"Be elegant or die"

OK - the title quote (Louisa May Alcott) may be a bit strong! However, we are seeing a real trend to abandoning minimalism this summer. A number of designers have chosen to really embrace femininity this summer. Check out Louis Vuitton in a sort of girly floral meets '60's psychedelia mash-up.Then there are 'vegetable prints at Dolce & Gabbana and a beautiful use of lattice-work  by London Designer Peter Pilotto...yummy!

Peter Pilotto

Louis Vuitton

Dolce & Gabbana

Perhaps my favourite of the 'on-trend' looks is the creative use of applique - one of the best is this creation embodying both floral and applique from D&G. 

At Get Waisted we have our own take on elegance with the following creations using the latest floral, lace and applique design trends.

The bottom line is there are no rights and wrongs. However, it is reassuring to see so many pretty, wearable designs out there for summer. Maybe this has inspired you to expand your wardrobe - if so you know where to come...Get Waisted

Fashion Weeks - Because they're worth it?

This week I registered to attend London Fashion Week and took a look at what was on offer closer to home at Brighton Fashion Week . However, rather than review the wonders of creativity on show (I am a fan, have run my own catwalk at Brighton Fashion Week and just LOVE London) I set to musing on the value of these events. It's all great fun - but is it important and to whom? Perhaps it is just a navel gazing exercise for fashionistas with little real relevance to the 'real world'.

So, I thought I would try and find out some facts and figures - not normally my forte but, hey, variety is the spice of life (apparently). This is easier for the big events - so let's take a look at London first. Apparently LFW contributes over £20mil to the London economy and generates orders in the region of £100mil. There are visitors from over 25 countries. So, you don't have to care about fashion to appreciate the value.

London is one of the 'Big 4' - the others being New York, Milan and Paris all of which run in the same order each year and each of which has its own character. New York is 'sporty', London edgy, Milan just totally OTT and Paris the home of Haute Couture. However, that doesn't mean that these are the only places vying for a place on the fashion ladder of fame. Indeed there are over 40 Fashion weeks around the world in places as varied as Medellin, Colombia (the mind boggles) to Dubai, Hong Kong, Little Rock Arkansas and Berlin...and Brighton, Sussex of course.

Dubai Fashion Week

Milan Fashion Week

Clearly, there a lot of people trying to get a piece of the action. Good luck to them say I. It is good to see challenges to the big four - especially where they encourage local talent and provide a platform for success and access to world markets for talented people who otherwise may not get a look-in.