Silk vs Leather

September! Without a doubt the most exiting month for fashion! Today I have decided to highlight the two opposites which have been highly featured in NY, London, Paris and Milan fashion weeks. Light, feminine and romantic on one side (my favourite by Oscar De La Renta Spring Summer 2014), the other side is dark, confident and strong!

Coming back down from the clouds of spring/summer looks, lets have a look at what to wear this fall. I have mentioned some of the trends in the previous posts, therefore right now we will concentrate on the contrast of characters between leather and silk!

Leather is no longer only for rock stars and bedrooms of the kinky! Leather can now be graceful and it has gone beyond the leather jacket which we all have! Skirts, trousers, coats, accessories, the means are endless.

Belstaff, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Hermes, & Lanvin

Tun tun tuuuuun...
These are the ever so "ready to wear" looks which we all can be confident to rock this fall. The most important with leather, is to make it look natural and harmonise it with your outfit. Therefore I beg of you, my fashion lovers, do not make the horrible mistake of the 90's where wearing a super short leather mini with heals can mistake you for someone who should be paid for certain services! To show of your legs take lessons from Belstaff and Chanel, make your look casual with knee-highs or flats.

Mulberry, Verscae, Prada, Pucci & Tom Ford

Here you can note the way Mulberry has an all-leather look, which feels a lot calmer due to the softer colours, rather the the classic jet black. Prada features the way you can play with colours, which is perfect way to brighten up the rainy days but stay warm and trendy at the same time. Pucci and Versace outline the way you can combine soft colours and materials with your leather items. Ladies, that Tom Ford mini is a must! I can already see it matched with suede knee-highs (such as Pucci's pic) and a beige blouse, or for a casual look, rock it with Alexander Rogov "Rogue" jumper and Giuseppe Zanotti trainers.

Lets take a look at the silk side now:

Temperley London, Max Mara, Lanvin, Rochas & Louis Vuitton

Sue me! I couldn't resist the Temperley London spring/summer look, but can't you see it matched with a leather jacket to get away with a fall? The way Max Mara and LV have dressed silk gowns with a casual long coats remind me of the way Sarah Jessica Parker has recently been spotted (yet again my memory fails me where I saw the picture). Lanvin and Rochas are using satin rather then silk, nevertheless they show a great example of night and day looks with a shiny material . It's not easy to wear silk and look casual, so to keep it safe wear full length in the evening. Do not buy a silk item until you have checked it against your skin tone, you need to make the most out of this material by looking radiant not washed out. Silk is timeless, it is the perfect definition of feminine and elegant, Marilyn loved silk gowns and that is more than enough to convince me. Also note the Max Mara look, if you find a playsuit in dark grey, maroon or olive you can match it with a casual coat and look demure but appropriate even in daylight!

To step away from the Hollywood glamour of full length silk gowns, why not match the two concepts! Before we match, please be careful with the colour combination to keep your outfit classy not trashy.

Pucci, Saint Lauren, Dsquared2, Prada & Alberta Feretti 

Isn't it fun when we mix and match!? Emelio Pucci shows the way leather with patchwork skirt look vibrant and fresh. The leather details of the belt and gloves make Saint Lauren dress more then just a black gown. Dsquared2 as always fun and daring so why not use their accessories in your looks. Prada's coat is perfectly matched with the feminine blouse and a skirt, which can easily be silk to support today's topic. Ladies, do I really need to explain why I featured the stunning gown from Alberta Feretti?

Don't be afraid to be "grown and sexy". The contrast between the two opposites can result in a fabulous power look in the office or trendy and youthful at another boutique opening this fall!
Have a look at fashion icons in these trends. Note Mira Duma and Oksana On representing the Russians, the leather is very favoured over here!

Sarah Jessica Parker, Alexa Chung & Oksana On

Anna Wintour, Saraj Jessica Parker, Mira Duma, Cgrystal Renn & Blake Livley

Post Vogue Night Out Trend highlights

Vogue Fashion Night Out is something which all self respecting fashionistas won't miss, just make sure you have something for the post-champagne head at work the following morning!

After being stomped by countless heals and sprayed to death by the retailers at TSUM, me and my girlies went to a much more comfortable Aizel. There you can find collections by Russian as well as International designers. Inside, women were slowly making their way through the racks of unique styles flashing their red soles on the way up to the Restaurant and then to the rooftop, where Alexandr Rogov was already on the DJ set. For my International readers, please remember this name, starting as a stylist he is now a proud owner of his own brand which has definitely made it mark at Fashion Night Out in Moscow. Much to my disappointment the key colour of the night was black, safe option. Fashion loves black, but today I will show you colours and styles which are in my shopping list!

 I am totally loving what I found in Burberry Store. The buttoned up blouses are still trendy so why not go for the brown blouse with the detailed leather collar and match it with the rubber red pencil skirt. For practical reasons I would go for leather skirt, it will be a lot warmer, not see through and will have a richer colour.

Another must have is a great trench coat. Burberry are iconic for the trenches and now they have much more fun designs, how about the rubber detail at the top, there is also an option of leopard print. Make it your own by ordering the which detail and colour you want on it.

Louboutins are still the number one pick, every second pair of shoes at the Fashion night Out had red soles. therefore to complete this look I would pick these:

If you like the 'matchy-matchy' look then definitely go for the Burberry Prosum trench with leopard. For fashion week I would add this fab hat-cap from Dsquared, simple eyes, dark lipstick and you are ready!

At the fashion party I was very impressed to see the super stylish it-girl Oksana On dressed in back to school trend! I am pretty sure that Vivienne Westwood will have some fantastic designs featuring the trendy red chequered at London Fashion Week. Have a look at Moschino's London looks as well as tartan detail in Chanel's coats.

Have fabulous shoes which you want to wear for the Fashion Week but you don't want to get hypothermia?  Go ahead for the sock trend! Thin colourful socks featured on Christian Dior catwalk and the thick and cosy by Mulberry!

I am very aware that in Paris the sock-sandal match was voted the worst Fashion faux, however if you match or even contrast them properly then it will be a win, win, win! Must say that I really wanted to show you thick beige socks with crystals embellished on them, however I have totally forgotten where I seen them!

Hope I have given you good ideas for the fabulous fashion month filled with Vogue nigh outs and Fashion Weeks. I am looking forward to your own style photos!