Fashion Designer : Melissa Velia

Melissa Velia is an up and coming Fashion designer who is certainly making a name for herself in the fashion industry. Her designs are inspired and have caught the attention of the many. Even before venturing off to create her own fashion label, Melissa had her designs worn by big celebrities like Tyra Banks, Hilary Duff, Faith Evans and Kimora Lee Simmons! With such success, Melissa decided that 2010 would be the year to brave it alone and she created her own fashion line where she has already accomplished a great deal.

Melissa’s describes her ready-to-wear collection as “a line that upholds the art of couture“. The collection is really adorable and you can really see the vintage influences within a lot of the pieces, which have been refreshed to make them fashion forward. It is a stunning collection.

Obviously, Fashion Loving loves to pick the brains of any talented designer and Melissa was no exception!! Read the interview below…

Melissa Velia

FL: What is fashion to you?
MV: An art form

FL: When did you decide you wanted your own fashion label?
MV: I think when I was about 7 years old. Really, it was just right off the bat, the
only thing was at that time I wanted it to be a clothing line for Barbie.

FL: What do you think inspires your fashion designs?
MV: Everything around me but mostly fabrics

FL: What are you as a designer about?
MV: I am really just about using fashion as an art form and expressing myself with it.

FL: Have you always wanted to be a designer?
MV: Yes

FL: What inspired you to be a fashion designer?
MV: Honestly, Barbie and my mom

FL: What skills do you need to be a fashion designer?
MV: You really need to understand the construction of a garment. I mean sewing and drawing are great skills to have but I don’t think you NEED them. But I do feel that a true designer can do all of it, draw, design and create their pieces.

FL: From your experience, what advice would you give someone who wants to design?
MV: I’d say grow some tough skin and never give up.  Always do your fashion homework and let yourself be inspired.

FL: Who are some of your fashion influences and why?
MV: I’d say Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen for there daring creativity and Coco Chanel for her strength and dedication to the art of couture.

FL: What type of person do you design your collection for?
MV: Someone who is not afraid to be fashion-forward.

FL: What, to date, has been your biggest achievement in your fashion career?
MV: I’d have to say, all the wonderful press I’ve been getting on my collections

FL: What would you have liked to have done, if you weren’t a designer?
MV: Oh let me see….a chef, a writer, a stylist, and an actress!

FL: What have you got in store for us with your next collection?
MV: An array of colors, prints and styles all centered around Summer

FL: Is there anything else that we should be looking out for from you in the near future?
MV: Coming to a store near you!

Thanks for sharing Melissa!! Have a look through the gallery for more of Melissa’s designs

What look from Melissa’s designs could you see yourself wearing?

Visit Melissa’s website www.melissavelia.com

FL♥ Thursday Loves – Chloe Autumn/ Winter 2011 collection

We are back to the 70s trend again, ok, so I have covered this topic quite  a bit already over the last couple of weeks but guess what I found more stuff that I loved and had to share!! The Chloe ready to wear Autumn/ Winter 2011 collection! This whole collection was inspired by the 70s trend and let me tell you I was excited when I was looking through the collection. The classic shapes and silouhettes are still there but with a fun twist.

This is an absolute delight to see, you can still very much see the 70s influence but I love this snake skin print on this knitted dress. I really think this combination really does elevate this outfit with a modern twist.

These wide legged leather pants are inspired. They absolutely look gorgeous. The colours in this outfit compliment each other and really remind me of the 70s. I think this could be said for the collection as a whole.

We see flared jeans and hints of platforms and prints that are a clear elements of the 70s look but somehow I get a sense of these elements being revitalised that are shown in a quirky innovative way. For me, the knitted pieces of the collection are my favorite, I just really like the use of panelling and as I was looking through the collection these were the pieces that really brought a smile to my face.

As I was going through the collection, there were a few items that I didn’t really gel with and thought may have resembled the 70s a little to much instead of the 70s being an inspiration. For example the brown ruffled dress with puff sleeves (below) somehow felt a little dated and I didn’t think it quite connected with the rest of the collection.

However, as a whole I am a big fan of this collection and really adore this 70s influenced collection, I was on the edge of my seat squealing with excitement at all the wonderful outfits. There are some outfits that are just true sparks of genius in my opinion. Hats off to Hannah MacGibbon for this wonderful designed collection, she has certainly done the brand Chloe justice! Here are a few more images from the collection.

What do you think of the Chloe collection?

Photo Source:

1. Elle UK

FL♥ Thursday Loves – Paul Smith Spring

Paul Smith ready to wear spring 2011 collection was a delight to see. Paul Smith is a world renowned British designer whom I love, he is known for his menswear inspired looks for womenswear collections and he did not fail to deliver.

The lines in the collection were so simple and clean and brought out the chic girl on that runway. I must say everything that was presented worked so well together from the well tailored trousers to the pops of colours that can be seen throughout each look. It was a strong collection that had an essential underlying femininty that for me, helped bring a sense of fun and drama, which ultimately kept me interested and had me on the edge of my sit looking forward to the next look I would see.

Within the menswear pieces the trousers just stopped shy of the ankles (a trend that we are seeing a lot for the spring and summer) it is such a flattering cut for trousers and only added to the feminity that binds the whole collection. Interesting sparks of real innovation and creativity made for pleasant surprises like the strips of colour and polka dots above the hem of the trousers, adding something fresh to menswear pieces.

The colour pallet of the collection was unqestionably perfect and was one of the reasons the collection was so strong and beautiful. Colours ranged from purples, deep greens, navys to brighter colours such as orange and yellows. The collection also featured some pretty chic polka dot and stripe prints! All the colours complemented each other perfectly. Most outfits were light and screamed that this was a spring/ summer collection. But even if the outfit was predominately dark there was always a pop of colour in the form of an accessory. Like this purple outfit with the belt providing that much needed colour pop of neon (above).

One of the most eye catching aspects of this collection which admittedly made me squeal in excitement occasionally were the addition of the accessories from the silk polka dotted pocket squares to handbags that had a just the right amount of a splash of colour. These little extras enhanced the overall looks and only sold the outfit to me more.

Makeup was simple with nude and neutral tones being used so as not to take anything away from the impact that the clothes were making. The large backcombed quiffs hairstyles with the slick backed sides only added to the sense of drama on the runway, it really gave a sense that the clothes were made for the cool chic uptown girl.

I could really see the usual stamp of the Paul Smith design in this collection, there was impressive femininty in the tailoring of the menswear pieces. Even more impressive was the use of prints not just in the menswear inspired lookes but in the chiffon sheer dresses that floated down the runway beautifully. The bold colours of shirt dresses and accessoried really added to the excitement of the collection. Overall the collection certainly showed that this is Paul Smith’s expertise, its rare to find such femininty and softness in menswear inspred looks, but this collection was made to look effortless and chic.

Photo Sources: Elle UK

FL♥ Thursday Loves – Dot to Polka Dots

This spring/ summer season sees the return of the Polka Dots, and I am loving them. I think polka dots are really versatile, it’s a print that works for any occasion. Designers have really re-invented the polka dot and have taken it to new heights.

This Oscar de La Renta dress is absolutely stunning and a stand out evening piece for all the right reasons. It looks really chic and sophisticated but never too much for the eye. The designer that I had the most fun looking through the collection was Marc Jacobs. The spring/ summer 2011 ready to wear collection was full of stripes and polka dots, the designs brought a fresh new perspective on polka dots and for me, made it really fun and exciting to see each different piece of the collection.

What I love about this Marc Jacob creation is the Polka Dot meets retro style. I love this retro 70s colourful print incorporated into the polka dot, I think it’s really innovative and makes for a stunning dress, it certainly brought a smile to my face!

You can find polka dots in all sizes, from very tiny dots to larger dots. There’s a dot size for every shape, figure, personality out there. I love big whopper dots, nothing like making a statement 🙂 I love the fact that they are also not limited to your clothes, there on shoes, bags and many other accessories. It’s a fun trend and there are plenty of ways your can incorporate the polka dot into your outfits, they look stylish!

Will you be wearing a dot or two for spring/ summer?

Photo Sources:

1. 1. http://www.coolspotters.com
2. 2. http://www.nymag.com
3. 3.www.glamour.com
4. http://www.chictopia.com