A Russian designer’s mentality is a complex one. Pragmatism and customer-oriented approach, developed under the influence of Western fashion industry, go hand-in-hand with Eastern sensibilities, such as a unique feel for color and texture. But not every designer can successfully develop both sides to their fullest potential and produce a collection like this one.
Chapurin S/S 2013 collection, named Style-is-Great (Britain), was inspired by Cheryl Cole, his long-time friend and client. The first thing that immediately caught my eye was the rich color palette and clean, minimalistic, sometimes classic silhouettes. A Chapurin woman looks younger and sportier than last summer, yet more feminine and less avant-garde. Also, Chapurin’s signature sequins and shiny fabrics are nowhere to be found which is another sign of designing with a younger clientele in mind.
With the likes of such industry key players and brands as Stella McCartney, Bono’s Edun, Livia Firth’s Eco Age advocating sustainable, cruelty-free fashion, it is not surprising that the so-called eco-movement is going through its revival. Once an expensive, but frequently scorned “homely” option, eco-fashion is now rapidly gaining its momentum, expanding into production, sourcing of materials and business ethics of a number of brands. With the whole Western world gradually turning towards more conscious ways of fashion production, the attention is now drawn to the Russian market which is traditionally known for its extensive use of animal furs, synthetic materials and slower adoption of innovative techniques. Read the rest of this entry »
We’ve been waiting for it the whole summer! Now, when ‘the January of fashion’ has finally arrived, it is a great time to do some shopping. Today we invited Tanya Gabrielyan of Bridge Showroom to share her fashion picks for this fabulous season.
Buyers tell us they buy what they love and what they can sell. Trends matter less, it is about falling for a dress. And this is why it is so important that designers bring back their signature looks – looks that customers respond to and recognize, fall in love with… Looks that will stand the test of time.
For fall we have our eyes on:
Konsanszky tailored little black dress. Konsanszky dresses are always calculated and perfectly proportioned, also with a kind of couture sensibility.
Chapurin sequined tunic dress is pragmatic and casual, while classically elegant and glamorous. And most importantly, it is instantly recognizable Chapurin style.
Podolyan grey and coral day dress. Podolyan is a master of luxe sportswear style, creating understated silhouettes that are at once eye-catching and wearable.
Bobkova tuxedo vest is a show-stopping piece that pushes fashion’s boundaries while being extremely functional. Architectural tailoring reveals itself from every angle in this strong unisex piece. A perfect layer to add structure and poise to your casual look.
Jean-Pierre Braganza has just showed one of the best collections of the whole S/S 2013 season, highly praised, among other things, for the spectacular prints and clever asymmetric cut.
One very special and surprising thing about this collection is that it was made in collaboration with Ukrainian artist and designer Zinaida Lihacheva. In his own words, Braganza “incorporated the artist’s unique aesthetic into his prints“. He also pronounced Lihacheva his muse and will travel to Ukraine to show this collection at Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days in October.
Braganza was inspired by Lihacheva’s works Transformation and Touch:
I’ve been dreaming about a Chapurin dress for a long time and finally got one that will be my lucky dress from now on. I cannot think of any other word than ‘empowering’ to describe Chapurin’s clothes. Feeling confident is very important when winds of change are blowing (and they always do for me).
I’m also wearing a kokoshnik-inspired headpiece, handmade by moi.
