NYFW: Victoria Beckham A/W12-13

Victoria Beckham continues in her success, taking stride after stride in the industry, establishing her name as a legitimate fashion label and not just an overnight success. For the past few seasons now, the WAG-turned designer has been wowing us with beautiful clothes that are both highly chic and wearable for the modern woman, and with her latest Fall showing, she nails it once again. Living in the US has definitely influenced the lady's aesthetic as she incorporates various American elements in her aesthetic while fusing it with her own brand of Continental glamour. The clothes were fitted and streamlined, but there were urbane elements to it; a pinch of American preppy, military touches and metropolitan smoothness that begs applause after applause for its sheer simplicity, practicality and sustainability. The colour swatch was sensible and utilitarian with black, khakis, and reds, perfect for her cosmopolitan audience- though perhaps a little too restricting with the lack of choice in garments. The whole collection mainly comprised of minimalistic dresses- from trademark serpentine pencil skirts to fun skater A-lines, they were plain but classic. Accents came in via geometric block stripes and a play on textures with leather lined coats and belts, toughening what could have been a rather indifferent ready to wear line. Of course, the designer herself also may have lent a hand on creating this vision of the VB muse. She's chic, understated and classic but never one to bore. Hands down, one of my favourites from New York. 

MFW: Prada A/W12 Menswear

What made the Prada collection one of the best shows in Milan? Could it be that the catwalk was graced by Hollywood legends such as Willem Dafoe, Tim Roth and Gary Oldman? Yes, if there ever was a label fitting for the collection, it would be The Gentlemen's Club for it was nothing short of spectacular and a true salute to masculine style. The tone was regal and militaristic, with a silhouette that was resonant of World War I. Long, double breasted over coats, belted trenches complete with sharp shoulders and stiff-collared white shirts dominated the collection, topped off with different coloured teashade sunglasses and two-toned wingtip Oxfords. Overall, it was a collection not for the average 'stylish' Joe, but only for those who have the finesse and the style of a worldly and unashamedly chic man. 

MFW: Trussardi A/W12 Menswear

Inspired by Formula 1 racer Jackie Stewart and probably the Scooby Doo Gang, Trussardi's Fall collection was undeniably suave and smooth and very 70s, albeit slightly creepy with those handle bar moustaches. Umit Benan decided to relish in The Flying Scotsman's hey day and in turn created a look complete with Stewart's trademark accoutrements such as the ombre aviator sunglasses, the ubiquitous flatcap and tight fitting turtleneck sweaters. The colour swatch was also very contemporary with rich shades of chestnut, oxblood and fire engine red, and likewise with his fabric choices. Velvet, corduroy, suede and kidskin appeared in the form of sixteen ensembles. The silhouette was slim and tight fitting, but not without the signature feature of the decade, the bellbottom flare of the trousers. Funnily enough, despite the heavily influenced aesthetic of the era, Trussardi's 2012 Fall collection still finds itself within our current state of style. The pieces are wearable and with the tides of fashion continuously rolling backwards, the consistent wave of 'tribute' collections have finally come full circle in that, these clothes may as well be new and fresh. A vintage aesthetic together with modern textures and cut is what sustains not just fashion, but style also. 

MFW: Burberry Prorsum A/W12 Menswear

For a Fall collection, it seems an odd choice to create a showacase full of bright popping hues, but then again when we get the winter blues it is this exact touch that lifts our mood and brings life to the cold and wintry season. This year, Christopher Bailey styled the Burberry gent in a very Dick Van Dyke-esque attire; Streamlined silhouettes, double breasted suits and a complete array of gentlemanly accessories including flatcaps, gloves and umbrellas. They all sound very typical of the label's aesthetic but the look was invigorated by bright jewel tones in turquoise, topaz and jasper, and rich earthy ochre hues in saffron and burnt sienna. Bailey continues his globetrotting colour swatch and it is made all the more striking against a conservative canvas of charcoal and dove gray suits. To battle the cold the boys were equipped with tri-colour striped overcoats, puffy windbreakers and cropped bomber jackets of tweed and flannel. To finish off the look, Bailey decided to take a cheeky turn and added quirky animals motifs, which already is looking like the IT trend of the season. Foxes appeared zanily across cozy woollen jumpers, while the suave umbrellas were capped with hand-carved ducks as handles. 

Milan Fashion Week: Dolce and Gabbana A/W12 Menswear

Now that my exams are out of the way, I finally get the time to really savour the collections for menswear. Visually that is. Nevertheless, I have chosen some favourites from all of the collections shown in Milan, and the first is Dolce and Gabbana's A/W12 Menswear showcase. Earlier last year it's been reported that the label has been suffering from the current financial turmoil within the industry and unfortunately as a result, they have closed down their D&G label. After this debacle one would think that the Italian duo would resort to clinical measures, ensuring a consumer-friendly collection to boost the company's mojo back in place, but true to form, Stefano and Dominico staged a collection that was the epitome of masculine sartorial excess to the sound of Verdi's La Traviata. Their fall collection was operatic and romantic; full of luxe fabrics from wool voile to velvet which literally dripped with ostentatious Gold bullion embroidery. The tailoring was sleek and close to the body, while silk and woolen pyjama trousers juxtaposed the look with a degree of foppish loucheness. The suits were sharp, with velvet accents while the coats were fit for a Romanov; capes and collars were trimmed in fur or astrakhan. The award for the most overhyped, yet probably most coveted piece of clothing however, goes to the grey woolen socks which boasted decadent bullion. Of course! Although the Dolce and Gabbana gentleman this fall may prove a bit too much for the everyday, average Joe but like Alex Fury of Showstudio concludes, "perhaps it is their antidote to harsh reality".

Au revoir NYFW!: Marc Jacobs S/S12

It was already one of the most highly anticipated shows this season, but with the rumours swirling around with regards to any possible courting from the house of Dior, Marc Jacobs' spotlight was suddenly hotter and brighter than ever, and the buzz around the show turned into a frenzy. The show was a buffet of all things shiny, sparkly, iridescent, tacky even (what is that? silver foil? lime green metallic pleather?). You'd think that it would all be a bit too much. However, true to form, designer Marc turned all of these elements into a provocative collection- think Stepford robots meets 60's Sci-fi. The silhouette was prim and proper, but the clothes were anything but. Texture and transparency were experimented with, and with the right dose of Mod-ish quirkiness and just a pinch of grungy gauche, Marc's collection sky-rockets as yet another successful showing and a perfect end to Fashion Week in New York. 

NYFW Faves: Helmut Lang S/S12

It was a dramatic comeback for Helmut Lang after a five year hiatus from the catwalk. Manned by the Colovos husband-and-wife duo of Michael and Nicole, the collection was shown at Pier 57, on a multi-lane runway. The clothes were graphic and stark in a swatch of black, white and yellow, accentuated by the architectural platforms designed by Alejandro Ingelmo. 

NYFW Faves: Prabal Gurung S/S12

He is fast becoming a household name as one of the freshest and visually invigorating designers in the scene. As of late, we've seen his creations on actress Sarah Jessica Parker, who seems to have developed a love affair with Prabal Gurung's aesthetics and beautiful work, and it is not surprising. His designs are a breath of fresh air in a field full of predictable fashion. This season he displays a collection that is the epitome of sugar and spice.