Carine Roitfeld Attends The Karl Lagerfeld x Melissa NYC Launch Party

When the news first broke that Karl Lagerfeld would be designing a capsule collection for Brazilian "jelly" shoe brand Melissa, the fashion world waited with baited breath to see the designer's collaborative collection. On Tuesday night the much anticipated range was finally unveiled at the brands Soho store in NYC. The frivolous fruit scented collection which includes pointed flats, platform and ice cream cone heeled pumps (my personal favourites) is cute and quirky yet sexy in a pin-up kind of way. I could see the likes of Betty Boop clicking along in these. Out of all the guests who attended Tuesday night's launch party, my best dressed of the night had to be Carine Roitfeld. Carine, my favourite stylist, icon and editor looked fabulous in a chunky sunny yellow sweater, beige midi-length pencil skirt and nude Miu Miu heels. She accessorised the look with a tie-dye Miu Miu stole that she slung over her left shoulder. This was such a fun spring inspired look. Her sunny yellow sweater created a real statement and I love the contrasting blue cuffs and hem. The sleeker skirt and pointed pumps kept the look chic and sophisticated. Carine's look really suited the aesthetic of Karl's collection and stood out amongst the other monochromatic choices.

 

 

Were you also a fan of Carine Roitfeld's look? Please let me know in the comments below.

Stella McCartney Collects Her OBE In Stella McCartney

Congratulations to Stella McCartney who finally received her well deserved OBE on Tuesday for her services to fashion. 2012 was quite a year for the designer. She not only presented extraordinary highlight shows at fashion week, she also designed team GB's winning olympic uniform and won the Designer Brand and Designer Of The Year awards at the British Fashion Awards. It came as no surprise that she was named in the Queen's New Year's Honours List. She had to be awarded for her excellence somehow!

Stella collected her OBE in a super chic and sophisticated bespoke bar style jacket and skirt suit of her own design. She accessorised the gorgeous midnight blue suit with a vintage Cartier jewel headpiece and plush velvet heels, also of her own design. I think Stella definitely looked to Wallis Simpson, The Duchess Of Windsor for inspiration.

Stella's look was pure perfection! Elegant, exciting and appropriate. By far one of the greatest looks to grace an investiture ceremony. I'm so happy Stella has been recognised for her brilliant work. She is a fantastic ambassador for the British fashion industry and I can't wait to see what she will do next.

 

 

From A To Biba Book Review

I first discovered Biba whilst attending art college. At the time I was researching the use of Art Deco/Nouveau in fashion. Knowing this, one of my tutors advised me to look into the 1960s/70s fashion superstore Biba whose co-founder and designer Barbara Hulanicki was renowned for creating affordable Art Deco/Nouveau inspired designs for the youth of Britain, defining the transition from the 60s to 70s. With my tutors advise, I began to look into Biba and couldn't help feeling a little embarassed once I discoved how revolutionary they were.

 

I soon became a major fan of Barbara Hulanicki and her sensational designs so when reading an interview with super-stylist Katie Grand (my joint favourite stylist with Carine Roitfeld) where she identified Barbara Hulanicki's autobiography From A To Biba as a book that "changed her", I knew I had to read the book so ordered a copy as soon as possible. Once I received the book, I devoured it. The book includes Barbara's childhood in Jerusalem and her move to Brighton, England, her winning entry design for a London Evening Standard beachwear competition, her introduction into the world of fashion as a freelance illustrator for Vogue, Tatler and Women's Wear Daily, the establishment of Biba as a small mail order company with her husband Stephen Fitz-Simon, its first store, huge success and expansion into Big Biba and its later downfall.

 

This book was a fantastic read. It gave me a great idea of swinging London and what it was like to live there at the time. There was a real nostalgia to Barbara's writing and I loved to hear her stories of Biba's celebrity visitors. There was a real glamour to the time and it was fabulous to read about. It's truly inspiring how Barbara and Stephen turned their small mail order company into one of the greatest and most influential stores of all time. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the world of fashion or business.

 

I hope you enjoyed my review and wish you happy reading!

 

     

The Host LA Premiere: Diane Kruger In Thakoon

Diane Kruger's look on the "teal carpet" at last night's LA premiere of The Host was sensuously sci-fi. Diane's black dandelion appliquéd Thakoon dress was quite a classic choice; however, the sheer side paneling added sensuality and frivolity. Her simple hair and makeup highlighted the statement Stephen Webster earrings she sported and a youthful edge was added with stacked on arm candy. An interesting and exciting sci-fi vibe was introduced with metallic silver accents including a pair of strappy Jimmy Choo Malika booties and a matching manicure. I have been a major fan of Diane Kruger's red carpet choices for years now. She clearly understands and appreciates fashion and this look instantly became a favourite of mine. It was quite an unusual and daring choice for Diane but it totally worked.

 

What do you think of Diane Kruger's latest look? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Vogue Australia April 2013: The Sweetest Thing

International editions of Vogue are now right at your fingertips with Apple's Newsstand app. With this fantastic app, you can immerse yourself in the wonderful work featured in international editions. If you're a magazine addict like me, and love to see another continents vision and perspective on the latest trends, I highly recommend you try out this app. Without this app (excluding the web of course), I wouldn't have had the chance to see the captivatingly stunning "The Sweetest Thing" editorial featured in Vogue Australia's April 2013 edition. The sensational editorial featuring Cassi van den Dungen, styled by Jillian Davidson and shot by Will Davidson is without doubt, one of my favourite editorials in recent years. The hazy, dreamlike quality to the images perfectly compliments the natural wilderness, and Jillian's styling is simply dazzling. She is one of the first editors to use items from Alexander McQueen's Spring/Summer 2013 range (one of my favourite shows of fashion week), and has turned the relatively avant garde and artful designs into something a little more wearable with classic Miu Miu heels. My favourite image from the spread has to be the gorgeous portrait shot highlighting McQueen's statement, jewel encrusted, bee choker. I love its delicacy and tranquility and the sprinkling of dandelion seeds and dried flowers adds to the story's purity. My three favourite shots are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Are you guys as excited by this editorial as I am? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

 



Saoirse Ronan Covers Dazed & Confused: April 2013

Saoirse Ronan is Dazed & Confused's latest cover star. In the haunting and ethereal image styled by Cathy Edwards and shot by Rankin, The Host star models a sleek white wig feathered over her face creating an illuminating and ghostly veil like vibe. This shot definitely brings Mary Kate Olsen's Interview Magazine cover by Craig McDean to mind. It also reminds me of a certain image of Christina Aguilera featured in W Magazine's July 2011 issue. Where Mary Kate's cover was a little more striking and stylised with monochromatic smokey eyes, Saoirse's is a lot starker and more natural with little to no makeup used whatsoever. Although I do love the use of immaculate makeup on covers, I think Saoirse's fresh faced look makes a nice alternative to the usual made-up makeup look. It creates a statement all on its own. This is another strong cover from Dazed & Confused following their stunning Mia Wasikowska cover from last month (a personal favourite of mine). The accompanying editorial is just as stunning. I can't wait to receive my copy in the post!

 

 

 

Alice Dellal For Boy Chanel

I was totally taken aback when I saw the new ad campaign for Boy Chanel starring Alice Dellal. I remember waiting with baited breath to see last year's Boy Chanel ad campaign. There was a little uncertainty regarding Karl Lagerfeld's choice to cast Alice Dellal as its face. She was unlike any other Chanel face past or present and was know for favouring an off-beat punk style. However, this excited me. I looked forward to seeing a younger, fresher and edgier Chanel woman. When I finally saw the complete campaign, I was ecstatic. I loved everything about it. The styling, the set, the hair, the makeup - it was perfect!

 

With the new campaign, photographed by Karl Lagerfeld himself, the look is a little softer with an equestrian, daywear vibe compared to last year's sophisticated, eveningwear vibe. Alice perfectly embodies the more masqueline and "boyish" Chanel woman in oversized preppy cardigans and crisp white dress shirts. Each look is accessorised with a black silk lavaliere and of course, the Boy Chanel Bag - the subject of the campaign. This campaign is truly stunning. Last year's instantly became one of my top favourites of all time, and now this one isn't far behind! Please take a look at this gorgeous campaign below and let me know your thoughts.

All Images © Karl Lagerfeld/Chanel

My Favourite Shows Of Paris Fashion Week: Autumn/Winter 2013 - Part 2

As promised, here is part 2 of my favourite shows from Paris Fashion Week.

Sarah Burton brought another magnificently stunning collection to fashion week for Alexander McQueen. The collection may have been small (there were only ten looks compared to the usual 34 as the collection was created during the last stages of Sarah Burton's pregnancy) but it definitely didn't disappoint. The small number allowed more work to be applied to each look (if that's even possible with McQueen's craftsmanship). The primary inspiration for the collection was classic ecclesiastical wardrobe with undertones of the virgin queen. The collection was filled with Elizabethan  silhouettes, ruff collars, pearls and feathers - all fit for a royal. An edgier vibe was introduced with caged pearl veils, thimble gloves and stacked ankle strap heels.  This collection was truly breathtaking. The craftsmanship of the McQueen atelier was highlighted to the max with incredible results. I can't wait for next season!

The Balenciaga show was without doubt the most hyped about show of the Autumn/Winter 2013 calendar. This was due to the fact that this would be the first show under the creative direction of Alexander Wang who succeeded the position after the resignation of Nicolas Ghesquière, Balenciaga's former creative director for 15 years. I was shocked and saddened when I saw the news that Nicolas Ghesquière had parted ways with Balenciaga. He was for me, one of the most inspiring and influential designers of our time. I was however excited to see Alexander Wang's perspective. I knew he would bring a young and fresh energy to the house, and this he did. He clearly studied the house's archives and brought his youthful edge to classic Balenciaga silhouettes, for example, the iconic cocoon coat and rounded lines. He experimented with a variety of fabrics. One that stood out was a cracked leather that was actually a mohair. My favourite touch of his was the marble motif he used on the lining of dresses and soles of shoes - the shoes were fantastic! This idea was so unusual and original. This was a sophisticated and powerful collection. It was a strong debut and I'm really looking forward to seeing future collections.

This has been a fantastic season. There are many more great shows/collections I have seen; however, the ones featured in these posts are the ones that stuck in my mind and that I genuinely loved. I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on all the shows featured. I'd love to know what shows were your favourites, whether it be from Paris, Milan, London or New York. Please let me know in the comments below.

My Favourite Shows Of Paris Fashion Week: Autumn/Winter 2013 - Part 1

There have been some truly stunning collections shown this past week in Paris. Designers have surpassed themselves and created original and groundbreaking collections. I can't wait to see how these collections will be interpreted by many great stylists for editorial. I really wanted to share my favourite shows from this past week with you. All the collections featured in these posts really touched and amazed me.

 

 

 

 

For me, Louis Vuitton shows are always consistent. In my eyes, Marc Jacobs is a genius at creating a show for dreamers and real fashion lovers. He not only designs sublime and faultless clothing everybody wants to wear in an instant, he is also the master of showmanship. The spaces he creates with his team are out of this world in their extravagance and splendour. He brought us elevators for Autumn/Winter 2011 (a personal favourite of mine), a  carousel for Spring/Summer 2012, a steam train for Autumn/Winter 2012, escalators for Spring/Summer 2013 and now a hotel corridor for Autumn/Winter 2013. This collection was truly stunning. Think Betty Boop 1920s meets Elizabeth Taylor 1950s - very romantic and sexy. There was a gorgeous mix of silk satin slips, floaty and sheer bias cut gowns and masculine dress coats. I loved the mixture of layers and textures (the sequin and feather dipped hems were beautiful and something I haven't seen before), and the way the clothes moved was magnificent. Katie Grand's styling was perfection. The cherry on top had to be the appearance of Kate Moss who hasn't appeared on the catwalk since their Spring/Summer 2012 collection. This was by far my favourite show of fashion week as a whole. It was magical!
 

The Givenchy show is always a highlight for me. I love Riccardo Tisci's strong, dark and edgy designs. They are contemporary and cutting edge, yet so wearable. He really does understand his customer and what they want to wear. You can put this down to his childhood in a female environment (he has 8 sisters). His Autumn/Winter 2013 collection for Givenchy was surprisingly nostalgic and personal. It was definitely his most romantic collection to date. He kept skirts long, soft and flowy in an array of gorgeously printed silks and tulles, whilst toughening up the overall look with masculine sweatshirts and python boots. A highlight for me was his revisiting of previous collections under his creative control. He reused his lily motif from Autumn/Winter 2011 and peplum idea from Spring/Summer 2012. There was a definite gypsy vibe to the collection, a factor Riccardo identified. The perfect finishing touch had to be the tightly curled, candy coloured hair by Luigi Murenu. This collection was astonishingly beautiful, trendsetting and iconic.



Raf Simons created another gorgeous collection for Christian Dior. Despite only being his second prêt-à-porter show for the house, his aesthetic is clearly identifiable - minimalistic and sensitive. I loved his simplistic designs. Their clean lines were utterly chic and sophisticated. The introduction of a baggier trouser and leather "lady" style dress added a cool and contemporary touch to the old classics. I particularly liked the mix of classic houndstooth with crochet overlay.  The early Andy Warhol illustration motif featured on various shifts, peplums and bags was by far my favourite touch. They added a fabulous dimension and quirk. I have been a fan of Andy Warhol's early illustrations for quite some time and actually have one of his fashion illustrstrations from 1959 featured on my bedroom wall. For this reason, this collection felt quite personal to me and added to my love of it.

I will bring you part 2 of my favourite Paris shows/collections tomorrow. Until then, I hope you have enjoyed reading my thoughts on the shows featured.

Somber Skull

I fancied wearing something a little edgy with a rock and roll vibe today. A major inspiration for this look was Saint Laurent's Autumn/Winter 2013 Menswear Show by Hedi Slimane. I love what Hedi is doing at Saint Laurent and can't wait to see further collections under his creative control.

 

I wanted this outfit to look sleek, sharp and monochrome. I decided to team my black skinny jeans from New Look with my embroidered skull shirt from Zara. This shirt is one of my favourite pieces. It's really well cut and the embroidered skulls are small and subtle (they almost look like polka dots) giving the shirt a timeless feel. I threw on my leather moto jacket from H&M to add to the edge and topped the look off with a super long and skinny grey scarf from Next to add an effortless vibe. I hope you like this Saint Laurent inspired look.

                     Zara Shirt | H&M Moto Jacket | New Look Skinny Jeans | Next Scarf | Centro Boots (eBay)

Rhubarb & Mustard

As March has officially commenced, it now means Spring is upon us. However, this doesn't mean the weather wants to warm up just yet! Today was quite a chilly day so I decided to layer my mustard Burton jumper under my super soft houndstooth blazer from Zara. This jacket is surprisingly warming  and the tailored fit instantly adds a dressier feel which is never a bad thing. I added my subtly striped charcoal grey Paul Smith scarf over the top to pull the look together and wore my jade chinos from Burton to compliment the mustard and add a pop of colour.

 



 

                   Burton Jumper | Zara Blazer | Paul Smith Scarf | Burton Chinos | Jones Boots | Ted Baker Bag