Trendology: The Best of 2012 - Womenswear

Few days ago, I showed you my favourite menswear picks of 2012 and today, it's time to show you the best of womenswear!

Best S/S 2012 Collection: Alexander McQueen

Courtesy of Style

This was the most romantic collection of the S/S season. The entire collection was like an underwater dream which the clothes were very romantic. Even though the colour palette was very colourful, the collection still contained a very dark gothic vibe. Without a doubt, Sarah Burton was the right choice to succeed Lee Alexander McQueen's position.

Best F/W 2012 Collection: Dolce & Gabbana

Courtesy of Style

This Dolce & Gabbana collection really set the trend for the F/W season. The designer duo cleverly applied Sicilian Baroque elements on the clothes to make them look romantic and elegant. If you were in any fast fashion chain store this season, you would have seen a lot of pieces "inspired" by this collection.

Best Shoe of 2012: Givenchy Sheath boots

From editorial to street style photos, This pair of Sheath boots was everywhere. The boot had a unique design and it would work well with many outfits, from casual to semi-formal. I have a very good feeling that this boot will resurface sometime next year with a new twist.

Best Runway Presentation: Louis Vuitton F/W 2012

Courtesy of Fashionizer .tv

There was no brand like Louis Vuitton that could produce such a high cost runway presentation this year. The LV train was a surprise to many people and it fitted very well with the theme of the entire collection.

Best Campaign of 2012: Louis Vuitton S/S 2012

Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Out of all the campaigns this year, Louis Vuitton S/S 2012 was definitely the most memorable one. The pastel colours and the retro cafe setting really brought memories to a lot of people. The entire campaign was very whimsical and sweet. Bravo to Steven Meisel!

The above were my favourite fashion moments of 2012 and I hope they were some of your favourites too. Judging from the direction each brand was going in 2012, I am pretty sure 2013 is going to be another amazing year!

Art[s]ense: Swide Top 5 2012

There are only few days left for 2012 and today, I want to share with you my favourite articles of this year on Swide.

Gerardo Lerrea

Gerardo was the first artist I featured in 2012. His works are always so whimsical, which really bring a smile to me all the time. I am also happy for him that he has won the Gucci Cut & Craft project in this year.

Ignasi Monreal

I honestly cannot get enough of Monreal's works. Everytime I look at his illustrations, I will feel like I am inside Monreal's fashion fantasy land. I would love to collaborate with him in the future to create some creative fashion projects!

Joshua David McKenney

Joshua's illustrations are always so dark, yet beautiful. Recently the artist has also developed a doll line called Pidgin. If you are a creative artist and want to design an outfit for Pidgin, then feel free to enter this competition.

Pippa McManus

There is always something special about Pippa's girls. They are alway so elegant, and I always feel like each illustration is telling a story of each of the girls. At this moment, I am just hoping she will finish the Vogue illustration project so I can look at the entire issue in illustration form.

Jolene Lai

Jolene's girls are dark and I always feel like each girl has a very emotional story to tell to the viewers. I remember when I first looked at the illustrations, all I could think of was her girls were liquify and mysterious. I can't wait to see what she will be producing next year!

My column will start off with a bang in 2013 and if you want to read more about these top 5 entries, you can click here to read my comments on Swide.

Trendology: The Best of 2012 - Menswear

2012 is coming to close and it's time to take a look at this year's best menswear.

Best S/S 2012 Collection: Givenchy

Courtesy of Style 

Without a doubt, Givenchy was the best collection for the menswear S/S 2012 season. Riccardo Tisci basically created a new high for the brand as everyone in the fashion world was craving for the Birds Of Paradise print. If you flipped through fashion magazines during the S/S season, there was no way you could avoid this print in any of the menswear editorial. Overall, it was a loud and stunning collection!

Best F/W 2012 Collection: Prada

Courtesy of Style 

This was probably Prada's strongest menswear collection in recent years. The Downton Abbey inspired collection was filled with a lot of structured pieces and people were all crazy about the pins and pens. The floral pattern dress shoe was one of the most interesting shoes I saw this year.

Best Shoe of 2012: Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 Metal Lace Up

Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Kim Jones produced the most beautiful shoe for men this year and no one could resist the design of it. The metal cap gave the normal lace up a boost to make it modern and edgy, yet completely wearable. It was sad by the time I saw this pair of shoes some months ago, the store was already sold out my size.

StyleNotes[Cheat Sheet]: Daniel Craig is the most stylish man of 2012!

Here is the last cheat sheet of 2012.

Year end means it's time to list all the top favourites of the year. GQ has just released the list of 25 most stylish men and without a big surprise, Daniel Craig takes home the top honour. I am also happy to know David Beckham and Ewan McGregor are on the top 5. [Read Here]

I am not surprised Daniel Craig is on top of the list, just look at him at the latest Bond movie. (source: StyleNotes)

I am sure many of us know about Andrej Pejic and recently, he appears in the January 2013 issue of Elle Serbia. In this editorial shot by Dusan Reljin, Andrej  is posing as both the man and the woman. The result of this shoot is pretty stunning and I would like to what Andrej will do next. [Read Here]

To be honest, I think this editorial is pretty cool. (source: StyleNotes)

If you want to sum up 2012 with 20 fashion stories, this post might be something you need to read before the year ends.

See you in 2013!

Trendology Louis Vuitton Pre Fall 2013 Menswear Collection

Louis Vuitton is one of the few brands which has a pre fall collection for men and it seems like Kim is bringing back some of the best elements from F/W 2012 to this collection.

The zig zag pattern has become a trade mark of Louis Vuitton menswear ever since Kim Jones joined the fashion label and as you can see, it reappears again in this collection. Aside from the zig zag sweaters, I am also in love with the colourful print of the shirts. On the other hand, if you are not a fan of prints but solid colours, this collection does offer some amazing solid colour suits and jackets which you will love.

Once again, Louis Vuitton is able to cater all kinds of men as there are something for everyone in this pre fall collection.

Ray of Inspirology: Versace S/S 2013 Campaign

Whenever I see Joan Smalls in a campaign, my heart will always skip a beat. Not to mention Kate Moss and Daria Werbowy are in this series as well.

These images are from the Versace S/S 2013 campaign and they are shot by Mert & Marcus. Aside from the stunning ladies, this campaign also includes male models Veit Couturier, Edward Wilding, and Kacey Carrig. The vibe of these images is very intense, with a hint of darkness, which really suits my taste. I have to agree with Donatella that each image is a work of art and props to Mert & Marcus for another amazing campaign for the brand!

StyleNotes[Cheat Sheet]: The S/S 2013 Campaigns

This week is all about the S/S 2013 campaigns and here are 2 of the more memorable ones.

Kate Moss is the new face of Stuart Weitzman S/S 2013 campaign and she looks stunning in the images. Mario Testino is responsible for this shoot and the black and white effect just makes the campaign to look classy. [Read Here]

Kate Moss can never go wrong. (source: StyleNotes)

I have to be honest, I am not a big fan of this season's menswear Prada collection because of the lack of creativity. However, I think the campaign is really stunning under the direction of David Sims. This time, the brand uses 4 celebrities (Benicio Del Toro, Harvey Keitel, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Dane DeHaan) and they all look stunning in this black and white series. [Read Here]

I actually really like the portrait images. (source: StyleNotes)

If you are a fan of Gossip Girl, you must know the series is finally over and if you want to take a look at the best 25 stylish moments, then click here.

Ray of Inspirology: Miu Miu S/S 2013 Campaign

This is one of the campaigns I can probably stare at it all day long without feeling bored.

The new Miu Miu S/S 2013 campaign is shot by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin and the models are Malgosia Bela, Bette Franke, Martha Hunt, Doutzen Kroes, Adriana Lima, Arizona Muse, and Tamara Weijenberg. Red is the main colour of this series and Inez & Vinoodh can use this colour cleverly to create a very dark mood. It also helps to make the clothes stand out. Composition is flawless here and each image gives you unlimited imagination on the lives of the Miu Miu girls.

After looking at the images, I can safely say this is one of the strongest Miu Miu campaigns I have ever seen.

Graphic[Mashup]: Round 6

Before I show you the fashion illustrations I have found this week, I just want to make a little note here.

Throughout these years, I have been looking at a lot of fashion illustrations and somehow, I rarely come across illustrations based on Viktor and Rolf's collections. I have been a fan of this brand for quite some time now and there are so many good fashion pieces that can be translated beautifully in illustration forms. Maybe some of my fellow illustration readers can take this challenge? If you do a nice series, I promise I will do a special feature just on you.

Anyway, let's get back to the weekly round up!

Nancy Zhang

I have been a fan of Nancy for quite sometime now because of her self-portrait illustrations. The follow piece is commissioned by Elle China and I love how the Sagittarius girl looks so chic in Prada S/S 2013.

Tara Dougans

I am always a big fan of Tara and these 2 images have really blown me away. They are featured in the fall issue of Commons & Sense and I am fascinated by Tara's interpretation on the Alexander McQueen F/W 2012 collection. Surreal and edgy.

Wendy Ding

You have seen the postcard Wendy has designed for this blog few days ago and now I want to show you one of my favourite illustrations from her site. This illustration is based on a toilet paper gown designed by Ashtiani and I really like the retro vibe on the girl. The image is beautiful and glamourous.

Maelle Rajoelisolo

Christmas is here and Maelle has decided to dress up Pamplemousse in this beautiful blue gown. The composition is flawless here and don't you find this image to be very magical? Maybe this can turn into a holiday card one day!

Achraf Amiri

Another Christmas image but in a totally different vibe. Achraf is known for his dark and humorous illustrations. I personally am in love with this image because the character has all the Achraf's signature elements (eyebrows, long nails) and I feel like she is coming from Asia! What do you think?

Hope everyone is going to have nice Christmas holiday and I will have this segment out again sometime soon after the new year! Happy Holidays!

Trendology: Prada x Richard Haines Illustrated Print T-Shirt

Since Prada has a very strong F/W 2012 collection, it comes to no surprise that the brand wants to create a little spin off with a capsule collection.

For this capsule collection, Prada has invited Richard Haines to work on some illustrations based on the collection. I really like how Richard illustrated the images on different kinds of papers to create an urban/vintage vibe. This collection will be sold exclusively at Prada flagship stores in Milan, London, Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Tokyo and Paris.

I, as a fan of fashion illustration, would love to find a way to get one.  

Ray of Inspirology: Y-3 S/S 2013 Promotion Campaign

It's been 10 years since the first time Yohji Yamamoto was linked to adidas to create the Y-3 brand. To celebrate this successful collaboration, Pierre Debusschere is invited to shoot the amazing S/S 2013 campaign.

I personally really love the images as they are bold, slightly surreal and playful. As you can see, the theme in this campaign is about movement so it is very cool to see the "liquid" effect on each image. From all the S/S 2013 campaigns I have seen so far, this is probably on my top 3 list. What do you think?

Ray of Inspirology: Burberry S/S 2013 Campaign

It's amazing to see how Burberry surprises the fans with every season's campaign and this S/S 2013 one is no exception.

Courtesy of Burberry/ Mario Testino

This campaign is once again shot by Mario Testino and it features Edie Campbell and Charlie France. Everything is very simple here (as everyone is wearing the iconic trench coats) but what really catches my attention is Romeo Beckham, the son of David Beckham. This is also the first time I see the childrenswear campaign is included as part of the main campaign.

Please do take a look at the video below as Romeo was doing some interesting poses during the shoot.

Courtesy of Burberry

Graphicology: Christmas 2012 Postcard

Few weeks ago, this blog was giving away the 2012 Holiday Postcard and I hope you have already received yours. Today, I am happy to show you the image of the  Holiday card and hope you like it as much as I do!

This illustration is created by Wendy Ding and it is based on the Dolce & Gabbana F/W 2012 collection. As you can see, unlike the previous years, this one is very dark and moody. I feel like this is a very appropriate image because people around me have been going through a lot of things this year and I really want this girl in the postcard to be the light of their next journey.

If you have not received it yet, you might still have a slim chance to get it from me. You can email me at info@fusionofeffects.com.

Happy Holidays!

Graphicology: Profile Fashion Girls by Janelle Burger

This is a very interesting series illustrated by Janelle Burger and I just want to share it with you.

Jil Sander S/S 2012 

Janelle illustrates the side profile of each girl in this series. The best part is each illustration contains the signature elements of a particular collection. For example, if you look at the Jil Sander image, you can see the signature paisley patterns for the S/S 2012 collection. I really like this approach as it is very refreshing and unique. If I can ask her to create a piece, I think it will be very interesting to see her illustration on the Alexander McQueen S/S 2013 collection.

Prada S/S 2011

Prada F/W 2012

Chanel Resort 2013

Courtesy of Janelle Burger

StyleNotes[Cheat Sheet]: No Doubt there is an Angel

Let's start the weekly news roundup now!

Are you a fan of No Doubt? Are you a fan of Fred Perry? If so, you will be happy to know these two brands have decided to produce a capsule collection next year. This collection will consist of a v-neck sweater, a polo and a bomber jacket. [Read Here]

I actually like the jacket, a lot! (source: StyleNotes)

I still remember I was deeply in love with Jil Sander's F/W 2010 campaign because of Miranda Kerr. For S/S 2013 season, she becomes the face of Mango and I actually really like the images. Seriously, I think this pretty lady never ages... [Read Here]

This may not be as artistic as the Jil Sander campaign, but I still love it! (source: StyleNotes)

Make sure you go to StylesNote.ca to catch all the latest fashion news! Of course, do not forget to enter the watch contest!

Wave of Inspirology: The Polo of the Future

Have you ever imagined what future of polo shirts? Well, Lacoste has recently shot a short film promoting the Lacoste Future website and it features some great ideas for the future development of polo shirts (changing the fit, colours, patterns etc).

If you have a vision on how the Lacoste Polo should look like in the future, you can leave a comment at this Facebook page and the most original idea will be featured on the Lacoste Future site. Sounds fun? I think so.

Courtesy of Lacoste

Graphic[Mashup]: Round 5

This week, I found 3 awesome fashion illustrations and I just want to share them with you.

Flavio Melchiorre

This image is featured in the Commons&Sense n°43 and it is all about the Fendi F/W 2012 collection. I really like the composition of it and if you look closely, you can see a lot of iconic items from this sesaon in this particular illustration. Bravo work Flavio!

Liselotte Watkins

This image is also from the latest issue of Commons&Sense and Liselotte has created 2 illustrations based on the Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 collection. Once again, I am in love with this collection so putting it into illustration simply suits my taste.

J. Larkowsky

I actually didn't see a lot of Givenchy F/W 2012 illustrations this season so I am so glad Joseph has decided to do it. I really like these 3 dresses so seeing them in illustration is definitely a treat! Nicely done!

If you want me to feature some of your latest fashion illustrations here, you can send an email to me at info@fusionofeffects.com.

Ray of Inspirology: Dream Sequence 2012

Dream Sequence is always one of my favourite projects from Madame Peripetie and in 2012, she has expanded this project with some new images.

As usual, each model is standing in front of a black background and wearing some amazing fashion pieces to create a surreal atmosphere. The series continues to be very dreaming and gives us a space to think about the possibility of different fashion combinations.

If you are a fan of this series, you are in luck because Dream Sequence will be published as a book soon. Stay tuned as I will let you know when it is released.

Trendology: Holiday Gift Ideas - Men's Accessories

Last week I showed you my kind of holiday gift guide on women's accessories and this week, it's the men's turn.

A lot of people think that it's difficult to get gifts for men, but the truth is, it is not that hard at all. From key chains to wallets, shoes to bags, there are just a lot of things a stylish man will need. Here are some ideas I have for you.

Once again, you can click on the links to go to the brand's online store and purchase the items.

Burberry

Just like the womenswear, one of the best elements about the men's collection is the animal heads. Range from key chain to umbrella, there is definitely something for every man. If he is a subtle person, maybe the envelope case will be a perfect gift for him.

Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana definitely has one of the best shoes selections this F/W season. The baroque inspired shoes have been on many people's wish lists and if you think this is too much for him, you can always go for a simple bag, as long as it is durable.

Gucci

Gucci is always known for the loafers so why not give him a pair of it? If he is a tech guy, a great iPad case will probably make him happy. Also, if you have a little man in your life, maybe you can get him a cute little suit for Christmas!

Lanvin

If you are planning to bring him to a cool party, I think you can get him a pair of reflective silver shoes from Lanvin. If he is obsessed with bags, then I recommend you to get him a python laptop case or a nice briefcase (yes, Lanvin is brining back the awesome briefcases to the men's fashion world).

Louis Vuitton

For this S/S 2013 season, the Damier Canvas comes in neon orange and yellow and this is a very refreshing move. The bags are great and if he is into pins, the navy inspired piece will steal his heart. Of course, how can I not mention the band's footwear? Its shoes are always very comfortable and stylish.

Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs has some very nice sneakers this F/W season and the metallic blue/red one is still one of many people's favourites. If he is a back pack person, you can consider to get him the sleek design back pack!

Prada

Prada has used back some of the F/W elements for this holiday capsule collection, but in a different colour tone. The key chain will be a nice little gift to him but if you want him to look great at work, a pair of nice lace up will be something you should purchase.

Versace

Versace's sneakers are on my radar this season as they look very cool and different. I also love the black duffle bag so if he likes to travel, this might be a perfect gift for him.