Add a high shine finish to your overall look this season. Gold and silver remains a seasonal favourite so you are bound to wear it over and over again.

This season, we’re having a crush on Zashadu’s TKO (TotalKnockout). It’s moss green with just the right dose of gilt – for me anyway!

Zashadu TKO

SHF Credits Zashadu Bags

I particularly love this trend as it hides a multitude of sins whilst setting you off in chic charm.

To ooze pure glamour, pair with a silk, jewel-toned blouse, stilettos and a fitted jacket.  Pearl are optional.

Clements Ribeiro A/W 2011

Picture courtesy of Style.com

MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week is fast approaching. There is a buzz and people are anticipating the event. Most people are probably already thinking about outfits, you ask why but we ask, why not? Its fashion week, and yes it’s a big deal for fashion enthusiasts. The MTN LFDW team knows how important looking good is and also know that with a little professional advice here and there we can improve on our personal style and make our clothes and body work for us. That’s why we are introducing the MTN LFDW Style Tips, brought to you by Style House.

Apart from giving you a week to remember, the MTN LFDW team also aims to give you an informative daily style experience with the MTN LFDW Daily Style Tips. There will be useful tips for everyone and no one will be left out in the “How to look your best daily from the inside out” daily guide. So as we begin our countdown to MTN LFDW, lets go on a journey of personal style discovery – find out what works for you, what does not and how to look your best daily. TEXT FASHION to 35070 for a monthly subscription at N100.

SHF credits BecksBuki

Emerging designer, Sylvia Fumudoh’s showcased her A/W 2011 collection from her brand Preby Fumudoh during the Labels Catwalk show, which took place late last month.  Her collection was heavily influenced by the dramatic shapes and silhouettes of the 1940′s.  Here is a picture from her collection to start giving you ladies ideas of the kind of pieces you need to pay homage to this glamorous trend.

Picture courtesy of Rob Sheppard

One can pluck a stylish leaf from this lady’s trend-savvy book.  From looking at her ensemble, I have managed to note down a few style tips, my list is not exhaustive, so feel free to add to it-

- Invest in a bold print playsuit this summer

- Play with bold colours that compliment your skin tone, which can include tangerine orange, turquoise blue and chocolate brown

- Put the finishing touches on your summer ensemble by applying eye-catching, mouth watering nail polish

- Skinny belts reign in a summer ensemble with ‘non-fuss’ aplomb

- It’s hot out there, get a heavy mane of your back (and neck) by getting a chic pixie crop to highlight your features

- It’s hard to go wrong in brown leather sandals

-In summer, less is more, so keep your make-up natural and let your skin have a natural glow

-Balance a loud, colourful ensemble with quiet, minimal accessories

If you want to fall head first into this trend, you can go the Giorgio Armani route and pair a voluminous dress with tapered or slim fitting trousers.

Giorgio Armani

However if you are trend-shy, a sheer, long, floaty dress that falls to display just a hint of your trousers will still put you on the right side of this look.

Dries Van Noten

Pics courtesy of style.com

 

Paul & Joe

Jason Wu

 

 

Pics courtesy of style.com

Gucci S/S 11

Majority of designers during S/S 11 opted to tie up their collections with belts instead of bows. 

International designers like Matthew Williamson, Oscar de la Renta and Burberry Prorsum used belts to drag our attention to this season’s new (-ish) erogenous zone- the waist.  If the S/S 11 catwalks are anything to go by (and they often are), these easily wearable and adaptable accessories come in all sorts of shapes and sizes- super sized, skinny, waist-clinching, multi-buckled and bow- tied.

  Gucci used gold python belts to add some glamorous pizzaz to its bold block colour palette, Burberry Prorsum opted for a waist-clinching, turquoise, double-coloured belt to add some youthful punch to its classic trench coat, whilst Matthew Williamson used skinny leather belts to reign in the floaty, billowy will of his voluminous gowns.

Picture courtesy of style.com

I define my style as classic with an edge, and so I find my edge in statement piece accessories, killer heels, and garments with detail (a cut out, a leather pleat, a slashed hemline). At any given time though, the easiest way to oumpf up my look in heels or flats, or in a detail-less dress is with statement piece accessories. Naturally, I’ll go for a neckpiece but if it’s a cuff, it’ll have to stand out too.

My go to brand right now is MAWI. I love how chunky they are but at the same time ultra feminine. I find that in my MAWI pieces I look trés habillé even when I’m not! Statement pieces do just that. Today I’m wearing a Tan colored asoke mini skirt by KemKem with a grey cashmere jumper, a pink pair of Abraka plimsoles, and you probably guessed right – my MAWI gold necklace which I got from Designers Club a while back.

It’s exciting to know Designer’s Club just got in the entire Spring Summer 2011 range! This is what you’ll find currently featured in all the international fashion magazines as well as in the shop floors across the world. How special, that its so easily accessible here in Lagos! I’ve got my eye on this one cuff with the pink and green stone!

SHF Photo Credit – KOLA OSHALUSI

MAWI Jewellery available exclusively at Designer’s Club – 54 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria.

Stella McCartney S/S 11

When Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman states that the S/S 11 season is the ‘season of the shirt’,  it’s best to sit up and take note.  Judging from the various tailored offerings that were shown on the catwalks, my tip for this season would be to invest in a white shirt. 

Why white?  Because designers like-Valentino, Fendi, Maxmara, Micahel Kors, BossBlack, Rick Owens, Versace, Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana, Stella McCartney, Ralph Lauren- showed us that everything is all white now this season.

Due to the various offerings this season, one can take this minimalist garment which can look almost clinical in appearance and play around with the trend by getting a crisp white shirt to tuck into a sharp tailored suit, a mannish or oversized white shirt to perfect the androgynous look or you can kill two trends with one stone by opting for a white lace shirt or white broderie-anglaise shirt.

SHF credits style.com