Good news for fashionistas! Additional discounts until year-end for items modelled at the inaugural KL Fashion Weekend, writes Hanis Maketab. The two-day inaugural KL Fashion Weekend recently showcased fashion shows by the country’s biggest retailers and local designers and also offered a peek at the Best Of British Spring/Summer 2012 collection.

From corporate wear to slinky evening dresses, top retailers — Parkson, Debenhams, Publika, Metrojaya and Tangs — showcased their Autumn/Winter 2011-2012 collection at Publika Shopping Gallery in Solaris Dutamas. Models sashayed down the runway in an array of styles and colours. Modelled after the successful London Fashion Weekend, the event showcased top local and international fashion labels at discounted prices.

Discounts started at 25 per cent with an additional five to 10 per cent for items modelled on the runway. This will continue until year end, in conjunction with the Malaysian Year-End Sale. The event closed with an exclusive show by KL Alta Moda, which featured local designers Faisol Abdullah of Jendela KL, Datuk Radzuan Radziwill, Khoon Hooi and others.

Datuk Jimmy Choo, who was present at the closing ceremony, urged Malaysians to be supportive of local designers. “The industry has improved and with the public’s support, our designers can go even further, so please support and encourage those with a passion in fashion to pursue their dreams,” he said.
KL Fashion Weekend 2011 was jointly organised by Tourism Malaysia and Tradisi Busana PR Sdn Bhd.  

Enrico Carado -- Black face masks worn by all the models gave an instant eerie feel to the collection, while the scrunched-up sheer chiffon head pieces gave it a touch of glamour. Some pieces were rugged, looking like they were cut roughly and patched up back together -- yet somehow, the pieces were still dainty. Leather and metal fastening gave an illusion of shape without being too dominatrix-like, thanks to the use of soft fabrics and nude and earth colors. The collection was dubbed as “Tortured Souls” by the designer, who said he was inspired by director and author Clive Barker.

Kenneth Chua -- When the first model came out wearing red with fringe, cut-up lace, and nude tulle, you knew this was going to be a sexy collection. There was a slight “pirate ghoulishness” vibe to the outfits but without the pirates and more of a focus on the ghosts of women they kidnapped and drowned in sea, where they were preserved beautifully.

Joshua Guibone -- A collection of nude with accents of pink and yellow, the wired pieces looked like they came out straight of a Jetsons episode. Regine Dulay -- Stiff yet not stiff. The constructed pieces were designed in a way that gave the illusion to movement, piling panels of various fabrics to form unusual shapes. The designer took her inspiration from household objects -- broomsticks, blinds, husks, shredded paper, Japanese fans and spiral staircases.

Roland Alzaté -- Cleopatra as the modern woman -- that was the impression given by the collection. Sometimes the pieces were fierce and soft at the same time. You could actually imagine the Egyptian queen donning the ensembles and not losing her queen-ness, not even a bit -- although, she’d be on her way to work and play. Bright orange, blue, apple green and cinched waists dominated the collection. -- Camille E. R. Sarte

The Tourism Ministry aims to make Malaysia the Islamic fashion centre of the world. Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the industry could go far. "Besides shopping, we also want to focus on introducing uniquely Malaysian fashion events," she said after attending the Islamic Fashion Festival 2011 (IFF) high-tea and fashion showcase at a hotel here yesterday.

She said the number of visitors from the Middle East had increased from about 20,000 in the 1990s to 320,000 last year. "They come here to enjoy our natural environment, shopping and also fashion, which is why we want to hold more Islamic fashion events," she said, adding that the ministry was targeting 500,000 tourists from the region by 2020.

"Since Islamic fashion events are quite new here, we have no statistics, but we are collecting data," Dr Ng said. Guests were treated to a showcase of local and foreign designers featuring the IFF theme, Oriental Charm. Tengku Puan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Iskandar and IFF founder and chairman Datuk Raja Rezza Shah were among the guests.

Fashion Friday is a brand new weekly column that will appear on Shanghaiist every Friday, 9am on the dot. Here's where you'll find the latest on what's hot, what's not, meet designers, and get your fix on fashion events going about in town.

The Versace for H&M line is the latest partnership between the Swedish retailer and a luxury designer. H&M has been pushing limited-edition designer collections since 2004, when shoppers mobbed its outlets to snap up wool coats by Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld. The last in recent memory was the sell-out collection by Lanvin which caused near mass hysteria among the fashionistas in the city.

A big part of the success of these designer collaborations is due to how H&M has shown it can work with luxury designers, maintaining the integrity of the brand by offering good quality at an extraordinary price. Which is exactly why we're aching to get our hands on some of the pieces in the Versace for H&M collection!

Expect nothing less of the exuberance of prints and colours that the house of Versace under Donatelle Versace is known for in this collection. The collection features floral-print leggings, leopard-print skirts and metallic dresses for women. Men can choose among zebra-print shirts, bright pink suits and grey leather pants. The range also features home wares such as pillows and bedspreads, a first for an H&M designer collaboration.

Versace's collection goes on sale in Shanghai November 17. And good news for fans who cannot get enough. Versace is slated to design a pre-spring line for H&M that will go on sale in selected countries on January 19.
 

A MODEL from Hoppers Crossing has well and truly made the big time after being selected to take part in the Holy Grail of fashion events, the Victoria Secret Fashion Show. Former Werribee Secondary College student Shanina Shaik first burst on to the scene after being named runner-up on the reality show Make Me A Supermodel. But last week she took the biggest leap in her career after she walked the catwalk for Victoria’s Secret with other models like Miranda Kerr.

Just days after her debut at the event Shanina told Star it was the biggest moment in her career. “The biggest highs in my career to date was definitely booking VSFS 2011. Nothing can beat that for me right now,” Shanina told Star. “This was my dream. But also many models dream and I feel special that I have achieved that”.

Now based in New York, Shanina said other Wyndham residents could one day make it as models as long as they know how to work hard. “The advice I would to give to anyone who is trying to follow in my footsteps and what I have learned is to never doubt yourself, work hard for what you want and never compare. You are unique,” she said.

Shanina said she was still getting over the extreme high of walking the catwalk at one of the biggest fashion events in the world. “When I found out I was selected for VSFS, I was speechless. I was teary eyed. I couldn’t believe that all that I have wanted and worked for was coming true,” she said.