SS 09 – LADY YACHT STYLE

Luxury Stripes: Lady Yacht Style by Erica84 featuring Old Navy

Imagine the atmosphere: a sunny day, clear sea and a sailboat ready to weigh anchor.
This summer the navy style returns in fashion; luxury stripes will decorate clothes and accessories in a perfect Côte d'Azur style.
It has its origin during the Twenties: a fast train called Train Bleu connected Calais to Nizza and Cannes, so that the most chic parisians could reach the wonderful beaches. From it, the navy style was born; it is inspired to French Riviera and many times during the years it is reproposed on the catwalks.
This particolar style has precise rules, specially in the colors choice: white, black, blue and red, with just some modifications in the shades derived from these as light blue or grey. Then a huge use of horizontal stripes, necklines and printed pictures in nautical style, as anchors and starfishes.
As items, this trend purpose jackets, white or blue trousers and gold brown details as buttons and buckles. Then also scarves, bikinis, mini-dresses and bags with blue-white-red stripes and jewels with nautical charms.

CHERIE’S FLAKES – FUNNY, EASY AND FEMININE STYLE

Today I interview a young designer born and grown up in Milan: Chiara Grassi. She is 29 years old and she studied Industrial Design at Politecnico in Milan. Since some years she works as head designer for Pharmacy Industry.
In 2007 she created her own fashion brand Cherie’s Flakes: she creates very particular and full of colours handmade beachwear.

-Which are your favourite brands?
-I love the romantic shape of Sessun brand; then Paul&Joe, Rodebjer and Acne for their nordic style. But also the street style of Insight and pop style in Jeremy Scott.

-How and when did your passion for fashion and design start?
-I love creativity since I was very young; sometimes it becomes design creations or fashion or graphic design.

-What do you create?
-In Cherie’s Flakes I create beachwear, specially bikini. They are all unique creations. As materials, I use lycra, elasticated cotton and viscosa; than also lace, tulle, pom pons nad flowers. They are completely handmade.

-Which is your creations style? How do you describe your collections?
-Cherie’s Flakes style is very funny, colorful, easy and feminine: a real colour explosion for summer, sometimes a little bit hippie, some other times sexy. Really girly.

-How do your creations come into existence? Which are your inspirations?
-Cherie’s Flakes come into existence from my purpose to create someting completely handmade, choosiin every time different mix of colours and details. From a very simple process, but that bring me to create a final very original object. My inspiration come from the simple love for beautiful things to use.

-Are your creations on sale? How?
-I sell Cherie’s Flakes creations specially thought Cherie’s Tree House, a small market that I organize two times a year and in which I invite to expose other small brand like mine. I sell also in some shops, as WOK in Milan and Bolondon in Bologna. This ss09 I’ve created a limited edition for Wok store: special beach wear with a wonderful necklace made with lycra.

-Do you work also on contract?
Yes, is possible for costumers to choose shapes and textiles in order toh ave a limited edition for their store.

To contact her:
e-mail: cherie@cheriesflakes.com
web site: www.cheriesflakes.com

ME ON SPRAY STYLE MAGAZINE

Good morning dear readers!
I'm very proud to inform you that my first two articles on Spray Style Magazine, a free press about fashion and lifestyle based in Italy, are now published. One is about Michelle Obama dressing style (I write for the rubric "Style Zoom", that talks about celebrity's style); the other is an interview to Raoul Keil, the founder of Nineteen74, a social network that connects people that work in the fashion world, as fashion designers, photographers, marketing specialists,hair stylists and make-up artists.
Here you can read the june-july 2009 issue: my articles are on page 14 and 46-47.

CREATEUROPE: THE FASHION DESIGN AWARD 2009

Michela Filippini of Createurope has contacted me after she has seen Style Notes. She wanted me to know about an important opportunity for young designers. So I decided to write about it because I think that some of you could be interested.

In 2008 the first edition of Createurope: THE FASHION DESIGN AWARD takes place: it promotes and supports new designers at the beginning of their career. Thanks to the great outcome obtained, with more than 1000 contributors, a jury with many representatives of fashion world and a fashion show in Berlin, the competition takes place also this year.
The competition is open to european designers but also to the ones from nord Africa and Middle East.
After the first selection, the designers who will be admitted to the next phase, will have the possibility to expose their collection, in order to obtain a great visibility and significant contacts with fashion world.

The deadline to send the portfolio is on the 15th of June 2009. The designer must make before the registration on the web site in order to obtain a code to mark the papers. The designer must not to mark the portfolio with their name.

The final prize-giving will be on the 23rd of October 2009.

Here you can download the paper about “How to enter Createurope: THE FASHION DESIGN AWARD".
If you need more informations you can see www.createurope.com or send an e-mail to info@createurope.com.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Four days ago (the 29th of May) it was my birthday. I've celebrated it in the morning with crazy shopping and then I've gone to the hairdresser to relax myself and to take care of me. In the evening I've met some friends for a happy hour in Milan.

I've received many beautiful things: a pashmina and a beads bracelet from Rossella, Dany and Davide, a Sephora bath kit (body lotion, body wash, a blue bath sponge and some sugar cubes, all ice mint-scented) from Elisa M.K. and 2 books (Toby Young "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People" -italian title: "Un alieno a Vanity Fair"- and Lauren Weisberger "Everyone Worth Knowing" -italian title: "Al Diavolo piace Dolce"-) from Alex and Alessandro. As soon as I'll read them, I'll publish a comment; I hope during this summer.

Then I've recieved also a special gift (not for my birthday, but I've recieved it that day) from Laura Vedani, the jewels designer of Margot's brand. She wanted to thank me for the interview that I've published some weeks ago.
This is a picture of the gift from her.