Monthly Archives: September 2011

London Fashion Week Spring 2012 Ready-to-wear

Posted in Fashion, I Adore, Models, Runway by

London Fashion Week seemed pretty short, and not as hectic as New York. I was fairly surprised by how many shows I did like, from Temperley London, Erdem, and Felder Felder to Mark Fast, Julien Macdonald and Mulberry.

I didn’t manage to watch any livestreaming shows as I was at work when they were on, but catching up on most of them some of the NYFW themes filtered through to LFW with bright colours, especially yellow, and that slinky tailoring that was so popular on the NY runway.

I’m becoming a huge fan of tailoring, as I’ve grown up I realise it’s not all about sexy going out clothes but how you present yourself on a day to day basis and if a well cut pair of trousers does that I would pick them over a tight dress any day. And some of the shows prove that you don’t have to wear a sexy dress to look good, over at Erdem there were floral prints all in a blue tone offset with pieces of crisp white lace that added a touch of class and a shorts and shirt combo that I absolutely adore. Antonio Berardi showed a feminine tux with a long jacket and a short jacket with the perfect skirt, all in that luxurious white that a fair few designers showcased. Matthew Williamson showed off a printed blouse with bright turquoise pants, what’s not to love?

Erdem

Antonio Berardi

Antonio Berardi

Matthew Williamson

There were, however, plenty of gorgeous gowns on show. So if sexy is your thing there is plenty to choose from. I was pleasantly surprised by Felder Felder, they were one of my random picks from the first days shows and there looks were fabulous, I particularly liked the long black gown with a studded corset and chiffon skirt. Marios Schwab was more mysterious female or as Style.com puts it “film noir”, sheer panelling, perforated cutouts and pastel colours with  a long sheer gown and a glittering bodysuit underneath that oozed sexuality. And Antonio Berardi again, showed a stunning red dress worthy of the red carpet, and definitely a trend that we saw at the Emmys with around nine stars wearing red gowns.

Felder Felder

Marios Schwab

Marios Schwab

Antonio Berardi

Absolute standout show for me was Temperley London, nearly every look was a dream. Style.com described the collection as a “drug kingpin moll” with some “high glamour”, definitely agree. The 1920′s style head wraps, printed gowns, along with the sexy tuxedos, fringed dresses and my favourite look a shirt with cutout shoulders, and an amazing studded cream dress, I want it all!

Temperley London

Temperley London

Temperley London

Temperley London

Temperley London

Temperley London

Temperley London

Temperley London

Temperley London

And here’s the best of the rest from London Fashion Week…

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All images from Style.com

New York Fashion Week Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

Posted in Fashion, I Adore, Models, Runway by

I honestly don’t know how fashion editors, buyers, directors etc etc do a fashion week. I’ve struggled to keep up with all the shows and I’m sat on my arse in front of a computer scrolling through photographs from each show, and even then I have to make a selection of who I want to look at because it TAKES SO LONG. I always look at my favourite designers, the recognisable names and then pick a few random ones that usually end up been the better options!

New York Fashion Week, was a whole load of different, if that makes sense. There were some similar themes running through several shows, like a LOT of white, and in mostly silky sheer material which looked a dream, seen at Luca Luca, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. The material I mention was in practically every show, well every show that I looked at, it’s the perfect shimmery, sexy, slinky, swishy, silk material that I adore especially when you see it down the runway floating and folding on the model. I especially loved the DKNY show, I watched it livestream on Style.com and I felt like I was there (I pretended OKAY) the looks were light and airy with really nicepops of colour.

Luca Luca

Luca Luca

DKNY

Colour was another big look, from pastel, sherbet, vivid, neon, rich, royal, sparkle and nude there wasn’t a show that didn’t pass by without a flash of the rainbow (well maybe apart from Ralph Lauren…). My favourite ‘colour’ shows were Jason Wu and Christian Siriano, Wu’s pastel pinks paired with crisp white and citron flashes of yellow were a dream, and Siriano’s burnt orange ball gown skirt was a delight.

Jason Wu Jacquelyn Jablonski

Jason Wu Kate King

Christian Siriano

Shape was sexy and tailored, peekaboo splits, peplum skirts or ballgown goodness. The recurring sexy tailoring was a particular favourite, pencil thin trousers in an array of colours, or the easiest way to do spring tailoring, shorts. Shorts galore! Simple style with a loose tee or sharp with a tux blazer, a great look to pull off if you pair the right shapes together. There were shift dresses from Victoria by Victoria Beckham her new line (not diffusion mind), there were full length red carpet amazing-ness, puff-tastic, dropped flapper style waists and some dripping in embellishment, case in point, Marchesa.

J. Mendel

Tibi

Prabal Gurung

There were plenty of red-carpet looks that could be seen at future film premieres, gala’s and even award shows, one of my favourites was Ralph Lauren’s look 52. A simple white column dress with cobweb patterened jewel short sleeves and a high neck, I would very much like to see this on Emma Stone. Zac Posen’s collection exudes glamour and red carpet beauty, for someone to wear one of his gowns would be a show-stopping moment. And not forgetting, the queen of red carpet, Georgina Chapman…

Ralph Lauren Zuzanna Bijoch

Zac Posen

Marchesa Karolina Kurkova

My ULTIMATE look of the week and ULTIMATE model, has to go to Karlie Kloss in Prabal Gurung. Prabal Gurung’s show was the epitome of sexy and I also watched that livestream and couldn’t believe how good it was. Karlie Kloss just has this amazing walk and this smoldering eyebrow-arching pout that I am just drawn to, how can she look that good and be only 19 *sad face*.

Prabal Gurung Karlie Kloss

Right I’m ready and raring to go for London Fashion Week, I expect this to be edgier as the Brit designers are apparently known for. Probably won’t like it as much… I can’t wait for Paris though.

Here’s the best of the rest….

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All images from Style.com

It’s September already?

Posted in Gossip Girl, Life, Lists, Mystery, Style, Television by

Those are the words falling miserably out of mouths up and down the country, and really we shouldn’t be surprised. It happens nearly every year, we sit on the edges of our seats waiting for that moment when the sun will burst through the seemingly never ending run of clouds so we can spend more than a mere minute outside with our loving friend vitamin D.

It never happens and September rolls around with us feeling even more glum than the beginning of the year when we promised we’d give up that thing we LOVE to make us lose weight or to pretend we feel better about ourselves (just remember that time is coming again soon, 17 weeks, don’t hate on me for pointing this out I loathe that time of the year).

BUT, what comes with September, is the start of the television season. You may think I’m crazy but autumn (or fall) is when the country is supposed to retire in front of the box snuggled up on the couch with no sun to distract them, no more balmy evenings but cold and rain to keep them inside to watch the latest offerings on the tele.

And as I’ve mentioned countless times before US television is what matters, although as the cold months draw in UK television is good, one show I’m looking forward to is the Body Farm a spinoff from the very greatly missed Waking the Dead. And all the other thriller, killer drama’s that appear lovingly on my screen.

Every year there are double the amount of programmes on US tv, brand new shows competing with veteran shows, those that win over audiences are the successors some with devoted fans prevail others never last beyond their second or third episode after when viewing figures fail to ignite.

I happen to have a tough schedule this year, with 30* shows currently on my timetable I don’t know how I’m going to manage. My fellow US tv lover has 40, and has just discovered the wonders of a livestreaming channel, and the joy of no sleep whilst watching The Lying Game at 2am in the morning (I do not have the fortune of being able to stay awake until 2am I have to rise at 7am to get ready for work, he currently works from home on his own hours).

Here’s a run down of my list, what I will without a doubt not be missing, what I will be giving a try, and what I think will fall at the first hurdle even though it has made it to my list.

Wouldn’t miss if my life depended on it:

  • Fringe (Fox) – my love of Josh Jackson would never waver (I love you Pacey).
  • Supernatural (CW) – J-squared always have a place in my heart.
  • Vampire Diaries (CW) – Ian Somerhalder, those eyes, that body (Sorry you always play a dead guy).

Must-watch:

  • Gossip Girl (CW)
  • Nikita (CW)
  • Family Guy
  • Dexter (Showtime)
  • America’s Next Top Model (CW)
  • Glee (Fox)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • Desperate Housewives (ABC) – this is the final series (thank god).
  • One Tree Hill (CW) – just getting back into this show after ditching it when Lucas and Peyton did…

New picks:

  • Apartment 23 (Fox) - it has James van der Beek in it, as himself. Nuff said.
  • Hart of Dixie (CW) - Summer is back, sorry Rachel Bilson.
  • New Girl (Fox) - I love Zooey Deschanel.
  • Ringer (CW)- Sarah Michelle Gellar on my screen again, and with a really great show.
  • The Secret Circle (CW) - From the same author of Vampire Diaries LJ Smith, and the man behind both tv shows Kevin Williamson (Dawson’s Creek, Scream)
  • *Terra Nova (Fox) – Forgot that this finally had an air date after being pushed back a few times, big CGI production, dinasours and produced by The Speilberg, I have to give it a try at least. (Sounds a little Primeval)
  • *2 Broke Girls (CBS) – I missed this when making the list, noticed it had Kat Dennings starring who I LOVED in Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.
  • *Pan Am – I don’t know why I forgot to put this show on the list, an original series following the Mad Men lead it’s set in the “Jet Age”. My only worry is I’ve never watched Mad Men because it didn’t appeal to me so I may lose interest…
  • Revenge (ABC) – the lead returns to the town she grew up in but noone recognises her… no big names. (REALLY GOOD)

    The Ringer

Could fall at the first hurdle:

  • Alcatraz (Fox) - only thing attracting me to this show its from the creators of Lost and has Hurley in it.
  • Charlie’s Angels 2011 (ABC) - I loved the originals, the movies were ho-hum, I’m not sure the gloss and glamour will work in the noughties without making it tacky but I am prepared to be swayed. AWFUL
  • Grimm (NBC) - great idea but is it strong enough to hold up for more than one season when there’s already a show like Supernatural that covers the ‘grimm’ aspects. A possible replacement if SN finishes after season 7?
  • Once Upon a Time (ABC) - same idea using fairytales, but the look of the show could be a let down.
  • Revenge (ABC) – the lead returns to the town she grew up in but noone recognises her… no big names.
  • The Finder (Fox) – this is a latecomer to my list so I’ll be applying last to join first to go if it fails to impress me.
  • Awake (NBC) - another one that I could let go, I just like the premise of living a life while you dream.

On hiatus:

  • Falling Skies (TNT)
  • Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family)
  • Teen Wolf (MTV)
  • True Blood (HBO)

If there are any other shows that you will be watching that I haven’t listed and think it would fit into my schedule then let me know. I like having US tv buddies, discussing the ins and outs of the shows are much fun and can make you go crazy (PLL ha).

*Most recent additions