion in Ireland’s capital.

Brown Sugar Better Fashion Week will occur from April 23rd until April 29th, offering clientèle unique opportunities to converse with some of the industries most creative individuals, discover the capital’s fashion history and debate the ethical implications of our wardrobes.

The fashionable festival was founded by Re-Dress, a company who seek to exhibit fashion as an aesthetic and creative art form, which is respectful to both the environment and the rights of those who manufacture the garments.

The Brown Sugar sponsored event will draw upon the expertise of those such as Sonya Lennon, Natalie B. Coleman, Corina Gaffey, Peter O’ Brien, Angela Scanlon and James Kavanagh. Without doubt, this is an event which is not to be missed!

A full timetable of events is now available online. Tickets are currently on sale and with a range of workshops, talks and screenings, there’s something to suit everyone’s budget.

“The purpose of Better Fashion Week is to bring everyone with an interest in fashion in Ireland together to strengthen what resources we do have and give our creative talents in this area the recognition they deserve.”

- Rosie O’ Reilly, Re-Dress

What To Do; Two-O-One-Two

Image: Comments Yard

Happy New Year!

This year will host a mélange of exhibitions, events and occasions which will tickle one’s fashionable taste-buds.

With the extraordinary success of the Met’s ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty‘ exhibition, many other designers and icons have collated their collections and assembled their archives for display in 2012.

These include; Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Louboutin and Elsa Schiaperelli/Miuccia Prada‘s summer collaboration.

With Awards season commencing in the coming week and Paris’ Spring Haute Couture parading down catwalks at the end of the month, it is fair to say that two-o-one-two will be a year to remember.

Which events and occasions are you most eagerly anticipating?

When?	What?	Where?
January 23rd – 26th	Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week: Spring 2012	Paris
February 9th – 16th	New York RTW Fashion Week: Autumn / Winter	New York
February 10th – April 17th	Exhibition: IMPACT: 50 Years of the CFDA	The Museum at FIT, New York
February 17th – 22nd	London RTW Fashion Week: Autumn / Winter	London
February 26th	84th Annual Academy Awards	Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles
February 28th – March 7th	Paris RTW Fashion Week: Autumn / Winter	Paris
March 9th – September 16th	Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs – The Retrospective	Les Art Décoratifs, Paris
March 18th	Alternative Miss Ireland	Olympia Theatre, Dublin
March 25th -	Yves Saint Laurent – The Retrospective	Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado
March 28th – July 1st	Christian Louboutin – The Retrospective	Design Museum, London
April 5th	The South William Street VVIP Awards	Andrews Lane Theatre, Dublin
April	50 Years of James Bond Style	The Barbican, London
May 10th – August 19th	Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada: On Fashion	The Costume Institute, MOMA, New York
May 19th – January 26th	Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950	Victoria and Albert Museum, London
July 27th	Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony	London

Beaux Bows; Winter Collection

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening”. 

- Coco Chanel

Although Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel may have passed away nearly forty years ago, her definition of fashion remains true.

In my experience, fashion and inspiration hold an inextricable bond, one fueling the other. Inspiration can be drawn from an individual, an image, music and poetry.

This week’s inspiration was provided by Dublin’s own ‘Beaux Bows‘. The store, owned by Ailbhe Stafford, is a hidden haven among the culture and bustle of George’s Street Arcade.

With an Arts Degree, specific to the History of Art, Ailbhe Stafford is unique in the presentation of her shop. The ambiance of Beaux Bows is difficult to define but cultivates a fashionista’s desire to be creative, comfortable and captivating.

Beaux Bows is peppered with elegant attire, delicate accessories and fairytale fashions. Their stock contains essential pieces for each young lady’s wardrobe.

Presenting their Winter Collection, the store collaborated with photographer Nikki Browne and model Fleur Moriarty whilst Ailbhe Stafford styled the seasonal shoot.

Fleur brings such effortless elegance to the photograph whilst Ailbhe’s craftsmanship proves that style is timeless and reflecting on the silhouettes of the past, definitely improves the fashion of the present.

On location around Dublin city, the photographs narrate the screenplay for many of the city’s young women. A chameleon lifestyle where the protagonist morphs into looks of sophistication, retro-glamour, professionalism and dainty elegance.

Harper’s Bazaar Russia; 15th Birthday Edition

“Glamour is an attitude – the expression of a certain kind of confidence.”

- Ralph Lauren

Harper’s Bazaar Russia are celebrating their fifteenth anniversary with fifteen magazine covers for their November issue.

Each cover is custom designed by one of the fashion domain’s elite.

Domenico Dolce & Steffano Gabbana chose to enlist the assistance of Candice Swanepoel and Alessandra Ambrosio, along with last season’s infamous star print for their image, whilst Natasha Poly was the predominant feature of Lagerfeld’s issue.

The House of Versace’s emblem of gold is strikingly memorable whilst Michael Kors and Armani provide the reader with inspiring sketches.

The fashionable army will be out in their droves to collect this memorable series, which cover is your favourite?

Giorgio Armani

Antonio Marras

Diane Von Furstenberg

Dolce & Gabbana

Emilio Pucci

Jean-Paul Gaultier

Karl Lagerfeld

Michael Kors

Missoni

Moschino

Ralph Lauren

Roberto Cavalli

Sonia Rykiel

Versace

Viktor & Rolf

Art & Fashion; Nicki Minaj – W Magazine

At only twenty-eight years of age, Onika Tanya Maraj has become one of the most iconic female artists of this decade. If this name is not strikingly familiar, perhaps you recognise the Trinidad and Tobago native by her stage name; Nicki Minaj.

Minaj began her career as a protégée of Lil’ Wayne, nestled in the background of Young Money Entertainment. However, the artist quickly blossomed to become independently recognised for her daring fashion ensembles, an endless number of alter-ego’s and strong lyrics which sought to empower the listener.

For their November ‘Art & Fashion’ issue, W Magazine have enlisted the help of Nicki Minaj and a number of couturiers, to transform iconic portraits of the past into inspiring images suitable for the most high-fashion editorials.

The ‘Agents Provocateurs’ editorial was styled by Edward Enninful, artwork by Francesco Vezzoli and Pasquale Abbattista as Director of Photography.

Nicki Minaj as Madame Barbe de Rimsky-Korsakov.

Nicki Minaj is photographed wearing a garza and French tulle ballgown by Vera Wang.

Madame Barbe de Rimsky-Korsakov.

The portrait of Madame Barbe de Rimsky-Korsakov was painted by Franz Xaver Winterhalter in 1845.

The portrait is currently on display in the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

Nicki Minaj as Jeanne Antoinette Poisson Marquise de Pompadour.

 Nicki Minaj is photographed wearing Western Costume Company’s lace and silk brocade dress. Mastoloni 18k white gold, cultured pearl, and diamond bracelets.

Portrait of Jeanne Antoinette Poisson Marquise de Pompadour.

The portrait of Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour was painted around 1756 by French painter François Bouche.

Poisson was the official chief mistress of Louis XV from 1745 until her death in 1764.

The portrait is currently on display at Alte Pinakothek in Munich, Germany.

Nicki Minaj as Jean Bécu, Comtesse du Barry

Nicki Minaj is photographed wearing a Dior Haute Couture’s silk chiffon embroidered dress. Mastoloni 18k white gold, cultured pearl, and diamond bracelets; vintage Manolo Blahnik shoes.

Portrait of Jean Becu, Comtesse du Barry.

François-Hubert Drouais specialised in portraits of the French aristocracy and nobility. His portfolio includes works featuring Marie Antoinette, Madame de Pompadour and of course Jean Becu, Madame du Barry.

Madame du Barry was the final chief mistress of the King of France, Louis XV.

This portrait is currently on display in the Chamber of Commerce in Versaille.

Nicki Minaj as Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart.

Nicki Minaj is photographed wearing a Dior Haute Couture’s silk embroidered ensemble. Saint Vintage brass and vintage Czech glass bead necklace (in hair); David Yurman 18k yellow gold and pearl necklace.

Portrait of Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart

Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, marquise of Montespan was the most famous chief mistress of France’s King Louis XV.

Madame de Montespan bore seven children with the King and often acquired the title of the ‘True Queen of France’.

The portrait is currently on display in the Palace of Versailles, France. The artist of the piece is unknown.

Without doubt, this ’Agents Provocateurs’ editorial is one of my favourites. W challenge their audience to peruse fashion through a lens which is not of popular culture. With impeccable styling and a chameleon protagonist, this editorial marries the notoriety of the past with the luxury of the present.