This season's must have accessory...

As some of you may know, a couple of weeks I had a little accident on the way to work. A delightful lady barged into me at the station, sending me flying onto the concrete floor. It turns out I've damaged my patellar tendon which basically means two things: I'm in a lot of pain and I can't wear heels. Horrific, right?! Being a heels devotee, I had to go on a shopping trip to buy a couple more pairs of flats to see me through the next few weeks... On a serious note though, it's been incredibly difficult to find nice things to wear as I need to be in flats and have a support bandage on my knee, which isn't very attractive.

For the first week or so, I pretty much lived in leggings and long jumpers but felt like I needed to snap out of that phase and just get on with it. Most of my trousers are too tight on the knee with the bandage underneath and skirts are a sort of no-go as the bandage looks terrible beneath lace tights. When I visited Primrose Hill, I was so sick of my clothing predicament I left the bandage at home but of course I took my must-have accessory for this season - my crutch. How will you be rocking yours this season? 

Playsuit - ASOS
Belt - H&M
Shoes - New Look
Sunglasses - Rayban via Brand Alley
Crutch - NHS ;)

Pamela Love for Topshop - May 2011

I'm a huge, huge Pamela Love fan and got crazy excited when I heard whisperings that she was collaborating with Topshop on an affordable range. It's been over 6 months since she sat front row at the Topshop Unique show and images of her collaboration have appeared online and I have to say...I'm actually disappointed. The pieces are very unique, distinctive and gorgeous in their own right but I expected a lot more from Pamela. The dark, gothic influences are very evident in her main line, with spikes, crow skulls, daggars and talons being regular features in her work. I expected this theme to evident in this collection, but she has gone in a lighter, more feminine direction. Clearly influences by Native Americana as well as India and Africa, with dreamcatchers, tribal and aztec influences, it's a pretty collection but I wanted more from the CFDA nominated designer.

Prices start from £50 and the collection is available from 19th May. 

I want to be a One Teaspoon girl

I first came across Aussie brand One Teaspoon years ago when I spent a summer over in Sydney. They were stocked in General Pants, which was one of my main shopping hang outs - a brilliant place for discovering Aussie brands. I remember falling in love with one of their gorgeous dresses and thinking they were so effortlessly cool and rock n roll. Fast-forward a good 4(ish) years and I think exactly the same. Starting life as a handmade denim brand, the brand has expanded to a full fashion brand and is sold in 32 countries worldwide - including ASOS in the UK. I adore this sassy little LBD which can easily be worn dressed up or dressed down with flats and I'm a little obsessed with this cream playsuit with ruffle detailing and draped chains. 

One Teaspoon birds of prey dress - £105

One Teaspoon sacrifice playsuit - £115

The perfect Easter dress

It's strange how the tiniest things can inspire you. Yesterday, I received the most beautiful Easter basket full of little chicks, hot chocolate kit and mini eggs and became a little captivated with the pretty pastel mini eggs. I think pretty pastels are the perfect colour for the Spring season, especially with all the blossom. The lilac eggs actually reminded me a lot of the Jasper Garvida SS11 collection which had lots of saccharine sweet lilac dresses. The Julia dress was my absolute favourite; the intricate details and pleating are so feminine and pretty. 

Abstract, blurred prints at Isabella Oliver 365

I've got to confess, I'm wasn't a huge Isabella Oliver fan before but these gorgeous blurred floral prints have shown me the error of my ways. More than just a maternity label, the Isabella Oliver 365 label focuses on easy, wearable pieces with everyday basics as well as more directional, fashion-forward pieces like these dresses and pretty silk blouse. The gorgeous blurred prints are the perfect antidote to the predictable stripes, brights and whites which are around at the moment while being bright and summery. I actually think the blouse is my favourite, I'd contrast the prettiness of it with khaki shorts to dress it down or wear it with slightly high maintenance white jeans to show off the beautiful colours. 

Bryan Morel PR AW11 press day

A couple of weeks ago, I headed over to the Bryan Morel PR offices to check out their client's Autumn/Winter 2011 collections. They represent a whole host of gorgeous brands including Osman, Maria Grachvogel, Oliver Peoples and John Rocha. The Osman collection was stunning but I came away coveting all of the Maria Grachvogel accessories. 


Osman - The collection was very minimalist with lots of white and structured shapes with little punches of colour and contrasting textures. He used lots of leather which was so strokeable and buttersoft. 

Oliver Peoples - Gorgeous vintage-inspired styles which are instant classics. 

John Rocha - The collection was very high impact, blacks and neutrals punctuated with high impact punches of red. There were lots of different textures including lace, appliqué, ribbons, chiffon and even tinsel! There were two statement coats which caught my eye: the tinsel coat and red goat fur trench. What I love about John Rocha is that everything is manufactured in Ireland, I think it's very admirable that he is supporting industry and manufacturing. It's a very topical issue with the spotlight on UK manufacturing being discussed at length in Drapers. 

Maria Grachvogel - This was my absolute favourite collection. I adore her signature digital prints and draping, for better images of the collection check out my post on the LFW show. What I didn't get an opportunity to see at the show was the fabulous accessories. The big, chunky statement jewellery had tribal and gothic influences with feather details and gorgeous materials. As for Maria Grachvogel's bags, I just want/need that last black snakeskin one. 

The return of supermodel covers - Vogue Paris

Opinion is divided on the subject of who should grace magazine covers – celebrities or supermodels. The celebrity-on-covers trend is attributed to La Wintour, who started putting celebrities and actresses on covers in the 90s. It does work very well as they have their own fanbase and are instantly recognisable but I much prefer seeing supermodels on covers. To me, supermodel covers are always stronger with a high impact – they know how to command the camera’s attention. Also, they are generally more neutral than celebrities, who have supporters as well as haters and have their private lives aired out in public. I think supermodels are a bit more untouchable and unattainable; isn’t that what fashion magazines are sort of supposed to be? A fantasy land where ethereal Amazonian creatures frolic in Balmain, couture and Lanvin, rather than a calculated platform for an actress to push her film while the magazine hopes for boosted circulation figures.

I’ve been quietly rooting for the widespread return of supers on covers for a while and I think the Emmanuelle Alt is on the same team - I may be a tad optimistic but her first two covers at the helm of Vogue Paris have starred two of the most successful models in the world. The April 2011 cover featured Gisele in a pretty, sheer lace D&G dress shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. I was quite surprised when I first saw this cover, I expected more rock ‘n’ roll attitude from Alt but it was a sweet cover, perfect for Spring. I don’t think many celebrities could pull off the outfit with such aplomb or create such an assertive, confident pose.

The second cover features Kate Moss shot by Mert & Marcus. Dramatically different to the previous cover, this one seems to be more Alt – strong, sexy and provocative. I think Armani Prive was an unusual choice as were the hands but as an overall image it works. Again, I think that a celebrity would struggle to draw the reader in with their expression alone. Both of these covers are creating something beautiful but slightly out of reach, which I think is what a cover should be. It should be intriguing and pull you in..something that celebrity covers just don't do for me. 

Everyone loves Prada stripes

The high street may have fully embraced (read: killed) colour blocking and brights, but magazines are going crazy for Prada stripes this season. The number of covers alone is fast approaching FIFTY, let alone editorials. International Vogue editions are absolutely loving the collection, featuring pieces with stripes as well as monkey and banana motif printed pieces. Here are my favourite of the 48 covers..and counting! Anna Wintour's WSJ cover definitely makes the cut though you can't see much of what she's wearing. I think that the fact that she chose Prada for this rare cover and interview speaks volumes. 

Looking beneath the bright jewel tones, florals and cool neutrals littering the high street, plenty of stores have been inspired by prada’s bright, punchy prints. They’re a bit sassier than block colours and the perfect bold antidote to pretty florals which are getting a bit boring and predictable in Summer. Head to toe stripes might be a bit much for some, so choose a statement piece like one of the gorgeous skirts and pair with either brights or neutrals. 

Asos stripe button back crop top - £6

Asos summer stripe dress - £35

Asos stripe pencil skirt - £25

Zara stripe t-shirt - £15.99

Zara stripe skirt - £25.99

Topshop multi stripe tee - £18

River Island stripe dress - £14.99

New Look Idol stripe skater dress - £39.99

Lady Gaga for Harper's Bazaar May 2011

When I first saw the cover for the May issue of US Harper's Bazaar featuring Gaga shot by Terry Richardson, I was very underwhelmed, firstly because she is so overexposed and secondly because it was just ok. I was a bit surprised that Harpers had jumped on the Gaga bandwagon too. The cheek and shoulder prosthetics don't really do it for me but I love, love the Versace dress. The image without all of the copy is a lot better. Thankfully, the editorial is a bit more promising. I love the McQueen mask and dress image and also the black Tex Saverio gown and the black Mugler outfit. To me, the piano and boob shots are gimmicky, shock images and I think Harpers shouldn't have gone down such a predictable path. If fashion magazines are going to continue using Gaga, I'd like something more subtle, to see her stripped back. 

Rupert Sanderson AW11 press day

Sorry to be predictable but I fell in lust at the Rupert Sanderson press day. There was so much to covet from the classic, spindle thin courts, platforms and ankle boot shapes to asymmetric kitten heels, mesh details and soft squishy loafers.

These beautiful cornflower blue Victoriana shoe boots are such a statement shoe. On the surface, they have a lot going on with the high maintenance fabric, potentially dangerously thin heel, lace up and ruffles but there is just something about them, they're just crying out to be worn and admired by strangers. 

Speaking of dangerous heels, how sexy are these? These sweet mary-janes with subtly sexy cut outs and a killer heel really caught my eye. The red python skin ones were my definite favourites. 

There were a few different incantations of the classic court shoe. What I love about Rupert Sanderson is that he has such a keen eye for detail. The gold and pink pair have a plaited platform to add a little texture and interest whereas the pair below are cut quite low on the side.  

In a bit of a shock twist in this post (a tad overdramatic?) I actually really liked a pair of flats. The loafers were just so soft, squishy and comfortable. Far from boring though, these statement flats come in leopard print or with metal bullet tassels. More shoes need bullet tassels...

I took a lot of detail shots! I liked the contrast and contradictions within the collection, details included sweet velvet bows and futuristic neon mesh, stacked platforms, clashing demi wedges and pleated suede contrasting with shiny patent.