Courtesy of Karla Otto

Thakoon has developed a Limited Edition Masai Plaid Scarf to help raise funds for the children affected by the crisis in the countries that make up the Horn of Africa – especially Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. They are currently experiencing one of the most dire nutrition situations in the world. Widespread drought and limited food supplies are threatening the region’s children and families. Hundreds of thousands of children’s lives have been lost already, and many more are at stake.
For each scarf sold, they will donate 100% of the proceeds to an international children's relief organization working in the Horn of Africa.

Click here to purchase yours and help with this good cause and add a stunning statement piece to keep warm in the upcoming season.

Collage Sunday, 06.03.11: Parisian delights

It was so hard to choose only one or two designers to make my Sunday collage about that I chose four instead. They are some of my favourite collections of the weekend so far. Alber Elbaz did it again. I am forever in awe of his skill and imagination at Lanvin (please don't take him away to Dior!). I obviously loved his wide-brimmed hats (where you could have friends over for tea) and the beautiful shoes buckled at the ankle. Cacharel was a pleasant surprise. Cédric Charlier used colours (or lack there of) with prints to express a very modern and chic point of view. I loved the simplicity of the cuts and the layering as well. I hope Giovanna Battaglia gives this a try. I absolutely loved Sonia Rykiel's collection this season. her combination of checks, winter motifs, quilting and dyed hair was quirky but also rather Parisian. I particularly liked the tartan throw-ons and patchwork blazers. And finally, Junya Watanabe. He does extraordinarily well wherever he goes. I am dying over his fw11 light and asymmetrical knits and those slightly cowboy-ish Chelsea boots.

Clockwise from left: Lanvin, Cacharel, Junya Watanabe, Sonia Rykiel.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Style.com]

Burberry Prorsum fw11

It is probably fair to say that Burberry's show during each London Fashion Week is the highlight of the event. That's not to say everyone else isn't as good but no show is as big and covered as Burberry Prorsum. For fw11 Christopher Bailey chose a new venue in Kensington Gardens. If you attended or watched the show online you were probably as amazed as I was with how beautiful the park looked even on a grey rainy day. To compensate for this Burberry delivered a collection mostly based on coats. Bailey has clearly realised the power he acquired over outerwear when he became the king of shearling and he's not going to let go easily. This time he reinterpreted the trench in thick woollen fabrics and and bold shades of orange and cherry red as well as the brand's iconic checks. The collection was very much in line with the menswear shown in Milan a month ago . We also saw exquisite white jackets and coats covered in rabbit fur and tied to at the waist with leather bows. It was a softer more gentle collection than last winter's yet it retained that feeling of empowerment that wearing a Burberry coat gives.

As it could be expected, plenty of celebrities turned up to watch the show from the incredibly long front row. I was, of course, thrilled to see Rachel Bilson and Kate Bosworth arrive. I wasn't too keen on Bilson's long Burberry anorak for the event but she'll have to be excused, for she lives in ever-sunny LA. Bosworth, on the other hand, casually strolled in and posed for pictures in an unbelievable gold studded pencil skirt accompanied by that biker jacket we all want watching the colour of the skirt. She was, as I see it, the best dressed of the event. Even outdoing Lily Donaldson and Alexa Chung. The last attendee to report was, of course, Anna Wintour. Being a Brit at heart, she could hardly miss this!

I'm off.

[Pictures: Courtesy of Buberry]

keeping warm

It is an art to look good and keep yourself warm outdoors. Luckily, there are some celebrities that have their mojo working over the holidays. Such is the case of Cate Blanchett and Gwen Stefani. I already crowned Cate one of the style icons of the noughties and she keeps proving that true class and style are innate. Gwen gave a master class in layering with two of my favourite winter pieces —the cape and the trilby.
Guys are having their moments as well. David Beckham dumps his airport look of baggy jeans and beanie and swaps them for stylish sartorial coats and trench coats and flat hats. And Hayden gives Californian dudes a lesson. I love how the grandpa cardigan looks just thrown on but add the perfect cosy winter touch.
[Picture credit: JustJared]

I'm off.

twisted CHECKS

Burberry’s legion of über-stylish pickpocketers may seem like yet another confirmation of the recession affecting the world but is Christopher Bailey being tremendously realistic or is he perhaps sarcastic? Relaxed silhouettes, a certain minimalism and an air of neat scruffiness take us back to the 18^th century —the time of Oliver Twist.

Just as Dickens did, Bailey leaves his usual intense romanticism in order to portray a more sordid side of the world, that of burglars and vagabonds. Black and grey spread over long coats, trousers and newsboy caps —outfits like out of the British novel. But a ray of optimism breaks through by means of bright coloured lapels and Bailey’s nostalgia of Burberry’s classic checks. More of this juxtaposition is shown in the shape of thick knitwear paired up with light pinstripe suit pants. Neck and chest, which had been previously set free for the spring, now lazily cover up with shirts ending in skinny cravat-like bows and checked neck tubes to protect from the cold.

Crisis or no crisis, one thing is clear, the Burberry man stays a hundred per cent true to his anglophile origins but agilely adapts to the changing world managing to always stay stylish.

Check out my reviews at 212 Dressing Room

[Pictures credit: Men.Style.com]

I'm off.