At Monique Lhuillier, the look was all about being under the sea. Hair and makeup sought to represent the fluidity of water and all things aquatic.
The look: Turquoise and gold eye makeup, cascading waves, and light lavender nails
The inspiration: Mermaids and ocean waves
Who would wear it: The Little Mermaid — if she climbed onshore and moved to the big city
Fluttery, fine and oh so beautiful, Elie Saab has hit the nail on the red carpet head yet again for his Spring '11 offering. Presenting a floaty collection which was both romantic and retro at the same time, chiffon gowns, embellished dresses and slinky palazzo pants were the main focus for his dreamy range. Soft colours in peach, moss green and powder blue hues were highlighted against oversized gold jewels and matching handbags; while thin belts with pretty bow detailing served as the perfect detail to fancy frocks and breezy separates. Expect to see these beauties on a red carpet soon.
Yet again, Gareth Pugh shunned a catwalk show for Spring '11 in favour of a short film directed by Ruth Hogben. This time it was 11 minutes long and shown at an almost-IMAX-scale. It starred model Kristen McMenamy who showed off the fluidity of Pugh's latest designs which this season included a sci-fi but elegant theme. Flowing kimono style tops were teamed with paneled leggings, and the show closed with silver, mirrored pieces which resembled futuristic armour. Like many other shows at Spring fashion weeks, Pugh offered a piece from his collection to buy immediately via ShowStudio who also live streamed the short film.
To see lookbook images of the collection, just read more
Wow — what a colourful week it's been in Milan, wouldn't you say? From Gucci to the ever-bright accessories over at Prada, it's no wonder sunglasses are the fashion week accessory du jour. Not quite as colourful on the front row, however, with only a small handful of celebs making the trip over to Milan. Snaps definitely have to go to US and French Vogue Editor-in-Chiefs Anna Wintour and Carine Roitfeld, who have done NYFW, LFW and now Milan — no doubt heading over to Paris next! Megan Fox, Brian Austin Green, Jada Pinkett-Smith and her nine-year-old daughter Willow all sat front row at Armani, plus Mad Men star January Jones at Versace and a special guest appearance by Mischa Barton! Catch it all in our gallery.
Can you believe we've hit that time already? It seems like only yesterday we were saying ciao to Milano, but now, it's all about the arriverderci. We've seen some final examples of Italian style this week, with heavyweights Gucci, D&G, Prada, Versace and Jil Sander delivering us plenty of colour, texture and flirty silhouettes. Before we head over to Paris (and bid adieu to Fashion Week all together!) let's zone in on a few other gems from Milan — enter out gallery for the best from Bottega Veneta, Missoni, Salvatore Ferragamo, Emilio Pucci and more.
How do you add punch to a fashion house known for its minimalism and fuss-free silhouettes? Add a splash of paint, of course. Designer Raf Simons upped the technicolour factor to the maximum for his Spring '11 Jil Sander offering, providing us with updated versions of tailored separates and layering pieces in bright pops of every colour of the rainbow, and more. Peplum maxi skirts, blouson dresses and sleek pants were the hero pieces teamed with simple T-shirts and crisp white shirts, while an unexpected floral and striped print offered in muted and primary tones provided the perfect amount of mismatch drama. This sporty, sculptured, high octane collection hits all the right notes for a modern take on minimal classics. A true highlight of fashion week so far.
Mulberry brought their Spring collection home this week after first revealing it to New York. As always with British label, this collection focused heavily on bags and accessories. The Bayswater, Alexa and Lily remained key parts of the collection along with top handle arm candy and smaller shoulder bags. The womenswear was ladylike with neutral shades, deep blue, black and candy pink. Relive the runway moment with this exciting video!
Neon, leather, vinyl and lace? Christopher Kane says yes, so who are we to argue? For his Spring '11 show, Kane injected classics such as A-line skirts, boxy jackets, ladylike dresses and argyle-knit sweaters with all-over fluoro, making the collection stand out from his previous 2010 predominantly black collection. 
Models graced the runway in a mix of floaty and structured silhouettes courtesy of collarless jackets, sheer dresses and fine pleating; while a generous dose of embroidery and graphic prints were thrown in for good measure. Kane explained his choice of bright colours as a way of keeping things new and interesting: "There's been so much white and minimalism, I just reacted against that. I don't want that. I don't see that as being modern. To me, I think it's old and used." Gulp, let's hope Francisco Costa wasn't listening.
Well here’s a beauty look that’ll take you right through Spring and Summer. The makeup at Sienna and Savannah Miller’s Twenty8Twelve show had a holiday glow about it, which makes sense seeing Pat McGrath’s inspiration was based on a young woman’s travels around New Mexico. The key product was bronzer, which was teamed with brown mascara and beige eyeliner to maintain the whole fuss-free, natural look. A bold lip — a mix of Max Factor’s lipstick in Bewitching Coral and Intensely Red — finished it the face. For hair, Sam McKnight created dishevelled tresses by loosely braiding large sections of hair and using a straightener to clamp them, before releasing them for tousled waves. Definitely the hair you want while on Summer travels.
