So this is what the future looks like? Fashion is going live in the new wave of advertising campaigns that use video to bring three dimensions to their seasonal campaigns and boy, do I love Lanvin’s energetic fall 2011 vid! Featuring Karen Elson, Raquel Zimmermann & Alber Elbas dancing their perfectly slim socks off, you will be sure to watch this a few times. Roll on more where this came from…can you imagine Burberry’s??!
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Graugans coat in grey marle by Borne's
Atlanter Weller's A/W 2011 collection does not dissappoint
Borne's mohair mixes set the tone for the next season
“We are the stepping-stone between events like Vauxhall Fashion Scout and huge buyers like Net-a-Porter. Once a new designer has shown at LFW, perhaps for the first or second time they are still ‘emerging’ and looking for the next step. Based online, we reach audiences globally but unlike other online boutiques we focus only on great British design talent, attracting those who love and appreciate just that.” (click here for full interview)
It is important to note that by ‘young’ these guys aren’t being ageist…not in the smallest sense. All that is meant by ‘young’ is that the designers featured are only on their initial collections. This kind of online, retail environment provides such designers with an invaluable platform upon which to not just showcase but actually SELL their work to people like you and me who are looking for something special, something different. You can look up designers alphabetically, by clothes or shoes etc or even pour over the carefully edited blog to get in the know about everything British and NOW. Check out the seriously amazing styling in the website photos as well.. I’m sold.
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A body to die for
Draw gasps in this peacock blue ensemble
The new breed of dance wear...
Love the second skin you're in..
In case you needed to be anymore excited about LFW (short hand for London Fashion Week dahhhhlings) then get a load of this. Uber cool accessories label Bebaroque has teamed up with the excellent PPQ to unveil a collection of hoisery and jewel encrusted bodies (check.them.out!) which will shimmy their way down the runway this September. And what an opulent feast for les yeux! Heading out in the frosty winter months will be infinitely more fun if we are adorned in these sparkling body cons and show stealing stockings. Yes, I whole heartedly support this festive, decorative and elaborate collaboration. Bring on September!
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Elements of both past structure and a modern twist are apparent in each piece.
“When I wear Worth, I feel like a woman with a capital W"
Black velvet, nude satins, pure white grosgrain, laces and silks make up this breathtaking collection
The Paris-born founding father of couture deconstructs the elements of period dressing
Anyone who has had the pleasure of wearing a design from Charles Frederick Worth will tell you that to step into one of his works, is to feel like a woman. Giovanni Bedin, who has taken up the daunting task of leading the fashion house has come up trumps, in what is his second ready-to-wear collection since the relaunch of Worth. Shown in Paris on July 5th the show displayed exactly why Worth is considered to be the Parisian father of Couture…oh yes! With a nod to days gone by with rigidly structured cage-like under garments, Bedin has reignited Worth’s passion for panniers and structured cages. The house of Worth can be confident that the elegance of its origins has most definitely transcended into this new and exciting stage. Bravo!
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There was a lot of sparkle in the Swarovski store
I was greeted to a refreshing Peach Bellini...yum
Have you ever seen such delicacy? These high waisted pants were a favourite with me!
Simon Perele shows that support works alongside the creme de la creme of delicate materials...what a bra!
Princess tam tam unveils their inner ballerina...
The detail on 'Pensive' in pink was beautiful
Caberet Spectacular!
The Lingerie Francaise girls were kitted out in the brands...and don't they look great?
I was lucky enough to head down to the Lingerie Francaise event held at the Swarovski store on Great Malborough Street. After sipping on some extremely refreshing peach bellinis, I made my way around the top floor which housed four fantastic french brands: Empreinte, Lise Charmel, Princesse Tam Tam and Simon Perele. All the girls were extremely helpful at talking me through their collections and we were even treated to a 1950′s style Pretty Girls Parade (see bottom pics). Even though all of the lingerie was lovely, the Pensive in Pic by Princesse Tam Tam ( see pics) caught my eye and I’m waiting patiently for its release next year..sigh. What a great and girly evening!
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Giambattista Valli channels luxe flamingo pink in this show-stopping number
Ellie Saab explores the darker side of romance....
Chanel 'Lights Up' the Paris shows...
Christophe Josse's frothy decadence was hardened by a flash of Red Ridinghood scarlet.
Plumes of coloured chiffon create drama at Christian Dior
Givenchy leaves us frozen with its ethereal beauty
A touch of Orient Express from Giorgio Armani
The Paris Haute Couture shows were anything but mundane. Stepping into a world where fantasy meets fabrics that one could only dream of, you had to marvel at the astounding level of intricacy apparent in each show. That is what Couture is all about. And though it seems many of us could never afford, let alone touch such fabrics in all our lives, the shows display some of the exceptional designers we have living and working today in a way that highlights them at their very very best.
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Amy Winehouse with her trademark beehive hair, black rimmed eyes and bear shoulders.
Amy Winehouse wearing Fred Perry
And so another life has been claimed by turning down the wrong road and getting involved with morons who look down instead of up. Amy Winehouse, mega talented singer/ songwriter / musician, is being buried today. She was 27 years old, the same age as James Dean, Kurt Curbain, Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin when they all died. She achieved more in her short time on earth than most of us can dream about.
Amy’s fashion sense was based around one particular look which she made all her own. Beehive hair, black rimmed eyes, tiny skirts, a push up bra and a cropped top, a pencil skirt with a polo shirt or a short little shift dress with bare shoulders revealing her many tattoos. It wasn’t a sophisticated look – in fact I think she looked like a tiny little girl stealing her mums big hair and black eye liner, but she wasn’t swayed by the catwalk, and instead influenced it. I suspect she really didn’t give a damn about being a follower, Amy cut her own style path, so much so that Kaiser Karl, ever sharp enough to nail Chanel to the flag of youth and talent, named Amy his muse in 2007. Then the following year in 2008 Fendi selected her to headline at their pop up fashion week club. After releasing a collection with Fred Perry in October of last year, the company are now deciding whether to release the two outstanding collections co designed by the singer, inspired by her personal style. Fred Perry were impressed with her kooky style of wearing pencil skirts with polo shirts and wide belts. I think much would have happened for Amy if she chose to get involved with fashion.
Selecting the photos for this blog post made me feel so sad seeing a younger Amy, on the brink of her huge life looking fresh, curvy and healthy. Her family and in particular her father Mitch fought very hard to ground her and help Amy clean up and in fairness she did try and was in and out of rehab a lot. Her family must be in pieces and as a mother I cannot bear to even think about the pain of burying your child. It is against nature. We are never supposed to be the ones looking at a child’s coffin. But nature and fate can be cruel and so is addiction, pushing its black fingers into the weak and vulnerable. I never met Amy, but I adored her music, her talent and her kooky look. When I read the closing words of her father Mitch’s speech to fans, I was sure that it wasn’t just me who had tears in my eyes:
“ Goodnight my angel sleep tight. Mummy and Daddy love you very much”.
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I dream in couture. This really is the stuff of fantasy, and as far away from the image of a rich but portly French grandma as you could imagine. It was great to see the new Valentino team getting into their stride with a fresh and delicate collection, and Ellie Saab, long a firm favourite with my celebrities, did a brilliantly “fashion” collection.
The Couture Shows are always a journey into fantasy and dreamland for me, but there are plenty of women, particularly the younger set from the Far East, who eagerly view the collections as clients and not mere spectators. This is not an accident, and is the reason why the Kaiser Karl Lagerfeld is always keen and careful to allign himself and the Chanel brand to the younger market – thus ensuring its survival. It is said that Riccardi Tisci was hand picked to head the Dior house because of his youthful followers – think of a lifetimes worth of frocks and what that could mean to the balance sheets of the Parisian Couture houses! The Paris Couture Shows kicked off last week in the depths of a world recession, but there was little evidence of packed lunches and recycling here amongst the very youthful front row of mainly Arab and women from the Far East.This young blood and the limitless purses they carry continue to pump fresh energy into these high end, high fantasy events which showcase the extreme excellence and the highest endeavours of the fashion industry.
This years offerings from Valentino, Armani Prive, Worth, Ellie Saab and Giambattista Valli did not disappoint. I also adored the Worth collection and the way it was shown on static displays, so that you could really see the incredible workmanship which are at the heart of any couture collection. Dior, shockingly, did disappoint. Minus it’s leader and Pied Piper John Galliano who is still firmly embedded on his naughty step, the show was incoherent and messy, rather like a bad students show than the showcase for the House of Dior. John Galliano, on the other hand, was at his very best and produced one of the best collections of the week by personifying the word eclectic in his own, devil may care way. His anthem is constantly more is more, and backup up by an amazingly skillful workshop.
In these times of recession there are still people who can and do pay more for a gown than the total value of many peoples mortgage. I guess it is a case of managing to get into the right womb and the right time of oil boom with the right despot in power who looks the other way while the anointed ones make more money that you or I could every muster up in any extreme fantasy.
Bitter? Moi?
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The Duchess of Cambridge looks fresh and lovely in a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress. Thanks for flying the British flag for the fashion industry Kate! You look fab!
Kate and her squeeze Wills in Canada
Love this shot of Kate and William arriving in Canada. Kate wears a dress by designer Another day in Canada, another Erdem dress for Kate
If you want to get ahead, get a hat, and make sure you pay homage to the host nation with a bright red maple leaf.
Smart girls everywhere know that you can say more with a well turned heel than a thousand words. Ask Emelda Marcos. Kate and Will’s have achieved superstar status in Canada, and all the while Kate has been communicating without opening her mouth. Note: choice of Erdem as a British but Canadian born designer, the use of red maple leaf in her hat, both intended as a compliment to her Canadian hosts, the clever mix of high street – recycled Reiss dress, with high end – Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Erdem, Issa and Caroline Charles, demonstrating that she is both stylish, frugal, a diplomatic savvy chick and high end all in the same fashion moment. Kate, this so called non aristocratic and middle class girl is taking to this role with more grace and dignity than any of the to-the manner-born upper class women we have seen paraded before us during the past few decades. Frankly they all bored me. I would rather regard the inside of a white fridge then watch many of those women perform. But not our Kate. I cannot imagine Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and wife to the future King of England, ever indulging in a bit of toe sucking or the like aka Auntie Fergie, her very distant and disgraced relative. The Duchess of Cambridge is a natural and she is good for Britain, good for business and great for British fashion. Hey! Amazing what a shimmy down the cat walk in a see through dress can do for a girl who catches the eye of a Prince and then makes the role all her very own! Well done our Kate and keep on flying the flag for British fashion!
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Kate Moss Weds Jamie Hince in John Galliano Gown
Kate Moss and Jamie Hince of the band 'The Kills'
Moss and Hince surrounded by their young bridesmaids
Kate Moss and daughter Lila in a scene straight of "The Great Gatsby"
A beautiful beaded veil for Kate Moss
Supermodel Kate Moss and Jamie Hince, lead singer in the band 'The Kills'
Kate Moss and Jamie Hince traditional wedding scene.
Kate Moss wed Jamie Hince last Friday 1st July in a stunning 1930′s feel wedding dress by disgraced uber designer and long term friend John Galliano. The gown was biased cut and sheer with gold beading, and the veil was embroidered and demure. The groom, Jamie Hince of the band The Kills, wore YSL by Stefano Pilati – a cool and brilliant suit in pale blue with skinny trousers, stripy shirt and printed tie. The village of Southrop in Gloucester came to a halt with villagers issued a pass to get to their own front doors. Four hundred select guests including Naomi Campbell, Stella McCarney, Vivianne Westwood, Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sir Philip Green were amongst the guests, with Mario Testino the official photographer.
Kate is part of a growing ‘modesty is the new sexy’ trend I have spoken of before here on my blog. Note Kate Middleton and Lily Allen’s similar wedding dresses. Her choice of a stunning but simple dress, the demure almost virginal veil coupled with the dreamy traditional country scene was more reminiscent of a 1930′s society girls wedding than a rock ‘n roll supermodels union. Stella McCartney, no slacker in this wedding plan, designed two of the bridesmaid dresses and maid of honour Jess Hallet’s dress as well as Kate’s various and frequent wardrobe changes as befits a high priestess of fashion: a First Dance Dress, an after party dress and the going away suit.
We know so well that Kate can get down and dirty, but oh does the girl scrub up well! Kate, dare I say it taking a leaf out of her namesake Kate – Duchess of Cambridge, looked relaxed, beautiful and happy on her big day and together with her daughter Lila I was reminded of one of my favourite movies, The Great Gatsby, and a scene with Mia Farrow and her little daughter. Demure, delicate and delicious.
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