White City

photo by Adam Rakicević for White City

by Tijana Radovanović

Another cold and windy November night. And another. And another. Still the plans did not blow up in my face. I decided to go out and see which way the wind was blowing since you could feel there was something in it. The first winds of change blew through the City Assembly of Belgrade, the traditional patron of Belgrade Fashion Week right on the night of the 2^nd of November. Neither cold nor unfeeling.  From that night, I was moving like the wind.

The ceremonial opening of the 26^th Belgrade Fashion Week was in the light of the exposition devoted to Milena Pavlović Barilli- a painter, poet and fashion illustrator whose creative talent was indisputable among the elites in Europe. Not only did this great woman and artist have her fashion illustrations published in many leading fashion magazines such as American Vogue, Harper’s Bazzar, Glamour, Charm but her creative talent encouraged many young Serbian artists to try and outdo her by exhibiting the fashion sketches in the City Assembly of Belgrade. The costumes with her illustrations were prepared by another great Serbian artist designer Vladanka Celić whereas numerous famous actresses did their best to present the 20s and 30s spirit of the last century. The importance of this exposition was even greater because it had a humanitarian character and the whole revenue was for the Center for Integration of Youth – Hangout for Children from Streets.

PUMA is all about passion, colorfulness and diversity. As a sponsor for 12 out of the 16 African teams, Puma worked hard to make the brand synonymous with African football betting that it will distinguish the brand and win a significant increase in market share. Bringing Africa to the rest of the world or innovation through modern Africa is an approach that no one has ever selected before. That is why Kehinde Wiley, Puma designer presented a new collection Puma United for Africa showing that Puma’s love affair with 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa gives an opportunity to the world to get acquainted with Africa, its culture, music and sport.

 ANA LJUBINKOVIĆ – one of the most famous among young designers takes an artistic approach of a painter where elbows, hands, knees and armpits are giving the sensual pleasure. Every manner of her artistic expression, every experiment, however imaginative, however preposterous or outrageous is permissible. Her new spring/summer 2010 Galactic Collection presented at the 26^th BFW was inspired by the Milky Way. The runaway was like the sky at night- you could see the pale white band of models who were running like shooting stars shedding pink and green beams of Polar light. This show definitely was not a runaway success.

BUGATTI underwear – the outright winner of “Belgrade winner” statue that Belgrade Chambers of Commerce gives every year to distinguished individuals and companies for remarkable business achievements and progressive increase in market share.

 No Excess- for men & Excessive- for women - autumn/winter 2009 are new international, ambitious and successful international brands – for those fashion conscious yet not fashion victims. It is a winning combination of casual and trendy.

TIJANA PAVLOV – the author of symbolic expositions (S.N.O.B., Soul Mecanikz, No Brothers No Sisters) regularly puts up the shows for getting the post-apocalyptic message across to the business community and to the general public. This time she passes an urgent message “touched by” the 2009 swine flu outbreak- the spread of a new strain of H1N1 influenza virus: Why do you make such pigs of yourselves?

The 80s dark fashion comeback- black, dark grey and silver colour code- is presented through cotton, twill and PVC with asymmetrical folds and cuts with extended shoulder line blazer and jackets with an open and high collar. It is as though the shocking and somber untimely death of Michael Jackson haunted us triggering the 80s style around the world.

BFW has been confirmed by great number of regular participant, sponsors of manifestation as well as appearing of new foreign brands and designers that this kind of fashion review is necessary in our country.