Turbans 'R' Us

Fed up with reading yet another 'witty' angst ridden story of yet another woman attempting to 'test-drive' the turban, i feel an unusual obligation to defend this, granted, rather daring piece of head wear. Having purchased a turban in a vintage store last year i was excited/slightly miffed to see a splattering of them over the spring/summer '07 catwalks. The emphasis here should firstly be on the word splattering, for that's what it was. Ralph Lauren and Prada parading the turban does not an onslaught make!

Left: Ralph Lauren Right: Prada

All the models were sent down the Prada catwalk with sumptuous silk turbans in a variety of opulent colours. Despite the collection being far darker than the average summer wardrobe the turbans were teamed with very wearable - if a little short - pieces. Below is a typical example of one of the starched, patterned tunics Miuccia coupled with headpiece. Ralph Lauren, in contrast, chose to pair the black turban with a diamond brooch, black trouser suit and tie with a white shirt. Exuding power and control the models were radiant with elegance and sophistication.

Aside from it's recent eruption onto the catwalk the turban has, throughout the twentieth century, been indicative of female strength and beauty. This has undoubtedly translated throughout the centuries through Sikhism, from the Old Testament, when the turban was a symbol of dignity, self respect and authority. Europeans have embraced the turban from the eighteenth century but it was from the early twentieth century that it was used as a classic, chic piece of headgear, as seen in with these hat patterns.

The turban has since then been embraced by Hollywood, famously by Joan Crawford and Audrey Hepburn (below).

Why, then, are people so shocked and disinclined to promote the current flux of turbans in the world of fashion? In particular, why are people so ready to mock and giggle at what they presume to be fashion's most recent ridiculous trend? One can only presume they are wearing the look wrong, as Prada and Ralph Lauren have, as discussed earlier, depicted clearly wearable ways to adopt the headpiece. Tonight i am defiantly wearing my turban to the pub and i'm sure will not experience the hysteria so many fashion journalists seem to have faced!

Metallica Inspiration

This season a full range of metallic accessories, from bags to belts, have been seen on any respectingly fashion conscious celeb. From fingers littered with chunky gold rings to gold studded belts a metal accessory is an easy way of channelling the futuristic/punk trends coming off the spring/summer '07 catwalk. As seen above Hussein Chalayan, Lanvin and Balenciaga all put out shows with a strong futuristic vibe. Adopting gold studded accessories also ties in nicely with the '80s casual day look which appears almost unavoidable at the moment.

Recreation Station

The Flower Shower floral trend look is simple and realtively cheap to recreate. Simply go to http://www.vvrouleaux.com, pick and mix your favourite flower items, get out the super glue and an old hair band and get creative. Below are some hot choices from the site.

Flower Shower

Romantic Florals (Clockwise): Sonia Rykiel, Valentino,

Roberto Cavalli and Louis Vuitton.

Regardless of the year the spring/summer season is awash with floral. This year even the high street got in there early with Topshop’s Celia Birtwell designed range giving a nod to her original floral prints. On the spring/summer ’07 catwalk the floral ‘trend’ ranged from the gentle romance of the floral at Lois Vuitton, Valentino and Roberto Cavalli, the headbands at Sonia Rykiel to the lush excess of floral adornment at Alexander McQueen and Manish Arora. So, this summer floral, whatever the size, will deffinitely give you a fresh and blossoming look.

Heavy Floral Adornment at (left to right): Alexander McQueen,

Manish Arora.

Street Style: Developing Contemporary Journalism?

It is official, top style is found on the streets. All over the world, from London to Helsinki, Tokyo to New York aspiring and practised photographers and fashion journalists alike are hitting the streets to find the hottest styles. Between the publishing of Shoichi Aoki‘s Fruits in 2001 and his sequel, Fresh Fruits in 2005, this method of documenting street style flourished and has continued to do so. Various other publications –such as books, websites and blogs- devoted to street style are raising the profile of the public’s ability to expand fashion.

An interesting contrast to Fruits is Nylon’s Street: The Nylon Book of Global Style, which exposes the fashion of the streets of London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Melbourne, Copenhagen and New York. A more thorough and varied insight into street fashion, covering what are considered the most fashion-forward cities in the world,
Street uses, like Fruits, the simple images of people living in their cities. Both books are emphatic in advocating street style as the growing heart of fashion worldwide.
Check out one of my favourite street style blogs, www.hel-looks.com.