hile the lure of the Autumn / Winter wardrobe is not strong enough to make me wish I was entering the cold, dark mornings of the English winter, I just love Orla Kiely’s latest collection. I never thought she’d be a designer I would covet, but the earthy palette, beautiful prints and retro stylings are just lovely. And in a happy marriage of wonderfully pretty things, Jessica’s ‘W’ dropcap design fits perfectly.

Which is why, when selecting my faves for this post, I ended up basically pasting in the entire lookbook. Have a look here to check out the two things I possibly missed.

p.s. I realise this love-related rant is completely contradictory to my anti-fashion protestations here but that was, like, yesterday. And I might just need a Paddington Bear coat – the weather is just so terribly temperamental here in Melbourne.

The summer holidays are over so pack away those flowery dresses and turn your attention to what will be worn over the autumn and winter seasons. Along with shades and tones from the traditional autumn palette such as burnt ochre, honey, cinnamon and brandy, there is also the promise of bold reds and subtle browns to come.

Depending upon the occasion there is a plethora of styles to choose from. For smart everyday or informal evening wear try a thigh-length black and grey dogtooth print dress. Shape hugging and stylish this little number will turn heads and subtly shaded opaque tights and ankle boots complete the look.

As well as the usual seasonal colours and the eternally popular black, red is also returning with aplomb this autumn and winter. But, not just subtle shades, as scarlets and tomato reds will be prevalent. Indeed, the bolder the better especially when it comes to formal occasions. A red satin cocktail dress will look the part at any upmarket occasion, as will a red floral hem knee length dress with thin straps that emphasise the bare shoulder.

Black never goes out of fashion and this autumn and winter there will be plenty of black little numbers to get your hands on. For something different and affordable try a black exposed zip shirt dress, which are readily found on the high street, show plenty of leg and are ideal for a relaxed party atmosphere. Alternatively, a black silk and jersey evening dress will add a touch of glamour to any formal occasion.

And while black is always a safe choice, purple is a strong, vibrant colour which is hitting the fashion scene this autumn and winter. Combine this with the popular new wet looks and popular studded dress styles and you will be ready to hit the streets in this year’s latest autumn and winter fashions.

Dresses for work can be smart, such as in animal print or a combined animal print and black dress, or if you work in a more casual environment a cable knit dress will do the job. Alternatively, pretty checked dresses are also ideal for workwear; either with a ruffle front or a hitch up hem. Also affordable and ideal for everyday wear are belted shift dresses, and for the uber-smart occasion the black pinstripe dress.

But, although the styles and trends may change the rules don’t, so with any of these outfits don’t forget to accessorise! Shboots are the on-trend footwear items to be coveted this season, and they fit particularly well with either casual or formal dresses, to be worn with patterned, lacy or bright opaque tights.

Levi’s Autumn / Winter 2009/10 Ad Campaign featuring Josh Beech and Meghan Collison, by Chadwick Tyler.

Fashion Week Frenzy (FWF) is in full throttle here at Harrison HQ; we’re going positively crazy with excitement with all the new trends hitting the catwalk.

By far my absolute favourite of the trends (so far!) is paying your legs some attention. From over the knee socks (not in St. Trinian’s style, please) and patterned tights and stockings, to super-hero worthy over the knee and thigh high boots in rich colours, legs are where its at for the upcoming Autumn/Winter season. Try wrapping your simple black leggings around with richly coloured ribbons or cords…get to the haberdashery for inspiration!

mesh and lace, great over different coloured opaques, or on their own if you're feeling brave!

wild gold boots on the catwalk

deep, rich coloured suede...gorgeous

now that's what i call embellished!

cozy cashmere...wear over jeans and under boots

embroidered and decadent, beautiful

Something exciting has just landed on my cluttered desk – the new Plumo winter images…

There are some really cute new products. Highlights include vintage copper scissors, pretty folding gift boxes, a retro pear doorstop, a haberdashery box, and fun fabric horse magnets…

If only I had seen these gorgeous Persian bird letter openers when I wrote my snail mail post last week!

Check out these fabulous Danish spoons,  the vintage Batik printing blocks (good for making your own wrapping paper) the vintage-style bird paperweight, and the fun Eiffel Tower candle stick…

If I had to pick one product from this stunning new collection, it’d be tricky, but my favourites are the colourful lampshades, shown here. I love the way they’re shot, suspended from coloured string with the stacks of bright fabrics above:

Plumo’s photography seems to get better each season. Let’s finish the week with these cheery little Matryoshka doll cushions – the perfect start to the weekend! – Ellie

This Autumn Winter 09/10 menswear collection is from the label “Jan iú Més”. Run by Jan Zamoro Royo and Alfonso Pena carreras from Barcelona.

Neither designers studied fashion design, this label is he brainchild of a graphic design and fashion stylist graduate, which can be seen a good thing as they would have an entirely different perspective on clothing design. However it could also make them limited on the more technical details.

The collection was a complete mix of wovens and knits in a black colour palette. I was complete drawn to the chunky knitwear, in particular the piece under the leather jacket.

Right now the collection is only sold in Spain, but as they are only a new label I’m sure it will not be long until they are popping up in other cities.
For more info go to their website: www.janiumes.com/

I love the quirky British character of Emma Bridgewater’s pottery, and my expectations are always high whenever she brings out a new collection. Having just had a sneaky peep at the lovely autumn/winter catalogue out later this year, I wasn’t disappointed.

Highlights include cute speckled hen egg cups, some lovely larder shots showing the new National Gardens Scheme charity mugs, and the now-notorious headstand-teapot move – think break-dancing, but in an English kitchen with expensive china…

There’s something strangely sinister about this cockerel door-stop – he has too much character for a bird without eyes, or legs…

Even the factory is pretty! The little holly candle mug above would make a gorgeous Christmas gift. (I know it’s bonkers to say that in June, but in the mad land of magazines, we’re already feeling festive!) Now then, pass me that teapot, it can’t be that hard… – Ellie

Feast your eyes, people! These beautiful new autumn/winter images from The White Company are so elegant, crisp and clean.

Check out the white glass vases – so pretty, and they look stunning with single rose stems, too. – Ellie

I know it’s annoying that back in January we were being bombarded with summery florals and now, before we’ve even got to move onto them, we’re being fed the latest collections for A/W ‘09! BUT I’m an autumn-winter girl at heart and so couldn’t resist this post when I found the Cheap Monday collection on Nylon…

Amazing, right????????

Yesterday I went to check out the new Tesco Autumn Winter collection, and spotted these gorgeous Fifties-style ceramics and accessories. So retro and cute – these pear and apple patterns remind me of Orla Kiely’s ‘Green Apples and Pears’ design, and there’s nothing I like more than designer style at bargain prices…

Apples and Pears collection, from £2 for a mug, Tesco

There were several other Fifties-style designs in the new range, with patterns reminiscent of classic Midwinter pottery designs, but given a modern twist. The colour palette is retro too – think dirty teals, greys and mustard greens:

Textured leaf range, from £2 for a mug, Tesco

Shadow Floral range, from £1.50 for a mug, Tesco

Deco Circle range, from £1.50 for a mug, Tesco

I’m a bit of a polka dot addict, so I got very excited when I saw these pretty spotty cake tins at the Tesco show. They’re just £4.50 for two – what a fantastic deal! I’ve seen similar tins recently for twice the price in posh shops such as Portmeirion.

Red spot cake tins, £4.50 for two, Tesco

All these lovely things are due to hit Tesco stores in September, so sadly I will have to wait for my polka dot fix. – Ellie

I didn’t really know where to start with this post because there’s just so much to say about Louise Goldin. I guess I should start with a brief history of the designer.

Louise was head of design at a renowned Brazilian fashion house after graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2001 with a BA in Fashion Knitwear. She then carried on studying at the prestigious school for her MA in Fashion design, graduating in 2005 alongside fellow classmate and equally as successful fashion designer Danielle Scutt. Her MA collection featured knitwear with macramé and was bought and produced exclusively by Selfridges in London. The Louise Goldin label is now stocked in several high end retailers such as Harrods, Dover Street Market and Libertys. Since her first show at London fashion week she has received several awards including the New Generation sponsorship, The Deutsche Bank’s Pyramid and the Chloé award. Louise describes her style as “Innovative, futuristic and luxurious.”

If there is one thing to say about the Louise Goldin label, it’s that it really is getting better and better every season. You can really see how she is developing the label, her skills, networking and the business as each collection progresses to a more professional and well thought out level. Her A/W 09-10 collection, was a perfected dark affair. The models had blocks of metallic blue over their eyes and long fringes almost completely obscuring their view. The outfits tip to toe in black…and I hope this isn’t a hint that she’s feeling the depression of the recession.

Outer space/robotic is a continuing theme following on from last season, as her starting inspiration was amorphous forms and transformers. Louise teamed up with Swarovski, leather specialists Whittaker Malem and also Saga furs. Large Swarovski crystals were hidden under leather panels, giving a bumpy texture and then some of the crystals left uncovered to catch the light as the models walk down the runway.

The great thing about this collection is that it isn’t obviously knit. You would EXPECT cables or jacquard from a knitwear based designer, but even though the outfits still use knitted fabric they are mixed in with leather and fur making a much more current and modern knitwear collection. It doesn’t always have to be obvious that the outfit is knitted.

“I was working on (knit) for years and years but I was learning on machines but I felt there was a lot to be explored with it and no one was really doing anything with it. So I wanted to really develop it. But to push forward with it, you have to have a really strong understanding of how to make fabrics and how to make fashion.” Louise Goldin

If you havn’t already, please go to the showstudio website (http://www.showstudio.com/project/unravelled/)  as they are currently doing a film series on Louise Goldin which has a behind the scenes look at the stages behind making this collection. From the initial design sketches to the final runway show.

Gareth Pugh presented his Fall collection in Paris, with a video by Ruth Hogben.

Mark fast has gone from strength to strength since graduating last year from the prestigious fashion design MA course at central st martins. We saw him go straight into his first show at London Fashion Week with On/Off at the Royal Academy of Arts, showing his daring and exotic spring/summer collection. Browns quickly snapped him up stocking his knitwear exclusively. He has had several fantastic editorials since, including the recently most hyped about Another Magazine photoshoot where Tilda Swindon wore his clothing. Then last year he was awarded the new gen sponsorship from Topshop which could only mean amazing things for the next show….he certainly did not disappoint.

This collection was inspired by a “mysterious love affair, the most majestic, electrifying lightning storm, and by the actress Romy Schnieder.” Which you can really feel from the collection which has the Mark fast signature written all over it. The show opens with the sound of rain, the models hair slicked back wet. The scene is set.

The colour palette is mainly black with splashes of bold colours thrown in, one hot orange colour to another dusky pink. He has his key contoured looks on each of the models, large eyelets and ladders running down the body and floaty fringed hem. A word to describe it would be seductive.

“It’s about the mysteriousness of nature in its purest form, untainted as it grows. The mixture of fear and calm before a storm and the quest to find instinct.”

So there you have another stunning collection by Mark Fast, I’m already eagerly anticipating the next collection as he continues to grow in the industry. Hopefully we’ll also see his knits stocked in more stores like Browns, which seems quite likey as Erin Mullaney (head buyer at Browns) comments that “(marks) show was so hotly anticipated and I’ve never seen so many press and buyers present and correct at 9 o’clock in the morning”

If you havn’t already…please read my other posts on Mark Fast
Here: http://knitkicks.wordpress.com/2008/09/08/one-to-watch-mark-fast/
And Here: http://knitkicks.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/mark-fast-spring-summer-2009-onoff-lfw/

photos from wwd and dazed digital

I have reached 10,000 viewers  now, this is according to wordpress though.  I don’t think I trust their stats, but I’m still very glad I started this blog. I really can’t wait until next week, mainly because I’m hoping there might be some interesting knitwear to drool over. I’m really running out of things to post now, it’s very uninspiring/disappointing. 

However, I have my last little gem to post about now until all the Fall 2010 collections come out.  I found this talented lady whilst browsing the Berlin fashion week collections last week. Her name is Julia Knüpfer or Julia Knuepfer as I have also seen around the internet. She won the “designer for tomorrow” award at Berlin Fashion week and has been studying at ESMOD School Berlin fashion school since 2005. The title of her collection was “Living rooms”, inspired by forms of habitats like nests, caves, combs and nets, scallops, snail-shells and corals.

The best thing about this collection is that its eco friendly which is always difficult to achieve. . She used ecologically grown material like bamboo and organic cotton. The fabrics were dyed using only oeko-tex certified colours and even the buttons were eco friendly made of stone-nutshell and wood. I once tried to do an ethical project at university which was truly rubbish and should never be seen again due to its hideousness.

Ok, so I love the collection, the fact that its all hand knitting, the shapes, the colours, the concept. But…I have a little moan…about the tights from the catwalk show…whoever told her to do them shame on you. Credit goes to Rodarte.  The outfit would have been perfectly fine without them.

I’m on the midlands news tonight, highly embarrassing. I hope I don’t look too much of a tit. I’ll post the video’s up on here as soon as I find them.

I re-discovered Ioannis Dimitrousis today and as I have not yet written about his work I’m going to feature pieces from across the whole range of his collections.

First of all he is a graduate from the London College of Fashion (which is nice to hear because I always feel they are over shadowed by Central Saint Martins), previously working with names such as Roland Mouret and Jonathan Saunders. His collections were initially  menswear but have now branched out into womenswear. His style is very much experimental and shows the use of a variety of media. Although Knit is shown heavily in most of his collections. If you were to describe his style to anyone it would probably be David David clashed with a knitting machine and a lesson in Geometry.

Dimitrousis’ debut was at On/Off (as was Mark Fast’s) for London Fashion week and following that he received great press from fashion156.com to Vogue to Style Bubble. He has also been featured in “Fashioning Fabrics” by Sandy Black. Dimitrousis however is not the only brain behind his self named label, it would appear that he also gets a little helping hand from his mother… maybe I should teach my mum to knit, then I’d have more time down the pub.

I would highly recommend checking out his website www.ioannisdimitrousis.com (especially the SS07 collection) as these pictures are only a small handful out of the vast creations he has come up with so far.

All images from ioannisdimitrousis.com

E’ on line il FALL/WINTER 2008! La collezione è composta da capi strutturati, tagli geometrici, ricerca dei tessuti e contrasti di colore aggressivi. L’ ispirazione principale arriva dagli anni ‘70/’80, il rap old school, il funk, lo swing, la techno e i breackbeats, i graffiti e i party.

Tutti i prodotti sono disponibili on line sul nostro e-shop e nel nostro store in via Dante, 2 a Busto Arsizio.

Visita il sito: www.puntoebastaclothing.com

E-shop: www.thebenchshoponline.com

Thought I ought to post something before my internet cuts out for week or so. These beautiful knits are by Malene Birger who I discovered in a knitting magazine the other day (which was really not worth buying). I love the extra long scarfs- so easy to do, i’ll make a yellow one on my next boring train journey.

The Vietnam Fashion Fair for Autumn and Winter (VFF Autumn-Winter 2008) opened in Ho Chi Minh City on July 30 with the participation of almost 100 Vietnamese and foreign businesses.

The businesses are displaying their products, including new-fashioned garments, materials of the textile and garment and footwear industries, in 240 pavilions.

The fair has attracted more than 60 delegations from the US , Japan , France , China , the Republic of Korea , Australia , Hong Kong and Russia . They have visited the fair, inquired into the market and signed contracts with participating businesses at the fair.

A gala night, part of the VFF Autumn-Winter 2008, will be held at the Legend Hotel to introduce new designs and trademarks for the Autumn-Winter 2008 by Vietnam ’s leading textile and garment companies.

The fair will last until August 4.

The organisers include the Vietnam Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas), the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association and the Hong Kong exhibition organisation joint stock company.-

I know its still summer… although judging by the weather you could be easily fooled, but I couldn’t resist snapping up a couple pairs of over the knee socks!

They have slowly been seeping into our fashionary sights; Carrie in the Sex and the City movie looked fab in both a grey pair and a Argyll print pair….

And they have been all over Gossip Girl like a bad rash, along with colourful tights and cute ankle socks worn with heels.

Gossip Girl starting the trends

Serena working some grey over the knee socks

However, watching fictional characters; one who can get their hands on the cream of the fashion designers, and the others who actually still attend school, both of which live in a somewhat more cosmopolitan city of New York, is one thing- emulating that same style I fear will be another thing entirely.

I picked up pair of grey knee socks and a black pair of stirrup over the knee socks from good old Markies of all places. After much debate I have came up with a few “rules” so to speak as to how to wear knee high socks.

Firstly if I am going to wear over the knee socks I want to pair them with mini skirts, for below the knee styles I think a skirt resting above the knee would maybe work best. I think that for both styles, to avoid the school girl look, wear mega high chunky sandals or shoe boots.