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updated 9 Feb 2012, 18:40
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Thu, Feb 09, 2012
The Business Times
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The joys of spring
by Melissa Lwee

Antonio Berardi

It is unsurprising to hear that Antonio Berardi's muse is Victoria Beckham. One look at his signature short, form-fitting dresses and you can tell that the clothes were made for her and those who aspire to be like her.

For the sake of Posh Spice wannabes, multi-label boutique TriBeCa will be adding Berardi to its stable of names. 'Antonio Berardi is a favourite of celebs like Megan Fox and Gwyneth Paltrow,' explains TriBeCa's spokesperson Anne Yoon on why the label caught their eye. 'Berardi received an overwhelming response from his guest show at London Fashion Week's 25th anniversary.'

For Spring/Summer '10, expect to see a plethora of sexy, tight tops, skirts and dresses that will fit right into any wannabe WAG's wardrobe. After all, what better way can there be to kickstart those aspirations to become a footballer's wife than by dressing as one?

Cacharel

Perhaps better recognised in Singapore for giving the world the iconic and very successful fragrance Anais Anais rather than its ready-to-wear, it was about time that the French fashion house shook things up a bit. And they did precisely that by appointing Cedric Charlier. The designer who joins Cacharel after spending six years under Alber Elbaz at Lanvin has created his first collection for the house, which will be available in Singapore this year at Tyan boutique.

'We were struck by Cedric Charlier's designs,' says Tyan managing director Tan Beng Yan. 'The collection is fresh, excellent in quality and the forms are really new, and the styling is very understated chic.' The label's clean lines and sophisticated look will sit well with women who believe that classic is king.

Erdem

His fantastic talent for colours and prints has caught the attention of Anna Wintour who not only sits front row at his fashion shows but has taken the time to visit him backstage. He has also earned the honour of being touted as the Christian Lacroix of London. Erdem Moralioglu is the name you should keep your eyes, ears and wallets open for when his designs hit the racks of enVie de Pois at Ion Orchard.

'I think that my unique selling point, is probably that each garment is quite individual,' says Moralioglu on why his label is so successful. 'A lot of things are made by hand and even the printed garments are cut individually because they are cut based on the print and so they all look different. I think all this lends a real specialness to each garment.'

His favourite designer is the late Yves Saint Laurent whose great use of colours inspired him to do the same. 'I love the idea of putting colours that don't necessarily go together, together which was something that he (YSL) started,' says Moralioglu. 'It's why I always try to come out for new colour schemes to match colours that should not match but for some reason, they do.'

For Spring/Summer '10, Moraliogu reveals that he took inspiration from a trip to Japan where he found himself 'in amazing Japanese gardens where everything was so surreal and vivid'. The Asian-inspired collection is an appropriate inaugural collection for his entry into the Singapore market, a collection that he believes will appeal to local tastes. 'I think of the heat and how Singapore is a colourful place and I think that my clothes will definitely do well,' he concludes confidently. 'I think that the colours that I use in my designs complement the colours of the City.'

Brian Atwood

Leather goods aficionados would be no stranger to Brian Atwood, the ex-model turned designer who is responsible for making the once somewhat dowdy Swiss label, Bally, hip and relevant again. But those looking for more fashion forward offerings from Atwood should look no further than his eponymous shoe label that will be carried by On Pedder this year. Already a hit with divas like Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna and Nicole Kidman, we hear that Atwood's shoes will also be making an appearance in the upcoming Sex and the City 2 film. If his shoes are good enough for the feet of Carrie Bradshaw, lessfamous feet are likely to want them too.

Vivienne Westwood Red Label

On the back of the success that the Anglomania line has had in Singapore, Tyan has decided to up the Vivienne Westwood quota in their Ion Orchard boutique by adding Westwood's more expensive Red Label line into their portfolio. 'We have had the Anglomania line for several seasons now,' says Tyan's Mrs Tan. 'We felt that our customers are quite ready for the Red Label by Vivienne Westwood now - it's edgier and pricier.'

Although still a step down from her premium Gold Label line, Red Label is nonetheless a force to be reckoned with. In particular, the Spring/Summer '10 collection offers quirky yet sexy outfits in a plethora of fun colours and signature draping that will make any wardrobe pop.

Charlotte Olympia

Shoe fanatics watch out. Charlotte Olympia is coming to town. The footwear label from the half-Brazilian, half-English designer Charlotte Olympia Dellal has already been coveted by style icons a la Kate Moss and Daphne Guinness so there is very little reason to doubt that it will similarly be a hit in Singapore as well when TriBeCa brings it in this year. Drawing inspiration from old-school Hollywood glamour, the striking shoes (complete with the brand's signature gold spider web on the soles) from Charlotte Olympia will appeal to the inner goddess in every woman and a pair in one's shoe closet, is, in our opinion, a must-have for 2010.

This article was first published in The Business Times.

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