Three shoe lessons learned at AXDW

LESSON 1

Girls, you are more than welcome to choose Zara over some other fancy designer label, that costs an arm and a leg. After all, we are not all pop stars with wardrobes full of Louboutin, Jimmy Choo and YSL, right?

But please, do remember to peel off the red "alarm system" sticker all Zara shoes bear. It's not pretty and it's definitely not supposed to stay at the bottom of your new shoes.

My friend Angela - who is not shortsighted like me and is really good with details - actually spotted one of those stickers on the sole of a model's shoe on the actual runway. The horror!

LESSON 2

We all get that warm fuzzy feeling in our hearts when we discover something we just bought is an exact match for something else already in our wardrobes. We let ourselves get silly-happy for a moment and then we resist the urge to wear them together just to prove they match. That's what I do, at least.

And let us not deal with the red plaid pants issue now. No need, right?

LESSON 3

Actually, the orange mary-janes above (spotted right after the Andy The Ahn show) are a great example of cute, edgy and fun shoes a young woman can wear at fashion week. And further more, what an inspired combination the teal tights are!

I was very pleased to see that example.

But apparently so was the wearer herself, as she wore the exact same combo five days later, on Wednesday November 4th, at the Tassos Vrettos "Athens: City and Cinema" photography exhibition opening party (my twitpic from that evening) at the Benaki Museum.

I'm neither condemning nor condoning it. I just happened to be there to document it. As a matter of fact, I'm guilty of doing the exact same thing with my grey peep-toe booties and black tights. But I got away with it, as no-one took a picture of me on both days... Did they?

See more shoes from AXDW chez Alecca Rox here and here.

Add to Cart More Info

Miltos SS2010 show at AXDW

Miltos presented his SS20101 collection at AXDW last Sunday. It was a virtual time-travel to 1940's Paris and we loved it! Τhe music of Édith Piaf was masking our gasps, as we admired the luxurious coats, classic blazers, fitted pencil skirts and amazing evening dresses made with velvet, silk and feathers.

The press release reads:

Born in Athens, Miltos' first contact with fashion was as a production and sales manager in a well-known company with silk garments. His experience in raw materials together with his love for high quality resulted in starting up his own studio 17 years ago, while studying fashion at Veloudakis Fashion School. Feminine lines, all time classic elegance, fresh style with high class, would be a close description to his work. Miltos currently works at his studio in Kolonaki, where he creates pret-a-porter and haute couture collections, as well as unique bridals.

Some may argue that there's no innovation in re-introducing fashions from past decades. I say, sometimes a designer who is a master in handling quality materials and haute couture techniques and who can deliver that old-school glamour we all love, is all we need. N'est pas?

[All pictures mine. Do not use without permission.]

Add to Cart More Info

Andy The Anh SS2010 show at AXDW

His name might still be quite unknown in Greece, but one thing is for sure, Andy The Anh makes great dresses. I'm pretty sure I heard some people go "AAAAHHH" when the long turquoise gown with the oversized black flower boutonniere appeared.

I'd love to know how much do those dresses retail for. And who stocks them in Greece? Me thinks, a phone call to the AXDW PR office is on the cards, in order to answer my questions...

More info coming soon!

[All pictures mine. Do not use without permission.]

Add to Cart More Info

Celebrity Skin SS2010 show at AXDW

Quite appropriately titled iMMortaL ExtRaVAganZa, the Celebrity Skin by Dimitris Strepkos and Eleni Mparla Spring-Summer 2010 show was spectacular to watch.

The show started with the projection of footage from a photo-shot. The model was so perfect, we could cry.

And then, the show started...

...and quite a goth-glam iMMortaL ExtRaVAganZa it was!

However, several people I talked to after the show, were left quite puzzled as to whether these clothes can be worn in real life.
I say who cares?
Does anyone question Alexander McQueen's extravagant shows full of probably-unwearable-in-real-life clothes? No, because they ARE a show. I think that's what the Celebrity Skin duo tried to do here. Create a feel for us, give us an insight on what they're trying to channel for next summer, allow us see their vision and their skills.

I say me likey!

PS1 Me likey the press kit CD too! Hand-packaged along with loose black sequins in black tulle and fastened with a safety pin, for that extra punk factor. Rock on!

PS2 I tweeted this pic above as I was waiting for the show to start. You can follow me on twitter to see all my runway tweets!

[All pictures mine. Do not use without permission.]

Add to Cart More Info

Front row of Angelos Frentzos at AXDW

[click to enlarge]

Add to Cart More Info

6th Athens Xclusive Designers Week

We still haven't caught our breath from FWA, and AXDW is already here! Visit the official site for more info and don't forget to check out this video.

The shows start today, so we'd better hurry up!

I have to say, one of the things I'm really looking forward to this time, is the Open Forum.

The invitation above reads:

The interaction and give-and-take between fashion and architecture are the main points of focus of the 6th Athens Xclusive Designers Week, which starts on Friday October 30th 2009 and supports the 1930's Modern Movement Architecture in Athens.

With common interests, like design and aesthetics, the Greek Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage and Athens Xclusive Designers Week
are inviting you on
Monday, November 2nd at 14:00
to an Open Forum on the subject of
Fashion and Architecture.

Speakers:
Alexandros Tobazis (architect)
Ekaterini Katsampe (ETOAA chairman)
Giannis Tseklenis (fashion designer)
Konstantinos Tzoumas (actor)
Katerina Chatzikonstantinou (architect)

Can you guess how excited I am?

Add to Cart More Info