Winter Kate...

Winter is here. It has made itself known without any qualms, and is currently sweeping through the nation leaving us all with cold noses and fingertips. Because of this I felt it was necessary (and right) to give you some cold-weather style-spiration (like inspiration, but with style.) Thus I present to you the first (in what may or may not, depending on how lazy I am, become) a series of Get The Look posts. This week, the queen of British I-don't-give-a-flying-rat's-arse style: Kate Supermodel Moss.

Just look at her eh? Rock chic so fine it makes me come out in goosebumps (not that you'd do that in this outfit, which looks mighty warm.) Very 70s rocker with a touch of rich-lady elegance. Pulled together but casually so. I think we can all agree this is an outfit that would look good on just about anyone (it's almost all black and knee high boots are notoriously forgiving- what else could you ask for?) And so, I thought I'd go for a little browse on the world-wide-web and see if I could find you the necessary items to make this look your own. Here goes:

Jeans: Cheap Monday at Urban Outfitters, jacket: The Kooples, bag: Michael Michael Kors, boots: Marc   by Marc Jacobs, wrap body: ASOS. 

There you have it- copy if you wish (you can't go far wrong) or, if you're feeling energetic, creative and adventurous, spice it up. Add a big colourful scarf and a fedora (I'd recommend a burgundy one.) Or splash on some red lipstick, a couple of gold bangles on each wrist, a chunky gold necklace or body chain and you are ready for a party or date, whichever takes your fancy. The possibilities are endless with such a good base, and that kind of clever dressing is, in my humble opinion, what makes Mossy such a style icon. Her looks are always gorgeous, but more importantly, simple. 

Hasta luego guapos y guapas!!

Can't get past the "how are you"?

I've neglected you all, I know. It's been much, much too long, and I feel that I faltered after what was a promising start. I had just settled into my sartorial routine. I knew where I stood on all manner of stylish issues, and suddenly I was plunged into the entirely different world of university, and for the first time in years I was having to dress to impress- well, to make friends at least - and I fell back into the rut of dressing to be accepted, and not frighten. As with everything it is easy to fall into the trap of being like others- standing out makes you vulnerable and open to rejection, and when disco pants and a crop top are greeted with: "Oh. You dress really 'cool' " (and no, that isn't a compliment) it becomes second nature to not put yourself out there or play with the template of conventional dressing.

But that isn't me. I LOVE clothes, and simply waking up, rolling out of bed, ignoring a hangover and picking up the first thing on the floor (as most of my fellow students seem to do) is not, and has never been my style. I am much more into the 'plan the night before in my head and make sure to drink a litre of water before I sleep to avoid any kind of repercussions' kinda living. So from now on I will make more of an effort to stay in touch with you all- even if I only manage a few post per term and then make up for it in the holidays. While I might complain, the reality is that uni does have more than a handful of ridiculously stylish individuals, a few of whom I feel privileged to call friends, whom I hope to be able to introduce you to in posts to come...

But for now, let's start slow. As many of you may have noticed, the Great British high-street has, of late, been tempting us to use up our overdrafts with some conveniently times sales. Of these, one of the best, I find is ASOS. Not only does it allow you to shop online (meaning you don't have to venture out in the cold) but the returns process is incredibly easy, and they cater to every shape and size, price range and taste, and currently, they have a sale on, as far as I can see, pretty much everything. So, in order to get things going, I thought I'd introduce you to a few items I've got my eyes on for the coming seasons...

Free People Faux Leather Pleated Skirt, £125 now £81

Because I know that you're all still reeling from the BDSM references in Louis Vuitton a/w 2011, and who doesn't love some "The Night Porter" inspired dominatrix fun? I joke. Kind of. A leather skirt can be the height of sartorial sexiness, but the reality is, most of us don't care to wander around looking like a gothic library assistant in an overly tight leather pencil skirt, which is the style which seems to have been overly produced of late. (You know those ones, which are so tight at the bottom you can hardly walk? Yeah, we've all been there.) This skirt works as a fantastic alternative. Sufficiently like a schoolgirl's skirt to allow for movement and light-heartedness, but with a grown up and very fashionable edge. Like you'd imagine those East London chiclettes might wear...

Sheer collared shirts with faux leather pockets and collar, £30 now £19.50

For those of you who don't quite feel like embracing leather wholeheartedly, this top is a great way of flashing a bit of trend knowledge, without succumbing to it completely, as it were. Obviously not everyone wants to show the world and all it's delightful creatures their bra, and accordingly in these cold winter months I'd recommend a black top underneath for day-wear and a little extra modesty, although I also wholly advocate it worn with a black bra and a pair of tailored sequined trousers for a festive night out!

River Island Gold Sequin Crop Vest, £45 now £32

I take it you've all seen that Harvey Nicks ad? The one with the girls doing the walk of shame? Good. As I think we can all agree, no one wants to be that girl the morning after the night before, no matter how much fun the night might have been. So instead of donning head to toe glitter and a pair of stripper heels, I recommend nice tailored trousers or black jeans and this gorgeous top. A little bit of sparkle never hurt anyone, but it is enough in itself, and by in large does not need further embellishment. Keep the bottom half and your hair and make-up simple, pair it with some cute boots (with or without heels, it matters not) and a well tailored (and WARM) coat. Although, if you're feeling daring, I am a fan of the massive fur coats hanging around at the moment. Think yeti.

Suede shift dress with cut-out back detail, £95 now £50

This is one of my favorite items from the sale. Perfect for summer, with gold sandals and floppy hat, or in winter, with a long sleeved black top underneath, thick thick thick tights, boots and a long fur gilet. It's all about mixing textures. Think sixties, think Twiggy, think tousled locks and a certain je ne sais quoi. 

Colour block shirt dress, £45 now £22.50

 For those wishing to cover all trends at once this is the dress to buy. Drop waisted, with a good combination of 60's (shifty) and 20's (baggy), just the right amount of shape, a collar AND cuffs (they do spoil us on ASOS) and that all-important colour blocking. This dress ticks every single box. The colour blocking breaks the dress up drawing focus from the fact that it doesn't actually have all that much shape, while the contrast of the brown and blue allows it to happily squeeze into that tricky inter-season section of the year when it isn't quite spring/summer, but not really winter either. In other words, a blessing for those who want to take a slightly more casual approach to their fashion-following. 

Anyway, I hope this deliriously long post has satisfied some of your cravings, for the moment at least. I promise to try to be more regular with my updates, but for now, go out into the world and explore the vast joys dressing differently (or in a slightly different manner than usual) has to offer!!

Brussels

Hello all!!

Sorry for my recent inactivity- I've just returned for a week-long mini break in Brussels (for those of you who don't know, that's in Belgium) with the boyf. 

Brussels is an odd place. It has all the beauty, charm and quirkiness of a european city like Paris or Rome, yet it feels delightfully undiscovered, and unlike the other two it is refreshingly low-key. It first came to my attention as a place I should visit because a friend of mine who lived there for a few months spent many a conversation waxing lyrical on it's many qualities (even writing an excellent script about his time there.) Then, when I met my boyfriend (who grew up there) I had the perfect opportunity to visit it with a local, and I've grown to see it as one of the best places to go for a relaxing break- great food, amazing nightlife and, (if you're prone to browsing the shops like I am) with more than a few fantastic boutiques that stock up-and-coming designers like Surface to Air as well as more established brands like Acne and Alexander Wang.  It is also a renowned centre for design (with many glorious hole-in-the-wall antique shops) and with architecture that ranges from 60's era apartment blocks to glorious Victor Horta inspired art nouveau houses. 

At any rate, it is a city I would certainly recommend it to any willing travellers - it is, after all, only a couple of hours on the train from London!!

Some photos I took while there:

Some photos from the flea market on Rue Haute we went to on our first day- literally selling everything from clothes, shoes, and suitcases to african tribal masks, large pieces of furniture and bicycles.

A fine example of the somewhat eccentric decor employed by the antique shops... I like the fact that it just looks like someone threw the contents of a houseboat at the front of the shop.

Macaroons at Collignon. Gives Laduree a serious run for their money...

The glorious view from the island that sits in the middle of the lake in Bois de la Cambre. (One of the biggest parks in Brussels.)

Okay, so perhaps this wasn't my most fashion oriented post, but I figured it'd be nice to give you guys a glimpse of what I do when I'm not writing madly about fashion. I'm sorry the pics aren't great, and there aren't loads of them (my blogging instincts will take over in time and then I promise to over-load you with snaps from my everyday life) but hopefully they give you some idea of Brussels, and maybe make you want to check it out for yourselves... 

Till the next one my dears, 

Bisoux!

RIP

Today, reader-lettes, I greet you with sad news: D&G, the label we have come to know through its mad trendy-and at times questionable aesthetic (well you damn well decide for yourselves if you don't believe me), the young, fesisty and fancy-free baby sister of Dolce and Gabbana, is to end. It's last collection was shown today, on the heady streets of Milan, (well not quite but you get the idea.) Shed a tear with me darlings, as we grieve not only for fashionistas everywhere, but also for the loss of slightly more affordable fashion. (Well, if we're comparing it to it's big sis at any rate.)

NOW WIPE THOSE TEARS BIATCHS - AND SAY WITH ME - THE LAST SHOW?! THIS MEANS FASHION HISTORY!! 

Yes indeedy, as all you savvy shoppers will know, the loss of D&G means the chance to pick up some very collectible items, and a piece of fashion history. And I think we'd all like to be the proud owners of that, eh?! Which is why, I have cleverly picked out the 5 items from the final collection that I not only like best, but also that I think will age best. The nature of fashion, especially nowadays when people are so heavily into vintage purchases, is that it really is worth buying pieces with a history, but more importantly, ones that will work for years to come. Thankfully for us, D&G seem to have understood this, and while their collection was a little heavy on the manic silk-scarf prints (foulards I believe they are called in fashion terminology - but I may be wrong. Comments?) I felt there was defo room for some long-time wearage.

Here goes:

Looks 1&2 I picked for fairly similar reasons: both are cute dresses, and while the first one could be worn to a party, a club or a general night out, (because who DOESN'T want to look like they've been wrapped in a silk scarf?) the second one would work well as a sweet 60's-esque day dress. 

In my opinion dresses, and specifically those you'd wear on a night out, sit somewhere beyond the boundaries of what's "in fashion". People want to look good when they go out, and fashion is not always the all-encompassing BFG when it comes to allowing that. No matter how many articles we see in glossy weeklies, advising different looks for different body shapes and ages (here's looking at you Gok Wan) the reality is, not all looks work for everyone (and some work for almost nobody) so if you find a look that works for you, and makes you feel comfortable AND hot, stick to it. Its the very reason I rarely wear heels out, whether the fashion be for stilettos or platforms. Sigh. 

Rant over - main point: these dresses ROCK. 

Look 3: the tunic. Yes, I hear ya- "isn't the green a little intense?" "How will I pull off that print?!!"

But oh doubters, do not limit your imagination to what we see here on the runway (take it from me, it is not an example of how you'd be expected to wear it). Imagine the tunic over well tailored tapered black trousers a la Phoebe Philo (the most stylish woman in the world) and simple courts. Chic, elegant, works for all ages and most occasions, and adds a touch of elegant-green ZING to your day. 

I rest my case.

Look 4: Here we have the italian take on the classic item: the man's shirt. 

Well, if I'm honest since it's tucked in I can't be sure if it was a take on the male or female version of the trend, but for arguments sake let's say a man might wear it. Maybe. 

At any rate it is a HOT look. Sure, maybe with the skirt it's a little OTT, but loose over a pair of linen shorts with gold sandals? You're ready to sip cocktails in Cannes. 

And finally, look 5: "The wrap skirt". More intriguing than a pencil skirt but with a similar shape, this one looks a little like a sarong. I like sarongs, they make me feel like I'm on holiday. I think the nature of D&G is that being such a luxe brand it might (potentially) deal more with people who are on the holidaying-rather-than-working part of the spectrum, but this skirt is of a sufficiently classic shape to remain wearable for years to come and also be attractive on women of a variety of shapes and ages. 

And so, fashion followers, I must say "adeus"! Should you find yourselves trawling through net-a-porter (or better yet, theoutnet) and you come across one of these pieces (or anything else that takes your fancy) snap that shiznet up!!

Until next time, RIP D&G. 

Je voudrais...

These are the things I am currently lusting after, in the form of an outfit:
Antonio Berardi shearling coat
NastyGal suede shorts
Uniqlo polo neck
Giuseppe Zanotti over-the-knee boots
Reiss trilby


I never really thought I'd go in for the whole 70's thing. I felt it was overplayed on the catwalks and perhaps a little naff. Oh how my tune has changed... I have thus decided that I shall embrace the heady days of platform shoes, flared jeans (well, maybe not) and disco dancing (as if I didn't do that anyway) now that winter is upon us. The Antonio Berardi coat is just a single manifestation of my current obsession (and yes, it is becoming obsessive) with shearling. It just seems so perfect and fuzzy for those cold winter days. What more could you ask for?
The suede boots are glorious, but as is the nature of so many things that one lusts for, will probably never be mine. Sigh. I shall instead go for the Russell and Bromley copies (a steal reasonable, at half the price!)
I feel the suede shorts speak for themselves- suede is cool (like the band) and high waisted things with pockets on the front are almost universally flattering. I often find myself pondering the sinful wasteland that was so much of my childhood 90's fashion and wondering:
 a.) why my mother didn't think to stop me,
and more importantly, b.) why I did not heed her advice on the high-as-the-sky-waist-thing earlier...

Finally, the hat. Need I discuss the hat? Okay fine- I have mad-lady hair which flies everywhere, and sometimes I feel it needs taming. I forsee a future with that hat. One that involves taming of the highest degree. And it makes me happy.

That's all for tonight delightful folk,

Cheerio!!

Le Futur de Ffffashion

Hello friends,

Today I'm going to talk (write) to you about an amazing experience I had a week or so ago, with my super-telented friend Natasha (of InspirationNation), one that made my ears perk up with sartorial inspiration. 

In conjunction with London Fashion Week the London College of Fashion staged a pop-up shop in Carnaby, in order to showcase and sell the work of a variety of Graduate designers who were students up to (I believe) about 5 years ago. They had a regular turnaround of items by different designers on the shop floor (what with all the different people showing their work it'd be unfair otherwise!) and each piece was either a one-off, or at least pretty damn rare.

But what was the best part, I hear you cry in rabid anticipation??!

Oh the prices!! 

In many cases dresses, tops, trousers, shoes and even jackets could be picked up for no more than one might spend after a casual browse in Topshop. That, my darling readers, is a bargain indeed. 

Thankfully for those of you who might not be able to make it down to check it out yourselves, I cunningly took some photos of the items I liked best, for your delectation:

All items by Silence Beyond Syllables. 

These dresses were one hell of a find. Retailing at around £80 each and £40 for the cropped tee, they came in gorgeous dip dyed silks, with the kind of cut that Jackie O would be proud to sport. Yes. Jackie Onassis in dip-dye. Spare a moment to consider the awesomeness. 

 Michela Carraro

Are these not two of the most fantastical items your sweet innocent eyes (or not depending on who you are) ever did see? Frothy chiffon layers and sweeping pastel pink ostrich feathers make me weep with joy, they really do. I have visions of myself gliding through the darkened streets of london with the feathers tickling my knees, staring up at the night sky whilst being snapped at by the paparazzi, in the 20s. Or something. I think I've been too influence by Midnight In Paris. 

Moving on...

From top - bottom: Emma Erskine Omigie, William Tempest, Sir Stan.

The jacket by Emma E-O just screamed louche chic to me, and is perfect for Spring. The suede is butter soft and the whole thing is beautifully tailored, much like William Tempest's curtain jacket, as I like to call it, looking as it does like its been made out of a curtain bag. There is a certain charm to the combination of bold red, greens and black leather, n'est pas? 

Finally we come to Sir Stan's blouse. While certainly not the most innovative piece in my selection of photos, the spots, in a variety of bright hues and shapes adds a charm to a piece that remains on trend, without following the usual trend of white spots on a black shirt, or vice versa. Me likey.

Finally:

Do I remember who this tshirt is by? No. Why I hear you clamour? Because I have not yet quite figured out the tricks of the blogging trade. But this much my pumpkins I can tell you, it is gorgeous, with it's flirty slightly sheer linen and colourfully contrasting geometric shapes, and it is not alone. Thus, I bid you adieu with the following advice:

Go! Visit! Before it is too late...

Marky Mark and the Faster Bunch

So, I have been a bad blogger... I haven't posted anything in a while, I have betrayed my reader(s?) and left the mouths of the hungry fashion-needing children empty. But wipe away those tears, put away your tissues and re-apply that MAC mascara!! I have returned! Sadly I was away with La Familia in Portugal for a brief period, but in the time that I was gone the Fashionistas have been flying, first around all the corners of NYC, and now to London, where we are mightily in the lurch of London Fashion Week. Hurrah!!

Sadly I have not yet been able to flick through all the many shows to find you the best bits and bobs for the upcoming season, but until I do here is a taster of what spring has to offer from one of my favourite designers: Mark Fast.

Mr Fast is known for his body-conscious (in the most literal sense of the word) designs. His are not the kind of garments to be worn by the faint of heart. He rose to fame (and some might say notoriety) for his crochet knitted dresses, with gaping holes in all the wrong, (or right, depending on your point of view) places, that required one to wear a slip, (or his own brand underwear) beneath, to preserve one's modesty. Furthermore, he was one of the first designers to welcome plus-size models onto the catwalk - proving that body-con is less to do with what dress size you are and more to do with your confidence levels- something I think the fashion world had been needing to hear. 

This season however we were treated to a step somewhat outside the box. While the usual use of crochet and knit were still letting their freak flags fly, our taste-buds were whetted with use of bright colours: dresses came in citrus shades of yellow and orange as well as muted beige and black, and there was a much more confident selection of separates, mini cropped tops and clinging pencils skirts. Personally I loved the full length dress with the long fringing - obviously not something that everyone would wear, but it seemed to me a perfect dress for a special occasion- enough length for formality and enough movement to allow for a decent groove to be busted chez le dancefloor...

It is not a collection that will appeal to an older generation. It speaks of holidays, luxury and fresh, careless youth. That said, I am still young, and while I can, it seems like the perfect collection with which to flaunt what God gave me!

One small point - these dresses, gorgeous though they may be - retail at a pretty...shall we say...painful price. To all those burgeoning fashion fans I'd recommend the diffusion line - Faster by Mark Fast, available here.

Hasta la proxima mis Chicharitos!!

DAMN STRAIGHT IT'S SUNNY!

Hola todos!!

Today I’ll be running (unfortunately not literally- I am very unfit and I don’t think fashionistas approve of running, unless you’re in studded Louboutins, and lord knows that can be a danger to all… I digress…) through the second lot of shows that I came across while topping up my brain from the gas pump of fashion.  

Victoria Beckham s/s 2012

Let’s start with VB. I know for a fact that this woman is divisive: understandably so I guess, as for a lot of people she will always be the One Who Doesn’t Sing in the Spice Girls, or that bizarre creature with the inflatable boobs in the Roberto Cavalli Dress.  Despite those previous sartorial misdemeanours I think she has a good eye- whether or not she personally is making sure the hems are straight I care not, but her styles are classic, wearable for almost any shape and age, and date well. Frankly, that isn’t something that often comes around in fashion- but  it has left some rather mean editors (ahem: Liz Jones at the Mail) claiming its something of an old hat.

I found this collection very pleasant, as always it was a few steps forward from the previous one, with a slightly sportier edge- exposed straps that looked like harnesses, bulky hooded jackets, and cute but non-offensive colour blocking. I suppose this is what I like best about her collections- not only do I feel like there’ll be a starlet papped in one of her creations before the week is out, but they also feel totally appropriate for a powerful 21^st century woman (think Jessica in the TV show Suits- which I totally recommend btw.)

Thakoon s/s 2012

So if I’m honest I was just totally taken by the fact that Thakoon sent his models down the runway looking like they had candyfloss instead of hair. I freaking LOVE the bubblegum hairdye trend, and were I only brave enough to do it (without fear of looking retarded) I would most heartily jump on that bandwagon. If you are a fan- this is the place to go.

But now to the show- shirtdresses in all their glory, in mad prints of bright blue and orange, red, yellow and burnt gold, western embroidery, paisley skirts, trousers that looked like they’d been wrapped in swathes of duct tape, a neon take on the sari and more collars that you could shake a vicar at!! I’m told that Thakoon’s inspiration was a mix of India and the Western, and while those influences were clear they were sufficiently muted as to be exciting without becoming irritating or clichéd, and cute without being cutesey. Think Betty Draper doing some Bollywood style dancing in the Wild Wild West- YEHAAW!

Jeremy Laing s/s 2012

For me the Jeremy Laing show - while it will not be to everyone’s taste - was a breath of fresh air- in some ways literally. With focus on billowing fabrics and the layering of sheer over opaque, the draped, mostly dark outfits had a certain grungy vibe- something I am always happy to adhere to. While it is not the kind of collection where I would ever recommend wearing an entire outfit, I felt there was strength in the separates, such as a suede miniskirt worn under a flowing top,  a stunning tie-dye chiffon dress and the long overcoats in battered bronze silk, all of which I’d allow to take refuge in my wardrobe!

Anyways my darlinks, it is getting far too late for this old lady to keep writing, so until the next one,  try and add some dark chiffon, colour-blocked body con or perhaps some western style embroidery into your lives, for me.

Primeira

For lack of a better way to pass my time I figured I would start a blog. I spend so much of my mental time thinking about fashion, and God knows I spend WAY too much time on other people's blogs, (you know you have a problem when a lack of posts on fashiontoast  makes you growl in frustration.)

So here we are, at the beginning, and, by great coincidence (and also due to my FABULOUS sense of timing - I'm practically psychic) it just so happens to be...FASHION WEEK!!! 

(Well, in New York anyway.)

So I thought I'd give you a run down of some of my favourite pieces of the shows so far... 

Since sadly I was uninvited...*ahem*...UNABLE to attend, thus all the following pics are taken from the as ever incomparably useful ladies (and quite possibly gentlemen) at Style.com.

Vivienne Tam s/s 2012

I would love to be able to say that I knew of this Vivienne lady before I started trawling through the shoot-slideshows, but that would be a barefaced lie of which my darling Madre would most certainly not approve. Despite not having a clue who she is I am a fan of various of her looks- no doubt not the most fashion forward of them all (we have people like Messers McQueen for that) but a sweet, wearable collection perfect for Spring in the city. Androgynous shorts suits in orchid prints, cigarette pants in clashing colours and velveteen bloomers just do it for me, what can I say?

Charlotte Ronson s/s/ 2012

For me this collection had a much greater 90s aesthetic than the others- the floaty dresses in patterned chiffon, the grungey knits and the mustard suede mini-dress all to me were very reminiscent of Empire Records-era Liv Tyler and Renee Zellweger. Personally I'd consider that to be a total joy- 70's hippie never really floated my boat and while I may try to persuade myself otherwise, 60's mini-shifts really DO NOT work when you have hips. (Damn you Twiggy!!)

My only complaint here would be, that amongst all the sheer-floaty-prettiness, there seemed to lack anything for an older consumer. Which is fine, but damnit, what 19yr old can afford to pay £300 for a dress?! (Not this one, despite all my attempts at flogging old clothes on ebay...sigh...)

Band of Outsiders, s/s 2012

Band of Outsiders was, if I'm honest, not top on my list of items to add to my growing compendium of things to buy when "I-become-a-rich-and-famous-actress", however, that said, there were a few cute dresses, boxy enough on the top to add a certain masculinity, while still allowing for a flattering floaty feel to the skirt below. I was also charmed by the use of dip dying, and one particularly sexy leather/pvc pencil skirt with a slit up the side... (NOM NOM NOM.)

However despite those moments of sartorial clarity there were also a few too many occasions of workman style overall style trousers, in camo-green, with drop crotches. While I may be classed as fashionably uninteresting for my lack of acceptance of such impractical (or practical, if you're a builder) things, I like to leave such creations in the profoundly capable hands of the ManRepeller.

Prabal Gurung s/s 2012

Some things are too gorgeous not to be written about, and if I'm honest seeing this collection was mad incentive to start this blog- such beauty and craftsmanship deserves to be shared. For me the collection was almost flawless- but then again I love things that incorporate a whole fruit salad of trends- cut outs, sheer, feathers, making things looks like they've been dipped in a PVC paint-pot... (Oh still my beating heart...)

However, that said, it was not on the top of everyone's list- I have read reviews that dislike the complexity (a bit OTT for some) and similarly comment that some of the dresses are too revealing to be worn alone (something I have never had trouble with.)

BUT at the end of the day, who doesn't like a collection all in purple?? 

As I sometimes ALWAYS say: if it's good enough for Nicki Minaj, it's damn well good enough for me...

Nighty night y'all!!

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