Milan Fashion Week A/W14: Salvatore Ferragamo and Sportmax Have Arty Animal Instincts

Being a self-confessed lover of all things leopard print (from shoes to pyjamas), I always have my eye out for a peek of it on the catwalk, especially as it rarely goes out of fashion. Many style bibles may claim that zebra takes over in certain seasons, but the truth is that leopard is here to stay, reminding us of everything from 1950s kitsch to 1980s sex kitten glamour, purely because there are so many visual references aligned with it.

Naturally I was pleased to see leopard print appearing in the collections of two Italian heavyweights, Salvatore Ferragamo and Sportmax, but I also noticed some other thematic similarities between the two, such as delving into other animal prints (specifically patent black coats with a croc or snake finish) and experimenting with painterly touches. 

Rawr Prints

 [Images via Style.com]. Ferragamo favoured soft leopard tailoring worn for high impact.

Sportmax opted for a brighter and more precise print, teamed with leather trims.

I love how differently the print has been interpreted by each designer, and how far removed the two central looks can be, with Ferragamo's 70s-style tan cape battling against the 90s slim-fit approach from Sportmax. 

Black Lines

 The power of applied volume and precisely placed belts is at hand.

 Here, the belts are almost obi-style in thickness, cutting straight across the body and almost creating two separate canvases.

I think it's safe to assume that a belted patent black coat, to knee length or below, will be a staple purchase for A/W 2014 and beyond. Personally my favourite is Ferragamo's collarless minimalist number - it's neat and edgy.

 A Fashionable Animal

 Whatever the silhouette you're going for, Ferragamo has you covered.

 Sportmax shows its full range of animal prints in action.

This is where the real trend-led pieces come in; the ones that are less classic and more instant fashion fixes. Enter high necks, puff sleeves, print skirts and other easy separates to pair with the rest of your wardrobe.

Artistic Licence

 Painted leather, oil slick effects and bursts of colourful dye transform these looks.

Clear artistic inspiration from Jackson Pollock shaped the latter part of this collection.

It's interesting that both designers chose to combine animal prints with paintbrush effects, allowing them to push their collections in new directions, and that the end results continue to be so different. You'd hardly say that the watercolour-esque mustard lines of Salvatore Ferragamo were from the same school of thought as the Jackson Pollock splodges employed by Sportmax. 

I suppose the uniting factor about these two ranges is fun; the prints are fun, the experimentation is fun, and the wearers are going to have the most fun of all.

LFW A/W14: House of Holland and Paul Smith Dressing Women for Women

Some people say you should dress for yourself; others say you should dress for the job you want, or for a man. However, the option of dressing for other women is also a potent one, and it's been taken to heart by two polar opposite designers at London Fashion Week - Henry Holland, the man behind House of Holland, and Paul Smith. 

 [Images via Style.com]. HOH brings the iridescence to the yard.

Paul Smith's laid-back eveningwear as daywear: the student's dream. Note the damask trousers, too.

Whilst the collections are hardly identical, with HOH offering a heady mix of slogans, sequins and fur whilst Paul Smith showed off dark prints and upper-class pyjama party chic, I did find some similar takeaways from them. Both took advantage of damask prints to great effect and both used shiny finishes to give their catwalk looks that extra bit of polish, but ultimately it felt that both were dressing women without the need to gain a man's seal of approval. 

 Henry Holland can do cocktail hour, and even an LBD. 

You can never have too many prints, Mr. Smith.

These were not great looks for first dates with a man, meeting his parents or going to a job interview (even Smith's brilliantly louche suits wouldn't have gone down well with a male-led HR department) and they weren't aimed at catching a man's eye across the bar. These were pure fashion looks, aimed at the sisterhood and, in the case of Smith, borrowing from the boys in order to subvert masculinity. 

 Layer it up as you like over at HOH.

The boys would never look this good in masculine tailoring.

Meanwhile, HOH's lipstick and cocktail decor, set beside gauzy layers over ripped jeans, was certainly bold and brassy, but probably not likely to get many seals of approval were it donned by the ladies of Take Me Out. Instead, I felt it was about celebrating girliness and not giving a toss about what men want to see you in.

It's really liberating to see British designers bringing such a carefree attitude to dressing and not to prescribe women yet more body-con dresses or man-pleasing basics. We love clashing patterns, playing with textures and wearing something daring, so keep up the good work. Not all of us are dressing to please the men in our lives, and we don't intend to start any time soon.

The Stylist's Rail: Bargain Hunting and Cocktail Sipping Galore

A shiny new fashion event hit the Hoxton Hotel in East London this weekend; The Stylist's Rail was a vintage-meets-new-designers shopping experience, complete with cocktails and goodie bags for the crowds of attendees. I went along to sip and shop (sometimes simultaneously) and report back for you.

 Guests were greeted by quirky displays set against rails of pre-loved or brand new clothing and accessories.

 I couldn't resist snapping these passport covers by Elsie & Fred, made by customising brightly coloured pieces of leather. In fact, I ended up buying the top one.

 A trader showed off her amazingly versatile silk scarves, made in batches of 180.

There was a real mixture of styles available, meaning that you were in no danger of leaving the event empty-handed. From rock chick fringed black leathers to 60s PVC and suede skirts, there was something to appeal to even the pickiest vintage shopper, whilst the new brands on show offered really interesting accessories and outfits, including delicate gold bespoke jewellery and grungy sheer dresses.

 These vintage knitwear pieces caught my roving eye.

 Cocktails were kindly provided by Bloom.

 As you can see, we had rather generous glasses. Chin chin!

The cocktail element of the event was a real bonus. Whilst I'm not normally a fan of gin, I can definitely recommend a G&T made with Bloom, a dry London variety, and served with a strawberry. However, juggling shopping purchases and a glass became something of a balancing act for most of us!

 There was even a DJ to get the party started.

 My +1 was one of my best friends, Katherine, who enjoyed her G&T as well.

 This retro shoe line-up shows just how diverse the stock was at the vintage stalls.

 One of the key considerations when buying vintage at events like The Stylist's Rail is to really go through the rails with a fine tooth comb, so you don't miss anything. We found it helped to do a circuit of all the stalls a few times, just to make sure we saw everything available, and we looked out for eye-catching patterns and textures.

 Jewellery on sale was affordable, blinged up and trendy.

 Some of the pricier pieces were worth splashing out on. I would definitely have taken the plunge and bought these unusual brogue-style trainers (£68) if they'd been in my size.

 Incredibly, this Dolce & Gabbana coat was only £235.

 When checking out designer bargains, it's worth remembering that these items are going to generally be of better quality than your average high street vintage pick, so you won't really be able to haggle as much, because the price will be reflecting the brand name. Also, there will probably be someone willing to give the stallholder the offer they're looking for, so if you really want it then just go ahead and make that designer piece yours.

 A Prada denim twill handbag hung from the rails.

 These colourful bomber jackets were a photo opportunity waiting to happen.

If you wanted something more futuristic and less vintage, this stallholder was happy to oblige.

Having seen the success of this event, I'm sure The Stylist's Rail will be delivering more fashion injections to the people of East London, and I'm looking forward to a similarly eclectic mix of brands and retro bargains.

Unlikely Inspiration: Ikea Channels Christopher Kane

Whilst browsing the huge warehouse space at Ikea Croydon last weekend, I can honestly say I didn't expect to find a significant nod to Christopher Kane amongst the tea lights and pine shelves, but lo and behold there was one. In fact, a whole range of prints had sprung up, focusing on plant life and biology, in a major reference to Kane's S/S14 collection, which he had referred to as 'sterilised petals'.

 [Image via Ikea.com] Who knew walnuts were so on-trend?

 [Image via Style.com] The catwalk goes botanical.

What Christopher Kane addressed was the perfect print quality of a biological drawing, with the symmetry of the petals and the overall flower structure creating something that's easy on the eye and flattering on the figure. Plus it doubles up as revision if you're studying biology or botany in any capacity, especially as Kane referenced textbooks in the collection itself, and education in the music choice of the catwalk show.

 [Image via Ikea.com] A more traditional botanical drawing on sale.

 [Close-up image via Ikea.com]. The brain-like walnut in detail.

With Ikea bringing the scientific side of florals into the home, it's a clear sign that Kane is onto a winner. It's normal for colour trends to cross over into interiors but I've never seen a mainstream home ware brand so obviously take a cue from just one designer. The walnut print, in particular, is an unmistakeable tribute to the S/S14 range.

[Images via Style.com] Snippets of Kane's floral notes.

Perhaps in the future we should expect to see more lone design inspiration making its way onto the shelves of Ikea - Rodarte-esque sunflowers or goth weaving? Dolce & Gabbana-esque Italian domestic seaside images featuring buxom models in pasta earrings? The floor is open...