Category: Winter

Banana Favorites: Paris FW Fall 2014

The “Ready to Wear” shows of the Fall/Winter ’14 season came to an end last week. As usual Paris FW had a lot of amazing shows. Let’s get to them.

BALENCIAGA 

Alexander Wang put on a very interesting collection mixing knits, belts, zippers and leather. Structure was present of course but it shows that he had lots of fun with this collection.

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NINA RICCI

Purple color had a lot of presence in this collection, going from pastel lilacs to deep -burgundy. This is a girl’s dream wardrobe for a trip. You’ve day looks (florals, maxi dresses and loose silhouettes) and then gowns for dinners in the city.

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CHRISTIAN WIJNANTS 

Personally I’m not too familiar with this line but I liked the simplicity and details of color and metallics.

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ISABEL MARANT 

Not my favorite Marant collection (the S/S ’14 was to die for) but I still liked it. I’m a fan what can I say. I found interesting how plaids and the olive color were still so strong in the fall collections this year. Apparently we’re not gonna stop seeing them.

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CHRISTIAN DIOR

Tailored pieces with a masculine feeling but with rich colors. Another interesting thing about the Fall collections was to see color block again on the runways. I loved the way that Raf Simons updated classic shapes and gave them a modern twist in this collection. My favorites? The hot pink dress and the pink/red top and skirt!

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CHLOÉ

The Chloé girl is always so polished and sophisticated. This season she added to her style bold prints and I loved it.

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GIAMBATTISTA VALLI 

Valli is definitely one of my favorite designers these days. I watched an interview about this collection and he said he had “enough of the menswear inspiration already” and he wanted to “design for a woman who was confident to dress in women’s clothes”. Well he delivered. Always right on point with the prints, colors and shapes. That last burgundy dress is SO gorgeous.

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ELIE SAAB

A little but disappointed, I must say. The past collections were so amazing that this one felt short. I still liked these four dresses so I had to post them.

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SAINT LAURENT 

If I could choose a show to attend, Saint Laurent will be on my top list for sure. The label is the definition of glamour and rock & roll. Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane even sat at the front row. How cool is that? I love how Hedi Slimane incorporates glitter in his collections and bows as well. Add plaids and capes and it’s perfection. BTW, I’m seeing so many capes lately. I need one ASAP!!!

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VALENTINO

Lots of 70s inspiration in the Fall runways too. As for Valentino? Beautiful as always. I really liked the versatility of this collection. Going from very bold prints with a retro feeling to delicate, elegant gowns that define the line.

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ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

What a rich collection. Very ethereal. It’s like it came out of a children’s fantasy book. The white moon and stars dresses were my favorite!!! Amazing.

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LOUIS VUITTON 

This was Nicolas Ghesquière’s debut so the show was full of expectations. Marc Jacobs let me down in his last shows and in my opinion, Ghesquière did a great job. Very true to Fall fashion, the collection had a lot of suede, skins and leather. To me, it was as if Amelia Earhart would fly nowadays, these were the clothes she’d wear. A+

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MIU MIU 

I always have mixed feelings with Miu Miu. I appreciate originality and a fun collection but sometimes it’s too much. I liked the colors in this one and how she played with the knits and other fabrics. See? Color block again. I wonder if for Spring ’15 it will come back strong.

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That concludes the ready to wear collections. Did your favorite made the Bananas’ list?

Banana Favorites: Milan FW Fall 2014

Milan Fashion Week impressed me this season, unlike past ones. I liked the versatility of the different collections and original concepts.

These are the ones I liked the most:

FAUSTO PUGLISI

The first collection that I saw from MFW and I felt instant happiness. To me this collection’s as if the 80s came back but mature now. The geometric shapes and color blocking is very representative of the decade BUT the silhouettes are much better for a woman’s body. The Statue of Liberty tops were so cool!

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JUST CAVALLI 

I love fringe. I don’t are how many times the trend fades away and comes around again I just do. Roberto Cavalli is to me a fringe guru. I always like how he masters the boho chic term. This being a fall collection, add some capes, leather jackets and boots and it’s good to go. The color accent in the clothes gives the collection a cool twist.

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MOSCHINO

A+ for originality and FUN! This was the most entertaining collection of all! First, those heart/M shades are too cool. Spongebob, Froot Loops, Gummy Bears and Cheetos outfits rocked the runway making it look like a food challenge from Project Runway and Jeremy Scott definitely won.

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BLUMARINE

Not anything out of the ordinary but the collection had nice pieces. If I had celebrity clients I’d consider some of these dresses for events.

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ROBERTO CAVALLI 

Again, we’re lost in Cavalli’s boho chic planet, this time a little dressier and with more structure. This collection calls for a super glam photo shoot in the dessert. In love with that royal blue dress!

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EMILIO PUCCI

Folky glam. All I need. Very cool collection.

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ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

Kawaii!! Loooved this collection!!! It had a Tokyo feeling to it. The varsity jackets and boyfriend jean looks were my favorite.

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DOLCE & GABBANA

Enchanted, is the keyword here. Even though I always think their collections are way too long I was fascinated by this one. We posted earlier Red Valentino‘s collection inspired in Snow White and apparently Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana had a bite of the same apple. Red Ridding Hood capes, squirrels and swans appliques, owl prints.. ♡ we so loved this fairytale.

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Will Paris FW top Milan? Can’t wait!

Red Valentino’s Fairytale

“One bite and all your dreams will come true”… this collection IS a dream come true! We couldn’t resist posting it. Snow White inspired, it’s filled with bows, apples and hearts. Even though it’s a girly collection the styling with the Martens looking oxfords and socks with the bright color shoes adds such an edge to it! Love at first sight.

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The Men’s Shows F/W 2014: London

One of my favorite times of the year is here. The Men’s collections!
Let’s check out what the trends are for this season, what’s still in style and some disasters haha

LOU DALTON F/W 2014
Designer Lou Dalton showed us that camouflage isn’t going anywhere! Also, light washed jeans and pink!!!!!

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TOPMAN DESIGNS F/W 2014
Lots of leather (SO MUCH patent leather/vinyl) , black, crazy fringe and sheer pieces . They gave us all the variations of a toggle coat/jacket that you could hope for.

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HARDY AMIES F/W 2014
Dapper, modern gentleman. Love the blues.

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MAN F/W 2014
Showing us that neon is not dead, just use it in moderation. Plus, a collection with some inspiration from Disney is sure to stand out to me.  It just was a little bit all over the place for me.  I need that boxy tee with the eyes!

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CHRISTOPHER KANE F/W 2014
Cool sweaters and nice tailoring on suits and jackets.  Blue is coming up as a strong trend for fall 2014.

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LEE ROACH F/W 2014
This just looks cool. Can someone get me that cream jacket?! I’m in love

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JONATHAN SAUNDERS F/W 2014
I don’t particularly love the styling, but there are SO many good pieces!

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RICHARD NICOLL F/W 2014
Cool colors, interesting silhouettes and a biker jacket to die for. Love the look with the polka dot sweater!

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J.W. ANDERSON F/W 2014
It’s kinda crazy, innovative and very androgynous. And mostly quite FUG!

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CHRISTOPHER RAEBURN F/W 2014
This collection is like outdoor expedition chic. I want it all! Just be careful you’re not confused for a bear with that fur coat!

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JAMES LONG F/W 2014
Crazy cool textures and killer jackets.

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RICHARD JAMES F/W 2014
Beautiful plaid suits, a gorgeous blue leather biker jacket and metallic tuxedoes to die for.

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ALEXANDER McQUEEN F/W 2014
This collection had some great pieces with printed faces on them that I loved. It also featured some very strong lines and all over plaid.

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GIEVES & HAWKES F/W 2014
Very cool outerwear and some dapper looks. Isn’t the black guy the very definition of debonair?

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RAKE F/W 2014
Stunning trousers! But the collection didn’t do it for me

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CASELY-HAYFORD F/W 2014
Loved the outerwear with the strong stripes and the printed pieces.

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E. TAUTZ F/W 2014
Strong graphic pieces, a perfectly done pattern clash and asian influences made this one a win. Those coats are perfect!

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SIBLING F/W 2014
This is what I imagine you wear on a gay ski trip. Short shorts for f/w seems wildly impractical!

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BURBERRY PRORSUM F/W 2014
It’s kinda crazy busy, very relaxed and european and looks so lux! Though mesh tanks aren’t practical for cold weather either! But i’ll take one of the scarves, one of the printed shirts, the leather biker, the sweater with the church and one of the bags

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PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND F/W 2014
The richest blues ❤

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KTZ F/W 2014
It’s kinda scary, but the pieces are so graphic I love! Get me that white jacket!!!

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CHRISTOPHER SHANNON F/W 2014
I don’t smoke but i’m all for that first look! Sportswear at its best!

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What did you like? What would you wear? What do you hate?

Stay tuned for our coverage of Paris and Milan!!