It feels like a seminal moment in fashion and definitely looks very beautiful, although Naomi doesn't quite look herself; I smell a little photoshop! Kate of course dazzles and shows that her age means nothing, her cool means everything. I haven't been the biggest fan of Kate's Topshop collaborations; I did buy a beautiful chiffon bird scarf. I have however, been a fan of Kate's birthday style; carrying off gold star fashion face paint, style genius.
If you were asked the question, "Describe your job in layman's terms?" and the answer was, "I make pretty people look prettier in pretty clothes," how fab would your life be? That's the job of Sam Ranger, House of Holland's stylist. NYLON magazine have published a mini-profile of Miss. Ranger, so take a look here and seeth with internal envy!
The dawn of winter doesn't normally draw me to the darker side but this year grey seems to be pulling me away from the light. Above are my three "must purchase soon" items. I have added some summer hues to the background, in a feeble bid to make them seem less shadowy. From left to right, the before seen fleck origami skirt by Topshop the orla dress by All Saints and the stud trim bib blouse also by Topshop. So until the weather improves, grey is the colour!
Following my recent ranting post about American Apparel, I must add that they kindly did refund my item last week, easing my AA woes! Here is some appreciation for the AA brand. With Oct 31st quickly approaching, American Apparel have offered us some great costume solutions. Be you favourite fashion icon or film star with the great inspirational outfit finder. Such a quirky yet simple idea - AA redeems itself!
Pushing Daisies is a gem of a show on the US ABC network. I never feel compelled to blog about television shows but Pushing Daisies is so visually stunning, it has to be commented upon. It is filmed in the vein of Amelie and is a concentrated bubble of colour à la Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory but it is the fashion that blows me away. Anna Friel's character is a impeccable style icon, dressed to perfection in each scene. There are no screen shots that accurately depict this fact but I assure you, watch and you will agree. The plotline - genius! but I shall not give it away. I am not sure when Pushing Daisies will grace British screens but there are plenty of places to "share" it and lots of You Tube clips. See ABC's show site here and glimpse into the fairytale world of the Piemaker.
Antoni & Alison always astound me with the originality of their product. These new scarves are no exception. An abstract creation and a still life, both reproduced on silk scarves, fill me with delight. I very rarely leave the house sans-scarf, so it is refreshing to see some unique designs, that would be equally at home around the neck or hung on a wall. Art and fashion collide with Antoni & Alison.
A now popular pastime on Flickr is the 365 portrait a day; whereby the member uploads a self-portrait a day for a year. An interesting concept; in theory it could be a little mundane but very few of them are. A favourite of mine is by Great Danes, as they also let us peep at their reject photos. They seem to capture something new in each photo, making a true fashionable statement each day. Just for fun, type in 365 to the Flickr search, see if you find something you like. (Photos above from Great Danes.)
...then look no further than Lady Luck Rules OK. The website is bright, kitsch and very 80's, stocking a great selection of magazines...
...along with several pieces of essential 80's roller skate culture.
Urban Outfitters (.com), have just released their fall preview line and I must say it is very appealing. I have picked a few of my favourites above but you can feast your eyes here and make your own choices. Hopefully they will soon arrive in the U.K. store, so I may purchase some! Above is my first use of Photoshop to aid my blog, hopefully this will get better soon!
FluffsStuffs produce a fantastic range of jewellery, all made from material. I love the "snack based" theme behind the items above - teas, cakes and sweets; does it get any better?!! All items are available from Hannah Zakari.
With the plethora of good value, U.K. High Street stores (Primark, Peacocks, New Look etc.) it is hard to choose between them for the basics. Recently, Topshop has emerged head and shoulders above the rest (in my opinion only!!). These basic pintuck detail tops (scroll down the link page to find them) are an amazing find for £14 each! The pictures really do not do these tops justice - the pintuck detail is great and the fit (flap wing sleeves) is extremely flattering. I bought this top in electric blue, as it suits my colouring - I have to say Topshop triumphs for me!
Mark Lee Morris + Andrew Soernsen are Turk + Taylor, creators of stunning organic cotton t-shirts that are hand dyed. Friendly fashion never looked so good! Their quirky, satirical take on the graphic tee caught my interest when they were championed by Nylon magazine. Although overt matching isn't necessarily my thing, covert matching is; hence my inclusion of the t-shirt with a complimenting skirt lining. Check out Turk + Taylor's website for stockists and sales.
I'm not sure if I am revealing a weird side of myself here...but I love old-lady fashion! These items from vintage store, Sveet Couture, hark back to the 80's but could also be found in my gran's wardrobe. They have that nostalgic, comforting feel to them, with a worn, soft look. I can never think of my Gran as a style icon but as I flick back through old photographs, her inner style demon jumps out. Sveet Couture embraces the old-lady look, so go on...reveal the stylish granma in you!
These screen-printed boy t-shirts by All Saints, are simply fab. I am seriously considering purchasing one - at around £35 each, they're a little affordable piece of originality.
I've mentioned my love of ceramics before but Missoni Home have provided me with another point of interest - crockery! Missoni's Home range is an eclectic mix of their signature patterns, that can be full-on when put together (see above) but as individual pieces are truly delicious. Then below, it hits you - fashionable crockery. I adore Christian Lacroix's range for Le Petit Moulin and this Missoni range has equal visual appeal. Although very expensive, inevitably some would get smashed by me; a few select pieces would stand out beautifully on any shelf. We all have an eye for prettiness BUT is my sudden love of porcelain a sign of aging? Check out Missoni Home and Towels UK for more of these ranges.
Summertime can be a fashionista's nightmare. It is sometimes very difficult to dress well. I had this nightmare this weekend - an afternoon spent in the garden + last minute dash out + plus freakish evening Mediterranean temps! I felt too hot and uncomfortable to wear anything the least bit clingy or fitted - in fact any item of clothing near my skin felt wrong. I end up going out in an old white, floaty gypsy skirt and my boyfriend's old t-shirt, with haystack hair. I looked a disaster. I felt a horrible compulsion to tell anyone that had the misfortune to lay eyes on me, "I'm just to hot to care!"
So my search this week is for comfortable summer fashion and See by Chloé definitely fits the bill. The bandeau dress - perfect, freed underarms seem so appealing! The look on the right, laid back and quirky. There is also their spin on summer evening chic, centre - the bell-sleeved dress is simply effortless. The main thing about each of these looks, they are wearable and affordable. See by Chloé, the solution to my summer nightmare!
