VIP Fashion Night for Womens' Fashion Week 2012 ~ Huney'Z World

Hi Huneybees,

Last week, Marina Bay Sands had their bi-annual VIP Fashion Night which also gave us a preview of the 2nd Women's Fashion Week 2012 & Haute Couture Week 2012 Singapore.

This year, we were brought into Ralph Lauren's store and were treated to their Fall Collection'12 Trunk Show.

The season's heroine is defined by a strength and boldness of character that transcends time, Her distinctive style possesses a worldliness that crosses settings - from an Edwardian estate to a Deco cityscape and traces a dramatic narrative arc from the demure first act to the breathtaking final scene.

Having a tour around the store...

THE COUNTRY BOHEMIAN

A medley of textures and prints define classic daytime looks. Iconic patterns speak to the past, while irreverent dashes of ocelot print and argyle make the styles undeniably modern. Cuts are relaxed, and contrast prints feel coolly authentic, as if each piece is a discovered heirloom.

THE MODERN SOPHISTICATE

With impeccable tailoring and Saville Row details, suiting makes a bold statement for a woman in the city. Fitted waistcoats and double-breasted blazers in soft tartans and chalk stripes are reimaged in sumptuous textures, giving these strong silhouettes a feeling of unexpected and sensual glamour.

THE RADIANT BEAUTY

High necklines, sharp cuts and gold accents make a seductive contrast after dark. Classic cocktail silhouettes are elegant in black silk and cashmere bouclé, while elaborate beadwork and delicate gold filigree draw on Eastern and Art Deco references that add glittering dimension to every look.

THE LEADING LADY

Sweeping skirts and shimmering gold surfaces instill evening looks with unforgettable drama. Topped off with a feathered bolero or beaded motorcycle jacket, the effect is refined yet nonchalant. Each gown commands attention with graceful lines, luminous colour and a thrilling sense of old-Hollywood glamour.

Afterwhich, we headed back to the main bar area for the Press Conference and waited for the roving fashion show models to stop by.

We had the honour to meet Mr Nicholas Ouchenir - Paris' premier calligrapher and the pen behind many of the leading French fashion houses.

The 34-year-old counts everyone from Chloé to Lancôme, Givenchy, and Miu Miu as regular clients. Working alone from his atelier on the famous Rue St. Honoré, Ouchenir is known to churn out nearly 1,000 invitations daily in the heady lead-up to Paris Fashion Week, or on a quieter day to brainstorm grandiose typefaces and logos for the Louvre's special projects or the latest Dom Pérignon vintage label.

In the expert hands of Nicolas Ouchenir, calligraphy assumes an artistic dimension, sensitive to contemporary creations as well as classical culture. The self-taught artist comes up with a modern evocation of downstrokes and upstrokes of ancient writing.

Nicolas did a personalized calligraphy message for a donation.

Mindful of the nature of words, letters and their meaning, Nicolas Ouchenir offers that the shape of letters should be the best messenger of the name. He opens a dialogue with his clients, such prolific moments when unique and specific signatures occur. Such calligraphy becomes custom-made writings.

The posters for the 2nd Women's Fashion Week 2012 & Haute Couture Week 2012 Singapore were designs of Nicolas Ouchenir.

Nicolas Ouchenir dedicates his expertise and knowledge to the singular nature of each client and each communication object he draws. Timeless or evanescent, the word in delicate handwriting displays a rare and specific rhythm: a genuine signature. More than artistic dimension, it is a question of artistic direction.

Woohoo! Part 1 of the fashion show is up on stage. The individual labels (available right at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands) presented a few outfits of their own and had the 30 models walking around The Shoppes to show off their season''s latest fashion apparels and accessories.

Lucky for us, we got the VIP position and had the models pausing and posing for us...

The highly anticipated fashion event Women's Fashion Week will return this November (23 to 25 November) at the Rain Oculus, Marina Bay Sands, featuring the latest pret-a-porter collection from international labels and exquisite Haute Couture pieces from Parisian Couturiers at the Haute Couture Week 2012 Singapore (29 November to 2 December).

Dr Frank Cintamani holding up the poster for Japanese Couture Showcase.

Asian Couturiers will also be in the spotlight just one night prior to the Haute Couture Week 2012 Singapore. The 28 November Japanese Couture Showcase is dedicated to celebrate 3 of Japan's most respected designers.

"Last year, Singapore made history be being the first country outside of Paris to showcase 8 designers who were either Haute Couturiers or invited members of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. The focus was on the heritage and craftsmanship that are inherent to Haute Couture, This year, Haute Couture Week aims to push the creative boundaries of the highest form of fashion on the future of Haute Couture with several storied Haute Couturiers from Paris, who are names to look out for, joining the 3 returning ones.

Their designs will challenge the status quo and norms of what are traditionally acknowledged as 'acceptable'. They aim to challenge themselves and add a new dimension to the scene with their statement-making collections. They break perceptions and convention by using radical, unusual or even old and antique materials within their collections and thus presenting the evolution and future of Haute Couture. This will be a distinct and unique edition that Singapore will be presenting." --- Dr Frank Cintamani.

So, on the VIP Fashion Night we were introduced to 2 of the Haute Couturiers who would be presenting their works coming November. Introducing Julien Fournié and On Aura Tout Vu...

Julien Fournié. He is one of the most friendly and "pose-able" designer I've ever seen. :)

Julien Fournié established the Couture house bearing his name in 2009. Before doing so, he has trained at Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, from which he has graduated in 2000 as a fashion designer, receiving the Moet & Chandon Award on the occasion of his graduation collection.

Julien Fournié fitting his virtual model by Fashion Lab_Photo by Andreas Klarin

He first collaborated as an intern with the houses of Christian Dior (under John Galliano), Givenchy (under Alexander McQueen) and Céline, before he got his first job as an assistant designer at Jean Paul Gaultier. He was then offered a position as a designer at the side of legendary French designer Claude Montana.

In 2003, the Haute Couture house of Torrente was looking for a new Creative Director to replace the founder of the house Mrs. Rose Torrente-Mett, who had retired. Julien Fournié was appointed as such in June 2003, at the age of 28. At the helm of this house, he designed and showed 4 collections. Since then, the designer has enlarged his experience by advising several ready-to-wear and luxury accessories brands in France as well as in South Korea (LG group). Conceiving fashion as part of a wider design universe, he is basing all of his strategic developments around the laboratory of Paris Couture, its know-how, its need to define new aesthetics and is currently also working on projects of cartoons for the movies, but also on interior decorating projects.

After his first runway show under his name, in July 2009, Julien Fournié was the award-winner of the 2010 Grand Prize of Creativity delivered by the City of Paris. The seven collections and runway shows he has produced so far for the house of Julien Fournié have expressed original, strong and creative visions of elegance. Their quality was acknowledged by the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne (France’s fashion governing body), which has granted Julien Fournié the title of “guest member” in the official calendar of Paris Haute Couture in November 2010 (a privilege given to an extremely short list of designers in the prestigious cradle of Haute Couture).

In January 2011, on his first runway show as a guest member, Julien Fournié made a statement presenting his “First Colours” collection only on black models, a historical landmark for the first ever all-black runway show in the official calendar of Haute Couture. Since then, he has brought his style to new dimensions. Garments created by Julien Fournié seem thought out at first to caress the skin delicately. Hand-painted dresses, sheaths embroidered with light feathers or strips of fur express a style language prone to creating emotions. Folds, anatomical cuts and drapes compose an ode to femininity, in each of the sensuous silhouettes by Julien Fournié. The woman emerging from them claims her point of view and considers herself free to express her present mood. Vulnerable as she claims to be, she is fighting the battle of the sexes with her own weapons, in a festive environment often inspired by remixes of disco music and the world of female super-heroes.

This was the best pic I had with a designer! He was amazing with his poses, I must learn! :)

Since January 2011, Julien Fournié has created, with the help of a big industrial French group, Dassault Systèmes, the FashionLab, a research and development hub for fashion designers to explore high tech ways fo designing fashion in the future. They include already active PLM solutions, but also virtual 3D tools prone to allow fashion designers to create garments faster and better, together with their own team of craftsmen. Creating so far only Couture pieces, Julien Fournié is planning to launch soon also a luxury ready-to-wear line developed with the FashionLab’s software solutions.

History of ON AURA TOUT VU

Once upon a time, a society was founded in 1995. In 1998, they transformed and became On Aura Tout Vu, smiling and referring to the French expression which means “you think you have seen everything”.

On Aura Tout Vu made their company name first with the creation and production of exclusive accessories, embroidery, buttons and decorations for different fashion houses, such as Christian Lacroix, Christian Dior, Givenchy, before launching their own line of accessories, ready-to-wear, couture, design object, and finally home makeup & fragrances

2011

Exhibition Looking up – on aura tout vu at Villa Suber in Monaco
Haute Couture "Miroir, miroir dis-moi qui est la plus belle ?" A/W 2011 - 2012
Haute Couture "Flying Dreams" Summer 2011

2010

Our Haute Couture Spring / Summer 2010 "Play your Fashion Destiny" in the house of Molière
Participation in the first Fashion Week in Georgi
Morocco’s Fashion Week
The installation at the Palais Royal: presentation of a sea monster sculpture made of linen
Our Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2010-2011 "Fishing for Compliments" in the gardens of the Palais Royal
Creations for Lady Gaga
Committee Colbert Dubai fountains creating perfumes (Baccarat crystal, gold and opals) for the house of Caron
Co-Branding On Aura Tout Vu for the Opéra de Paris: an exclusive line of jewelry and gloves
Designs for the singer Aura Dione (Video & Ceremonies)
Be Cycle & Fashion: Design a bike in partnership with Swarovski ACT Responsible Association
Participation in the exhibition of the Parisian House in Brussels

The couple introducing their collection.

2009

Co-branding Caron Paris: Bottles “Trilogie”
Our Haute Couture S/S 2009 "The age of Porcelain" in the house of Molière
Co-branding design, collection accessories “Moulin Rouge Paris by on aura tout vu paris”
Exclusive design accessory collection for the house "Aux Laines Scottish"
Haute Couture creation and the benefit of Emmaus
Our Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2009-2010 "Nature & Artifice" in the gardens of the Palais Royal
Present collection at Fashion Week Chyprus by Harper's Bazaar
Exposure with the Plaza Athénée Paris House

2008

Co-branding Caron Paris: crystal bottles "Fire and Champagne"
Co-branding national manufacture de serves
Co-branding Barcadi Martini Europe (Grey Goose Vodka)
Co-branding Disney – Minnie Mouse

2007

Collaboration with Motorola

2006

Collaboration with Chopard, Geneva

2005

Collaboration with UPS – model
Retrospective collections presented in St. Petersburg, Russia and Kazakhstan Fashion Week

2004

Collaboration with Swatch, Geneva

2003

Present the first Ready-to-wear collection
Designs and creates the concept of a car "Smart-Lalique - we've seen everything," crimped metal and crystal, sold for the benefit of charity. The car is part of a private collection in Monaco

2002

on aura tout vu presented his first couture collection as a guest member of the French Federation of Couture.

1998

Presents his first collection of accessories, jewellery and leather goods

The designers and their Centaur creations.

1998 – 2001

Open concept store "space on aura tout vu" - presentation of works co-created by On Aura Tout Vu and international contemporary artists

Yipee! I had a picture with the designers. They are such wonderful and friendly people!

1995 – 1999

Created and produced accessories for renowned houses such as Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy, and ready-to-wear such as Yves Saint Laurent, Guy Laroche, PacoRabanne, Nina Ricci, Rochas, John Galliano, Group ,Garella, Sym, Georges Rech