As some of you may know...I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot recently with an amazing photographer called James Bastable....(look him up...he is pure talented behind the lens) .....Now obviously, to match an amazing photographer..I needed some amazing outfits..... that's where Metsuki Boutique came in....(props to Metsuki for lending me the clothes for the shoot)......Then I needed some hot models to keep my female readers happy........I'm proud to say ladies...it was a job well done...!!! I'm going to husssh now and let the photos speak for themselves....:)....

 Chanel however went for a more androenous look, The couture collection was full of covetable pieces that every woman will want to wear, from the new suit shapes to the LED-capped shoes (well, those are more for the Hollywood set than the couture clients). there was plenty of formal wear to delight as well, from the sleek column dresses finished off with a bit of froth to jewel-encrusted shirt-dresses with feathered fringing and sheer embellished tops paired with sparkly tuxedo-style coats and jackets.While mesh boots and boater hats were reworked in every fabric from tweed to feathers.



There's a vast amount of looks you can go for this Autumn. Just remember to pick the style that suits your shape best and run with it. Ill be keeping you guys informed as we go along on this journey we call fashion. Be sure to drop me an email on Avantgarde.online@rocketmail.com with any comments or questions and follow moi on twitter.....@BlatantP.

Have fun playing around with your wardrobe this Autumn....
 

Love Kal xxx




Mmm LICORICE....





CHARMING










A HISTORY LESSON IN FASHION

You could take a look at history by studying wars, different economic systems, or political leaders.  But if you’re like me, the best way to look at history is through fashion!  Different fashion styles are extremely representative of different decades, and it is one of the best ways to determine what was going on during that period of time.  I mean, what’s better than looking back on flower power from the 60’s to neon leggings from the eighties?  Read on as I take you through the last few decades, starting with the sixties and seventies until today.

Oh, the sixties and seventies.  These swingin’ decades were full of different fashion trends representing all the changes that occurred during these twenty years.  This period was a time of major change and teenage revolt. The youth generation took over and made changes, they believed in liberalism and freedom.  And this was completely evident in their fashions.

While the mentality was ‘anything goes’ there are certain styles that unquestionably characterizes the hippie’s style.  Dresses were either short and skimmed the body, or long and loose like peasant dresses. The look was often enhanced with flowing ribbons in their hair and in their dresses itself. And of course there was the ever cliché, flowers. Nothing represented love a peace so much as flowers. Jewelry was mainly handmade so beads were very popular and not forgetting there was always the iconic peace sign hanging from someone’s neck.

Now say hello to the most loved and most hated fashion piece: the mini skirt. Mary Quant invented and designed this controversial jaw dropper and you better believe the women of the sixties took this and ran with it, discoed with it, boogied with it, and raved with it.  The mini skirt was loved by the youth, and hated by the older generation.  It represented the women’s movement that took place during this time, because women no longer wanted to be held back by men, and by cultural standards.  They wanted to show their skin, and they did just that.  It was also a major part of the sexual revolution that occurred during this time because the mini skirt was a major sex symbol. Young women wanted to be free and show off their sex appeal.



Now this is the decade of larger than life hair, shoulder pads jutting out of suit jackets, and one shouldered sweatshirts.  If you guessed the eighties, you are absolutely correct and most certainly in for a treat!  All of these trends continued on into the nineties as well.  These are the fashion trends stylistas would love to forget, and pretend never happened.  Although some of these less embarrassing trends are starting to crawl their way back into our lives, some of them will never see the light of day again, thank goodness!  But it is definitely fun to look back at these outrageous fashion statements, which may just be lingering in your mother’s wardrobe.

A huge trend in the eighties and early nineties was suits with shoulder pads.  The larger the shoulder pads, the better, the more stylish, and the more powerful the woman behind the suit.  While I understand that women wore these for the sense of power and equal rights, I will never understand why simply holding a demanding job didn’t do this justice.  And to be honest, I’m sure the women of the eighties will full heatedly agree. Again Jewelry was a big part of the eighties and no outfit was complete without it, and like shoulder pads, the bigger the better. Necklaces had large ornamentation and earrings were decorated to the maximum.  An item could not possibly have too much going on, meaning the colours were vibrant and the details were immaculate.  Every piece stood out and nothing was plain by any means.

The sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties were all extremely distinct in style and trends.  Then we hit the millennium. While I could list off certain fashion trends that I have seen since the 90’s, not one single style defines this generation the way bell bottoms define the sixties and seventies.  Instead, I think this millennium have been almost a melting pot of all of these decades, with a few small additions that we can call our own.


The best way to determine these new trends is by looking at the youth and what they are wearing. One major fashion trend this generation is Ugg boots. These boots are expensive, and you guessed it, ugly. Yet they are so comfortable, and for some reason seen as such a huge fashion trend. But we love these boots, and want them in every color and every style.  It is one of the biggest crazes that the past two decades have seen. Another big trend of this generation, which could technically be traced back to the eighties, is leggings. Although now we no longer wear leg warmers on top and instead have changed this trend to fit in more with how we dress today. Leggings are seen as bottoms with a simple shirt on top, they are seen as tights under dresses, and they are seen as lounging tracky bottoms. They can be dressed up or dressed down. They are seen everywhere in different colours and patterns and worn by women of all ages. And finally YAAAY! for the jumpsuits and maxi dresses. Now although this is a reasonably new decade, fingers crossed this decade will be known for our jumpsuits and maxis. But there’s plenty more to come. So keep your eyes open and look out for the next iconic look for this decade.

Peace & Love Dudes :]

Kal


 ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

 

The Late Alexander McQueensaville row tailors Anderson & Sheppard followed by Grieves and Hawkes where he reportedly once embroidered a suit for the Prince of Wales with the words "I am a c**t" (in the lining). Shortly after McQueen even had the opportunity to work for Koji Tatsuno & then moved to Milan to work with Romeo Gigli. With all this experience under his belt McQueen decided to apply to London’s most prestigious fashion school; Central St Martins college of Art  & Design for a master’s degree. Even without any formal education McQueen was enrolled on the spot after one look at his portfolio, leading him to graduate in 1991. The entire collection he produced for his master's thesis was bought by English style icon Isabella Blow- a remarkable accomplishment for a young graduate.

The Fashion designer quickly earned the title of ‘The hooligan of English fashion’ following his controversial styles. His outrageous designs attracted a small yet loyal clientele. It’s rumoured McQueens name came from when he was receiving benefits during his climb to fame and it was at his 1st show that he changed his name from Lee McQueen to Alexander McQueen, so he could still continue receiving his benefit cheques. It was in 1996 where McQueen’s work was fully acknowledged when the president of LVMH Bernard Arnault instated him as the head designer at Givenchy.

McQueen caused a huge stir in his 1999 Fall show, which included robots spraying paint over white cotton dresses and a disabled model strutting down the catwalk on carved wooden legs. He achieved so much and caused such an impact in the world of fashion in a small amount of time and still continues to inspire people today.



Alexander McQueen has put his stamp on fashion achieving awards such as British designer of the year in 96, 97, 2001 and 2003. He has also received International designer of the year at the council of fashion designer awards. 2000 saw a new partnership for McQueen with Gucci, serving as creative Director. At the end of McQueen’s spring/summer 2005 show McQueen once again broke barriers and amazed the fashion world, as the models became human chess pieces, whose moves were directed by a disembodied computerised voice. As each ‘piece’ was knocked out of the game, the corresponding model left the stage:



In 2006 McQueen announced his collaborative partnership with Puma, both ideal partners known for pushing the boundaries and their intricate craftsmanship. He followed on to create his own perfume range and expanded by opening more boutique stores worldwide in New york, London, Milan, Tokyo and many more. However, despite all of this success in his life, McQueen often suffered with depression, with life eventually becoming too tough for him after the death of his mother. Alexander McQueen committed suicide on the 11th February 2010, just one week after his mother’s passing. Since his death, many tributes have been paid to the designer. A limited edition book was published by Visionaire and legendary photographer Nick Knight who also made a video to the late designer’s work, which featured a track especially written for the piece by Björk. The catwalks for Autumn/Winter 2010 saw McQueen’s final collection, which took baroque and digitial prints in a rich palette of red and gold. Alexander is truly an inspirational designer and one of the most respected and creative minds in fashion.Alexander is truly an inspirational designer and one of the most respected and creative minds in fashion. McQueen has shown all you need to achieve your dream is passion and focus.

“I think the idea of mixing luxury and mass-market fashion is very modern - wearing head-to-toe designer has become a bit passe. It's a new era in fashion - there are no rules. It's all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together.” - Alexander McQueen.

Thanks for taking time out to read this post, keep it locked to AVG for more from me and my views on fashion...

Kal

For any comments and queries drop me an email at Avantgarde.online@rocketmail.com.



SPRING/SUMMER 2011

This next trend is again not for the timid, as its alll about the ornamental fabrics; lace, crochet and macrame.

If  you have anything lacey in the back of  your wardrobe, I suggest you pull it out this spring and try it on with everything you own.

Now you dont have to be decked out in full lace, head to toe like the models on the catwalk, just a hint of lace in your top, skirt or even your shoes is enough to stay on track this season.

The 3 major classifications of lace this season are; Lingerie inspired, Antique lace and Coloured lace.

Lingerie inspired lace is more delicate and can be combined with other fabrics like sheer chiffon. It has that certain boudoir feel, referencing for burlesque styles from the 1920's and 1950's. Expect to see delicate bows and floral embellishments in combination with sheer lace ruffles and satin details. This is deffinetly the sexiest look for 2011.

The antique style includes whites and tea stained lace that channels a romantic feeling from the 1970's.

The feel is Bohemian, Western and Romantic. You can wear it in a baby doll dress, peasant top, maxi dress and as a frilly blouse.

Stylngs with this lace includes feathers, cowboy boots and woven sandels. A variation of leather accessories will really set off this look.

The final classification is coloured lace, with an emphasis on 1950's shillouettes. Neon and bright candy colours are a big trend as we have seen in previous posts by yours truely :) So expect to see coloured lace suits, dresses and feminine skirts, mostly paired with floral fabrics and trims.

The main focus is on ladylike frills. BUT proceed cautiously as coloured lace is only for the bold and statement makers!!!

Thanks for taking time out to read this post, keep it locked to AVG for more from me and my views on fashion...

Kal

For any comments and queries drop me an email at Avantgarde.online@rocketmail.com.

STREET STYLE





SUMMER/SPRING 2011 Pt 2

 Its not long now till Summer is knocking on our doors...So kal is back for part duece on what to wear this season!!!

If there's one rule to follow this season, it's 'The brighter the better!!!'

 Whether it's block colours, prints or stripes, it'll pay to be BOLD!!!

 This summer you're set up to have fun and liven up your wardrobe.

A dress made in a singularly potant colour is fast tracking over as a mojar trend.

 So do be shy and go wild!! Picking all the colours of rainbow that suits you!!!

The mood this season is a mix of hot pink, tangerine, lemon yellow, jungle green, colbat blue and bright coral.

You don't need to limit yourself to clothing only; block colours still make fantastic statement pieces.

Try accessories like bangles, belts, heels and bags to still stay vibrant!!

You can even encorporate this trend into your make-up. Bright eyeshadows and lipsticks are another way to compliment any outfit.

There's deffinetly no room for modesty this summer!!

So go ahead and grab a colour palette and paint your wardrobe into 2011!!!

"Fashion may fade, but style is enternal!!"

 Keep it locked to AVANT-GARDE for the next part to our journey into Summer 2011!!
For any comments just drop in an email to avant-garde.online@rocketmail.com


THE SATORIALIST 

The Sartorialist.blogspot.com


THE FINER DETAILS

INTRODUCING STREET STYLE



Name: Celso
Occupation: Music Producer
What we really like about Celso’s look is his subtle use of accessories. He’s wearing four pieces; the chain, bracelet, watch and sunglasses, yet they don’t seem to drown out his outfit. He also manages to pair contrasting denims, which is a very hard thing to do.

AVANT-GARDE x SNEAKER CITY