Live from LONDON at Phillips de Pury & Company, 9 Howick Place, London SW1 on Wednesday 11th June 2008 - 20h30 onwards GMT/BST, as part of the first ever Coutts London Jewellery Week.
RUNWAY ROCKS celebrates jewellery design and innovation showcasing the internationally acclaimed couture collection of spectacular catwalk jewels, specially commissioned by Swarovski from the most directional designers around the world!

Watch the spectacular couture show with jewels from leading international designers including Manish Arora, Erickson Beamon, Francesca Bristol, Alexandra Byrne, Hussein Chalayan, Ana de Costa, Ligia Dias, Naomi Filmer, Elizabeth Galton, Collada Garcia, Zaha Hadid, Kirt Holmes, Christopher Kane, Farah Khan, Shaun Leane, Julien Macdonald, Hannah Martin, Corto Moltedo, Nusch, Rodrigo Otazu, Mr Pearl, Johnny Rocket, Marios Schwab, Pippa Small.

A model walks down the runway at the Swarovski Runway Rocks fashion show

LONDON - JUNE 11: A model walks down the runway at the Swarovski Runway Rocks fashion show during London Jewellery Week, at the Phillips De Pury Gallery June 11, 2008 in London, England.

Celebrities and the fashion glitterati turned out in force 11 July 2008 night for the fifth annual Swarovski Runway Rocks event. Held as part of the Coutts London Jewellery Week, the party showcased Swarovski’s latest collection of show-stopping couture jewellery.

Held at the Phillips de Pury Gallery in Victoria, guests including Jaime Winstone, Rosamund Pike and Lulu Guinness walked a crystal-strewn carpet to watch the show. Collaborations with everyone from fashion designers Christopher Kane, Marios Schwab and Julien Macdonald to architect Zaha Hadid made their way down the catwalk, and the creators had clearly let their imaginations run wild. An enormous Indian headdress, crystal antlers complete with small birds and a technicolour Robo-Cop-meets-skeleton suit all made an appearance.

LONDON - JUNE 11: Nadia Swarovski and husband Rupert Adams ahead of Swarovski Runway Rocks event in on June 11 2008 in London, England.

A model walks down the runway at the Swarovski Runway Rocks fashion show during London Jewellery Week - June 11, 2008 in London, England

Marios Schwab’s piece was inspired by “the topography of the internal body.”

A model walks down the runway at the Swarovski Runway Rocks fashion show during London Jewellery Week - June 11, 2008 in London, England

Collado Garcia whipped this ensemble up with a dash of reptile and a pinch of cyborg, saying:

This is the look of an intergalactic creature who found her way into a dragon’s lair, fell asleep on a nest made of precious stones and woke up with the gems fused onto her skin.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez positively glows in the fresh faced look on the left, but an overload of shimmery charcoal eyeshadow and too-nude matte peach lips weighs her down.

Fergie

Same pose, different face! She’s got the eye makeup and blush, but Fergie must have forgotten her foundation at home. Smooth even skin paired with bright defined lips help Fergie look truly Gorgeous.

Christina Aguilera

Ms. Aguilera loves to emulate Marilyn Monroe’s blonde bombshell style, but shiny red lips, heavy eyeliner and way too shimmery shadow hide the Beautiful girl underneath.

Jessica Simpson

It’s Jess the Joker! Simpson admitted to over-plumping her pout with Restylane, and this bright red lipstick sure didn’t help.

Beyoncé

Even Beyoncé seems aghast at her over-styled look on the right! This natural beauty looks best in subtly colored, minimal makeup (read: no vampire-red lips

Drew Barrymore

If Drew were on her way to a Halloween party, we might understand this look. Unfortunately, she caked her face with white powder for the London premiere of her blockbuster Charlie’s Angels. Scary!

Jean-Paul Gaultier’s ornate bodice “cages” and skirts were literally sculpted from thick sausages of silk satin, looped and twirled like cornelli lace.

Not impressed at all. It kinds of gets too old and ugly: does anyone want to look like a cake these days? Moreover, PETA hates you for using too much fur.

Jean Paul Gaultier 2008

One of the few things I liked was the new idea for fringe. The bright underline is very playful. It looks like it was sprayed right on the forehead.

Overall, call me a bitch, but I find Gaultier’s collection this year extremely ugly and I would never wear it for this ammount of money, well, even if I was payed by the house to wear it. Don’t want to look like the Cruella de Vil. Really.

Fashion week >>

Givenchy Fall 2008-2009 haute couture show by designer Riccardo Tisci

Givenchy couture took a tour of the Andes this week in Paris, as the house’s creative director Riccardo Tisci sent out a phalanx of models in alpaca en route on a motorbike tour of Peru.

Nice black and white photo style. Photos show us new collection of Calvin Klein Jeans. La Moss created that origin black-and-white look for CK.  The advertising  campaign was photographed by Steven Meisel, models Abbey Lee, Agnete and Gordo.

Nice jeans!

Calvin Klein jeans fall winter 2008 2009

Calvin Klein jeans fall winter 2008 2009

Presenting the spring/summer 2009 collection under the theme of recycling, Rio Fashion Week offers a fresh new outlook to fashion in bringing the viewers into an environmentally friendly catwalk. Based on the catch phrase“Rethink, Recycle, Renew”, the 13th edition of Rio fashion week launched on June 6, welcomes new designers into a catwalk decorated by plastic artists such as Andre Andrade using unusual materials in order to open the debate on fashion and environmental responsibility. The aim is to show a fashion industry aware of the recycling issue. The event will end June 13th.

So I offer you to see some swimsuits for summer time.

Salinas - Verão 2009

Luiza Bonadiman - Verão 2009 Cantao Verao 2009

Elisa Chanan Verao 2009

Lenny Verao 2009

Orichua Verao 2009

Lenny fashion 2009 you can see on this video! Enjoy!

Glastonbury has been and gone for another year and if the number of tents flooded (or lack thereof) is any indication, then 2008 was a roaring success. With the sun out and shining for most of the weekend, festival fashion was really able to take centre stage…

Welsh singer Duffy hit the stage on Saturday in this adorable little ensemble, consisting of a striped Lacoste vest top tucked into high-waisted cuffed shorts. I love the heart earrings and envelope necklace for a final cutesy touch.

Even though I agree with the BBC presenter who said her kooky stage get-up looked like the multi-colour strip curtains you see in a takeaway shop, I thought Alison Goldfrapp, as always, looked a treat. And it has to be said, Amy Winehouse looked pretty darn fantastic in a sparkly blue strapless mini dress and sky high heels, topping off the look with cocktail umbrellas in her ‘hive.

www.catwalkqueen.tv

With the catwalks full of weird and wonderful prints of every incarnation the high street was quick to follow producing some key trends, from the art school inspired paint splashes we saw in Paris, to the naughties latest take on tie-dye seen everywhere from New York to London.
The only rule to remember with print is a little bit goes a long way. Clashing prints is a real art form so stick with one you like and keep the rest of your outfit simple – with just a few key accessories. And of course try something new, print works for everyone because it’s about fabric not form.
If you want to know how to choose clothes to suit your body shape then select one of our e-books to find out more.
Multi colored paint splashes blazoned across everything are not going to flatter everyone, no matter how on trend they are. So nod to this season’s most fashion forward look in this black dress from Oasis, with delicate crayon scribbles in flattering monochrome tones. It’s so versatile it will work for all shapes and sizes. Layer a cardi over if you don’t want to expose your arms, or a fine knit underneath. Team with heels for a special occasion or cute ballet flats for day. This season it was all about the print, but with this gently tailored dress there is still some form flattering structure too

Highstreet print style

Tie die was one of the standout prints from the international collections and there is no escaping it this spring. However, this traditional seaside look can be hard to pull off for the office. If anything says summer city chic though, it’s this skirt from Warehouse. The length and shape will flatter any figure and can be dressed up or down depending on where you want to go. It works equally well with a vest or cardi for the weekend with a pair of flat sandals, as it will with a short jacket for the office. Just remember to keep everything else you team it with simple, in solid colours. Clashing tie-die prints is not the way to wear this trend.

Highstreet print style
This floral dress from Warehouse strikes the perfect hippy, 1970’s vibe for spring – without looking like something you would find at Glastonbury. Catwalk florals screamed flower power for 2008 but to make them work in off the runway, the addition of a solid colour waistcoat and waist defining belt keeps this dress looking smart and chic and just the right side of laid back without being grungy. The ankle length is also perfect for hiding winter-ravaged legs before they are summer ready. Team with flats if you are tall enough or wedges if you want some height.

Highstreet print style
Tribal and ethnic patterns were the most bohemian of all the prints we saw on the catwalk – and are best kept for the weekend this summer, when you can really do them justice. This versatile dress from Jaeger will carry you through from March – worn over jeans and boots as a tunic, right up to late summer when simply teamed with some gold sandals and a stack of wooden bangles it will be the perfect beach to cocktails summer holiday look. (It also looks super chic over lightweight wide leg summer trousers if you don’t want to go short off the beach). Tribal looks call for bold accessories too, so layer on beads, bangles, headbands and a great pair of gladiator sandals

Fashion and style

The latest way to spruce up your coif? Adorn locks with some pretty flowers.

What the experts say: According to the February 2008 issue of Allure magazine, floral hair accessories are in, uh, full bloom. Hair stylist Bob Recine says depending on how you style, the flowers in your hair will make you in . . . or out. Don’t arrange the hair around the flower- that’s what a hairdresser would do. When you perfect beauty, you sacrifice charm? Stylist Orlando Pita adds, “You can play with color and can get away with things you cant get away with in bows and ribbons. Plus, flowers can soften pulled-back, severe hair and make long, loose hair even more romantic?”

What we say: With all the gloomy weather lately, this trend seems a little premature, but once the spring enters the picture flowers will be a welcome change from those itchy wool hats. An easy way to don a faux flower is to place one in French twist—but, please, abstain from matching your flower to your clothes or you’ll look like you’re ready for Kindergarten.

Summer and fashion! Nothing epitomizes summer more than a vintage-style floral tea dress. Easy to wear, versatile and flattering, this feminine dress is a hot summer look. Earl Grey, anyone?

With the onset of summer, everywhere you look there are tea dresses flooding the rails of the high-street shops. This most feminine of garments is elegant enough to take you from work to wedding, with just a change of shoes.

A tea dress is safe! Flowery and feminine, demure and chic! There is hardly any other dress which, “can honestly be said to suit (nearly) all women, (nearly) all the time,” says Hilary Alexander in the Telegraph’s article “Anyone for Tea Dress?”

Whether you are a waif-like teen or a generously-proportioned 40-something, the chances are you’ll find a tea dress that is both practical and flattering for your figure. Unleash the little girl in you, or high-society lady, taking afternoon tea on the lawn. Enter cucumber sandwiches and a pot of Earl Grey!

What is a Tea Dress?

It’s a feminine, girly and floaty dress that would look at home for high tea at the Ritz Hotel, or at a garden party. The dress is so called due to its aptness for being worn to afternoon tea or ladies’ lunches. Often brightly colored, it is a cute and feminine dress that can be worn to brunch, picnic, high-tea, a summer fete or bridal shower. Its elegance lies in the vintage styling and delicate prints.
The tea dress has weathered almost every runway trend. Immune to fashion, it has filtered down through the years as one of those oddities which has no specific meaning. The traditional floral tea dress is chiffonny and cinched at the waist. It can be worn with a slip and, in more traditional circles, a corsage. Collars can vary, from scoop necks to V-neck, Peter Pan to sweetheart. This year we see length variations, in addition to the classic cut, ending at the calf-muscle. Tea dresses 2008-style mean shorter-lengths and accentuated waists!Tea dresses were particularly popular with socialites in the UK, worn for the traditional “High Tea.” According to the article “It’s Time for Tea” by Dawn Copeman, on timetravel-Brtian.com; this tradition was first started in 1841 by Anna Maria Stanhope, the seventh Duchess of Bedford. Up until the early 20th century, lunch was served at noon and dinner was at 8 or 9pm, so there was a desperate craving for calories around 4 or 5pm in the afternoon.

How to Wear a Tea Dress

For a more traditional dress look for feminine patterns, small buttons and a knee-length hem. In the heat you can go bare-legged or wear the sheerest of hosiery. For a very 2008 feel, wear a mini-length over leggings. In the fall and winter go for an edgy look with knitted tights or thick opaques, and a cashmere cardigan. Small floral prints are very “domestic,” so if you want to be more on-trend, go for larger, painterly florals.
Shoes should be elegant for summer, with sharp footwear similar to the Manolo or Jimmy Choo variety! However, they can be heavier and funkier for fall, especially if you are wearing them with thick tights. Tea dresses are best worn with heels if you don’t want to over do the little-girl look.

Tea Dresses for This Season

You can either go vintage by scouring thrift shops, garage sales and market stalls, or take advantage of this season’s new designs. Kate Moss for Top Shop features a Daisy Print Tea Dress, with the supermodel’s favorite flower and a girly Peter-Pan collar. Priced at £60, this modern take on a 40s classic works just as well for summer and fall.

The Heaven and Earth Ditsy Floral Tea Dress (£95) from Asos appears to be going down a storm on the internet blogs, due to its flattering blouson sleeves which cover a multitude of sins.

This dress looks really fashion-forward with a wide belt to cinch in the waist. Other tea dresses include a girlie 40s chiffon print (£28), and a red-hot jersey V-neck (£2 with sex appeal. Online retailer Asos has more than 30 reasonably-priced styles to choose from, so is a good starting point to give you an idea of what best reflects your personality and sense of style.

High-end designer, includes a Marc by Marc Jacobs, dotted print tea dress (originally priced at £275)

and a Phillip Lim Flutter Sleeve tea dress (originally priced at £315) — both from Net-A-Porter.

For the ladies-who-lunch, Saks has a striking, soft knit Temperley Afternoon Mini Dress (($1,195) currently available for pre-order, providing a respite from girly florals.