Style Addict – Fashion News & Views – 6th January 2006

 

Good Week- Bad Week

 

From Punk to Dame

Fashion icon Vivienne Westwood was recently made a Dame in the Queen’s New Year Honours list, meanwhile, top tailor Ozwald Boateng was awarded with an OBE.

 

All Change at Chloe

The rumour about Phoebe Philo leaving the House of Chloe was confirmed this week, the labels creative director has indeed resigned. Philo took on the top position after Stella McCartney left in 2001 and has been credited for the labels recent success. A few months ago there was talk of Philo leaving the house to spend more time with her baby as the London to Paris commute was proving too much. Philo did quote ‘personal reasons’ for her decision along with thanking all at Chloe for their support. Now the rumour mill has started up again as to who will take her place. For the meantime the in-house design team will continue with the Autumn/Winter 2006/07 collection. As for the top job there is talk of Roland Mouret or Giles Deacon filling the role but nothing as of yet has been confirmed.  

 

Kookai in Trouble

It has been a bad old time for high street retailer Kookai as it declared bankruptcy this week. The future of the chain hangs in the balance as administrators seek new prospective buyers for a rapid sale. Weak sales and poor franchise management were quoted as the reasons behind the company’s failings. Kookai SA, France, licenses the brand in the UK and has agreed to let it continue to operate under the Kookai name until a buyer is found.

Diesel on Bond Street

For Diesel, however, it’s all good. The brand is currently undergoing a high-fashion transformation. Not content with showing their designs on the catwalk during New York Fashion Week, Diesel are now going posh with a Bond Street address. Coming soon alongside designer stores such as Chanel and Miu Miu will be Diesel’s brand new 550-square-foot upmarket store.

 

 

Project Catwalk Ready to Hit Our Screens

Project Catwalk – the new ‘discover a designer’ show on Sky One has been hyped up for months now. With Elizabeth Hurley playing host and the likes of Julien Macdonald, Giles Deacon, Lorraine Candy, Isabella Blow, AA Gill, Erin O’Connor, Robert Cary-Williams and Frost French making up the judging panel – it will be hard for fashion addicts to resist.

The series is about to start this Thursday 12^th January and will see twelve talented designers put through their paces. After each challenge one designer will be harshly eliminated, hey, that’s what they call great TV, leaving the final three to battle it out at February’s London Fashion Week.

The show will also include a model competition in a similar format. Top prizes include, for the winning designer: their collection shown to press and buyers at London Fashion Week, £20,000 cash prize courtesy of Tecni.art styling products, a mentorship with the Top Shop design team and a spread in Elle Magazine. For the winning model: A fashion shoot with Elle magazine wearing the winning designer’s collection.

Project Catwalk starts Thursday 12th January Sky One at 8pm

  

Trend – On the Up: Leggings

You know the saying, ‘if you remember a trend the first time around you should stay well clear.’ This is very much the case for me and leggings. Of course we like to blame the 80s for a whole host of faux pas, but really there is no excuse for leaving the house in a pair of thick tights – without the skirt. Leggings are essentially heavy denier tights that happen to be footless. But, I have to admit I’ve succumbed to their charms once again – but this time as an essential layering item. This is nothing new girls and women all over London have layered skirts and dresses over leggings for months, even years. The reason I’m bringing this to your attention now is the look is about to take off in a big way for 2006. Check out the Spring/Summer shows and you’ll see leggings at the likes of Proenza Schouler, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Ghost, Aimee McWilliams and C.Neeon, meanwhile, always ahead of the game high street trendsetters Top Shop and Miss Selfridge have leggings in store right now.

By JoJo Iles