Fashion Cravings

It regularly makes me sad that once a season is over those clothes are lost forever to the annals of fashion history. My indecision (and bank balance) often means that trying to decide on and buy up all the key pieces of the season in a mere 6 months is nigh on impossible. Inevitably there are pieces that will forever be resigned to mere wistful notes on this very blog. I don't believe that just because a season ends that these pieces are no longer relevant, I'm very much interested in eternal personal style as opposed to the fast-paced turnover of fashion for fashion's sake.

If it were up to me I would still be buying everything I could get my hands on from Miu Miu's Spring 2010 show. I mean.....!

I recently took this crazy obsessing to new levels and tweeted at the lovely Louise Gray in a desperate quest for the perfect jumper from her AW11 collection however she politely replied it is archive only. I'm not worthy.

My current cravings from (relatively recent) fashion weeks past that suit my mood & still reflect AW12 are...

An evolution of the pyjama pants trend (something anyone who knows me will tell you I have bought heavily into) into full-on pyjama suits of the palazzo variety. Think less 'sick day' and more 'Bianca Jagger at Studio 54'; heels and full hair & make up are a must. The perfect actualisation of this that still sticks with me is this sublimely decadent look from Louis Vuitton's Spring/ Summer 2011 show.

I would pair this with those Yves Saint Laurent caged boots from Spring/ Summer 2009 that I absolutely hated and didn't 'get' at the time but now curse myself for not buying...

I've also been noticing lots of plaid mohair in the September issues and was reminded of the perfect dress from Carven's AW 2011 show (below) that serves as my current screensaver. What fashion girl worth her salt doesn't love a Cher Horowitz/ Clueless reference? If the 90's insist on being a trend I will definitely be interpreting it a la Cher!

Carven Autumn/ Winter 2011

Clueless

I particularly loved Fashion Editor Francesca Burns' cute story in September 2012's British Vogue starring Lindsey Wixson, shot by Terry Richardson.

Skirt by Michael Kors

Jumper by Michael Kors

Plaid set by Tommy Hilfiger


Excuse me while I scour every sample sale/ yard sale and eBay account to try to track these down.

More soon.

Your new favourite band

It's a rare thing that you go to see a band and immediately feel the overwhelming need to purchase their album. I can count on one hand the amount of times it's happened to me (see: Local Natives, Golden Silvers).

A few months ago my friend had a +1 for Alt-J at The Africa Centre. I had no idea who the band was but always enjoy live music and largely just went to catch up with her. I didn't know it then but I was in for a treat. I was immediately drawn in by the singer's warm yet vulnerable voice and by the time a spotlight hit the choir hiding in darkness on the balcony above us waiting to chime in, I was hooked.

Someone conveniently captured that exact moment on camera here:

This four-piece band from Cambridge is captivating and unusual with fresh, clever references ranging from lyrics about geometry (alt-j being the Mac shortcut for ∆) to a capella to song Taro's Bollywood vibe. If you somehow haven't already heard their first single 'Breezeblocks' or new offering 'Tessellate' each played 8 times a day on Radio 1, I strongly recommend you check both out now. Their album, An Awesome Wave, truly does not disappoint and is packed with song after song that feels jump-up-and-down-exciting yet somehow soothing at the same time.

You can buy the album here. Check out some of my favourite tracks below:

Frida Kahlo vs Dolce & Gabbana

Frida Kahlo

Karlie Kloss wearing Dolce & Gabbana Autumn/Winter 2012 in Vogue USA, shot by Mario Testino

Dolce & Gabbana Autumn/Winter 2012 show

Giovanna Battaglia wearing Dolce & Gabbana Autumn/Winter 2012 to the 2012 Met Gala

Frida Kahlo

Raf's Dior

Possibly the most anticipated show of the season, if not the decade, was Raf Simons' premiere haute couture effort for Christian Dior. Following the scandal of John Galliano's departure from the fashion house he helmed for 15 years, not to mention the months of rumours that ensued about who would replace him, Raf had a lot to live up to. Having reinvigorated Jil Sander as well as grown his own label, Raf certainly had all the requisite credentials in place. And while names such as Haider Ackermann and Stefano Pilati swirled around it was inevitably Raf who took the cake (and Jil Sander who took back control of her eponymous brand).

Such was the anticipation that designers such as Alaia, Diane von Furstenberg, Donatella Versace, Ricardo Tisci and Alber Elbaz themselves all came to behold the spectacle. Even before the announcement was made, his breathtaking last show at Jil Sander seemed to be a fitting pre-amble to his appointment to one of the world's foremost couture houses and so it was very much a given that he would take the reigns with the proper aplomb. Simons seamlessly delved into the vast Dior archive which he has been tasked with keeping alive and married it with his own modern and current vision. The result was a beautiful and emotional collection that exuded timelessness.

Here's a few of my favourite looks:

I'm absolutely obsessed with the luminescent, futuristic beauty looks. I'll definitely be trying those lips in the near future..

More soon.

What's your jacket, Margiela?

Following hot on the heels of Marni and Versace, Margiela are the latest in a long line of high-end designer labels to pair up with high street powerhouse H&M for a much-coveted collaboration.

Maison Martin Margiela has been one of the houses favoured by fashion insiders for three decades. Founded in Paris in 1988 by the elusive Martin Margiela (he has never had his photo taken), the house is known for it's largely monochromatic and deconstructed design aesthetic, as well as its trademark four white stitches which tack the label to the inside of garments and is said to be demonstrative of Martin's anti-logos approach to branding.

It will be interesting to see how this is interpreted into a mass-produced line with H&M and if it will be able to have the same impact as H&M's past collaborations with brands such as Versace whose iconic prints could more easily watered down. All will be revealed on November 15th when the collaboration - which will include both men's and womenswear - will launch in stores and online.

'Ye know's what's up:

Her Life Is Only As Fabulous As Her Facebook Photos Make It Look

P'Trique's too-close-to-home "Shit Fashion Girls Say" videos will never get old. This time P'Trique is poking fun at our crushing dependence on all things social media and as he would say, I am "obsessed!"

A cameo from the divine Leandra Medine aka manrepeller AND Stella McCartney?! Gurl has seriously upped her fashion game. Check it out below:




Absolute gold/ shit I've actually said recently:
"You've got SUCH a skinny arm in that one, make it your fb pp."
"Supes hein."
"Her life is only as fabulous as her Facebook photos make it look."


More soon.