Right or left brain?

I finally got round to trying my hand at something I have always wanted to try -- fashion design. Yes, I mean actually designing clothes. I liked art when I was a kid and have always thought it'd be great to design a collection of clothes I can call my own. Except, what you imagine yourself to be may be quite different in reality... 

Trend Watch

Do you like my SS 2013 trend board? 

Fashion Brands: Branding Style from Armani to Zara

Fashion Brands: Branding Style from Armani to Zara; Mark Tungate; 2008; Second Edition 

Yet you should read this book with a good cup of coffee. An absolutely brilliant read, sparking too many ideas to keep track of. Hence, my advise is definitely to read this book in the morning, with a fresh cup of coffee, pen and paper and your thinking cap bright on. The book gives a good overview of various issues in fashion ranging from the basics such as the history of fashion, an industry overview, the role of various parties such as the store, designer, press, photographer and model to newer, more controversial issues such as vintage and ethical fashion, bloggers and online fashion and the rise of Asia. Each chapter is bite-sized yet very well written and thought-provoking. The book is a great analytical introduction to the world of fashion. And I have to admit, I took many an idea from this book as inspiration for my posts.

Sports and Fashion

Nike LunarGlide+ 3

I have done quite well for the past three years in keeping up with constant usage of my Nike trainers which is always a good sign. After signing up to the Reebok Sports Club, I have been a regular at classes from Pilates to Reebok Reps and all sorts of random 'Fit Chick' workouts they have suitably concocted to make their members feel good. Ah... the joys of gymming. But all this time while I was happily wearing my Nike trainers, I have never stopped to consider the business behind sportswear and its intersection with fashion. Have you? 

What do you think of this spring's girlie trend?

I was queuing at the tills at Zara yesterday when I overheard a mother-daughter conversation about the latest 'floral pastel madness' that seems to have 'invaded every store'. While we saw this coming some time back (see my post on LFW), the trend for pastel shades, lace, ruffles, florals and all things girlie seems to be in full bloom with this week's sunny clear skies heralding the arrival of spring. And interestingly, this ultra-girlie trend has sparked some rather opinionated debates -- not just between the mother-daughter duo I encountered, April's Elle also featured a discussion about the new trend that has set everyone abuzz. So what do you think of it? 

My Chanel Story

Chanel 2.55 Classic Flap Bag

This Chanel 2.55 was my first step into the world of luxury brands. 

Let's predict trends

(Dress illustration inspired by Gucci SS 2012)

It all started when I was asked in January what I thought the next big AW 2012 trend would be. Erm, how would I know? I mean, aren't fashion trends simply some top designer's whim? I'll tell you after I've watched the AW fashion shows! 

The Zara Revolution

Alright, I'll come clean and declare why my closet is full of nothing but Zara. 

Bicester Village

Bicester Village outlet shopping; Bicester, Oxfordshire

After hearing so much about the place, I decided to make that 1.5 hour drive from London to Bicester to check out the much acclaimed designer outlet shopping village. 

Selfridges

Selfridges; London, Oxford Street; built 1909

While browsing around in Selfridges last week, I chanced upon 'Shopping, Seduction & Mr Selfridge' by Lindy Woodhead (2007) which started me pondering about Selfridges.

Fashion and the internet

So we live in an age of technology. And being quite a dinosaur myself, I was only just introduced to Twitter by my tech-savvy younger sister and to confess, it was not that long ago when I signed up to facebook and blogger. While still a traditionalist at heart, having been inducted into this world of e-commerce (or S-commerce as we may now term it, see this article on WWD), I am beginning to appreciate the number of ways technology is fast changing the fashion industry. 

Primark

Primark; London, Oxford Street 

So I trooped down to Primark on a Wednesday morning. And amid talk about the doom and gloom of a worsening recession, Primark was packed full of eager shoppers pulling trolleys brimming with a heap of clothes and who were still (almost uncontrollably) adding to the pile. What is going on?

How to set up and run a fashion label

How to set up and run a fashion label; Toby Meadows; 2009

I actually attended Toby's class at the London College of Fashion which prompted me to pick up this book when I saw it on the book shelves last week. A good read in general - I enjoyed the easy-to-follow methodical progression of the book, taking you through the entire process of starting your own fashion label, from an introduction to the industry to thinking about legal structures, label name, market and trends, to production, distribution and marketing. Each chapter is also short and simply structured which makes for fast reading. Only gripe though is that having attended his class, I felt that I learnt so much more from him personally than the book conveyed. Its clear and simple take on fashion entrepreneurship is perhaps a little too simplistic and basic for my liking. But understandably, this book is written for a creative person with no business background looking to do business and in that capacity, it is brilliant.  

Loewe

Loewe; Serrano (first RTW store 1986)

Let's start with one of my all-time favourite luxury brands. I was disappointed to find out that the only luxury Spanish brand that has potential to hold its own against the Chanels and Guccis of the world was actually bought by the LVMH Group in 1996 and is currently owned by them. I think that Loewe is seriously undervalued as a luxury brand - there is to me a very alluring Spanish old-school charm about the brand. But of course, it was once the official supplier to the Spanish royal crown. I just wonder why unlike its French or Italian counterparts, it remains relatively low-key in other parts of the world, particularly Asia. In the same vein, I suppose I also wonder why Madrid has never broken into the top ten fashion capitals of the world when Barcelona is currently seventh. Regardless, at some point, some point, I am going to get my hands on that famous Amazona bag.