Bag lady

I’m not normally one for bags but recently I’ve found myself a little bit obsessed. I’ve even rewritten a popular Calvin Harris song with the following lyrics: I like sachel bags, I like fringed bags, I like leather bags, I like suede bags…I like all the bags I like all the bags! I’m actually singing it in my head as I type. Do I need professional help or am I just starting to see the light?

I think women typically fall into two camps, shoe girl or bag lady. I’ve been firmly in the shoe camp for years and years. Bags are nice and all, we all need a place to put ‘stuff’ but I’d rather marvel at a pair of gorgeous platforms than the newest ‘it’ bag. I think the ‘it’ bag phenomenon was part of the problem, having one bag each season which scores of people rush to buy. Before long, it’s been copied on the highstreet and lost its appeal and you look just like everyone else. The latest in a long line of examples is the Mulberry Alexa. It’s a gorgeous, gorgeous bag I’ve been into the St Christopher’s place store so many times to stroke it and admire it but everyone has it and everyone on the highstreet has their own version.

I’ve been scouring Net-a-Porter for some gorgeous bags which hopefully won’t be the new ‘it’ bag and won’t be copied all over the highstreet. I don’t think I have a bag type, I love classics like the Mulberry Bayswater, I like bowling bags and satchels, I like lots of embellishment. Which is your favourite? Or is there a super gorgeous bag out there that I’ve missed?

Marc by Marc Jacobs Sophie satchel - £425

Marc Jacobs Camille leather tote - £1,335

Chloe Darla leather tote - £1,230

Miu Miu leather hobo - £970

Proenza Schouler PS1 - £1,255

Alexander Wang Anita bag - £1,020

Isabel Marant Frangie fringed bag - £575

Marc by Marc Jacobs Baby Aidan bowling bag - £395

Antik Batik Friel chain embellished suede bag - £175

Mulberry Bayswater - £695

What I wore to London Fashion Week

One of the reasons I love London Fashion Week is I actually get to wear some of the impractical things I can't help but buy. Things like ostrich feather skirts, fluffy furry jackets and vintage fur hats. These are things I couldn't possibly live without but they don't really have a place in everyday life. Here's what I wore:


Day one

Jacket - Zara, floral top - River Island, velvet maxi skirt - New Look, wedge brogues - Bertie, Jewellery - Links of London, YSL, Roberto Cavalli, thrifted, holiday buys, H&M. Randomly decided to put on a mood ring I bought when I was about 15, can't remember what the colours meant but it was fun guessing!


Day two


Photo courtest of Emerging Fervour, as I didn't take any apart from in the photobooth! I can't remember what we were doing or where we were going but I was hanging out with Kit from Style Slicker and Shini from Park & Cube. Yes, I had wardrobe envy. 

Fluffy cardigan - Monsoon, pearl top - New Look, laser cut silk skirt - Rare, Tights - Henry Holland, denim buckle wedges - Asos. The rosary is from River Island men's department, I've had it for years and love it even though a lot of the silver has rubbed off. 


Day three

Fur hat - vintage, fluffy jacket - Zara, silk playsuit - Topshop, patent cut out wedges - New Look. No idea about the tights I'm afraid! 


Day four


The ostrich skirt. I love this, wore it last season too. It's not even my size it's slightly big but I-just-had-to-have-it!

Cobweb knit cardigan - H&M, black lace top - New Look, ostrich feather skirt - Topshop, killer embellished heels - Miss Selfridge. 

London Fashion Week - Jasper Garvida Spring/Summer 2011

Huge, huge thanks to Miele and the lovely folk at Push PR for not only inviting me along to Jasper's Spring/Summer 2011 show but also letting me take a sneak peek behind he scenes before the show. So, what happens at T-minus 30 mins to a catwalk show? Things are hectic but kind of laid back at the same time. Impossibly tall and gorgeous models mooch around backstage getting made up or having their hair done - gorgeous candy floss puffs of pink and white. The clothes rails are centre stage with running order, names and polaroids of models pinned on. There is the cutest dog snoozing. Jasper is incredibly calm, he pops in and out to check how things are going. In the middle of talking to people, he looks at me and a look of recognition passes over his face, he remembers the interview I did months ago! He really is the most lovely person I have ever met. 

Onto the show. Aptly named 'Belle', the collection was a celebration of femininity. The candyfloss hair backstage was a preview of the sugary sweet collection. The colour palette was predominantly candy pinks and pretty lavenders with some metallics thrown in to stop it looking too saccharine. Having had the chance to view the collection close up, I saw the gorgeous little details which make this collection stand out - the pleated ballet skirts, the flowers made of chiffon, the fine fabrics, the cinched in waists. My standout pieces were the waistcoat made of gold discs and the heavily embroidered trousers. I love all of the gorgeous dresses too, especially the marble-effect ones.  

Huge thanks to Hannah at Push PR for letting me use these images seeing as my camera/memory card had a fail moment and wiped my backstage and show pics. Just the Jasper show..!

London Fashion Week - Spijkers en Spijkers Spring/Summer 2011

Guest post by Fiona of Save our Shoes


"Where the wild roses grow" collection is a feast for the floral print senses.  Not only is the collection absolutely gorgeous, it is so appropriate for summer antics.  Spijkers en Spijkers looks for next season are wearable and make me want to move to the Netherlands where I can cycle everywhere in my chic tailored suit and buttoned up blouse.

The collection was inspired by Nick Cave and Kylie Minogues classic hit "Where the wild roses grow".  Floral prints are a staple in my wardrobe, so if someone was willing to hook me up with these ditsy floral shorts next May, I shall not complain.

It was a gorgeous show and I can't wait to look at them on Supersweet.org and dream about mustard coloured shift dresses, veggie hotdogs with mustard and lazy summer days.  Surrounded by wild roses.

Images taken from BlowOnline blog.
Lots of love from http://saveourshoes.blogspot.com
Fiona

London Fashion Week - Romeo Pires Spring/Summer 2011

I rocked up to the Romeo Pires show not knowing what to expect. What I experienced was a quite bizarre and dark show, from the eerie 'childhood' music to the white painted faces. The inspiration seemed to be school, or perhaps a Victorian school...the white shirts, pinafores and braces seemed to say school to me anyway. I love the huge drop waists, waistlines loitering at knee level aren't overly practical but coupled with the extra long shirts the slouchy effect was pretty chic. I also liked the slightly macabre prints - skulls with gold teeth and what looked like wombs or ET. I have a couple of close up pics, let me know what you think they are. Colour-wise, the collection was very basic with just stone, black and white. Like most of the London shows, the collection also featured wispy, sheer panels. To be totally honest, although I liked elements of the collection I don't think any of it really appealed to me but I would love to see the Autumn/Winter collection.