Creativity Without Commercial Restraints at SCAD’s Annual Student Fashion Show

The Savannah College of Art and Design has acquired some eighty buildings since its inception in 1978—many of which are historic, and so spread out that a campus tour requires a car—and the development is showing no signs of slowing down. The facilities are even more impressive. Fashion students are trained on state-of-the-art laser cutters, 3-D printers, and every type of textile and fiber contraption the mind can imagine. All of that has made SCAD a hot spot of emerging fashion talent, which the school proudly displayed at Saturday night’s annual student fashion show.

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Beverly Sung’s pleated, asymmetrical dresses (above, left) were a respectable nod to Issey Miyake. Sculptural, digital printed dresses from Wenxia Wang and Zenobia Duncan (below, left) were equally impressive. Elaine Lui, a former Alexander Wang intern, drew creativity from her native Hong Kong, with mesh-overlaid streetwear covered with prints of electric wiring and light-up LCD details built into the clothes (above, right). Across the board, fabric innovation was the big story here—burned Lycra, hand-plisséd skirts, digitally printed boiled wool. Dean of Fashion Michael Fink told us, “What sets this year apart is that there is so much textile and fiber development. The fashion students are actually making their own textiles in collaboration with our Fibers students.”

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One-on-ones with the designers after the show afforded an opportunity to hear their stories and inspirations. Michael Mann’s conceptual menswear referenced football, a comment on the offense and defense he struggled between while being bullied as a teen. Wesley Berryman’s parents drove eight hours from rural Tennessee to come see him show androgynous creations that might feel at home on a rack beside Rick Owens and Gareth Pugh (above, right). Berryman’s mother told us, “I don’t know where he got his fashion sense—definitely not from me! When we used to go to Walmart [to buy clothes], I was always worried he would put up a fight! But really, I just want to support my son.”

The real joy in seeing a student fashion show like SCAD’s is the opportunity to witness creativity without the commercial restraints many professional designers face. Free from the pressure of having to “sell” anything, and enabled by a supportive faculty and cutting-edge facilities, SCAD’s runway served as a rare, unfettered fashion moment.

Jennifer Lawrence Makes Her Red-Carpet Return at 'X-Men' Premiere

I don’t care if she’s a walking, talking GIF whose endlessly chattering interviews and endearing awards-show trips and falls are the result of a hyperactive personality and a few too many drinks (which she basically admitted to in the her latest Marie Claire interview): To me, Jennifer Lawrence is, and always will be, perfection. Not only is she hilarious and insanely talented (hello, the 23-year-old already has an Oscar), but she’s also absolutely gorgeous and has a super-sexy sense of style both on the red carpet and off — a truth that’s only been cemented over the last several years as Lawrence has been the (well-paid) face of Christian Dior, appearing in the brands’ ads and making practically every red-carpet appearance in a couture gown designed by the legendary Parisian label.

But after staying off of the red carpet since the 2014 Academy Awards in March, the Hunger Games actress finally made her return on Saturday at the X-Men: Days of Future Past premiere in New York City. And as if the excitement of spotting Lawrence on the red carpet for the first time in months wasn’t enough, something even more exciting went down at film’s first premiere of the press tour: The actress didn’t wear Dior.

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Sporting a steely blue, liquid velvet Jason Wu slip gown that practically melted over Lawrence’s envious curves, the actress looked sultry, seductive, and undeniably like her X-Men character Mystique as the star of the film’s premiere red carpet.

Styling the look with simple strappy sandals, statement earrings, a subtly smoky eye, and beautiful berry lip, Lawrence looked nothing less than sophisticated in her non-Dior ensemble. She also showed off her slowly-growing-out hair, which she styled with a dramatic, sleek, and side-swept bob.

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While Lawrence was undoubtedly the main attraction of the evening’s red carpet, she wasn’t the only star who dressed to impress. Actress Emma Roberts — who’s starring alongside James Franco in a new flick, Palo Alto — hit the event in a perfect pink satin sheath dress from designer Katie Ermilio. With its strapless, bustier top and midi-length pencil skirt, the ensemble was a classic pick in a shade made for a spring event.

Girls star Zosia Mamet also took to the red carpet, looking far sunnier than usual in her crisp white crop top and baby pink, pleated maxi skirt, paired with a casual bob and cuff bracelets. While Roberts and Mamet certainly looked pretty in their pastels, I think we can all agree that Lawrence’s crushed velvet, non-Dior gown was the only thing that really mattered at the X-Men premiere — and was a label change we could certainly get used to in the future.

What Radio Hosts Really Wear

Whether responding to breaking news, hosting a musical performance or interviewing heads of state, employees at NPR aim to dress appropriately for their roles. For the roughly 750 employees at the media organization’s Washington headquarters, that can mean anything from shorts and sandals in the summer to tailored suits.

“You’re going to dress differently if you’re a White House correspondent than if you are shooting video or editing tape on the overnight,” said Margaret Low Smith, senior vice president of news.

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Scott Simon, host of “Weekend Edition Saturday,” said he often gets teased by his colleagues for dressing up, whether it’s because of his pocket squares or red socks, or for wearing a particularly voluminous coat in Afghanistan. “You can’t let your standards slip just because you’re in a war zone,” he quipped.

The Dress Code: There is none, although employees have to be prepared for surprise visitors. “It could be the Secretary of State, it could be Wyclef Jean—which all happened,” said Michel Martin, host of “Tell Me More.”

Nina Totenberg, veteran correspondent on legal affairs, requires that people working for her dress up at the Supreme Court. At minimum, they must wear presentable dark slacks and a white shirt. “My view of that is, that is so boring, why would anybody do that?” she said. “Why wouldn’t you have some fun with your clothes?”

Dressing for Radio: Visitors are often surprised by the way people at NPR look. “You have this vision in your mind of this very wise, older, bearded sage, and you can see that every time somebody comes in, they’re deflated,” said Guy Raz, host of “TED Radio Hour.”

“You kind of feel bad,” he said. “I wish there was something I could do to fulfill that.”

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Be the summer style icon with headbands

Printed, beaded and sparkly headbands are back in fashion. Sonakshi Sinha, who recently flaunted a gold Amrapali headband at an awards function, said that headbands are a great way to add a little something to your hairstyle. Bollywood stylist and designer Pernia Qureshi said that floral headbands are nice options, but ensure the flower doesn’t overpower your head and try to keep things somewhat proportionate so you don’t look like you’re about to topple over. Rod Anker, Creative Director of Monsoon Salons and Spa, said that different hairstyles – updos, down hairstyles, side dos and half-up half down hairstyles — all look great with a headband.

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Anker also advised against using metal or rubber bands as they will cause too much friction on the hair and cause it to break or become weak at the point of securing it. The quality of the hairband can vary, however avoid the ones with a hair clip attached as they too will catch hair and cause breakage, he added. Those with longer hair can actually braid a section of hair on the side and use the braid as a headband.

Hair accessories are also part of Indian weddings where the bride often wears a mang tika or head gear to further enhance her hair. Clips and beads are other ways to enhance the beauty of one’s hair. Tying a bandanna or a scarf on your head can suit a few people but make sure you don’t end up looking like you are going to the gym. Tie a scarf around your ponytail to make it look stylish. If you can’t take your pick, going for a black or muted colour headband is your safest bet on a regular day and a neon or floral headband works for a party look.

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Gia Coppola On Palo Alto, Personal Style, and James Franco

Days before her debut film, Palo Alto, premiered at the Venice Film Festival, director Gia Coppola made a last-minute decision to buy a YSL tuxedo. “I didn’t know what I wanted to wear—and then I was like, screw it, I’m going to get it and it’s going to be something I’ll always have. I’ll remember this moment—my first film at Venice,” she recalls. A call to her grandmother, Eleanor Coppola (wife of director Francis Ford), revealed that the matriarch, too, had a YSL tux, hers from the sixties. That settled it—the 26-year-old knew she’d have it forever.

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The tux stunned—but then, so did the velvet off-the-shoulder Christopher Kane piece, the dusty-rose Zac Posen with the trumpet hemline, the array of Proenza Schouler looks she wore on the festival circuit leading up to tonight's New York premiere. Drawn to designers whose process “feels like art and has a backstory,” Coppola counts Proenza, Rodarte, and friend Posen among her favorites. “He used to be my ‘adult supervisor’ when he stayed with a family friend on trips to LA.,” she says of Posen. “He’d really just take us out with him and we’d have a lot of fun.” Clad in an emerald Isabel Marant sweater and Top shop jeans, Coppola, seated in the garden of the Chateau Marmont on a cloudy day, fingers a heart-shaped Jennifer Meyer necklace that dangles from her neck. “I wear it every day,” she explains of the jewelry—a gift from her mother, Jacqui Getty, upon completion of her first film, “I need to get Palo Alto engraved on it.” The movie, which stemmed from James Franco’s eponymous book of short stories, was adapted and directed by Coppola, who was heralded as a young talent to watch as the piece made the rounds at the fall film festivals. Dev Hynes provided the sound track, and a young cast (including Emma Roberts, Nat Wolff, and Jack Kilmer) starred. Many of them stayed at Coppola’s mother’s house during filming. “I would drive them home after work and we’d all have dinner,” Coppola says, “It was like camp. I loved it.” She did post-production at her grandfather’s editing suite in Napa, and counts her aunt Sofia and uncle Roman among her favorite directors, along with Fincher, Sturgess, and Godard. The bloodline was inadvertently involved in the film debut, but the talent—and the YSL tuxedo—is all hers.

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Sophia Webster's New J.Crew Collaboration Will Make You Smile

Any shoe that whose main mission is to “put a smile on your face” according to their press materials is immediately on my radar, and that’s why my heart is aflutter for designer Sophia Webster’s new shoe line for J.Crew. The collaboration, announced earlier this spring, includes a collection of 13 different shoes from the British Webster — and the best news is that they’re all available to purchase today.

If you’re not familiar with Webster, she’s known for her playful and whimsical accessories (clutches and statement heels, mainly), and is popular with a few celebrities you may have heard of: Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker (the shoe queen herself), and Rita Ora are a few of the names that have put Webster’s designs on the map.

While Webster’s usual pricepoint for heels can flirt with the $500-somethings, the collaboration with J.Crew has some pieces from Webster starting at a more accessible $320. (The prices do climb as high as $695, though, so before you fall in love, check the tag to avoid major sticker shock at the register, yeah?)

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J.Crew’s head designer, Tom Mora, worked closely with Webster on the collection, and told ELLE that the collaboration of brands made perfect sense:

“Sophia Webster seemed like such a natural fit for J.Crew,” Mora said. “We are so well known for our love of color and pattern-mixing and I think this is something we really share with her, it’s part of her DNA as a designer.”

Webster said she wants people to know that you can express your personality through shoes. All you need is a good statement pair, she says.

From the looks of the first images of the collaborative collection, patterns, colors, and tassels have come together to cater to even the boldest personalities out there. And, it’s true, it’s hard not to smile at least a little at the whimsical and colorful collection.

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Sarah Jessica Parker Is A Shimmery Bronze Mess In Diane Von Furstenberg

If you told us a year ago that Sarah Jessica Parker would become a regular of the Fashion Disaster feature, we would not have believed you even a little bit. In fact, we might have been so offended by the suggestion that we would have challenged you to a duel for her fashion honor. But somehow she has stunned us with two notable fashion disasters in just a month. Kim Kardashian is on the cover of Vogue. Sarah Jessica Parker is dressing badly. What has the fashion world come to?!

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Fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker turned up to the DVF Awards last night wearing a Diane Von Furstenberg dress that featured two different types of lamé in a fight for supremacy that nobody was going to win, least of all Sarah Jessica Parker. Most of the time we consider metallics to be neutral, but in this case all her colors and textures were so one-note we couldn’t figure out where to look. Everything was bronze and shiny, from her ombré hair to tips of her tan little toes.

Between this and her recent appearance in red lace over an all-business white button-down shirt over a pair of sheer black stirrup-footed pantyhose, we’re becoming suspicious that Sarah Jessica Parker has been replaced by a less stylish pod person. Sure, this dress is far from the worst we’ve ever seen, but we’re used to seeing Parker in only the very best. When a noted style icon like Sarah Jessica Parker comes in on a flat note, we start to worry she’s been replaced by a less-stylish alien lifeform.

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Paris Fashion Week: Is Karl Lagerfeld off his trolley? Audience strips shelves after Chanel show

Karl Lagerfeld staged his autumn/winter 2014 Chanel collection in a recreation of a supermarket. The shelves were stocked with faux Chanel-branded products - everything from “Jambon Cambon” ham, to camellia-festooned rubber gloves. Lagerfeld went for a simple, direct title: “Chanel Shopping Centre.”

That all sounds funny. And expensive. It was both. It also says a lot about the state of the fashion world today. Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel collections often feel like a supermarket sweep, a riot of tweed and chains, pearls and cashmere. Like those mega-marts that pepper industrial wasteland, it can all feel a bit overwhelming. But once you find the aisle with the stuff you like, it’s easy to make your purchase, and a swift exit. That’s Lagerfeld’s formula: he lays his wares out and you pick and choose, like a Chanel salad bar.

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Equally, that supermarket can be seen as a metaphor for how designers plunder the stocks of fashion’s past with gleeful abandon, throwing everything into the trolley and seeing what they can cook up when they get home. Lagerfeld does that better than anyone. The man invented the revival of the designer brand when he first clocked into the Chanel HQ on Rue Cambon over 30 years ago. And he still cherry-picks through those references best. Today, alongside the eternal tweeds, there was a hint of the early ’90s with moth-eaten leggings and trainers, and of Lagerfeld’s back-catalogue of sarcastic Chanel-isms like a leather-intertwined chain shopping basket or 2.55 handbag wrapped in cling-film.

Finally, a supermarket sates appetites – en masse. After Lagerfeld took his bow, the entire audience surged forward to grab and bag those Chanel-ised everyday staples in a fashion free-for-all. Lagerfeld, ever-impassive behind sunglasses, coolly fielded questions while mobs stripped the shelves. Security guards confiscated the lot when guests reached the door. Everything will be going into Chanel’s boutique window schemes this autumn.

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Chanel’s supermarché worked because it wasn’t merely a superficial staging tag-on. There’s a depth. Lagerfeld is a master at catching the mood – in this case, the commerciality and safeness that has infected many a collection. Sometimes, that shapes up into refreshing realness. Other times it means the clothes lack the frisson of forward-thinking that gives them true catwalk validity. They’re pure product, like all that Coco Panettone on Chanel’s Shopping Centre shelves.

Sarah Burton’s Alexander McQueen shows aren’t about reality. There’s a commercial collection in the showroom to shore up this considerable business. The catwalk is where Burton allows herself – and us – a flight of fancy.

This time, the theme was beauty and the beast, usually fused in dresses that collided lace and lambskin, tiered ruffles against tough, even visceral sproutings of fur or hard patent leather. A trio of sheath dresses disintegrated into animalistic fronds of pelt at the hem. You couldn’t help but place Burton’s tour de force (for it was) in a deeper context, like that afforded Lagerfeld. Maybe the beast is crass commerce, the beauty that form of catwalk artistry and make-believe rapidly falling out of fashion. The industry today is an unholy, uneven marriage between the two.

Not at McQueen. As a pair of gossamer gowns ethereal in their loveliness closed the show, Burton’s beauty won through. To dress? Perchance, to dream.

Suki Waterhouse is a Star to Watch, and These Five Looks Will Show You Why

From the outside looking in, it doesn’t seem like English model Suki Waterhouse’s life could be any better right now. She’s dating one of the hottest and most sought-after actors in the world; she just ruled London Fashion Week by walking in shows like Burberry and Hunter Original; and she was recently named ELLE magazine’s Model of the Year. And at just 22 years old, the English beauty has years ahead of her to continue capturing designers’ campaigns and the public’s heart with her bold bangs and beautiful brows.

But perhaps the most intriguing thing about Waterhouse — we know, it seems impossible that anything could be more intriguing than dating Bradley Cooper — is her varied (but still consistent) sense of personal style. From sleek, polished dresses and mod suits to flowing, boho-chic gowns, Waterhouse seems to show up from one event to the next channeling a completely different (but always chic) style. So which of the star’s style is the best? That’s for you to decide. Here are five looks that capture each facet of the rising star’s style personality:

1. The Classy English Rose

It’s hard to believe that such a young lady can have such sophisticated fashion tastes, but Waterhouse has proven polished again and again in ladylike, feminine dresses and perfectly tailored pantsuits on the red carpet and in everyday life.

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2. The Sexy Siren

Just because Waterhouse knows how to keep it clean-cut and classy doesn’t mean she always sports polished, covered-up pieces. The rising superstar also loves to sport sheer, low-cut, and just plain sexy gowns on the red carpet, and we’re sure that’s something her famous boyfriend doesn’t mind too much.

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3. The Mod Maven

Showing off her English roots seems to be second nature to the up-and-coming model, who loves to sport ensembles full of graphic prints, pastel shades, and boxy cuts that even mod icon Twiggy would approve of.

4. The Boho Beauty

Even with an affinity for high fashion and sexy ensembles, it’s not uncommon to see the model channeling her inner hippie in flowing, floral maxi dresses, cross-body bags, and loose side braids.

5. The Laid-Back Lady

Looking just as amazing dressed down as she does dressed to the nines, the blonde beauty loves to take her style down a notch every now and then with simple ensembles full of sporty coats, well-fitting denim, and cool-girl biker boots.

Dressing the part: From Ian Botham to Bez and Elvis to Cary Grant

Elvis

Quote Elvis as a style inspiration, and you’re on decidedly dodgy ground. Rhinestones? Jumpsuits? The quiff? Lobster mac-and-cheese stains? Nix all of the above. We’re not thinking of Elvis during his Las Vegas drag, but his 1961 Blue Hawaii incarnation, matinee-idol handsome and garlanded with hibiscus-print aloha shirting. It was a point of reference for Miuccia Prada’s spring collection, packed with hawaiian patterned shirting harking back to mid-century tropical holiday attire and played out against a multi-coloured backdrop of oversized cut-out post-cards style flats. Wish you were there? A few other designers went on a tropical vacation too: Hedi Slimane included the Hawaiian shirt in his hyper-hipster Saint Laurent offering, while Dries van Noten and Frida Giannini at Gucci both scrolled dark, lush florals across shorts, sweaters and singlets.

David Sylvain

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It was a toss-up between two Davids – Bowie and Sylvian – as the models for menswear’s new taste for skinny, sharp suiting and glistening tonic fabrics. It can easily tap in to Bowie’s glam, as well as his ever-influential Thin White Duke days. But the 1980s tinge to the frosted-tip pompadours and winkle-picker boots of Hedi Slimane’s spring Saint Laurent show tipped the scales in Sylvian’s favour. Besides, isn’t Bowie a “style icon” whose ubiquity is both a blessing and a curse? Look hard enough and you can see him in almost any collection. Slimane has mined him as a reference point in his prior incarnation at Dior Homme, but this time the Lurex-flecked suiting, shiny satin bombers and slender PVC trews – so bad they were great – were far too dodgy for the sartorially impeccable Bowie. Sylvian’s presence was also felt at Lanvin, and the closing tuxedo at Louis Vuitton – velvet, shot through with mother-of-pearl – could have come straight from a Japan album cover.

Bez

It’s not for me to cast aspersions on the lifestyles of certain fashion designers, but in the words of Shameless, they seem to know how to throw a party. Or at least, how to attend one. There was a clubby, ravey vein that ran through some of the best offerings of the spring shows: the uniform silhouette consisting of baggy t-shirts, short-shorts and volume-pumped trainers. The Happy Monday’s Bez (a.k.a. Mark Berry) may not have been a stated influence, but he was certainly an insidious presence. In Paris, Raf Simons and Rick Owens were the main proponents. The former offered an acieeed-bright, polyester-blended ode to nineties Belgian Gabba, while Owens enlisted an Estonian metal band to “serenade” his audience at ear-splitting volume. London based Bez-heads included Christopher Shannon, who matchy-matched neon-bright latex shirts and PVC shorts, and Craig Green, whose tie-dyed shirting offered a narcotic-free but nevertheless totally trippy psychedelic experience.

Martin von Essenbeck

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Yes, these are the men’s trends for spring/summer 2014. And if you haven’t seen Luchino Visconti’s The Damned, the picture below will need some explaining. Honestly, there weren’t a huge number of collections referencing Helmut Berger’s turn as Martin von Essenbeck, the Marlene Dietrich-impersonating scion of a German family disintegrating into decadence during the 1930s. But there was one: Thom Browne’s, packed with lipstick, high heels and military braided jackets. Okay, so occasionally it frogmarched into sartorial territory best left occupied (no pun) by Herr Otto Flick in ‘Allo Allo!, but nevertheless there’s something brewing around this feeling. Leap forward six months to the Milanese autumn/winter 2014 shows, and Prada sends out a homage to 1930s via 1970s with distinct Weimar undertones. Next season, it’ll be everywhere. Probably minus the lipstick, though.

Ian Botham

Your eyes don’t deceive you: that is former Test captain Ian Botham being cited as a style icon. Bear with me. He isn’t really a muse of the season – he’s a representative of one of the key themes thrown up by the spring/summer 2014 collections: sportswear. That is, luxed-up, tricked-out fashion sportswear, proffered with special aplomb in Italy (look back to last week’s fashion pages and you’ll see the girls got very much the same from the Italians, too). Nevertheless, there was one overtly Botham-inspired collection: the all-cricket-white paean to Lords designed by Thom Browne for Moncler Gamme Bleu, which bowled us over in Milan last June. The other key players in these sport-style stakes are the sleek and streamlined go-faster Gucci, number-splashed marathon-man inspirations at Salvatore Ferragamo and the muscle-bound, Olympicstyle outing from Donatella Versace.

Cary Grant

Designers push and provoke their catwalk audiences, but at the end of the day, they know suits sell. They always have – hence the fact that Cary Grant is one of a multitude of suited-and-booted cinematic icons that could be trotted out as supposed “inspiration” for the sharp suiting we saw for spring/summer 2014. We saw it for autumn/winter, and we’ll see it for the season after that, too. Because the tailored suit is an essential component of most men’s wardrobes. And if you have to do it, you should do it well. Stefano Pilati’s debut for Ermenegildo Zegna offered a new slant: subtle changes in buttoning, proportion, a softer, less basted and bombasted feel, coats as soft as dressing gowns and suits with an easy drape. This felt like truly modern menswear, all the elegance of Cary Grant but without the vintage feel. Zegna is also the tailor’s tailor, quite literally, manufacturing for everyone from Tom Ford, to Gucci, to Saint Laurent, where Pilati once held the reins. In short, they know their stuff, and know it doesn’t have to be stuffy.

Touting the ‘femininity’ of Radiant Orchid, Pantone Color Institute’s hue of 2014, is borderline offensive

Have you had a peek yet at the colour of the year for 2014? According to the folks at the Pantone Color Institute, who have the single best job out there aside from the lucky people who get to name paint colours for a living, it’s a strange, mottled purplish hue they have the audacity to call Radiant Orchid.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at Pantone, calls it “an invitation to innovation” that “encourages expanded creativity and originality.” (This is clearly how you get the dream job: you can pluck a meaningful sounding line from thin air). Citing Michelle Obama, who is apparently so ahead of the fashion curve she is already an early adopter of Radiant Orchid before we had even ever heard of it, Eiseman concludes that the colour “inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health” (or was that Michelle Obama?). Anyhow, gazing deeply into her rainbow magic crystal ball for 2014, Eiseman advises us to look forward to a year of “warm feminine undertones in purple, pink and fuchsia.”

I don’t know about you, but I am not taking a lot of comfort in that prediction. To me, the colour looks a bit like the centre of an old bruise, or the muddy hue kids in art class come up with when they decide to smush every primary colour in their paint box all together. Just because it’s a kind of weird hue, neither pink, nor purple, with an unsettling reddish undertone of vibrancy underneath it does not, at least to my mind, indicate that its use on everything from bottle openers and pillow cushions to designer garments will see an outpouring of creativity and innovation the like of which hasn’t been observed in human history since the days of Ancient Greece.

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The idea that we are supposed to take comfort in the colour of the year’s “femininity” (largely meaning no straight guy would be caught dead either wearing it or putting it on his bedroom wall) is also vaguely annoying. It’s the same kind of borderline offensive thinking behind such bumper sticker thoughts as “if women were running the world, the world would be a better place.” Which might well be true, but it’s just about as silly as assuming that colours have any gender. And that if they did, the predominance of more “girlie” ones would generate a more peaceful, contented world. Clearly, those who believe such things have never been to high school, let alone an all-girl’s one. But then those girls would probably still be wearing 2013’s Colour of the Year, Emerald, in their school’s polyester uniform.

As to the idea of Radiant Orchid promoting what we call “wellness,” sure, Michelle Obama wears it and she always glows with such health and vigour it’s almost frightening. I would argue that the real reason she always wears it is because she is a fan of contemporary Asian American designers such as Jason Wu, Philip Lim and Derek Lam, and appropriate to the literal roots of its floral association, Radiant Orchid is a distinctly Asian/fusion hue. In this, the Pantone predictors are right on: there is an Asian wave afoot on the fashion front. Whether or not this is a direct play to the emerging buying power in Asian markets, in 2014 the big names in fashion will be of Asian descent, from Alexander Wang newly anointed at the helm of Balenciaga to the street-chic duo Humberto Leon and Carol Lim of Opening Ceremony.

If a colour can be global, I suppose I would nominate Radiant Orchid. Global of course, is good (unless you are shopping at a local farmers’ market or hoping to support Canadian manufacturers by buying Canadian Olympic swag). When it comes to colour here in this part of the world in January however, thinking local is rather limiting, like a daily diet of winter cabbage and potatoes. And one which is fairly guaranteed not to impart the healthy glow of Michelle Obama in 2014’s Colour of the Year.

Victoria's Secret fashion show 2013

We’ve waited and waited to see the Angels in action and the day is finally here! The stunning scenes from the Victoria’s Secret fashion show 2013 will be revealed tonight. So here is all the information you need to get you in the know ahead of tonight’s show.

This year marks the 18th year of the annual fashion show - the first lot of Angels strutted their stuff in New York in 1995 - and we can watch as 36 models work the catwalk. Only eight of the globally popular brand ambassadors are present this year. And we see Candice Swanepoel – who opens the show in the $10 million fantasy bra – along with Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prinsloo, Doutzen Kroes, Karlie Kloss, Lily Aldridge and Lindsay Ellingson.

You may notice that one of the more iconic models isn’t’ named. That’s right Miranda Kerr won’t be present after hanging up her wings earlier this year. It’s the first time since 2007 that the Angel hasn’t walked – except from the 2010 show when she was pregnant with son Flynn – and her presence is undoubtedly missed.

There are a number of other models who take part in this year’s show: Esla Hosk, Lais Ribeiro, Barbara Fialho, Izabel Goulart, Joan Smalls, Jessica Hart, Jourdan Dunn, Cara Delevinge, Caroline Brasch Nielsen, Hilary Rhoda, Ieva Laguna, Martha Hunt, and Jasmine Tookes. Along with Josephine Skriver, Ming Xi, Kelly Gale, Devon Windsor and Sigrid Agren who all walk for the first time this year.

There are six themes that run throughout this year’s show, ‘British Invasion’, ‘ Shipwrecked’, ‘Birds of Paradise’, ‘PINK Network’, ‘Parisian Nights’, and ‘Snow Angels’. There have been 28 pairs of custom wings created for the Angels to wear as they make their way down the glitter covered 120ft catwalk.

Taylor swift is the headline performer for the 2013 show and she takes to the stage before Fall Out Boy, Neon Jungle and A Great Big World.

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The Victoria’s Secret Fashion show is known for its extravagant costumes and this year is no different. Candice Swanepoel’s fantasy bra alone features 52 carat pear-shaped rubies which are hung from the centre and 4,200 other precious stones such as diamonds and sapphires which are all set in 18 carat gold. Lindsay Ellingson wears the first ever 3D printed costume this year which gives her the appearance of a giant snowflake for the ‘Snow Angels’ segment of the show. And Brazilian Adriana Lima – the longest serving Angel in history having first appeared in 2000 – this year wears the Pearly Queen inspired costume which sees her covered in 3,000 pearl buttons.

The annual catwalk event this year allegedly cost $12 million to produce and saw 26 make-up artists, 22 hair stylists and 8 manicurists prepping the Angels backstage. If that’s all it costs to look as good as they do then we’re in. Tune in tonight and let us know what you think of the show!

How to Take on the Elements in Style

EVEN ON THE MOST BITTER and blizzard-iest of winter days, Waqaas Fahmawi, a 36-year-old financial lawyer, would never deign to travel to his Stamford, Conn. office in a parka or puffer jacket. "I'm pretty conservative sartorially," said Mr. Fahmawi, who instead wears a single-breasted, notch-collar Aquascutum overcoat, hand-tailored in heavy wool-cashmere. "The puffer is reserved for the most casual occasions," he added. "Like going to the store."

If you're keeping score at home, that would be: Elements, 0. Elegance, 1. It's a point of pride among a certain set of professional men, from young analysts to Masters of the Universe, to maintain decorum in the face of wintry mixes and cold fronts, even as the rest of the huddled populace caves to comfort and function.

It speaks volumes that Mr. Fahmawi's coat is from a UK-based company. "The British are not terribly practical people," joked Alex Wilcox, who grew up in the north of England, and opened the custom clothing shop Lord Willy's in New York in 2006. "We're so steeped in tradition we'll sometimes forego practicality for a more elegant appearance."

He's being modest, of course. The British have come up with some of the most elegant solutions to wicked weather. Mr. Wilcox recently collaborated with Scottish brand Mackintosh to make a limited-edition version of their classic Dunoon coat, which he wears in inclement conditions. "It's a lightweight charcoal Loro Piana [wool]," he said, "that has been fully bonded to be completely water- and windproof."

Many men will forgo a coat as long as they can, using only a scarf, the rake's accessory of choice, for warmth. Their thinking: If I can manage without the encumbrance and bother of a coat, then why not?

In certain parts of the world, however, a coat does eventually become necessary, no matter how plush and protected one's commute may be. Classic wool or cashmere overcoats will do the trick, but some brands go one further. Valentino's Subzero Couture collection currently offers a tailored wool coat that hides a thin goose-down lining. Meanwhile, Brioni's creative director, Brendan Mullane, has been finding ways to boost natural fibers with protective coatings. Brioni also makes coats with discreet luxe linings. "The idea is to spoil the wearer with felted cashmere or fur liners that give not only natural insulation, but also a high level of sophistication," said Mr. Mullane. For fall, he created a refined cashmere parka with a beaver fur-trimmed hood that might pass Wall Street muster.

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There are moments where a dash of sportiness can be acceptable. Designer Simon Spurr, who was recently named creative director of British heritage brand Kent & Curwen (his first collection debuts in January), doesn't entirely rule out the puffer. "I'm all in favor of pairing a down jacket with a suit as long as both are perfectly tailored," he said. A few years ago, he bought a down jacket from Moncler with a shell made of gray flannel instead of the typical nylon. "It changed the way I dressed that winter," he said. Loro Piana's Storm System jackets, which are made of wind-proof and waterproof cashmere and come in a hip-length, ski style have also made inroads into the wardrobes of Wall Street. Though these come in dark neutrals, as opposed to the screaming brights of slope-gear.

For some men, the question of functional-versus-formal footwear is easy. A Dainite sole, which is made of studded rubber and is used by high-end footwear brands like Church's and Paraboot, "is the dressiest way to not fall on your face when it's slippery," said Josh Peskowitz, men's fashion director at Bloomingdale's. Mr. Peskowitz also wears brogue boots by Church's. The style, with round perforations intended to flush water from the shoe, was invented precisely for the slosh. Goodyear welting, a technique of stitching the sole on the outside of the shoe so as to leave the part underfoot unpierced, also helps with water resistance.

Opinion is sharply divided on the issue of rubber overshoes, which protect one's John Lobbs from Jack Frost and the pickling effect of sidewalk salt. "I opt for shoe covers," said Matthew Singer, men's fashion director at the Neiman Marcus Group. "They're easy to slip on and off and allow me to not lug an extra pair of shoes." Others aren't so accepting. Mr. Spurr said he finds shoe covers "depressing." He added, "I'll just wear my shoes and be careful on my way to and from work."

If you happen to be pro-cover, English boot-maker John Lobb makes the platonic ideal. However, the company also offers bad weather alternatives. For the gentleman who's not averse to boots with a suit, Lobb's director of operations, Paul Goring, explained that the company makes versions that are weather-resistant yet refined enough for a formal setting. Many of the company's classic oxfords and loafers, he added, can be made custom with Dainite soles and weather-resistant leather.

Upping the gauge of one's suiting fabric offers another level of warmth without compromising elegance. Kirk Miller, owner of bespoke suitery Miller's Oath, said he goes for fabric with more "guts," like tweed, which is peerless in keeping out damp cold. Flannel suiting is also a fine option. Brioni's Mr. Mullane upgrades the tried-and-true strategy of layering with silk and fine cashmere knits. He also adds cashmere-and-silk knee socks.

Mr. Spurr pointed out that accessories might be the most effective weapon in an elegant gent's weather-combatting arsenal: Cashmere-lined calfskin gloves are a must, as is a good scarf. For panache, he also relies on lapel pins and beautifully made umbrellas.

But then, no matter one's level of preparation, there will still be days when the weather simply wins. On those occasions, elegance might just be the ability to laugh through chattering teeth.

Candice Swanepoel On Those Wild Victoria's Secret Costumes: 'It's Our Job To Make It Work'

This Wednesday, an army of lithe, long-limbed models will strap on layers of sequins, feathers and jewels along with dozens of bras and panties and march down a runway in front of hundreds of people, an extravaganza that will later be broadcast on TV for millions more viewers.

So what exactly is going through the models' heads when they hit the runway at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, wearing nothing but bra and undies? "Just before, I'm kind of praying that everything goes well and I don't fall," said model Candice Swanepoel, talking to us at her final fitting for her biggest look of the night, the Victoria's Secret Royal Fantasy Bra.

"But once I'm on the runway, I get into this zone. I have this feeling of pride," Candice told us. "It's kind of reflecting over everything I've been through to get there, so it's a very profound feeling. I usually get goosebumps all over my body... and then I'm thinking, 'Oh my God, you can see my goosebumps!'"

No matter how many times she does it, Candice said, she gets nervous -- and not just on the runway. She's still adjusting to the fame that comes from being a Victoria's Secret Angel. "I'm kind of introverted, so sometimes it's hard for me for people to recognize me, [especially] if I'm trying to be kind of undercover," she admitted.

But the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is certainly not one of those times. This time around, Candice will be front and center with the Fantasy Bra, an annual tradition of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. This year's "Royal" version is covered in diamonds, rubies and yellow sapphires with a 52-carat ruby in the center; it's valued at a whopping $10 million.

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The matching undies, made of red frilly lace, are also covered with gems. But Candice didn't look at all uncomfortable in them, doing a final walk in front of a room full of staffers at her fitting. There were some adjustments to be made, including a request for additional coverage on the seat of the undies.

But overall, the Fantasy Bra outfit didn't strike Candice as one of her more difficult looks -- and there have been plenty. "I mean, some of the wings are not comfortable at all," Candice said of her past Victoria's Secret Fashion Show costumes. "One year, I was almost going to wear two harps as wings," but they were so heavy she requested they get axed. "If I'd fallen, someone would have had to run on the stage and pick me up because I couldn't get up on my own!" Candice recalled.

"But that's part of being a model -- we wear stuff we don't like, stuff that's uncomfortable. But it's our job to make it work," she added. And she makes it work well.

Check out our sneak peek at Candice's fitting, and stay tuned for photos from the show this Wednesday!