BOB | Best of British Trunk Show

Fir and I had the pleasure of attending the BOB | Best of British Autumn/ Winter 2012 - 2013 Trunk Show held by Glamour Inc on Wednesday. In case you didn't know, the trunk show has helped to pave the way for emerging as well as established British designers, such as Mary Katrantzou and KTZ, who would like to enter Asian markets.

At the recent trunkshow, we saw a studio full of works by Antoni & Alison, Haizhen Wang, Hermione de Paula, Pazuki, Vivien Sheriff, Pauric Sweeney, Amishi and more. There were also some of the usual favourites that we saw at the last trunk show - Belle Sauvage, Boudicca and KTZ.

The trunk show was a first hand experience of what its really like to be a buyer/ merchandiser picking out labels that have market potential in Singapore. And the entry of new names and labels every year really attests to the growing fashion scene here. Consumers in Singapore are open to shopping and buying beyond the more established fashion houses like Chanel, Gucci and Prada, and this can only be a good thing.

The upcoming season proves to be as refreshing as Spring/Summer is, since we saw racks and racks of clothes with bright pops of colour. Another trend that will continue through Autumn/ Winter is that of prints. As our guide Rice clearly pointed out, London is going crazy over prints, and in my opinion, no one does prints like the British designers.

On a side note, I must say that it is impressive that British designers get so much support back home. I recently read up about the British Fashion Council, an ad hoc group that supports the British fashion industry actively. Their aim is to showcase British designers and develop London’s position as a major player in the international fashion arena. Besides working closely with UK's fashion colleges, the BFC also provides support schemes and resources to budding British designers. A few of their latest initiatives include NEWGEN an emerging designer initiative sponsored by Topshop and the Fashion Forward awards. Another way to get British fashion designers out there is through the help of big wigs such as Victoria Beckham, and newly minted BFC Young Style Ambassador, Alexa Chung.
It is nice to know that in the UK, the fashion industry is getting such tremendous support. This brings me to the question of whether Singapore will ever be ready to be a fashion capital. Perhaps someday, and perhaps, it would be good to follow in the footsteps of this fashion capital.

Stay tuned to the next few posts where Fir and myself will pick out some of our favourites from the trunk show.



♥,
Fal

In Full Bloom

Flowers are set to blossom in spring and the runways were adorned with floral prints in all shapes, sizes and hues. My favorite floral prints of the season are the bright, crazy and modern take on florals - tropical flowers picked fresh from Proenza Schouler's S/S 2012 show, Hawaiian blossoms from Altuzzara's runways and Belle Sauvage and Mary Katrantzou's digitally manipulated but ultra modern floral prints in clashing hues and bright colours. I can't wait to get my hands on these floral prints, and I know my wardrobe will thank me as it comes to life again this spring.

Mood board by me.



♥,
Fal

From the BOB Trunk Show: Belle Sauvage

Tucked away in a corner at the BOB | Best of British Trunk Show was Belle Sauvage's Resort 2012 and S/S 2012 collection. The discreet location was by no means inconspicuous, as the arresting colours and dizzying floral prints drew my attention to it.








The collections marries pastel shades such as yellow, magenta, mint green and lilac with digital floral prints which have been manipulated till you can hardly make them out. All that put together seems like a gaudy mismatch, but Christian Neuman and Virginia Ferreira somehow manages to pull it off. Coupled with powerful feminine elements and slim silhouettes in the form of maxi dresses with high collars or cocktail numbers with smart tailoring such as a heart shaped neckline, fins that protrude from the hips, or just sleek and fitted mini dresses, the inspiration was clearly derived from Hollywood in the 
1920s.









Softening the bold touches of colour and tailoring is the choice of fabric which is a mix of silks and French embroidered tulle.


This dress, that Fir has mad love for, is a good example of the combination of all elements that Neumana and Ferreira have chosen to incorporate in their S/S 2012 collection - mint green chiffon panels with a tailored maxi dress in digital floral prints.





Belle Sauvage's current collections feels modern without being too space age, and feminine without being too pretty.


Will Singaporeans take to the brand? I sure hope they will, because I can't wait to see Belle Sauvage's dresses at stockists' around Singapore.



♥,
Fal

BOB | Best of British Trunk Show

Fir and I visited the BOB | Best of British Trunk Show on Saturday. Held by Glamour Inc., the Trunk Show gave buyers and the press a chance to view brands that were fresh from the runways of London Fashion Week. This event which is in the form of a trunk show/ exhibition gives British designers which have made their mark in the UK a chance to showcase their work to the South East Asian region.



Rice, our guide around the exhibition was kind enough to give us an introduction to the brands featured this year, which included: Belle Sauvage, Hermione De Paula, Boudicca, Lee Klabin, KTZ Kokon ToZai, Lee Lapthorn, Pazuki, Tim Soar, Vassilisa, Micquella, Atelier, George Angelopoulous, Alexia, Jenny Parkham and more.

According to Rice, brands are selected according to the strongest and most influential emerging trends. This year, British designers with two opposing aesthetic directions were chosen - one remaining true to Britain's roots of tailoring and structure, and the other being experimental.

Fir was especially enamoured by Tim Soar's collection which was inspired by menswear, while I fell in love with Bell Sauvage's dresses with digital prints which were very contemporary.






The accessories at the Trunk Show were gorgeous too. One of the highlights was George Angelopolous' bags and jewelry.





The scarves from Alexia gave the illusion of layering as they were made from several different fabrics. In addition, these scarves had a unique touch to them, as they were embellished with sequins, tassels and chains.


Another brand that was featured was Jenny Parkham, which carried jewelry that was apparently a favorite with the Duchess of Cambridge.








Fir and I also liked Cor Sine Labe Doli, which gave a new life to accessories by adding a touch of ceramic to it.

 As it is probably impossible to feature all of our favorite brands from the Trunk Show in one post (trust me, it would be as long as a thesis), we will be bringing to you the designers and brands that we fell in love with at the Trunk Show over the course of this week.

Remember to come back and check this space!





♥,
Fal