SS15 – Stylitz

Leaping forward into Spring

Published on March 24, 2015March 24, 2015 by Alicja JasnikowskaLeave a comment

So spring has finally sprung. Even if the sun isn’t quite blazing, when it does rear it’s pleasant head you can actually feel the warmth for the first time in months. Added to which the days are getting longer and the hazy scent of summer eves spent in beer gardens hangs in the air. Plus this Sunday is the day the clocks go forward marking the official start of British summertime. Begone winter, we welcome you spring!

With this is mind today’s post is quite a summery affair. I recently acquired a new pair of trainers and have been loath to remove them since. In fact only my obsession with keeping them looking brand spanking new has stopped me wearing them daily. I have been wanting a pair of white trainers for quite some time and have been debating the various merits of the Adidas Stan Smiths (a bit too ubiquitous), the Superstars (a very close contender) or a new pair of classic Converse All Stars (a wardrobe staple).

Then I was thrown a curve ball in the form of Lacoste’s new SS15 collection and I fell in love. With the clean lines of a tennis shoe, discreet branding and super soft leather (comfy to wear from day one) these Carnaby Evo’s will carry me through shopping days, weekend brunches and meetings alike. And aside from the stunning minimalist design, what I actually love most is that they are slightly cream rather than pure white, which adds to their chic retro quality.

Carnaby Evo, £84.99, Lacoste available at Office.co.uk

Like a missing jigsaw piece they fully integrate into my current wardrobe and pull together some of my favourite clothes. Also did I mention how super soft and comfy they are? Here is how I plan to style them this month:

Weekend brunch: Dress, Topshop; Earrings, Claire’s; Necklace, Whistles; Oversized clutch, Primark; Jumper, Mango; Trainers, £84.99, Lacoste

Meeting with clients: Sleeveless Ponte jacket, £42, Topshop (available now); Necklace, Whistles; Polka-dot shirt, New Look; Boyfriend jeans, Nobody; Trainers, £84.99, Lacoste

A stroll in the park: Boyfriend jeans, Nobody; Jumper, Gap; Polka-dot shirt, New Look; Trainers, £84.99, Lacoste; Purse, homemade gift; Necklace, Primark

Feel inspired? Then check out the full Spring Summer Lacoste range available now at http://www.lacoste.com. Unfortunately for those of you with delicate feet these trainers are from the men’s collection (sizes range from UK 7-12) but there are very similar women’s options available.

For other items featured on this page head to http://www.topshop.com, http://www.newlook.com, http://www.primark.com, http://www.mango.com, http://www.gap.co.uk and http://www.claires.co.uk

My week in pics (Pink and red)

Published on November 7, 2014November 7, 2014 by Alicja Jasnikowska1 Comment

This week I have been busy running around press days, viewing next Spring/Summer’s collections. Along the way I have taken plenty of pics, both for my reference and for this blog. One trend I have noticed is a sway towards pink and red, whether seen independently or fused together on one piece. Like navy and black this is a colour combination that raises sartorial eyebrows, but it happens to be one of my favourite pairings. Today’s post is a medley of my own images from the last week, all with a pink and red hue.

Images from top (taken at SS15 press days) : Calvin Klein bags, TM Lewin ties, Versace jumper, Calvin Klein menswear, Boden shoes, Toga boots, Boden kidswear, CakeyCoo flower cupcake, MaxMara print jacket, me and Bonnie (TheStyleTraveller) on Halloween.

http://www.calvinklein.com; http://www.tmlewin.co.uk; http://www.versace.com; http://www.boden.co.uk; http://www.toga.jp; http://www.cakeycoo.co.uk; http://www.maxmara.com; http://www.thestyletraveller.com.

A spooky synopsis

Published on October 31, 2014October 31, 2014 by Alicja JasnikowskaLeave a comment

Happy Halloween all! I hope you are suitable attired for this day of fright or if not that you are planning some ghoulish outfits for later. In keeping with the idea of all things hallow I have decided to do a visual round-up of some of this week’s SS15 press days with a topical Halloween twist.

First up is yesterday’s Modus PR offerings…

The exoskeleton digital skin coat by Hemyca

If Edward got his Scissorhands on a garment – distressed Haizhen Wang jacket

Ethereal Marie Antoinette beauty from Sorapol

Next up is Blow PR who can always be relied upon for some unique & kooky treats.

A Halloween showstopper – feathered top, skirt and acrylic platforms (below) by Alex Ulichny

The white witch of Narnia – dress by newcomer Francesca Capper

Leather corset belts from Anita Nemkyova

Opt for zombie Prom Queen in a beautiful Sonas gown

Some pumpkin cake-pops and a few spooky sunnies from Safilo eyewear:

Mad Professor – Metal frame sunnies

Classic cat-eyes in metallic gold by Alexander McQueen

At Wednesday’s Spring London press day I spotted these fabulous Halloween worthy pieces:

Skeletal rings and necklaces and fierce earcuffs (below) by Annelise Michelson

If couture did costumes – Beaded dress by Nicholas Oakwell Couture

The chicest ghost on the block – shirt dress by Chalayan

Finally a few AI PR pieces:

Designer zombie – deconstructed jersey by Loewe

A polished pirate – dress by J.W Anderson

A patchwork puzzle – leather jacket by Loewe

And to finish off here are a few inspiration images for my own outfit today.

Mechanical Dolls – Tim Walker for Vogue Italia Oct 2011

Pierrot the Clown

Creepy doll

All SS15 press day images are my own. For more info on any of the featured designers please visit the links below:

http://www.hemyca.com; http://www.haizhenwang.co.uk; http://www.sorapol.co.uk; http://www.alexulichny.com; http://www.anitanemkyova.com; http://www.francescacapper.com; http://www.sonascouture.com; http://www.annelisemichelson.com; http://www.chalayan.com; http://www.loewe.com; http://www.j-w-anderson.com;

London Fashion Week SS15

Published on September 23, 2014September 23, 2014 by Alicja JasnikowskaLeave a comment

With the fashion crowd moving onto the final week of catwalks and the first shows in Paris about to begin, I thought it high time I not only posted a blog (apologies about the huge gap in posts – it was a summer of filming abroad) but also filled you in on what I saw at London Fashion Week this month.

My sparkly Kurt Geiger sliders have an outing at London Fashion Week SS15

Whilst the catwalk shows attract the most media attention, I also like to peruse the designer stands in the stunning Somerset House, looking closely at the collections that have just been shown and speaking to new up-and-coming designers. Despite dedicating over 3 hours to this I only managed to cover one floor this season, focusing on contemporary and emerging talent. Sadly for all shoe lovers I didn’t quite manage the accessories hall. Here is a virtual tour of the designers that stood out for me and what to expect for Spring Summer 2015 (all website details at end of page).

Flying the flag for London

First up the lovely Jean-Pierre Braganza whose SS15 show I also attended this season. A fantastic collection with his signature mix of masculine tailoring, quirky print and fabulous outerwear. Expect monochrome with a little added sparkle. A quick five min chat with the man himself revealed that he had slept a total of six hours in three nights in the lead up to the show. Ouch!

Designs from Jean-Pierre Braganza SS15 (above) and as seen on the catwalk (below)

Another favourite Fyodor Golan pulled out all the stops with neon colouring, oversized sequins and dramatic floral applique. Definitely not one for the faint-hearted, expect to see these designs on celeb fans Rita Ora and Katy Perry pronto.

The delightful Georgia Hardinge showed me around her collection for next Spring, which featured clever architectural-inspired pleating and intricate silk prints, in a particularly strong palette of cornflower blue and chartreuse. Along with five others, Georgia was chosen for this years BFC Contemporary initiative, which included creating a capsule collection for eBay to coincide with Fashion Week. Expect many more exciting collaborations ahead.

For those who like their clothing of a Scandi persuasion, the simplicity and clean lines of Swedish brand Deitas should appeal.

Voluminous shapes and luxury fabrics and prints stand out at Fitriani. I love this beautiful collection!

The prints in the Yuzzo London collection really caught my eye. Subtle and pretty, with an Eastern influence, these gorgeous pieces would work well in any wardrobe.

Next up is Zoe Jordan, also chosen for this years BFC Contemporary Initiative. Her use of abstract print, geometric lines and cracked leather makes for a feminine look with an urban edge. This collection was inspired by Berlin and her printed leather dress (as seen below) was spotted on Poppy Delevigne that same week.

Next the urban sport luxe designs of Jamie Wei Huang caught my eye. I was meant to attend this show but sadly couldn’t make it. The unusual use of colour and texture and the quirky menswear detailing make this collection really stand out for me.

A step further into the world of quirky is New York brand Betina. Starting off as a luxury T-shirt line, the label has since expanded and was recently named as one to watch by vogue.com. Combining a Philappino heritage and US sports influences this collection is a riot of clashing textures, contrasting fabrics and embellishment. Cute!

On to Emerging Talent and the clean lines, boxy silhouettes and succinct colour scheme of label Heohwan Simulation caught my eye.

Another emerging designer with an eye for texture is Ming Pin Tien. The hand-knotted tassles that adorn the garments lift the simple shapes out of the ordinary. And I just adore these crazy furry flats. Fab, fun and sure to get a lot of attention.

And just when I thought London Fashion Week had become all clean lines and commercial shapes, I came across the surreal kitsch designs of Yang Du. The Chinese born, London based designer sure knows how to put the fun into fashion. She may divide a room with her bold designs, but with Susie Bubble as a fan she’ll go far. & why the hell not add some colour to your life. Or an animal backpack…