UK Beauties

Kiera Knightly is back on the scene as one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, and following firmly in her footsteps is other UK native, Carey Mulligan. Both set a pace for fashion at its finest, with noticeable styles suiting both the gamine like actresses. Vionnet and Chanel round out their wardrobes, enviably keeping standards for fashionably forward selections. They're not afraid of colour or changing things up a bit with their hair.
Keep going ladies. You're on a roll.

Black and Blue

The Maitland Mercury has just turned its masthead blue in recognition as part of an initiative driven by Fairfax, to support Beyond Blue. Today is Mental Health Awareness Day and as such an important, and often neglected cause, it's time to spread the word.
There's a trend emerging from the close of fashion week in Paris where black and blue have been paired together for a whole new look. Last season it was all about navy. This season, it's like the colour wheel has been exposed.
Miu Miu was the first to emerge with this kaleidoscopic creation, and there's a lot to be said for it's versatility and forgiving silhouette.
Celine was the focus of many a fashion editor this season, due to it's overwhelming success in the last round of collections in February. Again, black and blue were coupled together to magnificent effect, although I'm not sure if this range will be as globe-sweeping as the last.
Dries Van Noten always gives us flowers and silk, mixed back with linen and wool or beautiful cotton to makes us all sigh. I couldn't say this collection quite hit the spot like last season's did, but there's no denying his signature is long lasting and inventive, even for the most stayed of seasons.
Vionnet is the label that everyone is turning to for inspiration when it comes to party dresses. There's special occasion a plenty for this collection, minus the awkward poses displayed by the model.
And last but not least, Stella McCartney has taken her denim threads through a new cycle of chic once again, and dotted them throughout a very basic set of blazers and cropped tailored pants. She's not exactly giving us anything new either, but her dresses with thigh high splits and pleats did give reason to take a double glance.
It's all in the mix, just the right formula.

Hermes SS11

Bon voyage Jean-Paul Gaultier, bon chance. It's his last collection for the power house that is Hermes. And he's finishing on a note that suggests the Hermes woman is definitely wearing the pants. Hermes is historically famous for its equestrian themes and this collection was nothing short of overload. But it's what's expected of the aesthetic to form the overall look of the collections, both fashion and home wares, that bind it all together.
There were no signs of skirts or dresses, as Gaultier gave us every kind of equestrian he could. There was the top hat wearing rider, the wrapped up rider, the happy go lucky rider, and the hop skip and a jump from the very man in question himself.
It's a game that's played out over the centuries, and Hermes has always been synonymous with the traditions, but for a company that relies minimally on the revenue produced by its fashion lines, there's more room to play than ever.
Easy rider, who ever succeeds you have history to re-write.

Chloe SS11

Twirling and twisted, draped and folded, the designers at Chloe obviously have ballet on their minds. There's nothing wrong with that, don't get me wrong, but it may not be everyone's cup of tea.
In sumptuous colours and pretty flats, these dresses and ensembles leave much to the movement of the garment. They're each relying heavily on the climate of the day as to how they'll perform for the wearer.
If these soft browns and pinks are to your liking the collection couldn't have more of what you wish for, but the average customer usually prefers a bit more variety to choose from, something to offer everyone. That's what Chloe's collections have always been famous for. They've given wearers masculine, feminine, dresses, pants, bags a plenty and so much more, but for this limiting collection, they may loose some of their most loyal to lack of imagination.
The business of fashion, it's a ruthless game.

Pretty Details

Here is the vision that the late Alexander McQueen couldn't have penned better if he tried. His predecessor has captured the feathered details and collars that are synonymous with his past designs to keep the McQueen dream in motion. May his memory never cease to exist.
Chanel is famous for boucle suits and all things black, white, musk pink and chains. It was all crammed into this beautiful collection, and much, much more. Given the fabulous faces that haven't graced the catwalk in quite some time were present, the proof was in the pudding that having a great personality behind a garment can bring it entirely to life.
Collette Dinnigan finally showed in her typical French fashion again, and stripping back all the trimmings, the show looked to have revisited her collections of seasons around 2005-2006. She didn't come up with anything new, and there wasn't much to choose from colour wise either. Here;s hoping her bridal collection will carry her through this rather season.
Valentino's collection is fit for a queen, Princess Mary would look amazing in all of these pieces after the twins are born of course. The chiffon was intricately detailed but given the flats that the outfits were styled with, the collection spoke quietly of pure elegance and grace.
Surprisingly detail free was Elie Saab's range. His pieces were pared right back to basics, and the focus appeared to be on colour rather than the application of surface design. This stunningly beaded gown couldn't go without mention though, and one of my favourite models from the past, Karolina Kurkova. She's back.
Sitting pretty.

Best Dressed Front Row

There's only a select few who make as much of an impact on the sidelines as the clothes that they're there to see.
Most of them come from London's edge, by the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker in Burberry at Burberry, and Olivia Palermo in Unique by Topshop at the show by the same name. Giving us jackets and feminine skirts, there's nothing more to be said really, here's the hot trend for the coming season. Take note.
Then there's Blake Lively, and I couldn't choose just one outfit, she shone in them all. Here she is mixing just the right amount of toughness with all that's sweet about lace. Never failing to disappoint.
Kiera Knightly at Chanel proves that her quintessential style can be mixed back with high end fashion, her chic bob and of course, cementing herself as the face of Mademoiselle by the French fashion house.
What's not to love about show season. My how I wish I had more time to sift through all the looks.

Lanvin SS11

Walking to the beat of the urban jungle drum, Lanvin's woman is all about minimal tribal influences, loads of attitude and colours to make you weak at the knee's. Asymmetrical shoulders and bold, floating skirts round out the collection that's going to sweep through Summer like the blazing sun.
The strength that's given to women this season considerably re-affirms the role that fashion can play in psychological terms. Take for example my new place of employment. There's been great interest in my selection of outfits, and it's all because I'm simply offering something new and something they haven't seen before. It's placing them in a new frame of mind, and I guess, in a way it's also doing the same for me. I'm in work mode, I'm having fun and I'm thriving amongst the creativity and the challenge.
So there's little surprise that the fuss around the draping techniques behind Lanvin's last few seasons has been stripped back to reflect the minimalism holding the fashion industry in its grip. The end result may not be as distinctive, but the nuts and bolts are still there.