Spring 2011 Fashion Week-Ports 1961

A big trend I saw at fashion week this season was a serious homage to 70's style for spring 2011. I'm more than ok with that. I love me some big, flowing, cascading curls, winged out hair and post-hippie silhouettes. Ports 1961 presented a boho-chic collection fit for Bianca Jagger and Jerry Hall-perhaps getting in a giant cat fight over Mick. Style.com's Alison Baenen spoke to Ports 1961 head designer, Fiona Cibiani who explained the collection was inspired by a trip she took to southern Tunisia to explore the Sahara. The designer wanted to "create an urban interpretation of someone who's dreaming of the desert". Cibiani designed for a woman who knows how to look effortlessly gorgeous and on trend no matter where she is. A woman who can look fabulous and feel confident no matter where the location, what the mode of transportation (camel, Vespa, Phantom, or yacht) and who the company is. I'd feel pretty confident too if these were the clothes I got to wear every day!

Cibiani displayed separates and dresses with interesting cuts, fabrics and tones. The belted neutral basics, silk drapey fabrics, and flowy gowns dominated the runway and the clothes seemed perfect for the extended version of  'Sex and the City 2' or 'Sahara and the City'…ok that was really corny. The models also strutted down the runway in beautiful black and white stripes, asymmetrical necklines, metallic sheen fabrics with over the top rhinestones and sparkles and deep pops of color in jewel toned hues (purple, Kelly green, sapphire). I'm a huge fan of accessories and some of the outfits that stood out the most were simple dresses (with basic necklines)-a marbled cream and white dress as well as a basic beige colored sheath with gorgeous rainbow colored bib necklaces and strappy heels. Uh-MAZING! The neck pieces added a total modern vibe to the outfits and made the whole look interesting and eclectic while remaining totally feminine and lady like. The silky pieces clung to the the skin yet slipped off the shoulder to reveal a bare shoulder-just the right amount of sex appeal and lady like mystery. Loved this collection!  

P.S. Is it spring yet?

 Inspiration: According to Stylelist.com: "Nomadic, Gypsy Jetsetter"

Clothes: Neutrals, fitted basics (pants, leggings, shirts, jackets), cream sheer shirts, gold & tans with silky sheens, pops of cobalt, emerald, magenta/violet. Rainbow necklaces, strappy heels. Asymmetrical necklines, gauzy sheaths, flowing gowns, marbled fabrics, darker silks, heavily draped pieces, belted dresses, metallic sheen fabrics with over the top rhinestones and sparkle, and the occasional patterened dress in muted blues and black and white.

Makeup: Neutral makeup in browns and creams with a big of a winged out eyeshadow. Sheen, clean faces. Stylelist.com spoke to M.A.C. makeup artist Val Garland, who created the look using all M.A.C. products. She told them, " we did a beautiful wash of metallic color across the eye. From grays to burnt orange to chocolate brown. It's fresh from vacation look that's very wearable,". Coffee shadow was used at the lashline, Dalliance Mega Metal and Wood Winked were used on the inner and outer lid. Garland lined the top lids with Teddy pencil and swiped Studio Fix mascara on upper and lower lashes. Cheeks were contoured with Derailed Cream Shadow and highlighted with Shell Cream Colour base. The lips were enhanced with Oak pencil and Flesh Lipglass.

Hair: Stylelist.com reported that Orlanda Pita for T3 created the "desert glam" hair which he said looked like "big, gorgeous curls with a dry texture". To create the look, Pita sprayed the hair with Elevate Hairspray before wrapping sections around a curling iron to set the waves. Once set, he brushed the curls out, did a bit of teasing and then used Control Hairspray to finish the look.

Check out all the photos from the gorgeous Ports 1961 Spring 2011 collection on Style.com

 

A big thanks to Anushka Ramchandani for covering the show.

 

Thanks to Stylelist.com, Alison Baenen, and Style.com for great information and photos.