A Few Last Looks From Milan Fashion Week: Dolce & Gabbana, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bally

Dolce & Gabbana
I'm seeing stars and shimmering sequins (that's the good part), plus a mish mash of unattractive 1980's suits/shoes/hairstyles with a few signature slip dresses in between.
I'm confused at best... 

Bally

Salvatore Ferragamo

A 1980's inspiration done well translates into this gorgeous and wearable collection of suits and separates. 

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 #197

Below: Bally's new Spring Summer 2011 collection designed by new creative directors, Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz. Bally is definitely headed into contemporary minimalism with this collection! (Check out my blog's facebook fan page for the entire collection). Is it just me or do these bags remind you of Céline?

Below: The bi-colour panelling does reek of Céline...

Bally Spring Summer 2011 Womens Bags

Out goes Brian Atwood (he does a bettewr job with his own line of hot shoes!) and in comes former Aquascutum designers Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz holding the creative reins at Swiss luxury house, Bally. So what do the design duo bring to the Bally brand this Spring Summer 2011? Well, one thing's for sure, it seemed Bally, like everyone, has caught on the minimalist fever. Bally bags this SS2011 season gets more architectural and streamlined. Clean lines abound, colours kept subdued... such as these almost Céline like totes and bags which could pass off as Phoebe Philo's work at a glance. They even follow Céline's discreet gold stamping of logos as branding and the bi-colour panel bears great resemblance in the aesthetics.

Of course, all these observations are my own humble impression. I would say this SS2011 collection by Fidler and Herz is a commendable effort to bring a much needed contemporary direction to Bally. Only time will tell if the collection finds fancy into the ever fickle minds of fashionista worldwide.

For pics of the full collection of Bally's Spring Summer 2011 bags, go to my Facebook Fan Page here.

Source: Bally

My MANy Bags Trendspotting #136

Below: It's time to take a hike! Let's do some 'urban mall mountaineering' with these fabulous hiking boots! (we do scale new heights when it comes to multi level exploration of retail stores in mega malls!)

Take A Hike, Boys! – Fall Winter 2010 Hiking Boots

Ever since I saw the pic below from The Sartorialist, I am on the lookout for hiking style boots that will achieved an urban adventurer look. Country ensembles are also gaining momentum this Fall Winter 2010 season, so these mountain trekking footwear are a must have! Italian guys have even worn hiking boots with suits for fall season which adds an unexpected twist to these outdoor shoes. Talk about being 'creative':-P (See pic below). I love it!

Below: Check out this guy below pairing what is supposed to be formal wear with footwear that was always thought to belong to the outdoors! Interesting!

Something that is in line with the boots trend for this Fall Winter season and yet has a rugged look to tread thru the 'shopping' terrains of Tokyo and Hokkaido! (I am headed to Japan in Dec! Yay!) Something that will allow me to achieve the look! I have everything already from the pic, from the military green overcoat, to the stripe t-shirt (Zara!) to the skinny white jeans, all I need now are those hiking style boots:-P

Here's some options I have gathered, from Bally to Dolce & Gabbana to Paul Smith... but I am loving the Zara ones the most. Since I love the price tag to be expected for Zara's version (SGD 199 and 229 for the top and bottom one respectively:-P) Ultimately, I intend to invest as little on winter gear and as much as I can on Tokyo shopping!:-) Call it my 'smart shopping' budgeting!:-)

Anyone else for hiking boots:-P?

Source: Bally, John Richmond, Dolce & Gabbana, Zara, Paul Smith

Great Minds Think Alike #24

Bally Fall Winter 2010 vs. Mulberry Fall Winter 2008

Are you seeing what I see? Is that a dejavu from Fall Winter 2008 season where Mulberry launched their Shimmy Tote? Seems like Bally is 4 seasons too late to come up with a shockingly similar design. Tsk, tsk, tsk...

Great minds think alike?

Source: Bally, Mulberry

My MANy Bags News #201

Brian Atwood Leaves Swiss Luxury Brand, Bally

First reported by Daily Front Row in October 2009, Brian Atwood is now confirmed to be leaving his post as creative director of Bally. The designer just presented his last collection for the label for Fall 2010 and is moving on to focus on his own label. Atwood has served in this role since 2007, when he was hired by the 159-year-old Swiss brand to revamp and revitalize its image. However, in April 2008, Bally was sold to Labelux Group, a holding company that has recently purchased significant stakes in Derek Lam, Solange Azagury-Partride, and Zagliani.

It's rumored Labelux wants the brand more focused on its Swiss heritage, as exemplified by the Spring 2010 Bally ad campaign, featuring Christy Turlington against a background of Alps.

No news yet on who will fill Brian Atwood's shoes upon his departure.

Source: Daily Front Row

My MANy Bags News #190

Spring Cleaning Time: New Bags For Sale!

Some new bags for sale:-) for spring cleaning season! From Bally, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu and more. Check out what's for sale here:-)

www.mymanybagsforsale.blogspot.com

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #61

Bally Cruise 2010 Men's Accessories Collection

It's been a long time since i did a post about Bally. With Brian Atwood at the helm of the brand, Bally is getting back it's contemporary edge and into the radar of fashion savvy fans who wants luxury and quality. Although the sometimes conservative styles do not appeal to me, but the Cruise 2010 collection pieces seem to be charting its way into my 'St Tropez' summer looks.

Very 'cruise' luxury yachting designs for the bags and shoes. Perforated leather, a new Bally monogram pattern derived from the brand's logo are applied onto duffel and messenger styles. White colour is just pristine and perfect for summer days.

The shoes are looking cool as well, for the savvy guy who balances his work and sporty lifestyle. The brogue detailing for one version makes the shoe a nice hybrid for casual and formal styles. These trainers are smart enough to strut on shopping streets or pair with khakis and shorts on Mediterranean sea. My favourite is the high cut version in all white. Lovely shape of the shoe!

Source: Bally