Where am I going for my Masters? Polimoda, Florence

Florence awaits me and I'm waiting it with  anticipation. 

On 18th September my fashion journey continues, and this time its for real, my dreams are becoming a reality and it is where my career will jump start and it is where my future will be written. 

I had to chose between 3 fashion schools, but somehow my heart and mind pulled me towards Florence and Polimoda. 

At Polimoda -Institute for fashion Design and Marketing, in Florence, I will be studying Master in Fashion Brand Management. It was the best choice for me because the course they offered is perfectly suited for me and for what I want, in addition it has a great reputation and excellent professors. Its an institute which opens its doors to its students and supports them in a multitude of manners. 

Picture from the 2009 graduate's fashion show

The course will be starting on the 1st of October, when Autumn leaves will start falling and the day starts becoming shorter. 

I found a roommate too, Emily, American/Australian I think (Emily please confirm), and we found a beautiful apartment opposite the beautiful Arno river, five minutes away from our campus, Villa Favard in Via Curtatone. 

Photo from here

The Villa, which is also known as a Palazzo, was built around 1857 by a Giuseppe Poggi for a baronessa. It is a spectacular building, neoclassical style, perfectly fit for a fashion school. 

As time goes by, I will update more and more about Polimoda, my adventures and that of my course mates

The journey will start soon and in the meantime preparations are on their way, I have to start reading fashion books and prepare for a different lifestyle change, for the little gem in the middle of the Mediterranean to the capital of fashion and art - Florence.

 Arno River

Laura 

xoxo

 

Bill Gaytten bows out & Raf Simons takes over as creative director at Dior

Change over at Dior 

Bill Gaytten has shown his last collection for the Dior label.  He had taken over as creative director, after he replaced John Galliano, in February 2011, after being Galliano’s right hand man for 17 years. The two designers had a completely different vision and design, in fact, after Gayyten took the reins at Dior; he gave a refined feminine elegance to the label compared to Galliano’s fantasy like gowns.


Pictures below from the 2013 Cruise collection by Dior

The 2013 cruise collection was very much like his A/W 2012 collection for the house; from the colour palette, to the silhouette to the pleated skirts. His designs were reminiscent of the founder Christian Dior, full skirts paired up with lady like blazers that sit right at the waist, long gowns and pretty dresses. He will now continue as creative director at John Galliano.

The new creative director will be Raf Simons, who was appointed in April after his departure from Jill Sander. The designer’s first collection will be at the Paris Couture Fashion Week in July, where we will find out how his minimalistic designs and use of bright colours, will be incorporated into the French fashion house’s identity.  In an interview, he said

 “… for me the strongest impact is the first 10 years of Dior and how to link that to the 21st century. Mr. Dior was very innovative during a short time span. And it was in the middle of the 20th century, a period I am very interested in, whether it’s linked to fashion, architecture or art. So I find it very challenging to rethink couture.”

Pictures below from his last collection at Jil Sander

This will be his first ever Couture collection, one which everyone is eagerly waiting for,  all eyes will be on him!

Art & Salvatore Ferragamo | 2013 Resort Collection at the Louvre, Paris

Fringes, leather, knee high boots, weaving, crocodile and snake skin prints

The Florentine house showcased its 2013 Resort Collection inside the artistic walls of the magestic Louvre in Paris, the first designer ever to showcase a collection in the museum. The catwalk was set in the Denon wing of the Louvre and the Sainte-Anne exhibition of Leonardo Da Vinci, a  modern show, reminiscent of native America. 

Creative Director Massimiliano Giornetti, chose to revive the link between the brand and Leonardo Da Vinci showcasing Salvatore Ferragamo in art, with a pale theme of very natural colours. The collection confirmed why this collection is called resort, because, you are one with nature, in beautiful surroundings, and this collection was simply that, coupled up with the vision of running off into the sunset on beautiful bike. 

The talented designer, used a modern twist paired up with old traditions, with the skilled workmanship in the weaving of the jackets, the fringed skirts, crocodile and snake skin prints, all complemented by natural feel.

Knee high boots in different leather materials, from suede to crocodile, colours were pale, from a faint grey, to a light rose pink and sandy shades of brown. Make-up artist Tom Pecheux used brown and red for the eyes and left the lips pale. The hair was styled with luscious, beautiful waves and textures, a sophisticated woman walking in St. Tropez as described by hairdresser Luigi Murenu.

Massimiliano Giornetti said this about his avenue of inspiration for this collection ... 

"A woman whose eyes resemble the crystalline water of St. Barts and the radiance of a morning in Eivissa. Elegant and independent, she has a penchant for luxury and an inherent sense of multifacted style that she shares with Salvatore Ferragamo's purest DNA."

This collection is luxury and richness in a very raw and pure manner. 

Photos from Vogue.fr and Salvatore Ferragamo

Gucci's 2013 Resort Collection takes us back to the 60's and 70's

Long gowns, chunky necklaces, bright hues, floral prints, and bejewels 

Gucci Resort 2013

The house of Gucci and Frida Giannini took us back to the shapes and silhouettes of the swinging sixties and the disco seventies ... short shift dresses, midi skirts, skinny flare trousers, large sunglasses, floral patterns and blazers. The colours in this collection are beautiful, and not to bright, from a raspberry pink, to a beautiful emerald green gown, yellow and blue. 

The bejeweled necklaces blended in perfectly and the straight boyish silhouettes, are elegant and very wearable. 

This collection picks up from her last collection, with the seventies theme and the suits. The Flora print is always a Giannini favourite, bringing it in time after time. 

Beautiful collection!

Laura
xoxo

Editorial ... Crystal Renn in the June 2012 Issue of Vogue Japan

Crystal Renn in the Vogue Japan June 2012 issue, editorial by photographer Camilla Akrans. 

I'm obsessed about these photographs. Crystal Renn looks stunning in this Spanish inspired editorial ... red, black and lace dominate!

Titled "Under the Twilight Sky", the story opens with Crustal standing in a Spanish Colonial-style courtyard between two arches, at sunset, wearing a lacy red and black enseble by Dolce & Gabbana (pic 1). In pic 2 she is wearing Balmain, and in pic 4 shes is again in Dolce & Gabbana. 

In pic 6,  the lace trend is featured again, with a scarlet dress by Valentino worn by Crystal who is pictured reclining in a vintage outdoor lounge chair. In pic 5 wearing an ewe mesh and stretch-satin dress by Hakaan. 

You can see that this is styled by Anna Dello Russo, because she is wearing  alot of Dolce & Gabbana.

 Laura xoxo

Fashionista Get the Look - Olivia Palermo & Diane Kruger ... Casual Sporty Chic

Fashionista Get the Look - Olivia Palermo & Diane Kruger ... Casual Sporty Chic

Olivia Palermo seen in Chelsea, New York looking lovely, smiley & sporty chic

Olivia Palermo is wearing a pair of Hudson mid rise Nico skinny Jeans with leopard flats, an Anne Taylor Meadow Flower Top , Ray Ban Laramie Wayfers and Gerard Darel Woodstock 24 Hour cream crochet bag 

                   

Get Olivia Palermo's look:

White Crochet Vest Top - Debenhams

Skinny Super Stretch Jeans - Mango

Leopard Print Zip Style Flats - Yesstyle.com

Gold Sleek Strech Bracelet - Wallis

White Straw Bag - H&M

Tortoise Shell Oversize Cateye Sunglasses - Dorothy Perkins

Diane Kruger seen coming out of Nice Airport to attend the 2012 Cannes Film Festival looking casual chic 

She is wearing, a blue Anthropologie Corded Jumpsuit with gold detailing, Christian Louboutin Janice grey wedge sandals, a baby blue Chloe Elsie chained shoulder bag and a straw hat.    

Get Diane Kruger's look:

Straw Fedora -Wet Seal

Black Drape Jumpsuit with Belt - Oasis

Ecote Pattern Tassel Crossbody Bag - Urban Outfitters

Snakeskin Natural Pearl Printed Leather Sandal - Vince Camuto

Till the next Fashionista Get the Look. 

xoxo

Alexander McQueen's minimalist ... Heroine

Alexander McQueen launches its new minimalist handbag - Heroine

The house of McQueen have just launched this day bag, different from the little skull clutch bags or anything else from their collection. This is a new functional bag, you can wear from day to night, very minimalist in its design which boasts glamour and elegance. 

It comes in different shapes and sizes, either in smooth leather, studded, or laser-cut crocodile bag. All fashionistas will be lining up to get their hands on it, I'm sure it will be the bag of the season. Heroine will be available in stores at the end of July and at the moment only the black version is available online. The black leather one retails for £1525

Simply beautiful!

Fashion Exams ... Polimoda

Fashion Exams ... the upcoming entrance exams at Polimoda in Florence and ESMOD Paris

It has been one hell of a week! I finally finished my thesis, I cannot believe it, I thought that this day would never come, it did and its over. Anyway, now coming up are my 2 fashion exams related to the Masters courses I applied for. 

I applied for Fashion Brand Management at Polimoda in Florence and Fashion Business at ESMOD Paris. 

 The Polimoda exam is tomorrow and it should take me around 15 hours, its long and intense, but worth every minute and hour. I will be analysing a brand, from advertising strategies and market strategies, and my brand of choice is Dolce & Gabbana, its the brand I know most, hoping to be a winner for me. After that I will be interviewed by the Course Coordinator .. I'm so excited!

Polimoda headquarters, Villa Favard

Polimoda designs by students

Design creations by Polimoda students at Villa Favard

Florence is magical, its Italy, its the food, its the architecture, the art .. all these influences will make the study experience worthwhile!

Watch the video ... you'll automatically start dreaming!

The ESMOD Paris exam is on the 13th of June, that will be a shorter exam, a two hour exam based on my knowledge of fashion, but I will post information when the exam is closer.

Florence

I cannot imagine if I pass both exams, which one will I choose. Florence v Paris ... Florence is winning me over, after all Italy is my first love. 

Off to study a bit. 

fingers crossed.

xoxo