Mary Katrantzou FW12 & the No. HB Pencil skirt
Style.com, Courtesy of Swarovski

It is incredible how much hype there was around the Mary Katrantzou this season. The show, which had that tricky 9am start toward the end of London Fashion Week, had everyone queuing for coffees at the Top Shop venue well before the show. Everyone from Anna Wintour to Alexa Chung took to their seats with plenty of time to pose for their front row pictures.
The FW12 collection did not disappoint. Despite being the season of paplums, Katrantzou's expertise, the designer stayed away from her signature shapes to try new less rigid ones. We saw a lot of chiffon – the mini dresses with the flowing trail were a highlight – and once again the prints and embroidery, which is becoming more and more prominently integrated in them stole the show.
My absolute favourite piece was the HB pencil dress. I just loved how the pencils had been manipulated and how by playing with their colours it seemed only logical that the skirt finished with a ruffle. There were also clock prints, typewriter keys, telephones and cutlery. But everything so beautifully digitally put together that you would only realise after looking closely.

Take a look at my video of the finale below.

Giles FW12: Anna Karenina on Fire
Know Wear, Style.com

I am taking my time posting about the FW12 collections I saw in London because I don't like rushing all the posts in a short week. This also gives me more time to think about the things that I liked.
It was amazing to me to see the evolution of Giles' brand from young and playful to ultra sophisticated. To me the whole vibe of the FW12 collection was very Anna Karenina – someone please make Keira Knightley wear one of these to the premiere! – or even the decadence and downfall of the Tzars. My favourite part were the white chiffon dresses, which had a burn effect the designer had created by using layers and Swarovski crystals. Some of these numbers also included feathers in the same colour palette that, when in movement, did actually look like they were on fire. There was something ominously beautiful about the whole collection – as if a princess had run away from her castle in flames.
I was most impressed by the craftsmanship. From the effects on the chiffon to the similar ones on the satin blazers (can I have a menswear version?) to the thorn crown detailing on an mustard evening dress the collection was like an exquisite exercise of arts & crafts.

Click below on read more to see more detail shots.

Jason Wu FW12: Femmes Fatales & a Wardrobe for Giovanna
Style.com

When I clicked on Jason Wu last night to take a look at his FW12 collection I was confused for a second as if the link has taken me to someone else's line. But I was in the right place. Wu's latest collection is a lot stronger an tougher than what we have been seeing for the last couple of seasons. It was like his woman had suddenly turned into the heroine of a film noir – a femme fatale. It was almost like the perfect slick wardrobe for a Bond girl who travels from Europe through Russia (see the green leather coat with fur collar) to Asia.

I was very pleasantly surprised with the change of attitude in this collection. I loved the coats, which should always be a strong point on a winter collection. And I was again fascinated by the embroidered details also by Swarovski elements. Especially the boozy red sleeveless silk number where the embroidery seems to have been applied wanting a degradé effect.

I couldn't stop thinking of Giovanna Battaglia while I looked at the collection. Half of it seemed like a perfect choice for her – something she would choose and wear herself. So I picked the three dresses we are most likely to catch her in. I am particularly keen on the black polo-neck ensemble. I love the golden details on the sides.

Style.com, Courtesy of Swarovski

A closer look at Juan Carlos Obando FW12: Swarovski details
Courtesy of Swarovski

Juan Carlos Obando's collection was amongst the first FW12 to open the fashion week season yesterday in New York. His inspiration for the new collection was the topography of the Salton Sea in California. Apparently the way the water has transformed the landscape in this specific area created this unique shapes that reminded Obando of raw crystals. Hence the collaboration with Swarovski.

His inspiration translated into crystal mesh and crystal nets used with the other, more conventional materials to play with different textures. The designer created 22 different textiles (!) that symbolise the distress of the changes in the landscape that inspired him.

I love the embellishment details on the jacket and dresses but my favourite part of the collection were the necklaces. They look like little bright buys trapped into a fisherman's net. I find the literal approach to the idea super interesting and they look so cool, no? They're the ultimate modern statement necklace.

Click here to see the full collection on Style.com.

Beyoncé wears Swarovski encrusted looks by Ralph & Russo
Courtesy of Swarovski

If you live in the UK you most surely spent last Sunday night staring at your TV without blinking. 'A Night with Beyoncé' literally stopped the nation for just over an hour. If you think the X Factor makes Twitter go mad you should have been online during Beyoncé's incredible show.

Queen B kicked off the show walking through the crowd in a nude mesh bodysuit covered in Swarovski crystals. I instantly started going through my mental database of this season's collections to see if I could identify the look but I wasn't successful. It was an incredibly body-con outfit that only B could have pulled off. She looked bananas in it!

The same thing happened with the even more spectacular look Beyoncé slipped into for the 'Single Ladies' finale –a super short red leather skirt with a trail paired with a bronze metallic cut out corset embellished with thousands of Swarovski crystals. Again, a daring outfit only B could carry off.

Hard as I've tried, I haven't been able to find you a youtube link to these videos. In the meantime, take a look at the trailer. UPDATED: You can watch the whole show here.

JustJared, Mugler

The only fashion seemingly entertaining from the last VMAs this weekend was obviously Lady Gaga and her Paco Rabanne and Phillip Tracy hats. She wore two or three of each and looked down right ridiculous but in a very Gaga way, which makes it less ridiculous than it would be on someone else. On the bright side, the didn't fall over or seriously harm anyone despite the very limited vision.

What I did like, loved even, about her looks (especially the last one when her face was actually on display) was the Thierry Mugler makeup. I already posted about it a few weeks ago after the show in Paris because I was amazed by the Swarovski makeup on the lips and eyebrows. It complimented the collection so well, in fact, that I found it way more interesting than the clothes themselves. And it looked incredible on Gaga, or it would have, had it not been by her dazed odd grin posing for the photographers.