// VOLCANO //
There is something incredibly majestic and powerful about a volcano. The billowing smoke, it's overwhelming ability to destroy. Yet, at the same time it is perfectly serene and calm.
GET READY FOR TOMATO RED...
New York Fashion Week only just kicked off yesterday but already there is a clear contender for colour of the season. Yep, that's right: tomato red. Bright and juicy, it's bursting with flavour and injecting a mega-watt dose of high octane flavour into your life. There were varying shades - with Richard Chai Love being the most muted of the bunch and Costello Tagliapietra inching in towards orange territory. But whichever hue you choose one thing is certainly clear, get ahead of the fashion crowd and start wearing this colour now. Pair with a matchy-matching pout (à la Creatures of the Wind) to really stand out.
photos from style.com & background art by Yangyang Pan
BEATING THE BLUES WITH RAINBOW NAILS...
I don't know how it is where you are, but Zurich is suffering from schizophrenic weather conditions. It's freezing cold and stormy with random infusions of the off warm day. I feel like spring hasn't come yet. As a sun worshiper this has all left me feeling rather blue. To combat the dreary feeling I decided to paint my nails in a rainbow of bright shades. If you're in a place with rubbish weather, I suggest you do the same.
Tomorrow I'm off to Sweden and then to England. See you there. xx
CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH RED...
I'm usually really not into red. I think it's a bit brash and doesn't really suit me. Lately though I've taken a liking to it. Next to pale skin it brings a burst of colour that makes winter skin feel a bit more lively. I'm currently obsessed with this YSL rouge volupte lipstick. Whack it on with even the dullest of outfits and suddenly everything feels a bit more fabulous. I've also pulled out this old buffalo checked red flannel shirt from the bottom of my wardrobe - it's perfect for chilly days.
Hope you're enjoying the transition into winter. xx
Lady in red
Red is so not my colour. That's what I thought, at least, before I wore this jacket. It's the embodiment of all things wonderful and wearable about fashion. Throw it on over anything and you instantly look mega chic.
Red is so not my colour.
That's what I thought, at least, before I wore this jacket. It's the embodiment of all things wonderful and wearable about fashion. Throw it on over anything and you instantly look mega chic - it is a miracle worker. I love that it has a sort of über glam Parisienne (Balmain-esque - with the exaggerated shoulders) flare but also packs a nitty-gritty punch. The imperfections are what make it so perfect. Frazzled edges and strips that look as though you've taken a razor blade to the fabric - so yummy. Destruction is hottt, especially when it's faux and comes in the form of Iro.
Wearing: Iro jacket (My Wardrobe), American Apparel tri-blend racerback tank, 7 for all Mankind skinny jeans, Lucy Folk bracelets (Pfeffer PR), Maison Scotch clutch (Sane), Muriee cashmere scarf, Versace sunglasses and Balenciaga boots.
Photos by Shini
ON TEXTURE, ADAM AND CHARLIE...
Brace yourself, we're about to embark on a journey of epic time travel.
Flash back to Day 3 of LFW: it was early and I was tired. I'd just arrived at Somerset House and was in a bit of a daze. The sun was really bright and, of course, I had forgotten my sunglasses. Up comes a bloke who asks to take my photo. 'I just love your coat,' he says. 'The fabric is incredible. The sleeves look awesome - you don't tend to see this colour coat with leather very often.' Did he even, possibly, reach out and touch my shoulder? What can I say - the leather, it's irresistible. I can't remember. He'd made an impression though by pointing out exactly what I loved about the inky coloured coat from Charlie May's AW12 collection. I agreed, it was freaking awesome. Please.snap.away.sir.
Flash forward to the last day of LFW: it's pouring with rain and I'm standing under a black umbrella watching a men's show on the screen outside the BFC tent, waiting for Louisa to exit an exhibition. 'Would you mind if I took a photo of your sweater and clutch?' I look over. It's the same guy from a few days earlier. 'Yeah, of course.' Again, it seems to be the texture and colour that has lured him in... like a moth to flame.
We start talking: 'Are you American?' We both are. 'Are you on Twitter?' Of course. 'What's your name?' I ask. '@Le21ème,' he replies... 'Wait, as in Le 21ème Arrondissement blog!?'... 'You've heard of it?' So begins the time-tested conversation where I try to convey how much I freaking love his work only to have him continue to act shocked that I'd ever seen it. Ummm... yeah I'd seen it. It's only one of my favorite street style blogs ever.
Fast forward two weeks: we're now in Paris. It's fashion week. Outside every show I bump into my new friend, Adam. Like most people, Paris is the last leg of his mammoth fashion month adventure - it's the only thing standing in the way of going home to New York and his girlfriend. I find out he shoots for all sorts of snazzy publications and brands: Elle US, Grazia IT, Marie Claire and Vogue Russia - to name just a few.
Adam is also really nice. The sort of nice that makes you want to bundle him up into a little package and force him into being your best friend. He's got a heck-of-a-lotta ambition too but doesn't want to do anything that would suck the fun out of what he's doing. I can relate. Keep it light, keep it frothy... that's what I always like to say. The thing I love about Adam's blog, Le 21ème Arrondissement, is that he focuses on incredible details and unique off-the-radar people. Adam's aesthetic is seriously kick butt: it's fierce and often goes against the grain. Whenever I see his photos I feel a little challenged. He sees things differently and I like that... I never feel like I'm looking at 'just another street style blog.'
Alright, now flash forward five months- right past summer and all that jazz: it's September 2012 and you're starting to think about your fall wardrobe. Oh, you're into supporting new talent? You like embracing young British designers? You want something original and fresh that everyone else won't be wearing? A-ha! Behold, I have the answer to what you've been looking for: Charlie May.
Charlie's collection is stuffed full of wearable basics. There were a pair of wide legged super soft high-waisted cord trousers that have my name written all over them. Do you know when I last wore corduroy trousers?! It was a long freaking time ago. There are also amazing silk separates - long dresses and shirts with gorgeous flowing wrist details. Oooo, and the leather. I've already started saving up for one of Charlie's leather jackets. They. are. stunning. I love the colour palette, the simple silhouettes and the delicate unexpected details that make all the difference. Cue incessant swooning.
p.s. if you can't handle waiting until the autumn, Charlie's SS12 collection will be available on Bengt from May. Elbows at the ready.
First three photos taken by Adam. Look book images courtesy of Charlie May.
Wearining: Outfit 1 - DAGMAR Pre-Fall AW12 cardigan (Varg), American Apparel tri-blend T-shirt, LiLiFi leopard clutch, Muriee cashmere scarf. Outfit 2 - Charlie May AW12 coat and silk shirt, Tibi leather front top (My Wardrobe), Maison Scotch clutch, 7FAM jeans, and Balenciaga boots.
ENROLL ME IN THE MARNI ARMY...
Ooo, I always like a good bit of Marni. All the bold prints and easy-peasy-Japanesey dresses. Wait. Err... are these the right photos for this post?
Why yes, yes they are.
When I started flicking through the photos of the Marni AW12 collection I was a bit confused. This doesn't look like Marni, I kept thinking. But I like it, a lot. For starters the colour combos are unreal. They feel like the epitome of anti-winter. Opting for the obvious colour choice is so last season, you know. Why not work your airy-fairy spring shades in a way that works for chilly weather? The sherberty blue and orange look fresh for autumn but stay grounded by the tan, black and grey. I especially like the wearable trouser shapes with creased fronts, dropped waists, elegant sleeve lengths and the utility style belts that pull in the waists of pieces that would otherwise look quite bulky. Oh yeah, it's super wearable and I like it.
Before we take this any further can we please clear up one highly disturbing thing about this collection? The white tights. The last time that I wore white tights I was four - they were awesome and had tiny pink hearts all over them. Since then I have refused to put my legs into white tights. They look ridiculous on grown ups. That was, until now. Now they look smoking hot because Consuelo Castiglioni is a genius and has given them some sort of mod-infused futuristic Star Wars flight attendant vibe. That's right. I said it. Gimme some white tights.
What I loved most about the collection were the pieces that packed an edgier goth-light vibe. That sleeveless shiny leather trench on the far left, for example, is so beautiful. I might need to print out its picture and put it next to my bed... I love it that much. The architectural lines and silhouettes are also wonderful - they create a strong aesthetic without looking the least bit costumey. This is smart. Like most women, I want to nod knowingly towards the fact that curved sunken footballer shoulders are in, not actually look like my shoulders are wide enough to knock someone's eye out. The straight skirts are lush too. I am very into straight skirts. I want to wear them with loose T-shirts now and even looser jumpers in the winter.
Towards the end of the show the feeling changed as richer reds, gold and embellishment were thrown into the mix.
Oh, that embellishment...
It's texture on speed and feels like a million little flowers (or bugs?!) have exploded onto the surface of the fabric. I want to see it up close. I want to know what it would feel like to wear. I want... that little red structured bag. Yum. The whole thing had a very ancient Egypt vibe about it. I like to imagine that my sci-fi flight attendant models accidentally got thrown back in time to Cairo. After coming face-to-face with Cleopatra for the first time, they can't help but board their flight back to Zurich a little changed from the experience. It is at this pivotal moment in the show that the two cultures smack heads. Come on, you have to admit, there's something very Elizabeth Taylor circa 1963 about that look.
This new direction must be, on some level, a reaction to the madness of the H&M collaboration. If you can get the 'Marni look' on a budget at a mega-high-street-store then, surely, the only logical step forward is to mix-it-up and challenge what that look is all about.
Smart move. But the even smarter move is the Cher's closet feeling buy-it-in-advance step the brand is taking...
After all, why put off to tomorrow what you can spend money on today?
This touches on a long debated issue in the fashion world - why is there such a disconnect between 'seasons', what goes into magazines and what can actually be purchased. How often has a fashionista pulled her hair out because, after seeing that #totesamaze pair of shoes in Vogue, called up the producer only to discover... 'they aren't going into production.' Cue violent gnashing of teeth. With sites like Moda Operandi and now, Marni's itself, offering its most loyal customers the chance to buy items immediately after they show, this needn't be a problem. In an age where people are increasingly turning towards faster and faster fashion that's cheaper and cheaper it's important for brands (especially luxury ones) to only produce quantities that will sell. Staying on top of these advances in online sales and marketing is equally vital to a brands success.
More importantly though it gives you the chance to all pull together your resources to buy me those black and gold cross over ankle heels for my birthday - it's not until the end of April, don't worry, no rush on delivery is needed. I'm thinking 2 quid from each and every one of you should just about do it. Come on. They are only £440, that's practically the same price as a pair of boots from Acne and I swear I'd wear them every day. No? Okay. It was worth a shot...
All catwalk images from Style.com
p.s. if you've got a wad of cash in your pocket to burn on Marni AW12 hop over to the site this weekend. After Monday the pre-sale will be removed and you'll have to wait until the fall to get a stab at the action.