Ada the fierce!

I had the opportunity to hang out with Ada Zanditon during last year’s DFWZ after parties when I also first met Victor whom I still remained in contact with for my NYC visits. 

Ada has left an impression of very direct, absolutely fierce, very fun loving and cool person and above all an amazingly talented young designer who I very much admire as I know how hard it is to fight to make a living, do what you love and study in such a demanding school in one of the most expensive cities to live in the world- London.

Ada’s mission is to create an elegant and sculptural womenswear embellished by her unique illustrations.

Here is the Poseisus collection Ada has prepared for SS 2012. Collection is inspired by seahorses, Greek goddesses and Haiti’s festival while accessories and details are inspired by origami.

Another thing which I like about Ada’s work is that she very much thinks about and is dedicated to creating a environmentally friendly fashion pieces using organic and natural fabrics which she sources from ethical and reliable manufacturers; as well as jewelry in cooperation with a designer Luca Romany using recycled plastic. 

Here you can find more about an amazing dedication Ada’s has for sustainability.

    Jewelry SS 2011. Collection

Since graduating from London College of Fashion Ada is showing her collections on prestigues fashion events worldwide like London Fashion Week, Kiev Fashion days and Dreft Fashion Week Zagreb. Her work is featured in many publications such as Vogue, Glamour, Grazia, Telegraph, The Sunday Times etc. 

Bellow is a reminder of what her previous collections looked like:

Here is a little preview of 'Poseisus' S/S 2012. Collection presentation which was shown on London SS 2012. Pre Fashion Week, which we will now have the opportunity to see live on Saturday November 26^that Dreft Fashion Week Zagreb where Ada is coming with a real power squad. 

The hairstyles for her show is going to be done by famous hairstylist and wig master Christian Landon, who pulled the inspiration from colorful cotton candy specially for Dreft Fashion Week show.

Photo sources: http://www.fashionreview.co.uk/ada-zanditon-fashion/; www.adazanditon.com

I can't wait to see Poseisus live next week!

Brilliant Braganza!

During last Dreft Fashion Week Zagreb earlier this year I had a chance to spend some time with Jean-Pierre. this Canadian designer stroked me as a true creative genius. He really does know what women want to wear and is quite warm, simple and a modest person. Due to some personal engagements I can't be in London right now, but the second I saw the first look shown above I smiled and said "office pajamas" how genius! He did it again!

"What a woman would wear to seduce Ben Nicholson at a party at the Gatsby Estate" – is the way Braganza has described his SS 2012. Collection. 

He kept his sci-fi theme inspiration creating smart collection which many different generations could wear on many different occasions. Plenty of the pieces I would definitely describe as timeless and classic with Braganza twist to them.

He played with traditionally male tailoring creating dresses made out of reconstructed -shouldered collarless suit jackets, jackets alone worn on figure hugging dresses made in soft grays, beiges and dramatic monochrome palettes with emphasized shoulder padding. This somewhat classic color pallet of art deco graphic prints was broken up with splashes of bright coral pink-tangerine colored digital print dresses.

I feel like this was Braganza at its best! Overall, very multi-wearable, smartly tailored power pieces each fashionista would love to have in her closet! This collection takes you from day in the office to lovely business or romantic dinner following a divine gala…and the accessories! Ahhhh these divine sci-fi powerful shoes! But this is no suprise knowing about his now traditional cooperation with Nicholas Kirkwood.You can see bellow some of Kirkwood shoes from previous Jean-Pierre Braganza collections. 

Brangaztic indeed!

Photo source in order top to bottom: www.Style.com , personal archive, www.fashionising.com.

You can see the whole collection bellow on my Youtube channel lovelies. 

Designer quicky:Vjera Vilicnik - the fairy with the hands of gold

I am so happy to learn about this amazing young lady. Vjera's resume embellished with masters in fashion design from Italian school of Design, Instituto Marangoni - the incubator of fashion talent and degree from haute couture embroidery school Ecole Lesage, the last remaining house of haute couture embroidery dating from 19^th century which collaborates with fashion institutions like Dior, Chanel and Lacroix on their couture collections, as well as her experience working with labels like: Julia Smith, Abercrombie&Fitch, Meeting, Basso&Brooke, Saint Hill Couture, Roksanda Ilincic, Max Mara, Tom Ford and WGSN differentiates her from many other fashion spotlight hopefuls.

My first impression of Vjera was "Gosh her name suits her so well!" and my second was "Gosh her pieces are so gentle, classic, delicate and dreamy." 

Vjera started her label back in July,2010. in pursuit of a  constant quest for more beautiful, more intricate garments that are unique yet timeless. She treats every piece of her clothing as a precious part of the overall story creating beautifully hand crafted, meticulously finished and soul stitched wearable timeless pieces each embellished with a tad of couture.

Vjera Vilicnik seems to create with free spirited, happy, elegant, very feminine and soft but confident women in mind. As she saids: " The woman in my mind, my muse, is a woman full of contradictions, but they are not really opposed to each other." Read more here.

Vjera Vilicnik Spring/Summer 2011.

Vjera took time and was kind enough to answer couple of my questions:

Were you ever approached by any of the organizers of fashion events in Croatia and would you ever consider showing your collection on any of them?

 Croatian fashion scene is still new to me, and since I was a part of fashion studies in London, I fell much more at home here. I would of course love to show in Croatia too, but for now time doesn't let me focus more on that idea. I recently gave an interview to Fashion.hr so there is a chance there will be collaboration with them.

Where do you sell your clothes? Do you have a showroom,do you sell online or via multibrand boutiques?

I have an online shop as part of the website, and you can see the pieces at The Showroom, just of Marble Arch, London, which is a part of FASHIONCAPITAL.CO.UK, an organisation that helped me to with the start. I would love to have my own little boutique but that is something for the future.

Brandalley.co.uk and Brandalley.fr have had competition for young designers and I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the winners, both with LBD and Perfect Blouse project, and so for a certain period of time you could buy the pieces on their websites too.

Are you ever planing to go towards mass production or would you prefer to have a smaller more exclusive stores in selected locations?

Because of the haute couture embroidery in my pieces, it is impossible to direct it toward mass market. The pieces sometimes take few days to finish, which of course, suits a smaller range. I would love to have the collection in a few selected stores, and keep the pieces unique and long lasting in making and quality as they are now.

What are the demographics of your customers?

The customer that wears Vjera Vilicnik, is a women full of contradictions, but they are no contradictions at all. She is a work force, and a gentle lover, she is a loving mother and she dances the night away. She is between the ages of 25-40, in search for something unique, long lasting, and classical with a twist, something that she can express herself with.

Do you have a "signature piece" and would you please indicate a price range of your pieces?

The signature piece is the carnation waistcoat. It is fully covered with handmade silk chiffon roses in shape of carnation flower, and for this season it is mixed with fine woollen balls for a more dramatic effect and mix of textures. It takes days to finish and hand stitch but it is also my favourite piece. The prices range from £80 for a simple t-shirts, go to £150 for short dresses and then climb to around £400 for long dresses or embellished pieces.

Please do visit Vjera's website to buy her clothes or view her collections at http://www.vjeravilicnik.com or her facebook fan page.

Vjera will show her latest collection at the Charing Cross hotel, Strand, London on Saturday 19th February 2011 as part of LGN Events off-schedule London Fashion Week catwalk show - A LA MODE. 

"God gave women intuition and femininity. Used properly, the combination easily jumbles the brain of any man I've ever met. "

Farrah Fawcett