Image: Style.com Prada Ready to Wear Fall 2015
Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Friday, 13 February 2015
Notes #7
It is ever thus in fashion and beauty, always in the eye of the beholder. Yet there is a movement in all things style, which is now upon us. Simplicity. Simplicity in form and feature. It is not easy to define as minimalism, nor would that be the correct conjecture of what is 'occurring'. Frankly what is occurring is a measured approach to how you wear your clothes and flaunt your style. Wow betide the wonderful and sadly dearly departed Steve Strange, because now excess is few careful placed bangles, or that understated necklace hidden within the fold of your silky shirt, merely delicately peeking, a hint of something. Even those delicious red lips are accompanied by scraped back hair or natural volume unstyled hair. The eye make up natural and deferential to the lips.
This mood has crept upon us and is not just reflected in our clothes, our makeup but also our home, our outlook on life. It is a movement probably long over due and delicate in its nature. It is reflected by the recently created Harvey Nichols Pinterest board 'Minimises'. And for all of you beset by a simple approach to things there is James Wallman's Stuffocation, which is a fantastic read and examination of our lifestyles.
Simplicity in our personal style does offer fresh unburdened choices, yet it is important to keep a little bling, tat or brashness to align your true self with this zeitgeist. (Been wanting to use zeitgeist for ages!) What say you folks on this new taste for fashion?
This mood has crept upon us and is not just reflected in our clothes, our makeup but also our home, our outlook on life. It is a movement probably long over due and delicate in its nature. It is reflected by the recently created Harvey Nichols Pinterest board 'Minimises'. And for all of you beset by a simple approach to things there is James Wallman's Stuffocation, which is a fantastic read and examination of our lifestyles.
Simplicity in our personal style does offer fresh unburdened choices, yet it is important to keep a little bling, tat or brashness to align your true self with this zeitgeist. (Been wanting to use zeitgeist for ages!) What say you folks on this new taste for fashion?
Alexa Chung at AG launch embodying the look
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
Observations #3
Where does the time go? It seems like only yesterday that I had a petit garçon who entered the world as a child of a novice blogger, now the garçon is to be 9 next week! Had I still been blogging on Make Do Style which was originally Make Do & Mend then I would have been celebrating 9 years of blogging.
However the last two years I've been flat out with styling including launching the new Personal Styling service at Elys in Wimbledon. Ironically I have gone from print to blogging, to print, less blogging, no print, no blogging and print. This weaving between media is a nice illustration of nothing is set in stone. Which in turn is a metaphor for style and life!
I give you the now le jeune homme and the front cover of the Elys magazine which I edited and styled. And in case I have no time between now and next year (quite likely) I wish you a Merry Christmas and a super stylish and Happy New Year!
However the last two years I've been flat out with styling including launching the new Personal Styling service at Elys in Wimbledon. Ironically I have gone from print to blogging, to print, less blogging, no print, no blogging and print. This weaving between media is a nice illustration of nothing is set in stone. Which in turn is a metaphor for style and life!
I give you the now le jeune homme and the front cover of the Elys magazine which I edited and styled. And in case I have no time between now and next year (quite likely) I wish you a Merry Christmas and a super stylish and Happy New Year!
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Notes #6
It is that moment when FASHION has a moment. And that moment was when Karl, Chanel Karl, Mr Lagerfeld stated the bleedin' obvious with his 'democratisation' of fashion i.e. anything goes!
image: The Guardian
Because there, right bang on the boulevard catwalk was the prophetic sign ' BE YOUR OWN STYLIST' And actually Karl is bang on the money here (because he wants your money) but he knows that the shows we see now are at a pinnacle. Here is Chanel merging street and high end ready to wear. It is no coincidence that he took the narrative from the supermarket to the high street (okay it was a boulevard). The point is he needs to direct the continuation of the House of Chanel and he needs to stamp his views on fashion now.
You only have to look at the diversity of the shows to understand the days of pronouncements or dictates of hemlines are well and truly over. The designers have preferences and those design preferences are reflected in their collections but no collections are defining moments anymore and I know there are those who will shout but what about 'Celine?' and what about what? What is there anymore in fashion other than personal preference and a few tweaks here and there on colour, texture and print.
Karl is celebrating this fact, we need to own our looks and he is giving us permission. Choose what you like and stick with it. Rely on Chanel for their tweed jackets if you can afford it but if not buy the nail varnish and look in Zara for a 'homage'.
Take note and become your own stylist, ignore the 'must haves' and be guided by what truly suits you and if necessary take a placard out on the streets telling everyone that!
Tuesday, 26 August 2014
Notes #5
These days I'm more likely NOT to be on the PR's lists for press days, mainly due to all the magazines I wrote for folding! Honest it wasn't personal, nothing to do with me. And lets not forget I'm a fair weather, not remotely elite blogger, meaning I don't count on that front either! I'm always amused by all of this, the vagaries of fashion promotion and yet I'll always love it.
Having been a jobbing fashion stylist and writer for over ten years I'm used to the fickle politics of fashion and equally I choose to work in a way that fits round my family, well the 8 yr old and the dog. They come first and work is well work. Work is important in terms of income and living. When I was a junior fashion assistant many many years ago, I loved press days as it meant I ate and got things. It was the late 80s times were hard! Now I attend a press day a) if I'm invited, see above and b) if I truly love the brand. Before, I needed to know the products for calling in for shoots or placing the item within magazines, now it is about keeping abreast and focused for the occasional piece I write. My new styling job has a different focus (more about this in another post) and all in all I'm too busy to take time out for press days.
Yet fresh back off hols I couldn't resist going to the Figleaves Christmas press day. When you are a girl who needs support Figleaves is a brand dear to ones bosom. Not only that it was in Claridges, a genius move in my book and as it turned out a delight for le jeune homme. I had to bring him as it was my time with him plus we had to hit John Lewis for school things.
Figleaves is the perfect place to find anything and everything you need when it comes to lingerie, swimwear and nightwear. It is my go to place for underwear, particularly bras. I can never find my size in store so I have to order from Figleaves. I have a favourite product, the Helena balconette bra by Fantasie. My only quibble with Fantasie is they don't do this bra in colours. I want a bright red, a cerise pink and maybe a cobalt blue. I love bright pink bras. I prefer to wear a bra that shows than not. Come on everyone knows you are wearing a bra! I don't want to pretend I am not. Of course there are occasions when the bra is discreet, that is what nude ones are for but on the whole I quite like a little glimpse of a bra strap in a colour other than black, white or nude. My plea to Fantasie is please indulge this fashion fantasy of mine.
Talking of fantasy there was a lot of *coughs* erotica going on in the bedroom at Claridges. In line with many other brands but with a definite 'proper' opportunity to provide boudoir lingerie Figleaves have reflected Fifty Shades of Grey. Having not read the books and being more likely see The Inbetweeners 2 than Fifty Shades I passed on the collection, although I did rather like the babydoll item. in their Figleaves London erotique collection.
My favourite items were the pink ruffle pants, a pair of green velvet slippers and some lovely cosy lounge around the house items, especially the cashmere items.
Much of the Christmas collection is perfect for treats and to put on the Christmas wish list. Drop hints now. And of course the 8 year old and I could have lounged around in the Claridges suite for ages, which we did!
Having been a jobbing fashion stylist and writer for over ten years I'm used to the fickle politics of fashion and equally I choose to work in a way that fits round my family, well the 8 yr old and the dog. They come first and work is well work. Work is important in terms of income and living. When I was a junior fashion assistant many many years ago, I loved press days as it meant I ate and got things. It was the late 80s times were hard! Now I attend a press day a) if I'm invited, see above and b) if I truly love the brand. Before, I needed to know the products for calling in for shoots or placing the item within magazines, now it is about keeping abreast and focused for the occasional piece I write. My new styling job has a different focus (more about this in another post) and all in all I'm too busy to take time out for press days.
Yet fresh back off hols I couldn't resist going to the Figleaves Christmas press day. When you are a girl who needs support Figleaves is a brand dear to ones bosom. Not only that it was in Claridges, a genius move in my book and as it turned out a delight for le jeune homme. I had to bring him as it was my time with him plus we had to hit John Lewis for school things.
Figleaves is the perfect place to find anything and everything you need when it comes to lingerie, swimwear and nightwear. It is my go to place for underwear, particularly bras. I can never find my size in store so I have to order from Figleaves. I have a favourite product, the Helena balconette bra by Fantasie. My only quibble with Fantasie is they don't do this bra in colours. I want a bright red, a cerise pink and maybe a cobalt blue. I love bright pink bras. I prefer to wear a bra that shows than not. Come on everyone knows you are wearing a bra! I don't want to pretend I am not. Of course there are occasions when the bra is discreet, that is what nude ones are for but on the whole I quite like a little glimpse of a bra strap in a colour other than black, white or nude. My plea to Fantasie is please indulge this fashion fantasy of mine.
Talking of fantasy there was a lot of *coughs* erotica going on in the bedroom at Claridges. In line with many other brands but with a definite 'proper' opportunity to provide boudoir lingerie Figleaves have reflected Fifty Shades of Grey. Having not read the books and being more likely see The Inbetweeners 2 than Fifty Shades I passed on the collection, although I did rather like the babydoll item. in their Figleaves London erotique collection.
My favourite items were the pink ruffle pants, a pair of green velvet slippers and some lovely cosy lounge around the house items, especially the cashmere items.
Much of the Christmas collection is perfect for treats and to put on the Christmas wish list. Drop hints now. And of course the 8 year old and I could have lounged around in the Claridges suite for ages, which we did!
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Notes #3
As I type I'm washing, ironing and packing to vamoosh to France. Yet my holiday packing is disappointing me, as the magazines and daily catalogue drops are fixing my mind firmly on my favourite season Autumn/Winter. It doesn't help that packing for Brittany is more like packing for Cornwall or West Wales, both beautiful and favourite locations but both prey to the vagaries of coastal weather changes.
Still a French excursion doe mean one thing, a ruddy big stock up at the pharmacy. Whilst I can purchase my favourite moisturiser from Net-A-Porter, a) it is cheaper in France, b) I'm in France and c) there are a whole heap of goodies to snag in addition.
My travel bag is an eclectic mix of things of which I've halved and will probably still not wear half of. Which is the trouble with summer clothes, you stockpile more than necessary. all those missed match bikinis, t-shirts, kaftan style tops and shorts, not to mention maxi dresses. Still I won't care what I'm wearing sat on the decking of an eve sipping French wine from the supermarché.
Essential things for being organised for French holidays & everything else, Knock Knock items from John Lewis from £2.95
Still a French excursion doe mean one thing, a ruddy big stock up at the pharmacy. Whilst I can purchase my favourite moisturiser from Net-A-Porter, a) it is cheaper in France, b) I'm in France and c) there are a whole heap of goodies to snag in addition.
My travel bag is an eclectic mix of things of which I've halved and will probably still not wear half of. Which is the trouble with summer clothes, you stockpile more than necessary. all those missed match bikinis, t-shirts, kaftan style tops and shorts, not to mention maxi dresses. Still I won't care what I'm wearing sat on the decking of an eve sipping French wine from the supermarché.
Essential things for being organised for French holidays & everything else, Knock Knock items from John Lewis from £2.95
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