10qq with saloni.

 Launched in 2010 through the Parco Next NEXT Project here in Singapore, Saloni Rathor is a label that celebrates bold and expressive women and has a firm grasp of unique tailoring for the feminine form. The pictures above are from Saloni's latest collection (SS13) entitled "Elements," clearly inspired by all that Mother Nature has to offer: warm earthy textures, vibrant blooms, rushing rivers and forest foliage. Decadent yet never excessive, Saloni Rathor's brilliant designs are a must-have for the fashion-conscious woman. Here, Saloni opens up about her life as a designer, both in and out of the studio.

1. Favorite fashion week: PFW was the best. I love the level to which the Paris shows perceive fashion and possibly how the human mind works too. They definitely aid me in being limitless when it comes to being creative. It also shows me the dreams and imaginations of many coming to life in the shows through how the presentations are put together.

2. Beauty trend you dislike the most: I think as long as the person carries off the trend well, people can look good and different in the craziest of trends. That being said, something that ticks me off are fake, long curved nails!

3. What you do to wind down on the weekend: I spend time with my husband and friends - catching up with debates, movies and fun time. Of course work is always a part of my weekend, but it's more of observing and watching new things to inspire me.

4. Favorite movie: The Notebook and the Motorcycle Diaries. 

5. 2 things you always have in your bag: An eye pencil and a notebook.

6. A childhood dream of yours: To be a dance choreographer; it's still a dream of mine so maybe in my next life!

7. Where do you find yourself on a typical Saturday night? Saturday nights I'll be out catching up with friends who are busy during weekdays. Good music in the company of my husband and friends are the best remedy to recuperate my mind. They are a strong source of support for me and help me balance leisure with work. 

8. A place you've always wanted to travel to: Paris. I would love to see the architecture, culture and fashion especially since it's been talked about so much and said to inspire so many. I have to see it in person and experience what it does to me!

9. Something you think is overrated: Experience in any work field is overrated, even new borns can create magic!

10. A band you've recently taken a liking to: Angus and Julia Stone, their songs are light and can swing you into a romantic mood.

~

Check out Saloni Rathor on Facebook. 

+ Charlotte from The Style Obsessed Cookie interviewed me! Check it out here.

fide #1 - silvian imberg & anne fontaine.

Silvian Imberg's substantial presentation was everything a swimwear collection should be; luxurious, exuberant and sexy. From sheer poolside kaftans to bikinis accentuated with frills, tassels and the like, Imberg showcased a medley of looks that communicated one essential message that is often forgotten in the low-cal hype of the industry; every woman, regardless of their body shape, has the potential to be absolutely beautiful. Seeing smiley models donning Imberg's exotic creations was a touching change from the sullen, rail-thin skeletons that dominate runways worldwide. There was a prevalent geometric emphasis, which was continually reincarnated and reinvented as the show progressed. Watercolor pieces were accentuated with metallic rings, futuristic monochrome bikinis were held together by weaves of fabric, and the magnificent flowing kaftans brought the runway to life with it's bold hues and recurring patterns. The only piece of criticism I had for this show was the lack of cohesion in the pieces. Although I appreciated the long show (talk about value for money!), seeing so many polar opposites depicted on the runway suggested that the inspiration for the designs was blurry and lacked solidarity. Innovation, glamor and sex appeal? Definitely. But a concrete aesthetic and a defined source of inspiration? Not so much.

Anne Fontaine

Anne Fontaine: the curator of chic, the queen of quintessential French design, the master of monochrome, and so much more. It's not often a designer can pull off a collection fashioned entirely from grayscale, yet Fontaine seems to have accomplished this feat with startling ease and immense delicateness. By infusing refined, McQueen-inspired accents of a theatrical nature (see the cloud-like shoulder puffs in the image above) into her otherwise simplistic designs, Fontaine was able to bring what is often perceived as office-only fashion to a refreshing new level. Black blouses were doused with texture, volume and effective tailoring, and white pieces became not-so-angelic as transparent fabrics were introduced. Standouts from this ready-to-wear collection have got to be the strapless black dress with a ruched skirt and gold detailing, as well as the beautifully simple white dress (which I got an action shot of in the first picture!).

Apologies for the great delay, but there are more Fide Fashion Week posts to come, and that's a promise!

+ Check out Singapore blogshop Melrose Medley's newest collection here! [sponsored link]

future fashion now ss13 | part 2.

{read part 1 here}
From eclectic neon florals at Jonathan Liang to wild watercolors at Juma; edgy metallics from Saturday and simple feminine dresses by Saena - The 7.30pm Future Fashion Now show at Wisma Atria's "Workshop Element" show-space really packed a punch, and left the entire audience exhilarated, refreshed, and ready for more. With such a vast range of beautifully crafted clothing from some of the world's most promising talents, watching such carefully curated aesthetics and strong thematic flavors come to life on the runway certainly fueled my enthusiasm for fashion.

 Jonathan Liang

{view/shop the whole collection here}

Eye catching florals? Check. Modern neon accents? Check. A range of beautifully combined fabrics in a whole host of styles to fit all sorts of body shapes and preferences? Check check check. Jonathan Liang's SS13 collection was certainly not for the faint hearted; with playful elements that gave a nod towards the designer's light-hearted side, these sophisticated separates are perfect for the child in all of us. Pleated skirts, fluorescent hems and 3D flower appliques (I KNOW!!!!!) formed the basis for this succulently floral collection, while sharply tailored basics such as crisp white blouses and black pencil skirts brought it back down to earth. Furthermore, Liang's show was the only one that didn't have Also, extra points go to those cheeky bralets - I normally despise these, but Jonathan Liang has succeeded in turning these provocative, slightly distasteful articles of clothing into works of art, the same way he succeeds with the rest of his collection: with volume, color, and a little grin.

 Juma

{view/shop the whole collection here}
I don't know how else to put this, so I'll just say it: this collection looks like the designer has had too much to drink and too many colors to choose from. And of course, I mean that in the best way possible. So many designers, emerging ones in particular, play it safe for SS13 with generic brights and monotonous prints, and Juma's daring leap into the neon aisle (a leap that caused a number of paints to fall off the shelves, splatter everywhere, and thus caused the explosion that is Juma SS13. My creativity is too abundant) made everyone sit up straighter in their seats. In fact, I could practically hear the cameras clicking faster and faster, lapping up each meticulously crafted piece. Loud statement prints and summer hues are injected with a superfluous dose of electricity to create the marvelously eye-catching collection, and the humble floral print is given a whole new update in eclectic, unexpected hues. After the show, I overheard some people talking about Juma's presentation, saying: "I loved the bright colors!" Honestly, "bright" is a total and utter understatement.

 Saena

{view/shop the whole collection here}

Simple, sultry and effortlessly chic, this summery collection is brimming with versatile monochrome dresses punctuated with simple, girly accents. Filled with staple pieces for the warmer months, these day-to-night frocks are littered with subdued details and each have a relaxed, "resort" silhouette. A winning color scheme, yes, but a little too one-dimensional and narrow in terms of variety of texture, cut, style and "wow-factor."

 Saturday

{view/shop the whole collection here}

Cute, floral musings and washed out pastel? Nah, more like androgynous tailoring, minimalistic metallics and sophisticated sex appeal. Saturday gave S/S collections a whole new meaning, and filtered out anything expected and generic. With a strong eye for tailoring and refined aesthetic taste, Saturday's take on Spring/Summer isn't for the faint at heart. The show opened with a wonderful array of metallic shift dresses, stripped of all accessories and embellishments to a gorgeously minimalist state. Following that were urban-chic separates for the introverted city-dweller (or the comfort seeking individual!), which introduced a medley of new textures to the collection: each draped and cut to immaculate perfection. Woven throughout the entire show was a number of remarkable tailored sleeveless "jackets," which could be worn over a fitted pair of pants, unbutton and thrown on over a slinky dress, or (yikes!) even alone, as shown in the images above. If that doesn't scream versatile, understated and utterly chic, I don't know what does.

~

Which collection did you guys like the best and why?
 Credits to Studio 719 for all the spectacular runway images!