Fall 2012 Fashion | The Classic Woman

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The Fall 2012 Classics — Paul Smith

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Sharon| Comments Off

When British fashion designer Paul Smith creates his line for women, he is known for his take on classic menswear with a feminine edge. For example, when he updates a man’s paisley dressing gown, pairs it with a matching blouse and trousers in a contrasting prints, he ends up with that “sexy look a girl gets when she ‘borrows’ a few clothes from her man’s closet”.

As a teenager, Smith had aspirations of becoming a racing cyclist. Unfortunately for the world of racing, he had a cycling accident that ended those dreams. However, fortunately for the fashion world, he turned his creative energy to the world of men’s fashion design. In 1970, he opened his first shop and by 1976 his menswear line was showing in Paris. Enjoying international success, he delved into the world of women’s fashions in 1998 creating a line that would come to be known for its modern menswear interpretation. Smith, a hands-on designer, is involved not only in the designing process, but in choosing the fabrics, and approving store locations. (For store locations go to http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/shop-locator/)

I have to admit, not every piece in his his Fall line won me over, but I did find a number of pieces that would be perfect for a classic woman’s wardrobe. I can almost see Katherine Hepburn or Lauren Bacall wearing one of his smoking jackets or tuxedo adaptations. In the end, if making me wish for fall is a sign of success, he definitely succeeded.

Fall 2012 according to Paul Smith:

The Look: Menswear with a Feminine Touch
The Details: Paisleys and Velvets
The Colors: Deep Chocolate, Olive, Cobalt, and Teal
The One Classic Piece to Buy: A Menswear Jacket
The Accessories: Loafers Influenced by Menswear and Dark Tights

source: vogue.com

(for the complete line go to http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/collections/women/)

Shop the Look

(as of this writing, Smith’s Fall 2012 is not for sale online, however, the following are similar looks that are currently available)

Velvet Blazer

Navy Wool Menswear Pants

Hutton Tuxedo Jacket

Metallic Brocade Straight-Leg Pants

Trouve Seamed Turtleneck

Black Velvet Pants

Leather Laceless Oxfords

Platform Leather Pumps

Posted in Fall 2012, Fashion

Tagged British fashion, classic wardrobe, Fall 2012 fashion, Paul Smith

The Fall 2012 Classics — Akris

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Sharon| Comments Off

The Financial Times calls Akris “the most successful label you’ve never heard of”. In fact, I only recently discovered Akris while writing a post on Princess Charlene of Monaco. Apparently the Akris client list includes, in addition to Princess Charlene, Condoleezza Rice, Diane Sawyer, Susan Sarandon, Nicole Kidman, and Angelina Jolie — the high society and power dressers. Akris, named for the label’s founder Alice Kriemler Schoch (her initials form A-Kri-S), started in 1922 when she sewed polka-dot aprons. Today the Swiss company, run by her grandsons, remember its roots by honoring the founder with hidden polka-dots in the linings of the garments. Also, staying true to its origin, all the clothes are designed and produced in Switzerland.

The Akris Fall 2012 RTW Collection was inpired by Franz Kline’s Painting No. 7.