Power to Pucci

Founded: 1947 by Emilio Pucci
Country: Florence, Italy
Creative Director- Peter Dundas
Website: www.emiliopucci.com

I have always loved Pucci. Since I was a little girl, I have always been drawn to their exciting, colourful prints and Peter Dundas' sexy interpretation of the old fashion house. The catwalk shows themsleves have always captured the esssence and history of Italy and Pucci, with a host of famous models always storming the runway at the biannual shows.What's more, the clothes are extremelly glamorous and could sit quite comfortably on a yacht in the South of France or at the iconic Ritz hotel in London. Pucci is most definetly powerful, punchy and perfectly printed.

Emilio Pucci, born in 1914 to one of Italy's oldest noble families, had an idylic upbringing in the Pucci Palace in Florence. The young man was good at sports and competed as part of the Italian national team at the 1932 Winter Olympics while attending university in America. When the Second World War engulfed Europe in 1939, Pucci played a vital role in helping Mussulini's daughter flee the country along with her husband, which later resulted in Pucci's capture and torture at the hands of the Gestapo. On a lighter note, Pucci's fashion career was always apparent in his love for clothes and design.

Using his knowledge of stretch fabrics, he set up his line self titiled 'Emilio Pucci' in 1947, selling jet set swimwear, later branching out into silk scarves and blouses with his iconic bright prints. As business flourished, Pucci opened stores across Italy including Milan and then across Europe and America while also designing uniforms for airlines and various companies. Soon after, everyone from Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe to Jackie Kennedey was wearing his clothes, with Monroe famously buried in a Pucci dress.

Jump forward to 1992 and Laudomia Pucci daughter of Emilio continued designing at her fathers brand but later sold 67% of the luxury fashion house to the LVMH group in 2000. With designers such as Christian Lacriox and Matthew Williamson holding the title of creative director at Pucci, the brand was certainly one of the star attractions at Milan Fashion Week. However since Peter Dundas took the reigns in 2009, Pucci has seen a dramatic rise in sales, popularity and aura amongst the fashion elite. The clothes are elegant with lots of glam thrown in to add to the maximalist Italian feel. The Pucci prints are as prominent as ever featuring in most RTW collections as well as part of the cruise/resort lines and remain a vital part of the brands DNA.

For Spring/Summer 2015, the Emilio Pucci show was one of my favourites at Milan Fashion Week. With appearences by sought after models Natasha Poly, Isabeli Fontana, Joan Smalls, Kendall Jenner and Malaika Firth as well as catwalk veteran Naomi Campbell, this collection just oozed glamour.

The clever tie-dye dresses in pink, blue and white where summery and beautiul, the gold accessorires enhanced the wearability of the clothes while the fun 1970's spirirt gave the collection a place in various magazine spreads on the top trends for Spring. The flared sude trousers were super cool, I loved the tassell crochet dresses and the sexy knee high boots were just the kind every woman wants in her wardrobe. It's fair to say Peter Dundas knows his Pucci customer and does not dissapoint in his catwalk collections for the brand.

If I could afford it, I would dress head to toe in Pucci - breakfast, lunch and dinner! But since I can't, I'll just have to make do with the catwalk copies found on the high street. Who can't resisit a bit of Pucci?

Riviera Chic with Brigitte Bardot

I'm sure you're probably aware that the Cannes Film Festival is currently taking place in France. Every actress, model and celerity under the sun has descended upon the gorgeous French Riviera for one reason and one reason alone - to flaunt their style to the waiting paparazzi, eager to catch a glimpse into the super luxury lifestyle of Cannes.

Yes you can be glamorous these days with the help of an excellent stylist and beauty team or with the aid of a dedicated personal trainer and a bucket loads of cash. But true style, and real superb fashion has somewhat declined over years as these things often do. Brigitte Bardot for me is one of the best dressed and stylish women who has ever graced this earth. Now living a quiet life in the French countryside, surrounded by her animals and expansive farm, Bardot is no longer a part of the celebrity lifestyle and attender of big events such as the Cannes Film Festival. However, back in her hey day, she was everything being French embodied. Care free attitude, big blonde hair, cheeky grin, amazing tanned body and natural charm - Bardot had it all and her style was quintessentially chic and original.

The amount of stars these days who have copied her style is astounding. Everyone from Kate Moss, Lara Stone and Claudia Schiffer to Rita Ora, Angelina Jolie and Pixie Lott have taken a leaf out of Bardot's book, whether it be the voluminous hair or sexy black eye make up. It's fair to say that Bardot's style has stood the test of time and is consistently referenced by stylists, artists and singers today as a source of fashion inspiration.

In the 1960's Brigitte Bardot burst onto the movie scene with her erotic and somewhat saucy films which were famously banned in some countries! She was young, beautiful and French with a relaxed attitude and heart warming personality. The photos taken of a teenage Bardot while frolicking on the beach in Cannes wearing a black bathing suit were so controversial at the time (seeing as a swimming costume was new territory for women and extremely revealing) that she was looked down upon by the fashion elite and society in general. But Bardot didn't care! One of my favourite photographs of all time is a monochrome picture of Brigitte running along the beach in 1956 in a black dress, her hair flowing in the wind with a big smile on her face. It's such a fun photo and shows off the way in which Bardot could carry something as simple as a black dress with ease and elegance. These photos are now iconic.

Her tiny waist was accentuated with the tiny denim shorts she so loved paired with a simple cotton t-shirt. Polka dot shirts tucked into a pair of washed jeans and some canvas shoes were another style staple of Bardot's as well as the preppy bow in her hair and nautical sailor outfits. In the 70's she was never without her huge fedora hat and sunglasses while her love of simple, French classics elevated her as a style staple amongst many fashion magazines and circles.

I absolutely adore Bardot's effortless style and the way she dressed for herself, without the help of a stylist and fashion team. She had her own spirit and was comfortable in her own body to give anything a try. Tres chic!

 

Cannes Film Festival 2015

Li Bing Bing in Elie Saab, Cheryl Cole and Aishwarya Rai in Elie Saab

 Sun, sea, private yachts and luxury fashion. The annual Cannes Film Festival brings together the most glamorous in movies, fashion and music to celebrate and discover the upcoming films soon to hit cinemas world wide. the South of France is the most perfect location for this prestigious festival and the fashion as always, is amazing. Take a look at some of the best dressed stars who have graced the red carpet so far in Cannes. From Charlize Theron who wore a beautiful canary dress for her Mad Max premiere to Cate Blanchett in stunning Giles Deacon, everything from painted toe nails and immaculate hair; it all is spell binding. I loved Aishwarya Rai who always attends the festival as a Loreal ambassador as well as Cheryl Cole who turned up at the airport in Fendi, only to change into a beige Ralph and Russo couture gown. Elie Saab was a huge hit with actresses Michelle Rodriguez and Li Bing Bing, while Rachel Weisz looked stunning in Louis Vuitton.

For me the best dressed had to got to Russian model Natasha Poly who wowed the paparazzi in a pastel pink and black Atelier Versace gown. It highlighted her tiny waist and amazing legs, while the dazzling gold dress she also wore looked fabulous. Diane Kruger was also another fav of mine. The German actress always looks impeccable, and I especially loved the baby blue Dolce and Gabbana mini dress she wore on the first photo call of the festival. Very chic!

Stay tuned for more red carpet fashion straight from the Cannes Film Festival...

Rachel in Louis Vuitton, Diane Kruger in Prada & Emma Stone in Dior

Cate Blanchett in Giles Deacon

Natasha Poly, Andie Macdowell and Sienna Miller

Natasha Poly in Atelier Versace

Diane Kruger in Dolce and Gabbana

Cruise into Summer with Chanel and Dior...

As we sweep slowly into Summer, so do the luxury fashion houses. Think jet set glamour, fast cars, fancy yaghts and amazing clothes; the Cruise 2015/16 collections are the embodiment of luxury.

Karl Lagerfeld certainly knows how to put on a good show, and this Chanel cruise collection was no different. Staged in the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, the clinical white runway was brightened up with bold coloured polka dots, which extended into majestic ornamental pieces amongst the seats. This collection was fun, and clearly aimed at Chanel's younger, more stylish customers. Seoul is one of the most dynamic and fast moving cities in the world, with a very distinctive style of dress. Chanel used the bright colours, bold prints, patchwork patterns and clashing colours of the urban Asian look and gave it a more European twist.

Palazzo pants were paired with classic Chanel tweed jackets, jackets came in cropped styles with thin chain belts while ballerina pumps were worn with socks, adding a touch of the preppy look. Colours were sweet and sugary, such as baby pink dresses, tangerine silk shirts and lemon skirts whereas the prints Lagerfeld used were similar to his past seasons at Chanel, using the successful 'colour palette' pattern, rainbow stripes and striking metallic pieces. The only down side I would say is that the horrible cropped flared trousers are still on the fashion radar according to Chanel and have no intention of disappearing anytime soon!

I loved the styling in this collection, especially the super cute mickey mouse- esque pom poms on the head and the chic black berets. There were plenty of Chanel 2.55mm bags on display as well as decorative flowers pinned on everything from jackets, necklaces and hats. I have to say this is probably on the most fun Chanel shows, with most of the front row consisting of young Korean women who know how to dress and fit perfectly in with Lagerfeld's new Chanel woman.

The Cannes Film Festival begins next week, meaning that every celebrity under the sun will decamp to the south of France for the a-list parties, glorious sunshine and the high fashion! It was in Cannes where the Dior Cruise 2015 collection took place yesterday to much acclaim. Raf Simmons has a very clear vision of his ideal Dior woman. She is classy and elegant with a taste for minimal pieces which accentuate and highlight her figure. This Dior Cruise collection was beautiful for summer, opening with an array of gingham looks leading onto mini dresses and silky shirts. Similar to Chanel, nautical stripes were a key part of this show as were boxy jumpsuits, sleeveless dresses in sugary pastel colours, big beach bags and the iconic Dior 50's silhouette, cinching in the waist.

Models looked as though they could have walked straight off the Cannes sea front, with wind swept hair and summer accessorises such as sunglasses and cute clutch bags. Black and white tones closed the show which hinting at the perfect colours to wear in the evening when holidaying abroad. Overall, this Dior resort show had all the right ingredients to create a chic summer wardrobe, and Simmons certainly delivered with plenty of sweet pieces to choose from.

Met Gala 2015: Best Dressed

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual gala is one of the biggest nights in the fashion calendar. It brings together designers, editors, artists and of course, many celebrities in what always promises to be an exclusive evening of champagne and wonderful art. This year, the theme was 'China: Through the Looking Glass,' focusing on Western couture with an Eastern twist, with guests advised to dress in outfits matching the oriental theme. Some took this to the extreme (Lady Gaga) while others such as Kate Hudson and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley went for a more classy approach. And with tickets costing about $25,000 each, the Met Gala is one event you definitely want to look your best!

So who stole the show? I would have to say Queen Bey herself looked incredible. In a sheer Givenchy Haute Couture gown encrusted with jewels by Lorraine Schwartz, Beyoncé was like a shimmering mermaid with a high ponytail and angelic gold make up, looking a little ghetto but with an expensive spin. Yes, her outfit was extremely revealing but if you had this lady's figure wouldn't you want to show it off too? Jennifer Lopez also flashed the flesh in a beautiful red feathered Versace gown, custom made by Donatella Versace herself while reality star and 'Selfie Queen' Kim Kardashian chose a sheer dress by Roberto Cavalli, which also featured plenty of feathers and crystal embroidery. Kim doesn't usually wear Cavalli or many Italian designers for that matter, favouring French brands Balmain and Givenchy instead. So it was nice to see her flying the flag for another fashion label.

Red was indeed the colour of the night. Rita Ora, Poppy Delevingne, Kris Jenner in Balmain, Helen Mirren in Dolce and Gabbana, Amal Clooney in Martin Margiela and Reese Witherspoon all stalked the red carpet in opulent red tones - which is seen as a very regal colour in China. Even the ice queen herself, Anna Wintour, chose a column shaped red frock! Sarah Jessica Parker caused a fashion frenzy when she turned up wearing a huge crown, which looked like red flames were shooting up from her head. Lady Gaga also went for a more extravagant headpiece with a monochrome jeweled crown paired with a black satin dress and a very daring cleavage. Katy Perry and Madonna both attended the ball in near identical Moschino dresses, designed by Jeremy Scott who accompanied the stars on the red carpet. With a black base splashed with bold graffiti colours, Perry looked cool and elegant with the dress suiting her curvy figure. Sophia Vegara and Anne Hathaway also went for a old Hollywood glam look. I loved Anne's gold Ralph Lauren dress which came with a stylish hood.

And who could forget the models? Adriana Lima, Joan Smalls and Irina Shayk were just some of the models strutting their stuff on the red carpet. Kendall Jenner and fellow model Gigi Hadid went for a more sexy look, with Kendall stealing the show in an emerald Calvin Klein dress. Rosie Huntington Whiteley was another of my favourites in a beige cut-out Versace gown, which highlighted her slender figure and pale skin tone. Chinese actress Fan Bing Bing looked amazing in her gold gown and colourful cape, draped over her shoulders. Justin Bieber was another surprise triumph in the fashion stakes in his black and gold Balmain suit, as he steered well away from his ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez who was also looking radiant on the red carpet.

As with every awards ceremony/red carpet event, there are those who get it completely wrong in the style stakes. Rihanna was most definitely top of that list! Never one to shy away from the limelight, Riri split opinions with her heavy, embroidered yellow cape which apparently took almost 2 years to make. The heavy fabric behind her was so long she needed four attendants to help her walk up the stairs,  while on Twitter people were quick to mock her cape, turning it into a pizza base, a Gregg Cornish pasty and even the yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz. Rihanna wore a bright pink leotard underneath (which again did not go with her canary yellow cape) but nevertheless, at least her outfit fit with the Chinese theme. Kris Jenner looked like a Disney
villain with her gelled black hair and heavy make up while Solange Knowles looked terrible in her Giles Deacon frock which did nothing for her figure.

Overall, I would say this Met Gala was not the most exciting - or glamorous for that matter. Yet it was still a night to remember and a grand opening to the new exhibition, 'China: Through the Looking Glass.'