Sunday, 26 December 2010
Merry Christmas from Dolly!
Hunting out vintage treasures with Tamara
Friday, 17 December 2010
Building a grown-up wardrobe: Part 1
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Getting in the closet
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Princess Emily's spangletastic birthday
Friday, 3 December 2010
Karen Millen - leave your preconceptions at the door
Thursday, 2 December 2010
My ultimate Channukah wish list…
So, in no particular order, here are my top 7 dream presents for the rest of Channukah 2010:
Number 6: As predicted this summer, now I'm a freelancer I'm spending a truly obscene amount of time in my pj’s. I first saw these at the Selfridges Christmas press day in July, and hardly a day has gone by where I haven't wished they were mine. So despite their price tag (somewhere round the er £800 mark), these Ashish pyjamas are really a necessity, not a luxury. In fact, I even reckon I’d be able to claim the tax back on them!
Number 5: Yes, I may already own a pair of Duo boots, but I desperately need another pair. You see I love my Duo boots more than I knew I could love any boots ever. Not only are they beautifully made and fit like a glove (or like a boot should!), but every time I wear them I get gazillions of compliments, and no matter what I wear with them I always look super-chic, smart and generally glorious! So, yes I may already own this pair, but I need the ones above too, so there!
Number 4: I’m having a bit of a statement tights moment right now, and although I have more than a couple of pairs I’m clumsy and ladder them all within days. Bebaroque really take the whole statement tight thing to a whole different level though, and these Carla ones are my absolute faves. So I’d really love to add to my little collection!
Number 3: Ok, so I know this might sound weird, but for the past couple of years I’ve become slightly obsessed with trying to find the perfect Christmas jumper. Ideally I was hoping for something second hand and hand knitted by someone's Granny, but after months of trawling charity shops with no luck, I’ve found this brand spanking shiny new number by Louche - a snip at £42, which would do me just fine for now!
Number 2: I love jewellery – it’s my ‘thing’, but since going freelance I’ve been really good and not really brought any. I’ve been thinking about it long and hard, and what I’d really like the most is an armour ring. I know there are lots and lots of amazing young jewellery designers out there creating incredibly beautiful things, but in this case this Topshop version is just what I’m after.
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
A White Channukah
Friday, 26 November 2010
All I want for Channukah....
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
RIP Rocky
Monday, 22 November 2010
The early bird catches the Lanvin.....I hope!
LANVIN FOR H&M – THE "HAUTE COUTURE" SHOW from Barracuda Film & TV on Vimeo.
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Charlotte Church - Logical World
Thursday, 11 November 2010
The definition of Hermes-zing!
Blog Coma - Blog Binge
Monday, 4 October 2010
LFW Sept 2010 - On Sunday there was nudity....at last!
The rather genteel start to the day was then totally shattered by what was to become one of of my LFW highlights - Charlie Le Mindu's show. As we took our seats we were all expecting a bit of flesh - maybe the odd nipple or what have you. What we weren't expecting was a full-frontal extravaganza (causing the ever-fabulous Sebulous to rename/ crown him Charlie Le Minge-u)! This show was without a doubt one of my absolute faves. After 3 days of neutral palettes, safe shift dresses and nicey nice tailoring I was crying out of a massive dollop of something subversive, and Charlie provided a truck-full. Here are some of my high-lights...
Poodle perm brilliance. I think every perm should come with poodle at the front as standard from now on.
I've always had a thing for Flamingo's (in a platonic sense, obvs), so totally fell for this Flamingo hat. How fricking fabulous - would wear it at the drop of a....well....hat!
Charlie's show was styled by his good friend Anna Trevelyan (aka. Tamara's ex-assistant, who is now assisting Nicola Formichetti who styles Gaga). I wonder how many of these pieces will end up on La Gaga? I can definitely see her in this Hollywood headpiece - no?
Also, heard a fantastic rumour that one of the models got cold feet and refused to go commando at the last minute, forcing Charlie and Anna to cast one of the assistants! Isn't that just the best story? I REALLY hope it's true! And if it is, all I can say is thank god I wasn't assisting on this show!
Then we all treked to bloody Souf Landan for the Matthew Williamson show (admittedly Tamara was driving, so it wasn't that much effort for me!). The venue was the awe-inspiring Battersea power station, which I thought was well worth the effort.
Inside the purpose built catwalk tent. What a phenomenal back drop.
The collection had a luxe-safari feel. I loved the taffeta and heavy silver embellishment....
And the extreme tassels...
The exceedingly wearable sandals (especially the ones with the patterned bases).
And of course there were the obligatory floaty maxi dresses. This year they were toughened-up with some sexy S&M stylee harness action, which I was liking very much (although thinking they'll look a bit surgical with bigger boobs)!
Would swap my mother for: The body of either of the naked models from Charlie Le Mindu's show - serious envy. Failing that the Flamingo head-dress has feautured in a dream of two...
Would wear if gifted: Any of the Basso & Brooke pretty dresses or a silver-embellished Matthew Williamson jacket. In fact, if I had the money I'd even pay for them.
Couldn't stomach: Fluro yellow Charlie Le Mindu wigs. Just not a colour hair should come in. Ever.
LFW Sept 2010 - On Saturday I was bad Jew
LFW Sept 2010....the last known reports...
Not even gonna bother with excuses as to why my LFW coverage is about a month late. Will just say that I’ve been mentally busy and totally exhausted. End of.
LFW – wow, seems like a trillion years ago…and in fashion terms it kinda was! The fash pack have ravaged Milan and are now romping round Paris, and soon all will be back to normal. Then before we know it it’ll be February and it’ll all start over again – god help us all! Anyway, I was very much out and about during LFW (apart from Monday when I assisted on a rather frustratingly-scheduled shoot). Was pretty devastated at the time, but it had to be done, and I had THE most phenomenal chicken and avo sandwich of my life at Spring Studios, so swings and roundabouts I guess!
If trad catwalk reports are what you’re after, then please see the previous post with links to all my bits for MSN and Planet Notion. If however you want some interesting pics, and my take on LFW complete with my ‘Would swap my mother for; Would wear if gifted; Couldn’t stomach’ rating then read on….
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Lost in fashion....
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Hilary for Fashion Queen!
When it comes to British fashion legends Hilary Alexander is up there for me. Everywhere you go, there she is tirelessly scribbling away on her notepad. Yesterday she made it to the Bora Aksu show just in the nick of time, and instead of pulling rank and creating a fuss just popped herself down on the floor and quietly got down to business – now you don't get more down to earth than that! 3 cheers for Hilary I say - if only everyone in the industry was so modest!
Bora Aksu – Ants & Corsets
Apart from a smattering of red it was a very neutral and really quite wintry palette, and partnered with the opaque tights, Bora doesn’t seem too optimistic about the chances of good weather next summer!
The collection was (short) dress heavy, with a couple pairs of trousers to break it up. The dresses were all very pretty - feminine but with a certain hard edge. I particularly liked the padded structured ones. Ruffles worked alongside masculine tailoring and references such as braces, and all in all the collection felt cohesive and very wearable.
Padded dresses - I'm sure these will make lots of celeb and editorial appearances.
Would swap my mother for: One of the hair bugs
Would wear if gifted: The red ruffle front skirt or one of the structural dresses
Couldn’t stomach: The shoes (not sure who they were by, but they were vile)
Ashley Isham SS11 - Behind the scenes!
The team (L - R) - Malcom Edwards, hair stylist extraordinaire; Tamara, who was styling the show; Jess, one of her assistants; and last but by no means least, the man himself - Ashley Isham (who was looking rather dashing in a choir boy kinda way I thought)!
Me getting a mani backstage...yes, it's a hard life! What's more it's not just any mani, as it was done by Sarah Bacchus - Celebrity nail technician. I was actually providing a service don't ya know, as Sarah needed to do a colour trial-run, and there were no models there yet....talk about right place right time! Stupidly I forgot to take down a ref of the colour, but it's a gorgeous nude...yummy!
Models in waiting. The post hair and make-up, pre dress rehearsal lull...
Head-wear genius Kiko (with the blue hair) and his team working like maniacs to finish his 4 incredible head pieces backstage. I don't think I saw any of the look-up for about 3 hours...didn't envy them at all. The hard-work definitely paid off though!
One of my fave looks from the collection. I love the graphic print, burnt orange and shape of the dress, and the headdress (literally) topped it off perfectly!
My favourite headdress. They were made from silk flowers, crystal and laser-cut brass - just incredible! In case you hadn't already guessed Kiko is the man behind many of La Gaga's head pieces. I'm thinking I'd like one instead of a veil when I get married...
Raphael Young shoes, which I'm totally in love with! He's a new designer, and I think the next Nicholas Kirkwood....deffers one to watch!
Tamara jubilant at the end of the show, clapping away to our fantastic closing song - Rock the boat The Hues Corporation - TUNE!