Kimono, a traditional Japanese garment worn by men and women alike, is the biggest and one of the more surprising fashion trends of 2014. Although Asian-inspired fashions have been seen on the runways for years, kimonos have not enjoyed the same level of popularity as, say, harem pants – perhaps because we’re not quite sure how to incorporate this centuries-old tradition … Continue reading
Since the launch of green stilettos, I have been exploring the various permutations of “sustainable” fashion: ethical, eco-, fairtrade, green, responsible and slow fashion are all terms being used interchangeably by the industry itself as well as countless magazines, forums and blogs that report on this growing trend. Is there a roadmap to navigate the rapidly expanding universe of sustainable fashion? What does “sustainable … Continue reading
Metamorphosis is a Greek term that stands for “transformation”. A biological process that is common in many insects, it is also perhaps one of the best ways to describe fashion. From day to night, season to season and through the years, we change our clothes and, in doing so, transform ourselves. This week’s article is all about the … Continue reading
Every woman I know has found herself at some point in her life staring into her bursting-at-the-seams wardrobe with nothing to wear. But rather than hitting the shops and adding to the growing credit card balance and piles of clothes in your closet, how about shwopping instead? Shwopping (clothes swapping), also known as swishing, is a growing trend … Continue reading
Do you remember the scene from the film An Education where the delightful Carey Mulligan’s character, a 16-year-old suburban schoolgirl Jenny, upon meeting the grown-up and glamorous Helen played by the drop-dead gorgeous Rosamund Pike, just cannot help touching her fur stole – the most luxurious and marvellous thing she’d ever seen in her life? That scene played … Continue reading
Our clothes are used to send a multitude of messages. A football jersey professes one’s support to home team; a business suit conveys professionalism and competence; a red dress implies sensuality and desire. From sans-culottes of the French Revolution to bra-burning feminists of the 1960s, clothes were used to make a political statement. Indeed, we use fashion to literally wear our … Continue reading
Chocolate hearts are a Valentine’s Day staple, behind in popularity only roses and engagement rings. But how do you know if a chocolate heart you are about to savour is, in fact, a chocolate with a heart? Time to unwrap the chocolate mystery… This sumptuous, luscious, silky-smooth and sinfully calories-rich delicacy comes from the cocoa … Continue reading
By a peculiar alignment of the stars, two major events are taking place simultaneously this week: the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, running from 6-13 February, and the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia from 7-23 February. Far from being worlds apart, sport and fashion are increasingly converging. Sport chic rules the runways at … Continue reading
In the fashion universe, designer is king. That’s why the only way to get the fashion industry to embrace sustainability is by teaching future designers how to do it. A couple of years ago, New York-based designer Timo Rissanen summed up his personal sustainable fashion challenge as follows: “I basically had to learn to design again.” Sustainable fashion … Continue reading
As we are getting ready to ring in the new year, it is time to look back at 2013. Despite its fair share of depressing news, chief among them the Rana Plaza tragedy in Bangladesh, this year also saw some promising developments and auspicious announcements in the area of sustainable luxury: from zero-deforestation luxury eco-bags … Continue reading
green stilettos 