Big Bird Wants His Coat Back!

It's fall fashion week so no doubt there would be fur. This year its the super coats, it's voluminous, faux fur, shearling, teddy and luxe feathers. If you only buy one thing for the new season, it must be a statement fur coat. I haven't seen this much fur since sesame street!

Shearling is king, the season's most-used fabric. Gucci delivered double breasted sheepskin jackets in pastels sixties downtown cool, while Miu Miu layered over raincoat and sporty school girl silhouette. The furry, fuzzy teddy faux fur brings a modern take to shearling, Erdem and Bottega translate them into chic dresses. The pallet is kept pale, nude or monochrome like at Akris.

Fur Trim. If all over fur is not your thing then fur trim should surely do the trick, coloured stripes accentuate the seams and give it a graphic quality. It has been prevalent in every city and in various ways. Prada gave us Del Boy-style oversize jackets while Chloé kept it slightly more subtle with fuzz trimmed booties. George Styler and Christopher Kane (dreaming of this coat) kept their pink shearling, on cuffs and collars contrast with black patent fabrics. Most designers concentrate on big lapels to showcase their furry trims.

Griphic Faux. Designers look to geometry, sourcing inspirations and experiment though grids and patchwork. Chic assemble of patchwork in a variety of textures at Roksanda Illincic and topshop, and nipped waist grid coats at Daks and Altuzara. Quirky designs were seen at Carven, Tusumori and Pucci. Astrakhan fabric in addition to multicoloured fur also being presented at Miu Miu, Jason Wu, and Christian Dior.

Luxe feathers like the ones below are not my favourite trends as I do not promote real fur. But these crazy fur coats must be like traveling around in a warm cloud. Explosive volumes were seen at Saint Laurent, Roberto Cavalli and Alexander McQueen. Ralph Lauren and Ralph Rucci keep their outerwear light in softest feathery cape coat while Dolce and Gabbana and Fendi work the eskimo hood.

The Foil Trend

It's all about shining bright in foil fabric for spring/summer, the coloured metallic trend noticed since last year on the catwalk for designers such as Burberry Prorsum, Dior and Jonathan Saunders has stuck around with all sorts of garments filtering into this year in a mixture of rainbow shades. Which was full of glamour and energy striking out with the use of rhinestones palette. Precious mineral tones like green beetle, sapphire,  emerald, bronze, quartz, and ruby shimmers like opening a box of Quality Street sweets.

Burberry Prorsum S/S 2013

Burberry Prorsum has succeeded in maintaining their signature British heritage of their iconic trench coat,  while bringing contemporary designs with high-tech materials expressed such versatility. I've been wanting to do a post on this collection for awhile now, though I'm glad I waited, as this fall 14 there were even foiling to embrace. The trend should not be mistaken though for just metallic or shimmery sequins. It shines a whole lot brighter, bolder, slicker, waxier with a foil like quality that rustles and crackles as it moves. 

Foil Trend in Autumn/Winter 2014

Moody Florals

We are use to seeing floral trend during the Spring/Summer runway but this time we spotted florals earlier this year on the fall runway since February. This is because this floral trend has reinvent a dark twist, which will be perfect for this winter. Its lush bloom colour pallet of deep purple, burnt orange, dark red on blacken silks and chiffon giving us a romantic autumn vibe. The look is organic and dark with a hint of flesh (in both sheer and cut outs) and the florals are delicate and soft in perfect balance with each other to create an elegant feminine silhouette. Erdem chose to scatter their darker florals with lemon yellow and red spots, Lanvin and Giambattista Valli went graphics with their florals while Oscar De La Renta and Mulberry look to tapestry for their inspirations. Valentino and Vera Wang opted for a vintage style with Valentino using embroidery on lace and Vera Wang with shiny prints on satin, both leaving the floral to speak for itself. The trend works for both masculine and feminine style. Pair it with leather jacket and boots with stained lips like Givenchy for a tougher look. Or channel moody femme fatale with middle parting hair, messy brows and nude glossy lips like Valentino.

 Givenchy AW 13

 Mulberry AW 13

 Giambattista Valli AW 13

 Liu Wen at Roberto Cavalli AW 13

 Oscar de la Renta AW 13

 Valentino AW 13

Vera Wang AW 13

Erdem AW13

DIY: Resin Jewellery 3

I can't stop! this stuff is addictive...but I promise this is the last..for awhile anyway. Though this one I'm really happy with. I have freakishly small wrist but I love chunky bangles. They are a must on beachy holiday, the way they make clanking sound as you walk. But sadly they don't make them small enough, there are child's size bracelet available but..that's just not cool. Can't wait to wear it on holiday x

Marble effect - made by adding white powder to make the resin cloudy and stir in metallic flakes.

Time piece - Half layer of clear resin embedded with watch pieces and gems. Other half ombre in pink and orange.

Beach - Bottom layer of assorted metallic. All clear resin embedded with miniature figures and infused slightly with blue ink. 

Fluro floral - Clear layer of resin and infused neon pink layer then resin roses beads.

Note: All my hand made resin are filed down with sand paper to avoid sharp edges. Make sure the sand paper is wet as it is unhealthy to inhale powdered resin. Then give the sanded side a coat of clear nail polish to restore the shine.

DIY: Resin Jewellery 2

Following the last test run here is another try. Because the mould are pebble shapes I decided, how about a beach theme? Using small Layout People Figures...they are so tiny and cute...with assorted golden beads to replicate sand. Now I have a set of jewellery inhabited with sand people..so weird...but I love them!

Colour can be used in resin to create many interesting effect. You can use liquid or powder form dye and they come in both translucent and opaque. I have experiment with a few liquid type like fabric and acrylic dye which are both translucent. The powder ones on the image above are opaque dyes and I'm excited to try them because they are so vibrant and against clear resin would give it a solid contrast.

Step: 1 Mix small amount of resin with no colour and pour into an empty mould. Only fill each 1/2 way up. Set a timer for 20 minutes.

Step: 2 Come back to check. The desired state of resin is most link gel consistency, I test it with a toothpick if it sticks a little its ready. Arrange the pieces of figurines and beads where you want baring in mind the front will be facing down. Push them in slightly and leave to set for another 10 minute. This process is to set things where they should be and not move around when you add the next layer of resin  

Step: 3 Mix some clear resin first in two separate cups. Add blue powder to one cup and yellow to another. The amount depend on how strong and opaque you want so start small and keep adding. Make sure to mix well otherwise they will show up in spots of colour.

Step: 4 Pouring from opposite sides of each mould simultaneously the two colours and let them set. The colour will seep into each other while setting to give it a subtle blend.

And what I did next...

Drill a whole for necklace

Glue it to hair band

Glue onto rings and hair clips

DIY: Resin Jewellery

So I have been busy this week making some resin stuff! I use resin before for other projects and it is a useful medium to experiment with as it sets crystal clear. Somehow you will never get the same effect twice which make each piece an original(ish). Resin is quite toxic and messy so make sure you work in a well ventilated area and wear gloves at all times. You can get resin form many craft shops or even hardware shops. I would recommend ones especially for making jewellery as they are UV resistant (they don't turn yellow over time). They are many effects you can achieve all you need is good timing as they set you can use this to make layers and depth.  Resin Obsession has a lot of information if you like to learn more. So here is my test run.

You will need:

Clear casting resin and catalyst

(make sure it says clear as they come in different types according to use)

Syringe for measuring catalyst

Disposable cups

Mixing sticks

Toothpicks

Jewellery moulds
Small beads and found objects

So I use about 125ml of resin to 8 drops of catalyst and mix well in a cup careful not to stir vigorously as this will cause bubbles in the resin. This is a common problem but most bubbles will rise though some do get trap so make sure you pour gently into the mould and use tooth pick to move around trap air. This takes about 30 minute to set. Setting time depends on amount of resin, catalyst, mould type and temperature. I leave it to set in room temperature and wait for 12 hours and it is ready to de-mould. Test it by touching on the surface lightly if it leaves finger print its not ready yet. Leave to cure for about a week to get rid of the resin smell and its ready to rock! 

Results...

Beads, hundred and thousands, watch parts and crystals imbedded in resin. I made it into hair clips and earrings. I think they will also look good as buttons.

Resin Jewellery

Kenzo fall 2012 inspired this post. With a show of 50 models, under new creative directors Humberto Leon and Carol Lim (from Opening Ceremony),  took over Kenzo in July looking to restore this heritage label. I always have a strange obsession with clear casting resin so Kenzo's resin covered fruity and walnut jewellery caught my eyes.


Other inspirations

Marni Resin bracelet at net-a-porter.com

Resin and tea bangles by Claire Lowe

Fragmented Chronicles by Shannnam

Pokka Dot Resin Bangle, jackiebrazil.com

Rosella Resin Jewelry