September 2011
SEPTEMBER always feels like an exciting time; not only does it bring back memories of new pencil cases, fresh uniforms and the freshness of a new school year to most residents of the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s also the start of the European Rugby Season. More importantly for this section, the dawn of September also means that the Autumn-Winter fashion season fully gets under way.
There seems to be a bit of a war of the trends this year, with the ‘Homespun’ (crochet, macramé, corduroy and checks), 1940s and 60s looks sitting side by side on the high street with burlesque-inspired looks including feathers. The look even goes so far as fetish wear as led by Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton.
The good news for those of us who have a few extra contours to disguise, is that the tunic trend continues. On another positive note, the long, flattering lines have been cleaned up and rather than the leggings that have been as much of a curse as a blessing for the last few seasons, the tunics are now being paired with smarter trousers. Choosing the trousers to go with your on-trend tunics, however, is going to be a tougher job as anything goes from ultra tight drainpipes and androgynous flat-fronts to slouchy palazzos. Thankfully, the death knell has rung out for the harem trousers and culottes which have been enjoying an unwelcome renaissance over the summer.
This season’s collections –no matter which trend they have been showcasing– have been flashing forward to Christmas with their colour palate. That’s not to say there have been garish clashes of reds and greens the like of which would bring any modern day Ebenezer Scrooge out in hives; it has been the drinks cabinet that has been raided to splash over our wardrobes. Claret, merlot and burgundy are leading the charge in this flood of autumnal colour and the basic rule of thumb right through until the first thaw will likely to be ‘if you can’t drink it, wear it’.
Among this merry band of eclectic looks that will see us through the colder months up here, there is one common theme: there will be no rolling over and hibernating until the sun comes back out. Vibrant colours and bold looks will give your wardrobe enough lift to chase away any winter blues.
Although the Southern Hemisphere is just rummaging into its spring and summer wardrobe, it’s from little old Blighty that the biggest fashion development of this season comes from. The saviour of many a wardrobe and bank balance, ASOS, is about to fling open its virtual doors in Australia. 
Though the UK, USA and German sites have been popular with those below the equator for some time, September sees ladies and gentlemen of all shapes and sizes finally get a store stocked with ranges and trends specifically for them.
Stay tuned over the coming weeks and months, as we’ll be bringing you updates on all the shows as London, Paris Milan and New York showcase their talents and trends in the next round of Fashion Weeks, and our sartorial guide to the imminent Rugby World Cup.
August 2011
THERE are not many people who would openly admit to shopping in the same place as their grandmother, let alone get their wedding dress there, but then, not many brides have their grandmother on a stamp, either.
Zara Phillips walked down the aisle on Saturday to marry her England Rugby captain, Mike Tindall (who was sadly lost in a morning suit identical to both his ushers and a large proportion of his England Rugby friends), in a dress designed by Stewart Parvin, the man behind both her mother, HRH Princess Royal, Princess Anne, and Grandmother, Her Majesty the Queen’s wardrobes for the past decade. Parvin, as well as having his bridal outfit, The White Room in the royal couple’s neighbourhood, has his alma mater in Edinburgh where the ceremony took place, and where his links with the Royal Family began.
The dress itself was a beautifully simple ivory duchess satin bell shaped gown with taffeta straps. She complemented the gown with ivory Jimmy Choo shoes, and a bouffant, cathedral length veil held in place by a Greek Key tiara borrowed from her , her mother, Princess Anne. The ensemble was uniquely Zara - classic and understated but with something a little more daring; from the strong pleating at the front to the full length seam of looped buttons, and the spray effect of her veil, this was tradition updated.
This tweaking of tradition is something of a theme across all the pillars of fashion at the moment. While in recent years we have seen a return to 80s angles, or 70s hippy chic, the theme for the middle stretch of 2011 seems to be one of making one’s own retro. Catwalks across the globe are switching between 90s-inspired acid neons, 40s matinée heroine looks and slouchy 70s maxis, and this is being reflected on the high street.
The style icons of the moment, from the royal ladies to British TV presenter Alexa Chung, are so influential because they have their own signature style that incorporates trends as opposed to constant reinvention. HRH The Duchess of Cambridge has made clean, almost 1940s like lines her trademark, while Chung rocks the ‘too cool to care’ look with aplomb, and yet they are both bang up to date even when stepping out in vintage and high street pieces. Innate style is winning out over explosive fads and as a result the fashion industry has rarely been so exciting as it aims to capture our diversifying imaginations.
Fashion has never been so open to interpretation and individualisation; no longer is embracing a trend about being part of the crowd. It’s 2011... time to be the centre of your own sartorial universe.
July 2011
SOMETIMES, the anticipation before summer can be sweeter than the actual event itself but all it takes is one glorious day to make one realise there is nothing nicer than Summer itself. From a fashion perspective, finally, one can wear things that have been waiting avidly in the wings since March to be worn, complimented upon and lived in. Summer also brings the prospect of holiday with people gearing up to take a well deserved break from the grind of life. In the rugby world, it may be downtime but life around continues with no signs of stopping. For fashionistas, the sales are everywhere but the smart fashion type will be keeping an eye out for those Autumn ranges that will hit the shops stealth like as the sales draw to a close.
I was lucky enough to visit one of my favourite cities in the world, New York, which was basking in a glorious heat wave and was a treat for all five senses. I give you a soupçon in 
. Top of my itinerary was a visit to the Savage Beauty exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art which hosted a retrospective of the late Alexander McQueen’s works. Showcasing different pieces from his collections, the show was not only a timely reminder of his creative genius which continues to play a part in high fashion today but also the tragedy of his passing and the loss of a real talent of our times. There were reports that the exhibition was being packed out by tourists and had queues of forty-five minutes to enter. Luckily, I managed to go early in the day, which was still very busy but I did get to see those works of art close up and pleased I did so. Anyone who doesn’t think fashion is art would do well to visit this exhibition – a true and fitting tribute to a great artist.
With summer also comes the onslaught of blockbusters at the cinema and red carpet moments galore – expect many fashion hits (and a few misses) as the red carpet is rolled out on almost a weekly basis. Finally, this summer sees yet another royal wedding with rugby’s own Mike Tindall wedding Zara Philips, and so the excitement for another amazing dress begins to build…
Whatever you do this summer, have fun, stay safe in the sun and most importantly, do it in style!
June 2011
FASHION. What does it mean to you? Does it make you roll your eyes with cynicism? (Clothes are just clothes, right?) Does it fill you with dread? Or does it excite and enthuse you with equal measure? The truth is everyone has their own individual relationship with fashion and even those who claim to have nothing to do with fashion are actually very much a part of it (to prove my point, I direct you to the cerulean blue belt scene in the film The Devil Wears Prada – a much smarter film that is far above the chick flick genre it is assigned to). Are there rules in fashion? Yes and no. Do you have to follow them? Yes and no. Essentially, fashion is what you want to make it and once you find the style that is right for you and expresses who you are, in a world that is increasingly image conscious, it becomes a rather empowering and satisfying extension of yourself.
So who is BK Talley? Paying tribute to one of the most influential men in fashion, André Leon Talley, BK Talley is a humble attempt to emulate the way the real André Leon Talley (ALT) appreciates fashion as an art form and has discovered numerous designers who have gone on to forge very successful careers as well as continually promoting new talent. In addition, Fashion at Rugby Unplugged are addicted to America’s Next Top Model where ALT serves as a judge on the judging panel and often dispenses classic lines including the key phrase “dreckitude” (which is something inappropriate or not suited to the occasion or quite simply wrong).
Whilst high fashion may not be to everyone’s taste or understanding, not only will BK Talley demystify the messages from the oracles that are the catwalks but will also ensure one size fits all – so whether you are a Dan Carter, a Jason Leonard or Francois Pienaar or indeed, your own unique shape, there will be something here for you. And ladies aren’t to be left out either as the fashion landscape is simply waiting to be explored and conquered by women of all shapes and sizes, all beautiful in their own ways.
So, whether you are a fashionista or reluctantly styled, there is a whole world of fashion out there waiting to be explored and here at RU is a small part of it, with all the dreckitude sifted out and the fierce rewarded, especially for you. Enjoy!
