INDIVIDUALS BY AMFI AT AFW

A sturdy parade of swag and coolness came down the runway when the Individuals by AMFI showed their SS13 collection at Amsterdam Fashion Week. An intensively strong show, amazing designs, lots of awesome use of materials, some mysteriousness and cool beats.

Desert warriors who met mysterious nomadic tribes who flaunt through the sands of the African dessert on their way to reach their beloved final destination with a bit of Star Wars on the side. That's what came to my mind during the show. No people, I'm not ready to go to the nut-house. I know it is kinda hysterical, but it really looked like that and in my opinion that's something good. Real good. Individuals by AMFI keeps surprising me. They come up with a stronger collection each year. Where their AW12 collection existed of a force of blacks and grays, this collection is lighter in colour and much more lively.

The SS13 collection is called 'Roots' and is a follow-up of Individuals' AW12 collection, which you can strongly see. Because of the use of more colour and some amazing styling, the SS13 collection looked even better than the AW12 collection. There were lots of unexpected combinations in references, material and design, which I totally love. Especially the use of colour took me. The colour wasn't necessarily surprising, but it really is a palette I love: white, black, camel and bourdeaux.

I saw some amazing eye for detail which manifested itself in lots of jewellery which was the cherry on the cake at this show. By adding jewellery, the collection looked younger and more layered. It actually completed the story's collection. Besides the jewellery, the well-made hooded leather jackets caught my eye as well. Can someone arrange one of those for me right now? Thanks! I loved the fact the show started out dark with heavy music and ended in white with almost total silence.

The whole concept of the show was perfection and it is way too bad that they haven't got some men's wear. I will be the first man in line to gallivant in one of Indivuals' wondrous designs. Keep it up young creatives of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, you're bringing us awesomeness!

Photos by Melody Lieftink | BackstageFashionReports.nl

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CLAES IVERSEN AT AFW

Amsterdam Fashion Week SS13 is a wrap. We had a ball, damn we had! Famous Dutchies, national and international press, fashion PR-ladies and gents, it-girls and boys, panache stylists, elan photographers and fashion bloggers: tout la Dutch fashion was there to see what Fashion Holland has to offer us for 2013's spring and summer and to network, drink, laugh and celebrate fashion. What an excitement there was! And then there was the question what to wear each day. Lovin' it.

Instead of doing an 'AFW diary' I decided to do some talk about my favourites at Amsterdam Fashion Week. By doing it afterwards I have a good overview of the shows and collections that really caught my eye at this issue of AFW. As this is THE fashion event in The Netherlands I just so want to write about this as it is the first time visiting AFW while having my blog. The thing is that I will mainly talk about woman's fashion as it has been showed more at AFW. You don't mind me talking about woman's swag don't you? If you do mind you are out of luck, cause I'll write about it anyway. Ha! Sorry. Beneath is a outfit-crop of my 'AFW Opening Night' wearings by the way. Work it!

The fashion extravaganza started out on Wednesday the 11^th of July. Our beloved Danish designer, who is kind of a Dutchie as he lives in Amsterdam, had the honor to open AFW once again. I'm talking about the modest and talented Claes Iversen. Gosh, he killed it once again. Instead of (also lovable) really big, semi-theatrical, creations that Claes showed us in the past, he decided to bring us something more wearable and younger. Something I absolutely love as Claes always plays with the balance between ready-to-wear and haute couture. He did this great once again and by adding a bit more youth than before he certainly nailed it!

The show started out with boxy shoulders and a colour pallet of white, grey and black, where the collection gradually flowed into lovely floral dessins, modern flower power, amazing handwork in summery colours and dresses, skirts and tops that breath panache.

I could taste some Balenciaga, but less rock-chick and more feminine. The silhouette of Iversen's SS13 collection was ultra feminine with a luxurious use of materials and amazing eye for detail. Claes did what he does best: bring that famous craftsmanship embroidery on bro! Stunning flowers and high-class spangles adorned his pieces.

  

  

 

My absolute favourite out of Claes' show was a gorgeous black semi-transparent dress with cut out back embroidered with small red shimmery flowers on top and black spangles downwards. Can you bring it to the top? Like it never, never stops. And can you bring it down low? All the way to the flo. Iversen did it with this amazing dress. Gosh!

Claes Iversen's SS13 collection unequivocally brought us some flowery perfection and non-Dutch glamour. Let's say 'bananas' to that!

Photos by Melody Lieftink | BackstageFashionReports.com

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PRE-AFW

Amsterdam Fashion Week is in town again. Yes, boom-bada-boom! The Dutch designers will show us what SS13 will look like and they definitely know how to do it. Fashion-me is so excited. Bring it on!

AFW. For those who can't figure out what the hack this twitter-kinda abbreviation means, well I'm talking about Amsterdam Fashion Week, yes I do. Deviation, there I go again. Let's stick to the subject. The actual AFW counts 5 days, the SS13 shows will find place from Wednesday the 11^th of July till Sunday the 15^th of July, but there's more. Way more. Ahead of AFW there's a buzz. Oh my, I love buzzes. Don't you love them?! Talking about 'a buzz' I mean that there are more cool fashion events and shows that find place before the actual AFW starts. I went to some of them and I now will point out the ones that caught my eye. In other words the ones I loved, ranging from a men's wear fashion show on a Sunday at the church to a pop-up concert. Damn, I love these times. Let's dress up denim, make a little love and do a little dance on patent shoes!

On the 5^th of July Stockholm based - clean swaggy freshness - label Weekday decided to do a little dance by arranging a pop-up concert. Par-té time is what we call that. The event was there to celebrate that Weekday will, finally, come to Amsterdam to sell they're cool fashion. Almighty, I will welcome them with open arms! At the event South African/Dutch band Skip&Die spoiled us with some amazing tunes and vocals. They brought us a mix of global bass, rap, afro beats, blazing sun and dusty roads. Check them out, because they're cool. Weekday and Skip&Die: I'm a fan, big time. Weekday will open its doors at Rokin 84 in Amsterdam on the 31^st of August this year. Can't wait for that.

On Sunday the 8^th of July Ado les Scents by Hyun Yeu presented his SS13 collection. The show's location was amazing: an ancient chruch in the city center of Amsterdam. The contrast with the clothing was perfect. Where the church was old and brown, Hyun Yeu's designs were cripsy clean and white. What I really love are the semi-transparent white shirts showed in his collection. They are simple, but perfect. A holy white Sunday it was!

  

On Monday the 9^th of July By Borre showed his SS13 collection. The collection presentation was held at two places. A day and night-spot. Catwalk at daytime, drinks at night. I am really crazy about the innovative set-up of this event. The day-spot was at one of Amsterdam's most authentic gyms: The Apollohal. By Borre showed us structured designs. The structure of the designs was even stronger because the fashion show was combined with gymnastics. Pretty impressive! The night-spot was at hot spot Ludwig II. It was a Monday fashion bash: fashion, poetry, drinks and beats. Manic Monday? Hell to the no!

On Tuesday the 10^th of July Dutch label Cold Method introduced us to their SS13 collection. Compared to other years Cold Method decided to do it different this time. The presentation was intimate, instead of a big fashion show. Something that was kinda awesome in my opinion. For this collection designer Dieter de Cock came with clean and fresh layered looks. You know I love layering, so that's a 'yes' to me! The collection showed us cool colours, lovely chino's and a nice fit. If it's up to Cold Method SS13 is going to be preppy fresh!

 And now on to Amsterdam Fashion Week SS13. Woop!

Photos 'Ado les Scents' by Melody Liefting | Backstagefashionreports.com

Photos 'By Borre' by Team Peter Stigter | Teampeterstigter.com

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