Tend Alert! Look Luxe in Velvet

Thursday, September 9, 2010






When I say velvet has been everywhere lately, I mean EVERYWHERE. Reports say that women in France continued to wear velvet throughout the summer despite the heatwave in Europe!


And, there was no shortage of velvet on the A/W 2010/2011 catwalk.

Velvet was spotted at Zac Posen, Armani, Diane von Furstenberg, Altuzzarra, Alexander Wang, Ralph Lauren, Dolce and Gabbana, Rochas, Karen Walker and Antonio Berardi, and they weren't the only ones.







Velvet is the perfect fabric for autumn and winter...it's warm, it's luxe, it has a worn, vintage feeling and it's the fabric that for centuries has been worn and coveted by royalty.

This season, velvet has three main looks:

Grunge: long velvet tops and tunics, miniskirts on top of ripped jeans/leggings/tights, loads of layers, knee high/thigh high boots
Elegant: velvet dresses with drapes in rich jewel colours that hug the body in all the right places
Flamboyant: puff sleeves, bows, ruffles, anything that looks like it was worn by Adam Ant and other romantics from the late '70s and early '80s.

And, the colour for your velvet this A/W is red.







Tips on how to wear velvet


  1. If you are a resident of the GCC, you may want to wait to at least November before wearing this trend or risk getting too hot! In the meantime, opt for a velvet bag or a pair of velvet covered heels or boots.

  2. A velvet top/blouse/blazer and jeans are the perfect combination for both daytime and night time wear.

  3. Choose your colours carefully...velvet in bright colours looks too shiny, and sometimes cheap...opt for jewel colours in deep reds, purples, royal blues, chocolate browns and emerald greens.

  4. Invest in a good quality velvet minidress which will last you forever. Abaya wearers, team your velvet minidress with a faithful pair of black leggings and high heeled pumps or thigh high boots.

  5. Your velour tracksuit does not count.

(From left: Kim Kardashian, Miranda Cosgrove and Jessica Alba)




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