Fairytale Fashion Of The Week

WITH Dark Shadows and the upcoming Snow White and the Huntsman dominating the film world, you know that there are going to be some fairytale and magical influences filtering down into fashion - and your wardrobe as a result - too. So we have come up with the best buys about - from sinister shades of nail polish, dresses in shimmering sequins, costume jackets and jewellery that has more than a hint of the mythical world about it.

Fashion Hot Topic Of The Week.

Summer layering: layers that reveal. Who said layers were just for winter? Spring's breezes and summer's sun bring with them opportunity to dabble in layers that don't cover up, but rather reveal. Under-layers get sheer and skirts get unbuttoned as we explore unique ways to incorporate layering into your spring / summer wardrobe. Read on for the full report.

The slightest peep of warm sunshine and a tint of green on trees permit us to shed off those heavy layers of wool, silk and cashmere. But in spring 2012, reconsider liberating the idea of ‘layering’ your outfits from its infamous time frame.

As we enter spring / summer 2012, a new silhouette is discovered that permits you to layer clothes during the summer months. We’re seeing lighter fabrics and fresher palettes come around with an obvious touch of summer sensuality.

This rarely timed trend has taken a mainstream route and beckoned the creative energy of several designers, with one harmonious message ringing amongst all – layering this summer is all about how you wear it, not what you wear.

Continue reading after the break to get the essence of this trend and know how to layer for spring 2012. And don’t forget that if you’d like to keep up to date with all of the latest fashion trends and inspiration on how to wear them, to subscribe to Fashionising.com’s RSS feed or give us the thumbs up on Facebook.


The reincarnation of layering has never been so quirky until now. It could either be tagged as a stepbrother of the ‘pleats’ trend or be declared as a sparkling new silhouette for the warmer months. These summer layers have introduced new dimensions of the body, ones that have always existed but never put into a theatrical production.

What is summer layering?

The most coherent explanation would be to layer two or more garments in the same outfit, but also ingeniously linking them with other trends for spring 2012. When layering for summer, the key is to drape fabrics on the body whilst leaving scope for an unpresumptuous skin show, as opposed to how layering is done for the winter months where even the ears aren’t spared.

The silhouette is A-lined, vertical and fluid, all owing to the fabric enveloping the body.

Ironical it may be, but this new season’s summer layering is a slyly sexual variety of the sheer trend. It’s not as visibly verbal in terms of hitting the sensual radar, but the sneaky layers let the onlooker amend their imagination to as they please.


Why layer for spring / summer?

Layering has always been associated with winters (aware of the bundled-up feeling?), but layering for spring is an unconventional way of adjusting your garment to your comfort, all depending on how you feel on the day. It coats a thin layer of modesty on some extremely revealing trends and continues to push boundaries of being confident of your best assets.

Be it sexy, sophisticated, lady-like, modern or girlish, this spring trend is an ideal pick for a hot date on a balmy evening. You just can’t go wrong.

A trend so diverse comes with prototypes from the spring 2012 runway shows, all enunciating the various options that accompany layering this summer.

Layering a skirt over sheer

At the risk of overusing the term ‘modest’ when referring to this trend, it does suffice to say that this variety of summer layering is the most sophisticated kind.

Masha Ma’s spring / summer 2012 collection is a reflection of a reserved housewife from the ‘50s who has been teleported to the 21st century. The sheer knee-length petticoat peeps from underneath a draped layer of knife-pleated skirt, maintaining its respectable aesthetic.

Marni meanwhile pitched a similar old-fashioned twist by having a sheer skirt under the chief retro-inspired skirt in their spring 2012 collection.

For you to adapt this version in your new wardrobe, ensure that the fabric underneath is either organza or crisp georgette. The inner layer can’t be flimsy and soft, or it wouldn’t give the shape you require to compliment this look. Think of Mad Men when shopping for fabrics for this genre of layering.

Layering a skirt over shorts

Daks’ summer layering has a futuristic and sporty angle, where hot pants are teamed with an A-line cape skirt. This serious front-on leg reveal is another way to experiment with this layered clothing trend. Adjust the sensuality levels with buttons to show more or less of the shorts underneath.

Lyn Devon gave another example of dresses worn over shorts, adjustable to reveal more or less skin. A long skirt with slits up the sides layered over hot pants or a shorter under-skirt has the same effect.

Play with fabrics

Luca Luca’s spring / summer 2012 collection is a great reference point for when you layer with different fabrics. He abandoned the idea of conventional draping and overlaid his breezy chiffon dresses with silky layers and cut-outs.

The best way to go about this is to understand which fabrics flatter your body type and what you’re comfortable in. Remember, this layering is for summer, so don’t overdo with heavy fabrics.

One-toned colour

The colours of the layers are very important for styling this look. It’s not so much to do with adhering to the summer palette, as it is to let the layered colours compliment each other.

Take the path of minimalism and pick an all-white layered outfit; whether that’s a sheer overlay on a shift dress or a silk chemise under a lacy shirt-dress. It’s sexy, vulnerable and there’s so much to choose from.

Clare Waight Keller’s Chloe woman for this spring is a refined version of her former self; the appliqué and lacy fabric layering in soft hues of cream strangely spark a boyish charm for this array of layering. To mirror this look by Chloe, you’re looking at investing in tuxedo blazers, classic white shirts or shirts with collars in sturdy fabrics.

Elie Saab knows how to drape his woman in a seductive manner, and his spring 2012 collection did full justice to the layered look. Except this time, the layering didn’t reveal another fabric but gave a glimpse of the skin underneath. This is where the ultra seductive and sexualised version of the trend comes in.

What you can take from Saab’s aesthetic for this spring is keeping the palette a neutral shade. If you’re not a fan of white, go for eye-popping colours but layer them sexily. You need heads to turn, despite the inundation of fabric on your body.

Graphic print

If you’re a McQueen devotee, throw all the rulebooks out the window and treat your body like a canvas. For a graphical and psychedelic pop to your summer wardrobe, you will have to swear by these two Ps – prints and peplums.

Sarah Burton overlapped heavy fabrics around the waist to create a layered peplum (which is going to be huge this season, as well). In other instances, layered lace reveal another intricate layer of immaculate craftsmanship from the house of Mcqueen.

Even though this type of layering is more theatrical than a realistic option for spring, it’s another example of the vine-like characteristic of the layered trend.

Art Deco fashion:

 The new take. Graphics, geometric lines and abstract shapes can remind you of two things simultaneously – a high school mathematics class and the Art Deco period from the early 1930s. As the movement swept back onto the spring 2012 runways, so are we finding new ways to embrace it. Read on to find out more about the Art Deco trend in 2012.

Graphics, geometric lines and abstract shapes can remind you of two things simultaneously – a high school mathematics class and the Art Deco period from the early 1930s.

It was a time in fashion when inanimate objects started influencing textile workers. Today, designers thrive through that system of getting their inspiration from arts and architecture. Call it a movement of frivolity and hopefulness or a step forward from the Jazz-age of the 1920s; Art Deco has reappeared on the 2012 fashion map.

Tailored shorts: the fabrics

In December 2011, Vogue US published an article with the heading, “Steal of the Month: Denim under $500”. Ambitious it sure is, but the luxurious update of what used to be a working class fabric is noteworthy in the instability of the industry’s current financial status. To our amazement, not a single pair of denim shorts was featured in the list. This only goes to further prove Wall Street Journal’s argument of wonderment, published mid-2011, of how a piece of denim can cost over $300.

Their case states designers using denim to create pieces with unique construction, rather than merely using denim for their collection. There’s very little creative experimentation in denim shorts, per se, which is why designers are now churning out alternative luxurious fabrics to keep the trend alive, sans its novel fabric.

Silk, organza, cotton, terracotta and even leather are being used to boast the ultimate experience of shorts for spring 2012. Denim shorts were almost non-existent on the spring 2012 runways, but if your wardrobe retains its frayed, faded or ripped kind, put them away with your winter clothing in preference of something smarter.

Tailored shorts: the styles

Sharp tailored shorts

Pouring a thick layer of polish and refinement to this hot trend, Givenchy’s interpretation in the form of a crisp short-suit has made the tailored shorts a fitting look for work in the coming months. The cuts of the blazer and its patent leather lapels are essentially androgynous, but the rising hemlines of the silk shorts paint a very contrary picture.

Prabal Gurung had his money in the pool of sensual femininity, whilst his silhouette took a trip to the man’s land. The shiny fabrics at both Carven and Gurung have lit up the options for this season. Don’t be afraid to match the shorts and blazer, colour-wise, but be mindful of what you’re putting on underneath the jacket.

The length for these sharp tailored shorts almost touch the hot-pants radar, but their pairing with suede blazers, satin blouses and chiffon tops makes them classier and dominating, in a way.

Note also that a slightly flared cut is one of spring 2012′s biggest winners. Look for pairs with a mid to high waist and gentle volume as this will elongate the leg – and provide an alternative to the season’s high waisted skirt.

Pick this style if you’re looking at altering your fashion stance at work or for a hot summer date – a bit of leg show never hurt anybody.


Holiday tailored shorts

Your wardrobe for a summer romance on a yacht in an isolated Mediterranean island demands a good range of holiday tailored shorts. And to celebrate that, Versace’s spring / summer 2012 range sings out with insanely sexy pieces that could almost be passed for something out of a swimwear collection. These immaculately fitted and embellished shorts scream nothing but a sexy summer beach holiday

With this type, you’re likely to find pieces with either floral prints or laidback fabrics, such as breezy cotton. And again the cut is less of a straight cut and more akin to the shape of a skirt or culottes. Pair these with other spring 2012 trends like the crop top or summer layering, and you’ll be ready for a country side road trip.

Playing in a field of vibrant colours and bold prints, Diane von Furstenberg’s modern take on the utilitarian cuts and classic shape of the Bermuda create another edge for the holiday tailored shorts. These are loud and very strong pieces, with very subtle hints from femininity. Choose to style the Bermudas straight from the runway, or contrast with an ultra feminine top.

Sporty Tailored shorts

Shorts have been part of the sports industry for years, for their comfort and convenience, but when translated in the fashion world, shorts seem to have an identity crisis every so often. However Barbara Bui’s spring / summer collection sternly prompts the birthplace of shorts, that being the sports room. Paired with a zipped jacket and accessoried with a metallic gym bag, these lycra shorts tick all the boxes for qualifying in the sporty fashion trend for the season. Stella McCartney’s mesh pairs are another sporty option that combines breathable fabric with design flourish.

The length and fabric are key here; pick according to comfort and event

1960s fashion: the return of the swinging 60s

Each decade of the 20th century is prone to being defined by its fashions; and for each of those decades is a cycle of revival inevitable.

Some decades are revived in distinctive fits and starts, like the 80s returning in a burst of irony that made good on its promise; others, like the 60s, linger never too far out of reach. So while tousling up your sexiest bed hair and pulling on your teeniest mini may always be an option there’s no better time than 2011 and 2012 to inject even more of that swinging 60s vibe into your wardrobe.

60s fashion: where it’s been seen


The Fall 2011 runways, When They fit to a Particular decade, mostlystrutted down a path glamorous 1970s. The 1930s WereRepresented aussi Fairly well. And then, amidst it all, A Fewdesigners of key influences Were Marching To The '60s drum.

Burberry Prorsum's bright colored coats and block structuredshort-hemmed dresses swinging London has hit rating. Miuccia Prada Worked together mod 60s flapper chic and pleated tunics Intographic and Mary-Jane heels. Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta,Marni and aussi dabbled in the trend

60s fashion for spring 2012


While the sixties fashion themes took root in fall 2011, don’t think they’ll be dead and buried by spring. Having found their way into numerous editorials already, we then saw the trend filter onto the spring 2012 runways. So expect to see the ’60s continue as a spring 2012 fashion trend.

1960s fashion looks

For the purpose of inspiring a ’60s look as best fitted to right now, and without getting too pedantic on historical accuracy, we’ll break up the era into three key looks.

Stylehaüs & L.A. Fashion Weekend Highlights

Although the past week has been busy, it's also been enjoyable and entertaining, with stops at the Mondrian for a Coachella-themed fashion show put on by stylehaüs on Thursday night, as well as shows by Betsey Johnson, Vilorija, and Dina Bar-el as part of L.A. Fashion Weekend on Friday night. Below are the looks that caught my attention and spoke to my personal style.

A Betsey Johnson show never disappoints, as the models are smiling, the clothing is playful, and the accessories are quirky. The blue printed dress, floral trousers, and floral maxi dress pictured below would easily streamline into my wardrobe, while the pink and purple dress with black petticoat would require a fancier occasion.

Summer 2012 Hairstyle Ideas for On-the-Go Girls

Trying new looks can be a tricky thing, yet with the right tips you can surprise everyone with a roll-worthy appearance! This season, get creative and update your style with these quick summer 2012 hairstyles for on-the-go-girls! Simple and easy as saying 'fab 'do!'


Twists, knots, braids, messy ponys, just-rolled-out-of-bed locks, or ravishing accessories, it's your time to steal the spotlight this season trying some of the hottest and easiest summer 2012 hairstyle ideas for on-the-go-girls. Forget complicated styles and opt instead for simple ones. With just a few tricks and tips you can get attention-grabbing 'dos and recreate the looks spotted on the runways. You can keep your tresses loose and obtain a bed-head aspect (Givenchy) or dare the androgynous wet effect (Ohne Titel, Giambattista Valli) for maximum impact!


For an instant change, take a peek at Jill Stuart's side-swept 'do or at ADAM's refined waves! Add some bohemian sexiness and mystery with a tousled look making a deep side parting rolling one section in the back or pull back two pieces for a romantic result. You can also stand out with some rockabilly rolls as seen at Tracy Reese. Achieve the 'do at home gathering a hair section and wrapping it around a chopstick. Next, roll it upward until the entire roll is on the scalp. Secure with bobby pins. Easy as saying 'fab'!

Don't worry! You're not the only one facing a hectic lifestyle and busy schedules! Well, for those days when you just cannot find the time to style your hair, experts always come with smart solutions in order to solve your issues. Season after season, they bring newer versions of timeless 'dos that you can recreate at home with the minimum amount of effort. Such is the case of the already famous braid (Francesco Scognamiglio, ASHISH). Perfect for sunny summer days, a side braid looks so modern and feminine and it only takes two minutes to get it right.


Another 'do that never goes out of style is the high and tight chignon (Sophie Theallet, Stella McCartney). Elegant and chic, the chignon works great for casual looks as well as for special, formal occasions. Pull your hair back into a ponytail smoothing down any flyaways and wrap it into a chignon. For a clean, glamorous finish apply some hold hairspray.


Are you on the hunt for something more spectacular and innovative? Have a nosey at Marc by Marc Jacobs' ponytail-bun hybrid. You can create this apparently complicated 'do by yourself making a pony, folding it upward, securing it with a long barrette before flipping it back down toward the nape of the neck and securing it with a second clip.


Other uber-cool summer 2012 hairstyles for on-the-go-girls are the ones spotted at Missoni and 3.1 Phillip Lim. Still, the 'do that drew all our attention was the looped ponytail seen at Carolina Herrera. Start by making a center parting and pull your hair into a low ponytail. Then, loop the pony underneath the elastic band and leave some face-framing flyaways for a romantic vibe.