Vogue Japan: Keeping the faith

WOW.

This soot for Vogue Japan 2012 shot by Carlyne Cere De Dudzeele and styled by Sissy Vian is incredible. I love the styling, the hair, the lighting, the make-up...ok I basically love the lot. As anyone with a fashion eye can tell, about three tonnes of Versace has been used here whether it's current, vintage or their collection for H&M. Emilio Pucci and Balmain also feature amongst others. It's rather reminiscent of the PPQ SS12 show which I also fell in love with back in September.

I'm off to buy some ridiculous hair dye...

I'm also rather fond of the name of the story because it reminds me of the Jovi, who after 16 years, I'm still obsessed with.

                                 

Oscar De La Renta Pre Fall 2012

Oscar De La Renta's pre fall 2012 collection was shown on Tuesday. For those not lucky enough to receive an invite, the show was also streamed live on the brand's Tumblr site. What a way to utilise social media!
Any how, back to the topic in hand...the show.

Images via Style.com

Preppy tailoring, statement prints, feminine dresses, floor length gowns and directional design, this collection has it all. I did find it all a bit of a mish-mash of many ideas as we see many different styles and pieces in this collection. I tend to enjoy a subtle signature thread running through a collection to hold it together and I did find that this collection lacks that but that in no way means that each piece isn't pretty darn great...there are unquestionably brilliant pieces throughout and many are in my (somewhat brimming) imaginary wardrobe.

Well done ODLR, another successful season ahead. (Now if someone could get me a winning lottery ticket soon, that would be just grand).

Watch the full show here...

            

Love It

Feeling a lot of love for 90s Versace right now. So brash, so garish and friggin cool.

Sinner

I have been a bad blogger.

Numerous things have played havoc with my blogging routine of late and for this I can only apologise. What I will say is that there are many exciting things in the pipeline; workwise and sometimes these things take precedent (no rest for the wicked hey? - Well at least the self employed), not to say I don't love each and every hit I get and that some of you choose to come back and see me again.

I will be back to normal very soon so please bare with me, I'm just feeling a bit crazed. Maybe even as crazy as this awesome shot of Helena Bonham Carter for Marc Jacobs AW11...

LFW: Georgia Hardinge SS12

My favourite elements of dressing at the moment are buttoned up shirt collars, statement prints, capes and a flash of midriff, with this in mind it's no surprise that I LOVED Georgia Hardinge's SS12 collection.

I would literally wear every piece (a bold statement I know - but true). The structured hips, shirt collars, cape detailing and flowing shapes all in a beautiful and elegant palette of grey, white and orange is enough for me to jump into the Delorean and head straight for SS12 now (oh no, wait, I'm not in Back To The Future- darn it, still waiting for that time machine).

 I love the contrast between the sleek and strong tailoring and the free-flowing, sheer maxi dresses.

Just like last season, her signature structured silhouettes and most importantly her graphic prints were the handwriting stitched throughout the collection.

This collection is definitely for me, I am still drooling a week later.

LFW: PPQ SS12

The PPQ show was immense. I loved it, I even loved the huge queue (or the PP-Queue, see what I did there?) outside. Ok so maybe I didn't love the queue, but I did love the anticipation that grew whilst I was in the queue. Thank god I got there when I did as I doubt everyone behind me got in.

The sound track was amazing, a soft piano instrumental of Kanye West's Gold Digger played upon entry- a hint that Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parker are still being inspired by hip-hop?

The rest of the show was accompanied by banging 90s tracks which added to the glory of the collection. Opening looks were cutsey dresses in pretty pastels with little touches such as lapels and gold buttons. Then came the fun. Bold, bright abstract prints, lots of gold detailing and inspired yet wearable denim (courtesy of their collaboration with Lee Jeans). The brand also collaborated with Bebaroque for some draw-dropping tights, leggings and body suits.

Images taken from style.com (mine were sadly not up to scratch on this occasion!)

To conclude I would say the collection was a mis-mash of 90s hip hop, western cowboys, euro-trash and a touch of Zorro...all in the best meaning of the sense.

Perfect. It's LOVE.

I also bumped into famous 'FROW' and fashion week attendee, Pandemonia. You may remember her from my interview with her earlier this year. Read the interview here.

The finale...

LFW: Teatum Jones SS12

Walking into the Teatum Jones presentation was like stepping into a peaceful oasis from the usual hustle and bustle of fashion week and it was a welcome rest towards the end of the day.

In my personal wardrobe I tend to shy away from pastels due to my pale skin and fair hair but that doesn't been I can't appreciate the beautiful washes of pinks, blues and khakis that were the main colours show in the collection. A pop of lemon, yellow organza added a fresh, spring twist in the mix too.

The collection was elegant, dreamy, fragile and almost fairy-like but to counterbalance that the chic, tailored pieces, dark prints, structured tux/lapel details on dresses and t-shirt necklines added contemporary and interesting elements to the ultra-feminine and ultra-wearable collection.

All images are my own, please credit if repeated.

LFW: Jean-Pierre Braganza SS12

Jean-Pierre Braganza's SS12 collection kicked off with a strong monochromatic palette. Which lead into khaki, blue and muted choral.

Maxi and mid-thigh lengths on the dresses were key as were the strong silhouettes of the well structured tailored pieces. It was an elegant collection and I loved the juxtaposition of the graceful dresses mixed with the  masculine jackets. The almost deco prints were pretty special too. These elements mixed with clean and simple lines and cuts made it a truly desirable collection. As a fan of the killer heel it was pleasing to see these throughout the show.

I also liked the fresh pink blush seen on cheeks and the fishtail pony-tails- a cute and contemporary touch.

The finale...

All images are my own, please credit if repeated.

Warehouse & BFC Design Competition

Highstreet retailer Warehouse have once again teamed up with the British Fashion Council Colleges Council to find new design talent. The competition is now in it's third year and for the first time the panel were not only searching for a designer but a photographer too.

Fashion graduates were invited to present their final collections to a panel of industry insiders including Lisa Byrne (Design Director) and Sue Vyse (Deputy MD) from Warehouse, Anne Tyrell (BFC Chair), Caroline Rush (BFC CEO), Tiffanie Darke (Editor at the Sunday Times Style) and Celestine Cooney (Stylist). The panel selected one design graduate, Shivani Chavda's collection to be put into production and sold nationally in Warehouse stores. Emily Smeaton was the photography winner and she has photographed the national marketing campaign shots for the collection.

Both winners will join Warehouse for a six month placement in which they will watch their collection develop from the initial designs to the marketing launch.

The collection named 'In My Wildest dreams' is bright, bold and feminine. I love the tropical impact prints and the clash of cropped tees and maxi lengths. Inspirations were taken from exotic animals and surreal art merging together. It is available in selected Warehouse stores and online from today.

Congratulations to the winners and to Warehouse for continuing such a great initiative.

Prabal Gurung SS12

Another triumph from the New York runways...Prabal Gurung's SS12 collection. Bold and feminine silhouettes, floral prints, geometric shapes and fetish undertones in latex, mesh and cut out detailing all featured as well as a strong colour palette of purple, black and white.

Divine.

Images sourced from style.com

             

If You Say Run, I'll Run With You...

Where's it from?

Dressing gown (worn as jacket), leather bag, brooch: vintage, chunky necklace: Topshop, multi-strand necklace and belt: Warehouse, leotard: American Apparel, sandals: New Look

Some Bowie for you...