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Fashion Windows: Oslo (Tommy Hilfiger) September 2010

Time for another fashion window post, this time I went to the newly renovated Tommy Hilfiger shop in Oslo. Lately, the brand has undergone some major changes – they have renewed their identity and repositioned themselves. The huge flashy logos are all gone, instead their past few collections have been very sophisticated and Ralph Lauren’esque with classic American sportswear and casual pieces. The visual merchandising at the shop looks more thorough now than earlier, and the visual expression is more in line with that of their clothing. It’s obvious that the visual merchandising team has put a lot of time and effort into decorating the shop after the renovation and that they have put a lot of attention to little details. I took a few snaps inside and outside the shop. I apologize for the slightly blurry pictures, as I was using my iphone instead of my dslr-camera when I took these.

One of the boutique's windows that face the atrium at Eger.

More pictures after the jump.

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Tags: Eger, Tommy Hilfiger

Jesus…Rodarte Shoes…SS2011

Tags: Rodarte

Oh boy Oh boy

First checking on Proenza Schouler collection, we thought – ehhh? so many jackets?!

Carry on checking on it, we thought – Oh MG, boys did it again!!

So I ditch the looks with jackets and post the lay-out images of my wish list here for you all to look. Number one item is the sheered tie-dye-mix-dip-dye long sleeve T

Tags: proenza schouler

Grey Symphony: Vera Wang SS11

For SS11, Vera Wang has continued the experiment of mixing all tones of greys (you can view her last collection here), only this time, it has gone more glittering. Long plate sequin top, draped laser-cut top and corset these very obvious feminine items are mixed with boyish shorts. Roll-up hem on shorts is a highlighting dressing tip.

Liquid sequin in silver has sculpted in a complexed form, which has soften up the coldness of grey tones. There’re also occasional floral print here and there, which helps breaking down all the greys during catwalk show.

Then again, colours are not to be forgetting. Though popping up occasionally just like the florals, they make Vera Wang’s show like a Beethovan’s No.5 Symphony, some quietness and some highlights.

Tags: Vera Wang

Movie Review – Chloe

Must admit, I didn’t quite want to watch a film with Amanda Seyfried in. This girl is too pretty to be seen as serious actress. And I think that is probably the reason of other 2 powerful actors being selected to balance out, who are Liam Neesen and Julianne Moore.

Since I was not so convinced with Amanda, I thought to read about the story line first before starting the movie. It’s a story about a woman who suspect her husband’s cheating on her after he missed his surprise birthday party she organized for him, she then went out and hired a sexy escort to seduce and proof him. However, it has gone far too complicated and brought fear and danger to the family.

It is however, not a usual story line, of which you could not have guessed what ending it really is. Yes, at the beginning it seems to follow our normal logic of how a story like this would end – she found out he’s cheating, he’s really fallen for the escort? But no…it had big U-turn half way through. And you have to find out how yourself, I’m highly recommending the movie, but can’t tell any further.

You could try to watch the movie from here. (Fade to #C5C5C5 is not responsible hosting the movie.)

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“I love you back” 15: Wave Summer Goodbye

Summer has definitely faded. Just before I went to Far East 3 weeks ago, weather in London near Carnaby street was warm and breathy. Goodbye, summer, see you next year…

The New Puritan

I couldn’t express any more how much that I love Alexander Wang’s SS11 collection. It was such a superb surprise to see him has gone completely opposite of his AW10 collection by going white, and indeed as he said himself, he wants the audience to feel optimistic, and we certainly did.

Boxy jackets, extended draped lapel, crossed back detail, deconstructed leg lines, and the mixture of white rib sporty leggings peeping out of tailored crop trousers. Wang has continued the philosophy he had from Resort Collection (which you could view here) — mixing tailoring boxy cut with functional pockets and sporty details. The result is simply immense!

Wang has also confirmed the exciting news of opening his first stand-along store in NYC at the end of this year. The store is located on Grand street which was previously the Yohji Yamamoto store. Insiders said ‘thank god it’s not at Meatpacking District’. With my pure love to this new collection, I kind of really want to move to NYC even though that I never really like NYC that much.

Yes, Alex, we have noticed that you have not used a single black. But we have also noticed, somehow, there’re barely any bags in models’ hands either. I could understand, that after a flood of handbags, clutches, shoes, boots from AW2010, Wang seriously wants his audience to concentrate on clothes. Models were all walking with hands in pockets, but little number like below, a waist flat bag in sequin and sued is definitely an ace hand-free design!

There’re also some colours. Unlike the bright acid colours Wang has done 2 summers ago, this time, they all look quite dreamy and romantic along with the floaty shape. Must admit, this is probably my most favourite collection of Alexander Wang. The boy has grown up!

Tags: Alexander Wang

Fashion windows: Oslo September 2010

Autumn moss at Steen & Strøm

Autumn is definitely in the air. While the fashion windows during summer were all about either minimalism or nautical themes, the autumn windows are all about nature. One of the best windows I have seen so far is this one at Oslo’s Steen & Strøm Magasin – one of the oldest and most fashionable department stores in the city. The entire outfit on this mannequin is made out of real moss. Fashion windows in Oslo are usually a lot more conservative compared to the ones in London, New York and even smaller fashion cities like Copenhagen as the visual merchandisers here usually play it ‘safe’. What I really liked about this windows was that for once they really, really decided to be daring, use their creativity, take it all out and do something nice and spectacular.

However, this was the only window I really liked at Steen & Strøm. The others weren’t bad, but I just didn’t like them as much as this one. I guess that after seeing this, I was expecting the others to be just as amazing – a bit of an anti-climax in other words.

Steen & Strøm - September 2010

One thing I wish Steen & Strøm would work on though is attention to detail. The little signs that describe the items you are seeing and what concession you can get them from were full of spelling mistakes and errors. I am not talking just one or two mistakes, nearly all of the signs had at least one, some even two, mistakes on them. No matter how good a window is, things like this just makes all that hard work seem sloppy.

More pictures from Steen & Strøm, Ferner Jacobsen (Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren + many others) and Acne Studios after the jump.

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Tags: Acne, Ferner Jacobsen, Steen & Strøm

From Now To Then

Selfridges has opened up an exhibition in honor of Dame Vivienne Westwood sponsored by Melissa. The exhibition is located at basement of Selfridges ‘Ultra Lounge’. It’s simply too many gems there.

a lot of them look a bit worn which add on more value of the collection…

each design is labeled with name and the year of launch…

Apolo sandals…

the famous Rocking Horse Ballerina….is one of true originals from 80s…and you can still order these designs from Westwood’s World’s End boutique on King’s Road with around £400-500. Though waiting time is around 4 weeks, it’s definitely a worth waiting purchase.

…I clearly remember this printed toe-shaped multi-straps shoe from year 2002, because I was so close to own them at Davies Street Boutique but lost them to another client just entering the shop before me…damn!!

now these babies are just looking so ‘Current’ and ‘Acceptable’ to wider audience, but back to 15 years ago, those curved heels were a shocking design!

…and with my amazing fashion memory from teenage time, this baby is from 1994…and when I check the year on the label, I’m so proud I was damn right!

Tags: Selfridges, vivienne westwood

Give Away: Autumn Wool Wrap

this giveaway is now closed!

Deadline is 18th of September

It is basically a colour blocking rectangle with 3 armholes

Tags: Giveaways