London Fashion Week AW12: What I Wore (In My Head...)

I'm not actually attending any Fall/Winter London Fashion Week shows, nor am I going to any after-parties or events - I won't even be going down to Somerset House to have a gander at all the fashion peacocks. However, if I had a limitless bank account, if it wasn't absolutely freezing and if I was in attendance, you'd probably find me wearing something like this:

From left to right. (Top row): KARL Sachi faux-leather skirt, Topshop denim shirt, Alexander Wang cropped sweater and Diego ponyskin bag. (Bottom row): Vintage military jacket, Eddie Borgo cone bracelet and bear-trap bangle, Topshop ankle socks, Acne Pistol boots, House of Harlow 1960 Armour Claw ring and Linsey sunglasses

Everyone loves a bit of imaginary shopping, right? Unfortunately for me, this outfit costs in the region of about£2500 so I'd have to sell an arm or something to even consider being able to afford it. If you were given the chance to buy that designer piece you could never realistically afford, what would it be? I hope everyone is having a great time at fashion week!

The Met Gala 2011

I know the Met Gala is old news for most of you but I've been in New York for the last week and have only just had a chance to write again! Amongst all the incredible things I got up to (including an interview for an internship out there) I went to watch the Met Gala red carpet with my good friend from Cocos Tea Party and we weren't disappointed when it comes to seeing high-profile celebs...

Andre Leon Talley

Daphne Guinness and Hamish Bowles

Lily Donaldson

Valentino and Christina Ricci

Jennifer Lopez

Karl Lagerfeld

Rihanna (well, her head...)

Beyonce and Jay-Z (with a helping hand from her stylist)

The paps going crazy for Madonna

I know the photos are rather terrible but I was so excited about seeing everyone that my photography skills went right out the window. J-Lo stepped out of a car right infront of where we were stood which was massively exciting and seeing Caleb Followill about 6ft away is enough to induce a Kings of Leon hysteria in anyone, let alone a Followill fan!

Whilst I was in New York I also had the chance to visit the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art which was so incredible words wouldn't do it justice. I've never been so emotionally overwhelmed by an exhibition before; seeing all of the late McQueen's most astounding work brought together in one place was just fantastic. I really recommend you go visit if you get the chance because it was just beautiful.

I should have more time to blog again now as my latest project Fred (a new men's magazine) has finished for the time being. What did you think of the Met Gala dresses?

photos taken by me, do not use/copy without permission!

Freja for Numero

Today has been really rather great. I photographed handsome boys around London all day for a project I'm working on at the moment and was then treated to some brand new Levi's. If you've read my blog before, you'll know that I'm a massive Levi's fan - until the Curve ID came out I always struggled to find a pair of jeans that actually fit properly. Today I got the Curve (my second pair - they're that good) in a lighter shade that are perfect for spring and I'm literally in love.

On to other things I love, Freja Beha Erichsen has been photographed by the wonderful Karl Lagerfeld for Numero magazine and I can't get enough of the editorial (also featuring Arizona Muse), who else could look this beautifully androgynous?

I'm not sure if Freja has actually cut her hair or not but she still looks stunning either way. There are few models that I really get excited about but I don't think Freja will ever get boring - her face, her movement and her style are all so intriguing. I've not really had the chance to post daily which is a bit shit but I'll try and keep on top of things as best I can!

What are your favourite jeans? I'll try and do an outfit post (there's a first time for everything) with my new wares, if you haven't tried the Curve ID I really recommend you do - especially if you have Jean traumas too!

photos from fashiongonerogue.com

Note: Contains Nudity

If you are adverse to looking at images of naked men, I suggest you don't scroll down. I am far too hungover today to even string a coherent sentence together let alone think of something wonderful to write about. Instead, I figured a picture of a naked Baptiste Giabiconi might help things somehow...

The image was shot by Papa K (of course) for the new issue of Interview magazine and in my current state, I'm quite enjoying looking at it. Hopefully I'll feel a bit more human tomorrow so apologies for the lacklustre post!

Are you doing anything exciting this weekend and what do you think of the lovely Baptiste?

photo from thefashionspot.com

Chanel Spring 2011 featuring Freja

 Chanel and Freja Beha Erichsen are a match made in heaven. The latest campaign featuring Freja, Stella Tennant and the gorgeous Baptiste Giabiconi makes me feel warm inside. I absolutely love the muted photography and don't even get me started on the clothes because they look amazing. Karl Lagerfeld has managed to make something that would ordinarily be a bit naff and cliché (palm trees and wicker chairs strike me as more Duran Duran than Chanel) into something beautifully edgy. Thas ma boy!

photos from fashiongonerogue.com

Milan Fashion Week: Fendi SS11

The blogging hiatus is officially over! Following what I can only describe as the most hectic month of my life, I am back and it seems it couldn't have been more perfectly timed. London Fashion Week pretty much passed me by entirely (I attended one show that unfortunately happened to be rather rubbish, I'm looking at you PPQ), which is a shame seeing as I actually live here.

However, Milan has caught my eye, or more specifically Karl Lagerfeld has - it was only a matter of time before I was entirely seduced by Fendi all over again...

I'm not usually a colour girl, black suits me just fine and its been a great friend over the years, but if anyone is going to get me wearing the stuff, it's Papa K. The contrast between bursts of colour and sober neutrals is so perfect, plus those sunglasses are to-die-for.

At first glance, I wasn't all that taken with the collection, it looked a bit frumpy and for want of a better word, wrong. However, the accessories and minor detailing really do make it brilliant. There are some great pieces which I can see everyone worth knowing about wearing and I literally can't wait for these watches to hit the stores.

And if that wasn't enough to get me drooling, Karl threw a bit of Abbey in for good measure. On a more serious note though, how did I miss this change of hairstyle??! I know people have their reservations about the new 'do', many being that she definitely now looks like a crack addict, but I love it. Of course.

Does Fendi make you weak at the knees? Also, are you for or against Abbey's hair, it's sort of strange seeing her so pale but I'll get used to it, roll on Chanel...

photos from style.com

Hear Me Roar

If you went to the Chanel show in Paris yesterday (don't tell me if you did, I'll only hate you for it) then this is the first thing you would've seen - very Chanel, non? Only Papa K would have a 40ft lion in his den for fun but boy do we love him for it. 

The collection was so incredibly beautiful that even the lion was left in the shadows; I fell in love with his SS10 Couture for the simple palette of white and silver but AW10/11 was altogether more dark and luxurious. The jackets were beautifully cut below the elbow, the dresses tiered at the empire line and the evening ensembles embellished to heaven and back - it was pure, glorious Chanel.

So aside from the boots, this collection is a massive winner - it also makes me want to chop all my jackets to elbow length just so that I can wear a stack of glittering bracelets, anyone else? What do you think of Karl latest offering, I'm dying to see front rower Jessica Alba in either of the evening dresses...

photos from style.com and The Telegraph

J'Adore Couture

To my own amazement I rarely follow the Couture shows, I just have one of those irrational 'I can't afford any of this' fears and therefore avoid it altogether. However, last season I (like many others) got suckered in by Chanel's Couture Collection and finally started paying attention - albeit several years too late.

This season is no different; the shows haven't even gotten into full swing (I'm super excited about Chanel) and I'm already smitten. Christian Dior was a massive surprise as it was totally opposite to the AW10 Ready-to-Wear and it was just so colourful...

Aside from the massively obvious floral references, I saw a little bit of Marc Jacobs SS10 and a little bit of Taylor Momsen's hair from The Grinch years - either way I actually kind of liked it. It's way too colourful and flouncy for me to ever consider wearing (if I won the lottery, it might happen) but I can already see most of the dresses being worn on the red carpet.

But it's Givenchy that's been the stand-out collection so far, I mean these dresses are seriously beautiful...

Inspired by the uh-mazing Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and her three obsessions: religion, sensuality and the human anatomy, Riccardo Tisci has really put himself out there as a serious couture contender. I'm usually quite dubious about feathers and embellishment but Tisci's got the balance perfectly, who wouldn't want to wear either of these pieces?!

I can't wait for Chanel, Papa K will undoubtedly present a blinder of a collection and when he does I'll be the first to gush. On a more serious note though, who can actually afford to buy this stuff? I'm pretty sure I'd have to sell my house to afford one piece, let alone every season...

photos from style.com

Es Muss Liebe Sein...

According to Google translator this is German for 'It Must Be Love...', don't worry I'm not going to start posting in German or anything but I really love their latest issue of Vogue. I recently said I've never really bought the foreign issues of Vogue, but their editorials seem so much more exciting than the British version!

I was sceptical when I saw that Victoria Beckham was on the cover (I generally dislike celebs covering Vogue) but her editorial diminishes all cynicism.

Victoria's always going to be a WAG in my eyes (for anyone who doesn't get the WAG abbreviation, look here) but she scrubs up right good and proper; I guess it helps when you have a jawbone that could slice cheese. She also had a hand in Marc Jacobs positioning on the Time 100 Most Influential People list and being the only designer to make the cut, this makes me love her a little bit more.

But back to German Vogue, her editorial was just one of many that were really impressive...

Apparently the issue came in a denim cover, how cute is that? So along with Korean, Italian, French and American Vogue, I now want to buy the German edition - my shelves are literally going to fall apart at this rate!

What do you think of Victoria's editorial? I'm a Victoria convert, are you?

PS. The fact that Marc Jacobs was the only designer to make the Time 100 Most Influential People list is just unbelievable. Miuccia? Lagerfeld? McQueen? Westwood? Why aren't any of these incredibly talented people on that list when people like Taylor Swift and Robert Pattinson are? I can safely say that I haven't EVER been influenced by either of them nor will I be, its embarassing.

PPS. Apologies for the giant post, I'm trying to make up for lost time!

Photos from thefashionspot.com

Rude Rihanna

I love a bit of Riri, the good and the bad. Her outfits are incredibly hit and miss and I'm always on the look out for her 'hits' - usually found when there's parties/award ceremonies/fashion shows to attend to.

This latest look is a combo of both the good, the bad and the ugly though.

I love the grey sequined sweater and the casual black hot-pants (something I'd like to wear when the weather cheers up) but the chains? The lace-ups? The black streaky-bacon hair? It's not doing anything for me.

If I had my way with her I'd dye her hair brown/black all over and give her some short Tao Okamoto crop. I'd rid of the boots and give her some killer heels and I'd banish the bling altogether. But that's one massive if.

I'm always fond of the red lippy on Rihanna aswell but this whole combination just looks wrong to me, anyone else? On another note, if your a fan of Papa Karl Lagerfeld (if you're not then you need help) then you simply must read this article from Vice - it's perfect.

Seriously, read it - he even talks about expensive rent boys. Tell me what you think, does it make you love him even more or does it just make him that much more extroverted?

photos from justjared.buzznet.com and viceland.com/uk

We love Freja and Baptiste...

'We Love Hair' by Schwarzkopf was released late last year to celebrate the 111th year of the brand. I've just come across some amazing photos of Freja Beha Erichsen and everyone's favourite toy-boy Baptiste Giabiconi, that are featured in the book.

I accidently stumbled on these beauties whilst trying to find scans of the Freja ed in March's UK Vogue because I absolutely love it. She looks amazing naked let alone in Versace and McQueen so it's something of a godsend; she even makes the reptile print McQueen 'armadillos' look hot.

Until I can find (or can be bothered to do it myself) some decent scans, I'm sure the genious of Karl Lagerfeld will suffice.

Not really sure on Baptiste's eyebrows but I'll take his hot bod any day, get your copy here!

Karma pastel-Chanel Chamelion

Having been at my Dad's since the weekend, I've subsequently fallen off the blogging bandwagon. In what can only be described as the ultimate bachelor-pad (think no food, lots of beer, 60" plasma, XBox 360, PS3 and several other things that require serious tech knowlege to even turn on) I've lost track of life itself and Bang Bang has suffered the consequences.

In true slacker style, I'm going to post some of my favourite looks from the Chanel Spring 2010 Haute Couture (somehow fashion is the last thing on my mind when all I can see/hear is aliens shooting other aliens). I think I like the collection although it'll probably be a grower, there were several 'stage' looks and few 'red carpet' outfits, but overall, I thought it very pleasant.

Am v. intrigued by lack of black or gold and think the silver embellishment with the pastel colours is gorgeous. Will get back to real life at the weekend (apologies) but until then, over and out.

Freja Beha Erichsen

Anja Rubik

Frida Gustavsson

Abbey Lee Kershaw

Karmen Pedaru

The big boss man, Karl Lagerfeld

The silk/satin draped dress is stunning and the embellished damask is crazy beautiful. What are your favourite couture shows from the last 5 years?

photos from style.com