The first line from Gucci’s 2012 collection is their always chic resort line, created by the ultra genius Frida Giannini. The looks are beautifully filled with gold’s, nudes and colour blocking.

In 2006, after working her way to the top at Gucci, Frida Giannini became the creative director for the entire brand. She is also responsible for the new concept of the Gucci stores and ad campaigns which include Claire Dane’s and James Franco.

Though I’m not completely obsessing over all of the pieces, the collection is beautiful and showcases perfect touches of resort inspired style. I simply cannot wait to see what other amazing designs are to come from Gucci, especially with their 90th birthday quickly approaching. Do you love this resort collection?

“Pre-Fall was inspired by a collection of ideas, places and feelings,” the pair tell us. “You can see cultural influences from Africa and South America in the prints. We explored draping and layering techniques but wanted to the overall feel to remain relaxed and simplified.”

Featuring a gorgeous pair of matte sequinned trousers (the designers’ personal favourite), the collection follows a distinctly tribal theme, with plenty of Aztec-style prints, statement fringing and pared-down draping in muted tones.

“The last collection was really energetic – digital-print heavy and full of colour,” say the designers, Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton. “This collection is more subdued and sees a break in colour and a focus on draping, handmade prints and alternative textures.”

The new range will arrive in stores in May, but you can check it out here http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/show.aspx/full-length-photos/id,10106/Page,1

Ella Alexander ~ Vogue.co.uk

The rise and rise of Olivia Palermo continues apace, with the lady herself dropping another detail about her plans for fashion world domination.

Remember that new TV show she’s got in the works? Turns out that cameras will follow Palermo as she develops her own clothing line, she said in an interview with a Spanish magazine.

Although we’re pretty sure that that was the exact concept behind The City, in which Palermo came across as something of a fashion villain, count us in… Now, can anyone tell us whether this show will make it to the UK any sooner than the last Palermo series?

By Emily Cronin | Posted: Wed 29 Dec 2010

I hate, hate, hate the cheap tatty furniture that most furniture showrooms are displaying in the name of design!!  And if I hear that word ‘faux’ one more time I think I will scream!!!  ‘Faux’ what does that mean??!!  To me it means ‘cheap tatty plastic made in china’ ‘Faux leather’, ‘faux suede’, ‘faux Louis’, ‘faux off’ that’s what I say!! 

With this in mind we have decided to bring a new range to Citrine ~ Reuse, Recycle, Renew.  That is the name of our new range of furniture ~ pre-loved and updated to reflect todays’ taste and todays’ feeling.

Wardrobes, sideboards, cupboards, tables and chairs will all be stripped, treated, painted or re-upholstered to bring them bang up to date!  Take a look here at some examples of recycled furniture.

Borne in 2005 in La, Dakota Collective is fast fashion for the contemporary customer. Their look is citified prep, Americana with a quirky, feminine twist. The Dakota Collective brand is glamorous, sophisticated, intelligent, at times demure, at times sexy, always feminine and always confident.  

Made famous in America by Rhianna and Kristen Stewart (She worn one of their coats in Twilight!!), it’s gone from strength to strength.

Kristen Stewart as Bella in BB Dakota*

Expect skinny combat trousers in olive and camouflage, teamed with long silk vests and raw edge T’s.  Masculine with a femine twist, sexy and confident.

Arriving end of Feb

Jewel colour combinations of green, turquoise, purple and orange – for grown-up skirts or tapered silk trousers worn with slippery, loosely knotted tops that were belted in stiff metallic gold at the waist, had a richness reminiscent of Yves Saint Laurent, though long glossy blazers added a less welcome Eighties element, particularly when combined with harem pants.

Then the colour bleached away to a nude set of pale linens, leathers and suedes that were ladylike and luxurious and made us think of safari living – the six-star way.

Dresses were woven or whip stitched in leather and, as jewels and feathers were added into the mix the theme took on a tribal energy – it was glorious fashion armour featuring knots and macrame reminiscent of South American handiwork. It had an exotic appeal and, despite being a summer collection, was bursting with leather and suede – enough to impress the super rich, super gorgeous wife of a polo player on their ranch full of money.

Fringed jackets and dresses made for fabulous investment pieces – Frida herself took her bow in a black one – and cocktail versions looked great in strapless woven suede with gold metal worked in. One dark gold silk strapless jumpsuit was the epitome of urban safari glamour.

The final line-up of fringed, feathered, jewelled dresses in dark orange, gold, emerald and black made for an impressive statement.

We were ahead of Gucci in this trend we started stocking this trouser in September and they have been a great success,  check out our grey and black version here.http://www.citrine-online.co.uk/trousers/skirts/cat_4.html

Pair with a great vest top or tunic such as our Raw edge jersey range and a fab jacket. http://www.citrine-online.co.uk/tops/cat_2.html

Let us know what you think!!

Excepts by Dolly Jones ~ www.vogue.co.uk

THINK of utilitarian basics like the parka, the cargo pant, the T- shirt and the hoodie, you almost certainly think of Gap – and you almost certainly do not think of Valentino, but the two worlds have collided. Gap has unveiled its latest collaboration, with the couture house of Valentino, and the results are surprising to say the least.

“We love mixing different cultures and we have been excited to mix gap’s timeless essentials with our roman culture of couture,” the label’s designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli explained. ”It brings together the iconic world of Valentino and Gap’s fashion staples, synthesizing the current trend of combining luxury with basics.”

“The work that Maria Grazia and Pier Paolo are doing at Valentino is so exciting,” Anita Borzyszkowska, VP of global PR and special projects for Gap, told us. “They’re reinventing the label with a modernity that feels really fresh but is staying true to the original handwriting that’s recognizably Valentino. I love that they’ve worked with that vocabulary and applied it to quintessential Gap pieces to create something that feels very cool and new, rather than a high street interpretation of their own collection.”

The seven-piece collection, which was launched to celebrate the opening of Gap’s first Italian store last week in Milan, will arrive at Gap in London- as well as Dover Street Market and Colette in Paris

Lauren Milligan ~ Vogue.co.uk

SEE THE TOM FORD WOMENSWEAR COLLECTION HERE 

Ford convinced his most beautiful and stylish friends to model the collection for him, whilst he announced them. Beyonce’ Knowles, Lauren Hutton, Liya Kebede, Rinko Kikuchi, Stella Tennant, Amber Valletta, Natalia Vodianova, Karen Elson, Karlie Kloss, Abbey Lee Kershaw and Julianne Moore, amongst others, showcased a collection which reminded onlookers of Ford’s best collections for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.

“There’s continuity from what I was doing at YSL at the end; that’s the customer,” Ford admitted. “It’s about individuality. Real clothes, real women. For a fashionable woman aged 25 to 75. That’s why I literally put many of my own muses in the show. I hear them say, ‘God, I can’t find that anywhere!’ “
So, does this expansion of his own line mean his priority is fashion once again?

“The day I don’t love to do it, I’ll sell it,” he told US Vogue. “Because we’re all only here for a little while, and nothing we do or make has any permanence at all. I care now because I’m doing it. I want to be proud of what I do. Which may be ten or 20 years – who knows?”

Lauren Milligan ~ www.vogue.co.uk

When Lanvin’s exclusive collection for H&M arrives in store on November 23, the absolute essence of Lanvin will be available in around 200 stores worldwide.  With separate collections of womenswear and menswear, Alber Elbaz, artistic director of Lanvin, has created clothing of extraordinary ambition for H&M, bringing the codes of the house to make every single piece identifiably the work of Lanvin.

For women there are dresses of breathtaking cut and joyful colour, as well as pieces full of Parisian glamour and accessories with playful joie de vivre.  For men, it’s a whole new wardrobe of covetable updated classics, with tuxedos made for daywear and jogging pants adding a whole new sporting twist.

“What does luxury mean today?  Can luxury be exclusive and democratic at the same time?  How can we translate the essence of luxury to a wider audience?  The world around us is changing rapidly and I find myself asking these questions more and more.  Designer’s work is usually tailored to a very small group of people, but the collection for H&M was about trying to translate the dream of luxury to the masses.  It was almost like going back to school for me.” Alber Elbaz, Artistic Director of Lanvin.

“Alber Elbaz is so extremely skilled; it’s so rare to work with someone who is so attentive and involved in everything.  He is creating and styling all the time, it’s like this never-ending imagination.  Elbaz is quite unconventional in the way he tries to find new solutions and he fights for his own vision.  I admire him, he’s a real artist.”  Margareta van den Bosch, Creative Advisor at H&M.

If you’re lucky enough to even get in the queue for this fabulous collection,  I suggest you wear your flat shoes and run like crazy!!!   That’s the only way you are going to grab a piece of Lanvin any time soon!!  Either that or just go online and drool over pieces you are never going to own x

Excepts from h&m.com

Kate’s channelled her love of delicate vintage costume pieces for this elegant collection of cocktail rings, fine chain necklaces and pendants.

We love the intricate cocktail ring, made of oxidised metal, Swarovski stones and semi-precious beads, and the star necklace inspired by Kate’s own tattoos.  We suggest layering up the fine chains and wearing multiple rings on each hand.

In stores Tuesday 2nd November, this will be Kate’s last regular seasonal collection for Topshop.  So really do get it before it goes!!!

Excerpts from Stylist Magazine ~ Available every Wed in London, Brighton, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham, as well as in French Connection Stores and Airport Lounges during the week.