8.6.10

To do...

What to do when you can't sleep?... well I write reams and reams of 'To do lists'...Just finished a couple of mine, quite therapeutic to get that all off your mind and jot it down on what needs to be done. I am a real 'put-it-off-er' when it comes to those slightly boring and tedious tasks such as sorting out the accumulation of various things, filing bills etc. I like to believe writing my lists will help me aim to get all these jobs done and dusted in no time- keep me focused and most importantly remember to do them at all! 
No.3 on my list is to aim to blog more- I have so many possible posts lined up either stored on my laptop yet never quite making it to being published or those whizzing around ideas in my head- I pledge I will get these up on here soon, so keep an eye out. Thanks again for all your support and wonderful comments and emails I have received lately. I love to hear from you all and it pushes me to keep on top of it all and keep going... glad you are enjoying my ramblings as much as I enjoy doing them. Again any suggestions, advice or general questions all more than welcome... 
Be back soon (promise!) 

[[Image via Love is Dope]]

4.6.10

Bubbly Bubbly



I found this gorgeous image along with many other's in Emily's 'Sunday Scrapbook' on her blog, Between Peace & Happiness. This image instantly evoked my thoughts back to this rather odd yet rather pleasing film I stummbled across recently on tv at around 2-3am in the morning called Bubble Boy. It is one of those films you have never heard of before yet for some reason you get drawn instantly into watching it. I could not tell you what channel or what day it was actually on but for some reason I had woke up out of my sleep and found this charming film on which was alike anything I have ever seen before and had to stay awake to watch until the very end. If you have ever seen this film I guess you will know what I mean.

John Carroll Lynch and Swoosie Kurtz as Jimmy's parents and Mitch Holleman as Jimmy at age 4 in Touchstone's Bubble Boy - 2001 via allmoviephoto.com

Jake Gyllenhaal and Swoosie Kurtz in Touchstone's Bubble Boy - 2001 via allmoviephoto.com

Jake Gyllenhaal and Danny Trejo in Touchstone's Bubble Boy - 2001 via allmoviephoto.com

Jake Gyllenhaal and Patrick Cranshaw in Touchstone's Bubble Boy - 2001 via allmoviephoto.com

Behind the scenes- By David Strick Jake Gyllenhaal. "Bubble Boy," Dec. 21, 2000 for the LA Times


Amazingly the film is based roughly around a true story, the jist of the plot goes a little something like this: Jimmy Livingston (Jake Gyllenhaal) is born without an immune system and therefore has to live his life inside a sterile bubble dome in his bedroom. ultimately this leads to him being nicknamed on the outside world a 'bubble boy'. as he grows older he becomes more inquisitive of the outside world and  discovers that a new girl, Chloe (Marley Shelton), has moved in next door, he is totally smitten and then end up becoming close friends. The friendship soon develops to something much stronger however jimmy appears to have been pipped to the post when chloe goes of to Niagara Falls to marry rocker Mark. Jimmy reluctant to let this happen and wishing to declare his love develops his portable bubble to enable him to set off on his journey to find Chloe and stop the wedding. I'm afraid my description does not do this comedic movie much justice and I recommend it is a must watch... a little strange but completely charming. 

It also got me thinking of possible Bubble Boy influences??? (in the world of fashion that is)...and I came up with this little bevy of beauties below:    

From Top Right across: 
1. Hussein Chalayan bubble dress via Kingdom of Style
2. Lady GaGa via Fashion Flick
3. Bubble hat designed and made by Paula Cooper via Kingdom of Style
4. Jose Castro fall 2008 via WWD
5. Jose Castro fall 2008 via A Shaded View of Fashion 
6.  Jose Castro fall 2008 via A Shaded View of Fashion 
7. Phillips 'Bubelle' emotion sensing dress via Crunchwear.com

2.6.10

Warm Pixie, knitwear for even summer days


Just come across this cute and playful knitwear and jersey brand Warm Pixie... I know what your thinking, knitwear?! it's summer isn't it? well yes the sun is finally coming out but that does not mean we should banish all our knitwear completely. For cooler days Warm Pixie combines a mix of fine gauge knit and 100% cotton to bring a cutesy knitwear collection, perfect for teaming with your favourite denim cut offs.

The new collection above is a mixture of body con meets sports-luxe with delicate mesh paneling, colour blocking and frill shoulders. Go nautical with stripes or my current fav the unbelievably kitsh flamingo crop-tee (reminds me of the John Waters classic cult film pink flamingos, how divine!)

The collection is available at their brand new e-tail site www.warmpixie.com and in selected Topshop stores. Prices start from £29

27.5.10

VOLT not by Conventional Standards: Introducing VOLT CAFÉ

VOLT the famously oversized and unbound fashion biannual does not follow the conventional rules, so welcome to the new interactive VOLT CAFÉ, which is an extension of the magazine online. It's not a blog and not merely a mag website but is an immediate online platform which showcases new talent, artists and designers as soon as they happen, while remaining equally focused on recognized brands (what VOLT does best!) 


VOLT CAFÉ I warn you is seriously addictive already spent my morning neglecting the washing-up mesmerized by the elegant and seductive mini-films in VOLT TV. See some of the amazing editorials in the recent  7th issue come to life, such as the 'World Party' shoot displaying the desirable new adidas Originals A.039 Spring/Summer 2010 collection.  




This beauty editorial - The Treasure Nest is just beautiful, I urge you all to check it out
Photography James Brown and Styling by Ella Dror, what a fantastic combination.




This is the issue 7 revised cover version of VOLT by knitwear designer extraordinaire Craig Lawerence. 
These are a series part of a unique concoction between VOLT, F.TAPE and Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED launched at London A.W 2010 Fashion Week.  
Young British designers who took to recreating the iconic covers included Hannah Marshall, Craig Lawerence, Holly Fulton, Katie Eary, Dean Quinn, Fred Butler, Manjit Deu and Gemma Slack. They had all previously been displayed in exhibition at the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED cafe  to all then recently auctioned off in a specialised online sale to raise funds for young designers... only wish I was lucky enough to have got hold of one of these amazing one-off artworks.






VOLT 01
Photographer Rui Faria
Customised by Holly Fulton





VOLT 04
Photographer Benjamin Lennox
Customised by Fred Butler






VOLT 06
Photographer Roger Deckker
Customised by Gemma Slack


You can download these an many more exclusive VOLT and F.TAPE art pieces in postcard format via the CRYSTALLIZED website.



VOLT CAFÉ  www.voltcafe.com

7.5.10

The Politics of Fashion


So we are all a bit over indulged with the constant coverage of the run-up to the election and do we say thankfully it's here and I guess in a way it's all over (or the beginning however you wish to view it). So no looking back now the votes are in and they are being counted, please do not call in now or you may be charged... pardon my mistake it has been rather X Factor like with all this leader pleas­ and pledges (often begging for votes) the live T.V debates where they must give a performance of a lifetime or face the prospect of being chucked out (and in Gordon's case he has to fight to the bitter end). 

Well I do hope everyone used there right to vote, I know I did but it has got me thinking, perhaps in a selfish way but then again I guess politics all effects us individually. However I have been looking at the prospects of what ever future party is in will have on the Fashion industry (well hey I am in it I guess) I would like to think that studying for a Fashion Degree that the British Industry will only benefit and prosper. In the current sphere the focus of leaders wives has been propelled especially with on their much deliberated fashion choices.  


Image Via Vogue UK 

It all started off with the ultra 'classy' and sophisticated look of Michelle Obama which captured the attention of the world along with the world fashion press, she was the on the cover of Vogue with the anchor "The First Lady The World's Been Waiting For". Choosing Designers such as Jason Wu, Thakoon and even J crew. 

As always Britain often tries to follow suit and the British press have turned their attention to our own party leaders wives style credentials. With Sarah Brown (currently) in the hot seat you cannot deny the effect she, herself has had on British Fashion especially her involvement in the past two London Fashion Weeks. The Guardian even stated in Sep 2009 "How London fashion got its groove back — with a little help from Sarah Brown". Brown apparently help swoop London back firmly onto the fashion map as it was slowly began slipping off the radar. The BFC secured our prime talent of Christopher Bailey and Matthew Williamson persuading them to come back home. Brown also hosted a well-to-do fashionable dinner for the Fash elite, where she wore her own privately purchased (she does not accept freebies) Erdem dress and confimed that the government will provide finical backing for the industry. Finally getting the country on par with our european counter parts who have historically always had fanstic support from their retrospective governments. She supports british designers (Erdem, Osman and Issa) which is refreshing as many of our British celbs will often move onto the larger design houses offers very quickly. 



Image R>L: Sarah in Erdem via The Telegraph and in Osman Yousefzada at Elle Syle awards via The Mirror  and Sarah Brown and Naomi Campbell welling it up at Glastonbury promoting the white ribbon alliance via The Daily Mail 

Her white ribbon alliance with her and naomi cambell getting friendly and putting their high profiles to a well respected and worth while charity, which is not only admirable but says alot about her character. She recently also suggested while on the GMTV sofa with her husband that there would be a possibility of them both entering into charitable campaigns and support when the politics game is all over. 

So to me losing the power of Sarah Brown by Gordon's side in this election would be a devestating blow to UK Fashion. Would other Parties still continue with this positive impact and good work?

To remain slightly impartial although completely speculative, we could see Sam Cam follow suit as I mean she is involved in Fashion herself with her position as creative director at Symthson. So maybe if the tories do edge it in, we would hope that she would protect and push for her own industry so to speak. Her style has not gone un-noticed either and I must say slightly jealous of her wardrobe which I would never believe I would hear myself say of a party leaders wife. She is often found hob-nobing at swanky london do's with the likes of Christopher Bailey so she may already be having quite talks for next Fashion week, you never know! 

So which ever way the vote goes lets hope there is a positive step and the leaders wives in-fact continue to play an important and crucial role, not only as great female representatives but as supports of the fantastic and I must say underrated British Fashion Industry. 

Samantha Cameron in Erdem with the incredibly talented man, (Sir...give it time) Christopher Bailey 

3.5.10

In need of a 'Wedding Guest' Dress

Spring time is blossoming, lambs are being born and low and behold wedding invites are falling through the door. The poem for ode'de Spring. realisation of aging womanhood does not come any bolder than, a 'you are cordially invited' scribed ivory stationery, to yet another friends wedding. I am often found myself thinking, boy does time fly, and is this stage in life not all coming round a bit too soon? 

Well after initially having put the invite aside for a couple of weeks it finally creeps up on me that shit I realy should figure out what to wear. Wedding attire, feels me with fear... I just don't get it! at first I thought the principle was simple, Just a smart summer dress, shawl and hat, done! But oh no wedding politics like most politics is hard to fathom, all the rules of you must never wear white, must not reveal to much flesh, must not wear the same colour as the mother of the bride and under no circumstances should you out-dress the bride, bridesmaid of immediate family. Don't you just hate rules. 

I find the idea of putting the wedding guest outfit together as a challenge, one which I don't particularly enjoy. Spending out money on an assemble which often is quite frankly not usually suitable for any other event than wedding or the races, feels my heart with sadness that it will lead to a spree that will then be neglected to the back of the wardrobe collecting dust until next spring. Yet that is the thing isn't it, weddings are costly business and I am not even the one getting married. You can never duplicate your wedding outfit to another, as all the photos will reveal this fact. It also now seems that a more casual way of dressing to such weddings is now more apparent as I recently found out when I wandered into the church 'tartly' (could be a phrase to use) dressed, as all day I was self-conscious and actually felt that way. 

So here comes the dilemma all over again, a wedding approaching in less than two weeks, What to wear? arrrgh.... 


Floral- I mean nothing says spring wedding more right? And I guess floral means that the dress then becomes more adaptle to summer wearing also (money saving bonus!) So above are a few of my favourites and as much as I believe that the Nicole Fahri Peonie print dress that I saw suggested in The Sunday Times Style as the 'almost' perfect solution for s/s wedding dressing, but one thing other than the price tag I guess. But in comparison the Ted Baker dress (almost similar in print to my recent cheaper version from Miss Selfridge) and for just a £1 extra I would rather own a versatile and beautiful Fahri by Nicole Fahri classic tea dress, than dare I say it an overpriced ted baker piece (as much as I love it also). 

Money, Money, Money, crux to life for a mere student, so I think those two pieces are safely out the question, but can we forget that wonderful site I mentioned several times before. Girl Meets Dress, designer dress rental hire, for any occasion and solves all the issues of forking out on expensive garments to never be worn again. It offers admirers of designer pieces the chance to actually experience the luxury for themselves. The site has it's own 'Wedding guest' dress section and above are a few wxamples that showed up. I am considering this is the best option for myself this time, yet which one to choose??    




Hat or not to hat, that is the question? 

Do people still wear hats? I hardly see them myself any more and the opportunity of being able to wear a hat fills me with excitement. I adore hats and fascinators but they also come with shopability issues much the same as the dress. Do you match or not match? I feel so overwhelmed by choice, for a previous wedding I last minute impulsively brought a purple fascinator (similar to the one pictured above) but do I disregard this one completely or do I use this as the foundation to finding the dress? Should it be a complete purple match piece such as the Miu Miu above or would it be advisable or perhaps more suitable to just use the purple as an accent colour maybe coming through in the delicate print of the dress (such as the whistles tropical dress below). That also brings up the assumption that women must wear a dress, is not acceptable to wear separates or even a smart trouser suit? I just do not have a clue about wedding attire, hopefully this may come with more experience, as at the moment I feel lost, this is a whole new world...I am more than open to suggestions pleasssssseeeee! 


26.4.10

House of Laurus - Press Event

Last week I attended the 'House of Laurus' Press event held in Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. Laurus PR looks after clients across Fashion, Lifestyle and Health and Beauty. Big thanks to the Lovely PR girls who showed me around, see below some of highlights of the event... 

Chantelle French luxury lingerie brand for autumn/winter sees a muted and sophisticated palette of chocolate, browns and champagne. My favourite piece is the lace bustier top right. Stocked in all major department stores including Selfridges & Harrods. http://www.chantelle.com/ 

Sister brand to Chantelle, Pasionata is aimed at the younger 20-somethings, fun & flirty with low plunging and balconette style cuts. Bar Rafaeli models the range who has again been linked to Leonardo DiCaprio, She looks pretty amazing see below: 

    bar_refaeli_passionata_spring_summer_2010_collecti.jpg





Patrick Cox, famously known for his shoes should be equally known for his leather goods range which was launched back in 2002. This coming autumn/winter collection is made up of some stunning colourful pieces, which I was informed by the lovely Laurus PR that the price point has infact been lowered this season, so more accessible for everyone which is a bonus, prices start around £135. The envolope clutches top left are my personal favourite of the collection.  Embellishment of hardware details were key, from zips to tassels also with Patrick Cox metal symbol emblem that makes it a stand-out feature. http://www.patrickcox.com/ available in all major department stores.  


 






  

Nougat London is a newly appointed brand to Laurus PR client list. It is a collection I would say for the older woman, yet with incredible embellishment and detail on each garment.  http://www.nougatbodytohome.co.uk/fashion/




Rakish Heels, are a little from the norm with each pair of shoes having a quirky feature of some sort, usually focusing around the heel. The shoes allow the wearer to be creative and individual with their footwear. They have the fantastic feature of leather heel covers which can be worn on or clipped off to reveal the original brightly coloured heel, effectively two shoes in one (what more could a girl ask for?)! It is such a great idea! Prices start from around £100 http://www.rakish-heels.com    


With thanks to Laurus PR

17.4.10

Hairy Business- A/W 10/11 Trends

Fur was everywhere to be seen on Autumn / Winter 10/11 catwalks. The tactile material moved from the garments to the accessories from puffs of fur bags to compact fur edging through to tufts of visible fur used as embellishment on footwear. 

Fur Ball
     
  • Sphere shaped fur bags are a key shape
  • They come in a variety of shades and colours, with even leopard print being sound at Louis Vuitton 
  • Most designers embraced fake fur this season
  • Sizes vary from Giles large comical eye bag to YSL compact fur clutch. 

    Fur Shoulder


    • Verstaile hands free bags
    • fur often extending up the strap
    • varies from a full fur bag to just fur trimmings and embellishment 

    Handful of Fur 


    • Elegant classic shapes are updated with the use of fur
    • All have rounded, tubular handles
    • Again colours vary with Louis Vuitton using a two-tone fur. 


    Fur Packages 

    • Good things come in small packages so it seems
    • statement fashion pieces - allowing to be on trend with minimal effort
    • alternate ways of carrying a bag from Hermes ingenious perched umbrella bag to Reed Krakof's strapped brace assemble with fur pouches. 

    Centaur Boots

    • Calf high fur boots
    • Yeti, Apres Ski and Eskimo styles. 
    • Shade of fur fading into a darker shade at the bottom 



    • Inspiration for the designers this season could of possibly come from, Inuit and Explorer boots which would be covered in fur to help keep out the wet and cold.
    • 70's ski-wear come-back lead to the re-incarnation of the fur boot
    • Interesting fact the UGG boot (love 'em or hate 'em) came from the principle of WW1 pilots who would wear boots that were called FUGG boots apparently due to there unusual appearance. Australian surfers then adopted to using the FUGG boots to keep there feet warm after surfing and ta-da the birth of the phenomenon started. 

    Touches of Fur

    • Fur embellishment on shoes has been an emerging trend from the street style crowd, with WGSN documenting fur inners from back in 2008. 
    • From a full fur plumage to sproutings of random trimmings of fur, these change the overall silhouette of the shoes. 






    This is a trend I saw appearing across the board, however still relatively a micro one. Wedged boots with cut out soles, from exaggerated toblerone shapes on Viktor and Rolf boots centre, all the way to mini crimples at Chloé. Possibly developed from the likes of the maroon vintage 70s Christian Dior boots (top left).  A sister trend to the sculptural heel seen a few seasons ago, this trend looks to be set to develop further. 

    16.4.10

    Gotta Love a Mid-Season Sale


    This little mixture of sale items has been put together for weeks (so I hope some of these bargains are still around!) can't believe I spent the time to do it yet not post it up!! been rather busy, and thats no excuse, realising there is just not enough hours in the day! Having to do another blog for my uni assessment of my current placement, If your interested you can catch up with what I have been up to on my Intern placement here

    note to self: I will not neglect this blog in the process! as I hope the task of actually completing another one each week in order to get assessed does not drain all of my enjoyment out of blogging!

    so on a lighter note.... have you managed to pick up any good bargains in the mid season sales? to be honest I wasn't aware they were even on until I stumbled across some tan, leather ankle boots from River Island, 1/2 price! still trying to work out if I can justify to wear boots in Spring still?