boohoo

metallics

drawing sasha

This is some play time with Illustrator and my best friend the pen tool - and yes, I'm aware that that makes me a geek. I borrowed Sasha Pivovarova and her perfectly symmetrical face as a template for lazy drawing times. Decided to give her some new looks! I think I prefer her brunette but maybe I'm just biased!

balenciaga

Below is the Nicolas Ghesquière collection for Balenciaga Spring Summer 2012. Elaborately detailed from head to toe; large, black, elliptical rimmed visors (taking inspiration from the iconic photography of Irving Penn) to the geometrically structured heels donning tiger prints to polka dots. The eclectic mix of print, colour, and weight remains sophisticated and simplistic, punctuated with clean black lines throughout.

I love the balance; how the details in the shoes, accessories and fabric textures don't clutter or over do it's simple structures. I know I say it a lot... but this is definitely a favourite! I've always been a fan of Balenciaga anyway, it's up there in the top ten, but I was genuinely excited when I saw this season. It was actually a promotional ad of one of the heels that caught my eye and drew me to this collection - it just so happens I'm helpless to resist a beautiful shoe! ♥

elle for lima

Photographer: Dusan Reljin

Editorial: ELLE

Model: Adriana Lima

swatch

andrea loves clothes

Now I'm guessing that A.L.C. does not stand for Andrea loves clothes... but it just so happens to be the best I could come up with in the allotted time I've allowed myself for blogging this evening. It is, however, safe to say that I love Andrea's clothes. This is Spring Summer 2012, simple, chic, wearable. Andrea Lieberman aims to create pieces that women "love enough to wear again and again" (a lot of love today). These are a few of my favourites from the collection. And those burnt orange platforms - yet more love.

plain jane

"...I then sat with my doll on my knee till the fire got low, glancing round occasionally to make sure that nothing worse than myself haunted the shadowy room; and when the embers sank to a dull red, I undressed hastily, tugging at knots and strings as I best might, and sought shelter from cold and darkness in my crib. To this crib I always took my doll; human beings must love something, and, in the dearth of worthier objects of affection, I contrived to find a pleasure in loving and cherishing a faded graven image, shabby as a miniature scarecrow. It puzzles me now to remember with what absurd sincerity I doated on this little toy, half fancying it alive and capable of sensation. I could not sleep unless it was folded in my night-gown; and when it lay there safe and warm, I was comparatively happy, believing it to be happy likewise."

My favourite written passage - Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë, 1847.

new york city

Photographer: Mario Testino

Model: Gisele Bundchen

acne

So when I say Acne I can assure you I'm not referring to the puffy inflamed vulgaris variety - instead of pimples we're thinking clean cut lines, simplistic European design and a sophisticated colour palette. The Swedish fashion house Acne Studios made a huge impact on the catwalk with their Spring Summer 2012 collection this September, really tearing away from their street-wear reputation and strong association with denim.

The collection was Moroccan inspired after designer Jonny Johansson's Marrakech city break. What I love about it is how he has taken subtle hints from the culture, the colours and the lifestyle without creating a clichéd collection just by using textiles, prints and shapes directly taken from the souks and market places. We're currently looking into the Acne brand for our Fashion Realisation case study and I've instantly taken up a genuine interest in them, I can safely say that studying clothes as beautiful as these for homework, is hardly homework at all!

edward finney

Here are some of my favourite pieces from Edward Finney's Spring Summer 2012 lookbook shoot I had this week! The collection was inspired by the 1920s expatriate settlement in Africa, "a fusion of tribal strength and classical style". Click here to have a closer look at the collection and the inspiration behind it.

the goldilocks of polka dots

So here is Paul Smith Fall 2011 collection, representing two of the biggest trends of the season, polka dots and androgyny, "girls will be boys". I can't say I've ever been a worshiper of spots, dots or anything round and repetitive, but that's partly as it reminds of the sixties and I'm not so keen on that era either, I find it too sickly and unsophisticated. But this season I've found a few collections that have put them in just the right places (the dots I mean) and paired with boy tailoring as it is here, it adds femininity without being over the top. Others I have found to have got the balance right for this winter include Marc Jacobs and Jil Sander.

alexei izmaylov

Designer and Photographer: Alexei Izmaylov

Hair: Romy Burgess and Jennifer Whitehead

Make-Up: Hailey Williamson

Models: Carola and me (Strike Model Management)

Assistant: Renee Bedell

I've just come across the lookbook we shot in June for Alexei's Pre Collection 2012 (which I love, might I add) click here to have a look at the video and explore the site!

gucci and pucci and dior, oh my!

So this is Pre Fall 2009 Dior, with yes, you guessed it, references to film noir. I've been trying to think of something more conceptual, but ultimately my designs so far are headed towards classic, elegant, sexy rather than fashion forward. However this isn't such a negative as honestly I could do with focusing on my pattern cutting skills (or lack of them) more than anything else!

My next step is to check out fabrics - thinking denser fabrics, still feminine but stronger and not too floaty. Floaty says airy fairy to me! The obvious choice would be black. But I was thinking possibly grey - playing with the idea of using the shade of grey that represents blood red in a black and white film/photograph.

the sartorialist

I love this outfit (...and her perfect summer skin, damn her!). This was uploaded last week on The Sartorialist, it was taken in New York - apparently the sun has been shining somewhere in the world.

mountain chic

I love the pops of saturated colour this season amongst the more natural tones. Fur is definitely making a come back this season (yay!). Liking the diversity of this Emilio Pucci Fall 2011 collection, there is a huge range of tones, fabrics, textures and styles that somehow remain cohesive and still scream out Pucci to whoever will listen! Peter Dundas took inspiration from Austria and more specifically the mountains; "...mountains are part of the house DNA but I took it to the mountains my style." He particularly homed in on the portrait neckline making it a central feature to the whole collection.

I think that applying thought to the entire aesthetic surrounding a collection is also important, for example the shoes, the styling, the venue - and here I think the balance is just right. The shoes are each different in style and colour yet still compliment each outfit whilst blending with one another. I like how the hair styling says "winter windswept" and how the venue says "winter palace", really captures Dundas' personal response to the mountain theme.

sugarhill boutique

Had a photo shoot for Sugarhill Boutique recently at Garage Studios in Brighton, for the Autumn/Winter '11 stuff, was a lot of fun. The clothes have just gone up and these are a few of my favourites! The Kiss Kiss Jumpsuit (£60), the Kitty Kaftan (£45), and the Lola Blouse (£36) with Rosebud Shorts (£36).

get rhythm

Probably my favourite couple of all time! If you're lucky enough to catch me singing around and about the house, there is a strong chance it'll be one of their tunes. What a love story! (Walk The Line is also one of my favourite films). Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash 1968 - 2003! ♥

morning beauty

 

Photographer: Mario Testino

Model: Sasha Pivovarova

winter jewels

On the hunt for examples of the jewel tones that made such a punch in the Fall 2011 lines, I was saved a lot of work when I stumbled upon them all in one collection, Gucci. Just to name a few we have emerald, citrine, garnet alongside rubies and sapphires. 

Whilst jewel tones are dotted throughout the entire collection, day and night time looks alike, the three below are head to toe colour in bold shades of emerald, citrine and garnet. These three dresses stood alone are far too much (in my opinion, anyway) but are diluted somewhat amongst charcoals, silvers and of course, blacks.

I've lately become a Gucci fan. I like the bold colour and clean lines, but also how they are complimented by neutral looks in creams for the spring and greys for the winter. I should really be researching for my project but how can one avoid such distractions as these...?!