Summer is on our doorstep and the Anne Fontaine collection truly epitomizes the beauty of summer. A lovely collection full of artistic elements and created with couture in mind.

Let’s start with the “Essentials”. Mainly white and black shirts made with top quality hand-picked cotton from Peru, meaning it is the worlds finest quality and free from impurities. Most shirts are combined with cotton-stretch for ultra comfort. The super-fine viscose shirts and polyester tops are definite must-haves and all the classic shirts can be combined with a jacket, whether casual or for business.

Then there are the more playful shirts and tops with details such as florals, ruffles, leaves etc. “Manhatten flowers” is a small collection of floral printed silk shirts and a scarf. Looking lovely when combined with white or colorful jeans.

“Jungle City” consists of pieces with animal prints which can be stylishly combined with lovely beige colored linen designs, such as jackets, trousers, skirts and waistcoats. The linen waistcoats are equipped with super-fine mother-of-pearl buttons. In this collection you will find artistically made roses on animal prints, rouching on skirts and many more ultra-feminine elements. Combine the pieces with black and you will ad an even more dramatic touch.

Then there are the lovely tunics, tops and a dress with butterfly lace. In white for a more summer-like feel and in black for a smart cocktail ! “New York Gallery” consists of black and white pieces, dresses and tops with ruffles, floral motives or black & white mixed. These pieces simply say; “pizazz” !

Anne Fontaine has also ventured into colors after many years of white & black. This collection is called  ”Sweet Country”, because of the soft colors and the sweet look of the designs. Soft blues, rose, pink, denim blue and tartan prints. Some dominant features include ruffles, bows, embroidery, “fertiges”, stripes, florals, detail on pockets, double cuffs and collars. A very cute look which looks good with white jeans or leggings.

The “Précieux” collection is simply stunning, telling a story of a great devotion! Each piece is like a work of art, individual and made with the greatest precision. This is a cocktail/evening collection, but with amazing, precious detail. Embroidery, Swarovski crystals, lovely silks to name only a few features. Wearing these designs will truly make you look and feel like a princess.

Accessoires – “fatto a mano en Italia”

Stunning accessories, like belts, bags, cufflinks with Swarovski crystals, wallets, clutch bags and sunglasses (hand-made in France). On many of the bags you will find beautifully made flowers, hand-made in Italy and each piece being unique and the small collection of costume jewelry can be combined beautifully with the shirts. Bags and small leather goods are mostly made of calfs leather and goatskin.

The brand is produced in France and the accessories (belts and wallets)as well as handbags and sunglasses are made in Italy. Many pieces are handmade of the best quality leather and the design is really magnificent. Anne Fontaine also has a few exclusive pieces of jewelry and a small collection of cuff-links.

At first (22 years ago), Anne Fontaine started out with white blouses. Today there are white & black blouses in a basic collection, linen wear, scarfs, cocktail and event-wear, printed and colorful pieces as well as a stunning collection of collars. These collars are so beautiful ! Some are like pieces of jewelry, beautifully designed and decorated with sequence or Swarovski crystals.

The fabrics are mostly Pima cotton from Peru, often combined with Pima stretch, as well as linen, viscose, or silk. Needless to say, very comfortable to wear. At Anne Fontaine everyone will find something lovely, whether you are the more classic type, more feminine or more artistic. The detail in the Anne Fontaine designs are truly amazing. She plays with flowers, “vertiges” (rouching), double collars, double cuff-links, butterfly motives in “lace-like” fabrics, floral silks, leopard prints. Her range of separate collars will uplift any classic shirt. By adding one of these dramatic pieces you can change the look of a shirt, top or a plain cocktail dress within seconds.

Collars

What I find really neat, is the fact that most of the time the accessories has more than one use. For instance a necklace can also be used as an elegant belt, or an evening bag with a sling can be used as a clutch as well as a wallet and the sling becomes a lovely necklace ! This comes from the designers concern of the environment. Last year she also started the Anne Fontaine Foundation with a shopping bag made of PET bottles. A very durable bag and for each bag which you buy, 10 trees will be planted in the Brazilian rainforest. Preserving the rainforest – what a great idea !

Bags & Accessories

Worldwide Anne Fontaine has almost 90 branches and Zürich is one of the flagship stores. In Paris (Rue Saint Honoré) there is a lovely spa which you definitely need to visit. A special treatment is the four-hand massage and needless to say all products are natural. On the 8th of March we will have a small event to celebrate Women’s Day and to introduce our new Spring/Summer 2012 collection.

For all the fashionable men who are in a mood for Summer shopping ! There is something for everyone for sure.

L O N D O N

Paul Smith – Sportswear being incarnated in tangerine, denim blue and lilac. Stripes are still in, just broader and epaulettes on the shoulders or patches on the knees were also still fashionable. Ankle length turn-ups and jackets which appeared to be inside-out.

Westwood - Beautifully tailored sportswear, dedicated to the hosting of the Olympic Games and inspired by “the gentleman sportsman”. Grays, blues, nice bags and sandals, a lot of color. Really something for everyone in this collection.

Burberry Prorsum - Colorful, leather jackets, tight pants, striped jumpers & pom-pom hats. Just very London ! The retro bags were catchy and so were the brightly patterned jerseys. Some cool looking oversized trench coats.

M I L A N O 

Mc Queen - Stripes, black & white, bright red & yellow. Vibrant, brilliant colors, but still elegant. V-Neck sweaters well tailored suits. Fresh and interesting color and style combinations.

Versace - Blue and beige Summer suits. Double-breasted jackets and two-tone shoes. Black leather is a favourite again and some really bright pieces, like a fuchsia jacket with a “matching” pair of orange trousers. Apple green sandals, a pink suit and bright red trousers were also incorporated.

Ermenegildo Zegna - Altogether lovely soft earthy, almost pastel tones. Lovely tailored suits and soft looking scarfs. Some casual wear – jerseys, leather jackets, but all with top notch tailoring. Simply a stunning Italian label !

P A R I S

Dior Homme - A minimalist approach. High waisted trousers, double-breasted blazers, button-down shirts. Mostly black and white, with some shades of  beige & some blues. White suits and classic black shoes.

Louis Vuitton - C’est tres preppy ! Bomber & varsity style jackets. Pinstriped suits, white trousers, navy jackets, classic shoes & bags, very French ! Button-down cardigans and knee-lenght trousers, skinny, but stylish trousers, plain T’s and sweaters. Sailor and Safari looks. One of my favourites this year.

Victor & Rolf - High waisted trousers in cornflower blue, layered shirts over T’, cosy looking blazers, shades of yellow, from pastel to lemon. Dolphin motive on T’s & a jumper. Some earthy tones, some evening wear (very bright) and the use of really nice fabrics.

I’ve spend a few days in Paris lately and here’s some visual material, which I really loved. Beautiful windows & great fashion.

A few store windows, decorated in a very cool manner

Lagerfeldt

Some of the most impressive buildings are probably the Place Vendôme & the Palais-Royal. Of course the Opera & the Louvre are not very far from here ! Back to shopping. If you have a comfortable budget you can find lovely pieces in every store and it’s not so much about the name of the store, but simply about the availability of …let’s just say, elegance. Whether you are the type who loves clothing in monotone colors, florals or rather the type for patterns or bright colored shoes, here is where you will find it. And it doesn’t matter what age you have either, there is truly something for every women and every man.

Fabulous elegance for day & night

Jimmy Choo – The colors are seriously 80′s

A balancing act !

Trendy young fashion with a vintage touch at a very affordable price – stores in St-Honorè & Galerie Lafayette.

Simply breathtaking dresses !

Azzaro

And if you want to be Cinderella or a movie star for one night, this could be an option – or maybe you just want to impress someone special.

Last, but not least, this amazing, master-piece of a wedding dress. The only thing I would change is the necklace, but love the floral lace & the style. C’est magnifique ! For luxury and choice visit St-Honorè on your next visit to Paris !

Happy New Year !
Ronelle B

For this time of the year you can certainly choose a piece in a shinier fabric, it is the festive season after all and a good time to bring out the sparklier pieces in your wardrobe. With black or charcoal of course, you can’t go wrong. Ad a pair of stunning high heels, a small bag, big earrings and you’re done. Please no flat shoes, only high heels !

A pair of skinny black trousers in a shinier fabric is also quite chic and a shoe in something other than black could be a nice focal point. Ad a diamanté necklace or a colored belt (perhaps red or purple) to stand out. Another great and always classy choice would be a white blouse in a mercerized cotton (which makes it look slightly more shiny) with dramatic cuffs, big collar & a V-neckline. Pair this with a long black skirt or trousers.

Wishing you all a fabulous Xmas season and may you experience joy, happiness and love in 2012. I will spend New Years in lovely Paris ! More about that when I return.

Ronelle Anaïs

One single letter and the whole world knows who I am talking about ! A man who goes by his first name only…worldwide ! A master of design and artistic ability – VALENTINO.

On Monday (5 Dec) Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti unveiled the Valentino Virtual Museum at the MOMA in NYC. A project which kept them busy for the past two years. First time ever for a fashion designer to develop such a digital exhibition. It is a downloadable application for PC of Mac, of course on Mac the quality is better.

Aprox. 300 dresses (including original sketches) are on display, a library, photographs,  95 fashion show videos, 5000 photos, portraits of Valentino, and in some cases the dresses can be rotated in 3D.  The designs cover the 60′s, 70′s, 80′s, 90′s, up to his last works. The galleries & wings would take up around 10 000 sq. feet in a real museum.

Having tried it out, I think there are still some work to be done on the technical side. Some dresses are missing shadows and the zooming capability isn’t perfect and some vectors are a little rough. I think the idea is great and it’s fun to look at all the designs, hear the story behind each one and to realize again what a master he is. He had only one thing in mind from day one until he stopped and that was to dress women and make them look like a dream. He probably loved every single piece he ever created, especially the Jackie O’ wedding dress.

From the day when he first started in Rome, in 1959 he had celebrities, wanting to wear his dresses, Liz Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O’, Sofia Loren. And today the success story carries on with Paltrow, Lopez and many more. You always see his designs on the red carpet each year, people are still devoted and there is a design for every body-type and every age !

Valentino has always dressed women in a very glamorous and sophisticated way and his devotion shows in every piece. He certainly is a very meticulous man. From the couture creations to the ready-to-wear, it’s all magnificent ! Last, but not least…get the Valentino coffee table book – a numbered copy, signed by the master himself, finished in setalux cloth with six-color silkscreen printing, in a clamshell box, covered with Valentino red silk cloth. At a mere CHF1500.

There are two women whom I would like to put emphasis on. The first is certainly very well known to most women in the US, Judith Leiber. She started working as a handbag designer for various companies during Word War II, after she escaped to Switzerland. In the early 60′s she started her own company and over the years to come, she became a household name and a status symbol. You see her “minaudieres” (clutch bag) on the red carpet in LA, accompanying many First Ladies as a jeweled accessoire, every high-end boutique carry them and do you remember the cupcake minaudiere which was featured in the Sex and the City movie ? The has boutiques in various american cities and some of her clutches are priced up to $5000. Leiber was already rated twice as the most prestigious luxury brand by the NYC based Luxury Institute.

Another great “minaudière” designer is Silvia Toledano. She is a French artist & painter and her designs are really modern and with no age limit – a fresh touch to a lovely evening clutch. Her minaudières have become a trend and there are close to a 100 models in various colors and designs to choose from. She sees her bags not just as an accessory, but almost like a jewel (well…they are all sparkly). She visits India for inspiration and she gives names to her bags (very neat idea). The “minaudière” can also be worn with a white shirt & jeans and stunning heels, it all depends on the design. Be sure to find the suitable bag in her collection for either a casual evening out or a more formal event. She has stores stores worldwide and her clutches are beautifully packaged. Prices vary between approx. a $1000 and $3000.

It’s clearly two different tastes…The choice is yours !! For more detail, designs and where to find, go to www.judithleiber.com & www.silviatoledano.com

Ballerinas - comfortable chic flat shoes. Always elegant, wear them with jeans, the right style dress, skinny trousers etc. They come in an array of colors & styles and almost each label on the planet has ballerinas in their collection.

Riding boots - They can be worn with skinny jeans, tights, an above-the-knee skirt. Great for winter. They look best in tan, brown or black and must be of a good quality leather. Either buy them at a special equestrian store or in a boutique.

Black heels - Oh there are so many styles to choose from, but if you opt for a classic higher heel, you will always be dressed well. Wear it with your skinny black trousers, navy jeans, and a narrow skirt above the knee. Wear them for work or a night out on the town.

Penny loafers - Again, very  classic, although essential, be careful how you wear them so you don’t look too preppy !  Never wear with a skirt, rather with jeans or trousers, ending just before the ankle.

Chic sandals - In Paris or Milan you find the best models & you wear these with white jeans or any other jeans. Perhaps with a stylish satin or silk sundress or even a chic pair of shorts. The best models can be found in … “naturellement” St.Trop’ !

Espadrilles - These are very cool, very comfy, but stylish shoes at the same time. These come in flats or wedge heel versions, many colors and in stripy versions. Team them with boyfriend jeans, shorts and wear them in summer. The espadrille is not from France or Greece, but indeed from Catalan (Spain)

The rain boot – Whether you choose Chanel or Wellingtons, they should be good for rainy weather and muddy conditions. Best is perhaps a black pair, although the choice is yours. Just don’t choose ridiculous prints !

Christian Laboutin – The not so essential shoe, but oh so very chic & stylish ! These are great with evening pants or a stylish dress. These simply make a statement and to some people (men & women) they even “talk”. You figure it out …

Converse - A must for a casual shoe for the weekend in the country. Wear them with khakis or boyfriend jeans & a body-bag! All parisians have these, for sure ! And yes, so do I.

Go shopping !

The tote bag  - Simply a bag into which everything fits. Your purse, glasses, your clutch and your bikini. In summer you can just go straight to the lake or the beach after work and if you have an afterwork party, you simply put everything in your clutch and leave the tote at work.

The clutch bag - Everyone should have one, whether you are 16 or 80. It is one of the most important evening accessories, whether black, red, embroidered or shiny. For the evening you don’t need a bigger bag, really !

The ladies bag - Typical Chanel or Hermes style. A solid looking bag with a very classic touch. Perhaps your grandmother had this too. It is a timeless bag, although not everyone’s taste. Flight attendants also have these and usually it comes in navy, black or tan.

The satchel - I remember my first school bag was a satchel, a soft leather bag in a tan color ! It’s not your “it-bag”, but it is perfect for the weekend away in the country and it is an ultra casual statement ! There are of course variations to the satchel. A lovely leather body bag is also an addition to the satchel.

A straw bag - Oh yes, for summer you need to have one ! For the more expensive touch, get Ballenciaga or simply one in an attractive color or style. You can wear them with jeans, combined with your Converse and not just on the beach, but also in the city – very chic, à la Bardot ! C’est St-Trop’ !

And there is one bag which you should never buy – a backpack !

The Black Blazer / Boyfriend Blazer - Notice that I have 2 black blazers, one is slightly more casual (boyfriend) and the other one really classic. The Bf jacket is masculine, but by adding a belt for instance & rolling up the sleeves for a casual, cool look, it looks great. Match with a trouser in a contrasting color. Blue jeans are perfect ! It can also be teamed up with a gray or black trouser for evening – never with a mini-skirt ! Underneath wear a satin top or a simple neutral colored shirt.

The Trench Coat - It needs to be casual looking – no good-girl look pls ! Belt it loosely in the back & push up the sleeves. Easy and relaxed ! Team it up with jeans, skinny dinner trousers, a slip dress, it’s your choice. It works each time ! Make sure it comes in a quality fabric.

The Navy Sweater - Almost everyone can wear navy, from black hair to blond and with different skin tones. Pair it with a white slim trouser and black belt for a classic look, or a black trouser (yes ! – black & navy – c’est tres chic) or stone-washed jeans. The fabric should be cashmere, doesn’t have to cost a fortune, make sure you know where to shop or wait until it’s sales. Flat stylish ballerinas look best with this look.

The Tank Top - An essential piece with endless combination possibilities. You can have this in many different, but neutral colors (not yellow) and combine with trousers, jeans, skirt, blazer, shorts. Tank top, shorts, sandals or Pumas and you are ready for summer ! Remember, no prints please and it must be tight fitting.

The Little Black Dress - Ok, we’ve all seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s – à la Audrey Hepburn, a simple shift dress, perhaps with a slight A-line or simply straight. This MUST be in your wardrobe, because it’s a piece which any body-type can wear ! It is a universal piece which you can wear to ANY occasion. Pair it with ballerinas, huge sunglasses, a clutch and simple jewelry.

The Perfect Jeans – Different colors, but a good fit – a fun item ! Navy, black (basic), washed and winter white. Many styles are good, Bf, straight (also fashionable), boot-leg, skinny etc. Choose the right cut for your body-type or lifestyle. Combine your white jeans with a tan or black blazer or leather jacket. Shoes can be high heels, ballerinas or boots, depending on which cut you choose.

The Leather Jacket - A chiffon dress & a string of pearls could be slightly off-beat, but try it. A tan color is always a winner. When the jacket is vintage or slightly distressed, it looks best.

Enjoy the transformation !