Milan Fashion Week F/W ’19 Accessory Trend Spotlight

By Paige McKirahan

 

As we have now concluded our catwalk through the third week of our favorite month in fashion, Milan emphatically reinforced its stance as one of the top fashion capitals in the world with its out-of-the-box shows. Milan Fashion Week, running from February 19^th to the 25^th, boasted its largest season to date as 179 collections were on display in this Italian favorite, closing out the month of February. Serving as the birthplace for some of the industry’s favorite family-run fashion houses (think Prada, Missoni, and Fendi), there is no doubt that this dynasty-driven capital has no problem putting the haute in couture. In the wake of Karl Lagerfeld’s death, expectations were high and undoubtedly were met with collections like Moncler taking up entire street corners and Moschino’s homage to Price is Right!

 

Moschino's Price is Right set (source)

Eclectic headwear has truly established itself as one of this season's "it" accessory as classic winter styles with a twist have been seen in collections in New York, London, and now Milan. Anteprima, United Colors of Benetton, and Fendi all presented their own variations of the Russian-style cold weather favorite complete with fur and chinstraps. Armani took a less utilitarian approach to headgear as their jewel-encrusted berets paired with their rigid silhouettes proved to be the perfect touch of femininity. Agnona's approach headwear was purely functional as their simple, beige beanies were the perfect companion to their monochromatic looks.

 

From top: United Colors of Benetton, Armani, and Agnona (source)

Moving on to eyewear, Milan boasted pieces that were far from conventional. Gucci threw their own private masquerade with a horror-themed- twist as models made their way down the runway with face and eye coverings embellished with long spikes. Looking towards a more traditional approach, Fendi, Armani, and Prada are here to prove that the age of tiny sunglasses is out and oversized frames are back in. One new variation that looks like its still here to stay? Sunglasses lenses in bright hues!

 

From top: Gucci, Prada, and Fendi (source)

Switching the conversation to jewelry, it is evident that gold is now reigning as the primary material for this coming cold weather season. Donatella Versace made this evident in her Milan collection, with gold belts, earrings, and necklaces designed with a mix of delicate and chunky constructions. Vivetta and Fausto Puglisi took hold of the single earring trend that was popular in the S/S '19 shows last year and showed that this style is here to stay all throughout 2019. Marni's jewels included a variety of chain-like motifs in the chokers seen throughout their collection worked beautifully when paired with their vibrant punk-meets-conference room aesthetic. Moschino stunned with jewel-encrusted costume jewelry perfect for their Price is Right set, with gold and silver settings pairing seamlessly with Jeremy Scott's over-the-top clothing designs.

 

From top: Versace, Vivetta, Marni, and Moschino (source)

Looking to bags, this season the universal design theme leaned toward compact and handheld. As we saw last week in London, the idea of the "it" bag is transforming, and designers may still be trying to adapt to this accessory based shift. Nevertheless, we loved this season's affinity for miniature handbags perfect for a phone and wallet but not much else, forcing their carriers into decluttering. Check out some of our favorites below! 

 

From top: Bottega Veneta, Vivetta, Moschino, and Tod's (source)

Now that this season's fashion month is almost over, have your favorite collections been in London, New York, or Milan? So far, we loved the wild look of London, but we can't choose just one as our favorite until we see what Paris has to offer!

Keep this article on hand for some great fashion inspiration for the next cold weather season, and shop our collections for some great headwear, pins, bangles, and dangling earrings of your own! For more FW coverage, be sure to stay tuned next week for our look at all things Paris!

 

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London Fashion Week F/W 19 Accessory Trend Spotlight

By Paige McKirahan 

 

Now that we are on the second week of fashion’s favorite month, we are truly beginning to see this year’s cold weather trends take form on runways all around the globe. Since February 15^th, we have been watching one of the most eclectic and high-profile fashion week’s take place in London; this capital’s collections have just as enthralling as those seen in New York, with bold colors schemes and larger than life accessories taking center stage. As the location for Karl Lagerfeld’s final show for Fendi, it was only customary that London brought the heat despite the cold, dreary weather. From controversy’s surrounding Burberry’s accessories to political statements made by Vivienne Westwood, there is a lot to discuss from this avant-garde week in the Big Smoke.

 

Vivienne Westwood’s show (source)

 

Taking cues from New York, collections in London spared no expense when it came to headgear designs. From cowhide berets by House of Holland to oversized earmuffs by Ryan Lo, it is evident that fall 2019 will bring looks that stun from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Barrets and hairpins covered in pearls or gems wowed in Ashish’s collection when paired with their galactic makeup aesthetics and heightening hairstyles. Ear wraps made an eye-catching runway appearance when Ashley Williams paired her collection's colorful tights with a headwrap that featured motifs that you will have to see to believe (look below!!). We also saw function paired with fashion in Matty Boven’s headpieces, with his over-the-top, Yorkshire inspired earmuffs being the perfect avant-garde accessory for braving the bitter UK cold. Quite possibly the tamest and utilitarian piece of the bunch was created by Molly Goddard; moving away from the traditional earmuff’s and toboggans, she created a knit headscarf that protects you AND your hair from the less-than-desirable winter weather.

 

From top: House of Holland, Ashish, and Ashley Williams (source)

London collections took cues from your grandmother's closet when they incorporated brooches into looks with aesthetics ranging from abstract to western. Burberry took a step in a positive direction when creative director Ricardo Tisci accessorized his autumnal collection with sculptural pins that emulated shapes found on the beach. Toga's take on the brooch was a little less flirtatious as their bull horn pins made us feel like we were out of London and into Houston.

 

 

From top: Burberry, Toga (source)

Oversized, stackable jewelry prevailed in London just as it did in New York; from chunky gold neckwear by J.W. Anderson to bedazzled chokers spanning from collarbone to chin by Halpern, collections across the pond made a simple statement: dainty is out and chunky is in. We also saw a variety of details incorporated into jewelry designs, like the delicate pins featured in necklaces by Molly Goddard and feathers trailing on the ends of dangling earrings by Roksanda and Ports 1961.

 

From top: Halpern, Molly Goddard, and Ports 1961 (source)

Unlike New York, London boasted collections full of statement belts that were big, boisterous, and waist-cinching in style. This fun-but-functional accessory stole the show in Alexa Chung's collection with her thick, animal print belts complimenting her denim pieces to perfection. Toga's belts turned up the heat and the zoom when their larger-than-life belts were the centerpieces of their collection; this oversized piece with double buckles paired well with their thick gloves and layered fabric silhouettes.

 

From top: Alexa Chung, Toga (source)

Last but definitely not least, this season's Fashion Weeks are showing us that the idea of the "it" bag is slowly changing into a new concept entirely. Jolin Wu is a pioneer of this movement with their luxe drawstring bags that emulate ones you would see in a school locker room. Covered in fur and clutched to the chest, these were anything but elementary while still having a nostalgia-inducing style.

 

(source)

Out of all of the fabulous accessories seen walking down the runways this week, which were your favorites? We love the resurgence of the statement belt, and have plenty in our collections for those ready to hop on the trend early! 

Keep this article on hand for some great fashion inspiration for the next cold weather season, and shop our collections for some great headwear, pins, bangles, and dangling earrings of your own! For more FW coverage, be sure to stay tuned next week for our look at all things Milan!

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Karl Lagerfeld: Fun Facts About Fashion's Greatest

By Paige McKirahan

 

Few designers have made a mark on the industry as emblematic and widespread as Karl Lagerfeld, the mastermind behind the house of Chanel and a close friend of all of fashion’s finest. Here at Talkingfashion, great sorrow has been felt in mourning this iconic mogul since his passing on Tuesday morning, just before his final collection with Fendi made its way down the London runway. This creative mind has worked for some of the most well-known fashion houses in the world in addition to founding his own namesake brand in the midst of it all; as one of the first freelancers in the industry, he has worked for brands in France, Italy, England, Germany, and more. The designer singlehanded breathed new life back into the Chanel brand in 1983, making it one of the most iconic fashion houses in the history of haute couture. His eye for the unordinary and affinity for art allowed him to reimagine the fashion show as a boundless concept, supersizing and minimizing it as he saw fit with no regard for outside critique. Though we all know him as one of the most prominent faces in fashion, there is more to Lagerfeld than meets the eye. In celebration of his long and runway-ready life, read on to see if you knew about any of these Lagerfeld legends!

 

His cat, Choupette, is the heir to his wealth.

 

Lagerfeld’s beloved white Siamese cat, Choupette, has taken the world by storm since she was gifted to him in 2011 by model Baptiste Giabiconi. The public was almost as stunned by her as Lagerfeld was; at one point, the beloved designer even claimed that he wanted to marry her!

 

He was team Coke.

As the age old question goes: Coke or Pepsi? Lagerfeld's answer? Coke every time. He allegedly was so addicted to the product, he once exclaimed: “I drink Diet Coke from the minute I get up to the minute I go to bed. I can even drink it in the middle of the night, and I can sleep. I don’t drink coffee, I don’t drink tea, I drink nothing else.”

 

His ponytail was over 30 years in the making. 

 

 

One prominent feature of every Lagerfeld look was his signature ponytail; when the designer decided that he was tired of taming his long, curly hair, he pulled it back into its first ponytail in 1976 and the rest is history. He hated hair products and exclusively used Klorane dry shampoo to tame his silver locks.

 

He changed his name to fit the industry.

When Karl Otto Lagerfeldt first became a pioneer in fashion, he dropped the “t” from the end of his last name in order to make it have a more "commercial" sound. This set the tone for the rest of his life as he was constantly reinventing himself and the industry. 

 

He used eyeshadow to create his sketches.

 

 

Staying true to his unconventional ways, Lagerfeld had been using pressed eyeshadows by Shu Uemura for over 20 years in his design sketches. The designer and brand shared a mutual love and he even had a custom shade of red created for his use.

 

He had an obsession with rings.

 

 

Lagerfeld was commonly seen out and about with a multitude of rings stacked on every finger, upping his glamorous and over-the-top style in a subtle manner. He loved the accessory so much that he even released his own line of engagement rings!

We hope that these small bits of fun from his long and colorful life bring you joy in a time when it seems fleeting. We thank Lagerfeld for transforming the industry into the thriving market it is today because, without him, we would not have the iconic Chanel logo or countless beauty collections to reflect upon.

For more facts about Lagerfeld's life and a timeline of his career, check out this article from Fascinate.

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