London Fashion Week SS13: Battle of the Prints

It seems that we're either going to be embracing a mishmash of colours and designs or keeping it simple next season; monochromatic-minimalism has already dominated several of the SS13 catwalks but head-to-toe prints aren't all that far behind...

 Temperley London

Erdem

Michael van der Ham

For SS13, prints have been given a bit of a grown-up makeover; knee-length pencil skirts, high-necklines and classic shapes inspired by Dior's 'new look' were all transformed by various forms of print. Michael van der Ham and Erdem are among my favourites from the London catwalks so far although I'm not convinced I'll be wholeheartedly embracing the trend next season; I'm much more of a black and white kind of gal:

Christopher Kane

As much as I love the colourful and aesthetically exciting variety of print, I feel comfortable in a monochrome palette; it requires much less thought in the morning and you know you'll always look half decent. What are your thoughts on the London collection so far? Have any designers already caught your eye for SS13? 

photos from style.com

Spotlight: Manuela Dack

Manuela Dack is a designer that until very recently, I hadn't heard of. The Central Saint Martins graduate launched her London label in 2010 and her first season was instantly snapped up by uber-cool store The Shop at Bluebird. Dack's tough but feminine aesthetic has become something of a signature aesthetic and I really love her attention to cut and detail. 

Dack's Autumn/Winter 2012 collection was inspired by a selection of carved wooden boxes which translates beautifully into cut-away leather, clever layering and a neat, angular silhouette. I'm really excited about Dack's Spring/Summer 2013, which she will be showing at Vauxhall Fashion Scout in September; there are so many incredibly talented designers emerging from London at the moment and Dack is another name to add to the growing list. Bring on London Fashion Week!

London Fashion Week: Fall Forward with Florals

Unless you've been living in a cave since September, you'll be acutely aware of the amount of floral prints that have cropped up all over the high-street. Everyone from Topshop to Marks and Spencer are having a go which undoubtedly means that there's something for everyone - even the colour-phobes like myself. However, amongst others, Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders have been flying the floral flag here in London for Fall/Winter 2012:

Christopher Kane

Jonathan Saunders

Unlike the prints that we saw in abundance on the Spring/Summer catwalks, Winter florals are bigger and somehow more mature. Instead of the familiar pale yellows, blues greens and pinks that came in the guise of small, dainty designs, next season is more dark and brooding with greens, red and purples taking centre stage.

There are millions of different varieties of floral print on the high street already so if you're sensible, you can buy statement pieces to take you through both seasons. Recycling doesn't get much better than that! So if you want to get ahead then ditch the pretty pinks for murky greens and remember, the bigger the print the better. Capish?

photos from gorunway.com via Vogue

London Fashion Week Street Style: Tommy Ton

Not only does Tommy Ton have an impeccable eye for great street-style, but he also knows how to frame a picture perfectly. This image makes me a) want long blonde hair, b) own a scallop-front jacket and c) wear blue. I hate wearing blue (don't ask) so that's quite an achievement, no? The point is, this is a really great photo that captures some fantastic styling. I'd love to know who the woman in blue is and where she got her trousers from because they are really rather super - any help here?

photo by Tommy Ton from style.com

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!

London Fashion Week: Kinder Aguggini AW12

There are some really lovely elements to Kinder Aggugini's collection but I can't help thinking that its about as wintry as an ice-cream. Besides the few obligatory pieces of knitwear, there's not much else in the way of 'warm' clothing. Then again, when has fashion ever been about practicalities? There's no denying that prints are fast becoming the biggest trend for FW12 and I can confidently say that Aggugini's cowboy-influenced designs are some of my favourites so far. Plus, any man that can make Dr. Martens' 'Adrian' loafer (see below) feminine, is a hero - though that's not to say I'll be investing in a pair any time soon...

What are your thoughts on London Fashion Week so far? The big-guns are still to show but there's not been anything particularly show-stopping yet, sort it out London!

London Fashion Week: Central Saint Martins FW12

I promised myself to try and blog everyday, well, clearly that didn't quite go to plan. Not only did I skip-out the end of New York Fashion Week but now I'm behind on London Fashion week which started yesterday. A big, fat, massive oops. Anyway, I kept a close eye on Twitter for the kick-off of LFW and as usual, the Central Saint Martins show was one of the most hotly anticipated. I half expected the whole show to revolve around the Olympics (yawn) but thankfully only one collection obviously drew reference from the upcoming event. Some collections were fantastic but unsurprisingly, some felt really amateur. There were some that were heavily influenced by the likes of Hussein Chalayan, Aitor Throup, Issey Miyake and Rei Kawakubo whilst others looked more original. My favourites were not the ones that were outlandish or commercial, but the ones that I would personally like to wear.

Although menswear, Kenji Kawasumi tapped into the whole outsized, rounded aesthetic that appeared all over the New York Fashion Week catwalks. I have no idea what fabrics have been used but unlike the apocalyptic colours and shades seen during NYFW, Kenji's collection was playful and bright. Erna Einarsdottir's collection, although not particularly exciting, had some stunning knitwear and geometric detailing;   I don't know anyone that isn't partial to a cosy grey knit for winter!

If you've ever worked with a computer program where you can print the margins and all that other tech malarky, you'll have seen the colour marks and edges that are then trimmed off. I'm not sure whether this was a starting point for Charlotte Helyar, but her collection was slick, structured and genuinely interesting. Now, I'm not all that comfortable with Burka related design aspects but Petra Metzger's collection would still have been clever without the unusual choice of headwear. Maybe I've got the wrong end of the stick entirely, either way, there was something pretty remarkable about her collection; though I can't quite put my finger on it.

The best thing about London Fashion Week is that designers aren't afraid of being creative, of looking outside the commercial box. The Central Saint Martins show is renowned for it's weird and wonderful collections that constantly remind us of why the school is one of the best in the world. Amongst others, CSM helped launched the careers of Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Barbara Hulanicki, Sarah Burton, Hussein Chalayan, Christopher Kane, Mary Katrantzou and Stella McCartney - these students are the ones to watch out for.

What do you all think of the Central Saint Martins show and do you think its status of being one of the most hotly anticipated of LFW is well-deserved? Who were your favourites?

London Fashion Week: Ashish AW11

I saw my first Ashish show this time last year and I've been hooked ever since; it was really exciting being back again for AW11 because I completely and utterly adore the label. Not only does Ashish make sequins edgy (as opposed to something that resembles an 80s disco-ball) but he makes such beautiful and playful clothes that I can help but dribble at the mere sight of them. I've not had a chance to catch-up with the rest of London Fashion Week yet but this collection is by far the best I personally saw all season...

I literally thought this collection was ingenious; I'd even go so far as to say that Ashish is the master of sequins - how great are the baggy skeleton trousers?! This seasons heroine (you'll love this) is "perfectly content to sponge off Mum and Dad, yet discreet enough to ensure her flatmates are unaware of her imminent succession to a thousand acres of grouse shooting and a castle that makes Balmoral look like a Portakabin". As I said, ingenious.

Ripped jumpers juxtaposed perfectly with sequinned trousers; great for dressing-down the going-out look and vice versa. I haven't seen the BFC showspace that rammed for a long while which made the whole experience rather sweaty/exciting - especially because of the whole "only one day left to go" vibe. I never thought I'd say it but I'll be glad to see the back of London Fashion Week for another season, I miss having a social life and regular sleeping pattern!
















What do you think of Ashish? Have any shows really stood out to you from London or are you waiting for the big boys in Paris and Milan to strut their stuff?

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

London Fashion Week:Eun Jeong AW11

I'm a massive fan of the good 'ol headscarf but there's only so many ways you can wear one until it gets boring. Enter Eun Jeong. Not only were the head-scarves very beautifully pinned but the collection was really stunning too. Do, excuse the poor quality of my photos - I was perched on a wobbly school bench behind a rather tall man therefore they're not as great as I would have liked.

These images don't do the scarves any justice - they really were beautiful and made me think 'how on earth am I going to recreate that?!' which is always a good sign. There were a lot of geometric shapes and gorgeous  draped-back dresses - it's such a shame that you can't properly see the garments because they too were really crafted and wearable. Even though Eun Jeong wasn't originally part of our LFW schedule, I thought the collection was wonderful - one to keep an eye on!

What do you think of Eun Jeong's take on head-scarves? I've just returned home from the Olivia Rubin show at Jalouse and will post all the photos as soon as possible - what has been your fave London show so far?

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

London Fashion Week: Paul Costelloe AW11

 Paul Costelloe is one of those designers whose clothes don't really appeal to me. With that in mind, not only were some of his dresses super cute, I now officially want a sharp, red bob. How insane are these wigs?

There were lot's of a-line shift dresses and easy-going prints which were nice but I wouldn't go so far as to say that they were boundary pushing. I still can't get enough of the wigs - they definitely made the collection a lot more appealing to me.

When working backstage, you usually bump into some that leaves you a bit gobsmacked. Last year the mere sight of Abbey Lee rendered me speechless and I think it's safe to say that Janice Dickinson's sudden appearance had the same effect for all the wrong reasons.

I really, really love this woman and think her obnoxious diva behaviour is totally fabulous, much to the dismay of many readers, I can imagine. Anyway, she was everything I expected her to be and she was really rather pleasant once you got past the whole 'look at me' vibe. Either way, I was speechless. 

What do you think of the Costelloe wigs, do you love them or hate them?

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

London Fashion Week: Caroline Charles AW11

Apologies for the delay in posting, I have been non-stop since London Fashion Week began yesterday and have only just had time to upload my photos! Although I wasn't particularly impressed by Caroline Charles, I do really love these imagess from backstage...

The collection was a little bit too Marks and Spencer's for my liking although that's not to say the clothes were bad; they were just miles apart from my own personal taste.

I'll be updating my Twitter as much as possible over the next couple of days so you can stay in the loop too! 

Many thanks to Vitamin Water who have allowed this post and every post to follow. 

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

Our Mountain and Abbey

You know I've got a soft spot for Abbey Lee and seeing as I've just finished my dissertation (woopah!) I thought I'd post this gorgeous photo for you all to enjoy. 

It's from the Our Mountain website and I'm going to have a stab in the dark and say that Abbey is either in the band or dating someone in the band. Anyone care to enlighten me? I think the photo is fab and I'm SO looking forward to seeing Abbey at Fashion Week because she always looks beautiful. 

Anyway, that's enough Abbey Lee for today, who is your girl crush?

photo from http://www.myspace.com/ourmountainourmountain

Look of the Week: Leopard Print

Leopard print is one of my favourite fashion statements. This gorgeous photo from a recent editorial in Elle Turkey is a great example of how to wear leopard print...

To me, this outfit is near perfection: casual yet chic. Not wanting to go all Gok Wan on you, I've put together a couple of looks incorporating a leopard print harem from Motel; what do you think?

Parka from Rokit, bag from Topshop. Leather jacket from Topshop, shoes by Burberry. Top from Topshop, shoes by YSL

These particular trousers are a little bold for my liking but you get the idea. Look 1 is my take on the Elle editorial - finding a decent parka proved rather difficult but they definitely are an investment, I've worn mine all winter! Look 2  is more of a going out look - a decent pair of black heels and leather jacket will never let you down. Look 3 would see you through day, night and even the office (depending on your tolerance for wearing 5 inch heels all day); seeing as fashion week is fast approaching, I think it's time I tried some of these looks out!

Is anyone else as excited about Fashion Week as I am? Obviously seeing the collections is amazing in itself but I can't wait to check out the model's street style this season too. What will you be wearing over Fashion Week?

photos from fashiongonerogue.com and individual store sites

There's No Place Like Home

Giles Deacon tapped his metaphorical red heels and landed smack bang in the middle of London Fashion Week - I'm so glad he's come home.

We've seen it happen before. Alexander McQueen was one of (if not the) best designers this country has ever seen and we let him slip away, definitely a case of 'you don't know what you've lost until it's gone'. However, Giles has returned from notoriously tres chic Paris, and hopefully he'll bring all of his lovely quirkiness with him, because damn we've missed it!

I remember when this gorilla-esque ensemble was shown because all I wanted to do was try it on; nothing has changed because every time I see Giles' work I instantly want to wear it. His return also means I'll have more of a chance to see the collection at LFW which is massively exciting.

Are you glad Giles has come home (I'll be mortified if you say no, so make me happy)? PS. It seems I can't apologise enough for the lack of posting recently, but I really am sorry!

photos from style.com

LFW Issa

I'm still not really sure about Issa last night, there were the makings of a good collection but everything seemed a bit too mismatched. The alien 'cone' shaped quiff and dark lips made a bold statement and yet the clothes, well, didn't.

I loved the shoes (a recurring theme this season!) in all their beaded glory but I wasn't so keen on much else. I was indifferent about the headscarves and the dresses were just so, smart - completely out of context from the accessories. The models were unusual choices too - Alice Dellal and Eliza Cummings; more Christopher Kane than Issa.

(Abbey was an hour late for the show and was literally pounced on by hair and make-up)

Alice Dellal is so beautiful in person; she always looks quite tough in editorials but she has one of the prettiest faces I've seen for a while. 

It's a shame because last season the clothes were spot on, I think Daniella Issa Heyalel needs to find Issa's personal identity, and fast! Although I'm glad Fashion Week hysteria has subsided, this week has just been crazy fun.

What have been your favourite shows from London and who was been the best dressed celebrity?

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