(Mc)Queen of my Heart

Vogue UK

McQueen showcased their McQ A/W collection yesterday at London Fashion Week. One thing to note about me is that i am completely obsessed with Alexander McQueen and think they can do no wrong so am probably biased. I have always loved the creativity and detail behind McQueen's creations and love how the shows are more like an art exhibition than a regular catwalk show.

 The Huffington Post

My Daily

As you can see by the pictures the main colours are deep greens, navys and reds and blacks. The collection starts off very military with khaki greens and uniform like shoulders and pockets and ends up feminine gothic with velvet jackets and velvet floral detailing on tulle skirts. I think the flower dresses are beautiful. You can zoom in to the photos on Vogue's website and see how amazing the colours and detailing are. Love the shade of red used; very rich and luxurious. And it wouldn't be McQueen without a bit of kilt and tartan!

I think the collection is gorgeous and actually very wearable. I can't wait for the Alexander McQueen A/W collection showing at Paris Fashion Week. It's the last show so i'm hoping they are leaving the best till last.

Nail Rock Rocks?

When i was out shopping a couple of days ago i seen packets of Nail Rock Nail Wraps in quite a few shops. Nail wraps have become very popular recently mainly as it means you can have colourful designs on your nails in a few minutes without the hassle of using nail polish or nail art pens. I remember i got a nail foil kit years ago for my birthday but it wasn't very good. Or maybe i was just doing it wrong! Whatever it was i'm now curious to get my hands on some of these nail wraps to see if they've improved. I'm liking the look of these two packs.

'Tattoo' pack. This pack is so cute. Love the pastels and retro designs.

'Spots and Stripes' pack. These would look very impressive on anyone's hands. I like how there is so much detail on each design.

I also seen on Nail Rock's website that they do eye and lip 'tattoos'. Would love to try out these eye ones. Think would look great if done right.

Going to keep an eye out, excuse the pun, for the eye liner pack (they photo at the end) as that has four designs in it!

They are reasonably priced with the nail wrap packs selling for £6.65 on the Nail Rocks website and the eye tattoos from £5.99.

Have you tried any of these or something similar? What did you think? I'd love to know :)

Room Cleaning

Spent most of the day tidying my room. It never stays neat for long and no doubt it will return to it's usual messiness by next weekend. Best part was finding £70 in an envelope from my birthday. I feel rich now! I actually found cleaning really relaxing. The rain was taping at the windows and Rebecca Ferguson and Lana Del Rey were playing in the background (both albums are great  and if you haven't listened to them yet do so.)

How have you spent your saturday?

Materials, Fabrics and Textures at London Fashion Week Day One

Done a bit of a different type of fashion week post. I've put together an image board of close ups of clothing so you can get an idea of what colours, textures and fabrics were used. There were lots of sequins, beads and glitter to add sparkle. Bright prints showed up on quite a few catwalks. The prints were very graphic with flowing white lines cutting through bleeding oranges, greens and purples. Rough tweed suits and big knits on jumpers appeared on several catwalks too. Liked the use of ruffles and feathers to give a bit of volume and texture. As you can see the main colours were navy, black, purple with splashes of oranges and reds.

I think this type of post is an easier way to get an idea of what is on the runways. Let me know if you like it and i'll do more!


All images from Vogue.

Shopping Trip

Went to my local shopping centre to do a bit of retail therapy. Only got to a few shops but seen tons of clothes i could've bought. This lottery win needs to happen asap! Anywho here's what i picked up:

Sesame Street Top and Star Shorts Pyjama Set - Primark
Leopard Print and Roses Knot Top - Primark
Grey Jogging Bottoms - H&M
Beige Mac - Vero Moda
Silver Bracelets - Market Stall
Black Jeans - H&M
Suede Shorts - H&M
British Flag Sweater - Primark
Cream and Black Cardigans - H&M

• The suede shorts from H&M were too nice to pass up. They feel lovely and can be worn all seasons; with brown tights or leggings in the winter then bare legs in the summer. They will go perfectly with a pair of leopard print wedges i have!
• I am such an Anglophile i can never resist anything to do with Britain or London and this sweater i found in the mens section of Primark is a mix of both. The union flag filled in with images of London landmarks. Really like the neutral colours.
• Been looking for a cream cardigan for ages that was the right shade and size and today i finally found it in H&M. I liked it so much i picked it up in black too. I rely on cardigans during the spring for that little bit of cover when it's still a bit chilly but not cold enough for a jacket.
• As much as i love clothes and fashion i can be a right slob at home and like a lot of girls i love lazing around with my hair in a bun, no make up on wearing a sweater and jogging bottoms. These are a lovely grey colour but the photo doesn't really do them justice. I got these from the boy's section at H&M. I'm a size 10 and i have quite wide hips, these are age 14+ and fit perfectly. They are also cheaper than the adult section as these were only £5.99. I know where i'm going for my joggers from now on!

• I am praying for the warm weather to come soon so i've already started buying clothes for summer. Picked this lovely floaty knot top from Primark for a fiver. The colours are lovely and when i tried it on at home i realised that when paired with black jeans the black and pink in the top really stand out and when paired with creams and beiges the browns and creams in the top come through and make for a subtle outfit. You would honestly think i had a different top on.
• The black jeans peeking out from the top are from H&M. They have a lovely wet look to them and are super flattering. Don't have a pair like them so they'll sit well in my forever growing jeans collection.

• Time for my novelty purchase. I always go for wacky/fun pyjamas and this sesame street pyjama set from Primark tick all the boxes. Childhood, colourful, fun it's all there.

• Got these two silver bracelets from the market. I am obsessed with roses so i was sold on that bracelet straight away and when i seen the deal of two for £10 i searched for another one to go with it and found the butterfly bracelet.

•  Now for my super duper bargain. I've been meaning to get a mac for so long now and when i seen this one in Vero Moda on sale for £12 i couldn't say no. It fits just right and is good for when the weather starts getting a bit milder. Vero Moda do some amazing deals/sales so if you have one near you it's good to pop in every now and then.

• Serious pick of me haha. Please excuse my awful ghost face. Tried out some of the eyeshadows from the Bobbi Brown Nude Palette i got. The colours are lovely and there's a good mix of shimmers and mattes meaning you can create a lot of different looks. Might do a proper post on it soon. 

Hope you all have a lovely weekend :)

New York Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2012 - 2013 (15.02)

Only a quick post today!

Michael Kors

Douglas Hannant

Philosophy by Alberta Ferretti

Victoria by Victoria Beckham

Vivenne Tam

J.Mendel

Jeremy Scott

Most of the fashion was similar in the sense that knits, furs and leathers were all mixed into outfits. It was all about contrasting textures; thick rough knits paired with soft furs. There were lots of neat lines as jackets were well tailored and belts were used to accentuate waists. I love the minimalism of Victoria by Victoria Beckham and Philosophy by Alberta Ferritti. Really love the Michael Kors collection (that red fur coat is fabulous) and J.Mendel's collection is so luxurious. I couldn't leave out Jeremy Scott's futuristic, hippy clowns!

So excited as London Fashion Week starts tomorrow.
All images from Vogue.

New York Fashion Week A/W 2012 - 2013 (14.02)

Absolutely loving what designers have to offer from New York Fashion Week. Here's my picks from February 14th's catwalks.

Alexandre Herchcovitch

Reds, burnt oranges and golds warmed up the runway at Alexandre Herchcovitch's show. Picking up from the colours of autumn leaves models glowed whilst wearing gold metallic skirts, jackets, dresses, earthy red jackets with touches of tartan and luxurious lace. This collection would warm up any wardrobe.

Josie Natori

Models were turned into street wise and glamorous geishas for Josie Natori's A/W collection. I have always had an interest in the orient and i love when designers look to the east for inspiration. From oriental floral prints, thick belts like traditional obi's and kimono like jackets and shawls to the up-dos and dark lipstick Josie showed that anyone can get in touch with their inner geisha.

Naeem Khan

There was nothing shy or retiring about Naeem Khan's show. It was all about graphic swirls, lines and patterns, metal and sequin embellishments, feathers skirts and dangly earrings. There was lots of mixing textures whilst keeping a similar colour palette of black, greys, silvers and golds. It was rich and regal. No doubt high street evening wear will mimic Khan's creations.

Sachin + Babi

Very much like Khan, Sachin + Babi mixed textures whilst sticking to a palette of neutrals and adding richness with dark greens and purples. Alligator jackets and skirts were paired with leather and ruffles. Cosy knits and furs were placed next to each other. I love that rich green jacket complete with dark green fur in the fourth image. I'm looking forward to seeing how this collection will influence the high street.

Bebe

I love the rockabilly style so I was so excited to see that Bebe looked to that era for inspiration. This is clothing a rockabilly lady would wear in the office. I love the tartan capes and jackets, the smart 'v' collars and boxy pencil skirts. Like other shows shoulders were sharp and waists were tailored showing a womanly shape. If I worked in a place where the uniform was suits I'd be wearing this collection.

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs went back to school for A/W. Knee length pleated tartan skirts, baggy jumpers, crisp white blouses and thick rimmed glasses make for a geek chic look. Train conductor hats were placed on models heads adding a smartness to outfits. Like Victoria Beckham long socks were paired with boots. I love that coat in the first image and the outfit in the second photo.

Sophie Theallet

Sophie went seventies for her A/W. Muted colours mixed with loud colours and garish prints with a hint of India makes for an interesting collection. I liked the contrast between flashes of colour such as bright red and pink and earthy browns and mustard yellows to tone the outfit. Also love the polo necks under tops and dresses. There were also very feminine pieces such a the black dress in the second image paired with red shoes for a pop of colour.

Oscar De La Renta

Posh, preppy, prim and proper are all words that come to mind when viewing Oscar's A/W collection. Jewelled headbands, heavily embellished matching blazers and skirts, preppy knitted sweaters, fur coats with brooches and ruffled necklines mean the models were oh so ladylike. Invitation to tea and scones at the Ritz then to watch a spot of polo? This is the collection you would wear.

RAD by Rad Hourani

The complete opposite of the Marc collection. RAD was all about military from the boxy shoulders to the dark army green and blacks used. It's also very androgynous. Men and women marched down the runway wearing similar pieces. The women could've snatched their jackets from their boyfriend's closet adding a belt to pull the look together. I love the neat lines and uniformity of this collection.

What autumn/winter collections have you loved?

Japanese Valentine's

So you're probably sick of 'v' day now and think it should be forgotten till next year but I couldn't not share this with you. I found out that in Japan Valentine's Day is a day for the women of Japan to give gifts. Yep, while many women are being wined and dined in the western world in Japan the ladies are doing the wooing.

Japanese women give chocolate, can be shop bought or handmade, to males as an expression of love, courtesy or social obligation. So there is no confusion to whether the gift is a gift of love or courtesy there are two types of chocolate given, honmei choco or giri choco. Honmei choco literally translates to "true feeling chocolate" and so given to boyfriends, husbands or prospective boyfriends. This chocolate tends to be of high quality and some women go as far as to make it themselves! Giri choco, meaning obligation chocolate, is given to males that the lady has no romantic interest in; just friendship and gratitude. Recipients are normally colleagues, bosses and family members. Giri is an etiquette that the Japanese follow when dealing with other people. It is a mutual obligation; if someone does you a favour, then you feel obligated to do something for that person. In recent years another category has become popular, tomo choco, translated to friend chocolate given to female friends.

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But don't worry, ladies aren't left out as exactly a month later it's time for the men to step up to the plate as on the 14th of March White Day is celebrated. Males who were recipients of chocolates are expected to return the favour and give gifts back to the women. Popular gifts include cookies, marshmallows, white chocolate, white lingerie and jewellery. There is a cited rule 'sanbai gaeshi' which means triple the return where the return gift should cost two or three times more than the valentine's gift!

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So is this just a ploy formulated by companies to sell a lot of chocolate and other gifts? Well, it's said that more than half of the chocolates sold in a year is sold around Valentine's Day in Japan and White Day was started in 1978 by the National Confectionery Industry Association. I'll leave it up to you to decide.

New York Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2012-2013 (08.02-13.02)

I wondered onto Vogue.co.uk to check out some fashion and get some inspiration when I clicked through to their New York Fashion Week coverage. I ended up spending over an hour drooling over all the autumn/winter 2012-2013 offerings. I had a lot to catch up on as NYFW started on the 8th so I've put together some images from the shows up until yesterday that I feel will influence what's in my wardrobe this coming autumn/winter.

Kimberley Ovitz

If you have read some of my previous posts you may know that I am a slight colour phobe when it comes to clothes. My wardrobe is made up of mainly black, grey and white and I tend to stick to those colours especially in winter. Consisting of mainly black and some neutrals this collection is something I could take straight from the runway out onto the street. Black dresses, black trousers, black jackets paired with black ankle boots owned the catwalk. It was tough but with a slight femininity. Very Girl With The Dragon Tattoo-esque. You could easily take pieces from this collection and insert into your wardrobe.

Ruffian

Almost polar opposite to Kimberley, Ruffian oozed 1920's and 1940's fashion. Figure hugging dresses cinched in at the waist to give the impression of curves, ruffled necklines, pencil skirts and waist skimming, tailored jackets showed that ladies could be smart and still look every bit the woman. Love the trilby hats and the hairstyles. In my dream world this is what I would wear everyday.

Herve Leger by Max Azaria

It was all about the waist at Herve. Near enough every outfit was accessorised with a waist cinching belt almost like a harness adding an almost armour feel to the dresses. There was a Roman/Gladiator feel with gladiator sandals wrapped around calves all the way to the knee. Fur was used on arms, skirts and shoulders as if these ladies had been hunting and used animal furs to keep them warm. These women were dressed and ready for war.

Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham went military for autumn/winter. Gold buttons, shoulder detailing, long boots and army green and black made the models turn into a fashionable brigade. Waists again were highlighted with belts and stripes helping to give femininity to outfits. I love the woolly socks under the boots, the v collars adding a pop of colour and the mix of masculine shoulders with womanly waists.

DKNY

I felt like I'd been transported to a fashionable future when looking through the DKNY runway photos. Shiny leather, alligator skirts, thick belts and sunglasses made me instantly think of The Matrix - but more fashionable. The fact that most of the collection was black means I can instantly see myself wearing most of these pieces. I liked the flash of colour with that gorgeous shade of red.

Giulietta

This collection is oh so girly. Models hair cupped the face in low ponytails to transform them into real life russian dolls. The palette was a mixture of warm reds, muted browns, luxurious creams and classic monochrome. I love the contrasting light collars against dark backgrounds, the material belts that blend in to the outfit with rounded edged buckles and white buttons and tights. A nice mix of prim and proper with cute girlishness. 

Jenny Packham

I was in love with this collection from the moment I layed eyes on it. Play suits and wet look, floor skimming dresses are right up my street. Attention was drawn to shoulders whether it be because they're on show or by some delicate embellishments and hair was swept up so the shape of shoulder were on show.  Again waists were accentuated to balance out the shoulders. Materials draped in colours ranging from black to beige.

Donna Karen

You know the song 'this is a man world' when I see this collection I imagine the sound track would be opposing to that. Trilby hats, shoulders so sharp you could get a cut, smart cuffs and material wrapped around the waist to show of curves would convince anyone that these women are ruling, whether that be in a board room or running some kind of fashion mafia.

Thom Browne

Thom Browne is one of those designers that you know is going to have a show full of eccentricities and quirks and his autumn/winter collection didn't disappoint. Woollen foxes and cone adornments probably won't be making an appearance in my wardrobe any time soon but there are elements of the collection that will not doubt filter down to the high street and onto my back. There is something so tactile about the clothes. Rough wool and soft knits are perfect materials and textures for autumn winter and anyone could wear a woollen jacket or skirt plus the muted colours makes the pieces even more wearable.

Betsey Johnson

Betsey's collection screams swinging sixties Britain. Neon pink and oranges paired with tartan suits and capes are a scary thought but there is something so right about them. The bright pink shirt with the tartan suit is certainly a bold statement but could definitely be worn. The black and white looks with a splash of red is something I would wear. I love those striped tights! The collection is adventurous, fun and captures the eccentricity Britain is loved for.

Gregory Parkinson

I never really paid attention to Gregory Parkinson before so when I seen his collection i questioned why that was because this collection is so nice! Purples and blues are the main colours with accents of browns and greens. It's got a freshness and youthfulness to it and I could easily see these clothes being sold in shops such as H&M. I love that purple fur coat and the green shoes. Gregory is firmly on my fashion radar.

What shows have attracted your attention? What shows are you looking forward to?
All images collected from Vogue UK