ZHIVAGO, the USHANKA

The hat for your head comes in the purest Zhivago style.

 This hat: the ushanka, which means in russian "ear hat", is indeed a fur cap with ear flaps that can be tied up to the crown of the cap, or tied down to protect the lower part of the face from the cold. This kind of hat was also used in Scandinavia and germany, however the standard modern-type ushanka with a perfectly round hat crown was developed and became massively used only in the 20th century in Russia, and became a symbol of the country. 

For those who haven't seen it, Dr. Zhivago is an amazing film based on the Russian revolution(1917) and the civil war that came after it, that tells the difficult lives that Lara and Yuri went through, and the love story that kept them alive in such harsh times. 

Some designers have only give hints of this trend using the ushanka just in an outfit or two, while other like Oscar de la Renta has strongly insisted on it.

Anna Sui

 Behnaz Sarapour

Dennis Basso

Issa

 Hermes

 Oscar de la Renta

 I strongly recommend you not only to follow this awe-inspiring trend, 

but to watch or re-watch this movie.

CLEAVAGE-Revealing OVAL

What is it with this Oval shape?

Herb Ritts

With the most common wave among designers this year 2011, of covering the body and concealing after some years of too much showing the skin, many designers have found a way to scape and seduce showing the women's most desired attributes: the Breast. With this oval revealing cleavage there have been two options for the brands. On the one hand, to focus on it, making this oval shape big enough to show the breast. On the other hand, there have been some sneak designers that have done it in a smaller scale, for the only purpose to insinuate this wonderful part of the women's body, in a unnoticeable way. I personally like the second, as I consider it more elegant, ironic and smart.

Emily Didonato, Block Magazine

I put This pic of Emily Didonato because it summarizes perfectly the message in this post... 

An oval that reveals the women's most beautiful hidden secrets.

Franceso and Chloe

Halston and Issa

LAMB and Marc Jacobs

Michael Kors and Milly

Peter Pilotto and ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren and Rebecca Taylor

YSL and Cythhia Rowley

Salvatore Ferragamo

 Sonia Rykiel and Sportmax

Both by Bagdley Mischka

'A picture is worth a thousand words'

after this image I bet anything you will go for it this winter

Sean and Seng, Numero Feb 2011

PARKA MANIA

I think nobody in fashion ignore what is it...but just in case! Parka or Anorak is a type of overgarment, heavy weight and often covered by real or fake leather, It has a hoodie as well, for a complete protection against the wind, rain and very low temperatures.

A little bit of history....

This kind of clothing, was originally made in Caribu and created by the Inuit from the Artic Region. The word PARKA comes from the Eskimo-Aleut, while the word Anorak comes from the Kalaallisut language. We now use either word or the other, but strictly they describe different types of clothing (Anorak was a waterproof jacket with hoodie, tighted at the waist and cuffs without zips or bottons, and Parka is a knee-lenght coat with fury hoodie, typically filled with sythetic fibers that keeps you warm).

In the 60's the Parka was reinvented in England, the Mods rescued this garment from the past. They use it to drive their scooters and it became a symbol among the young people. 

 This Autumn winter 2011/2012 when all fashion is questioned, designers must keep searching and analyzing the old garments and trends, in order to learn from the mistakes and also from the really good things already achieved. That is indispensable for them to be able to produce something superior, 
like the PARKA which is and will be timeless, and never out of Fashion.

Max Mara

Peter Som

Altazurra

Anna Sui

Aquacutum

Barbara Bui

Cacharel

Chistopher Kane

Cynthia Steffe

Edun

Joseph

Richard Nicoll

Nanette Lapore

Rag&Bone

Vera Wang

Iceberg

This trend is one of the favourties among celebrities like Kate moss, Katie Mara or Shu Pei, who already wore their parkas, before anyone else. 

Follow their example, always keep ahead.

This winter the Parka will become your best and most important ally against the coldness.