Is It Time for the Fori Shoes, Again?

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So, you have watched Dolce & Gabbana show for Spring/Summer 2012, huh? What was it like? Do you love all the perforated things that have been paraded on the runway a couple of weeks back? Just a quick newsflash for you - do you know that the inspiration of everything 'mesh' and 'perforated' on those easy breezy clothes and accessories are actually came from the fishermen's village in Italy? Yup, you heard it right. Apparently the dynamic duo are really inspired by the fishnet and all that they decided to feature it into the collection and make it high fashion. And voila! You see the cutout on almost everything. I dunno if Dolce & Gabbana really wanna outdo Prada when the fashion house also did their fori version for SS'10. (which made me go gaga over the saffiano fori portfolio bag!)

Anyway. One of the perforated accessories seen on Dolce's show is this pair of lace-up shoes which i took somewhere in the blogosphere (which I've forgotten the link, sorry!). Somehow I'm sensing a similar vibes with the YSL cage boots for the ladies since they all feature the squarish fori throughout.

If you really into the economics, do you think it's worth to pay a huge sum of money for less material being used to made this shoes? Coz why, if you take a same lace-ups like this - but without all those mesh going on - wouldn't it be having more leather per square inch compared to this one since all the punched-out leather has made it become less material used (per square inch!). You get what I mean, right? Yet, if you're into art and stuff - of course, you can't put any price tag to it coz art is priceless. (for everything else, there's always Mastercard, ahaks!)

Anyway, mentioning perforated shoes... I think it gave me some kind of flashback to the time I tried the Prada fori lace-ups quite a while ago during the Sale at Selfridges. Though not as larger mesh as Dolce's, it's proven to be quite breezy when I wore it. Great 'ventilation' to the feet during the hot weather, though. 

the cutout mesh shoes at backstage Dolce & Gabbana SS'12 show

the Prada fori lace-ups that I tried at Selfridges, London.

Or at least, I can still experience the same 'ventilation' feel if I wear my previous Giorgio Armani shoes. And it's perforated white (with a bit of black), which somehow screams summer! without I'm knowing it! :)

the Giorgio Armani perforated lace-ups that I wore last time to Hummingbird @ South Kensington.

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To Patent or Not to Patent?

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Last week I decided to wear the lace-up shoes to the office. Not just a normal lace-ups, but the patent leathers instead. Kinda 'abnormal' to be wearing patent on the daytime since it is normally a perfect choice for eveningwear, not officewear. Yet I dare to be different and go against the typical fashion rules, coz somehow in fashion there shouldn't be any rules. Or better, aren't all rules are meant to be broken?

I pulled out some of the shoes in the storage boxes and can't decide which one to go for. I got different patents lace-ups from the highstreet to designer labels - and that day I can't really made up my mind it's gonna be either Zara with the gradual tones dark brown shoes, or another one in black patent, or even the D&G one? They're all watery glossy and shiny. My so-called 'criteria' of the day is that it must look awesome with my superslim suit I'm wearing. I normally pair it with my Hugo boots, but that day I wanna go for other selection in my shoe storage.

Eventually, none fit the criteria very well coz somehow the lace-ups are not that suitable with the end of the trousers. So, my spoilt choice with the patent leather shoes are to be buried down that day.

As an alternative, I picked the Asos boots with it's pointy toe. One word: it's awesome with the whole ensemble. I think it kinda hits with my own style mantra which I lived up to : it doesn't matter whether it's a designer labels or a highstreet brand, as long as it look devilicious, then the style is spot on! Agree?

Come afternoon, the mood suddenly change. My mind flipped and I'm in the patent mood for another round. So, the choice post-lunch period was the patent loafers with the cumberband-lookalike cross-strap from Asos. Again, it looks good with the trousers, so it works!

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They're Feeling Blues...

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Either it's azure, brandeis or cornflower, to cobalt, indigo and midnight; the designers agreed that blue would never be out of place when it comes to Spring/Summer. For next SS'12, various hues of blue are seen everywhere again, after turquoise made the color of the season last SS'10. From Bottega Veneta azure blue suit worn by Ryan Taylor, to Antonio Navas in cobalt blue by Roberto Cavalli and patterned midnight blue donned by Julien Chanca at Z Zegna, get ready for the color to hit the season.

Just make sure your mood won't be one. Blue.

Bottega Veneta

Canali

D&G

Iceberg 

Issey Miyake

Kenzo

Roberto Cavalli

Versace

Z Zegna

[pix from style.com]

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Milan Fashion Week : The Bags. Part 1.

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Menswear Spring/Summer 2012 show in Milan has ended late last week before continuing the trend for next year's season to Paris runways. Milan always set the trend when it comes to men's fashion, and what we're seeing is lots of colors and prints and pattern in true Italian flair. Some designers seem to tone down the affair, while some upped their game in giving you choices what to go for when the season appear in the year of London Olympic.

Anyway, as usual my eyes are on the accessories like neckwear, shoes and of course, the bags. My verdict for SS12? A mixed bags (no pun intended) coz lots of designers seem to give something new stuff, new designs again - some a different take on their usual fabrication and the fashion house's signature.

Let's see what are some of the bags out there for Spring/Summer 2012.

Bottega Veneta.

The house of Bottega continues with their signature intrecciato or braided, in Italian. Woven, if you may, coz that's what season after season after season are seen either on the edge of the bags or the whole body work or just on the handle. And of course, exotic skin is still in. What is new is the multicolored buttery soft intrecciato bags, which somehow reminds me of Neopolitan ice cream...

Corneliani

How many python has to be sacrificed to make those bags? Yikes... Btw, for those WWF-supporting people, you might wanna go for the canvas bags with the leather trim that looks so delish as well (or are those suede, instead?)

Costume National

Another season for foldable bags. After Gucci did last FW11, this time Costume National brought you the mlutch version in buttery soft leather. Or you can opt for the one with cross-strap, which somehow look like a boxer training pad thing (the one that the trainer hold for the punch, if you know what I mean).

Dolce & Gabbana

Surprisingly Dolce & Gabbana took the inspiration from the Italian fishing village and came up with the fori inspired collection. From the clothing to shoes and bags, most are having that theme : perforated, or net work. I actually love those that look like fishing nets, coz somehow it's different from others. Maybe after this I can ask those fisherman at Kuala Sepetang to copy the same. Ngg....

Oh, the big leather duffel bags look pretty nice too, which came across between a doctor's bag and previous Fendi women's bag (the one Anja Rubik hold in SS10 campaign).

[pix from gq style]

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Lapels? What Lapels...?

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Have you ever heard of that syndrome : pair slim ties with slim lapels, big ties with big lapels? Isn't it daunting, coz you've gotta have a huge selection of ties in your closet then. And what if I'm not feeling it, and would like to wear slim ties with big lapels? Am I committing a fashion crime?

Well, crime no more coz with these Dolce & Gabbana suit jacket it's time for freedom. Free to pair whatever width of your ties with your suit jacket coz this Spring/Summer 2012 piece of collection came with no lapels! A revolution must be made in your wardrobe, and make your ensemble much more versatile. I actually love how they look, coz it can rock both formal and casual ways, if you know to do it well.

Anyway. If you think Dolce & Gabbana are the first one to do lapel-less, you're wrong. Coz apprently Salvatore Ferragamo did it this season, but in a nice neutral tones with patch pocket and contrasting hems. Very cool and summer feel..

[pix from style.com]

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