LFW: Zoë Jordan: SS12

Zoë Jordan's SS12 collection was a dream. Old school, quintessential English glamour oozed from the collection with soft tailoring, pretty lace and preppy detailing. Texture in silks, lace and tweed and clean lines wear abundant and subtle splashes of print appeared but were not the dominant part of the collection which I liked. The collection was elegant yet playful and I adored the colour palette. The nudes, creams and burnt rust tones were fresh and interesting and added to the opulent, antique feel of the collection. 

The round frame sunglasses, which were designed by Jordan for Andy Wolf specifically for the collection topped off the old-glamour vibe.

I Just Can't Help Myself: Prada SS12

I am desperate to keep my fashion week coverage in chronological order so I was not going to discuss anything from Milan until I had finished with the London posts (they are slowly coming through, I promise). 

BUT...all I want to do is talk about Prada right now!

I will do a full post on the A-MAZING show when I've caught up with everything on the blog but I just had to post at least one image (ok, well two then).

Rounded shoulders, crew neck coats, midriffs and pleats...my-oh-my.

Images from style.com

LFW: Tardiness...

I have so much to report to you from this season's London Fashion Week and I'm so behind in doing so!

Please forgive me readers, a mix of my birthday and fashion week has meant I have had the busiest week (and the most fun I might add).

I will be catchin up on my posts over the next few days but I'm off shooting today so until this evening this should tide you over...

Meadham Kirchoff's SS12 show. Balloons, ballet, candy colours and fun...what's not to like?

              

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.

LFW: Bora Aksu SS12

The Bora Aksu show blew me away. I simply loved it.

The show opened with nine models all in a palette of creams and nudes. They stood still at the opening of the runway for a few minutes for the audience to appreciate the image that was in front of them, which was perhaps re-creating the original Edwardian postcard that Asku drew his initial inspiration from.

Navy, black and a flash of choral complimented the fresh, neutrals perfectly throughout the show.

The entire collection has a delicate and feminine feel with hints of Edwardian dressing via slightly bustled hips, lots of ruffles and frills, maxi and midi lengths and peplum detailing. I love the panelled detailing and structured shapes and the floral headbands seen on some of the models. The collection had a slight lingerie feel to it and the fishnet/lycra tights added edge to the graceful and elegant collection.

All images are my own, please credit if repeated.

LFW, Day 1: Caroline Charles SS12

So, that wonderful time of year is upon us again, September Fashion Week. Summer is just drawing to a close and just as we prepare ourselves for autumn dressing the spring shows for next season are thrust upon us (not that I'm complaining).

First up for me was Caroline Charles.

The collection was made up of loose silk dresses, cute tailoring and evening wear- including all over sequined pieces- all very wearable. The later pieces in the collection were less to my taste, although they were beautiful and elegant I'm just not a sequins kinda gal. BUT, the loose silk dresses, sophisticated tailoring and boater hats which all scream riviera chic are all pieces I can get on board with. Every single look within that section would be something I'd gladly cover my back with. Gingham checks, wide leg and tapered trouser shapes, delicate ruffles and florals in a colour palette of white and navy with pops of colour in teal and coral. I specifically enjoyed the silk jumpsuits, mid length navy silk dresses and the checked suit- just wonderful.

Top image: my own, all other images: Elle.com

The collection is the perfect wardrobe to cruise round the med in on your yacht. If like me (and many others) you don't actually have a yacht, jaunting around the city next summer in one of these pieces would be equally as satisfying.

The finale (please excuse the slight shake of the camera, I'm still trying to perfect my filming skills).

All-in-all an excellent way for me to start the season.

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

             

Recent Obsession: Dagmar...

On a recent styling job I came across Swedish brand, Dagmar. It's true to say I'm now obsessed. The AW collection offers classic pieces in fresh cuts and shapes. Silhouettes are stretched and slim whilst layering and multiple textures offer an eclectic and bohemian feel to chic pieces.

IN LOVE - OBVS.

Recent Obsession: Math Collective...

I have recently come across womenswear brand, 'Math Collective'. Their simple cuts and clean lines, worked in silks and leathers are very much my style and now at the top of my lust-list. The contemporary yet un-complicated silhouettes of each piece screams off-duty elegance and each piece could easily be taken from day-to-night. With affordable price points, (the sandwash silk blouse is a very well priced £68) and the fact that they are showing at September's London Fashion Week means that this brand is definitely one-to-watch.

Here are a few of my favourite pieces from the spring/summer collection to get you through Monday afternoon...

Shop online here.

Follow Math Collective on Twitter here.

Math Collective are represented by Katch PR.

Chanel Couture AW11...

A separate post was needed to give the credit to my favourite collection of Paris Couture Week.

It was Chanel.

There are no words I can use to sum up how I feel about the collection but I will say that it gives me an overall sense of happiness and leaves me with only one thought, " what can I do to earn the money to own these pieces?".

Well done Karl, you've done it again.

Watch the full show below...

Part One

 

Part Two

Images taken from style.com

Paris Couture Week: AW11

A little late with my posting on this season's couture week, so apologies but I have only just found the time to view each and every show in full and that's what these shows deserve. Couture collections are why I first became interested in fashion. Viewing a show is like entering a divine dream.

Here are a few of my favourite looks from this season's collections.

1. Alexis Mabille 2. Armani Prive 3-5. Azzedine Alaia 6-10. Christian Dior 11-14. Elie Saab 15-17. Givenchy 18-20. Jean-Paul Gaultier 21-24. Valentino

Images taken from style.com