Winter comes early this year

I got amazed when an email newsletter from Burberry Prorsum hit my inbox today. They have started selling their fall/winter season 2011 - 2012 online, maybe in stores, too. It is just early June and one can buy a winter coat already. Where is this world going to?

It seems the sales season has started early this year. For example, Harrods usually starts their sale in July. This year they will start it next week. Liberty is already having pre-sales events.

Saville Row

I love this nautical window display along Saville Row. When I was taking this photo an American family (with very thick US accent) asked where they could find Abercrombie & Fitch store. I showed them the way but was left wondering why on earth would Americans come to buy A&F in London where it is almost double priced compared to the US. Another thing to wonder is why to buy A&F at all...

Better the devil you know

Window display of a shoe shop in City of London.

Pattern Lab

I saw this store window in Soho on Saturday evening. It seems I am not alone with my love of patterns.

The sound of her shoes

Yves Saint Laurent heels with hair details at Selfridres Shoe Galleries

I have a thing for shoes. I was more than delighted to hear that Selfridges, one of my favorite shopping spots in London, has opened a new department called The Shoe Galleries. The galleries consist of several halls with huge variety of shoes. Unfortunately it is only for ladies. I wonder when I will see men's shoe gallery?

Trend spotting

Military camouflage patterns are a big thing this autumn/winter season in fashion. I am not the biggest fan. My favorite is the third picture.

A weekend bag from Trussardi 1911

A 24h bag from Prada

A tree from Green Park

Umbrellas

Umbrellas seem to be on trend. A while ago a posted pictures of an umbrella installation in Helsinki. Now I saw same kind of installation in the Hermés' New Bond Street store display window. Maybe it is the autumn.

Summer 2011 is all about patterns

Photos from GQ Style / Mario Cremona

Luxury labels have been showing their spring/summer 2011 collections in Milan in the past few days. Dolce&Gabbana's spin-off label D&G showed a collection full of patterns. Very gingham, summery and timeless.

Elf shoes

Now being in rainy England, I had to protect my shoe soles from the occasional wet weather. So I took my leather soled shoes to James Shoecare to be rubber soled. I picked them up today and noticed that the soles have cute little elf figurines on them. How can I now walk with these shoes knowing the little elfs will be pressed against dirty streets. Actually, the shoes are a bit elfy on the top side too, look below.

Socks!

Look at these socks! Aren't they amazing? The reptile style knitted pattern reminds me of Alexander McQueen's style, but these socks are from a far more better designer - my 81 year old grandmother.

Fashion patterns

New Selfridges website - finally!

Picture from the new Selfridges.com

British fashion and style heaven Selfridges is about to launch a new website soon. It is about time! Their current online service is very static and in fact, boring. I managed to get to an inner circle to view and test their upcoming site and it looks promising. They have improved graphics, usability and navigation of the site, there is going to be an online store, to name a few improvements. I am a bit surprised though, that they will not ship internationally. For international orders one has to make a telephone order. So last season!

Alexander McQueen travels with me

Talented fashion designer Alexander McQueen is gone, but his presence can still be felt. Almost every time I travel I have a peace of him with me. Namely, his and Samsonite's collaboration bag, which zippers have McQueen's fingerprints carved in. This controversial bag gathers always looks.

MIlan fashion week FW10, my favorites

Pictures from gq.com/style

Here are my favorite picks from the latest fashion week from Milan. My absolute favorite is the Gucci look with electric blue shades. It is timeless and effortless, yet chic and something new. That is what fashion is at its best?

It is all about buttons

Photos by Andrew Thomas / GQ Style

Burberry presented its Prorsum FW2010 collection in Milan last weekend. The collection is strongly influenced by military and nautical styles. I liked most pieces of the new collection, but there were two show stoppers for me, see above. A jumper with golden-buttoned shoulders and a woolen jacket with the same button details, but this time on the sleeves.

New suitcase needed

I had couple of accidents on my NZ trip. To begin with, I hurt my right hand while hiking and it is still recovering. At the end of the journey, my Rimowa suitcase broke down after rough handling at the airport.

So now I need a new suitcase. I will probably buy a new Rimowa, but I am very tempted with this new aluminium suitcase by Hermés, pictured below. I am not tempted its price though, it costs SGD13,000. This baby can not be checked-in.

Picture from hermes.com

Valentino: The Last Emperor

Pictures time.com

I watched a very good documentary about haute couture fashion designer Valentino last Friday. Actually it was a documentary about two men, Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti. Almost everyone knows Valentino by name, but there could not be Valentino without Giancarlo, who his Valentino's lifelong business partner and lover. They have been together over 40 years and it is touching to see how they still work together every single day. As Valentino puts it, 'It was the best thing to me to make dresses, I am a disaster in everything else' and Giancarlo takes care of everything else. Valentino: The Last Emperor is now on dvd. Catch it while you can!

Sale N° 1682 - Hermés Vintage

Original pictures from hermes.com and Artcurial. Pictures have been modified.

I wish I was in Paris on the 10th of November. The Parisian auction house Artcurial is having a Hermés vintage auction. They are selling mostly bags and other accessories, but there are some clothes for sale too. It is possible to make bids through an online system though, but I would prefer being on the spot when the auction is happening. Maybe I will next time...

Check the auction listing here.

Up, up, up!

American fashion designer Tim Hamilton presented recently his collection for spring and summer 2010. Instead of traditional runway show he had made video installations how to wear his clothing in action, climbing ropes in this case. I really like these videos and Mr. Hamilton's clothes as well, especially the shorts. I can not wait for next summer! Although in ever summery Singapore I could start using these clothes right away.

The videos have been filmed and directed by Collier Schorr.

Jill Sander x Uniqlo

Picture from uniqlo.com

It is fairly old news already that the minimalist fashion legend Jill Sander has designed a collection called +J for the japanese Uniqlo. The new and good news is that the collection will be available from 1st of October in selected Uniqlo stores in the UK, US, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Korea.

The +J collection is very Jill Sander like with clean graphic cuts and down to earth colors. The collection consists of basic pieces like jackets, pullovers, jeans and accessories. There is variety for both men and women. The prices are more Uniqlo than Jill Sander standard. For example a men's cashmere knit is available for £99.

Unluckily +J is not available in Singapore.

See the whole collection and sale points:

www.uniqlo.com/plusj/uk/