MBFW: Friday- Swedish Fashion Goes Berlin

Although my body struggled to get up on Friday Morning, I somehow managed to attend a "Swedish Fashion Lecture" at the Nordic Embassies at the other end of Berlin. But how do you say, the early bird catches the worm? The old saw was right, it was interesting and I got a total new perspective on Swedish fashion. The Ph.D. student Ulrike Berglund took us on a historical time journey through Swedish Fashion development from 1930 to 1960. It never occured to me how much Swedish Fashion was influenced by the Parisian Haute Couture and more surprislingly is how much different Swedish Fashion with its minimalistic elements and the attention on edgy cuts and high quality now is from the Parisian style. For me even more interesting was after that the lecture about mythologies of Swedishness and how brands use those stories and prejudices to build up their partially fake Swedish identity held by Ph.D Jacob Östberg. Some of the brands are not even known in Sweden, e.g. the UK based retailer COS. They are operating in some parts of Europe now for about three years, but never had a shop in Sweden, although every part of the stores screams for Scandinavian style.

After the lectures, we got the chance to taste some of the finest Swedish pastries, of course "Knäcke" and cheese. In the basement two Swedish designers got the chance to exhibit their newest collection and we were impressed by the high quality and wearable pieces. The designer Josefin Mellander told me that she just finished her second year at Boras University. She was chosen out of many designers to win this year's Show Up Fashion Award initiated by the Marketplace Boras.

Later that week, on Sunday, I visited the gallery of Swedish Photography. The pictures were all taken by the famous fashion photographer Camilla Akrans and were so beautiful. All week long they were also showing Swedish Fashion Short Movies which was interesting, but not that surprisingly new. But I also had the feeling to have a little fashion overload and could not take any more fashion inspiration. But the whole gallery is really recommendable. It is located in a beautiful typical Berlin backyard right off Oranienburgerstrasse.

The Business of Vintage

I have been in the the business of vintage officially for 10 years, from my Saturday job to then owning my own business, my knowledge has grown and my love for it never changed. In fact if I really think back I spent most of my childhood in my mother's wardrobe with my friends dressing up in shoes that were 6 sizes too big, 80's shoulder padded shiny dresses and using fabric belts as headbands. Looking back I think I spent ever weekend dressing up and coming up with new styles. As an only child I entertained myself like this for years. I will one day find the photo evidence!
I am a vintage, second hand as I also refer it too, lover. It's been so far the longest love affair of my life. You have to love it to be in the business of it.

I find great happiness in vintage clothing, something I never thought of that much before, I just took it as natural but I know not everyone feel this way. Some customer reactions to vintage or second hand can be quite hilariously aversive due the fact that someone may have worn it before and describing vintage as, dare i say it, 'dead people clothes', to which I have laughed as essentially it most likely true.

I myself have never though such morbid thought and like any good vintage lover see it more as breathing new life into a beautiful piece of clothing, allowing oneself to be different, create your own style and if really want to push it being ethical by recycling clothing.

I fully understand sometime the smell of second hand can be off-putting and here at Godiva we do endeavour to clean up our vintage, however I must admit when on holiday when I walk into a vintage store, vintage shopping is a must for any holiday for me, the familiar smell does bring a smile to my face and I feel at home.

My vintage 'must haves' are a good bag and coat. My favourite coat created by Winsmoor. I will one day post a photo. When I discover a great cut vintage dress or pattern like nothing else I have ever seen I am filled with joy. A lot of the time these dresses don't have labels as the have been hand made, which makes them even better, as someone has taken their tim eto create for themselves or for someone else. An example of a craft, skilled, do it yourself age of the past.

I think my love for vintage and love of working in Godiva is the constant stimulation my senses get from such clothing, the cuts, the patterns, the fabric and colours. The mishmash mix up of all these fantastic shapes and prints in one room is hugely pleasing to me. Not driven by the latest fashion trend or popularity.

Additionally fashion repeats itself, with vintage you find so much of the original pattern that so much design is now based on today. Of course not all vintage second hand is beautiful to me, some is down right ridiculous! But this too bring a smile to my face, how someone could actually of designed that oversize mohair pompom batwing jumper. But still with vintage something I think may be ridiculous is to someone else is the thing the have been looking for all their lives. A piece of vintage clothing will always be loved by someone somewhere, unlike the disposable fashion on the high street.

Nothing sucks my soul more than the high street. I strongly believe Primark is the work of the Devil. I only clothes shop on the high street for essentials like underwear, as second hand underwear is a step too far! I don't enjoy looking like everyone else and that is were vintage allows you to be free to be individual, as well as part of the vintage believers tribe, something to me more satisfying than the looking like everyone else tribe, However for those who take comfort in this, that is fine by me if that's what makes you happy.

I seemed to have reminisced somewhat today! I have enjoyed it and I hope you have too.

I guess I should also tell you that we are still having a vintage sale in store, which will end soon. So come buy,a the more you buy now the more new and fresh vintage stock I can buy, which is one of my favourite parts of running my own vintage business.

Fleur

MBFW Berlin: Thursday

Thursday was the day of Frida Weyer's installation in the Regent Hotel in Berlin. It was exciting to experience what happens behind the scenes of such an important event. Surprisingly, the atmosphere in the backstage area where the models got their make up and hair done by MAC and Aveda was pretty relaxed and drama-free. I spent most of the time downstairs in the lobby and took care of the guest counter and protected the guest list with my life. The whole installation was a huge success. All invited guests were happy to see something different than a fashion show and perceived the event as a good opportunity to finally see a collection detailed and with no pressure of having only one shot for a good photo. Furthermore guests could communicate and Frida Weyer had the chance to talk to everyone without having time pressure. The collection can be best described like this:

For the Fall 2011, FRIDA WEYER presented a fashion installation in the Salon Gontard at the Regent Hotel on the Gendarmenmarkt.

On show was a selection from the collection based on the designer's expanded concept. Alongside cocktail, black tie and bridal, in the future, you'll find everyday & business dresses and everything you'd like to wear 24/7.

Same same but different! FRIDA WEYER's new collection appears less romantic but not a bit less feminine. Pleated chiffon, folds twisted in curves – the hallmarks of the designer are unmistakable with the emphasis on feminine forms.

A trip to New York served as inspiration for the designer. "NYC, yellow cabs at night! Everything sparkles and shines. No need to say more.", says Frida Weyer.

The main colors mandarin and lime were rounded out with winter tones such as aubergine.

With their casually teased up-dos and boldly painted lips, the models had the eyes of the visitors and flashes of the photographers fixed on them for one solid hour.
(Source: PR- Frida Weyer)




Source

Source

Monday's Mix Vintage & Designer

Monday mix of vintage and designer is a great example of Godiva's showroom range allowing you to mix n' match the old and the new.
Here we see Lost Forward high-waisted floral cord pencil skirt with exaggerated bow trim and a striking red pussy bow blouse. Beautifully team together, we love it.
We have been delighted to get some many great pictures of our stock done by photographer Cristina Carra Caso.

MBFW Berlin: Wednesday

Inside the tentStreetstyles

Shoes: Marita Huurinainen (Finland)

My favorites: The label Grosser Heinrich from Berlin.

After two long working days and a very interesting model casting for Frida Weyer, I finally got the chance to get into "the tent" on Bebelplatz to see the Baltic Fashion Catwalk, a show of five upcoming and very talented young designers. Also, it was the perfect chance to wear one of Rowanjoy's beautiful skirts.

Friday designer Pic of the Day!

Godiva long term friend, creative fashion designer and Godiva studio dweller Rowanjoy created this emerald Lustre dress as part of her A/W10 range, inspired by her A/W09 Lustre jumpsuit. This one off beautiful dress sold pretty much immediately!
And thanks to Cristina Carra Caso for another great photo for the Godiva designer album.
Rowanjoy is currently working on her S/S11 range and I am about to go down to the studio to, to make at start on the spring cleaning and gathering some materials and clothing in preparation for next weeks relaunch of the customising & reworking project on Wednesday. This project was in fact how I met Rowanjoy all those years ago so here hoping we find another star designer!

Hope you all having a great Friday & have a good weekend! x

MBFW Berlin: Monday

I am so sorry for not posting earlier, but I was busy with helping Frida Weyer and her installation that took place yesterday in the Regent Hotel in Berlin. But I'll come to that later...
For now, one of Rowanjoy's really cool capes which I wore to one of the Fashion Week's opening parties at .HBC on Monday night. The party itself was not that great, but a lot people fancied the cape.

Thursday's Pics of the Day

One of my favourite coats of 2010! and in fact in the top 5 ever, is this beautiful brown tweed coat with layered dusty pink Toscana fur collar was created by recent ECA graduate Louise Holsgrove as part of her final graduate collection. I was sad to see this exquisite coat go but the extremely lucky and lovely customer who bought it a day I was working looked beautiful, and am sure she is still donning it with pride today.
We are looking forward to more of Louise's work in 2011!
watch this space.
The skilled photographer who captured this coat so well was Cristina Carra Caso.
We are also looking forward to working with her again in 2011. What a year is set to be already.

Hope you are having a happy Thursday! x

Calling out for students with customsing skills

LOVE CUSTOMISING VINTAGE!

Godiva Boutique needs you!

7 years ago Godiva Boutique formed a team of fashion students who were interested in customizing & reworking vintage clothing in their spare time.

It was an opportunity to develop and show off skills, test creativity and make some EXTRA CASH from shop sales!

It became a huge success and even formed some peoples future of careers in fashion.

We are starting this great project again and calling out for anyone with sewing skills and creative imagination to come and be part of the 2011creative team.

This is a great opportunity to be part of an extended fashion community.

If interested and want to know more, please come to a meeting held in Godiva, 9 West Port, Edinburgh on Wednesday 26^th January to get more information and outline of the project!

We hope you can make it at 6pm.

If you can not make this date feel free to pop into the shop or email

mail@godivaboutique.co.uk

Vintage Pics of the Day

We love to lend Godiva clothing to upcoming photographers and here are some recent shots of our vintage clothing done by newcomer photographer Eoin Carey. We hit the 'Like' button to these.
All this vintage feature is currently part of our January sale! so pop down and get them while you can. Have a good weekend! x

Global Cool is turning up style in Edinburgh

ven





Calling all fashionistas who love a bit of recycling and reworked vintage fashion!

Here is a stylish event taking place in Edinburgh next week, this is definitely a good way to start you 2011 sewing skills. Even if you can't sew Godiva top designer Rowanjoy will be there doing a workshop on refashioning clothes. Also our good friend Kate Mackay from Alchemy Arts will be demonstrating her skills and assisting you to create that one-off jumper of your design. Additionally Fifi from Godiva will also be there! Godiva is donating jumpers to to cause, so get yourself down to ...............

WHAT: Refashioning Workshop
WHEN: 12TH January 2011, 7-10pm
WHERE: Festival Theatre Edinburgh. 13-29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9FT

Global Cool would love for you to attend Edinburgh’s inaugural Sew Remade workshop where the fabulous team of stylists from Alchemy Arts will be demonstrating how to refashion much-loved jumpers from drab to fab!
Jumpers will be provided for £5, as will materials, so no need to bring anything other than yourself!
Feel free to bring along your own jumper and customise free of charge.

RSVP: http://www.globalcool.org/fashion/styleevents

See you there! xx