(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.

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.

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?

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

Glorious Grammy Gowns

The Grammys are known for showcasing outrageous fashion as musicians from all genres around the world gather to celebrate a year of music. This years the awards were more about remembrance and the celebration of life as the sad news of Whitney Huston's passing rocked the world hours before the awards. Stars honoured the icon but the sad news certainly didn't stop them from going all out on their outfits.

Kelly Osborne shimmers in this gorgeous Tony Ward dress. Love the rich colour; a cross between silver and champaign. Her glowing golden tan, soft curls and fresh make up make this one of my favourite looks.

This plunging Armani number isn't a dress that anyone could wear but when you're Rihanna anything looks good on you. It hugs her svelte figure perfectly and Rihanna makes the right decision of only wearing golden bracelets, tiny golden rings and a fine necklace, leaving the plunging neck line to do all the talking. Her glowing hair and make up give a 70's feel to the outfit.

My heart drops a little every time i look at this Jean Paul Gaultier dress. Why? Because this dress could've been so right. The orange is bang on trend, the lace design is lovely and the shape is really nice. I want to scream 'why is this dress not lined!' Instead of being a show stopper for the right reasons you wonder what possessed Fergie to wear this revealing design.

I'm on the fence with this backless Elie Saab gown. I'm normally a big fan of his creations but this leaves me feeling 'meh'. I like the sky blue sequins but it has a slight 'granny' feel to it that just does not sit well with me. The ribbon around the waist and the up do make the dress seem almost bridal. I think Katy Perry was thought it was demure and sophisticated but i prefer the more fresh, adventurous Perry!

Jessie J wears this sea inspired fish tailed Julien MacDonald dress. Looking like a mirrored mermaid Jessie described herself as a 'disco ball'. The scaled dress and fish tail are on trend but it's bordering on looking cheap with the metallic silver.

I love this strapless Monique Lhullier dress worn by Lady Antebellum singer Hillary Scott. The purple ombre around the waist is a nice touch and draws the eye in to enhance Hillary's hour glass figure. Love the way the material drapes down from her waist and skims the floor. Not sure why there isn't more being said about this outfit; i think it's one of the best.

One of my least favourite looks of the night. Taylor Swift wears this Zuhair Murad gown. I think this look is too mature for the 22 year old. It's an interesting dress; i quite like the revealed chest, high neckline and gold detailing but unfortunately it's not a look Taylor can pull off.

Looking every inch the starlet Adele sparkles in this long black sequined Gorgio Armani dress. It's nothing ground breaking but she looks gorgeous and i love her 60's style hair and red lips. I am so pleased that she was awarded an amazing six grammys! So deserved as her album 21 is fab and she is such a nice, down to earth girl.

Corinne Bailey Rae wears Christian Serrano's take on an LBD. I love the graphic, voluminous bottom of the dress. The ruffles and drama start at just the right point; slightly underneath the waist so Corinne doesn't look swamped or like a doll toilet roll holder. Keeping it simple with a dark red lip and those killer platforms this is an award winning look.

Julianne Hough looks effortless in this Kaufmanfanco strapless dress. I like the sheer material decorated with black, glittered stripes. The dewy make up and tousled hair adds to the laid back chic feel.

I am in love with this backless, long-sleeved Gomez-Gracia gown that the beautiful Carrie Underwood is wearing. The pristine white base with sparkling silver sequins and the dangling diamond earrings makes this my favourite look of the Grammys.

I've saved the most outrageous looks for the end. Brace yourself, they're pretty weird.

I think it was Guliana Rancic who said "This is where outfits turn costume rather than fashion" when she seen Nicki Minaj's outfit and in my opinion she was spot on. Nicki was trying to make some kind of statement wearing this red hooded dress by Atelier Versace and a Pope look a like as an accessory. Personally, i'm bored of these 'costumes' and i find they are making less and less of a statement as it's all been done before. 

The other look i just did not get was Russian pop singer Sasha Gradvia's barbie/prom girl meets terminator. The pink dress is nice but i do not get those huge guns. I'm guessing it's some political metaphor or maybe Sasha took being dressed to kill too literally. 

What outfits stood out to you from this event?

Click on the singer's name to get the source of the image.

The Best of the BAFTAs

Actresses dazzled on the red carpet outside the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden for the BAFTAs. The carpet was awash with black, white, nude and metallics. Without further a do here's my best of BAFTAs.

I wanted to scream 'yes! finally a dress i like on Michelle Williams' when i seen her. Michelle looks gorgeous in this black and cream bespoke dress from none other than the high street shop H&M. Paired with that red lip she looks like a classic beauty.

You can always count on Tilda Swinton to stand out on the red carpet for better and worse. This time for better. She looks great in this structured white dress by Celine. The metallic strip at the bottom adds a little bit of glitz and stops the dress looking too clinical.

This metallic dress by Givenchy could be classed as a risk and i'm sure opinion is divided. Personally i love this dress on Christina Ricci; it has an almost oriental feel to it. The up-do, vampish make up and simple accessories pull the whole look together.

I wasn't sure on this Gorgio Armani Prive gown but it's grown on me. The colour looks amazing against Penelope Cruz's skin tone and the stiff straight neckline adds a uniqueness to the dress. Penelope made the right choice by wearing her hair up with only small earrings and keeping her lips natural with a slight smokiness to the eyes.

Meryl Streep is showing age is nothing but a number in this black Vivenne Westwood dress. Really like the added touch of ruffles and diamantés on the arms, shoulders and stomach. A perfect mix of glamour and sophistication.

Not my favourite Viola Davis look but she still looks stunning in this custom made salmon pink dress by Valentino made out of recycled bottles! Yep, you read that right. It's part of Colin Firth's wife Livia's project Green Carpet Challenge encouraging designers and stars to wear sustainable fashion. Who knew recycled bottles could look so good.

Kristen Wiig goes Grecian in this Alberta Ferretti dress. I love the way it's pulled in on her side and the material falls beautifully. The gold bracelets, soft curls at the ends of her hair and golden make up gives an effortless feel.

Feline looking Melissa George shines in this figure hugging Victoria Beckham gown. The wet-look was also seen on Angelina Jolie at the SAG awards and looks just as good on Melissa. What i love about the dress is that her it gives the illusion of being dipped in black liquid and showing that you can be fully covered an still sexy. The flick of hair, pink lips and black lined eyes make this the sexiest look of the night.

What were your favourite looks of the night?