Taking a look back at fashion

What better way to toast the start of 2012 than to look back on 2011 – a momentous year filled with a devastating tsunami in Japan to royal weddings and their designer gowns in Europe and the shocking dismissal of one of the most talented designers in the heat of Paris Fashion Week. CHEONG PHIN reflects on the definitive fashion moments of the year that was

July 2011: Princess Charlene of Monaco in her Giorgio Armani wedding gown.

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 THE END OF GALLIANO AT DIOR
The year in fashion began on a dramatic note during Paris Fashion Week in February with the shocking dismissal of John Galliano, one of the most innovative designers of his generation from the couture house of Christian Dior. An anti-Semitic outburst in a Paris cafe cost the flamboyant British designer his coveted job as creative director of Dior and his eponymous fashion label in a flourishing fashion career that spans 27 years. For the first time, the Dior Autumn/Winter 2011 runway show ended without the customary theatrical bow from the designer and, to the dismay of anxious fashion insiders, has not announced a successor till today.

 ROYAL WEDDINGS AND DESIGNER GOWNS
Spring/Summer was a season of royal weddings and kicked off with the most anticipated event of the year -- the fairytale wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in London.

From the moment the young couple announced their engagement in late 2010, the speculation about who would be designing the Royal wedding dress was rife among fashion watchers and possibly the best-kept secret the fashion world has endured. All was revealed to the delight of everyone on April 11 when Kate (as she is fondly known) stepped out in a glorious ivory wedding dress with English and French chantilly lace appliqué, satin gazar pleated skirt and 2.7-metre-long train by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

Working closely with Kate behind closed doors, Burton triumphed in delivering an elegant and timeless design that represents the best of "Made in Britain" craftsmanship and hailed by many as the wedding dress of the 21st century -- overshadowing an equally beautiful off-the-shoulder silk ivory wedding gown created by Italian designer Giorgio Armani for Charlene Wittstock at her lavish wedding to Prince Albert II in Monaco three months later. The sensational gown was embellished with ramage embroidery depicting flowers, Swarovski crystals and thousands of pearl teardrops attached to a five-metre long train.

 NEW STORE OPENINGS
Despite the global economic ununcertainty, several brands remain optimistic about Asia and debuted their first stores in Malaysia in 2011. Celebrating 30 years in the business, Michael Kors flew into Kuala Lumpur to officially open his first Malaysian store in Pavilion; Australian accessories brand "Oroton" opened in KLCC and Gardens Mall while British brand "French Soles" (known for its comfortable ballet flats) opened its first franchised boutique outside the UK at the new wing in Suria, KLCC.

Elsewhere, French luxury house "Balenciaga" arrived here at last while La Montre Hermès opened its first Malaysian boutique dedicated to watches at Starhill Gallery.

Read more: Taking a look back at fashion - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/local/general/taking-a-look-back-at-fashion-1.26176#ixzz1iKONrosS

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Number 3: The Royal Wedding

The whole world watched the wedding — and is still watching every move, fashion and otherwise, of Kate Middleton, who became the Duchess of Cambridge in tying the knot with Prince William. Every outfit she wears is scrutinized and when replicas hit the high street, they’re instant sellouts. Has a style icon been born?

The jury’s still out on whether her fashion persona can live up to the likes of Diana or Jackie. Her style is chic but understated. While she’s made no major faux pas so far, nor has she ventured into the vulgar, she hasn’t exactly pushed the envelope, either. In choosing Alexander McQueen for her wedding gown, she catapulted the house into nearly “household-name” status. Kate mixes it up when it comes to her fashion choices, wearing high street labels like Reiss, Zara, LK Bennett and Whistles, while for designer, she’s worn McQueen, Erdem, Diane von Furstenberg, Amanda Wakeley, Jenny Packham, Issa and Roksanda Ilincic. She picks lots of strong solids, more or less conservative silhouettes, and seems to be on a one-woman quest to bring back hosiery.
Image via WikipediaWith the eyes of an estimated 2.5 billion around the world trained on the nuptial festivities, the dress in question made its first appearance when the bride stepped out of the Rolls-Royce at Westminster Abbey. Middleton surprised with her choice of a label known for its beautiful yet directional designs. But designer Sarah Burton’s vision trod an appropriately elegant line. She created a corseted dress with a cinched waist and full skirts in ivory and white satin, with modest, long lace sleeves and a high lace collar, worn with an ivory tulle veil.

Clarence House said Middleton chose McQueen “for the beauty of its craftsmanship.”

“Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen’s work,” the palace said. And in a nod to England’s heritage, Burton had worked with London’s Royal School of Needlework to create the delicate lace that adorned the dress’ bodice, sleeves and skirts. The designer — who had endeavored to keep her work on the dress a secret — also created the slinky, figure-skimming white bridesmaid’s dress that Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton, wore as maid of honor.

Just as fascinating were the getups that the 600 guests chose for their trip to Westminster Abbey. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie took an adventurous turn with their Philip Treacy headpieces, which took on something of a life of their own, with Internet spoofs likening Beatrice’s hat to everything from an octopus to a pretzel. But Beatrice saw the funny side, and wound up auctioning the hat on eBay to raise money for children’s charities, fetching about $126,000.

Aside from Kate and William’s ceremony, 2011 proved to be a major year for weddings, royal and otherwise. In July, Prince Albert of Monaco married Charlene Wittstock, who walked down the aisle in Monaco in a Swarovski-studded Giorgio Armani silk gown, complete with a 65-foot train.

Later in the summer, Kate Moss got hitched to musician Jamie Hince in a laid-back, quintessentially English ceremony in the Cotswolds, for which the bride wore a custom John Galliano bias-cut gown, inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald. Fittingly for a supermodel, Moss managed another two outfit changes on the night — Stella McCartney designed an oyster silk chiffon dress for the model’s first dance with Hince, and a gold beaded minidress for the evening party, which stretched into the early hours.

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