LFW: Mulberry SS'14

After having sent out THE most adorable London Fashion Week tea cup invitations made by WedgewoodClaridges was transformed into an English country garden, complete with fresh flowers, astro turf floors and a stuffed peacock, forEmma Hill to say “over and out” with her final collection as creative director for Mulberry.  Well known for bringin’ the brand’s sexy back, Hill emotionally commenced the show with an echoing voiceover from Sir Winston Churchill, ‘this House we have built together, brick by brick, stone by stone, this house we call home’ before blaring out ‘Our House’ by Madness as the models cue to strut.  Showcasing typically cheery designs inspired by the Sixties London, the models (including Cara Delevigne) wore wide-leg trousers, over-sized silhouettes and enlarged floral prints.  Turbo the British Bulldog wore a floral overcoat – expect one to adorn all the hottest dawgs next spring.

Above:  I am naturally always most interested in the new collection of bags swung on the catwalk, and alongside stripey Bayswaters and a midnight blue Willow, the Kensal, named after the brand’s London roots, was presented. The firey orange Kensal (below) instantly grabbed my attention (after my flame Bryn having being my constant companion for the last few months, I can’t recommend a mood lifting, bright bag for the summer more!) Emma Hill is leaving some very big shoes (and bags) to fill.

Below:  Alexa Chung with her pal Cara Delevigne at the Mulberry after-party.

Cara Delevingne for Mulberry AW'13

From the moment Mulberry’s creative director Emma Hill sawCara Delevigne at the close of the the Mulberry London Fashion Weekshow earlier this year, she was adamant that owlny the young, striking model star in the brand’s A/W’13 campaign. “Cara was the first name in my mind for this season,” Emma said, “she's beautiful, bold and British."  

Photographed by Tim Walker in the fairytale Shotover House in Oxfordshire, Cara posed with several owls and several hot new bags including the Willow and brand new Primrose.  All very British and all very cool.   

Cannes Film Festival 2013

There's Something About Carey...  Carey Mulligan was this years Belle du Jour at theCannes Film Festival, with red-carpet and photo-call outfits being as elegant and quirky as the actress herself.  Accessorising her sleek and refined outfit choices with a couple of beautiful co-stars and a giggle, Carey wore a striking concave-chested Balenciaga jumpsuit to the 'Great Gatsby' photo-call with Leonardo Di Caprio, and an art deco inspired Vionnet gown at the 'Inside Llewyn Davis' premiere with Justin Timberlake.  
A masterclass in understated glamour.

Left:  Speaking of understated glamour.... I have absolutely no idea who this lady is and why she was on the red carpet at Cannes... But with her golden Ferrero Rocher tray dress, I kinda just love her!! 

Below:  Another actress who NEVER fails to make me style-swoon on the red carpet is the beautiful Marion Cotillard.  The French actress looked perfect at the 'Blood Ties' photo-call wearing a teal mini dress from the Antonio Berardi A/W14 collection and Jimmy Choo nude heels and then later at the Chopard lunch in a Vivienne Westwood Couture pink and ivory striped dress.  Ooh La La.

Below:  And then there was Cara... Cara Delevigne looked showstopping at the premiere of the Great Gatsby wearing a Burberry gown and Chopard jewels.  Wow. 

The Met Ball 2013

The Met Ball in New York took place last weekend, the fashion industry’s annual opportunity to show off the most beautiful gowns on the most beautiful people.  This year designers created outfits inspired by ‘punk chaos’ so safety pins, colour clashes and stud embellishments were key in creating some of the most show stopping gowns....

Above:  Cara Delevigne perfectly punked in a plunging Burberry dress armoured in tiny gold spikes.  Hands down the  best dressed of the night.

Above:  The saying goes, 'Go Hard or Go Home' and Sarah Jessica Parker went Hard as NAILS!  SJP accessorised her voluminous Giles Deacon ball-gown (and lace knickers!) with thigh-high velvet TARTAN Louis Vuitton boots and a Philip Treacy Mohican headpiece!  

Above:  Some celebrities really embraced the theme with punk hairstyles and make-up, particularly Anne Hathaway who, wearing vintage Valentino (1992) with yellow nailpolish, took the opportunity to debut her new peroxide hair. I LOVE punk Anne!

Above:  A little safe and not particularly 'punk chaos' but I will NEVER tire of Rooney Marawearing white on the red carpet.  The actress contrasted her dark lipstick with her delicate white lace Givenchy gown.  Otherworldly. 

Above:  Errrrrrrm... Yup. That would be a floral upholstered Kim Kardashian in a Riccardo Tisci designed Givenchy gown, complete with 'gleeves' (glove sleeves).  Dreadful. 

Kate Moss Walks for Louis Vuitton AW'13

Two years ago it was a cigarette, last year a carousel, and this year it was a cropped black wig.  Kate Moss once again walked the Louis Vuitton Fall 2013 runway on the final day of Paris Fashion Week last week.  Kate wore the revealing, floral embroidered gown with her signature nonchalance, supporting her good friend, designer Marc Jacobs.

The show had a real Downton Abbey vibe – according to the show notes this was translated with an ‘attitude of getting dressed up only to find the most glamorous destination is one's own hotel room.’   With that energy in mind, models emerged from behind closed doors adorned in a selection of gorgeous 1920’s-style French lace lingerie dresses and shimmering long-sleeve gowns covered in rounded, lavish overcoats in dusky pink and soft grey. 1940’s-style inspired suits, ladylike shirts and jackets in an array of velvet, tweed, printed satin (and unfortunately fur) made for an elegant, sophisticated collection (despite the lack of bras - apparently not so 2013).  I adored the luxe silk pyjamas which were not only worn by several models on the runway, but also by Marc Jacobs himself as he took his bow (below).

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Cara and Kate's Love Cover-Off

LOVE magazine issue 9 has treated us to two cover options, one featuring a ‘cleaned up’ Kate Moss and the other featuring a ‘scrubbed up’ Cara Delevigne.  Provacatively photographed by Mert & Marcus and styled by Katie Grand, both ladies look stunning.  Which cover is your favourite?  Mine is Kate’s... No, wait… It’s Cara’s… Kate’s… Cara’s…
 
Below:  To celebrate her LOVE cover, a masked Cara Delevigne recorded this hypnotic video showing her lip-syncing to my most favourite guilty pleasure, Shania Twain’s 'That Don’t Impress Me Much’  whilst stroking a little grey kitten.  I just love this girl.  Simples.

SS'13 Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Ooh la laaaa… For five days a year, a few selected designers present some of the most beautiful and otherworldly creations during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.  Haute Couture means ‘High Fashion’ in French and the ultra-luxe, super detailed pieces are made on an individual basis (for those that can afford it!)  Last week Christian Dior, Giambattista Valli, Jean Paul Gaultier and Maison Martin Margiela all showed their latest haute couture creations but it was the glitteringly elegant Elie Saab dresses and the floaty, intricate Chanel collection which really caught both my eye and imagination...

Described as an 'Ode to Delicacy,' the Elie Saab SS’13 Haute Couture show in Paris (above and below) was utterly breathtaking.  Totally timeless and totally dreamy.

And speaking of dreamy… Beaded and sequined Chanel Couture gowns glided down a forest-styled runway filled with Coco Chanel’s favorite flower, the camellia.  The traditional wedding finale was also anything but ‘traditional’ with two brides walking, hand in hand, down the runway together – perhaps Karl Lagerfeld's stand against the thousands of Parisians who recently marched in protest against the legislation of same-sex marriage? 

I loved the striking red bejeweled pouts at the Christian Dior show (below left) and the extreme false lashes at Chanel (below right)  which resembled dark, feathered tears.

Romeo Beckham for Burberry SS'13

"Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo…?" Errrm, Burberry apparently! 10 year old Romeo Beckham has made his modeling debut in the S/S’13 Burberry campaign, shot by Mario Testino.  Despite the advertisements also featuring Edie Campbell and 2012's model of the year, Cara Delevigne. It was Romeo, according to Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey, “who really stole the show.”   Looking particularly dapper (left) at the ‘Viva Forever!’ press night last week Romeo, alongside his brothers and parents, wore a stylish Burberry outfit, one of the many that I assume now hang in his wardrobe... alongside his trademark beanies and muddy football boots. 

Romeo’s quirky style has long been admired, and last year he was placed 26th in GQ Magazine’s Best Dressed List, aged 8 - in between Prince William and Tom Hardy!  David Beckham revealed that his mini-me Romeo “is the fashion one… he'll go for skinny jeans and a vintage T-shirt and funny hats," and brilliantly, "one Christmas he asked for a pair of Spats shoes."  Luckily for Romeo, Spats go extremely well with a metallic Burberry trench. 

The British Fashion Awards 2012

Last weekend’s glamourous British Fashion Awards, at The Savoy Hotel, was a STELLAr evening all round… Stella McCartney (above) not only won Designer AND Brand of the Year, but a many of the most stylish guests (including Salma Hayek and Rita Ora) also wore her designs on the night.  My favourite fashionista Alexa Chung once again won the British Style Award (voted for by her adoring public for the third year running!) and Cara Delevigne (left, wearing a green metallic Burberry Prorsum SS’13 minidress), won Model of the Year – thoroughly deserved following her recent marathon Fashion Month.  Harold Tillman - who steps down from his role as British Fashion Council chairman in January – received the Special Recognition.

Below (L-R): Alexa Chung in Simone Rocha with Nicholas Kirkwood shoe-boots, Erdem Moralioglu and Samantha Cameron in Erdem, Jourdan Dunn in Topshop.

Designer of the Year: Stella McCartney
Designer Brand: Stella McCartney
New Establishment: Erdem
Menswear Designer: Kim Jones for Louis Vuitton
Emerging Talent Award (Ready-To-Wear): JW Anderson
Emerging Talent Award (Accessories): Sophie Hulme
Emerging Talent Award (Menswear): Jonathan Saunders
Accessory Designer: Nicholas Kirkwood
Red Carpet Award: Roksanda Ilincic
Model: Cara Delevingne
Outstanding Achievement in Fashion: Manolo Blahnik
Special Recognition: Harold Tillman
Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Louise Wilson
British Style brought to you by Vodafone: Alexa Chung

Above: Amber le Bon in Stella McCartney. Below: Dita Von Teese in Jenny Packham

PFW - Chanel SS'13

‘Fashion Month’ always ends on a high in Paris with the iconic French fashion houses in competition to put on the most memorable of shows.  Chanel was never going to disappoint. Karl Lagerfeld had models parade his SS’13 Chanel collection along a wind turbine and solar panel lined runway in the cavernous hall of the Grand Palais.  Playing with this concept of wind and energy, the collection was, as Lagerfeld explained, “all about volume and lightness, because usually volume and lightness don’t go together.” 

Left:  Karl Lagerfeld in THAT shirt and THAT tie. A huge difference to usual monochromatic style.

Below:  The towering wind turbines. “Energy is the most important thing in life,”  Karl Lagerfeld told reporters backstage after the show.

The collection reflected the traditional heritage of the label and the elegance of Coco Chanel, particularly reflected in the tweed and pearl embellishment but with a distinctly modern aesthetic.  I really enjoyed seeing the cocoon cuts and bell sleeves which provided a relaxed feel amongst the summery, neutral colour palate that was chosen. 
 
Below and Left:  Before this model had even left the catwalk this hoola-hoop style handbag had caused a veritable storm on the Twittersphere.  I can't imagine this being the easiest of bags to manipulate whilst shopping, dancing or on the tube?!  I cannot wait to see who is seen out and about next summer with this particular piece of arm/shoulder candy! 

Above and Below:  Oversized pearls embellished a huge proportion of the Chanel SS'13 collection, with many of the models also wearing pearl chokers around their necks and pearl clusters around their wrists, and they all wore a single pearl in their ponytails. 

Below:  My favourite piece from the collection - the movement in this dress was gorgeous.

Below:  The beautiful Chanel-clad FROW (L-R)  Stylist (and fashion favourite of mine) Caroline Sieber, model Laura Bailey, DJ Leigh Lezark and model Poppy Delevigne.