STEFFEN SCHRAUT (Germany)

NEW BRAND ALERT!
German fashion doesn't make many headlines often, but surely Steffen Schraut is on the way to becoming his country's less starry equivalent of Phillip Lim, a.k.a. the man who truly knows how to make women happy.
As a young boy, the Dusseldorf-born Schraut discovered his passion for fashion as he enthusiastically paged through his mother’s fashion magazines. After a successful career as a trend scout for renowned international brands, Schraut launched his own fashion line in the Spring of 2001.
Gifted with a sure sense for future trends, Schraut’s designs are indeed all about straightforward trendy styles. At the same time though, the fashion entrepreneur is also noted for translating cutting-edge trends into totally wearable pieces.

Pretty good looking guy, huh? Interestingly, this hard working and industrious designer goes by the motto that the focus should remain fixed on the product, and not on its creator.
• Steffen Schraut Silk Blouse with Fabric Mini Rose Blossom
Rose, rose, I love you. This luxurious blouse features a stand-up collar, draped with feminine fabric roses. Elegant, cool and noble, pair this modern classic with a pencil skirt for the office, or with jeans or tuxedo pants for the evening.
(RRP €179)
• Steffen Schraut Belted Dress
The wide and straight cut on this tunic/dress is nice and figure-flattering. Lest you think it is a little too comfy, there’s a belt that accentuates the waist. Decorative reaped flutter sleeves further add party glamour.
(RRP €229)
The eye-catching Steffen Schraut AW2010-11 campaign, featuring Fanny Francois, was styled by Mira Uszkureit and shot by French heavyweight Gyslain Yarhi.
Trivia: A representation of being “well-defined and self-assured”, the corporate logo of Steffen Schraut is created by design-godfather Peter Schmidt, who in the last four decades also did the corporate identities of, among many, many, many others: Aigner, Chopard, Ebel, Hugo Boss, Jil Sander, Joop!, van Laack.

New from SCHUMACHER (Germany)

With its unfussy facade and attentive details (the sleeve cuffs are zippered to make it easy to put the dress on and for better fit), this Schumacher dress, as modeled by German wonder Theresa Genth, exemplifies the brand’s slick, feminine tailoring and its dedication to creating clothing that, as founder-designer Dorothee Schumacher puts it, “have a little wink” and can “create lovely encounters”.

SCHUMACHER
Although German label Schumacher has been on the scene since 1989, it is still often referred to as the “fashion insider's secret” -- and what a delightful one it is.
Founder Dorothee Schumacher began her collection with just three T-shirts. Feminine and quirky, they were the designer’s way of rebelling against what she perceived of as 1980s-style businesswomen "dressing like men".
Cut to 21 years later, Schumacher has -without advertising!- grown on German and international market request and the label now finds itself represented in top stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, and Lane Crawford.
Lacking formal fashion training, the designer feels that success was achieved in part because she spoke fluent Italian. "I used to give my ideas to a woman in an Italian factory who would translate them on her sewing machine," she says. "It was a bit like having a secretary who turns your thoughts into a good letter."
Schumacher did however experience hands-on training in the high-end textile industries of Italy and France -- which explains why the fabrics used in her collections are always exclusive and outstanding.


…And here we’re not going to boast of our ability to (still) see football in everything, but just to show you we can definitely link Schumacher to the Beautiful Game… German soccer hero Oliver Bierhoff (aged 42 and -sorry ladies- taken, that’s his wife), a friend of the designer, was a front-row guest at the Schumacher SS2010 show at Berlin Fashion Week.