Well Shod, Well Imformed

ARE BURBERRY BASTARDIZING BLOGOSPHERE?

You’ve heard the news, right?

Burberry has a raging hard-on for web 2.0 and the fashion house wants YOU, my beloveds, to make-like Jenna Jameson and back-up your nasty and mount mother Imelda like she's Ron Jeremy.

Burberry Inc have reached out and contacted a handful of bloggers, including HRH and offered them the opportunity to partake in a world first.

The ‘offer’, embed a half-hour long advertorial video player which allows my beloved Imeldettes the opportunity to watch a live stream of Burberry’s A/W 10/11. Unfortunately, when I asked Burberry Australia, if Creative Director Christopher Bailey would take 'questions' from those bloggers (offered the code) I was informed, "requests for interviews and quotes have closed".

Hmmmm?

Of course, you could watch the stream on Burberry’s website but they don’t endorse nor would they provide my beloved Imeldettes with crack 2.0 (or the pipes we need to smoke the aforementioned crack)…so watch it here, at least I'm honest about how whack my crack is…it should be noted, the Despotic Queen of Shoes will be in da crypt when it comes time for the show (2.45am AEST).

BAILEY YOU INGLORIOUS BASTARD!

BURBERRY

For the past two days the menswear collections have limped down the catwalk/information super highway (kudos Burberry, Prada, Dolce e Gabanna) in what could best be described as a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it type of affair. Not even a near-catastrophic seating malfunction (at Prada) could inject excitement into the comatose beast that is Milan Men’s Fashion Week!

If it wasn’t for tomorrow’s Alexander McQueen show the Despotic Queen could happily snuggle up to a bottle of Advil and wait for Paris. OK! So maybe, just maybe I've already hit the bottle, which is why I'm jumping in two days late...whateva!

Christopher Bailey’s Inglorious Bastards kicked-off MFW with a blistering collection of trench, parade, pea, blanket, double breasted, dress, double breasted chesterfield, utility, cropped military, funnel neck and aviator ‘statement coats / jackets’ that should have had even the most laissez-faire fashion punter groaning in sartorial ecstasy.

While Yum Yum wrings out my damp pantalettes and starts sewing brass button epaulettes onto ALL my sweaters, the Despotic Queen must note my continued frustration with Bailey’s insistence of only ever presenting two shoes per collection.

I’m prepared to overlook the epic haute mess that was Bailey’s shearling lined boots since the Doc Martin inspired lace-up military boots were on-the-money, especially the wood grain outer soles.

DOLCE AND GABANNA 

In stark contrast (to Burberry) Dolce e Gabanna present so many shoes the tips of Imelda’s weave ache.

This season Dominico and Stefano who celebrated their 20^th anniversary of menswear, presented a collection of gusseted round toe workmen boots and square toe lace up dress shoes in greased and distressed leathers – a pleasant juxtaposition to the velvet, heavy knits and thermal jodhpurs. The treated leather, whilst interesting, did feel uninspired with McQueen presenting a variation of this idea last season and YSL two seasons before that.

However, catching HRH’s eye was a deceptively simple round toe cleated sole hiking boot. A promising silhouette that’s been a circling trend for the past 3 seasons, Dolce e Gabanna’s clever application of tire tread (as a trim) should push this into the mainstream…or at the very least, into Imelda’s already full shoe closet.

JIL SANDER 

Raf Simons is a Demi-God. Fact.

BOTTEGA VENETA

Bottega Veneta bought into the teddy boy trend (literally) with a collection of streamlined brothel creepers in patent, croc and polished leathers.

SLIP & SLIDIN' AT BURBERRY, BUT NO STITT STORM

I’ve been gagging for a gnarly ‘stitt storm’ (since the start of NYFW) and despite Christopher Bailey’s sky high bondage inspired platforms, all this Burberry model could muster up was a ‘slip storm’. Seriously.

I know. I know. Imelda’s clutching at straws with this post, but give me a break…all everyones talkin' 'bout is this god damn dust storm.

UPDATED

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE (TRICKS IN BURBERRY'S SHOE BOX)

Thanks to Burberry’s Director of Corporate Public Relations & Marketing Emerging Markets, Christopher Bailey has narrowly avoided a haute tonguing from the Despotic Queen.

This morning Imelda received an email reply from Burberry’s Director of PR to explain Bailey’s “focus was boots for the show, however we do have vintage treated spazolatto leather dress shoes in the commercial collection as well as sneaker boots”. Fräulein Direkteur has promised pictures proper in 2 weeks, however she was kind enough to moisten Imelda’s petty panties with a few (EXCLUSIVE) mobile phone snaps.

Thanks Erika.

SUMMERTIME BOOTAY

Not entirely appropriate for the rugged antipodean summer, boots have been stomping down the catwalk for the past two days and Imelda takes a closer look.

Christopher Bailey kicked off the trend at Burberry with his covetous washed leather vintage style Chelsea boots in taupe, chestnut and black. However, it struck the Despotic Queen as most peculiar that Bailey decided to drop his eggs in the proverbial basket and present only ONE statement shoe. Hoping to get to the bottom, I’ve posed the question to the good folks at Burberry and we’ll need to allow for the time difference before we receive their response.

I shouldn’t allow the news of the Converse collaboration to overshadow Missoni’s stunning collection of romantic separates. The Missoni boots had a relaxed slouchy feel due in part to the folded down shaft. Without a clear, detailed shot it is hard to make a call on the leather but it appears to be treated (perhaps washed) and the dreamy muted colour palate make these a firm favourite with the House of Despotism.

John Richmond’s collection was as schitzed as a strung out rockstar. Normally the giver of good shoe, Richmond presented two boots. The first seemed vaguely similar to boots from his A/W 08/09 collection while the second option was a laceless (seen across the entire Richmond collection) almond toe dress boot.

Vivienne Westwood, but it's the eye patch that I'm really predicting will be the 'break out trend'.

Costume National Homme