Sir Paul Smith is an English fashion designer. He is highly respected within the fashion industry as his reputation is founded upon his menswear. Queen Elizabeth II knighted Smith in 2000, after nearly three decades as a menswear icon. Somewhere on each item is the presence of Smith’s multistripe signature that is usually on the collections of clothing and accessories for both men and women. Today there are 12 different collections including Paul Smith, Paul Smith Women, PS by Paul Smith, Paul Smith Jeans, Paul Smith London, R.Newbold (Japan only), Paul Smith Accessories, Paul Smith Shoes, Paul Smith Fragrance, Paul Smith Watches, Paul Smith Pens and Paul Smith furniture and ‘things’. Paul Smith rugs, china, spectacles and fragrance are made under license. His collections are primarily produced in England and Italy while the fabrics used are mainly Italian, French and British.
Paul Smith’s collections bring somewhat an authentic appreciation to clothes as his style is unusual yet practical. Psyche offer a wide range of Paul Smith collections that suggest beauty in many ways as he uses prints, art, patterns etc to project his clothes in such a way and to give them presence. In an interview Paul quoted “I don’t care if people dress in a scruffy, immaculate, perfect or fashionable way. To me, I’m more interested in human beings and what’s inside people’s heads, like their conversation and emotion”. Which is what makes Paul’s vision and passion behind his clothing so awe-inspiring as he uses his understanding of fashion and real passion when designing his Paul Smith collections.
During London Fashion Week Paul Smith’s 2009/2010 Autumn/Winter collection hit the catwalk in a flamboyant fashion as the models presented his new collection quirky and out of the ordinary styles spoke for themselves as statement pieces that ruled the catwalk. The collections showed inspiration to the country living style as he used earthy tones and mossy textures to represent his collection at London Fashion Week. Whilst the pale faces and deep purple lips made the look a little less ‘safe’ the chintzy-rose print prom dresses and long strings of pearls added a feminine touch. Overall, Smith’s collection was charming and quaint, without being boring and safe.
Wednesday 15 December 2010
Hugo Boss
Hugo boss
Hugo’s ravishing collections include Hugo Boss Accessories, Hugo Boss Black, Hugo Boss Bodywear, Hugo Boss Footwear, Hugo Boss Kids Hugo Boss Orange and Hugo By Hugo Boss, some of which are available at Psyche. Hugo Boss first started a clothing company in 1923 in Metzingen, where it is still based, a small town south of Stuttgart, Germany. However in 1930 due to the economic climate in Germany Boss was forced into bankruptcy. Undeterred, Hugo set up a new business and in 1931 became a member of the Nazi party. With the rise of Adolf Hitler in 1933, Boss's business also began to prosper, as he became the official supplier of uniforms to the SA and SS guards.
After his death in 1948, the company remained in darkness until 1953 when Hugo Boss clothing company released its first men's suit, with the demand for SS uniforms gone, the business turned its hand to making suits. The timing was perfect, as the male fashion industry was just establishing itself and through the 60's and 70's Boss suits became the benchmark for quality, fashionable menswear. Hugo Boss is well known for his smart and sophisticated suits as The Hugo Boss brand has a curious history of origin. Its founder, Hugo Boss, made overalls as well as civil and military uniform in 20-s. Like anyone else during the Second World War, he lived in need and had to create Nazi uniform to survive. Only in 1954 he designed a suit that brought glory to his name after his death.
Hugo Boos is back as we see Hugo Boss’s new spring collection 2010 hit the catwalks. The suits look amazing and the modish strappy sandels take the outfits up a notch. His uptake on this new collection is somewhat calm and cool with breezy blues and wintry whites also with splashes of ravishing reds, blacks and gold. His collection can be described as chic, simple but not safe. Creative Director Bruno is inspired by the work of German artist Wolfgang Uhlig. Moved by Uhlig’s work with the contrasting natures of architecture and the natural, Pieters sought to explore this in Hugo’s spring collection.
Hugo’s ravishing collections include Hugo Boss Accessories, Hugo Boss Black, Hugo Boss Bodywear, Hugo Boss Footwear, Hugo Boss Kids Hugo Boss Orange and Hugo By Hugo Boss, some of which are available at Psyche. Hugo Boss first started a clothing company in 1923 in Metzingen, where it is still based, a small town south of Stuttgart, Germany. However in 1930 due to the economic climate in Germany Boss was forced into bankruptcy. Undeterred, Hugo set up a new business and in 1931 became a member of the Nazi party. With the rise of Adolf Hitler in 1933, Boss's business also began to prosper, as he became the official supplier of uniforms to the SA and SS guards.
After his death in 1948, the company remained in darkness until 1953 when Hugo Boss clothing company released its first men's suit, with the demand for SS uniforms gone, the business turned its hand to making suits. The timing was perfect, as the male fashion industry was just establishing itself and through the 60's and 70's Boss suits became the benchmark for quality, fashionable menswear. Hugo Boss is well known for his smart and sophisticated suits as The Hugo Boss brand has a curious history of origin. Its founder, Hugo Boss, made overalls as well as civil and military uniform in 20-s. Like anyone else during the Second World War, he lived in need and had to create Nazi uniform to survive. Only in 1954 he designed a suit that brought glory to his name after his death.
Hugo Boos is back as we see Hugo Boss’s new spring collection 2010 hit the catwalks. The suits look amazing and the modish strappy sandels take the outfits up a notch. His uptake on this new collection is somewhat calm and cool with breezy blues and wintry whites also with splashes of ravishing reds, blacks and gold. His collection can be described as chic, simple but not safe. Creative Director Bruno is inspired by the work of German artist Wolfgang Uhlig. Moved by Uhlig’s work with the contrasting natures of architecture and the natural, Pieters sought to explore this in Hugo’s spring collection.
Fred Perry
Fred Perry was born in Stockport, Cheshire. He was an English tennis and table tennis player and three-time Wimbledon champion. Perry is the last British male player to win any of tennis's grand slam events, and one of only six men in history to have won all four grand slam events. Fred Perry’s impressive success in sports leaves us wondering how this man has a Fred Perry clothing brand. Tibby Wegner, an Austrian footballer that had invented an anti-perspirant device, worn around the wrist and approached Perry in the late 1940’s. Perry made a few changes and invented the sweatband. A sports shirt, which was to be made from white knitted cotton pique with short sleeves and buttons down the front, was Wegner's next idea.
Launched at Wimbledon in 1952, the Fred Perry polo shirt was an immediate success. The white polo shirt was the shirt of choice for diverse groups of teenagers throughout the 1960s and 70s, ranging from the skinheads to the Northern Soul scene. Therefore Perry’s career in clothing began to establish itself in the fashion industry as a new uptake in fashion had begun. The brand is best known for its laurel logo, which appears on the left breast of the tennis shirts. Instead of merely ironed on (as was the case with the crocodile logo of the competing Lacoste brand) The laurel logo (based on the old Wimbledon symbol) was stitched into the fabric of the shirt.
Recently the Fred Perry clothing brand has regained popularity now that British tennis star and current World Number 3 Andy Murray has it as his clothing sponsor. A Japanese corporation owns the Fred Perry brand. Fred Perry’s clothing style is somewhat stylish and sporty as the symbol represents a cool, swank culture within sports and gives certain poise to its representative the sports champion Fred Perry himself. Psyche offers a range from coats to dresses In as Fred Perry’s clothing range, but as this years winter approaches we see a lot more of coats and jackets make their stance.
Launched at Wimbledon in 1952, the Fred Perry polo shirt was an immediate success. The white polo shirt was the shirt of choice for diverse groups of teenagers throughout the 1960s and 70s, ranging from the skinheads to the Northern Soul scene. Therefore Perry’s career in clothing began to establish itself in the fashion industry as a new uptake in fashion had begun. The brand is best known for its laurel logo, which appears on the left breast of the tennis shirts. Instead of merely ironed on (as was the case with the crocodile logo of the competing Lacoste brand) The laurel logo (based on the old Wimbledon symbol) was stitched into the fabric of the shirt.
Recently the Fred Perry clothing brand has regained popularity now that British tennis star and current World Number 3 Andy Murray has it as his clothing sponsor. A Japanese corporation owns the Fred Perry brand. Fred Perry’s clothing style is somewhat stylish and sporty as the symbol represents a cool, swank culture within sports and gives certain poise to its representative the sports champion Fred Perry himself. Psyche offers a range from coats to dresses In as Fred Perry’s clothing range, but as this years winter approaches we see a lot more of coats and jackets make their stance.
Tuesday 14 December 2010
Dolce and Gabbana
Dolce and Gabbana’s modern take on urban style have quickly garnered worldwide recognition since 1994. Italian designers Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana in Milan, Italy started the company. As their collections inspired hundreds and set new craze trends on the high streets, by 2005 their turnover was €750 million and in 1991 they won a Woolmark award. D&G was the first major women's collection in 1985 and since their first womenswear collection, Dolce & Gabbana have evolved into perhaps the definitive purveyors of sexy clothes for women who want to revel in their voluptuous femininity. Psyche offers a wide range of their clothing but the collection doesn’t just stop at the gorgeous garments, as they have a wide range from sunglasses, perfumes, bags, shoes and many more.
D&G trademarks include underwear-as-outerwear (such as corsets and bra fastenings), gangster boss pinstripe suits, extravagantly printed and embroidered coats, and black. Originally inspired by eclectic, thrift shop Bohemia, Dolce & Gabbana's deeply coloured, animal prints have been described as "haute hippydom" taking inspiration in particular from Italy's prestigious film history. "When we design it's like a movie," says Domenico Dolce. "We think of a story and we design the clothes to go with it." They claim to be more concerned about creating the best, most flattering clothes than sparking trends, once admitting that they wouldn't mind if their only contribution to fashion history was a black bra.
Dolce and Gabbana’s latest looks are about to hit the catwalk this winter 2010 with a fun and fabulous new uptake. Fashion has to be new, has to keep on challenging the previous and persuading us that we want something else, something different, and as winter approaches all things winter wonderland flood the shopping rails; but with a new collection in store for us we see not only the beauty of the body and soul, but also an homage towards the hedonistic beauty of a sartorial suit studied to its finest and provoking sensuality with the use of lace, crochets and floral prints. The Dolce&Gabbana Spring/Summer 2010 collection is a tribute to the Sicilian way of life and the classic beauty in all of its reincarnations. The symbol, which embodies and connects this desire for beauty is transparency; the main element of the collection, found on dresses, skirts, camisoles and shoes. The ultimate uptake on this collection of perfection is to discover the ideal concept of an impeccable and timeless elegance.
D&G trademarks include underwear-as-outerwear (such as corsets and bra fastenings), gangster boss pinstripe suits, extravagantly printed and embroidered coats, and black. Originally inspired by eclectic, thrift shop Bohemia, Dolce & Gabbana's deeply coloured, animal prints have been described as "haute hippydom" taking inspiration in particular from Italy's prestigious film history. "When we design it's like a movie," says Domenico Dolce. "We think of a story and we design the clothes to go with it." They claim to be more concerned about creating the best, most flattering clothes than sparking trends, once admitting that they wouldn't mind if their only contribution to fashion history was a black bra.
Dolce and Gabbana’s latest looks are about to hit the catwalk this winter 2010 with a fun and fabulous new uptake. Fashion has to be new, has to keep on challenging the previous and persuading us that we want something else, something different, and as winter approaches all things winter wonderland flood the shopping rails; but with a new collection in store for us we see not only the beauty of the body and soul, but also an homage towards the hedonistic beauty of a sartorial suit studied to its finest and provoking sensuality with the use of lace, crochets and floral prints. The Dolce&Gabbana Spring/Summer 2010 collection is a tribute to the Sicilian way of life and the classic beauty in all of its reincarnations. The symbol, which embodies and connects this desire for beauty is transparency; the main element of the collection, found on dresses, skirts, camisoles and shoes. The ultimate uptake on this collection of perfection is to discover the ideal concept of an impeccable and timeless elegance.
Sunday 21 November 2010
Fashion Fix
Fashion fix.
Find your uniqueness
London Fashion Week has been upon us! Collections were just as sophisticated and glamorous as ever. But what more can we really say about the chaotic hysteria that such an event causes. Well apart from its new and improved designers, I’m left thinking; just what else can they really come up with that is original. For many generations we have seen the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Twiggy be our fashion and style icons, creating new trends, but now there is more female supermodels than there are stars! Ok well not quite but really what else have they got to offer? Fashion has to be new, has to keep on challenging the previous and persuading us that we want something else, something different, and as winter approaches all things winter wonderland flood the shopping rails.
Fashion today is covered left, right and centre by journalist, designers, and stylists. But what else can we possible learn from them about clothes, styles and shoes?
I believe that there is much more to fashion than just models strutting down catwalks. I believe that real fashion is out there in the real world, created by everyday people. I believe fashion should be unique not something that everyone can copy! Just how many times have you walked down the street and witnessed the dreaded horror of your new top staring back at you on the bodies of several other girls? So much of everything today is un-original. The number of times that high street buyers end up with the same clothes and even the number of times celebrities are plastered all over magazines on the page ‘Who wore it better’, as everyone is just trying to fit in with the trends. I say we ditch trying to look like celebrities and their newest trends and start making our own individual trends. No I’m not talking about making your own clothes, or at least not if you don’t want to but, make a change, be adventurous…and try shopping in those blessed vintage shops.
I believe the true icons of fashion are those that can make their clothes show who they are, not just how much money they can spend on designer brands. If you like fashion just as much as me, then what is it you really like about fashion? Personally I find that fashion can be used as a way of expressing art, a way of expressing who you are whether that be an emo, indie, hippy, skater, rocker. Whoever you are use your individuality to determine your sense of style and wear what you really want to wear. The famous Domenico Dolce, the founder of Dolce and Gabbana along with Stefano Gabbana once said, "We think of a story and we design the clothes to go with it." They claim to be more concerned about creating the best, most flattering clothes than sparking trends, once admitting that they wouldn't mind if their only contribution to fashion history was a black bra. I believe that this is what fashion is all about; finding what works for you. Of course sometimes we need a little helping hand as to what fashion is all about and how we can determine what is fashionable and what’s not. Well that’s where fashion blogs step in to give us a helping hand. Our inspirations can be taken off everyday women and incorporated with our own sense of what’s fashion. Of course you can always take a look at the latest fashion blogs to give yourself some inspiration. As after all even vintage shops have had their trends come from somewhere, but it’s the beauty of their uniqueness that stands above all the other high street shops. One blog in particular that has been noted for it’s out of the ordinary fashion talent. Tavi Gevinson the creator of the fashion blog Style Rookie, which she founded at the young age of just eleven in 2008. She is known for her creative style and her talented skills in writing, which could be mistaken as the professional writings of an experienced journalist. She has been criticized for her writing not being her own, and that someone else was behind the infamous blog. Of course she knew how to prove them wrong, as after all why wouldn’t any journalist, who had been in the business for over 20 years not be jealous of her garnered recognition at just the young age of 11.
Another of my favourite blogs and a source of my inspiration is lookbook.nu/#more. It is a simple but stylish blog full of fashion ideas from all around the world. Also its genius is that ordinary men and women using high street and vintage styles create its trends and give inspiration to everyone. Each individual person is different and unique. Check it out, and see where your inspiration will take you.
By Kim Stanworth
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