Kate Lanphear: Fashion Editor of US Elle

Her fashion choices are as bold and androgynous as her sharp platinum bob. She is your studded, skull, stripe and skinny jean kind of fashionista who rocks a tailored black suit jacket like no one else in the industry. Kate Lanphear is the US Fashion Editor of Elle and for very good reason.

She has a hard edged style that most would find intimidating, yet a sweet loveable face with an almost wicked signature smirk. Predominately in black, Kate plays up with textures be it a shredded top above a chain mail vest or a luxe fur gillet. She has also been known to don a Jim Beam or rock band T, layered under a plaid shirt and denim jacket. Despite her rock’n roll demeanour, Kate always manages to keep it feminine, be it through a killer Louboutin stiletto, Balenciaga clutch or A-line leather skirt. While she always looks refined, Kate does relaxed styling beautifully, typically in a loose white T, baggy jeans and some studded Balenciaga wedges.

Lanphear is completely unique in her style as she mixes mannish cuts and high fashion pieces so seamlessly with a vintage printed T-shirt or college style jersey. Her image is raw, original and exudes a tough, hard figure. As effortlessly as she is grungy, Kate can also look equally fabulous in a classic wide leg trouser with a fitted grey blazer. She is the dream canvas for the urban, masculine labels such as Wang and dabbles in the gothic influences from Lanvin and Givenchy.

Regardless of which style she adopts, Kate is never seen without her arm candy. Enough to make any girl swoon, her jewellery includes a Hermes Collier De Chien cuff (her matt black version is to die for), teamed with an Isabel Marant man’s style chain bracelet, a spiked Eddie Borgo diamante armlet and a Lanvin cocktail ring. You can almost hear her jewels clamouring together as she runs between couture shows in Paris. Her shoe collection is as equally as impressive and often with a similar amount of hardware. She can be seen in a slouchy Givenchy boot, a spiked Louboutin pigelle pump or a classic over the knee boot (all black of course).

Whilst her tendency to wear separates means that she is constantly wearing different garments, her aesthetic of contemporary ‘goth/glam’ is always the same. She manages to team the most obscure pieces effortlessly which makes her one of fashions’ modern day muses.

Max Azria S/S 2011

The Max Azria show was yet another example of how designers are maximising on minimalism. The collection was dominated by simple, shift style dresses in pale sorbet pinks, greens and ice blue.

Long, flowing dresses were often accompanied by either a simple pea jacket or a sheer sweater cutting the piece into two. Whilst Azria explored two tone, such as a beige and grey combination dress, the collection was dominated by monochrome. Soft blues, mint, blush and champagnes were prominent, but the continual presence of off-white was a clear indication that this summer is all about being under-embellished.

Cut outs in both the swimwear, and later in the show the jewelled embellishments at the halter of floor length dresses, added some much needed detailing in the otherwise simple pieces. Mr Azria’s and his wife Lubov’s aesthetic was very Calvin Klein-esque and adopted a similar brief that we saw from the Preen show the day before. And while some of the final looks of the spaghetti strap long, satin black dresses and the wide leg blush trousers are definite wardrobe staples, the collection left my uninspired and wanting more from the shows to come.

Images Courtesty of style.com

No Words Necessary...

Tali Shuvalov - Emerging Talent

As often as a new car emerges from the production line, as does a young hopeful fashion designer. Bright eyed and allured to the chiffon and Chanel of the glamorous world of fashion, rarely does the caterpillar take flight.

Except for a few...

Tali Shuvalov’s first collection from her final year at the University of Technology (Sydney) has already received local and international media attention and has fashion pedigrees’ taking note.

The collection is a celebration of the modern, powerful female. Geometric patterns and linear outlines are the basis for the structured, form fitting pieces. The notable pieces in the collection are the carefully tailored jackets, often with a subtle shoulder, with bold black lines separating the charcoal, gold, grey and white colour pallet. The deep electric blue which so often appears in some of the jackets is a welcome addition in the garments muted tones.

Texturally, the range is alluring. Velvets comfortably sit alongside hand knit woollens and nylons. In its various forms, the textiles create a substance and softness to the sharp pieces.

Shuvalov’s collection is for the urban warrior. This female is pioneering and self-assured. She has produced a range with a mature design attitude which can be likened to the young Australian talent to emerge from this year’s RAFW, Christopher Eber.

A name sure to become part of the Australian fashion DNA, this is a Generation Next designer who has most certainly found their wings.

UPDATE: Tali is currently studying in Parson’s College of Fashion Design in New York City

Christine Centenera

For me, Christine Centenera is someone whose cupboard I desperately need to raid. I would gladly trade everything in my wardrobe for hers. Yes. Everything.

Fashion Editor of Australia’s Harpers Bazaar, Christine Centenera epitomises urban chic. Something about her style is insanely effortless as she often pairs something edgy and youthful, like Ksubi denim shorts with a high-fashion tailored Balmain jacket. Her self-proclaimed love for “anything with studs” means she’s cool in the downtown, contemporary way but then ingeniously works in straight-off-the-runway, uptown chic.

Her style apparently doesn’t only speak to me as she has been snapped internationally by fashion gurus The Satorialist, Tommy Ton of Jak & Jill and Garence Dore.

Not afraid of colour or to be bold, Christine works with home-grown and international labels. She is a big advocate for upcoming designer Dion Lee as well as local talent Josh Goot (who she happens to be dating).

She has a daring, yet confident sense of style which fashionista’s could only hope to emulate. Did I mention that she also DJ’s? Yep. The envy sets in just about now.

UPDATE: Check out Centenera on JAK&JIL Favourite Things. Some pictures from the shoot below.

Christopher Kane - 2010 RTW Collection

Christopher Kane further cemented himself amongst the best this year as he presented his 2010 Ready to Wear Collection at London Fashion week. The collection drew inspiration from super girly and feminine influences with a sultry, sexy undertone.

Several notable trends and themes were apparent as the looks were paraded down the catwalk. Kane linked a combination of 40’s style dresses, preppy high neck jumpers, corseted bustiers and capped sleeved tops with frill necks through a gingham print. Pastels in light blues, baby pink, deep brown and a soft purple dominated the pallet and created a new signature style for Kane and proved that you can never have too much of a good thing.

The checks were layered in soft, sheer chiffon with cut outs in the waist and neckline adding some sultriness to otherwise conservative 40’s style dresses. A-line skirts and dresses were scissor cut, creating the perfect amount of exposure as the women sashayed down the catwalk. Corset detailing and bra panelling continued the underwear as outwear trend. Although predominantly dresses, some separates including cardigans, skirts and cut out tops meant that Kanes’ collection will be seen on the streets all over.

The dresses and tops with embellished floral detailing, made with white and silver sequins were the standouts of the collection. The pieces kept in line with the soft colour pallet of the show and were utterly beautiful in both detail and construction. The florals were often juxtaposed against the check and fused to create the perfect evening gown. Scissor slits were filled with soft tulle which peeped out in perfect proportions, particularly beautiful was the baby blue dress with white floral detailing and apricot tulle worn by Freja Beha Erichsen.

While at times repetitive, the tuxedo suit and black floral evening dress were a welcome change amongst the pastels.

Kane on his inspiration: “I saw a documentary about the Jonestown mass suicides in Guyana in 1978, so I started thinking about religious cultism.” This would explain the Children of the Corn like influence. “I was also looking a lot of Nancy Reagan on the White House lawn” and there explains the softer, sweeter themes.

Influenced by cults, the young London based designer is successfully creating one himself with his expert tailoring and thorough understanding of what the women wants.