PARIS: THE BONUS BUNCH...
Ooo, la la, Paris Fashion Week... how wonderful you were.
Before the Valentino show I overheard a man whispering to two women. 'This is the bloggers catwalk,' he sneered as he pointed down at the white plastic sheet that had been laid out across the wet gravel. Actually, it's the unavoidable path for anyone going to a show in the Tuileries. The bizarre thing is, no matter how important you are your car still has to let you out a short trek away from the venue's entrance which means everyone gets the pleasure of strutting their stuff down the white tarp. Photographers swarm around at the sides waiting for their prey and the perfect moment to pounce.
Here's a little selection of shots that haven't made it up anywhere but that I love a little.
p.s. I'm now desperate for a kilt that I can layer over slouchy jeans, and a clutch like Susie's that has a little hand strap.
FLORAL LEGS...
Man, I failed on my vow to wear only black until hot weather came. Oh well, please forgive me... I guess I bore quickly. Plus, the lure of spring is just too strong. Instead of baring my legs I've decided to cover them in floral prints. I'm probably guilty of wearing skinny jeans far too often but at least these make the standard shape feel somewhat new. I like wearing them with this Muriee T-shirt that has a faint pink polka dot pattern on it. Perfect for doing a bit of print clashing but discreetly.
Wearing: 7 for all Mankind Garden Party jeans, Muriee T-shirt and cashmere scarf, Sambag tote, Bottletop Luciana purse, Moxham pink clutch, Rayban aviators, Topshop ring, Madewell jacket and Zara shoes.
OBSESSED: CO|TE AW12...
I'm big time drooling over the AW12 collection from Italian brand CO|TE...
The simple wearable shapes are straight up my alley. I love the metallic short skirts, boyish thick knits and streamlined silhouette. There's a sort of stark linear graphic line running through many of the items. The dress with cinched in waist above is amazing. I love the longer sleeve length and high neck - contrasted with the short length it doesn't feel too grown up or too serious (neither of which I am). Plus, the contrasting colors give it a sort of sci-fi feel - anything that makes me feel like I should be hanging out with Captain Kirk in the Starship Enterprise gets bonus points in my books.
p.s. the cream jacket (below right) would be delicious to wear. I'm thinking, that if you were wearing it, it would feel like you were getting a massive bear hug the entire day and that can only be a very good thing
OMG, I HAVE NOTHING I WANT TO WEAR...
Lately, I've found myself feeling disenchanted with the contents of my wardrobe. But this weekend it reached an all time low...
Running 10 minutes late already, I was standing in my towel staring blankly inside my closet. I had to pull together every morsel of maturity because what I wanted to do was hurl myself onto the floor and launch into a psychotic fit. I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR, I kept whimpering in pathetic desperation until my husband finally walked over and started pulling things out, 'What about this?' He went through tons of stuff. Each item he suggested received an immediate response: too tight, too loose, too itchy, too low, too high, too sheer, too thick, too long, too short...
'You're right,' he finally said. 'You have nothing to wear.'
Umm... what? Other people aren't meant to agree! The 'I have nothing to wear' dilemma is an age-old problem between a girl and her wardrobe. Of course, there is stuff to wear. It's just a matter of whether you want to wear any of it. Clearly I don't. I'm not entirely sure how I've reached this point of absolute disenchantment. Maybe it's a passing phase? But, I'm thinking of making a pile of the things I love (I swear it will be like 10 items) and getting rid of the rest. I've done so many closet clear outs over the past year but it still feels like there is too much of what I don't like. Does anyone else have this problem or am I just massively wardrobely challenged? I've started scouring online shops for pieces that would make my life easier when getting dressed - starting with tops. They aren't anything revolutionary but I've always thought that getting your basics right is the first step.
Image features: James Perse grey T-shirt, Comme des Garcons striped top and Acne shirt.
THE LITTLE DETAILS...
It doesn't matter how many times I see them, I'm still OBSESSED with these little Prada crystal earrings. They're totally kitsch but I love them for their garish charm. Hedvig wears hers with a big o'l dose of Acne (jacket, bag, shoes), Karl fingerless leather gloves and a Joseph jumper. If I had these earrings I'd pair them with a soft white T-shirt and oversized boyfriend jeans.
Oh yeah, come on... who wants to get me these earrings for my birthday?
WRAPPED AROUND MY FINGER...
'Oooooo, I want this!'
That's what I shrieked in the middle of an exhibition tent at London Fashion Week when I first made contact with Kyle Hopkins and his awesome spread of jewelry. #Cringe Woman, learn how to contain yourself. This is fashion week... not a freaking flea market. You can't just go around grabbing stuff off stands and shoving it onto your finger. But I couldn't help myself.
Thankfully, Kyle didn't seem to mind. Instead of snarling at me he joined in the adoration, explaining the stories behind some of his favorite pieces. The lip ring, for example, is made from the mold of his first kisses' lips. Swoon, what a romantic. Although some of Kyle's pieces have a heavy dark side there is also something delicate and ethereal about them. Its been weeks and I still can't get the little ring pictured above out of my head. How perfectly sweet would it be to receive it from the one you love with a little note that reads, 'You've got me wrapped around your finger.'
BE HAPPY...
Sequins tend to create in me an unavoidable gag reflex.
I just can't help it - I really dislike the shiny little things. Except, of course, when it comes to Ashish's sequins. His are glorious creatures. They sneak on to prints that never expected to be covered in glitz, transforming the most basic shapes into must-have drool-worthy pieces. The tie-dye print dress is the one item I cannot get out of my head from the AW12 show. Somehow, it manages to bottle up everything I love about the '90s. Totally simple but oh-so covetable. If it were mine I'd wear it so often that people around me would get sick at the sight of it. On days when the dress is getting a rest, I'll wear the biker jacket and face jewelry combination pictured above. You know, for when I want to be low-key.
Oh yeah, oh yeah... face jewelry and tie-dye is wear it's at.
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.
Bare that belly
I decided to rock this Patouf cropped top with a little white t-shirt underneath because I'm just not ready to embrace the midriff full on. I love this top, by the way. It's a little sci-fi crazy with its silver sheen and structured shape. I like that. It means I can pretend to be on the Starship Enterprise.
Looking out over Zurich...
Weeee! Spring is here.
Spring in Zurich is the best thing ever. It's sunny and warm. The trees and flowers are blooming. It's calm. You can't help but get a tan. After weeks and weeks of it being -15 degrees the shift in temperature is heavenly. Let's not talk about the weather though, let's talk midriffs. What do we think people? Are they best saved for the catwalk? Can they work on real streets with real people? Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. The thing is, regardless of how razor-sharp your abs might be (and trust me, I know we all have abs that could cut glass) it takes a lot of confidence to rock a belly baring top. Depending on how cropped you go they can start to resemble a bra top and I'm just not sure how that will go down in the city. Maybe it's a look best saved for weekend breaks away... hmmm. What do you reckon?
I decided to rock this Patouf cropped top with a little white t-shirt underneath because I'm just not ready to embrace the midriff full on. I love this top, by the way. It's a little sci-fi crazy with its silver sheen and structured shape. I like that. It means I can pretend to be on the Starship Enterprise while I walk around town (much to my husband's distaste). I want to wear it with something seriously fierce (read: a patent black shiny high-waisted pencil skirt and some kick-butt heels) but jeans and Converse fit a bit more with my everyday needs... for now at least.
Wearing: Patouf Jade Top, Mih Paris Jeans, Mykita Joanie Sunglasses, Bottletop Luciana Clutch and Converse.
HAUNTED BY A DRESS...
It's Saturday morning and I have friends visiting from London. I'm lying in bed hoping they don't wake up.
Not because I don't like them, of course, but because I've got to get this off my chest. It's been over a month since the Inbar Spector show and yet the collection is still at the forefront of my mind. This dress in particular has started to become a bit of an obsession. Compare it to Inbar's other work and you might call it simple, even rudimentary. Regardless, it's the reincarnation of a childhood fantasy - a grown up version of the sugar-coated dress I always imagined I'd wear on my wedding day.
It's modest and refined but, at the same time, achingly alluring. The high neck and long sleeves lend a feeling of austerity and formality. The sheer fabric is painfully pretty. It's so intricate and lightweight that it looks as though the slightest breath would make it fall apart. The body, by contrast, is full and exaggerated. Layers upon layers are stacked to the point of concealing the wearer. Her figure is hidden but she retains confidence and charm.
This dichotomy between seduction and strength isn't a new one. It is, after all, what many men will credit as making a woman most appealing - she is beautiful and yet independent. This is at the heart of 'masculine' dressing and exactly why so many designers this season have blatantly mixed hard elements with soft ones. It draws on the multi-dimensional character that exists within every woman. Conflating seduction and strength by making clothes that appeal to both aspects of one's personality makes for clothes that are far more interesting than those that cater to just one side. This dress does exactly that, it is concealed and yet also revealing. It is bold but at the same time discreet. It isn't everyday you find a single item that symbolizes everything you love about fashion but this dress does just that for me.
PUT ON A GRIN AND START RIGHT IN...
Back in university I used to always think, 'when I graduate I'll start shopping at Whistles.'
When you're a student you think you'll have a bigger disposable income when you graduate... that you'll get a job where you'll need to look respectable. Oh, how reality fails to live up to our expectations - hah. Despite the fact that I can work most days in my pajamas, I still view Whistles as being aspirational. It might be a high street shop but something about it oozes luxury. I don't go shopping that often but, honestly, every time I've gone into Whistles I've found tons of beautiful pieces. Most notably: sweet little dresses, nice trousers, and bucket loads of covetable knits and T-shirts.
This afternoon I received the brand's pre-fall look book and my jaw sort of hit the floor a little. Whistles, have you had your eye on street style trends lately? The slouchy silky printed pajama style trousers and varsity-light baseball jacket are totally Jak & Jil worthy, no? Above are my four favorite looks. The styling is lovely and simple which I like a lot. In an ideal world, I'd be wearing the entire outfit on the bottom left tomorrow. But with Converse not heels... I don't do heels on flights (that's just silly). A leather top with a peplum also made an appearance. I know, right?! Do you even understand the obsession I've been having with peplums? It's die-hard.
Photos courtesy of Whistles
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.
STICK IT ON ME...
Dear Louisa,
I like the way you dress. Most of the time your outfits are pretty basic but somehow you make them look totally fresh. You use colour, texture and small details to make a big impact. A chunky soft blue knit over a white button up shirt is nothing new but it looks incredible when paired with a black sleeveless biker jacket and a bold pink lip. The perfect finishing touch is obviously that covetable Moxham necklace (give it to me). Don't even get me started on how freaking amazing your DIY sticker clutch is (I want it). xx
p.s. do you think we could please have a sticker party so that I can make a bag to match yours?
Sticker covered clutch
OUTSIDE CHANEL...
Surely the Chanel show is the apex of all things fabulous at Paris Fashion Week. Come on, it's Chanel for crying out loud. I was expecting some sort of post-apocalyptic paparazzi frenzy... which was pretty much exactly what it was. Imagine you're in big building and the fire alarm has just gone off. Everyone is stressed and panicked, unsure of where they ought to go or where they ought to look. It's chaos. Suddenly the sprinklers come on and water starts pouring from the spouts positioned on the ceilings above everyone's head. Now, take that image... add traffic, platforms and a string of luxury fabric to the mix. Et voilà. You've got yourself the entrance to the Grand Palais where the Chanel show took place.
Let's put the crazed fashionistas and paparazzi aside for just a second though and recognize that there were some magical little fashion moments taking place. The whole experience made me feel as if I had been transported to a Chanel black-and-white infused fairytale. Everyone was painfully chic and, I swear, enough 2.55 bags floated past me to stock an entire shop. Next time sky, please, just hold off on the rain. Merci.
Rollover images for descriptions and check Tumblr for more photos and outtakes.
EMBRACE THE CHANGES...
Why, hello there...
You might have already noticed (or heard the incessant grumbling) but let's just get it out in the open. Yes, the are rumors true. After two and a half years the Style Crusader has finally landed peacefully onto a dot-com home. Please, please, hold your applause. Who would have thought it would be so difficult?! This baby started out on blogspot in August 2009. Then, in July 2010, was moved to wordpress. You know, because it gives you more flexibility in design (yada-yada-yada). That was fine, albiet slightly traumatic as I lost all my blogger followers. I bought the dot-com domain on the same day that I got my first DSLR camera (a second-hand Canon 450). Some techy glitches meant I wound up hosting on dot-org, a site which got so badly hacked/spammed that it reached the point of no return. Phew. So, here we are...
I'd like to take this opportunity to formally welcome you to my new home. Curtsey
This was the first day I was at Paris Fashion Week. I decided to bring my bright orange beanie with me, you know, for warmth and stuff. I got this hat for $2 at Walmart when I was in the US at Christmas. My family was not impressed with it and my sister refused to stand next to me when I wore it. Imagine my jubilation when NYFW rolled around and I saw this. Mwaahaha. See family, I told you orange was the right decision. I have to admit though I feel like a bit of a turd when I wear this hat... it's so bright. People honestly give me funny looks and say strange things when I wear it. I mean, really, it's just a hat people. Come-the-freak-on.
Anyway, clearly I wasn't the only person at PFW that thought an orange beanie was a good idea...
This was outside the Stella McCartney show by the way. It was literally freezing. I felt a fool and was SO PAINFULLY COLD that I literally couldn't take any photos. I got a tall latte with an extra shot from Starbucks (so American) and tried to use it to keep my hands warm. Resistance was futile. Shini and I admitted defeat and went in search of gloves (we found some in an Adidas store - they were 10 euros and oh-so-stylish). After going home to regroup (i.e. change clothes) we headed back out into the city to try to catch some street style action - in flats and as many layers as we could pile on.
Yes, that's the story of my first day at Paris Fashion Week.
Wearing: [Part 1] Walmart hat, Muriee cashmere scarf (which is literally glued to my neck - ok, not literally... that would be disturbing), Jigsaw sheer jersey T-shirt, Madewell jacket, J Brand Bette jeans from Anthropologie (found in the sale for $19?!) and Balenciaga boots. [Part 2] 7 for all Mankind skinny jeans (old version), Dagmar knit jacket, Converse and Varg canvas bag.
p.s. any questions on the blog change and/or how to follow please post in the comments.