Giorgio Armani's SS 2012 Ad Campaing

Androgyny was a major theme on the catwalks in September, and if this campaign is anything to go by, it's going be even hotter come the summer (excuse the pun).

Dutch model Milou Van Groesen was cast for the campaign, replacing Sasha Pivovarova, that was shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot and directed by Armani himself.

DKNY SS 2012 Campaign

Last month we saw previews of DKNY's Spring Summer campaign when Twilight actress Ashley Greene unveiled the new billboard in NYC.  Whilst at the time the billboard seemed to be a 'sneak peak' of the actual campaign, these images show it was anything but.

The shoot was at the top of New Yorks Waldorf Astoria and is a lot more feminine a colourful than the black and white image of the 24 year old star in jeans that we saw before Christmas.

Chanel's SS 2012 Campaign

Most Spring Summer campaigns are bursting with colours, but then, when has Chanel ever conformed?  With Lagerfeld behind the lens, Carine Roitfeld on hand to do the styling and with Saskia De Brauw and Joan Smalls doing the modelling, this campaign was always going to be a cut above the rest.

'The campaign is all about athletics and the sea' Lagerfeld told WWD back in October 'It's modern sportif and black and white '.  Chanel's campaigns have always stood out due to the natural lighting, flawless models and overall parisienne elegance, and with the Olympics coming to London this summer, the athletic leaning is certain to make this campaign as successful as all the rest.

  

Dior's New Girl

The may not have officially decided on the new Creative Director yet, but Christian Dior have announced Mila Kunis as the face of their Miss Dior Handbag campaign, proving that the French house have been more than impressed with the cast of Black Swan after Natalie Portman was signed up to front the Miss Dior Cherie campaign last spring.  Delphine Arnault, the spokesperson for Dior told Womens Wear Daily 'She (Mila) embodies the true modern woman, her performance in Black Swan was remarkable'.

Advent Calender Wishlist: Day Twenty Two

I'm not usually one for bright colours, but this Romilly dress from Jonathan Saunders is just so stunning I cant help but find myself lusting after it.  It's bright colour are reminiscent of more than one designer from the SS 2012 shows (Jason Wu, Sophie Thealett) and its print is so girly and playful that I cant imagine any female not liking it! The best bit?  There's also a matching cardigan, or is that too Stepford Wives? Get it now from Matches.

Miu Miu SS 2012

The penultimate show of Paris Fashion Week and indeed of all shows for Spring Summer 2012 was Miu Miu and what a show it was.

Oscar Wildes 'Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months' was taken quite literally here,with garments so hideous that they somehow became strikingly beautiful and forcing us to have to purchase to see who can pull it off best (hmm kind of like UGG's).

With hair to rival Jessie J and striking red eyelashes, this season Miu Miu put on a show of full a line skirts that were so high waisted the could have become rather odd boob tube dresses.

Model wore mules with heels that would have made McQueen proud and cute little swinging bags, this collection had a definite vampy feel about it, and with all the hype for the penultimate Twilight film being released next month, what better theme could have been chosen.

No doubt about it, the lace was the main feature of the show, with lace coats, skirts and dresses it will be a wonder if consumers aren't sick of it by the time the trend trickles down into the high street.

Once the overuse of lace was finally over we were introduced to some fun and energetic paneled prints.  let us not forget the strange cape/shrugs that came in all different colours and were tied with ribbon.  Whilst not particularly wearable there is a certain French/Little Red Riding Hood air to them.

Whilst this collection is definitely going to be a hard one to pull off, I can see it being a major hit with fashionistas the world over, because what's fashion if not to express ourselves?

Louis Vuitton SS 2012

With all the 'will he, wont he' debates going on concerning Marc Jacobs and Dior in the last few months, its not hard to say that Marc Jacobs is one of the most powerful men in the creative industry at the moment.  A statement that was cemented at the Louis Vuitton show this morning.

What could potentially be Jacobs last show if he were to move to Dior was an array of beautiful dresses of pastel pinks, greens and yellows with oversized doily collars (reminding me of Cinderella for some reason).  There was a definite late 50's/early 60's influence hear, the attitude of the clothes were carefree and could only be described as 'tidy and polite'.

Unlike most shows, the models here didn't walk down a runway, they strutted around a huge carousel (Chanel 2008 anyone?) carrying the statement handbags that Louis Vuitton is so well know for, with cute tiara's on top of their neatly done hair.

Most of the dresses were razor cut lace with added detailing such as applique flowers and feathers that were coloured deeper the further down the dress.  For the finale Kate Moss worked her way around the catwalk in an intricate white mini dress with a full volumised skirt and white pointed courts.  Whilst being slammed for smoking a cigarette on last years show, she personally requested to do the show, to which Jacobs replied 'Why not'.

Alexander McQueen SS 2012

Lee Alexander McQueen was known the world over for his voyeuristic and misogynistic collections, criticized even.  One thing no one could argue was that his collections weren't just high fashion, they were art. When he died many debated if the fashion house could continue without his extremist designs, then came along Sarah Burton.  The lady who shocked us all by being the designer who made the wedding gown of the Duchess of Cambridge that has bought in an estimated £10 million pounds from visitors tickets has yesterday proven that she was exactly the right person to take over at the helm of this iconic label since the tragic death of it's creator.

This season Sarah Burton has taken this eponymous label and made it her own, whilst keeping to the vision that Lee McQueen had for it, which is no mean feat, yet still making it her own and adding a striking feminine twist.

The show featured a lot of strong tailoring with jackets that prove the influence of the likes of Coco Chanel stand with us still to this day, but were given that edge McQueen was known for with cinched in waists and embellished and powerful shoulders.  To begin with nude skirts were dip dyed into a fabulous gold that was carried onto the next look where the skirts consisted of some fabulous ruffles.  The pink look that came next showed us exposed bras and cut outs that give a sophisticated look that high fashion edge.

We were next shown a fabulous metallic lavender shade on dresses where the ruffles were moved from the hem of the dress up to the waist and along the torso all the while showing of the models gorgeous figures.

The sharp tailoring then moved onto constructed ruffles and chiffon babydoll dresses that you could see the likes of Natalie Portman looking amazing in.

Next we were treated to some longer chiffon gowns that Lee McQueen himself would have struggled to improve.  Sarah Burton showed her sense of creativity was synonymous with the late designers by treating us to a look featuring bondage and sexualism that he was known for.  She swapped the lace headbands that models wore earlier in the show for full on balaclavas that would make even Lady Gaga proud.

We were then taken to creations that had us reminiscing of that eventvul MTV VMA show were Gaga cried whilst paying tribute to McQueen in the aftermath of his death with overly dramatic statement dresses that the masses would struggle to understand but could be described as nothing other than an impetus.

There were even more ruffles that would make an ostrich jealous and high necklines that bought a hint of the 1600's to the collection.

The collection was Sarah Burton's first since her amazing dress was worn by Kate Middleton for the Royal wedding, and she managed to do what I personally think no other designer out there could of done.  She kept the collection close to the creators ideals whilst at the same time making it entirely her own.  I've said a lot of the shows this season were amazing, but that has not been more true than it is now.

Lee McQueen dedicated his life to fashion, he evoked new ideas that were shot down by many but not once did he give up on that vision.  He bought it home that fashion is not just about clothing, but that it is about art and I think anyone will be hard pushed to find a collection as artistic as this.