The pierced nail is getting some love in London at the Ashish Autumn/Winter 2012 runway. Designed by CND’s  Marian Wilson take a look at a pale beige look with neon and black charms.Images courtesy of CND.

Below via Papermag is an open letter Diane Von Furstenberg, head of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, wrote to ”The Fashion Community” in response to the decision by the folks in charge of Milan Fashion Week to schedule the event during a period that conflicts with NYC and London Fashion Weeks for Autumn 2012.

From: DVF
Date: October 10, 2011 10:12:03 AM EDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: An Open Letter to the Fashion Community from Diane von Furstenberg

Fashion shows are meant to allow designers to show their collections and vision for the following season.

Everyone goes through huge efforts at a large expense to make it easy and pleasant for the editors and retailers. The market has expanded greatly in the last years with Asia, Middle East, Russia and Brazil growing so fast. It requires a lot of coordination and planning.
 
Editors, retailers and designers like the consistency of every designer always showing on the same day of the week season after season. It makes it so much easier for everyone to plan and attend shows. Clearly, year after year, the calendar changes. There are 7 days in the week and every new year the calendar advances 1 day. Some years it will be better for some cities, some years not.
 
That is what is happening in September 2012. I believe our friends in Milan did not understand that. We did not change from the decision when we agreed to start Fashion Season in New York on the same day every year, which is on the second Thursday of February and September. It is the nature of the calendar.
 
I also believe this conflict is a misunderstanding. I am convinced it will be resolved and that the agreement that was made 3 years ago at great cost and effort is valid and will be kept.
 
As the President of the CFDA, I represent my fellow designers. We share the same goals as Milan, Paris, and London. Everyone at the CFDA has great respect and admiration for the designers working in those cities  Our shared goal is that we want the editors and retailers to see our work and to do theirs.
 
At a time of great uncertainty in the world, we are lucky to be part of an industry that is flourishing and that provides an enormous amount of jobs. We should not jeopardize that by being apart. It is most important that we show unity, fairness, and that we work together to ensure everyone is given equal benefit from our work.
 
As we say in fashion, the show must go on!

–Diane von Furstenberg

Mario Boselli, who’s the voice for Milan’s side of the story is quoted in WWD as stating “Italian designers unanimously agreed on the schedule. They showed great solidarity and Italian pride. Let the best [city] win.”

I can’t see this turning out well for Milan. I remember not very long in the past when the WSA, a shoe trade show, decided to attack a competing show, FFANY, by scheduling its dates so there would be a direct conflict, and it was the beginning of the end of a long down fall in the WSA’s attendance numbers. These shows are about business and if there is a sense that Milan is putting “pride” ahead of what’s best for the clientele its serving then they will lose.  Besides, there are few people in the fashion community more charming than Furstenberg and it’s hard not to see her winning the public sentiment debate.

Without apology or irony Nasir once again is inspired by and pays tribute to up-from-the-street fashion for his Spring 2012 collection, this time with athletic-inspired looks leaping to the forefront. Commenting on his collection, designer Nasir Mazhar tells Vogue U.K:

“I’m showing people that if you’re into grime, why does that have to be dismissed? It’s a style. I’m trying to show that there’s this whole UK scene in London that’s really inventive and original. I’m trying to make people aware of one of the last subcultures. This season we’ve done four menswear outfits and I really like the tracksuit. It’s the beginning of us doing menswear, moving on from just accessories and hats.”

Needless to say, we in major luv. See more looks on the next page and be sure and check for the nail art (would love to know who handled it so we can give credit).

UPDATE: The top boss, Sharmadean, at WAH nails checked in and of course the art was done by her salon. She and Nasir are long-time buddies and she has collaborated with him in the past. When I asked her about the show’s nail art design theme, she explained, “We did glitters with tiger stripes. It was meant to be London street kids on a Caribbean holiday!”

Showing during London Fashion Week, designer Holly Fulton chooses a mani design that is simple yet still packs punch, and just as important sets off the fashion perfectly.

This image is going viral on all the fashion sites–it’s a backstage shot taken at Tom Ford’s London Fashion week show, taken by runway model Candice Swanepoel, who Twittered it (and indeed it is still there on her page as I type this). This is a big deal because Ford has set himself up as the anti-internet designer who wants nothing to do with anything instantaneous and is very protective when it comes to images being taken at his shows. Then again, if no attempt is being made to remove the image one has to wonder if its leak wasn’t given the downlow okay.

On the next page, see Swanepoel in a Tom Ford black lace dress she recently wore to an event honoring Mario Testino. Next to her in the first image is model Rosie Huntington wearing Burberry.

Nail artist Sophy Robson is big in the mix for London Fashion Week and she just posted up these shoe images featured on the Roksanda Ilincic Spring 2012 runway . We blogged on our 10 favorite white shoe styles from New York Fashion Week yesterday, but judging from this amazing pair, London could give NYC a run for its money.

Henry Holland has a way with contrasting colors, as is made apparent in this video in which we see him shoot his Autumn 2011 lookbook. It was shot in 12 different locations with an assist coming from Range Rover who provided transport and sponsorship.

The gorgeous ikat prints, the vibrant colors , bold accessories (belt above–wow!) Sass & Bide’s Autumn/Winter collection take us to a happy, stunning place, perfectly illustrating a world traveller vibe, with hints of a rocker edge….we’re smitten. More on flip via Style.

Enjoy a look at London’s Shao Yen Chen Spring 2011 film, titled “Skin.” Inspired by the human body, the collection plays with concept of the body as clothes, challenging anatomy  by  contrasting textures and volume. Chen, a recent winner of the Fashion Weekend/Le Vif Award in Brussels, 2009, is a name to remember. View some stills of the collection on the flip.