FabHunter Blog

Motherhood and fashion week 2012

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:29:33 -0400

The first ever “Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show”, took place at the city’s Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Centre and featured moms of all shapes and sizes working the runway with pregnant bellies and strollers, looking chic in ranges suitable for everything from date night to school drop offs.

The concept for the show was hatched by two of the moms, Melissa Gerstein and Denise Albert, after they got a gig on TV and found they had nothing to wear.

Some of the outfits included loose black slacks with a mustard top, a pair of white skinny jeans matched with a purple, tie-dyed T-shirt. Models included moms who were 37 weeks pregnant, pushing empty strollers down the runway, and in place of the vacant model stares, there were smiles and high fives from the real moms shared with Iman.
Iman, although a mother herself, didn’t walk the runway, but boasted a purple lace top and short, pleated skirt from Prabal Gurung, in the front row.

The clothing for the show came from top designers like Tory Burch, Chris Benz, Rachel Roy and Michael Kors, with maternity wear from Hatch and A Pea in the Pod.
There were blazers and jackets, bags and dresses looks on the runway were available immediately in stores ranging from Bloomingdale’s and T.J.Maxx.

The show was different to what fashion week is all about and showed the industry that mothers and pregnant women are no longer invisible and offer a market of their own.

Farewell to fashionista Zelda Kaplan

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:28:00 -0400

The world of fashion is in mourning after New York socialite and fashion icon, Zelda Kaplan died after fainting in her front-row seat at a fashion show on February 15th 2012.

The drama surrounding the 95-year-old’s death seems to befit the style icon right up to her final moments. Ms Kaplan was known for regularly seen closing down popular nightclubs with socialites in their twenties.

Instantly recognisable at Joanna Mastroianni’s fashion show at the Lincoln Centre, Ms Kaplan was wearing a variation of her “uniform” with her trademark oversized glasses, distinctive bold prints and matching hat. She happily posed for photographers while waiting in her front row seat for the show to start and showed no signs of the trouble just minutes away.
Shortly after the show started, witnesses saw her slump forward. Ms Kaplan’s husband, Gideon Lewin was reportedly seated next to her in the front row when she fainted. He immediately notified the security, and she was escorted out of her seat by security guards.

Emergency medical technicians on the scene performed CPR on Ms Kaplan before transporting her to the Roosevelt Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Ms Kaplan held a colourful place in New York’s society and was known for her presence on the art scene and was always a strikingly dressed regular at parties and fashion shows with a lust for life that was well recognised and loved.

Exotic skins for 2012

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:25:41 -0400

Exotic skins are well in evidence on the runways in 2012, from fur trimmings to ostrich feathers and exotic skin handbags as seen from Louwe and Roberto Cavalli and knee high gladiator sandals from Michael Kors.

Exotic decorative skins for handbags in all shapes and sizes are seen in neutrals and bight colours form the top designers including Bottega Veneta. From snakeskin clutches to ostrich leather totes, the runways for 2012 were packed with exotic skins in a range of colours from the more subdued neutrals from Cavalli for a timeless investment piece to the more colourful dyed skins as expressive personalised pieces.

New Jersey based designer Meca McKinney has also unveiled her exotic skin inspired collection for 2012, entitled “Urbane Jungle” which draws it’s inspiration from the intricate forms found in the wilderness.

Controversial furs are also making a mark on the catwalk trends for 2012, with many designers having fun with furs and expressing their inspiration with fur trimmings, fur coats and fur embellished sweaters and dresses as seen in the Gucci collection for 2012.
Designers like Rebecca Taylor and Gucci are having fun with the trend, with all types of fur – long, short, faux real has been used to trim collars and cuffs as well as sleeves and hems, and is not limited to natural colours this season, arriving in bold hues of purple, green and turquoise.

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2012’s Design Indaba - Cape Town

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 02:49:58 -0500

The 2012 Design Indaba is once again bringing together the talents and creativity of designers in South Africa. The event will host all-day fashion shows at the DSTV event arena from 2 to 4 March, presented by the Cape Town Fashion Council and featuring some of the best designers in the country..

Designers Amanda Laird Cherry, Tart, Lunar, Magents, Coast & Koi, Good Clothing, Ministry4style, Silverspoon, Selfi and MosewaMosa have been hand picked by the Cape Town Fashion Council (CTFC) to be a part of their umbrella stand at the Design Indaba which will be held from 2nd March to 4th March 2012.

The CTFC has partnered with 36 Boutiques, Aidan Bennetts Designs, XANITA, A&I furniture, the CPUT Technology Station in Clothing and Textiles and BROTHER to undertake this initiative.
The CTFC space is exclusively designed by Aidan Bennetts Designs to create a space that encompasses a look and feel of industrial space meets fashion retail. Here designers will be showcasing and retailing their Spring/Summer collections as well as showcasing their Autumn/Winter collections via daily fashion shows in the events arena at the Expo.

The 2012 Design Indaba’s Simulcast is an opportunity for design enthusiasts in Johannesburg to experience the main Design Indaba conference through a live broadcast from 29 February to 2 March at the University of Johannesburg Arts Centre from 8am to 5pm.

Burgundy and Jade 60’s trends unveiled at NY Fashion Week 2012

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 02:42:24 -0500

Shades of burgundy and jade, skirts and hemlines inspired by the designs of the 1960’s were among the trends on display at New York’s Fashion week, in February.

Among over 300 designers showing their Fall/Winter 2012 collections to media, celebrities and buyers, Vivienne Tam, Tory Burch, Diane von Furstenberg and Michael Kors featured pencil skirts, some with matching jackets and touches of the 60’s and 70’s with a cosmopolitan, urban flair such as the longer hemlines seen in maxi, circle and pleated skirts.

With the influence of the global economy on impulse buying, many designers are paying attention to detail and tailoring to fulfil the new trend in conscious decision making when building a wardrobe. Navy replaced black in some collections, but jades, deep green, plum and burgundy in fabrics ranging from fur and leather to silk and satins were more common as seen in Diane Von Furstenberg’s pink and berry sleeveless crepe dresses, frosted lime jacquard coat and scarlet pencil skirt.

Other designers featuring these rich colours and decorative fabrics included Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Narciso Rodriguez. Marc Jacobs, Christian Siriano and Karen Walker chose to feature metallic shades of green, gold and silver on brocades and jaquards.

Many designers mixed fabrics like jacquards and brocades and leather and fur, in an eclectic mix of layers, fabrics and textures although tweed and oversized plaid continued to be popular, along with buffalo check and blanket stripes.

The trend is definitely focussed towards tight tailoring and sophisticated palettes and silhouettes across the board.

Afrocentric Influences

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 02:40:02 -0500

Afrocentric Influences

The plains of Africa are often an influence on the designers for their catwalk collections, and 2012 is no different. Traditional references continue to inspire with animal prints seen throughout the collections in flowing gowns and cocktail dresses. Big cat prints are the choice of the animal prints while tribal and traditional prints made the most impact on the runways.

Safari suiting is still a big appeal for designers. Balenicaga brought a modern sense to old designs with safari trousers with a glimmering sheen.

Ethnic and African prints are also making an appearance in the years’ trends with tribal sketches and ethnic beading melting into the modern designs combining ancient techniques and avant-garde ideas. The Edun Label, founded by U2”s Bono and his wife, delivered a Mali inspired collection with hand dying and African inspired prints.

Diane von Furstenberg’s collection focussed more on the core of Africa than the colonial or safari Africa, with fresh prints and funky monochromatic separates while Donna Karan’s models were decked out in full Tribal inspired garments and Proenza Schouler made use of graphic floral prints and clever colour blocking techniques.

Great Elegance portrayed in this outfit too

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:56:56 -0500

Great Elegance portrayed in this outfit too

Now this is how a guy should dress.The elegance portrayed in the...

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:56:08 -0500

Now this is how a guy should dress.The elegance portrayed in the shot is amazing. Look at the texture of the jackets - the colour tone matches greatly in these two outfits.

Don’t you just love this girls style? Classic!!

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:20:52 -0500

Don’t you just love this girls style?

Classic!!

bryanteslava: SoHo, New York.

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:53:45 -0500

bryanteslava:

SoHo, New York.

mrdanger: wiwt? nothing really fancy. or crazy. or wednesday...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:34:33 -0500

mrdanger:

wiwt?

nothing really fancy.

or crazy.

or wednesday about it.

just a blue jacket.

light blue shirt.

anyone can do it.

but can they look as moody as me when they take a photo of themself?

probably not.

EMO X MENSWEAR X REMOTE X CS2

—————

jacket by j.crew

shirt by [redacted]

scarf by levi’s

sara fratczak by felix wong

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:32:39 -0500

sara fratczak by felix wong

altamiranyc: Alek Wek (IMG, NY) arrives at the Gucci show on...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:32:03 -0500

Alek Wek

Alek Wek

Alek Wek

altamiranyc:

Alek Wek (IMG, NY) arrives at the Gucci show on Day one of Milan Fashion Week. Click HERE 4 IMG portfolio.

Women's fashion that men hate

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:51:03 -0500

Women and men are different, we know that. We know too that their tastes and preferences are often at opposite sides of the coin. But when it comes to fashion, do men always like what women wear? A survey conducted by MSN saw some interesting differences of opinion between men and women on certain women’s fashions. Here’s a look.

Dungarees, Jumpsuits and Harem paints are considered a no-go area for men. Usually, men do not like baggy shapeless clothing and prefer women to have a shape of some kind. Dungarees and Jumpsuits are traditionally men’s work wear, and should be kept as such.

Leggings are also not top of the list on men’s preferred clothing – choosing rather stockings, preferably sheer and sexy and hopefully attached to a garter belt. And definitely no knee high socks!

Moving down the leg, Gladiator sandals and Ugg Boots sit at the bottom of the list of women’s fashions for men. In particular, furry Ugg boots are off putting and especially when worn with a little mini dress. These giant boots and overbearing sandals look too large for the legs, particularly on slender legs making the whole body seem bottom heavy.

Men are attracted to women a lot through their smiles and their eyes – and the large sunglasses have to go! They conceal the eyes and the smile and become a distraction for men. Jewellery can also be a distraction with lots of jingling and jangling pieces, while me prefer simple adornments that accentuate rather than hide.

Looking sexy in plus size lingerie

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:49:32 -0500

Being plus size does not mean having to resort to beige bras and unattractive panties. There is as much on offer for plus size ladies as there is for petite ones as the lingerie market for curvy women has undergone a revolution in recent years.

Brands like Panache, Freya and Wacoal, have started to make sexy, flattering lace and silk garments that are sexy and elegant while still providing support. Hips and Curves are a site dedicated to offering intimate apparel and plus size lingerie in the newest styles which allow plus size women to celebrate and enhance their curves.

Plus size lingerie is specifically designed to accentuate the curve and hide the bulges and selecting the right lingerie can be a daunting experience. It is always advisable to visit a lingerie store for your first time to enable to sales consultant to do a fitting. You want to know what pieces work for your body type to make you look sexy while still providing the support you want.
Once you feel you know the right garments and sizes to make you feel comfortable you can now take advantage of the large range of online stores offering sexy, fashionable intimate apparel for the plus size lady.

One of the key tips to looking sexy is to feel sexy. So don’t choose something you are going to feel awkward and uncomfortable in. Choose something that allows you to feel feminine and sultry without feeling exposed.

Looking sexy in Lingerie:)

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:47:25 -0500

Every woman wants to feel sexy in lingerie, and Jada Michaels, one of the top international lingerie experts tells us how to be sexy without sending the wrong message, how to be sexy without worrying about your curves and how to be sexy while being comfortable with yourself.
There is a fine art to seduction and a hint of sexiness that sparks curiosity is key to being effortlessly sexy.

One of the easiest ways to look sexy in lingerie is to consider switching tights and panty hose for a garter belt and thigh high stockings. The glimpse of a garter belt is enough to pique any one’s interest and oozes sultriness. Choosing lacy items of any kind offer a little hint of femininity and mysteriousness. Lingerie does not have to be tiny little numbers that barely cover, but rather should focus on making you feel feminine and entice your partner’s curiosity.
The lingerie you choose should also be something that suits your body. You will feel awkward and uncomfortable rather than sexy in items that pull and squish.

An important part of being sexy is to be comfortable. This does not mean going to bed in an old T-shirt and track pants, but rather choosing lingerie that allows you to fell comfortable with yourself and your body. Small changes such as a sexy pair of panties paired with a tiny-tee can make all the difference to making comfortable sexy without having to go over the top. Another simple trick is to try a silk nightie to make you feel sexy and look sexy.

Get your Grunge on!

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:46:01 -0500

90’s Grunge is back in style and looks to have no plans of leaving soon with grunge elements popping up in local fashions, in the fashion pages and on the runways. But the Grunge of 2012 has grown up a little and is no longer simply ripped jeans and bed head hair, but has evolved into divisions such as neo-grunge and glam grunge.

Source: http://littlebambifoxx.tumblr.com/

The style of Grunge has some basic elements if you want to get the look right. And the first has to be colour choice. Dark colours have always been the colours of grunge, and although pieces today may include a choice of colours, the darker colours need to be incorporated.

Traditionally, Grunge required ripped, worn-out jeans, but leggings and tights have made their way into the style and are as important as the ripped jeans for the right Grunge look.

The flannel shirts from the 90’s are still a big part of the look as is 90’s band T-shirts, although today’s grunge does feature more tailored flannel shirts with three-quarter sleeves and designer T-shirts with trendy and funky branding and designer rips.

The hair is one of the crucial elements of getting the Grunge look right. The “just got out of bed” – “”haven’t slept in days” look is a large part of the style. Keeping the hairstyle as mussed up as possible, without looking like a homeless person is a part of finding the balance that is essentially Grunge.

Find the perfect jeans

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:43:04 -0500

Shopping for the right pair of jeans can be a bit of an expedition. Finding the perfect pair means going through countless designers, styles and sizes, not to mention colours and detailing. The task can be made more difficult if your body type is not the “norm”.

One of the simplest tips is to steer clear of jeans that are too tight. Tight jeans will accentuate the bits that we want to hide over and above being uncomfortable.
Stretch denim is a great option, as it offers a little “give” in the areas that need it as well as providing comfort.
Boot leg or flair cut jeans help to mask bigger thighs and bums. By creating a contrast between the upper area and the wide bottom of the jeans, they can offer the appearance of a slimmer figure and will help to elongate your legs.

When looking for the perfect pair of jeans – don’t just trust the label sizes. Make sure to try the jeans on in the shop to make sure they fit as sizes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and you don’t want to find this out when you get home. Make sure to shop at stores with a wide selection of designers and manufacturers, this will give you a better chance of finding a cut that suits you.

Keep an open mind when shopping for jeans. Not all styles suit all people and you may be surprised to find the type of jeans that looks good on you is not the one you would have chosen.

Bye Bye briefcase

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:37:33 -0500

Gone are the days when having a notebook or laptop meant carrying a bag that had to be something inelegant, boring and conventional. With a choice of stylish and functional laptop bags to match your personal tastes and preferences as well as the latest trends, you can now choose a laptop bag that serves as a functional item as well as expresses your personal style and personality.

There is a wide choice of designs and styles to choose from that include messenger bags, totes, sleeves, wheelies and backpacks, to name a few. And no longer are we limited to basic colour choices, with everything from chic black to bright funky colours and detailing such as embroidery and trendy prints to offer stylish laptop and notebook bags while never sacrificing the functionality of the item.

Many of the latest laptop bag designs include features like protective padding, secure locks and compartments for your cell phone and other important items. One of the most popular bags at the moment is the Messenger bag which allows you to carry the bag anywhere, anytime and offers protection against bumps, a stylish and fashionable design and is comfortable to carry all day long.

Some of the top international brands making waves at the moment including Tucano for stylish briefcase designs, Targus for backpacks and LifePod, Omma Yoga and Pacific Design for the latest in trendy styles and colours. There are also a number of websites such as www.kolobags.com offering a one stop shop to source the best and latest trends in laptop bags.

Men’s fashion tips from the runway

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:35:38 -0500

Although there is much more out there for women on fashion, the men’s fashion trends are not being left behind with some of the top designers and fashion houses taking men’s fashion a step further and men are taking fashion far more seriously.

The military trend continues with military jackets and accessories showing up on the runways all over the world with designers such as Salvatore Ferragamo and Alexander McQueen showcasing some stylish military jackets and outerwear.
The preppy fashion is also a big trend at the moment with splashes of colour in a casual and comfortable style as seen in some of the designs from Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce & Gabbane and Vivienne Westwood.

Image source: http://chanelaftercoco.blogspot.com/2011/05/celeb-couple-olivia-palermo-johannes.html#

As for colour, this year remains with neutrals and accents. Every shade of grey is acceptable. In combination with black and white and bold colours such as crimson and deep blue for either the casual look or business suit, designers such as Dior Homme and Michael Kors have used grey in their designs while Salvatore Ferragamo and Canali combined the bold hues with neutral tones in browns and greys.

Luxurious fabrics are all around, and not limited to women’s fashion this year with velvet, cashmere, leather and calfskin showing up on the runways with Versace and Etro using these touch beautiful fabrics in jacket, coats and outerwear.

If the runways are anything to go by, men’s fashion is not shying away from taking the stage with a strategic use of colour and some bold and beautiful garments.