Model Off Duty

I officially have a girl crush on Frida Gustavsson. There are few people whose personal style I'm interested in keeping up to date with but Frida consistently looks amazing; last week she embraced classic tailoring and looked super chic, this week she's whipped out the Air Max and denim shorts and still looks incredible. What a babe.

From left to right: Jil Sander sweater, Kenzo sweater, Thom Grey varsity jacket, vintage varsity jacket from Rokit, Nike Air Max 1 trainers, Adidas Zx 500 trainers

I absolutely adored Kenzo's AW12 collection and have been dying for an excuse to post about this sweater - isn't it amazing?! Varsity jackets are fairly unknown territory for me but I'd really like to invest in one - Frida's jacket is a New York Yankee's jacket but there are millions of vintage options about, it's just finding one that fits! I'm a huge trainer (sneaker, whatever you want to call them) fan and bought several pairs when I was in New York so this whole look appeals to me massively; whack on a decent pair of denim cut-offs and you're good to go!

What do you think of Frida's look; are you more of a 'classic tailoring' or 'sweater and sneakers' kind of person?

photo from Altamira

Spotlight: Manuela Dack

Manuela Dack is a designer that until very recently, I hadn't heard of. The Central Saint Martins graduate launched her London label in 2010 and her first season was instantly snapped up by uber-cool store The Shop at Bluebird. Dack's tough but feminine aesthetic has become something of a signature aesthetic and I really love her attention to cut and detail. 

Dack's Autumn/Winter 2012 collection was inspired by a selection of carved wooden boxes which translates beautifully into cut-away leather, clever layering and a neat, angular silhouette. I'm really excited about Dack's Spring/Summer 2013, which she will be showing at Vauxhall Fashion Scout in September; there are so many incredibly talented designers emerging from London at the moment and Dack is another name to add to the growing list. Bring on London Fashion Week!

Shopping for: Gothic Glamour á la Vogue Paris

The whole 'gothic' trend has been bubbling up from the streets for quite a while now; Underground brothel-creepers, upside-down crosses, ripped t-shirts, fishnet tights and a healthy dose of purple lipstick  recently infiltrated the wardrobes of every cool-kid on the block. However, it all got incredibly tacky and cringeworthy as soon as Rihanna and Topshop jumped on the bandwagon; think Courtney Love meets Hannah Montana. Scary, right?

Saying that, the brilliant Katy England (along with a whole host of talented stylists) has managed to take the trend back into fashionable territory. Gone are the 90s platforms and dodgy dye-jobs - gothic glamour is all about an inventive use of texture and shape, death-defying heels and clever accessorising.

Mert and Marcus photographed the stunning Saskia de Brauw (above) and Kate Moss for the September issue of Vogue Paris and I think the editorial perfectly encapsulates what the gothic glamour trend is all about. There are so many incredible pieces around and the moment, both designer and on the high-street that it's hard to pin down any one look. Always one for a challenge...

From left to right: coat by Mandarin & General, jeans by Nok Nok, sunglasses by House of Harlow 1960, top by Preen, scarf by Beta Fashion, heels by Alexander McQueen, ring by Kat&Bee, bag by Christian Laboutin and necklace by Topshop.

This is definitely a safe look compared to what the East London kids are championing right now but then again, there's a very fine line between looking 'cool' and just looking like you're in fancy dress. I know which one I prefer...what trends are you loving for Autumn/Winter 2012?

Spotlight: Mandarin & General

For the fashion nerds among us, there are few things more exciting than discovering new brands; Mandarin & General, the brainchild of New York based designer Peggy Tan, is fast becoming one of my current favourites.

The subtle Eastern influences gives the AW12 collection a chic fluidity; from pussy-bow graphic printed blouses and cropped at the ankle trousers to smart tailoring and luxurious fabrics, Mandarin & General lends New York's fashion scene a glamourous Eastern-inspired edge. I'm a huge fan of a classic Arun-knit sweater so this indigo version is like my idea of heaven; it would look great styled with the oversized asymmetric coat (far left) and a pair of metallic brogues, very 90s and god forbid, 'on trend'.

The Mandarin & General SS12 collection (see below) is still available to buy on their website whilst the AW12 collection is available for pre-order.  What do you think of Mandarin & General and who are you're favourite lesser-known designers?

photos from Mandarin & General

Alternative Red-Carpet Dressing with Valentino FW12

None of these dresses are of the traditional red-carpet variety: there are no garish colours, no strapless sweetheart necklines, no silk-chiffon bows and definitely no heels. Saying that, they each have insane amounts of  'red-carpet' potential, especially if worn by the right person. Think along the lines of Elizabeth Olsen, Carey Mulligan, Dakota Fanning, Rose Byrne and Florence Welch and you're on the right track. The difference between these lovely ladies and the likes of other Hollywood starlets (anyone from Gossip Girl or 90210, for instance) is that they aren't afraid of 'worst-dressed' lists and can therefore think outside of the box when it comes to fashion.

Not that any of Valentino's dresses would land anyone on a worst-dressed list, of course. The demure necklines, full-length sleeves and ankle-skimming lengths from Valentino's Fall/Winter 2012 collection are for the more brave of the bunch. Valentino has always, and will always be worn on the red-carpet - it's just that these dresses require that extra something.

Photos from style.com

Paris Fashion Week: Best In Show

Stella McCartney and Kenzo's Humberto Leon and Carol Lim  have without doubt presented my favourite two collections of all respective Fashion Weeks. Paris is known for its extraordinary designer calender and each season, something wonderful happens; I can't confess to previously being a devoted fan of either Kenzo or Stella McCartney but for Fall/Winter 2012 I am more than dedicated.

Stella McCartney FW12

Stella is a woman's woman: she knows what we want to wear, how we want to feel and what message we want to convey through our clothes. Her Fall/Winter 2012 collection is powerful, elegant and refined without being clichéd or stuffy; cobalt blues and electric pinks are perfectly matched with charming tweeds and more subdued palettes of grey and black, whilst patent ankle boots are boldly worn with above-the-knee skater skirts and oversized jackets. I couldn't give two-hoots about the sports-luxe trend that we're seeing all over the high-street at the moment but for FW12 Stella makes it more desirable than Ryan Gosling covered in chocolate. These are clothes that women want to wear, all of the time.

Kenzo

The big-guns were clearly out over the weekend: Dior, Isabel Marant, Lanvin, Viktor & Rolf, Jean Paul Gaultier, Celine, Hermes and Givenchy all came out to play. Though it was the unlikely Kenzo that really caught my eye. As only their second season with Kenzo, Opening Ceremony's founders Humberto Leon and Carol Lim sent out a fantastically coherent and covetable collection for Fall/Winter 2012; dropped-hem A-line dresses were decked out with autumnal grape-vine prints as cropped jumpers were emblazoned with the tiger logo that will inevitably be replicated for the high-street on a colossal scale. Where last season we saw more of a street-inspired edge from Kenzo, this collection was altogether more accomplished and fun. 

Forget the apocalyptic leathers and blacks that have recently permeated the catwalk, these collections are exciting and act as a constant reminder of all that is great about womenswear. 

Photos from style.com 

Lost For Words: Commes des Garcons FW12

Not a single word in the English dictionary can accurately articulate my thoughts on Rei Kawakubo's Autumn/Winter 2012 collection for Commes des Garcons. That's not to say this is a bad thing, in fact, I think it's rather brilliant. "The future's in two dimensions" was Kawakubo's foundation for her latest collection as seemingly two-dimensional outfits graced the catwalk. In a fairly sardonic statement against the industry, Kawakubo's 'flat' outfits were a reflection of the images put out by the industry online and in magazines; therefore stripping them of any detail and quality. Velvet felt, leopard print, florals and even evening wear was given the Commes des Garcons treatment - leaving no satirical fashion stone unturned.

I can absolutely appreciate the message behind the collection, however, as a part (no matter how minuscule) of the fashion industry, I can't help but think it a little tenuous; fashion can only survive as long as the magazines and websites that promote them can permit. Aside from this, I think the collection is...bizarre/wonderful/brilliant/ingenious/ridiculous/captivating - you decide!

Photos from style.com

Paris Fashion Week: 'A Lesson on Confusion' by Dior

When John Galliano left Dior last year, there was a great deal of speculation about the future success of the brand. Some claimed that Galliano was not the cornerstone of Dior whilst others remained incredulous as to what would become of the French fashion powerhouse. Personally, I was one of the sceptics. Though what he did was shameful and entirely inappropriate, there is no denying that John Galliano is a fashion genius; without him at the helm, Dior's collections have thus far fallen short of the creative mark that we had come to expect. Bring that to the present day and Bill Gaytten's Fall/Winter 2012 collection for Dior was really quite uninspiring.

The balletic influence is strikingly obvious whilst midi-length pleated skirts with cinched waists evoke nostalgic images of Dior's infamous 'New Look'. However, the collection felt too safe for my liking. Bold colours and creative designs have been replaced by a predictable colour palette of black, pink and grey. As a whole, the collection is confused; with a theme surrounding the notion of 'soft modernity', Gaytten stuck to familiar silhouettes which in my eyes, translates as boring.

However, that isn't to say there were some really nice pieces. I can't bring myself to use a more enthusiastic adjective so 'nice' will have to suffice. The latter end of the collection presented some interesting pieces that you can see working well in both editorials and on the red-carpet. My favourite item is definitely the horizontal striped maxi-skirt with sheer panels - it's got Tilda Swinton written all over it, no?

I don't want to be critical of Bill Gaytten because he has an enormous pair of shoes to fill; away from the Dior label, this collection would probably be fantastic. However, when the bar has been set so high by such an ingenious predecessor, it's hard not to make the comparison. This is a collection that demonstrates great skill and knowledge, though Dior now needs to reignite its spark and enthusiasm for passion - without Galliano.


Photos from style.com

Wednesday Weakness: Dries Van Noten AW12

I'm going to make 'Wednesday Weakness' an image-led regular here at Bang Bang You're Dead, as well as resurrecting the old 'Spotlight' feature (do let me know if it should remain dead and buried, though). Dries Van Noten's Fall/Winter 2012 collection, which showed at Paris Fashion Week earlier today, is what fashion dreams are made of - I literally want every outfit! Is anyone else as enamoured with Dries FW12 as me?

Milan Fashion Week: Dolce and Gabbana AW12

This past week has been incredibly busy. In between working and dog-sitting, I managed to go to the London Aquarium, have a well overdue night out with the girls, go to the gym and have a bike ride along the beach. Good for the social life, bad for blogging. Well aware that I've completely ignored some of the best shows from London and Milan fashion weeks (I haven't even checked out McQ, Jil Sander or Prada), the first designer I looked at this evening was Dolce and Gabbana. I have a slightly biased love for the Italian duo as I once snapped up a beautiful silk top in the sale for a mere £20, but I still think their Fall/Winter 2012 collection was AMAZING.

This collection evokes images of otherworldly opulence; of the Tudors and the murdered wives of Henry VIII. It's an amalgamation of everything I love within fashion at the moment: quirky prints, luxurious fabrics, classic shapes and sexy gothic undertones. I'm a complete sucker for anything leopard print therefore the cape is pretty much a no-brainer (trend alert?) whilst the baroque embroidery, the Michaelangelo-esque prints, the ruffle necks and the tapestry all scream 'made by Dolce & Gabbana'. I love that as always, the collection is completely over the top - that's why we love Domenico and Stefano so much, right?

Not only that, I now have an excuse to finally buy the Dr. Marten's I've been dreaming about since last year:

I fell in love with these babies (from Dr. Martens Spring/Summer 2012 collection) when they came into the showroom in New York but seeing as though I already own three tapestry bags, I figured another tapestry-related item might have been a bit too much. How glad I am that Dolce & Gabbana don't agree! What do you think of these Dr. Martens and do you love Dolce & Gabbana's AW12 collection as much as I do?

photos from style.com

London Fashion Week: Fall Forward with Florals

Unless you've been living in a cave since September, you'll be acutely aware of the amount of floral prints that have cropped up all over the high-street. Everyone from Topshop to Marks and Spencer are having a go which undoubtedly means that there's something for everyone - even the colour-phobes like myself. However, amongst others, Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders have been flying the floral flag here in London for Fall/Winter 2012:

Christopher Kane

Jonathan Saunders

Unlike the prints that we saw in abundance on the Spring/Summer catwalks, Winter florals are bigger and somehow more mature. Instead of the familiar pale yellows, blues greens and pinks that came in the guise of small, dainty designs, next season is more dark and brooding with greens, red and purples taking centre stage.

There are millions of different varieties of floral print on the high street already so if you're sensible, you can buy statement pieces to take you through both seasons. Recycling doesn't get much better than that! So if you want to get ahead then ditch the pretty pinks for murky greens and remember, the bigger the print the better. Capish?

photos from gorunway.com via Vogue

London Fashion Week: Kinder Aguggini AW12

There are some really lovely elements to Kinder Aggugini's collection but I can't help thinking that its about as wintry as an ice-cream. Besides the few obligatory pieces of knitwear, there's not much else in the way of 'warm' clothing. Then again, when has fashion ever been about practicalities? There's no denying that prints are fast becoming the biggest trend for FW12 and I can confidently say that Aggugini's cowboy-influenced designs are some of my favourites so far. Plus, any man that can make Dr. Martens' 'Adrian' loafer (see below) feminine, is a hero - though that's not to say I'll be investing in a pair any time soon...

What are your thoughts on London Fashion Week so far? The big-guns are still to show but there's not been anything particularly show-stopping yet, sort it out London!

New York Fashion Week: The Catch-Up

Yesterday evening I was stuck on a train for three hours and my brain still hasn't recovered from the trauma of it. As a result, I'm finding it somewhat difficult to write coherently this morning so instead of rambling on about the last of the New York Fashion Week collections, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Elizabeth and James

Michael Kors 

Proenza Schouler J. Crew

Some of the best collections thus far have been those with tailored, cropped printed trousers and those with unusual shapes and fabrics. There has been such variety in terms of styling, influences, prints and shape that it's almost impossible to compare the collections against each other, however, slick tailoring is a trend that is constantly reappears in various guises. Maybe it's just because these shows are coming from New York but I've loved the different ways it has been explored so far. I know London is the creative Mecca of all Fashion Weeks, I wouldn't have it any other way, but sometimes we do go a little OTT. 

Now that New York Fashion Week is over, which designers are you most looking forward to seeing? London used to be my favourite city but I'm kind of veering towards Paris at the moment, how about you?

London Fashion Week: Central Saint Martins FW12

I promised myself to try and blog everyday, well, clearly that didn't quite go to plan. Not only did I skip-out the end of New York Fashion Week but now I'm behind on London Fashion week which started yesterday. A big, fat, massive oops. Anyway, I kept a close eye on Twitter for the kick-off of LFW and as usual, the Central Saint Martins show was one of the most hotly anticipated. I half expected the whole show to revolve around the Olympics (yawn) but thankfully only one collection obviously drew reference from the upcoming event. Some collections were fantastic but unsurprisingly, some felt really amateur. There were some that were heavily influenced by the likes of Hussein Chalayan, Aitor Throup, Issey Miyake and Rei Kawakubo whilst others looked more original. My favourites were not the ones that were outlandish or commercial, but the ones that I would personally like to wear.

Although menswear, Kenji Kawasumi tapped into the whole outsized, rounded aesthetic that appeared all over the New York Fashion Week catwalks. I have no idea what fabrics have been used but unlike the apocalyptic colours and shades seen during NYFW, Kenji's collection was playful and bright. Erna Einarsdottir's collection, although not particularly exciting, had some stunning knitwear and geometric detailing;   I don't know anyone that isn't partial to a cosy grey knit for winter!

If you've ever worked with a computer program where you can print the margins and all that other tech malarky, you'll have seen the colour marks and edges that are then trimmed off. I'm not sure whether this was a starting point for Charlotte Helyar, but her collection was slick, structured and genuinely interesting. Now, I'm not all that comfortable with Burka related design aspects but Petra Metzger's collection would still have been clever without the unusual choice of headwear. Maybe I've got the wrong end of the stick entirely, either way, there was something pretty remarkable about her collection; though I can't quite put my finger on it.

The best thing about London Fashion Week is that designers aren't afraid of being creative, of looking outside the commercial box. The Central Saint Martins show is renowned for it's weird and wonderful collections that constantly remind us of why the school is one of the best in the world. Amongst others, CSM helped launched the careers of Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Barbara Hulanicki, Sarah Burton, Hussein Chalayan, Christopher Kane, Mary Katrantzou and Stella McCartney - these students are the ones to watch out for.

What do you all think of the Central Saint Martins show and do you think its status of being one of the most hotly anticipated of LFW is well-deserved? Who were your favourites?

New York Fashion Week: Marc Jacobs FW12

Whilst at a birthday party this weekend, a friend of mine turned up wearing an oversized, red woollen jacket and what can only be described as a floppy, misshapen top hat. Eyebrows were raised at her dubious choice of head-wear; little did we know that she was one step ahead of us all. Enter Mr. Marc Jacobs.

There's no denying that Marc Jacobs is an absolute genius and although (initially) I was a little perplexed looking through his Fall/Winter 2012 collection, it's clear that he has once again created a masterpiece. Rhinestone encrusted pilgrim shoes, giant knitted scarves (complete with giant safety-pin), paisley prints, floral prints, leather panels, fur panels, buttoned wool stoles, tulip skirts with padded hips, metallic jackets, geometric knitwear and to coin a term from the brilliant Coco's Tea Party, Stephen Jones' 'Jamiroquai' mink hats. Jacobs' had it all.

And yet, in spite of the mish-mash of different pieces, the collection is extremely coherent, typically stylish, wearable and in true Jacobs style, desirable. On paper it shouldn't work and at first sight it's all rather overpowering but when you look closely at the finer details you see a fantastic collection bursting with Jacobs' inimitable creative touch. The witty use of colour and the unlikely combination of textures are central to the success of this collection, cementing the knowledge that Jacobs' truly is an outstanding designer.

I think you'd agree that that's enough shameless flattery/arse-licking for one day (though I am desperate to try out the ankle socks, printed midi-skirt, contrasting geometric knitwear and oversized woollen stole combination). What is your opinion on Marc Jacobs' Fall/Winter 2012 offering and will you be doing the 'Jamiroquai' any time soon?

photos from style.com

New York Fashion Week: Karen Walker, Preen AW12

This time last year I raved about Preen and Karen Walker's Fall/Winter collections and now I intend to rave some more. Last year, Walker's collection was inspired by Britain's Northern Soul scene and featured great prints, styles and a clever use of vinyl; this time around, she was inspired by Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea where boxy-woollen coats and paisley-print Chelsea boots took precedence.

Reworking her signature tomboyish aesthetic with bold colour-blocking and interesting prints, Walker's mod-influenced collection is bang on the money for Fall/Winter 2012. Cropped slimline trousers and boxy single-breasted jackets are clearly going to be huge for Winter; Walker's tartan and orange versions are especially lovely, don't you think? She used a lot of orange and yellow last year and I really love this season's interpretation, particularly when worn as a colour-flash statement under more subdued pieces.

There's something about Preen's collections that is effortlessly classy and elegant, without being stuffy or outdated. For one thing, the styling is flawless and more importantly, the clothes are always outstanding.

For Fall/Winter 2012, Preen took inspiration from Beatrix Potter alongside notions of the strong, independent modern day woman. The end result was a striking balance of intricate botanical prints and bold, geometric shapes with a contemporary 'girl power' edge. These are the kind of clothes that women in power wear, women who mean business; they're not for your everyday Jane but for someone who know's what they want and how to get it. Although not realistically practical, the suede and lace platform heels will undoubtedly appear on 'must-have' lists everywhere come the end of Summer whilst a million and one geometric-colour block suits pop-up on the high-street. Ground-breaking? No. Desirable? Completely.

Will you be investing in a boxy-woollen coat and cropped geometric trousers or botanical florals at all? I am definitely taken with Walker's collection and can totally see myself buying a single-breasted jacket, they're all over the catwalk's this season and are super versatile.

photos from style.com

New York Fashion Week: The Prints Prevail

Yesterday I said that Alexander Wang was one of the American designers I was most looking forward to showing at New York Fashion Week and having taken one look at his Fall/Winter 2012 collection, this may have been a mistake.

It wasn't terrible, it just wasn't exactly interesting. Besides some classic Wang tailoring, the fabrics and shapes looked quite clunky and unless you're of model proportions, shapeless jumpers reminiscent of smelly wetsuits just ain't gonna work. Maybe it'll grow on me, who knows, but Alexander Wang Fall/Winter 2012 hasn't quite hit the mark or the standards we've become accustomed to.

Yesterday I said how my fear of colour restricts me to a uniform of black during the winter months but that might be about to change. Enter Band of Outsiders, Christian Cota and Mara Hoffman and their colourful, outdoorsy, printed collections. 

 Band of Outsiders

Christian Cota

Mara Hoffman

These collections probably instil the fear of God in anyone with an aversion to colour but they're so chic and well-styled it's almost impossible not to like them. Floaty peasant dresses were given sheer sex appeal and slouchy printed harem-pants were teamed with super-bright blazers at Band of Outsiders; their men's collections are always great so it'd be hard not the love the women's too. Fur is always a massive trend for Fall/Winter and my favourite variation this season has got to be the long-line waistcoat also seen at Christian Cota. His ethnic inspired collection made me want to travel back to the 70s and explore South America; it seems the printed trouser is fast becoming a serious contender for the most popular trend this season. Everything about Mara Hoffman's collection is doing it for me: the hats, the snoods, the prints, the shapes. Everything. The printed trouser and white shirt combination has to be my favourite look so far - you can just tell that over the coming weeks, there'll be a million and one variations.

I never thought I would favour bright prints over classic monochrome shapes but these collections are undeniably wonderful. I absolutely fell in love with the leather body-harnesses at Hervé Léger by Max Azria (see below) so have my fingers crossed that the high-street is taking note. How amazing would they look over a sheer vest or a contrasting body-con dress?

What are your favourite trends so far and would you like to see the high-street producing printed-trousers and body harnesses next winter? 

photos from style.com

Past, Present and Future: Alexander Wang

There are a select handful of designers whose collections I genuinely get excited about each season and Alexander Wang is one of them. His ingenious ability to give sport-luxe commercial appeal, his extraordinarily collectable accessories (I defy you to attend a fashion show where a Rocco/Diego isn't present) and his beautifully deconstructed take on tailoring make him one of the best designers in America right now. If you haven't already guessed, I'm quite a fan.

In anticipation of his Fall/Winter 2012 collection which is showing later today, I have put together my two favourite ready-to-wear looks from 2009 to the present day. Think of it as an homage, if you will.

Wang's Fall/Winter collection from 2009 is still my favourite of his - I distinctly remember the biker boot/cycling short revolution that followed and, along with thousands of others, promised myself that I would one day own a Diego.

There wasn't a girl in the fashion-world that didn't covet a side-plait/develop a sudden interest in American Football after seeing Wang's Spring/Summer 2010 collection. 

Everything about Wang's Fall/Winter 2010 collection was slightly odd. The flares, the slicked-down hair, the mish-mash of textures and the unusual styling technically shouldn't have worked together but they did. Harmoniously. 

I don't like white. I especially don't like metallic pastel colours. I do, however, love Wang's take on them both for Spring/Summer 2011 (he really can do no wrong in my eyes). 

My second favourite collection, Fall/Winter 2011 spurred the masses onto wearing knitwear with a silk maxi-dress on nights out. Sexy and practical, what's not to love?

Wang's Spring/Summer 2012 offering is probably my least favourite of the bunch, maybe my fear of pale-colours is preventing me from loving this collection as much as the others? Regardless, it's still undeniably great and I have faith that for Fall/Winter 2012, he'll produce something marvellous. 

Who is your favourite American designer? And your favourite designer full stop? After years of hard-graft, I am now the proud owner of Wang's infamous Diego bucket-bag and unashamedly parade around town with it, just because I can. Is there an item of clothing, or an accessory that you one day hope to own? 

photos from style.com

New York Fashion Week: Helmut Lang AW12

Some of you may (or may not) know that last September I moved to New York for 3 months. Everyone kept telling me it was like London, only bigger; however, geographical differences aside, it's nothing like London. I could write a list as long as my arm citing the disparities: fashion, lifestyle, night-life - where do you start? During my first week there, I was lucky enough to attend a show during New York Fashion Week and it was there that I noticed a massive contrast in clothing and personal style. See, New Yorker's are very chic and more often that not, live in a uniform of black whilst rarely venturing into the world of colour. I, for one, can appreciate this apprehension of wearing colour because it scares me; what if it clashes with my hair? Do I have to co-ordinate it with my nail-varnish? The potential colour predicaments are endless.

Anyway, what does any of this have to do with Helmut Lang? Technically, New York Fashion Week and I should be the best of friends but to be entirely truthful, I usually find it excruciatingly boring. There's rarely any 'oomph' (for want of a better word) and I'm usually disappointed, even more so after having fallen in love with the city. So far this season it's been true to form and the only people I'm vaguely excited about are yet to show. With its monochrome palette, structured tailoring, luxury fabrics and clever styling Helmut Lang has thus far been my favourite show.

I'll be the first to admit that there's nothing new here: over the knee boots, cobwebby knits, funnel-neck leather jackets and leather trousers are all far from cutting edge. What I do love though is the simplicity and wearability of the collection - it is neither generic nor high-fashion and therefore suits me just fine. In my opinion, this is the best collection out of a bad bunch which is such a shame as New York has so much to offer. I know it isn't notorious for avant-garde and unwearable fashions but it would be nice to see something unique and original come out of NYFW this season, let's hope the best is still to come!