Fashion MONTH! Part II

13/09
1. William Tempest - debutant of the week
2. Donna Karan New York - a very integral collection

3. Carolina Herrera - well thought-out collection (from the commercial point of view), crowned with amazing hats. An original idea of dresses-herbariums.

4. Marc Jacobs - there is everything in this collection: shining fabrics, bright colours, prints, hats, pants with high waist, mini-shorts, gold, seeming weightless sandals on platforms, semi-transparent maxi-skirts, thick midi-skirts etc. The one thing which is missing is... jeans. But we think it was left on purpose to Ralph Lauren! :)

14/09
1. Vera Wang - known for her snow-white wedding dresses Vera Wang prefers black on the ready-to-wear runaway, however, this year she couldn't resist adding some bright colours. Although, let's check out the black looks, shown by Irina Kulikova:

2. Herve Leger by Max Azria - a kingdom of geometry

3. Narciso Rodriguez - here one can easily observe two main tendencies: lots of white and minimalism

4. Marc by Marc Jacobs - insped by 70s Marc Jacobs has created a beautiful collection with vivid accesories. Pay attention to the hats-pots)))

15/09
1. Michael Kors - Michael Kors showed one more time why he's one of the permanent Project Runaway's judges, he's already a classic of Americain fashion.

2. Anna Sui - fresh and romantic collection from a designer who celebrates 20 years of her brand (and yes, the monopoly on jeans this season belongs to her).

3. Marchesa - chic-chic dresses.

16/09
1. Ralph Lauren - inspired by Wild West Ralph Lauren has created a beautiful collection. All fashion-critics predict a huge commercial success for it.

2. Calvin Klein - at first, it could seem that designer made clothes for chess-men... but actually no, in this collection there are some other colours))

3. Oscar de la Renta - dresses and ensembles of classic cut, a bit boring, however very beautiful and of the best quality. By having created this collection Oscar de la Renta proved once again that he is one of the elephants (excuse us, Oscar) holding American fashion.

Fasten your seat bealts! The next stop is London!

D & P

Fashion MONTH! UPDATED!

Hello! Hello!

We're very lucky - we live in the era when information spreads quicklier than it appears. Thanks to the Internet and the television we can stay at home, in comfort and cosiness, attend New York Fashion Week in the Lincoln Center, in London, Milan, Paris, remember Stockholm Fashion Week while reading Yvan Rodic's blog, admire young Tavi Gevinson who has collaborated with Style.com and POP magazine this year.

On the one hand, it's bad that designers didn't follow Natalie Massenet's advice and didn't skip a season. That could be a real strategic decision which would have brought lots of benefits in the future (let us remind you that during an interview with Business of Fashion Natalie Massenet - the founder of the biggest on-line luxury fashion retailer Net-a-porter - insisted that the only solution of the main problems of fashion market
[- millions of losses of fashion houses because of unexpected climate changes.
- imitations, counterfeits, fakes which have a whole half a year (from the designer fashion show to the actual start of selling) to fill the market all over the world.
- reduce of interest to the collection during the period between the show (seen on the Internet) and the appearing of clothes in shops.
- crisis of print-media, when it has to comment collections which have already been carefully studied by bloggers and on-line-media]
was to skip a season and to pass on to the system "In autumn we show Fall/Winter collections, in spring - Spring/Summer".

On the other hand, it's very cool! Because a) this solution is questionable, b) we can admire new, audacious (?), bright (like all the media promised in its fashion forecasts), interesting and not boring (that's for sure) collections of the best desighers.

So, we suggest you looking through our own timetable of the Fashion MONTH (NY + London + Milan + Paris)

New York Fashion Week
When: September 9-16

09/09
Project Runaway - 8th season finale of popular TV-show, we don't to spoiler the fun, so we won't name the winners.

10/09
1. BCBGMAXAZRIA
2. Alexander Berardi

3. Jason Wu
4. Peter Som
5. Rag & Bone

11/09
1. Lacoste - sporty chic of unbelievable colours by Christophe Lemaire
2. Prabal Gurung
3. Edun - organic creation of Ali Hewson and her husband Bono for the first time diverted public by the runaway show.

4. Z Spoke by Zac Posen - one more runaway debut - democratic line by Zac Posen
5. Altuzarra - one of the most discussed shows at the moment.
6. Alexander Wang


12/09
1. Derek Lam - also minimalism
2. DKNY

3. Max Azria
4. Preen - designers Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi presented their own version of minimalism

5. Y-3 - at first, admire blue lips of models and only after that - the clothes
6. Tommy Hilfiger

7. Diane von Furstenberg - first steps of new creative director - Yvan Mispelaere
8. Thakoon
9. Victoria Beckham - universally recognized sensation of the 4the day of the Week


Tendencies: minimalism, white, but also bright colours like neon colours, all kinds of length - mini-midi-maxi, generally loose-fitting

D & P

Sunday UP market

When: September 4-5
Where: Loft-project "Etagi"

At first we wanted to write something like: "Moscow has Fashion's Night Out, and we have Sunday UP market!", but that doesn't sound at all. All we have to do is hope that FNO will come to Saint-Petersburg (and maybe not only hope but also contribute somehow) and attend less important but still interesting events. And SUM is undoubtedly one of them. Why?
- a whole floor of "Etagi" has been given to 2 dozens of ranks and counters for clothes, accesories and bijouterie made by young designers.
- positive mood of all participants, good music vibes, lots of people (who didn't disturb each other).
- two lectures/discussions (it's not easy to find a name for these events, because they differed very much from the initial discription; it might be better to name the first event Q&A session with stylist Alexander Rogov and the second event - discussion with Nadezhda Kogevnikova, Leonid Alexeev and "Sorry we were late, didn't catch your names"/"When you have a mic you should TALK IN IT and not just hold it")))
We don't want talk about things that we didn't like (microphones!!!)
We just want to talk about something that was sickening. If you don't believe in things that you're talking about, don't talk at all. There is no need to invite people who don't believe in Russian fashion industry, who are disappointed in life in general.

And now some photos:




See you soon!

D & P

Developping the sense of smell. UPDATED!

We love ad campaigns of new men's fragrances.
1. Boss Bottled Night with Ryan Reynolds.
After having exchanged compliments:
Ryan: "BOSS is a brand that not only represents classic style and sophistication, but inspires men to work hard, embrace opportunities and strive for success in all aspect of their lives. I’m honored BOSS invited me to be the face of its new men’s fragrance".
Marketing Director of Hugo Boss Tomas Burkhardt: "He is stylish, dynamic and confident with a tenacity and determination that make him an ideal role model of modern success".
Ryan and Hugo made a beatiful video with lots of nice black colour:

BTW, there is one more interesting thing with Hugo Boss: Natalia Vodyanova has become "Boss Black" new face!

2. The Big Pony Collection
The best way to describe this video is a youtube comment from HollyJ93: "i've never seen so many good looking people at once! i'm not even noticing the girls, i'm too busy staring at those amazing men!!!!"

3. Marc Jacobs "Bang"
If you want something done right, do it yourself! Marc Jacobs repeats this mantra every day and he follows it.
Model: Mark
Photographer: Juergen Teller

The results of herd work:


You loved it too, admit it!

See you soon, girls and boys!

D & P

PS: Bleu de Chanel
As always, Chanel is an absolute leader. Martin Scorcese produced a short-film starring Gaspard Ulliel

From mini to maxi

We still cannot come to our senses after one of the last looks of Alexander Vassiliev (frankly speaking, we didn't recognise him at first).

And the previews show that the experiments with his appearance has only begun (pay attention to his hair styles))):

Obviously stylists or Monsieur himself have bought the complete Ray Ban collection.
Ok, enough mockery of TV life of Alexander Vassiliev! Let's return to his initial profession - historian of fashion. The exhibition "From mini to maxi" has already gladdened the hearts of Saint-Petersburg' inhabitants during Aurora Fashion Week, but back then it was very short and difficult to access. However, it had such big success among people that Alexander Vassiliev decided to leave it for more time. It was moved to the Saint-Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music, to its branch - Sheremetyev Palace.
Address: Fontanka Embankment 34, Saint-Petersburg.
At the exhibition one can find 30 dresses from the best designers and fashio houses: Christian Dior, Chanel, Pierre Balmain, Nina Ricci, boutique Le Grenier.
Hurry up: the exhibit is open till the 5th of September!!! Nice thing - it is free for students.
And now some photos:
1. Dress for sea cruises, Organza, Larissa Andersen's wardrobe

2. Evening coat, jersey, decorated with beads, Nina Ricci

3. Cocktail dress, moire, Christian Dior | Mini-dress, crimplen with embroidery, boutique Le Grenier

4. Day ensemble, dress and jacket, Christian Dior
We loved how this garment and a Soviet dress from the same period were shown near each other (summer dress, muslin).

5. Evening gown, silk crepe with embroidery, Pierre Balmain

D & P

The only word: QUEUE

Today the new H&M store was solemnly (with a red carpet and lots of guards) opened on the Nevskiy avenue. A lot-lot-lot of people! We publish a short photo-report:




D & P

La Bella Italia...

I came to tell you about shopping in Italia) You are NOT interested in shopping in Italia? You're joking, right!

Ok, without further twaddle... THE MALL!
I think, this is the most important place! In the mall one can find clothes, shoes of a very haute gamme (McQueen, Balenciaga, Salvatore Ferragamo), with a great discounts. Don't be silly: a skirt from Dior or McQueen for 50 euros - it's very cheap, an YSL dress for 200 euros - is also really cheap.
This summer I found there two Russian drunk guys who were shouting in their mobile phone: "Here every single piece of clothes is a masterpiece... A masterpiece!!!!"... The very truth itself!))



About the address: you cand find all the information about the means of transportation (also in Russian, Russians are very welcomed there)) on the Mall's site. But if you don't understand the instructions on the site... go by train to the station Rignano Sull'Arno, take a taxi (the journey will take no more than 5 minutes). To elaborate the itinerary to the Rignano Sull'Arno station you can use a ticket-machine situated on every railway station (these machines will be happy to help you! they also prompt how long the trip will be). We reached the Mall after 4 hours of travelling: from Formia with 2 changes in Rome and in Florence. Attention: the ticket could be unique for (in our case - 3) all trains. That's ok! :)

As for Florence... Shopping in Florence is extremely good too. The prices are lower than in Rome, as for the brands - they are the same - from Chanel to Domenico and Stefano ;)

You can start with La Rinascente - Italian version of Galleries Lafayette. The site of the department store. While being in Rinascente, go to the -1 floor and admire! A whole floor of underwear, which is, as you all know, "basic human need"))) The department store is situated on the Square with an arch and a merry-go-round. Look for the exact address on the store's official site, but believe me the merry-go-round is a perfect reference-point! On the store's roof you'll find a delicious dinner and an incredible view!


Continue our little promenade: drop in Gianfranco Ferre and Prada on the way. There it's possible to find unexpected superdiscounts, especially in the end of July-in the beginning of August.

Pay attention to the Braccialini boutique

I suppose that on Arno banks this madness costs less than in Rome.

And then just continue to walk in Florence's streets - local shops bring an endless pleasure (you'll enjoy it even more if you failed to enter Uffizi. BTW, buy you ticket to Uffizi in advance - on the Internet, or try to join a tourists' group. Otherwise, you'll spend the rest of your life in the queue).

Last but not least, if you look for a perfect dinner in Florence, go to Buca Lapi.

Don't forget to reserve a table in advance!!!! And you definitely can entrust wine choice to the waiters. They are very good at it!

Other dinner options:
ACQUA AL2
OSTERIA DEL CINGHIALE BIANCO
OSTERIA DEL CAFFE ITALIANO

D & P