Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #207

Below: YSL's SS2011 Mens Accessories are a hit and miss... the bags are some of the most boring and (dare I say) most hideous? The saving grace comes from the shoes and small accessories... love the trainers and bracelets!

Below: I love the croc print leather trainers in tan colour!

Below: Partial perforation as a design detail? Still looking good on the shoes:-) The high tops is my favourite:-)

Below: Thick wedge soles are a key trend for footwear this SS2011... YSL has many designs incorporating this trend from sandals to leather shoes...

Below: The double tour bracelet with a Y clasp is still one of my favourites... now even more so in off-white:-)

YSL Spring Summer 2011 Mens Bags, Shoes And Accessories

What do you think of YSL's latest collection of mens' accessories? I cannot help but be disappointed by the bags. There isn't any surprises for the mens' range anymore. Many designs are merely being reworked from past seasons and the new ones are nothing worth going gaga about. The new textured bag with chain and a huge YSL insignia could earn a place amongst the most hideous bags ever made for men. In comparison, the blue nylon Hamptons Tote fares so much better, although the style has long passed its desirable shelf life. YSL needs new blood to design the bags, it has been going downhill since the longest time.

Beyond the negative bags collection, the saving grace thankfully comes from their shoes and small accessories. Trainers are looking good with sporty but refine designs. Love the pair of high tops in beige and brown with all those panelling designs.

If you have been looking for an alternative to Prada's Espadrilles Brogues (since too many people have them now), how about YSL's interpretation in dark brown and black?

The croc print leather trainers in tan colour is looking promising too, combining exotic appeal with sporty attitudes. The light blue pair with perforation details are also perfect for summer days.

YSL SS2011 Mens Accessories: Yay or nay for you?

(More pics on my facebook fanpage. Remember to support my fanpage by ‘LIKING’ if you enjoy my posts:-)

Source: YSL

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #206

Below: Colour block with Zara this March! Love this yellow V-neck sweater!

Below: Yves Klein blue anyone?

Below: Accent your outfits with some colours! Green sweater... I want too!

Colour Blocking With Zara

You have to give credit to fast fashion chains for catching on each season's hottest trends as soon as the demand creates it. For March, Zara offers a lookbook filled with promising pieces just in time to let guys colour block their way thru Spring Summer 2011, ala Jil Sander and Prada style.

Love all those coloured cotton V-neck sweaters and jeans in yellow, green and blue. Of course, the colour Yves Klein blue (which I 'trendspotted' on my blog yesterday) which lends a strong accent to any outfits for summer! Colour colour colour, if you have been 'colour blind' in your wardrobe for the longest time, Zara is a great start to stock up on strong hues this season.

I need that Yves Klein Blue and yellow sweater, that red jeans and those coloured belts! Zara shopping is impending this weekend.

More pics on my Facebook fanpage here.

Source: Zara

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #205

Below: Here's a look at the upcoming Jil Sander Fall Winter 2011 Mens Accessories when amazingly Spring Summer 2011 has barely started... early bird gets the worm, start planning your Fall Winter purchases already!:-) Love these coloured felt pouches and bags. Felt seems to be favoured not only by Jil Sander but also Fendi Fall Winter 2011 (as totes!)

Jil Sander Fall Winter 2011 Mens Accessories

We are barely into Spring Summer 2011 season and now thanks to the power of internet, I am able to share pictures of Fall Winter 2011 collections. And no, not runway pics from www.style.com. But pics of upcoming accessories from Jil Sander Fall Winter 2011 Mens Collection.

Fall Winter's accessories collection seems to be a continuation of Jil Sander's strong colour themes from Spring Summer 2011. But now translated for autumn winter season with more tactile materials. Yellow is a key colour appearing in many bags and pouches. But felt seems to be a material that will play an important role for the collection, even used on suits for the ready to wear.

I love the fuschia pouches and folios (with a zipped leather front pouch). Well, if you have to go for colour, choose the strongest most eye popping hue for maximum impact! The shoes are also of noteworthy interest, especially the tall boots. They seem to be Siamese twins of loafers and boots... adjoining 2 classic mens shoe designs into a refreshing hybrid! Same for those lace-ups and loafer styles:-P Clever! Love the forest green colour too which is unusual for mens footwear.

Jil Sander is definitely getting back its groove, all thanks to continuing collections of originality and outstanding concepts by Raf Simons. I welcome this new attention given to the brand once again.

See more pics of the NEW collection on my Facebook Fan Page. Show your support by liking my page:-P

Source: Jil Sander

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #204

Below: New faces for Burberry's March 2011 Advertising Campaign: Tali Lennox (daughter of Annie Lennox) and Tara Ferry, son of singer, songwriter, Bryan Ferry

Burberry Unveils New Ad Campaign For March 2011 - Burberry Exotic Icons

Spring Summer 2011 season presses on. Yet another new month has arrived and Burberry unveils new advertising campaign images, this time featuring March couple, Tali Lennox and Tara Ferry. If you have sensed that their family names bears some familarity, you are right. Well, both came from celebrity origins, Tali being the daughter of Annie Lennox and Tara being the son of Bryan Ferry (an English singer, musician, and songwriter).

This is a continuation of Burberry's dynamic campaign with new content and cast members each month. This monthly theme is Burberry Exotic Icons and this is the first big ad campaign for both Tara and Tali!

Enjoy more campaign imagery with many exotic bags and accessories on my facebook fan page:-) Snake skins are in!




Source: Burberry

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #203

Below: Desirable Valextra SS2011 Womens Bags... minimalist designs have always been the brand's DNA... (Food for thought, do these give off a Céline vibe? Who inspired who?:-P)

Below: The pink bag reminds me of Hermès So Kelly, while the tan duffel sends a Chloé Aurora Bag devaju...

Below: A refreshing summer palette of colours, such as power pinks to soften and balance off the architectural lines of the bags... Love it!

Below: Céline and Jil Sander SS2011 bags... reminds you of Valextra? (See first 2 bags)

Below: Hermès So Kelly and Chloé Aurora bags... distant cousins of Valextra's? :P (See 3rd and 4th bag)

Valextra Spring Summer 2011 Womens Bags

Before the rise of minimalist trends in womens fashion and bags, all thanks to Phoebe Philo's Celine 'frenzy', there is already one Italian luxury leather goods brand pursuing this design direction since many years. Valextra is the name and leather goods of optimum craftsmanship and clean lines are their game. On par in pricing and craftsmanship as Hermès, their bags are another 'holy grail' brand that many aspire to own.

For Spring Summer 2011, we see a refreshing palette of colours in Valextra's Womens Bag collection. From powder pink, to off whites, tan and navy... Valextra is sure to strike a fancy with fans of minimalist designs but wanting just the right amount of summery colours. These bags harbour an almost architectural design precision and construction, it's almost a work of modern art in my opinion. I love the collection.

However, there are some bags from this collection which creates a sense of devaju. The first 2 sends off a Céline and Jil Sander vibe, while the 3rd and fourth reminds me of Hermès So Kelly and Chloé's Aurora Bag. So who do you think inspired who? :-P

One thing's for sure, these Valextra bags are a standout of its own, in its simple beauty and modern lines, any time any day.

See the full collection of Valextra's Spring Summer 2011 Bags here on my facebook page:-)

Source: Valextra

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #202

Below: More pics from Bally's Spring Summer 2011 Mens Lookbook... starring Clément Chabernaud...
(Click on all pics to enlarge for better view)

Below: Hi-cut trainers with square perforations... off goes all those weary red and white canvas stripes... a welcoming change:-)

Below: Modern and clean lines abound in the collection...

Below: The tote is not canvas as it seemed... it's woven leather (adds to the weight, prefer canvas) and costs SGD4290. Yikes! Bad move on pricing in my opinion, who will pay this amount for Bally bags? But it is fabulous!

Below: Love these deck shoes with chunky soles...especially the ankle height ones with the blue panel...

Bally Spring Summer 2011 Mens Lookbook

Here's more lookbook pics from Bally's Spring Summer 2011 Mens Collection with Clément Chabernaud coercing you to do some serious Visa Card swiping...

Nautical inspired colours and patterns, sporty and modern menswear that are ready for any adventurous but stylish man, ready to set sail into the Mediterranean.

Love those hi-cut sneakers with square perforation, as well as the white ankle height deck shoes with a huge blue panel. The woven leather totes are streamlined and clean (but ultra expensive!), utilising subdued hues of white, beige and navy for a nautical aesthetic. I like!

Full set of images from the lookbook on my facebook fan page here:-)

Source: Bally

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #201

Below: I love Bally's Spring Summer 2011 Ad Campaign as shot by Daniel Jackson. Ollie Edwards looking very suave in Bally's new collection under the new creative direction of Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz. (Click on all pics to enlarge for better view)

Below: Constance Jablonski, one of my most favourite female models (love her look!) stars in the womens campaign... Camel colour is huge this season in Bally...

Below: ...as does colour blocking... the blue shoulder bag is one of the designs from the minimal and chic, Riviera collection...

Below: Love the camel tote Constance is carrying in this ad!

Below: This Bally tote is growing on me!

Below: The colourful and vintage inspired Bally Riviera Collection...

Bally Spring Summer 2011 Mens/Womens Ad Campaign

Fresh minds and vision at the reins of Bally, has re-ignite my interest in this Swiss luxury brand. Designs have taken a more minimal and restrained approach, forgoing excessive detailing and streamlining the look. Although the bags and shoes for womens bears a certain resemblance to Céline, there are still some noteworthy pieces that got me excited. See my post on the Bally Spring Summer 2011 Womens Bags here.

The Riviera collecton of bags with coloured leather panels and trimmings sends off a summer vacation vibe, while those Céline-alike totes and bags, have a certain modernist charm that even I would not mind carrying myself. One of my favourites, the camel coloured tote was featured alongside Constance Jablonski (also the face of the ad campaign), which is simply fabulous! All those colours on the ready to wear are also very welcoming and on trend for colour blocking frenzy this SS2011 season.

As for the men, super handsome Ollie Edwards fronts the mens' ad campaign, looking all brooding and ever so charming. The restrained collection shows off classic pieces from the brand's archives, reworked to fit into our modern age. Bags, shoes and ready to wear are highly wearable and suited for the savvy men on vacation anywhere. There is a certain nautical/Sahara desert feel to the pieces, with camel, navy and whites as predominant colours. Clément Chabernaud gracing the pages of the lookbook also helps the collection to have an even more convincing appeal. Love anything Clément is wearing anyday!

Below: Watch this video on Bally's new creative directors, Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz, explaining their inspirations behind this Spring Summer 2011 Mens collection...

Below: Bally has done well with the casting of models for their Spring Summer season, choosing Clément Chabernaud for the mens lookbook is a wise choice, Clément always makes me want anything he is wearing! I want that scoop neck tee with the graphic stripes!

Below: I love the tote bag too! The blue leather trim on the sides and the camel coloured handles with white canvas is easy on the eyes and exude a summer nautical charm.

Check out my Facebook Fanpage for the full series of Bally's Spring Summer 2011 Ad Campaign.

Source: Bally

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #200

Below: Daria Werbowy in Balmain SS2011 Ad Campaign...

Balmain Spring Summer 2011 Ad Campaign

Balmain may look disastrous and cheap shabby chic this Spring Summer 2011, undeniably, the collection makes great photography material. All that punk couture detailing (safety pins and studs) in the individual pieces seemed a given to add incredible textures to pictures.

This attribute is most evident when worn by the right model, such as Daria Werbowy and shot by the best photographic talents out there in the fashion scene, Inez and Vinoodh. I love the simplicity of Balmain's SS2011 Ad Campaign, no elaborate backdrops and settings, no complex colours, but monotone treatment to create an 'art house' feeling. The campaigns pics somewhat looked unpolished that gives it the street edge that resonate well with the theme of the punk collection.

I also love Daria's pose, quite unusual in body language and facial expression... Even the styling turns Daria into almost a different person. The short slick back hair which makes her almost unrecognisable.

Balmain has a way of transforming opinions about their collection thru their advertising and lookbook. The power of persuasive marketing. Suddenly, the tattered and 'DIY inspired' SS2011 collection don't look half bad afterall...

Source: Balmain

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #199

Below: Givenchy SS2011 Womens Accessories and Bags are as appealing as any other season from the fashion forward brand... Love the details and the unusual shapes for their bags... such as this range with clever use of zippers as a key detailing...(Top: Antigona Duffel, Below: Elme Tote)

Below: Leopard prints continues to charm the fashion crowds... love the Nightingale with the gradation print from back to colour...

Below: A refreshing change for this SS2011 season, Givenchy introduces colour for their bags and shoes, no longer restricted to the goth and dark colour palette:-P

Below: Glamourous clutches for any evening parties! Love the one in Gold leather... the transparent acrylic buckle contrasted with metal is fabulous!

Below: I love these bracelets! Any of them will do for me!

Below: Who knew zippers can make such interesting design and details? Gorgeous!

Givenchy Spring Summer 2011 Womens Bags, Shoes And Accessories

If you think Givenchy is always goth and dark, think twice for this Spring Summer 2011 season. The women's accessories seem to have catch on some of that colour fever for this season, with a few of the classic bags, such as Nightingale and Antigona being offered in bright lime green and turquoise.

That said, most of the designs in this new collection still retain a strong goth chic and glamour factor. Especially noteworthy are the use of abundant leopard prints from bags, shoes to bracelets and belts. Feline appeal is in! I love those leopard printed textures in haircalf and some even directly on the leather. There is a new tote design in the collection, called the Elme, with contrast paneling, of exotic skin/calf textures against smooth calf or patent leather. The shape of the Elme is structured and clean, with a handy shoulder strap to help share some weight onto shoulders if necessary. Details are very important in Givenchy;s collections, they often have the most original hardware design, which I adore and pay attention to (Love Antigona's huge triangular chunky studs and the triangular hook on the shoulder flap bag, which is most interesting! Check my facebook fan page for pic of this shoulder bag). It's what makes their bags so appealing.

If I am to pick my most favourite of this collection, it has to be the bags and shoes which cleverly utilise zippers as a key design element. From front panel stripe on Antigona and Elme bags (and clutches too!), to straps on heels, it is a fresh interpretation on creative use of zippers. Love!

Givenchy can never disappoint. This is yet another proof why their bags are always top on my hot picks.

Check out my facebook fan page for the full collection. Remember to like my page to get exclusive content updates.

Source: Givenchy

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #198

Below: Dior Homme SS2011 Mens Shoes... love the more casual direction this Spring Summer 2011 season is taking. Use of wooden coloured soles and more causal designs are welcoming for summer season...

Dior Homme Spring Summer 2011 Mens Shoes

Dior Homme sums up modern menswear at its finest. Contemporary and forward are often key words used to describe the brand, first made famous by Hedi Slimane. Blacks and greys are almost always present in their collections.

For Spring Summer 2011, I am very surprised that Kris Van Assche toned down the usually more streamlined direction of his Dior Homme Shoe designs but pursue a slightly softer and casual aesthetic, just in time for summer season. Browns and beiges with muted hues, wooden soles and canvas fabrics are used to offset the polished, perforated leathers...giving a fine balance in modern summer styles.

I love the shape of the pointy lace-up shoes, but I love even more the wooden soled soft leather versions (in brown and black) that just beckons to be worn sans socks. The sandals are seemingly a modernist take on gladiator designs with ankle height and multi-straps. The pair that gives an illusion of a sock worn with the strappy sandal is interesting, but perhaps not my cup of tea.

Check out my Facebook Fan Page for the full collection. Some drool worthy sneaker styles will definitely put fans on a buying frenzy!

Source: Dior Homme