H&M Announces New Collaboration

H&M is proud to announce that they for spring 2012, they will collaborate with the designer of Italian brand Marni.
Famous for original prints and inventive spirit, the brand is one of fashion’s most-loved labels, and its Founder and Creative Director Consuelo Castiglioni has created for H&M a spring collection for both women and men which capture the essence of Marni.
The collection will be available from March 8, 2012 worldwide and online, just like previous collaborations (Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Comme des Garçons, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin, and most recently Versace) the collection features both clothing and accessories all at H&M’s prices, meaning everyone will have the chance to enter Marni’s world.


Womenswear consists of vivid, bold prints and involves a lot of colour. The silhouettes are all classic Marni staples containing full pleated skirts, dresses, cropped trousers and jacquard knit. The fabrics range from silk to crisp cotton poplin. Another addition to the collection are the accessories, shoes, bags and jewellery that completes the Marni look.


For menswear, I would definitely say how the relaxed approach with colours and fabrics which are softened (compared to the loud colours for womenswear) put a stamp on how the collection reflect the true Marni brand. Again, print is used which is  subtle, creating as a lining and also containing a contrast detail for shirts, the silhouette a modern and relaxed take on masculine classics.

 

Source: H&M

Versace For H&M ... Again ?!

OMG !!!

Just when you thought life couldn't get any better aye? If you were one of the unlucky people that experienced the unfortunate site crashing on the day of the Versace AW11 launch, be ready to go through this exciting experience ALL OVER AGAIN !!! :) 

Even for those who just did not have the chance to purchase your desired garment, Versace has something in-store (well, online) for your early next year.

After the success of Versace for H&M launch, rumor has it that designer Donatella Versace is to collaborate on a second collection with the high street store in the new year !!

This collection however, will be a smaller Spring/Summer pre-collection and its launch will be on January 19th but will only be available online (the great thing about that is ... no overnight queues).

The Spring/ Summer collection line features softer pastel colors, strappy sandals and lashings of Versace-favourite gold jewellery .

Here's a sneak peak of what will come in January :

Another Westfield To Open In Croydon ?!

Really .... Like REALLY !!!

I had heard about how the Australian developer had recently agreed a deal with the owner of the Whitgift centre, but still did not believe that this news could be true.

To be honest, I personally don't think that this is a good idea ...Like; i LOVE Croydon .. AS IT IS ! I love the whitgift centre around Christmas time and centrale and other small businesses JUST as they are and to put a westfield shopping centre (which has the power to shut down these businesses) in Croydon seems dangerous and a little silly. 

Is there a point in investing so much money for a small area (and an area that people would not seem very comfortable in purchasing pricey items)? Will there be enough security and space for a safe shopping experience ?

These are JUST a few questions on my mind right about now.

I spoke to a friend who lives in the borough of Croydon, and her thought about a westfield being opened for Croydon is a brilliant idea as it will improve the area, more jobs will be available for people our age, and all high street stores alongside designer brands are easier to buy then travelling all the way to white city/ west end / stratford.

What she had said, it most definitely true (however i believe that the job offer is not guaranteed for us young people who have limited or NO experience) but I'm actually thinking on the side of security and safety.

Think about it, you want to place a prestigious shopping centre in a place that was badly effected in the riots no more than just 3 months ago?! Plus I don't see how the westfield for croydon would be as successful as the other two which are closer to central London and the west end.

What are your thoughts ? feel free to comment x

The Day Has Come !!! Versace for H&M .... MY Experience ;)

From the 28th of June which was the day I revealed on my blog about the this years new Guest Designer for H&M , to blogging about the competition , the Ad campaign pictures, the launch with Nicki Minaj and Prince ... to the very INSTRUCTIONS for how to queue just three days ago ... THE TIME HAS COME !!!

And guess what surprise I had yesterday ?

Don't believe it? Neither did I at first (LOL) had to check again and again ... SCREAMED DOWN MY HOUSE, my mother even thought there was like a rat or something, but yeah guys, your very own Miss Olivia-Zara had won the twitter competition to check out and view the collection 15 mins before the store actually opened and the store I had chosen was Oxford Circus West (near Bond Street)

I was SO excited, like, this NEVER happens to people ... and honestly; i NEVER thought it would happen TO ME !!!

Today, the queue is what I would also definitely consider a major part of and a phenomenon of the the Versace for H&M collaboration story, Whilst on my way towards Bond Street from Tottenham Court Road, I passed some of the stores where the queues were just SHOCKING !!! Had seen people that were camping out from the evening before, and some of my friends from college were camping outside the flagship store, Regent street where the designer herself, Donatella and Lady Gaga made appearances.

This was just outside the Oxford Circus Store where the queue had stretched right around the block ! Felt soo sorry for the LCF students (even though some of them were taking pictures)

Here was the queue that i was able to jump ^_^
The members of staff giving out wristbands for the
potential consumers for the collection

A manager from the Oxford Street West took
a picture of me with my purchase :D

The VIP shopping experience was truly lovely experience, I bought a dress which i shall wear in about two months time for my birthday (sorry, cant show ya'll ...YET) and a scarf to go with part of my mothers Christmas present. (or you can just click here for a clue)

I also got some perfume and a 20% voucher for H&M :)

Ahhh, today was just a lovely day man, had fun at the store, headed to college and now sharing my experience :) Thanks to H&M twitter and Donatella Versace x

My current blackberry messenger profile pic :)

3 days to go for Versace for H&M ... How to Queue

I know that approximately half of you are now thinking 'ANOTHER #VersaceforHM blog post AGAIN ?!' .... loooool :) 

But I DO think this is some vital information, I mean like some people don't know WHICH shop is launching the collaboration, or at what time, and how would the store operate etc ....

Well, i was researching and this is what Selfridges London had to say :

 "The much-anticipated collaboration is whipping fashionistas into an excitable frenzy as it promises to deliver the imitable Versace style at affordable prices. Glorious prints, glamorous silhouettes and show stopping wardrobes stars - make sure you don’t miss out on the limited edition capsule collection. To ensure you have a great shopping experience, follow these easy steps to shop:
Wristbands will be available from 7am onwards at the collection point on Edwards Mews. Customers are welcome to queue overnight if they so wish, to be the first in line to get the exclusive collection.
Wristbands will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. There are different colour wristbands with one for each group of 20 customers. Your colour determines when it’s your time to shop the collection. Each group will have 10 minutes to shop, with 5 minutes between slots. The wristbands are only for customers shopping the women’s collections and are used to shorten the queue and make your shopping easier.
Further time slots will be made available if there is stock available to shop, these will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
To make sure as many of our customers as possible get a chance to shop our designer collection, we have a limitation of items to buy per person. You can buy one of each item (accessories etc), and only in one size (garment/shoes). Please note that we cannot guarantee availability regardless of your place in line. "

To also find out where other stores that will have the collection will be available here (just click on store and h&m will bring up all of the stores in the UK and in other countries as well)

As far as I know about the queuing system around the H&M stores in West End and in the two Westfield's, the first 280 people will receive a coloured bracelet, this helps the ease of long shopping lines and you'll be allocated a specific area to shop in the meantime.
I do advise EVERYONE to arrive EARLY to their desired store, most will be open at 9 am and i assure you that you will come into contact with dedicated overnight campers !

Versace for H&M catwalk launch show in NY

 Do you remember what was said on this blog on the 28th June about what this H&M and Versace collection was going to be about ? ... No?! Well Donnatella did say, that it is going to be ... BOLD, ICONIC, GLAMOROUS and of course ... LEATHER. The day of the launch of the new collaboration is FAST approaching !!! Check out what happened in NYC

    

To celebrate (what one would say is) the best high street/designer collaboration to date, Donatalla Versace rounded up a whole batch of her A-list ladies and gentleman to party on a pier on New York’s Hudson River.

After a catwalk preview of the stunning and iconic collection, celebrity's from Blake Lively, Emma Roberts, Chloe Moretz, Selma Blair to Jennifer Hudson were treated to performances from my current Queen of Hip Hop.green haired Nicki Minaj and the one and only legend, Prince!

  

Photo Source : fashion.telegraph.co.uk

Just to name a few celebrity's that debuted designs from the collection :

• Emma Roberts rocked a matching floral corset top with trousers
• While, Chloe Moretz wore the yellow-y embellished dress
• Jennifer Hudson worked, rocked AND slayed the floaty black dress with matching boots from the collection.
• Mr Mark Robson was HEAD-TO-TOE in the fly pink suit from the men's collection ... who said you can't look good in full pink ?
• Blake Lively looking gorgeous in the low-cut mono dress
• And actor ,Alan Cumming dared to sport the  monochrome outfit from the high street range

   

Nicki Minaj looked like she was competing for the role of Versace for H&M poster girl, and showing who's the BOSS !!! Posing with Donatella in a technicolour combo, popping platforms and rocking a flower adorned hair.



Now THIS is how we want to see Adele !

The 23 year old, Grammy/ 'Nominated Artist of the year' singer who had already graced Vogue magazine in October 2011 is now on the front cover of another glossy magazine, Cosmopolitan magazine December 2011.

Unlike Vogue, who concealed the singer's UK size 16 body on Vogue's October cover, Adele is pictures from head showing off her hips in a Dolce & Gabbana leopard-print on the front of next month's cover.


I like the fact that her curvaceous figure is seen on the cover with her eyes looking defiantly at us. Its obvious that she is no size zero, BUT nor is she unhealthy-looking, making her a positive role model for women in the UK (given that the average dress size is also a 16).