Annaessia Display At Sydney's 2009 Rosemount Australian Fashion Week

If Marie Antoinette was a modern day figure, she would no doubt be draped from head to toe in Annaessia, a New York fashion label. Taking influence from the European theatre and fashion from the 20s through to the 60s, the label exudes feminine glamour. Its distinctively luscious approach is shown in richly embellished pieces that bring romance to the forefront.

Essentially inspired by fabric imported direct from mills in Italy and France, Athanasia Vanikotis, the talent behind Anaessia ensures that the fabric is bought to its fullest life. She focuses on creating garments that are highly structured and impeccably tailored, but with a soft edge.

The latest collection shown at RASW saw Anaessia stick to what it knows best with luxurious feminine pieces. Palettes melted from the palest of pinks into the softest green, apricot and milky whites to caramel yellow and then a shock of black.

The 1950s silhouette of cinched waist and full skirt intersperses with detailed voluminous shoulders, which further cement this seasons love of big on top – a shout back to the eighties but, with a softer twist. Hoops add volume to full skirts, and dresses are cut from exquisite Tessutti pleated tulle fantail. Silk sashes decorate the waists of ruffled party frocks that only accessories need be a glass of champagne.

A move away from the sweetness comes with a monochrome skull print, a subtle rock chick look with sprinkle of Swarovski crystals for added decadence. The denim range steers clear of jeans, instead a gorgeous denim suit with full skirt and neat short sleeved jacket embellished with gold butterflies. Anaessia’s signature dress coats shimmer and glimmer with detailed beading upon floral backgrounds.

The romantic collection with its silk, ruffles and bows and ultra femininity puts sophistication back into pastels and reminds you why dressing up is so much fun. Who said you had to be in Europe to dress like a princess?

BLK1 Article: CAMILLA CLARK

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Article: ©  2008. All rights reserved.

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Elements from the outskirts of Africa and Brazilian beaches were the key inspiration for the Italian designers at the Milan Fashion Week spring/summer 2010 show.

Big designer names such as Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Gucci and Giorgio Armani showcased their creative craftsmanship that presented ideas about the meaning of freedom, beauty and luxury casuals.

Dolce and Gabbana opened their show flamboyantly with rich sequined pieces and distressed jeans with a heavy focus on embroidery.

The famous designer duo accessorized the look with square-shaped bags and sunglasses to further highlight the “extreme beauty” of the collection.

“Everything is about beauty and elegance” said Stefano Gabbana.

Gucci’s designer Frida Giannini’s collection took up manly pursuits which features featherweight leather jackets, printed shirts, hooded anoraks and glossy suits.

Inspired by Brazilian beaches, Giannini said the collection signified “a desire of escapism, of lightness and freedom with the sporty and super chic attitude of someone who can take long holidays on the Brazilian beaches.”

Donatella Versace offered unbuttoned tunics in neutral hues, leather sandals, light trousers, work bags, silver and leather plaited jewellery. The designer also used prints with neutral palettes such as sand, khaki and white to emphasize her outback desert look with flashes of violet, orange and green for a romantic touch.

Cold weather and rainy days wasn’t forgotten with big parkas in bold colours of yellow, blue and red and finely quilted coats can be seen at Burberry Prorsums’ rainwear collection. Chelsea boots and sweaters with cross straps accentuated the cool factor and ready-to-wear in the dampened times.

Other trends include printed patterns from graphic checks and stripes, reptilian- like leather bags and shoes, silky shirts and knitted patchworks with colours of green, blue, red, orange, earthy tones and purple are sure to be a hit for the spring and summer season.

BLK1 Article: THANH LOAN NGUYEN

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From Snoop Dogg and his entourage, to Perez Hilton in bed, Zeta bar’s famous VIP Room has housed many an interesting occasion, and tonight will be no different, with the launch of ‘Vintage Nights’.

Inspired by Prohibition, a time when alcohol consumption and distribution was against the law, mixologist Grant Collins has put together a Vintage and Forgotten Classics cocktail list designed to conjure up memories of the era.

“Although it’s a time many of us would rather forget, the Prohibition era also inspired some pretty amazing cocktails. When bartenders had to try and cover up the taste of alcohol and in turn created some great drinks. Also many left the shores of the US to travel overseas to continue bartending so is a really important era in cocktail history. We’ve taken some of the best and recreated them in their original manner and with some also added a Zeta twist,” he said.

With the night serving cocktails such as the Prohibition Iced Tea (pictured to the right) and the Ping Pong, which is served inside a Bible, Vintage Nights will transport guests back to the era through various quirks that Grant and his team have had fun putting together.

“Speak easy bars were essentially illegal, so there existence had to be kept secret. The VIP room will be transformed into a speak easy and completely closed off to the rest of Zeta bar, with drapes allowing patrons to enjoy their drinks in complete privacy.”

“Bartenders will be dressed in traditional attire and drinks will be served in antique glassware. We’re also going to give guests a special password to enter,” Collins said.

Vintage Nights will be held in the VIP Room on Thursday 30th July and Thursday 27th August. The cost of the night is $40pp including cocktails, canapés and special recipes to take home.

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Many professional swimmers are turning to the practice of tapering, a reduction in training done in the days leading up to competition, hoping it will provide a competitive edge.

Put simply, tapering in swimming consists of a reduction in the amount of training a swimmer will undergo and is done in the weeks preceding competition.

Swimmers are tapering their training regiment because it is believed that tapering can provide them with increased power.

The notion of reducing one’s training in the hopes that it will improve an athlete’s performance may seem nonsensical at first, but advocates of the practice of tapering point out that intensive training can be risky for athletes, placing great strain on their muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Tapering one’s training regiment allows the mechanics of the body time to recover and it also provides the swimmer with time to recover their mental strength and focus on upcoming competition.On average, swimmers that have successfully implemented a tapered training regiment have reported a three per cent improvement in their performance.

However, the practice of tapering has attracted some controversy.

Swimmers have raised question about whether tapering a training regiment could actually lead to a loss of fitness.

However, scientific studies on tapering have revealed that a reduction of both the frequency and volume of training will not result in a loss of fitness.

It is important to note that these same studies have indicated that a reduction in the intensity of a training regiment can lead to diminished performance.

And while many in the world of swimming agree that a gradual reduction in training before competition is a good idea, because no two swimmers are exactly alike, there has been considerable confusion and debate the exact percentage training should be reduced by.

Advocates of tapering suggest that the best way to counter this is for there to be strong communication between a swimmer and their coach throughout the tapering period.

BLK1 Article: JUSTIN MACDONALD

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