Heir of Royalty

MFW AW'13;

Dolce & Gabbana

If the D&G AW'13 show was one thing, it was elaborate. There was an heir of royalty (see what I did there?) amidst the models with their gold crowns, jewels, cross necklaces/earrings and religious mosaic print garments. Even backstage before the show, the D&G army were dressed in slick, liquid black dressing gowns complete with 'DG' gold embroidery across the chest. I really want to own one of those now that I've seen them. It was luxurious, bold and everything you expect to see from the Italian design duo at Milan Fashion Week.

Maybe I'm being a little bias, but I absolutely adore MFW and think that it possibly tops the other capitals during Fashion Month every season; the collections are just so bold, yet don't run the risk of looking cheap or tacky as can be the case at some London shows. Let's face it, London likes to push boundaries and sometimes this just comes across less than appealing. Taste is something which is definitely always present in Milan though and I think that the D&G show showed this quality off to a T.

Just like Versace's AW'13-14 show however, I found that I was attracted to the little details and accessories just as much as the collection itself. Well, I mean with gold crowns how could I not be? It's not something that I would march down the high street wearing, but I'd definitely wear one around the flat - It would certainly make washing dirty dishes a lot more fun anyway. Every girl wanted to be a Princess or Queen for the day at some stage in her life and now she can be.  

I loved the gold courts and miniature hand bags the most - after the crowns of course - but although those floral caged wedges are undoubtedly a pretty cool concept, I just can't bring myself to like them. It's sort of like the Prada geisha platform shoe from SS'13 all over again for me. Hated those unfortunately. The velvet court shoes with floral caged heel I can deal with more though. I think it's just a case of 'less is more' with that design.

Overall it was a great collection, with an end series of ruby red looks that were seriously stunning as the models took their final walk down the runway. There has just always been something about that colour that screams Italian luxury to me. What did you think of the collection?

  Photo Credit: www.vogue.co.uk - edited using Polyvore

Tattoo Acceptance In Fashion

Gaining Acceptance:

Tattoos in The Fashion Industry

If you're a regular here at Vita di Moda, then you'll be well aware that I have a very high appreciation for tattoo's and those heavily covered in them. I myself have a half sleeve at the moment (soon to be a full sleeve) and various others on my body, so to have people approach me and tell me that I'm crazy or worse, tell me that my existing and future tattoo's are going to "ruin my looks" just pisses me off to be frank. 

I'm well aware of tattoos having an association with inmates, thugs, chavs and generally anything with a bad reputation, but are people forgetting that we're now in 2013 - a time where almost every second person you meet has at least one tattoo? Doctors, soldiers and even lawyers have full body suits under their uniforms, yet if you saw them during their personal time off, they would be getting looks thrown at them from all angles. It's ridiculous and I'm fed up with the stereotype that people attach to you as soon as they see that you have ink on your skin. I don't know how many times I've gotten on the train to go home to Glasgow, taken my jacket off and had people stare at my arm with a look of absolute disgust on their face. (I travel first class, so the people I'm talking about are men and women who travel with their LV handbags and wear sunglasses indoors. Whilst it's snowing outside.) Hello! Do you not realise that your staring is more offensive than whatever ink I have on my body? That reminds me actually. I had my blood pressure checked just last week at the doctors and the nurse physically turned her nose up when she saw my half sleeve. I nearly fell off the chair I was that taken aback. Having art on your body is not something to be ashamed of and it should definitely, 100,000,000% not be something that stops you from getting employment in the area of your choosing. I say this because whenever someone see's my tattoos, their first question is "how are you going to get your dream job now?". My answer to them? The same way everyone else does it - by working my ass off and proving that I can do it better than anyone else. I have ink on my skin, it does not make me a bad person and it certainly does not mean that I am incapable of getting the job done. If a company chooses someone else over me just because they have clear skin, then so be it. That's their loss.

My point is, tattoos - and those covered in them - should be accepted without having preconceived opinions present. This thought led me to start searching for heavily tattooed individuals in the fashion industry and what I found was that the rather wonderful Vivienne Westwood is already a fan of male models covered head to toe in ink. I knew there was a deeper reason for loving her.

The images above are from both her SS'11 & 12 menswear shows at London Fashion Week. When I look at these images, all I think is "well these lads know who they are and what they want from life" - and that they're insanely hot, but that's besides the point. To get tattoo's like these, you need confidence and bags of self assurance - these are qualities that, in my books, put you higher than those without. I think this looks good and that more models and people within the fashion industry should look like this. Women especially. Think of a full sleeve, neck or chest piece as an accessory if you want, that's what I do!

What do you think about tattoos in the workplace these days? Do you think they should be covered up, or that people should be allowed to express themselves without being judged and singled out?

MFW: Versace Does 'Vunk'

MFW;

Versace AW'13 Collection

Is it just me that thinks this, or was Donatella feeling a little bit frisky when she came up with the Versace AW'13 collection? Don't get me wrong, I can't seem to get enough of the collection - those spiked cuff's/neck pieces and studded ankle boots are right up there on my wish list - but sex was definitely in the air at this particular MFW show!

Ladies and gentlemen, meet 'Vunk' - Versace's take on the punk trend. Definitely a little dominatrix meets punk, but I just can't get enough of it. It's not a collection to be taken on by those who aren't 200% sure of their identity and 1,000,000% confident enough to pull it off with some luster. I mean, the colour palette and fabrics (vinyl/latex/rubber/whatever that is, fur, silk and just about anything sheer) alone are enough to scare off most women. Versace have never been a label who stay within the limits though, so why should this season be any different? I actually can't help but think that those covered head to toe in tattoos would look great in this collection. I mean, there's just enough exposed panels in the clothes to show off that artwork and you're going to have bags of confidence to get so many tattoos, so why not!

Although the collection is undoubtedly jaw-dropping, it's the details and accessories that sold it for me. Just take a look at that spiked cuff and neck piece and you'll see what I'm talking about. Rivets, nails, studs, spikes, anything that's going to cause an injury and invoke a feeling of fear is present. One thing that's for sure is that no man is going to look at a woman dressed in Versace and underestimate her. Oh how I love when the ball is in the female court!

Photo Credit: www.vogue.co.uk - edited on Polyvore

Inspiring Thrift Shop Living

Macklemore & Lewis:

"Thrift Shop" Living

Here's something we haven't had in a while at Vita di Moda - a little guest post!

I don't know about you, but this Macklemore song has been stuck in my head for a solid week due to being played on a loop constantly, so when I saw this article inspired by the song I knew I wanted to post it. I really believe in thrift stores - a lot of my favourite pieces have come from second hand shops - so this article gets two thumbs up from me. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do.

At midnight on New Year’s Eve, there was one song that climbed to Spotify’s number two most-played slot — Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop.” It’s a testament to the rap duo’s growing popularity that their song has climbed up to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the number two spot on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. This success comes through a strong social media strategy, clever branding, an aggressive tour schedule, and word-of-mouth, as Macklemore and Lewis released their debut album “The Heist” without help from a major record label.

Brand Clothing is Not Cool

“Thrift Shop” slyly skewers mainstream culture and even includes a not-so-subtle jab at R. Kelly’s sex tape scandal (“Probably shoulda washed this, smells like R. Kelly’s sheets.”). The irreverent take on thrift store living and embracing secondhand style was inspired by the artists’ dismay about commercial trends. In an extensive interview with Esquire, Macklemore talked candidly about his awareness of celebrity branding and marketing campaigns. Macklemore said, “I see brands being cool because of their name and because of who wears the brands ... the one thing I will never do is buy a shirt because of its name.”

Second-Hand Clothing

Not so many years ago, most consumers wouldn’t dream of shopping at thrift stores to expand their wardrobes. With the financial crisis, dismal unemployment numbers, and increased cost of living, many people turned to secondhand stores out of necessity. Now, they’re finding shopping at thrift stores can be as fun as it is frugal.
Macklemore and Lewis’ hit celebrates the thrill that comes with scoring a great shirt or pair of shoes for only a couple of dollars. The song glorifies unique finds (“gator shoes,” “brown leather jacket,” “flannel zebra jammies”) and rips into people who pay big money for a brand-name t-shirt. In many ways, it is the opposite of most rap songs that glorify money, brands, celebrity lifestyle, and flaunting excessive wealth. For Macklemore and Lewis, this was an intentional way to make their listeners think about looking amazing while spending as little as possible.

Go to Every Section

Take some tips from Macklemore’s Esquire interview: “It’s about searching for whatever comes up ... check out the women’s section, the home section, the hat section.” For these rappers, it’s all about the thrill of the hunt. Keep your mind option to possibilities and only buy pieces you’re sure you’ll use. This approach will keep your pocketbook full and your wardrobe fresh. It’s also important to look for the unexpected — crazy prints, unique shoes, unconventional silhouettes. Pairing your thrift store finds with some pieces from a department store creates a personal style that’s all your own.

Be Frugal in Everything

The thrifty lifestyle glorified in the song is about more than just finding a killer outfit. Think about other ways you can save money and live thriftily, in keeping with the song’s principles. Most people seek out brand names everywhere from the department store to the grocery store. Start cutting coupons and buying off-brand food items to save yourself a bundle of money. If you need a car, consider a used vehicle and take just a few minutes to get quotes for used cars online. Or stop eating out a few nights a week and work on cooking yourself meals at home.
Many of us crave a champagne lifestyle on a Pabst Blue Ribbon budget, but Macklemore and Lewis’ “Thrift Store” is a great reminder of what’s important. Leaving the brand names behind and scouring your local thrift store for some amazing finds can liberate you from society’s incessant focus on consumerism.

Written by Marianne Posner

LFW Front Row Fashion: Tailoring

LFW:

Front Row Fashion

I don't know about you, but this fashion month I haven't really been all that interested in following the shows as religiously as I have been past seasons. Maybe I have my mind stuck elsewhere, but there seems to only be a few shows or events happening this month that have been the least bit impressionable on me. Don't get me wrong, I probably will do a few posts here and there about the various fashion week shows thus far, but right now I felt the need to show you what those on the front row have been wearing. In particular, looks from those attending the Burberry Prorsum AW'13 show. 

Sitting on the sofa, MTV on the telle box and I'm watching their little news recap thing that they do; up pops Rita Ora giving a brief interview before she goes into the Burberry show and I'm like "Hold up. What is she wearing?". Turns out that she was supposed to be wearing a dress, but Rita decided that she preferred the Burberry SS'13 mens suit instead and stole it from her stylist. Paired with a 'Queen Delevinge' white tee, some white peep-toe wedge heels and retro 90's oval shades, she actually looked amazing. I don't normally take notice of celebrity style, but I had to admit that what she had on was inspiring me to some degree.

Turns out that Rita wasn't the only front row celebrity making an appearance in some Burberry tailoring though; Victorias Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley also showed up to the show in a scarlet slim leg suit, paired with a simple black top and heeled sandal shoe. I can't decide whose look I preferred more, but there's no denying that both looked amazing in their own way. 

It has definitely got me considering some tailoring - menswear actually - in my own wardrobe, but what about you? Do you prefer Rita's take on menswear, or Rosie's lady like version best?

Tasty Threads

Tasty Threads:

Shelfies Outrageous Sweaters

Ever thought to yourself, 'Hmm I could really go something sweet right now. But oh no, shit, I'm on a diet...' - yeah, me too. January/February tends to have that effect on us all and it can be a complete test on the strength of your willpower and just how badly you want to fit into those size X jeans or tiny bikini come Summer. 

That's where a little brand called Shelfies and their self-named 'outrageous' sweaters comes into play. 

Instagram really is where I seem to be focusing the majority of my social media presence on these days and this is exactly where I came across this brand. 10k followers alone on Instagram and countless more on their other social media channels, this fresh faced brand have picked up a pretty good fan base for only just establishing themselves in 2013. Just look at their current designs and it's easy to see why. People like to be different and nothing quite says 'look at me' than a sweater with some weed printed all over it.

I naturally gravitated towards the top left sweater covered in gummy worms - different for me considering black makes up around 99.9% of my wardrobe, but I do have a sweet tooth so what can I say. The sweaters are brilliant from what I can see so far and with more designs in the pipe line, I'm pretty sure that this relatively new brand will have a name for themselves without a doubt by the end of the year. Just watch the street style scene. How fun would it be to have a collaboration with a brand like this? Pretty awesome if you ask me - the design opportunities would be endless!

Oh, the price. Retailing for $69.99, these sweaters are more of an investment piece if you're a student like myself, but oh so worth it. Satisfy your unhealthy cravings with some fashion and save your waist line; you'll thank me for it in the long run!

Fancy giving into temptation? Just click here and shop till you hearts content...

Photo Credit: Images via Shelfies website & collated at Polyvore.com.