The Hottest Footwear For Men and Women By Arfango Is Town.

Arfango, the luxury heritage Florentine shoe and accessories brand founded in 1902 opened its first Uk freestanding store on Walton Street, London SW3 on Monday 7th February. This will be Arfango's second store, its first having opened in Saint Tropez in 2009.

The Arfango brand which is of contemporary mix, innovative design  and traditional artisanal techniques has attracted an impressive fan base that includes Cameron Diaz, Rachel Blanchard, Morgan Freeman, Adrien Brody, Ryan Gosling and the American R&B and soul artist Eric Benet. 

The decor of the boutique is a mix of seductive, passion and elegance. The whole inspiration behind boutique creation was that of  theatre  where the shoes are the protagonists and the dark black painted niches represent the stage. The red fire velvet  pillars  and curtains brings a very intimate feel to the boutique.

Alberto Moretti took on the role of creative director after the family had acquired the the Arfango brand and injected a new energy and modernity into the collection. Its iconic 'velvet shoe,' a silk velvet, hand-stitched moccasin, in a broad colour palette from the racy fire-engine-red through royal blue, purple and lavender, to the more classic chocolate brown, gun metal grey and deepest black.

Laser infused on the Velvet to attain the design on the shoes.

The Three Pairs of Shoes - 'Love Me' Love You'

The glamorous line of the women's shoes and accessories was launched three seasons ago and already has a strong following. The collection includes velvet pumps, boots and stilettos for day and sophisticated heeled sandals for evening. Eelskin, patent leather, ponyskin, dappled leather, brushed calf and laminated python are embellished with silk detailing in bold and vibrant  colour: mauve, red, turquoise and black.

It is also worth checking out their website at www.arfango.com
There is more to come from the Arfango brand as I was told by the creative director Alberto Moretti. 

S/S 11 CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN CASUAL FOOTWEAR.

 Christian Louboutin's Metal rivets and studs remain a key focus, though we see several new approaches in their application. I am a fun and they are surely the must have for the coming spring/ summer. 


Size for men in Standard Euro Size 42,43,44,45,46. All the shoes are hand-made and in good stitching. Which means they last longer and can be termed to be an investment piece.  It is comfortable to wear and not forgetting the easy movement for your foot.


If you are looking for a pair these to buy to make you look on trend this s/s 11 then the best place to go is selfridges.com, harrodslondon.com, net-a-porter.com and christianlouboutin.com to name a few.


 Guys,let's make this coming spring/summer 11 Christian Louboutin one. Lets walk in them and turn heads. 

Anju Khusul (SEED) Fall 2011 Collection

 It is always refreshing to hear and see something new in fashion. I was really delighted when I got the opportunity to view this beautiful design from Anju Khusul. For her ever first fall 2011 collection, I have to say she has really surpassed herself.

My take on the collection is that of modern, chic and sleek, feminine, eccentric, Rock & Roll, and sporty.  They are all ready-to-wear collection and the attention to detailing is spot on.

Now here is her story...

Anju Khusul spent six months working at Volcom On the SEED collection for Fall 2011. SEED is a Volcom initiative to support the grass root of fashion.

Volcom approached London College Of Fashion which Anju was a student of with an open brief to re-invent a classic piece of Volcom denim and the prize on grasp was a six months working placement in the girls design department. The winner was to work on a capsule collection to be known as the SEED line. After hundreds of entries a winner was picked and it was no other person than Anju Khusul.

As she quotes 'In creating this capsule collection, my starting point point was to re-visit some of Volcom's most popular and key garments. I wanted to create a fresh take on these key pieces but loose the Volcom identity. As I started my research, I became very inspired by the traditional Japanese art of Origami, I wanted to recreate intricate and beautiful origami techniques in fabric'.


Matt and sheen black, estate blue, cinder brown and hints of plum is what the colour palette is based around. As Anju states 'the combination of these colours project a feminine and a sleek look, and with this being a more luxurious line, my fabric choices reflect this accordingly including silk yarn, bamboo cotton and a woven jacquard'.


As a fashion stylist seeing this collection which is fresh and new I have a firm believe that it grow and flourish as time goes on. There is a true genuine talent in Anju Khusul.

This one of my favorite piece the 'Free me Butterfly'

> This is a long version of the classic wind breaker
> It has funnel neck with a zipper that concealed a fold in hood.
> Above the bust tuck details.
> Concealed adjustable elastic draw cord at the waist.
> A balloon volume shaped skirt. Two types of pockets, zip up and volume patch  with draw cord.
> Centre  front exposed zip.
> Fabricated with polyester coated with 1000-mm of water proofing coating.
> Fully lined with origami lining.

very good detailing.

Love It Satchell

> Snake skin inspired purse.

> Detachable strap.

> Antique  brass hard wear buckle detailing on front and strap.

> piped seams on side and back.

> Lined with a satin and inside zip pocket.

> Closed with a magnetic snap.

The good thing about this  accessory piece is that is it has a multi-functional purpose. It can be a shoulder bag, held as a purse or a clutch.

Anju Khusul - Designer.

 The second SEED project is already underway with Atelier Chardon Savard School in Paris.
Follow the story online, at www.volcomeurope.com/seed

Chasebond's blog (fashion and style): CROMBIE - THE TRUE BRITISH HERITAGE

Chasebond's blog (fashion and style): CROMBIE - THE TRUE BRITISH HERITAGE: "4th February 2011 'Asleep in Granite Aberdeen, They continue their dreams.' W.H.Auden's words, and 102 years before his birth, the firm o..."

Chasebond's blog (fashion and style): CROMBIE - THE TRUE BRITISH HERITAGE

Chasebond's blog (fashion and style): CROMBIE - THE TRUE BRITISH HERITAGE

CROMBIE - THE TRUE BRITISH HERITAGE

www.crombie.com

4th February 2011

"Asleep in Granite Aberdeen, They continue their dreams."

W.H.Auden's words, and 102 years before his birth, the firm of Crombie was founded in the granite city. They have supplied gentlemen, airmen and soldiers, including (don't tell the President) the 'Rebel Grey' cloth for the Confederates during the American Civil War.

Crombie now offer a superb range, from the trademark coats to wonderful shirts and accessories. A perfect blend of wool and mohair is used in their suits, which provide warmth and lightness throughout the year.

The traditional look is met with skilled cutting in Crombie's made-to-measure suits. Slip into one of these, and you will shimmer.

Whether in Conduit Street, King Street or George Street, you will find something to fit you.

Go.

www.crombie.co.uk

ELLE MEETS KERIA KNIGHTLEY

Keria Knightley spoke Exclusively ELLE Magazine and the full interview  appears in the March issue of ELLE magazine, on sale Wednesday 2nd February.

Keria has also been selected to model Tom Ford's first womenswear collection for six years. In this exclusive interview with ELLE, Keria talks about the the power of fashion and her own personal style.

Blow are some extracts and key quotes from the interview.

The Quotes-

ON MANAGING HER WORK SCHEDULE-
'I was literally going from job to job to job to job and any time off in between was promoting a job and preparing for the next job. And it was exactly what I thought  I wanted at the time and then I realised that  I'd sort of hit a brick wall. I knew I wasn't taking anything in.' Her workload was less to do with ambition and more to do with a kind of self-consciousness. 'There's this strange thing where I feel incredibly privileged and I think I have an incredible amount of guilt and about that. And so I thought I had to work all the time.'

ON FASHION & TOM FORD
Talking about Ford ( with whom she famously posed naked, alongside Scarlet Johansson, for a Vanity Fair cover in 2006) - She sounds awed by his commitment to style:
'I admire people who really live by that image.' What appeal to her are the stories. 'I went to the Chanel show and i really enjoyed the theatre  of it - this eight-mile-long catwalk, this huge orchestra and it was amazing. It was actually quite moving, and you think ''wow, this is strange. How? Why?'' But i think when you see a show like that you see the thought process behind it. And I - I've only been to two shows [ the other was Chanel couture] - but I really enjoyed that.'

ON CHANEL CAMPAIGN 
'There's something about the story of women, the survivor nature of her. And the personality has continued within the whole house. It's a very small group people who do this enormous, huge worldwide thing. I just thought, ''Ooh, I'd quite like to look into your world.'' You walk into the ateliers and it's nearly like stepping back in time, even though it's so modern and so current. The skill and the thought that goes into everything. I find it really interesting.'



ON WHY SHE DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE STAGE ( in ''The children's Hour'')
'because I really noticed [in The Misanthrope] what I couldn't do and what I failed at. I'm just not interested in standing still. You go. ''OK, that was great and that bit was great - that's, um, great.''
But if I'm not getting better, not learning, not changing, then what's the point of it? It mist be boring for people to watch it if it's always the same.'

The full shoot and interview appears in the March issue of ELLE, out in February 2nd.


Keria Knightley's stars a new film 'NEVER LET ME GO' which will be released on the 11th February, 2011.


The cover picture was shot by TERRY TSIOLIS / courtesy of ELLE magazine.
www.elleuk.com