Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011 Pt 1: Dries Van Noten

Dries Van Noten

What a start to Paris Fashion Week SS'11, with Dries Van Noten doing the honours with a gorgeous collection inspired by Jef Verheyen (Belgian painter) and Chinese ceramics. This collection had an effortless relaxed ease to it, hinting that we should raid our boyfriend's/husband's wardrobe with plenty of oversized shirts, blazers and jackets. My favourite oversized outfit was the plain cotton shirt, extended to dress length, worn with a skirt coated with iridescent pailettes. I believe the oversized blazers and jackets will only suit those tall in stature and/or slim figured, which sadly I am neither. Still, there were plenty more to love, including the beautiful silk dresses & blouses, relaxed-fit pants & blazers, ombre coats and jackets, and of course...beautiful embroidery:


















vogue.com.au

Brigadeiro's Guide to Melbourne (Shopping/Fashion & Food)

This is not a 'guide' per se, as I am by no means an expert on either, but I am often asked where my favourite places to shop and eat in Melbourne are, so instead of repeatedly emailing the same 'favourites list', I thought I would create a blog post I could refer to and update from time to time (most headings will lead you to a website when clicked on):

AUSTRALIAN FASHION DESIGNER STORES

Willow

Melbourne GPO: 350 Bourke St. (Ground Flr), MELBOURNE CBD,

OR 582 Malvern Rd., HAWKSBURN

www.willowltd.com

Akira

Melbourne GPO: 350 Bourke St. (First Flr), MELBOURNE CBD



www.akira.com.au

Scanlan & Theodore

1061 High Street, ARMADALE

Little Collins St., MELBOURNE CBD

566 Chapel St., SOUTH YARRA


www.scanlantheodore.com.au

Kirrily Johnston

1033 High St., ARMADALE



www.kirrilyjohnston.com.au

Zambesi (New Zealand)

167 Flinders lane, MELBOURNE CBD

This store also stocks Martin Margiela and other brilliant NZ and International designer labels.



www.zambesi.co.nz

Alpha60

Melbourne GPO: 350 Bourke St. (Ground Flr), MELBOURNE CBD

201 Flinders Ln., MELBOURNE CBD

230 Chapel St., PRAHRAN

179 Brunswick St., FITZROY


www.fashionising.com

Belinda

(Australian designer labels inc.: Lover, Willow, Michelle Jank, Yeojin Bae)

584 Malvern Rd, HAWKSBURN

Melbourne GPO: 350 Bourke St., (1st Flr), MELBOURNE CBD

Empire Rose

586 Malvern Rd., HAWSKBURN

Although I am not sure this store is still there?


INTERNATIONAL FASHION DESIGNER STORES

Cose Ipanema

(labels inc: Dries Van Noten, Comme des Garcons)

113 Collins St., MELBOURNE CBD

Belinda

(International & Australian designer labels inc.: Dries Van Noten, Lanvin, Stella McCartney, Ann Demeulemeester, Lover, Willow, Michelle Jank, etc.)

584 Malvern Road, HAWKSBURN

Melbourne GPO: 350 Bourke St., (1st Flr), MELBOURNE CBD

Marais

314 Little Collins St. (1st Flr, Royal Arcade)

(labels inc: Givenchy, YSL, Sophie Wauchob, Anne Valerie Hash, Preen, Alexander McQueen - all my favourites)

Cactus Jam International

14 Albert Coates Ln, MELBOURNE CBD

(labels inc: Matthew Williamson, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Chloe, Stella McCartney, Vanessa Bruno)

Christine

181 Flinders Ln, MELBOURNE CBD

(accessories labels: Lanvin, Tom Binns, Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs)

Assin

138 Little Collins St (basement), MELBOURNE CBD

126 Gertrude St., FITZROY

(labels inc. Ann Demeulemeester, Comme des Garcons, Rick Owens)


Also:

For Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Miss Louise (accessories labels inc. Chloe, Balenciaga, Giuseppe Zanotti) - you can find them all on Collins St.

Melbourne GPO: I love this building, as it is a refurbished beautiful 150 year old building, that used to be Melbourne's main Post Office. Other stores of interest are: Acne, Fat, Fleur Wood, Gorman, Camper (shoes), Mandarina Duck, Lisa Ho (her last collection SS'10 was so beautiful, hopefully next collection is just as good), Zimmermann and Sass & Bide.

Australia's main department stores: David Jones and Myers can both be found on Bourke St., and both stock Australian & International designers.

Chapel Street, South Yarra/Prahran: is a long street that has many fashion stores, and eateries/cafes, this is a favourite haunt for many, as well as Greville St (off Chapel St) for little boutiques.

Bridge Rd, Richmond: this is the strip for those who like to go to 'outlet stores', I must admit I have not been here since the 1990's.


FAVOURITE PLACES TO...



MoVida: 1 Hosier Ln, MELBOURNE CBD
My favourite place in Melbourne, as you can probably tell from the many times I have been there, great modern tapas place for dinner, almost impossible to book for a table, but you can eat at the tapas bar.

Cumulus Inc: 45 Flinders Ln, MELBOURNE CBD
Fabulous for breakfast (I love their little baked goods), lunch or dinner

Yu-U: 137 Flinders Ln, MELBOURNE CBD
Great Japanese place for set-lunches or dinner

Don Don's: 321 Swanston St, MELBOURNE CBD
Tiny Japanese place for students, with cheap & quick (I live for their sushi dons!)

St Ali (for coffee/breakfast): 12-14 Yarra Place, STH MELBOURNE

Europa Cake Shop: 81 Acland St., ST KILDA
There are many 'cafes' with European desserts on this street, but this is my favourite for their 'almond croissants' and 'chocolate & plum liquor tarts'.

Shark Fin House: 131 Little Bourke St., MELBOURNE CBD
My favourite place for Yum Cha.


Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any recommendations of your own!

xx
CC