ASOS Black

I have been patiently waiting for a while for the launch of the latest ASOS Black range after seeing some carefully styled piece in one of their magazines.  I fell head over heels in love with a feather skirt...not so surprising if you read this blog often, I have quite the penchant for feathers.

So when it launched a few weeks ago I raced home to order said skirt.  Patiently waiting...the next day delivery was not so next day thanks to Parcelforce having a mare with their electronics system...I dug into the bag when it arrived only to find I do not have the right figure for it.  Not in a "I can't pull off feathers" kind of way.  Oh no.  In a "this doesn't fit at all kind of way".  Silly me forgot that due to all the structured feathers there is a lack of movement and stretch...and apparently my hourglass figure doesn't exactly fit ASOS's image of the perfect size 10. 

However, despite all this I am still in love with ASOS Black right now.  The range fully embraces the extravagent side to fashion using all the best fabrics and embellishments, drawing inspiration from romanticism and Parisian couture and utilising a nude palette that encompasses everything from grey to cappuccino rather than just cream...bravo.  Whats more they have taken ruffles to a new level and Spring/Summer 2010 is all about ruffles in my humble opinion.

Here's my pick of the best pieces, and yes the skirt is included because it will fit someone and they will look fabulous...

 Jumpsuit (£75), Frill Dress (£120), Heavy Ruffle Dress (£120), Feather Skirt (£65),  Cluster Sequin Skirt (£75), Sequin Embellished Playsuit (£75)

2010: The year to embrace yellow?

I succumbed to the yellow trend today.  It's plagued me every summer because of how bloody pale I am.  Nothing has changed...but I fell in love with a dress.  A dress from Next.  I'm thinking I'll shun the black and go all grey and silver when it comes to accessories.  If you know me I can almost guarantee that you won't be able to picture me in this but bear in mind I am an awfully lot more hourglass than this teeny tiny model here, imagine all those ruffles shimmying around and me with a nice glass of white in my hand.  Picture me in it now?

In case you disagree with my choice I've compiled some other splendid yellow numbers that are on the market.

Karen Millen (£135), Very by Vera Moda (£50), Traffic People (RRP £55, £25 at ASOS Outlet), Eucalyptus (RRP £69, £32 at ASOS Outlet), Ted Baker (£199) and ASOS (£36)

All of these are available from ASOS.  Lazy?  Me?  No way....it's research.  I'm looking into jobs there and what better way to understand the brand than to indulge in their style?  From subtle tints of yellow to acid brights and multi-colour prints emblazoned with lemon tones maybe 2010 is the year to embrace yellow. If I can do it you definitely can!

Melk Z-Da: Rio Fashion Week A/W 2010/11

I really don't think anyone could moan about Rio Fashion Week...sun, sea, sand and high fashion.  Despite the tragic winter conditions they must have they manage to inspire the likes of us back in snowy/wet England with innovative shapes and use of texture.  Melk Z-Da's catwalk show is my favourite...spikes of fabric and dark, metallic fabrics provide a sharp contrast to the silks, feathers and playful plastics that made up his S/S 2010 collection.

His models almost look like urchins with their 'grubby' metallic faces and short messed up hair, combined with the loose over-sized styles, which sometimes give the impression the clothes weren't originally theirs.  This may sound terrible but believe me it isn't.  Exposed zips, flashes of neon, high volume ruffles and strongly sturctured 'cages' adorn form fitting dresses giving the feminine styles we saw in S/S a harder edge.  Despite the fact I'm not sure some of it would hold any ground off the catwalk (though I'm sure it will adapt itself onto the highstreet) and that some of the more dramatic aspects are things I've seen on our costumes at Design by Janine, I love it.

See for yourself at Brazilian Elle or here...

DIY Plaits...

After wearing my hair in plaits all summer in a bid to prevent the fact camping prevents the use of straighteners (and being spoken to in Dutch a lot...I am blonde.  I do look a bit like a milkmaid.  I am not Dutch.  Shocking I know!) I am glad to finally see that plaits are back.  Ok this may be a bit belated as they have been 'back' for a while but I should clarify...I am glad that DIY plaits are back.

When reading Vogue's beauty pages every on trend hairstyle 'how to' quoted something along the lines of "it should look like you've done it yourself".  This is marvellous as I DO do it myself.  My plaits are not neat, I cannot do French plaits to save my life (and therefore I am incapable of having plaits run delicately through my hair...across the front or into an up do) and therefore they continuously look a mess.  Like I've done them myself.

Grazia tells me this is all due to Alexander Wang's S/S 2010 catwalk.  Thank you Alexander Wang...with the new short layers permeating my hair I'm pleased to have an excuse when people comment (and they inevitabily do) that I have a bit of hair sticking out jussst there.  "I'm supposed to!  Alexander Wang says so."

The Wang Plait, followed by Hanne Gaby Odiele and Cheryl Cole rocking the look

 

Lily Allen goes all country at Chanel

Paris Fashion Week has always appealed to me but the buzz about Chanel's latest show is making me wish I was there more than ever.  I've been reading about it everywhere!  Garance Dore was there and labelled it the 'Supershow' describing it as a cross between a rock concert, a mass, a play, a party and...of course...a catwalk show.

Set as a barn, with people in the front row from Anna Wintour to Prince (yes, the Prince!) the glitterati watched as in addition to models appearances were made by Karl Lagerfeld an Lily Allen, who rose from the floor to perform.  Some how I can't help but think she performed Not Fair and that it was her video, decked out all country, that drew the attention of Chanel's creatives.  (See the video below to see what I mean)  I must say I do love that song...it epitomises the relationships of some girls I know.  I am lucky to not be one of those girls.



I can't do justice to this story as well as others...I wasn't there.  Read Garance Dore's account and look at some of her pictures.  I've picked the best for you here....

A reception with Mr Mulberry

Well...not exactly Mr Mulberry.  Mr Nick Roberts actually, retail extroadinaire at Mulberry.  On Thursday lunch time I and some of the other Graduate Fashion Week winners were welcomed into Mulberry's Sherperds Bush offices for lunch and a chat.

I am not very knowledgable about Mulberry to be honest, I always get confused as to whether or not they just go handbags or whether they were originally a fashion company.  Well both are wrong!  Mulberry will be 40 in 2011 and still hold onto their roots in Somerset, where they make all of their best bags...that'll be those over £395.  Originating with small leather goods Mulberry's founder branched into to leather bags that are their success.  The brand has recently branched out into shoes and also has a womenswear collection.

Mulberry seem to be unphased by the recession, actually improving their turnover by 33% in the last year.  Genius?  Some might say so...well done Emma Hill (creative director) for her fantastic work.  With continued success of their best loved bags Roxanne and Bayswater, Mulberry have gained a huge amount of interest in their Alexa bag made in honour of Alexa Chung.

Nick spoke fondly of Mulberry, possessing a genuine passion for the brand, descibing the need for honesty in a brand (the reason they don't pretend that all their products are made in England) and the brands love of creating a quality product that uses natural vegetable dye so the product ages with it's owner.  I was impressed.

Mulberry's Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

We had an amazing day.  Thank you very much Mr Mulberry for an enlightening lunch and for the very cute present...an oh so sweet pink animal print leather bow bracelet.  In fact, Mulberry have been amazing with us.  They hosted Wednesday night's drinks reception in their fabulous show room inspired in design by a print from their Spring/Summer 2010 collection...complete with carousel horses, printed wallpaper and lots of balloons.  Amazing.

Here's us at the meeting thanks to Calum Harvey's photography...

...check out what he thought of the meeting at Scrap vs Luxury, his very own blog.

"Are you sure shoulder pads are back in fashion?!"

Whilst discussing the multitude of shoulder related items in our wardrobes over lunch, my friend suddenly piped up: "I went shopping with my mother the other day.  She brought her first item in 20 years with shoulder pads and even as she was paying said "are you sure shoulder pads are back in fashion?!" I think you need to tell her because she doesn't believe me!"

You see whilst the younger generations pick up the shoulder pads in River Island (ready to be taped into blazers and tops sans shoulder pads) the older generation has seen this all before and, quite frankly, don't seem to understand how on earth it's been allowed to come round again!

Power Dressing at Balmain and Yves Saint Laurent:

According to the trend gurus at Viewpoint "53% of millionaires in 2020 will be women" and currently "52% of men in key European capitals say they live by women's rules."  Therefore, it's simply really...it's all about power.  Power dressing is not a new concept so many people can see how exaggerated shoulders (whether billowing or sharp) form the basis to this trend.

Vogue assure that this trend, which was first spied at Christophe Decarnin's Balmain catwalk for Spring/Summer 2009, is going nowhere in Autumn/Winter 2009/10.  Embrace it ladies, shoulders are back!  Though, if you're scared, you could enhance them in a slightly more subtle way....think asymmetric one shoulders and bustiers.  Sound better?

Strong Shoulders at Zac Posen and Roksanda Ilincic:

 

All images taken from Vogue Online