Dear Jean.

To Hermès It May Concern:

Being caught up in my world of study and artful daydreaming, I have not been quite as frequent (at all) in reviewing the international runways as is usually the case. So, on the final day of Fashion Month (so to speak), I thought I would begin with my favourite.

So, I write to appreciate the pure Hermès-ness of Jean Paul's latest and last design efforts for Hermès SS10/11. Just as I loved the equestrian dressage corps marching around under chandeliers, the smooth transitions that followed, between different cuts, colours and textures, demanded attention to detail and so an overall sharply glamorous collection. While the show did echo elements of last season's Sherlock Holmes, the subtle layering and accessories (namely body harnesses) set it apart on a wonderfully transeasonal trajectory.

This may or may not have been helped by the fact that these shots are taken on film (and I happen to be on the hunt for a good old school film SLR). Regardless, you have fueled my penchant for blazers, bright red, skinny belts, high-waisted wide-leg trousers with tailor creases, sheer chiffon of the floaty variety, and leather.

I'm also starting to think that MOSCHINO could, perhaps, learn a thing or two about the use of runway hats from you. Just saying.

Yours Sincerely,

Margaret Zhang.

P.S. If you have the urge, I really wouldn't mind owning that fire-engine red pantsuit and a hat.

P.P.S. I would greatly appreciate it if you would:

• vote for Shine By Three for H&M (last day!) HERE
  
• vote for my NastyGal.com look by commenting HERE
• and enter the Cristiana GIVEAWAY to win a gorgeous Del Mar Bracelet HERE (last day)
  

Note: I do realise I sound like an idiot :)

How's that for a runway review with a difference :p

*love*

xx

You're invited...

My dear Martina, the brains and beauty behind f.rau - the amazing Berlin-based label that you'll all be more than familiar with - is inviting you all to her presentation of the latest f.rau SS11 collection in Paris (for all of you who may be around Paris or are going to Paris Fashion Week). Given the brilliance of her last collection (and the philosophy behind it), I'm waiting with bated breath and excitement for this one!

So if you're in Paris some time between October 1 and 6, be sure to stop by the Tranoi Showroom Parc Royal, 10 Rue du Parc Royal, Paris 3. But, to get the best parts, stop in before October 3. And take photos and give Martina a hug from me :D I so want to be there!

For the rest of us who aren't so fortunate to be in Paris (sigh), I'll hopefully be able to get some lookbook shots for you very very soon!

P.S. I'll be announcing the giveaway winner this afternoon - and if you get the chance, do votey vote for Shine By Three HERE!

*love*

xx

Time.

Over the weekend, 2threads.com sent through a Q&A for their 20 favourite bloggers, based around the concept of time. So, accompanied by a selection of seemingly random photos, here is Margaret in a time machine :)

1. The time you felt most inspired by fashion – your most inspiring fashion moment.

For days after Viktor & Rolf's FW10 show earlier this year, I was rendered nothing short of speechless - the concept of combining a genuine performance, with a fast-forward process of design, art, and ultimately, a very real presentation of design talent, had my mind blown. Not only that, but the collection itself was an insanely accurate representation of bringing the runway to the streets - every piece was an artform, but a versatile one, and the complete babushka of Kristen McMenamy reinforced this tenfold.

The inspiration in this was how the industry suddenly accepted that fashion isn't just about pretty editorials and standing ovations at runway shows - the process itself is an art, and that ought to change the way so many people approach the field.

The only downside of this ground-breaking show was that I wasn't there in person :)

2. The time you were proudest of your outfit or style

The first - my feature in GRAZIA Australia alongside other amazing bloggers whom I have nothing by admiration for.

The second - the Sydney Fashion Forward Festival, when Erin McNaught admired my RUSSH jacket all night, then asked me backstage where it was from. Fist pump for Australian designers!

3. The Time in Fashion you would most like to return to

I've always loved the idea of flying back to Marie Antoinette's court for a day, just so I can be dressed up in elaborate things, eat macaroons, and marvel at Versailles.

But, if we're talking more recently, I think the 80s would have been an amazing time - high-waisted skinny jeans are amazing... I'm currently looking for some, actually :)

See my daydreaming?? :)

Thanks to Gracie and Storm Watches for facilitating this!

Have we all had a fantastic weekend?

*love*

xx

Hermès FW10.

tfs

With all the flurry over, I realised that I'd forgotten to put my stamp of love on the Hermès collection shown at Paris Fashion Week. Although I found that Mr JPG took a lot of the vibe and staging from his show last year, it still had the gorgeously mysterious and playful take on a concept that was so well chosen. Elementary, my dear Watson. (Apparently Holmes never actually says that in any of the books. How funny).

I've decided that pumpkin orange was nice here - it did remind me a lot of one of the Obama girls' coats at some point in some ceremony - I don't even know :)

I have also decided that Coco Rocha has this amazing presence - it's like she's performing, not walking, every time she hits that runway.

How awesome is that full length coat!?

I know I haven't done any outfits posts as of late! I don't currently have access to a camera of any sort, but I will soon, so bear with me!

Hope you're all having an ace weekend.

*love*

xx

Louis Vuitton FW10.

tfs

Is anyone besotted with elbow length leather gloves? And that leather skirt - so shiny. The LV monogram on those clutches are so gorgeous as well. I quite liked how muted the whole collection was from afar but, zooming in, you see all this insane little details that give this nicely balanced, aesthetically pleasing look.

What a star casting :O

*love*

xx

Alexander McQueen FW10.

tfs

All I have been thinking about all day is the Alexander McQueen FW10 collection. With 5 minutes to post something for the day before I continue power-summarising The Great Gatsby (which, by the way, is quite wonderful), I can finally explode this thinking into a post as best I can.

You can't live forever. You can't live forever. You can't live forever.

McQueen lives forever. His return to the medieval makes the collection so monumental and pulls it away from the mass-futuristic-innovation that has been happening this season. He brought back everything that runway was starting lose. He merged his individuality and a very rigid time period into this amazing, structured and organic sequence of art.

I think it's only now that we can really say R.I.P.

*love*

xx

Valentino FW10.

tfs

Is it possible for something to flow sharply? That was all I could think of to describe Valentino. Everything was calculated, clean, proportionate, but not restrictive - I think this showed in the models and the general vibe (makeup versus hair helped too).

I can't say I'm a massive fan of the pointed, awkward-height shoes that seem to be around this season (Stella McCartney, Lanvin, etc.), but I guess, here, they acted as conceptual anchors (I'm admittedly writing a pretty intense English essay at the moment :D).

Love those ruffles and layers though. Also good to see some Valentino Red once in a while :) Thoughts?

*love*

xx

Giambattista Valli FW10.

tfs

I am in love with this season's emphasis on sheer fabrics! Definitely experimenting this Winter.

This Valli show was just so right - everything jigsawed so nicely and the shoes were just *pop*

Thoughts?

On a different note, how was everyone's Tuesday? I'm so tired and run-down already - so many commitments and deadlines to meet. Tomorrow should be less packed though. Some fun little side things: was going through Mother's things and found some vintage knits! One is very Wang-cross-D&G (more Wang), and the other is a bit Vince, but in a more homemade way. All I want to add now is a giant belt - any ideas for finding a nice versatile one?

*love*

xx

Viktor & Rolf FW10.

tfs

I am at a loss as to how I can communicate to you guys how purely absolute Viktor & Rolf was. It wasn't even [insert adjective] something. It just was. And this amazed me.

Normally, I hate watching footage of shows, because it feels like it's taking away from the art and concepts that the designer intended - I don't even know. My mind makes weird connections like that :) Beside the point, I had to watch this one (or this) and I've spent the day trying to think how I can possibly encapsulate the show - the performance - into one post without posting the entire collection or the video.

And I clearly failed - apologies for this - because I've left out so many of the spontaneous silhouettes that went down that runway, and I really do want you all to see all of it! So off you go to Style.com or somewhere similar, to gobble up this collection. Please. :)

I've tried to show some of the transformation involved - for those of you who haven't heard/seen/read about this yet, the show opened with Kristen McMenamy strutting out in this monstrous pile of crystal detail, along with Mr Viktor and Mr Rolf, who proceeded to Babushka her (so to speak) onto the other models. Once she was down to just a nude bodysuit, we went backwards and finished up with a completely different, but equally beautiful pile.

The fact that everything was styled in plain sight with such precision, was what I found most incredible. The second point of genius in this was how much it sold the versatility of every piece - a body con, crystal encrusted mini dress could, with a few pullings around of drawstrings, become a leather cape.

How?

I can't even explain it. Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren are quite possibly, the new idols of my life.

Thoughts?

P.S. Sorry for the freakishly long-winded post. :)

*love*

xx

Lanvin FW10.

vogue.com

Once I got over the novelty of Constance with with black hair, I realised that this uniform look that made the models almost indistinguishable, and so I was focusing less on whether or not the looks suited the individual, and more on the very design - no questions asked.

I guess some would argue against this, and I'm all for individuality, identity, etc. but I must say, this time, I appreciated it. Alber Elbaz threw in so many subtle twists to complement the asymmetry and drapes, that looking at it now while I'm writing this, I see so many things I didn't see before.

I love the single glove in the first and third - cherry on the icing on the amazing amazing cuppycake, I tell you :)

Agreed?

*love*

xx

Peachoo + Krejberg FW10.

tfs

I know I never post anything other than full length runway photos, but really - everything from the waist up in Peachoo + Krejberg in Paris was far too stunning to avoid.

How great are the braids? Sequins and cuts and makeup are also so stunning.

*love*

xx