Harem - Scarem: should you give in to the trend?

LOVE them or hate them, there is no denying that Harem pants are a trend that will hit us this spring and continue on through the SUMMER.  They have been popular in the Northern Hemisphere and we have already seen them popping up in the high street stores here through the autumn and winter.

If you aren't familiar with Harem pants, (and believe me, you will be by the end of this SPRING), they are baggy, loose on the crotch, with big expandable pockets that have a finish around your ankle knee or mid-calf, ESSENTIALLY making your bottom half look like an upside-down cone.  Originally the Harem pant peaked in the late '80s - think MC Hammer.

I began to notice them last summer, (and I really couldn't believe my eyes when I did), but I figured they were a MICRO trend that wouldn't catch on and they would fade away into the land of lost trends.
Well that didn't happen, because they are still here, not only have we seen them on the runway at Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, but now we are seeing them on the STYLE elite and by that I mean Emmanuelle Alt, Diane Kruger et al...

I bet many of you have not bothered to even considering trying them on, right?  Look I know this is a TREND, and I've always said that you should not buy into them and only take what you want from what's out there - which I still stand by.  But I think this one might just stick around for a while.

I have seen both gorgeous and scary versions of this trend and until I actually tried a pair on myself, I would never have thought I would be sitting here writing a post on Harem pants.  Oh, did I mention the sheer COMFORT of these beauties?  It is nothing short of divine!

It's a question of personal style and above all - getting the right cut for your body. I have a few tips for those of you who are willing to throw CAUTION to the wind and give the Harem pant a go.
I do think that these pants look their best in basic black, but as we are talking spring here, they are going to be available in all manner of seasonal colours.

It's best to choose a slightly cropped pair as they will be more flattering and team with a tight fitting top or crop-top if you're feeling BRAVE. This exaggerates the volume and balances the shape slightly.

I have read that some FASHIONISTAS out there are waging quite a battle against harem pants, claiming that they have no style about them at all because of the way the crotch brushes the models knees and at worse, they can make you look like you've an accident in your pants.  I do agree that there are indeed some styles out there that can make this claim perfectly true.  And so my next tid-bit of advice is to seek out the right style of harem pants.

Do wear a wide belt to cinch in your waste and show off your curves.
Do go for a fitted cuff and a killer stiletto heel (if you dare).
Do pair them with a form-fitting top to balance the figure.
Do wear a cropped jacket over a fitted Tee. 
Do let the pants speak for themselves.  Steer clear of loud prints and use your accessories to give your outfit the colour it needs.

Perhaps you do have to be brave to embrace this trend, but consider the fact that as SPRING is coming, you will be looking for trans seasonal clothing to get you through those days when the weather is COOLER and you don't want leave your legs bare.  These pants may be just what your looking for.
  
Ciao for now,
Hx


Sources: Style.com, Vogueuk.com, InStyle Australia, Garance Dore, Vanessa Jackman.

Alberta Ferretti: Milan's Queen of Romance

 

 ITALIAN fashion designer Alberta Ferretti learned her trade from her mother, a dressmaker from a small coastal town in Italy.  But it was not designing dresses that first gave Alberta her name in the fashion industry.  It was with a small BOUTIQUE she owned where she sold the likes of Giorgio Armani and Gianni Versace that gave her notoriety.

Alberta began designing in 1974 with her signature line debuting in Milan in 1981.  Her skill with cutting delicate fabrics and creating BEAUTIFUL structures and soft silhouettes have all contributed to her being known as one of the most INVENTIVE designers in Milan.  She creates goddess-like evening dresses using a blend of femininity, romance and function which has seen her designs become synonymous with ELEGANCE and ethereal beauty.

Alberta's gowns feature romantic flourishes and make the wearer look and feel like a divine goddess.  Her designs have long been RED CARPET favourites among Hollywood's stars with fans found in Salma Hayek, Winona Ryder, Uma Thurman, Natalie Portman and Sarah Jessica Parker. 

"When there's any drift toward ROMANCE and softness in the air, Alberta Ferretti, Milan's queen of chiffon, is going to catch it one way or the other." - from Style.com

"For me it's very important not to lose perspective when you become famous.  I work all day. I'M A REAL WOMAN. I cater for different needs. I'm not tall and I'm a bit, shall we say, rounded.  I understand such problems and always design clothes that I myself would like to wear." - Alberta Ferretti

 Alberta Ferretti

Known for her ultra romantic flourishes and her divine GODDESS gowns, Alberta Ferretti's work is a master class in the art of feminine draping and her Autumn-Winter 09 collection is a vision of rich jewel tones in SUMPTUOUS silks, jersey, and chiffon; which the designer has peppered with delicate touches including beading, accordion pleats and knotting.

Alberta started her DIFFUSION line Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti in the late 90's which is a lower priced edition of Ferretti's signature line, intended for younger women.

Ferretti has a showroom in MILAN, but she lives in the village of Cattolica where she designs in studio.  She also has a business, Aeffe USA, which she co-owns with her brother Massimo which produces and distributes clothing by Moschino, Rifat Ozbek, Jean Paul Gaultier and Narcisco Rodriguez.

This Alberta Ferretti gown features a mythology print and is designed with a knotted waist and bustier support.  The FLOWING style is constructed from ORGANZA and the price? $US4,926 (from Net-A-Porter.com).  Whoa.

Ferretti's shoes are designed and made with the same FEMININITY and flair for detail that her gowns possess.

Ferretti's Spring-Summer 09 Ready-to-Wear collection featured shorts (one of my favourite things) and CUTE little flapper mini-skirts.

Looking at hundreds of Ferretti's designs on Style.com, it occurred to me that Italians just have a WONDERFUL way with fabric design, don't you agree?  No wonder so many of the fashion industry's textile design and manufactureres are Italian.

Alberta Ferretti's designs show off her incredible attention to DETAIL and the embellishement that goes into every piece she creates.  I adore her colour palate also.  These gowns below of LILAC and MINT look like italian gelato - mmm delicious! 

Alberta Ferretti consistently creates WEARABLE and beautiful collections, she is obviously a WOMAN who loves to dress women in feminine, SEXY outfits.
Again, whoa.


Ciao for now,
Hx

Sources: AlbertaFerretti.com, Style.com, Net-a-Porter, Google.

A Bit of a Moment (a.k.a. mummy is having a mini meltdown)

There just isn't enough hours in the day sometimes.

I have no time today to finish writing the post I had planned and I am freaking out a little over the party preparations I am supposed to be doing for Annabel's birthday party on Sunday. 

 My youngest Princess, Annabel Jade, frolicking on the beach. 

There is sooo much to do and even though there is only going to be 8 little princesses attending this soirèe, I am going out of my mind with all the preparations!  List after list is being written up so I don't forget a thing.  Being as prepared as I possibly can is the only way to avoid disaster at this point.

And so I am going to take a deep breath, let it out slowly and get on with it - because this is not about moi.  This is about Annabel and making wonderful memories of childhood with her.

  

I shall begin by taking some advice from a friend:

or even better...

Thanks Mrs B. xx

Wish me luck!

Hx

Sources: Ffffound!

A Scarf for all Seasons

Recently a friend asked me for some fashion advice.  She is planning a winter holiday to Europe and wanted to know what type of scarf she should look for.  I love hearing travel plans because I get to live vicariously through my single friend's lives!  Winter in Europe is nothing like winter here in Australia or New Zealand.  For most of the winter here, it is wet and windy and the snow fields... well, lets just say that I'm sure our slopes are the main reason why snow makers were invented.  Europe is a real winter wonderland with powder snow and there is always enough snow on the ground to make your own snowman. 

A very funky Alexander McQueen silk skull scarf (try saying that 3 times very quickly!)

Hands down, the scarf is my favourite accessory.  I love to knit myself a new scarf every winter because it gives me an excuse to lounge in front of the fire for hours and also the sense of achievement I feel when I finish my scarf is like no other (that's because I am unable to follow a pattern and knitting in straight lines is the best I can do!) 

 Freha gets it right.

I want to tell you a little story about an experience I had with wearing a scarf.  Some years ago, I was on my way to a job interview and I had tied a silk scarf around my neck to zjusz up my outfit.  But I wasn't happy with the way I had tied the scarf, and instead of listening to my instincts and taking the scarf off, I went ahead and wore it anyway.  I felt so uncomfortable during the interview, that I still believe I did not get the job because my confidence was so shaken - all because I didn't know how to tie my scarf.  I vowed to myself that I would learn how to tie scarves properly.  I promise you, if your scarf is tied properly, you will feel more confident which as we all know enhances our natural beauty - what more could a girl ask for?

 

Sometimes it is good to look at how other people are wearing their scarves - this helps to get ideas on different ways to tie yours.

I took this attitude with me when buying a ubiquitous sarong in Ubud when hubby and I were on our honeymoon.  I made a point of having the store owner show me how to wear and tie my sarong in the local fashion.  I remember so well the knowing looks I received from the local women because I was wearing their national dress in the correct fashion, it made me feel distinctive.

By doing justice to the sarong I didn't look like your typical tourist.  Wouldn't we all like to feel the same when strolling down the street? (Or the Champs Èlysèe for that matter.)

The weather doesn't have to be cool to necessitate the wearing of a scarf either, because light weight fabrics like cotton, silk, and linen mean that a scarf is an accessory that can be worn all year round.

Even in the height of summer, a scarf can be a feature of your ensemble.

The Pashmina is a scarf that has become a considerable addition to every woman's wardrobe over the past decade.  If you own only one scarf, make it a Pashmina. 

Jessica Alba is a huge fan of the Pashmina and of scarves in general - she wears them well.

I think it is important, if you can, to have various types of scarves in your wardrobe.  Silk, Pashmina, fine wool, chunky wool knit, crocheted knit, and in as many different lengths and finishes; skinny, long, short, square, rectangular, embellished with sequins... etc. etc.

Celebs use their Pashmina to keep warm and to keep the Paparazzi at bay (or maybe Jen simply forgot to brush her teeth?)

Fashion trends come and go, but rarely has one appealed to such a wide audience - age plays no part and you don't have to be a size zero either to wear your favourite scarf. 

 Giselle and Jennifer and their Pashmina. 

If you want to add a little excitement to your ensemble or to change the look of a favourite outfit, a scarf could be just what you need. It just has that knack of adding a little something extra.  Which brings me to how scarves are being worn besides around your neck.

Chic Cameron.

For Autumn/Winter, Dolce & Gabbana, Paul Smith and Jean Paul Gaultier have all sent models down the runway wearing headscarves in manner of Her Majesty.  I want to officially caution you here though, because I think that one would have to be very confident to carry this look off.  I feel that this is not a look for most of us ladies.

 
But, if you want to give this trend a go, take my advice and let your scarf be the only element that embellishes what should be a simple and plain outfit.  Take your inspiration from the only other headscarf queens (also the only others who could successfully carry this look off in my opinion) - Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. 

Give your headscarf a bohemian edge a la Nicole Richie.  These days she is probably the only one of us that is successful in championing the headscarf.

Diane Kruger and her favourite scarf - dressed up and dressed down.

When it comes to silk scarves, there is no finer than the legendary French label Hermès.  I suggest downloading the Hermès handbook entitled “Playtime With Your Scarf” from their website.  It illustrates the many wonderful ways to tie your scarf in easy-to-follow instructions.

 An example from the Hermès handbook, "Playtime With Your Scarf".

We have now seen why scarves are such a versatile accessory because you can wear it around your neck, tied, knotted or draped.  But have you tried tying one around your hips, or through your belt loops in lieu of a belt for a little added colour?

Balenciaga has sent scarves down the runway over the past few seasons. 

Try wearing a large scarf around your shoulders as a shawl.  I love to carry a light weight scarf with me on warm evenings when I go out just in case the weather turns cool and when it invariably does, I wrap the scarf over my shoulders like a shrug and tie it behind my back between the shoulder blades. 
 

Dolce and Gabbana and Paul Smith following in the footsteps of Hermès.

So Deb, my lovely friend, I hope I have given you some ideas for scarf shopping.  I also hope you will be daring and look for more than one style - we wouldn't wear just one style of shoe or own just one handbag would we?  Variety is the spice of life, my love!


Ciao for now,
Hx

P.S. Happy 4th Birthday to my baby, Annabel Jade!  Mummy loves you so much - you are my little accessories queen! xxxx

Sources: Hermès, Google, Garance Dorè.