The Gold Skirt...

Ok, so it arrived. I literally ran up the stairs and almost broke the door down in my haste, grabbed the package and ripped it open in anticipation. But...I'm not so sure...! I kind of hated it at first, it looked like a bacofoil, sci-fi flick wardrobe reject. It was just so..shiny. But then I tried it on and it started growing on me. But it's got these pleats which look cute when I just stand still like a statue, but a night out will involve sitting, dancing and random drunkenness which I don't think the skirt will be able to take. It bunches up when I sit down for a start!! So it's back to the drawing board, I ordered a top and a dress, I have a back up dress and I'm going to get some shoes tomorrow so we'll see how this pans out! On the upside, I got the most amazing rosary necklace from River Island men's section. I gotta take better pics for u guys...

Super leggings

A while ago, I posted on leggings. Not your average cotton leggings though, super leggings: Kova & T latex leggings and Sass & Bide black rats leggings. Not having the disposable income to afford £80-odd on a pair of leggings, I had to sit tight and wait for the glorious British high street to play catch up...and boy has it! Spied in New Look - Sequin leggings and latex/wet look leggings. New Look site is currently playing up, but I promise you they are instore! Having a nose around the store I found one of the dresses for Sat night on, I discovered they've got it going on when it comes to leggings, with these wet look ones AND ruched wet look ones, similar to Sass & Bide's black rats. A bit...extreme me thinks but no doubt they will keep niggling away and I'll order them. Are you going to get into super leggings? * Source Rare Fashion

Struck gold?

I've got another BIG, BIG night out this Saturday, and I've been fretting about what to wear more than normal, being screwed over by some stupid, pathetic no good fool will tend to dent your confidence somewhat. I've been umming and ahhing over so many outfits, desperately trying to find the one which will make me look and feel absolutely amazing. I had to down to two contenders: Rare Fashion Dress

Lipsy Dress (purple instead of red) But I don't know, they're pretty enough but just haven't got that *something* that I needed. Meanwhile....there was this gold skirt, I saw it on an email I got and it was niggling away at the back of my mind. So today I ordered it, next day delivery...so I should have it tomorrow. I'm not 100% on it, but it seems interesting so we shall have to wait and see what it's like in the flesh. I've decided to pair it with a clingy black vest top and some rosary beads. No idea on the shoes as yet though. The girls at work keep suggesting black or gold, why do they have to match though? I hate everything matching. Any suggestions for the shoes? * Source Rare Fashion, Asos

What Would Karl Do?

Seems like you guys can't get enough of Karl Lagerfeld, lucky for you I've found some more of his genius. Here are some choice extracts from his dissection of the fashion industry at last week's Fashion Group International's Night of Stars... There is a strange and invisible borderline when fashion is not only fashion, but becomes the most evident and most easily visible expression of an area Fashion as history is beyond fashion, and it is not only limited to clothes It is difficult to imagine today that people who shaped the fashion of the first 50 years of the 20th century never had an exhibition in a great museum during their lifetime….Designers (called "couturieres") were happy to dress people (mostly women of society). They designed with the icons of their times in mind — before that word was used as we use it today. They had muses then….For Chanel, it was simpler. She was only her own inspiration (what I admire) The face of fashion is now in the hands of a small group of big companies and they often own several important and influential fashion brands. They also help to make it possible for museums to stage important shows Fashion is today also about big shows like Hollywood productions. In the past, designers made fashion history by dressing people who had a real life in those clothes. We should learn a lot from that. Red carpet (another invention of our times) helps to distort fashion by giving it a fake and too glamorous face. The great designers of the past were certainly not humble people, but they worked in the days before media buzz. What helps most of us a lot in a way, promotion (and self-promotion), did not exist before. It's also something that makes our approach to fashion different (too different?). But what will survive from all that? Fashion is about the harmony between utility and beauty. But the sense of beauty in fashion changes quickly — nearly as quickly as fashion itself. Some people tell us that utility is itself the essence of beauty. That may be OK for sportswear (such an important part of fashion today and not always the best). I think there has to be another dimension to it, and Harold is our visionaire in that area. You don't design a dress only because it's easy to wear. It should be — but that reason alone could make fashion a bore A new fashion can appear having the same origins in inspiration and admiration in the past of fashion. The danger is for us designers to be too exposed to the seduction of the past It is difficult to work out your own vision of fashion without being haunted by the beauty of the work of the people before us — even if they were also not immune to all kind of influences and inspirations to achieve a strong vision and a unique style __________________________________________________ God...the man is just too much. Remember those WWJD bracelets? I'm going to start a What Would Karl Do movement, who's with me?! * Source WWD, NY Mag

Uncle Karl's Influence

I'm guessing my readers all love fashion, that's a no brainer. I'm hoping that like me, you also love Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen and cannot wait for their book Influence to come out. The Cut got an advanced copy....yippee! Here's a couple of extracts of their interview with Karl Lagerfeld. Where we see cupcakes, Karl sees plastic. AO: What do you do now to stay in shape? KL: Nothing … I have a doctor who I made a book with that sold five million copies all over the world. Every country bought one, I think, in Russia and Italy and everywhere. But I don't get it — I don't know what Japan is going to do with a European diet book … Since I started my diet, which was like eight years ago, I haven't touched what I'm not supposed to: sugar, cheese, nothing! I don't even look at it. It looks to me like plastic. He hates tall, chatty models. KL: [N]owadays you start to model because you're young. Now the girls are sixteen, seventeen, fifteen, and Russian. They are like from another planetAO: They can look very bizarre!KL: I hate all these tall women. They are all giants! MKO: If only I were a little taller — that would make me happy! KL: You are one meter fifty-one. You are taller than that? AO: We're five feet and one inch. KL: Oh, I thought my office told me that you were four-foot eight or something. Not that it matters. What you need is a face. If you have a face you don't need height or a voice. Models know this; that's why the good ones don't need to talk much. And he hates working with male models. KL: I like to work with models for a long time. Sometimes the girls change, but some girls I work with for years and years. With male models it is different. I hate working with male models. AO: Ah, well boys come and go! KL: And I hate doing castings and things like this. "oh no you're not right" — that's horrible to say to someone. I never do castings. Other people do them, and then I see the result of the casting. It's humiliating for the models. Nor does he like to hear a man's opinion. KL: I don't have people I don't like around me ever. MKO: You don't have to. KL: …I don't work with many men. I don't want to ask the men about the fashion. Their opinion doesn't interest me. He gives the girls family-planning advice! KL: I like more classic [shapes] now. Best thing to do for skinny people to wear tight dresses. Although jeans are becoming too tight. AO: Ah! Yes, it's becoming a problem. It's the worst. KL: You can kill yourself in these jeans. MKO: Ha, I'd rather stay inside with my friends than limp out in tight trousers. KL: Maybe you'll stay inside with a baby. Do you want to get married? Children? Two perfect mums, yes? [Mary-Kate and Ashley look at each other] KL: Ah! Don't worry, you have time. You're young. Don't you want to get married? MKO: I don't feel the need to get married. But Ashley wants children. I'll be a great aunt or godmother. AO: To my child. KL: [To Ashley] Are you planning? AO: No. I don't even have a boyfriend. You have to plan that first, right? Figure that out first? KL: If you get a boyfriend it doesn't mean that! Today you can have a baby first. If you want. I never liked the idea of a family at all. If it's a woman — it's more fun for a woman. ____________________________________________________

Are you guys as excited as me? Of course I love how the girls dress and can't wait to see the pictures. I really want to read the rest of the Karl Lagerfeld interview, I like his subtle humour and to me, this was like peeking into the mind of a genius. * Source The Cut, MKAshley.com

Miss Moss

As promised, a super, bumper Kate Moss post. Courtesy of the Sunday Times, where I've nabbed this interview from:

How do you get ready to go out in the evening? I get my girlfriends round, put some music on and have a drink to get in the mood. What is your fail-safe party item? A little black dress, of course. If I’m going dancing, then I wear the highest heels with the shortest dress. Can you describe your perfect night out? My favourite nights out are nights with lots of friends. I also love going to gigs. At the moment I enjoy going to Punk on a Thursday with Queens of Noize, they always play a great eclectic mix. I’ve always had great – probably my most memorable – nights out and some brilliant parties on my birthday, particularly my 30th. I later found out that the dress I wore that night was owned by Britt Ekland, and she wore it to the premiere of The Man with the Golden Gun. I love it so much, I used it to inspire a dress in my Topshop Christmas collection. It is intricately covered in midnight-blue sequins, so we have only produced 10 of the full-length version. There is also a shorter mini version, which will be more readily available. It’s perfect for Christmas parties, and looks best when worn with casual, rocky hair and ankle boots. Another one of my all-time favourite birthdays was spent with some of my closest friends at a Rolling Stones gig, which, as always, was amazing, and something I’ll never forget. What does a girl need in her handbag for a night out? Black eyeliner, keys and money. What’s your favourite drink right now? Vodka tonic. What do you like to dance to? Rock’n’roll and happy house. Who do you like to dance with? My girlfriends and men that can dance! What perfume for a night out? Kate Moss Velvet Hour. My first perfume was Anaïs Anaïs, and the first perfume I ever loved was Chanel No 5. When you first started going out, what was your look? High-top trainers and a black leather goose jacket with a fur collar. Where do you get your ideas from for your designs? Through work, I have travelled the world, and on the way I’ve built up the biggest collection of vintage and secondhand pieces. They are often love-worn, each with its own story. Retro styles and vintage clothing inspire so much of what I wear. I found a similar dress to the panther one in a New York flea market when I was 17, and I’ve kept it ever since. I chopped off the bottom and used it as inspiration for this version. What’s the oldest item of clothing you own? When I was 14, I modelled for John Galliano, and he gave me clothes as payment. I still have his bias-cut slip dresses. What do you most want to pass on to your daughter? All my couture dresses, especially my sequin “shampoo” dress that Johnny Depp had made for my 21st birthday. [It was a red satin dress. Johnny told her they were going out for dinner, and just as they were walking out the door, he grabbed a pair of scissors and lopped the bottom off, making it considerably shorter. He then took Kate to his club, the Viper Room in LA, drew back a curtain and revealed all of her friends who he had flown in especially for the party. John Galliano, Michael Hutchence, Christy Turlington and Helena Christensen were just some of the people there, and Gloria Gaynor sang Happy Birthday]. Over-the-knee boots and miniskirts – how young do you have to be to get away with this? For a girl in her teens, twenties and thirties, it’s fine. Someone in their forties could wear boots and minis with thick black tights in the evening. Just remember that, ultimately, dressing is always about attitude, feeling comfortable and confidence. What’s the most successful dress you’ve designed so far? My print dresses are always a huge success, and the red pansy-print one from this year’s spring collection was the best ever. The neckline suits all body shapes and the colour was great for summer. It was perfect for day with sandals, but worked just as well at night with tights and a heel. [Kate sold 6,500 pansy dresses at £60 each.] Is there a perfect leather jacket? Yes. It’s something you can throw on every day and looks better with age. I’ve just bought a Balenciaga leather biker jacket – it’s gorge! Talk us through the new long-sleeved minidress with the Bowie-esque black and gold pattern .. It was inspired by a vintage find. It’s the sort of dress you could wear to a dinner party or a club – I wore it to the new Ivy club recently. Tell us about jewellery. What would you wear on a night out? I love antique diamonds. What’s a good make-up look for a night out? You need “impact” make-up. Smoky eyes are always, always a good look. What advice can you give on how to wear clothes? I don’t think of things as “outfits” – I throw together what I feel is right for the night. Always make the best of your body type: if you have great legs, show them off with a short dress and heels or skinny jeans. If you’ve got a large bust, avoid high necklines. Learn what your best assets are and draw the focus away from the bits you’re not so keen on. Wear what suits you best, rather than following trends, and create your own style. When it comes to dressing, I follow my feelings and just get dressed. For me, it’s not necessarily about trends or even interpreting catwalk looks. That kind of intellectualising is something I never do. I go with a feeling or emotion and don’t necessarily plan, unless, perhaps, it’s a special occasion, or I’ve just bought something that I love and am desperate to wear (such as my new Balenciaga biker jacket). At other times I get inspired by films, or I will have been looking through old record covers or books and certain looks have just stuck in my mind. ______________________________

Love her or hate her, you've gotta give it to Miss Moss, she's one of a kind. I don't think the interview revealed anything amazing or groundbreaking to be honest, but if it's an interview with Kate, I gotta read it. What do you think of Kate?

* Source Vogue Ideas, Grazia, Philly, Style Frizz, The Sun, Sunday Times

Tagged: Premio Dardos Award

The lovely Sharon Rose tagged me for the Premio Dardos Award! The award is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing...that's the general idea. I'm now tagged the following fifteen fabulous fashionistas: Kira Fashion

Fashion Chalet Couture Carrie Dapper Kid Fashion Lolita

Fatal Attraction to Fashion

Miss a la Playa My Miji

Ragmala Rouge Marie Square Old Soul Quin at the Disco The Clothes Horse Style Spot

Vintage Lollipops

Fashion catch up

Another round up of the hectic world of fashion.... New Spears on the block Yeah, yeah, Brit-Brit has turned it around, she looks hot again, her new video is amazing. The Spears I'm talking about it a lot more exciting than that. 20 year old Kendra Spears won the Ford Models' Myspace.com contest and narrowly missed out winning a $100k modelling contract. Not that that's a problem though, she walked for Gucci, Hermes and Valentino and is now tied up doing shoots for Dazed and Italian Marie Claire and she's also snagged a BCBG campaign. Totally one to watch! Another new face for Burberry? Good news for Kendra, bad news for Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Apparently she thought she would stay for 2-3 seasons, but she's out. Rumours are doing that rounds that Eden Clark and Alex Pettyfer shot the ad last week. I've got to say, I'm not sold on Eden, Rosie is absolutely stunning and I loved the campaign with her. And now for the economic bit... Yeah I know, you can't turn turn on the tv or log onto the interest without hearing about economic woes and someone else pronouncing the end of the world. Things aren't looking so grim for Sir Philip Green though. Although like-for-like sales for the Arcadia group are down, Topshop and Miss Selfridge reported record sales. Looking forward, Philip Green wants to expand both within the UK and internationally. Groan...another 'celebrity' line Peaches Geldof's capsule collection for PPQ should be hitting the shelves at the end of the month. Ooh just in time for Halloween then!! It's bad enough we're subjected to so-called celebrity lines (Lauren Conrad's collection anyone?!) but now the fashion world is inflicting celeb-spawn lines... An actual exciting designer collaboration It's not all gimmicks in the world of fashion collaborations, Georgina Chapman is going to be a guest designer at Garrard. The collection will be launched next September at NY Fashion Week. And that's your lot folks! My eyes are absolutely killing me, I insist on ordering my contacts online rather than visit the optician...they've totally lost my custom after phoning me everyday for a follow up appointment! I've just ordered some bargain contacts from Lens Shopper. Anyway, tomorrow I've a little bit of Kate Moss for you :o) * Source The Cut, Vogue, Vogue, WWD

Let rip...

As much as I love fashion and trying out new things, there are simply too many trends for one girl to keep up with. Take for example ripped jeans, they totally missed me as I haven't really been into jeans for a long while. But recently, I keep thinking about ripped jeans, I'm like a woman possessed. Now, I'm not wanting to do a Gisele....

I'm not talking trashy ripped, I'm old enough to remember that the first time round in the 80s! I'm thinking sexy, a la Balmain and Maison Martin Margiela.

* Source Fashionising, The Fashion Police, Alexander Wang, Vogue

Tartan bows...part deux

Ok so after a lot of suggestions, I've tried out some different looks with those tartan shorts. I think as long as I wear something plain-ish in black, white or navy I'll be fine. As long as it's not tight cause those shorts are tiiiny and very tight! Aaaand they could even work for the evening!!

Oh, sorry for the dodgy colours in the second photo. My camera on my phone keeps messing up, one min it shoots fine (1st pic!) next second the colours go retarded. I think I'll have to use my proper camera from now on....

Tagged: quirks

I've been tagged by the gorgeous Bella.... The rules:- Link the person who tagged you. Mention the rules in your blog. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.’ Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them. Leave a comment on each of the tagged bloggers’ blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged. 6 unspectacular quirks of me: 1. I'm very, very lazy. I can literally spend all day in bed, unfortunately work usually gets in the way! 2. I'm scary good at languages, in the next year I want to become fluent in French, Italian and perhaps Spanish and I definately want to learn Japanese. 3. I'm a total movie fiend. One of my passions beside fashion, I own like 200 dvds and love all different genres 4. I love bears, they're my favourite animals 5. I make a rubbish girl. I love fashion but thats as far as it goes, my hair's never perfect, my clothes are usually a lil crumpled and my nails are *always* chipped! 6. I'm terrified of clowns, I actually screamed and cried the first time I saw IT...which was only 2 years ago! Pretty unspectacular, but in my defense, I'm watching Dirty Dancing as I type! Anyway, in return I'm tagging: Fashion Chalet I'm Not Anti-Social, Just Short Sighted Fashion Lolita MODAna Dapper Kid Kira Fashion

Shoe Fetish...

Anyone who habitually stumbles upon my blog will know that I have a serious shoe fetish. I like chocolates, I like the feel of silk on my skin, I like bubble baths...but I *love* shoes. I actually think I like shoes more than anything else in the world, a good shoe will make me gasp out loud, cause my head heat faster and on occaision render me speechless. I've lost count of the number of times I've mentally tried to work out ways to beg, borrow or steal enough for some gorgeous shoes I just *have* to have. I always blame it on a part-time job in uni. Sure I liked shoes before, but working in a Primrose Hill shoe boutique gave me a serious obsession.

Whilst innocent browsing on the Jak & Jill blog, I simultaneously gasped, stopped what I was doing, felt my heart rate soar and I'm pretty sure I was sweating a little! Think I'm exaggerating?! Check out these beauties and tell me they don't do the same to you!

Rick Owens boots.

Balenciaga Boots.

Just...wow!

Why oh why is it so hard to find an amazing dress which makes me look fabulous? I've been looking for a dress to wear clubbing in London for about a week and not found anything. I resorted to late night shopping tonight! Some of the dresses I saw were shocking. I'm convinced one made me look like a fish, I kid thee not. Tight, gunmetal sequins all over...if not a fish then a mermaid-with legs! Another one, a black dress from AllSaints looked promising. Until I turned around and saw that there was sheer material...over my bum! There was one possible out of the whole evening of searching...

Fashion Weekend

Yeah, London Fashion Weekend was weeks ago, I know. That pesky job of mine just constantly gets in the way of fashion and keeping things up to date. I spied this skirt and immediately had to have it. It's by a lable called Lungda de Fancy, I bought an amazing skirt from there last year too. This year's skirt was an absolute bargain, £15! I've paired it with a simple stripey top...the outfit made me think of Carrie Bradshaw when she moved to Paris to be with Aleksandr. I also got a cute jacket...will post that soon too!

Second installment of plaid

As promised, my second plaid outfit. I think it'll be giving it a bit of a break as I've totally overloaded...however I did see an amazing plaid jacket in River Island though ;o)

Et voila!

Ok slightly delayed but it's here never the less. Colours in the previous post are more true to life, stupid lighting in my room is ridiculous! I even turned all my spotlights to where I was standing (trying hard not to do a Mariah in the spotlight!). The other tartan pic is coming up tomorrow, I'm mad for plaid at the moment!

Ps - It's totally another Primarni steal ;o)

Fashion catch up

Balenciaga signs a deal with Coty

Balenciaga is joining the likes of Chanel, Stella Maccartney and Georgio Armani to develop a fragrance line. The terms of the deal, which was announced today, were not disclosed, but the first fragrance is due to be launched in Spring 2010.

Diesel turns 30

Tonight sees 17 parties in 8 different time zones to celebrate Diesel's 30th birthday. Each city will have a unique concept, New York's theme is 'Rock n Roll Circus' and will have performances from Mick Jagger (of course), NERD and M.I.A. In addition, 130 stores worldwide will sell 30,000 pairs of Diesel Matic jeans for...£30 each!

Kate & Jamie

Despite Kate Moss and Jamie Hince supposedly calling it a day, they were spotted browsing Selfridges foodhall together...

Taylor Momsen is working it

Just see for yourself...

* Source Fashionologie, WWD, The Cut

Can you guess what it is yet?

I kinda liked the fashion sleuth post, so here's another one! Same deal as before, full pic posted on Monday :o) Oh...these shoes...amazing. But never been worn out of the house! In my previous life as a uni student, I worked in a shoe boutique, pay was rubbish but free shoes were a definate plus! These are half a size out though, which is such a shame

All in the details..

A bit of a different format today. I was very bored on the 2 hour journey home from London (Web 2.0 seminar, I could have taught the damn thing!), so I took random pictures of my outfit, but not a complete picture. Can you guess what it is yet?! The full outfit pic is coming over the weekend :0)

Model Home

You guys all remember those pics of Erin Wasson's home right? Achingly cool and effortless? I thought that would be my little interior decorating inspiration for years to come. But I've got to say, Jessica Stam's home trumps Erin Wassons. Gorgeous, luxe pale lilacs and silvers. It's just beautiful!!!

* Source Elle Decor

Tartan bows

As soon as I saw these shorts, I knew that I had to have them. I stopped in my tracks, eyeing them up and down, deliberating - just for a moment - til I reached out and grabbed them. Tried them on, perfect. Queued up and exchanged money, they were mine. But when I got home, I pretty much tore my wardrobe apart trying to find something suitable to wear with them. Everything just looked a bit wrong. But they are just too cute to take back, I love tartan and the bow at the back is just adorable. Any suggestions??

Ruffles

Too tired to actually write anything coherent, or take any decent photos. Not a fan of the dark evenings, it's so hard to get decent lighting in my room without the aid of daylight. Another work outfit, slightly more inventive than yesterday's one...gorgeous purple ruffley top, skinny black trousers and the most amazing brown ostrich leather and suede wedges. Working in a shoe boutique definately had it's advantages, being gifted £300+ shoes was right at the top of the list! Pics don't do them justice, I'll take a much better pic when I next wear them.

New skinnies

Following on from my post about the cold weather...I'm thinking that I need to rethink my skirts and shorts only policy. Once upon a time, I lived in jeans, so much so that my young and impressionable niece also developed a serious denim habit at the age of 3! But for the last couple of years, I've only worn jeans on the odd occasion, preferring shorts, skirts and dresses. However, waking up to pitch black at 6.45am and relying on central heating to stop me from turning into a popsicle is making me rethink my stance on jeans. The last pair of really, really good jeans I bought were my Sass & Bide missfits when I was last in Sydney, so I'm thinking of sticking with the brand, cause the denim world is a different ballgame to what I knew. I'm thinking of buying these, I love the zips at the back and not-quite-black colour * Source Net-A-Porter

Noir dress

So, if some of you can remember way back when I used to post regularly, I started becoming fascinated by all things black. It's slowly found a way to filter itself into my work wardrobe...pretty plain black dress, with those lacey tights and patent leather shoes. Delish! The pictures don't actually do the dress justice, but one of the snobby girls from work asked where the dress was from, I debated lying and saying Zara but I ended up just saying Primark, she then proceeded to turn her nose up and say 'Oh...it's quite nice'. Reminded me of Emily in The Devil Wears Prada...

Pale & Interesting

The Spring collections got me generally thinking about Spring, possibly my favourite season. Days get longer, the weather gets warmer and I start to shed the dark, heavy layers in favour of something lighter. It's practically winter in the UK already, so I guess I'll be saying bye to the pale, pretty dresses until the leaves start coming back on the trees...