& Other Stories opens in Barcelona

Last night I braved the awful weather in Barcelona to attend the exclusive opening party for & Other Stories, the new store/brand to come out of the H&M dream factory. Despite the rain and cold wind, the fashionable people in Barcelona showed up to celebrate the designs and beauty products offered by the new brand to storm the retail front. Scroll down for pictures and my review of the entire experience.

To me, & Other Stories seems like a candy store for devoted followers of fashion. In terms of the Spanish market, many items would probably puzzle shoppers used to less riskier brands such as Zara or Mango, but if they are looking for the Scandinavian desing of COS, paired with the quirkyness of H&M’s most adventurous styles, then & Other Stories could be a lot of fun.

Things get even more exciting when it comes to their accessories collection. There is no room for boredom. Extremely covetable with shapes and colours that are unavoidably eye catching at times, in loud and vibrant shades, and on the other side of the spectrum, items that favour minimalistic lines. As I walked out of the underground floor dedicated solely to shoes, bags, shades and other tit bits, I couldn’t help but think to myself “well played, Stories, well played”.

I may have fallen for the burgundy/shiny pair above, and I may have or may have not bought them already

It was a fun event: great music, cool atmosphere, canapés and bubbles galore. The layout of the store meant there was space for a lot of people, waiters, photographers and shoppers.

The beauty section had me quite intrigued. I loved the packaging, very simple, effective and the colours in the nail bar were extremely attractive. I was gifted with the Moroccan Tea Body Mist, light and fresh, perfect for summer. I used it this morning, right after my shower, and, at almost 4pm, it’s still present, in a soft, subtle way.

My verdict on the brand? Honestly, I’m excited. It could be because I live in Spain, surrounded by the Inditex empire and quite fancied something different. The medium to high price tags – below COS but more expensive than H&M – may be a drawback, but it is an entire different shopping experience. The staff made sure we were treated superbly, but it remains to be seen whether they will always be as helpful. I couldn’t have had more fun at the shoe section, the girl giving me a hand was also dedicating herself to please several other customers around me, never ceasing to smile. The shoes are nicely packaged and they seem to be of good quality. The cosmetics appear to be more affordably priced. With regards to the clothing, again, I think time will tell whether & Other Stories manages to please initial customers and create a following like that of sister brand COS. Quality needs to exists with these higher prices.

Oh yes… I bought the shoes. It was a strong tie between these and their siblings in black, but I went for these burgundy beauties. The more I look at them, the more I like them. What do you think?

Is there an & Other Stories where you are? Or will you be shopping online? Do you think this could be a brand for you?

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

PS. Thanks to Santiago Asensio and the team behind Area CG for inviting me to the event xx

David Koma A/W 2012 at London Fashion Week

It was a mild winter morning in London today. Anticipation in the air, a few “I’m on the list” here, some “do you have an invitation” there, Alexa Chung walking by,  and David Koma in the courtyard space at Somerset House. What more can I ask from my new life in the fashion capital?

The show’s notes mentioned “the slender elegance of the 1920’s and the minimal fashion detailing of the 1960’s”. The collection we saw today was about superb feminine shapes, celebrating tight waists and a love of peplum.

The start of the show had a lot of black and white, and a certain Victorian flavour. Masculine collars, tight and embellished with metallic details.

The colour injection was done through the use of
plums, dark blues and subtle dashes of green and gold.

I’m a fan of David Koma, but today’s presentation wasn’t my favourite. I loved how his vision moved him to recreate some
classic and sober lines that other designers seem to be neglecting. Sadly, from where I was, I didn’t get to see the footwear by Alain Quilici which, I heard, was quite something 😉

A special thank you to Modus PR for making this post possible.

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

Excitement & Disappointment – A fashion fairy tale

So, the new iPhone is not that excitingly new… when the other hotly anticipated piece of news of the year-  who will take over the reigns at Dior – is known, will we be a bit more buzzed about it?  Are we just too demanding? Maybe when we complain about how rapidly Apple updates everything on us, we are being moany insects, as really, deep down, we want new gadgets: quicker, faster, sooner. Let’s face it, who is even slightly motivated about H&M + Versace collaboration? Aren’t we all a tad, “meh” and hoping for the next best thing?

I don’t know, maybe I’m speaking too broadly, but I’m not that excited about the Versace bit, nor the new iPhone – since my 3GS seems reliable enough – and I desperately want Apple to start manufacturing MacBooks again.. but I am a bit of a retro queen, so there goes.

And…Paris, yes, about Paris,what about it? it’s Paris Fashion Week, and Chanel is going mostly white for Spring 2012, and according to Jennifer Neyt from Vogue FR, inspired by Coco Chanel’s love of pearls, nacre brilliance added to some cute pale shades: pinks, greens, a dash of salmon, broad shapes in jackets, midi skirts.

Kanye West also debuted his big ego on the Parisian catwalks, but I cannot really say much about a collection that was hardly “designed” by the nonetheless talented rapper, so I’d rather mention the theatricals at Alexander McQueen. A collection by Sarah Burton which was academic McQueen: very dramatic, a love for corsets, emphasized shoulders, intriquet details, plenty of metallics such as gold, corals, pale purples, and a return to their most thought-provoking ideas such as women objectification etc.

Pic by Julie Ansiau via Vogue FR

Excitement, buzz… today I’m loving this simple, effortless chic look from Paris Fashion Week, great photo by Julie Ansiau, via Vogue Paris. Those sandals are simply stunning… anyone recognise the brand/label? Please enlighten me.

UPDATE: and I’m excited!!! Just finished watching the live streaming of the Louis Vuitton show. It began beautifully, when the gigantic cylinder on the circular stage lifted, unveiling all of the models sitting on a huge white carousel. It began turning and with the dreamy music, one by one the models descended from their pearly white hourses. The last model to walk, a stunning – seriously, how does she do it?! – Kate Moss. Again, pale shades, broderie anglaise, some transparencies and feathers. As soon as I find a picture I will let you know.

UPDATE 2: Here’s a picture from The Telegraph by AFP

Pictures: Vogue Paris, Telegraph

Bread & Butter Shopping Nights

Love from Berlin! I arrived on Wednesday, managed to arrive to my hotel, safe and sound, with only half an hour to rest before hitting Berlin-Mitte for the Bread & Butter Shopping Nights. The centre of Berlin was full of fun events: fashion shows, special sales, DJs, live music. I hit a couple of parties, drank some bubbles and here are some pictures for you to have a nose-around, it’s almost like you are all here with me!

Buffalo window display

Colourful display at 14 OZ garden GARAGE sale

CLOSED opening party

Live music by The Mainstream at Gin Tonic Store, Berlin

My first impressions of Berlin? it is full of very cool people, and they know they are cool. Fashionably wise, not afraid to wear daring trends, the rule here is dress however you like, feel comfortable in your own skin, and if your hair is bright pink, so what? no big deal. Suddenly I feel so boring, so – dare I say – average (!!!).

Have a fantastic weekend!!!!

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

Berlin Bread & Butter – my personal report

I have just walked into my hotel room after a day at the Berlin Bread & Butter Supershow: I’m truly exhausted, my body aches, my feet are burning… this may be related to my choice of impractical footwear – leopard print wedges – but they lured me with their “we are wedges, we are comfortable!” cries, and as the silly fashionista I am, I put them on and spent the following 8 hours punishing my toes, walking up and down the 1,200 metres long Temelhof airport, the Bread & Butter venue..

Complaints aside, this is my report of the Berlin Bread & Butter exclusively for you.

Trends to come? In stores from February 2012: pastels are still heavily present, coloured jeans are everywhere, still straight and even skinny. I particularly loved some emerald blue ones from Calvin Klein Jeans. Retro designs à la 80s in trainers, and the surprise? The (in)famous smiley is making a comeback… how acid, how nineties.

Calvin Klein Jeans … right before I was told not to take pictures

I adored the bright lights… but then again I love anything shiny

Pretty girls everywhere… seriously, there was plenty bare flesh on display… see picture below

Tommy Hilfiger thought it would be interesting to show everyone what goes on under water

Butterflies everywhere: Fornarina with Alexander McQueen inspired mannequins, Miss Sixty too.

Pretty Ballerinas and a lot of girlie-girl style for… girls

Iron Fist were one of the few to “openly” show off their products, most brands were secluded by high walls

Iron Fist had some fantastic footwear

Scary performers … I admit I was a tad uncomfortable with them… ok I was scared, terrified alright?!!

Bread & Butter survival kit: Smartphone, water, and a vintage find 😉

Free popcorn by McGregor, one of many, MANY freebies

The best parts? 1) The press lounge and it’s lovely food, my stomach was kept happy. 2) Bumping into Avril Lavigne!!! I kid you not, she has her own fashion brand, Abbey Dawn. Before you ask, yes I was standing right next to her, no I didn’t dare say anything – I’m too bloody polite/British to bother celebrities, that’s my excuse – and she is gorgeously petite and prettier in person. 3) The wonderful vintage shop I came across with some very friendly and cute guys who sold me a fantastic vintage military jacket for only €15 – in the picture above.

Not so good: How you are not allowed to take pictures almost everywhere. Fashion bloggers are  hardly appreciated here. We may be given a chance to attend the show, but very few brands see the point of our existence: a great – and FREE -way of promoting their business. The ones that let you take pictures are the most open to talk, the friendlier, but also the ones that are still relatively small, which is what, actually, happily interests me, and hopefully you too.

Pictures: Fashion Limbo