Friday 30 May 2014

Geometry

Recently I've been really intrigued by photos of Persian and Islamic architecture. The buildings have interesting shapes and arches, and are sometimes covered in tiles in bold and bright colours.

Aniconism in Islam forbids the depiction of sentient beings, so designs in architecture and art are filled by ornate geometric patterns and prints. The patterns are really intricate with a mixture of curved and straight lines creating so many tiny interesting shapes and patterns.


Images via:

I particularly love the patterns combined with the vibrant colours in the patterns- bright turquoises, marigold and dusty yellows, rusty oranges. I really wanted to try and take inspiration from the geometric patterns as well as the colours. 

I don't own a lot of geometric prints so I had to play a little fast and loose, but I think I managed to convey the right vibe using the colour combinations some sort of non-stripes, non-realistic floral prints.

 Asos necklace / Topshop Boutique v neck tshirt / Topshop rings / Topshop Boutique skirt with side splits / Zara studded moccasins

Topshop Unique shirt / Topshop bracelets / Zara wool trousers / Pierre Cardin x Gap sandals

Dries Van Noten top / Topshop semi precious stone cuff / Zara trousers / Vintage Prada ostrich leather shoes


Clockwise;

Tuesday 27 May 2014

Red hair, purple shirt

I think Taylor Tomasi Hill has great, creative style and she's someone who I usually look out for on street style blogs come fashion week. There are a couple of people whose style I regularly check up on, mainly because I like the way they use colour and prints. Taylor is one, Miroslava Duma is another favourite.

Taylor Tomasi Hill at New York Fashion Week S/S 13
Image via The Front Row View
 
I particularly loved this outfit when I first saw it, and however many months later I am still in lust. The purple is so perfect with her copper hair and red lips. 

I don't have red hair (this is a cause of great sadness to me, and because I have tan skin red hair won't ever look good on me. It is also a sadness to me that I had to dye my hair ginger before I fully accepted that it would never look good). Because of my ginger deficit I have tried to incorporate the red and copper into the outfit. I'm going to put a strap on the bag to make it a cross body bag because its so much more practical being hands free.

 Vintage silk tshirt / Vintage brocade bag / Vintage belt / Tophsop jeans / Asos White perspex heel shoes

Saturday 24 May 2014

Inspector Montalbano, Dolce & Gabbana Spring / Summer 2012

European crime dramas seem to be the new black and there is barely an evening where you cannot watch a sleuth with subtitles tracking down some mysterious villain.

Inspector Montalbano and its prequal Young Montalbano are set in a imagined town on the island of Sicily. None of the characters in either show are hugely stylish or particularly visually inspiring, but there is something about the overall feel of the two shows that I really like. All the characters look quite natural- there's lots of linen and cotton, and the women tend to have naturally styled hair and minimal makeup save for some lucious deep red lipstick. Not to mention the Sicilian backdrop to the drama and the luscious colour palette that it brings is stunning.

(If you are looking to watch either of these shows I don't believe they are currently being screened, but there are still a whole heap of other continental murders being solved).

 Inspector Montalbano & Young Montalbano
Images via Radio Times

The colour palette and general feeling of Southern Italian living reminds me of Dolce and Gabbana's aesthetic. Domenico Dolce hails from Sicily and D&G use a lot of southern Italian culture and heritage to inpire their collections.

This has probably never been so apparent as in the Spring/ Summer 2012 collection and ad campaign. The mix of fruit and vegetable prints and lace looked sexy yet wholesome, and the campaign centered around the highly stylised lives of a 'typical' Sicilian family really re-enforced the Italian inspiration behind the collection.


 Dolce & Gabbana S/S 12
Images via F Tape

The silhouettes were, on the whole, quite form fitting with plunging necklines, though there were some full skirts and legs on show here and there. Monica Bellucci looks stunning in these ads. Admittedly making Monica look good makes shooting fish in a barrel look challenging, but never the less I think the clothes are helping her, not hindering.

I wanted to try and recreate the mix of lace and fruit. I think that despite the fact that I don't live in a small Mediterranean village this look is actually pretty wearable for summer. It's also something that you could quite easily adapt and re-create using any crochet and floral pieces that you have in your wardrobe (I would love to do something with the aubergine print from the D&G collection, but sadly nobody on the highstreet seems to have tried vegetable prints- sticking only to the fruits). I decided not to try and emulate the silhouette completely as I don't really enjoy wearing low cut tops, but I like the pencil shape to the skirts and the hourglass figure with a cinched waist.


Zara foil lace tshirt / Zara fruit print trousers (available here) / Topshop citrus gem bracelet / Topshop suede bow heels

Hoop earrings, Zara foil lace tshirt / Vintage Cacharel skirt / Zara leather bag / Topshop flat sandals

Vintage Dolce & Gabbana lace shirt and skirt / Vintage Chloe vest with beaded detail / Vintage nude slip skirt (worn underneath) / Topshop patent leather lace up heels


 Clockwise;

Clockwise;
Vintage Gianni Versace Isante black lace shirt

If you would like £5 towards your first Etsy purchase click here
(Disclosure: I will receive £10 Etsy credit for every two people who use this link).

Tuesday 20 May 2014

Rainbow fish

I was out buying some things to make noodle soup when I saw these fish outside one of the Chinese market shops. I don't eat fish so I don't usually pay a great deal of attention to that section of the shop, but I was drawn to the colours when I passed them on my way in.



The scales have a really cool metallic sheen. The turquoise blue and emerald green ones look insane, but I also liked the lilac, slate, purple and silver tones. It's a similar colour palette to when petrol has spilled on the floor and leaves a green and purple sheen on the ground.


The fish reminded me of one of my favourite childhood books, The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. The story is essentially a tale of socialism as one fish who happens to have been lucky enough to have been born with amazing scales gives them away in order to share these wonderful scales amongst all fish evenly. I used to love reading it to children when I worked in a library because not only do I have such fond childhood memories of the story but it is also a really good way to talk about sharing. Politics aside, the book is really beautifully illustrated and the watery-metallic colour palette has a really dreamy quality.



The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Images via:

I was inspired to try and use the iridescent metallics and watery colour palette in an outfit. 


Topshop chain drop earrings / Topshop metallic leather tshirt / Topshop Boutique patent leather a-line skirt (available here) / Masimo Dutti t-bar flat shoes

Topshop tear drop necklace / COS tshirt / Topshop Unique leather bag (customised) / Carven iridescent oil spill skirt / Zara brogues 

Topshop Unique iridescent lens sunglasses / Asos silk blouse / Cos peplum double layer top / Topshop textured cigarette trousers / Asos White perspex heel shoes  


 Topshop rope necklace / COS ombre sheet tshirt / Asos hologram clutch / Zara sequin skirt / Topshop mock croc sling back shoes

If you would like £5 towards your first Etsy purchase click here
(Disclosure: I will receive £10 Etsy credit for every two people who use this link).

Sunday 18 May 2014

Alta California

I have only been to Mexico once. It was when my family and I were on a road trip around California, Arizona and Nevada and we crossed the boarder for a little bit. I was about six at the time and US boarder authorities thought my mum was attempting to smuggle Mexican children and nearly didn't let me cross the boarder, but that's another story. I would love to go back and explore the country properly.

I found these vintage Levis with embroidered patches when I was looking for some brocade trousers on etsy (a plan that went out the window when I saw these). While I really love traditional Mexican clothing I find the mix between US and Mexican styles really interesting.


I love the embroidery in designs and colours with a very Mexican feel on a garment so iconic and intrinsically linked to the USA. I've read a lot about the changing demographics of the USA, and I find the growing influence of the Hispanic community and its impact on the culture and politics of the US really intriguing. (If you are interested, there's an interesting programme about the Republican Party which covers the changing voter demographics here, and a programme about migrants attempting to reach the US and work to reunite the bodies of those who didn't make it with their families here).

I put together an outfit thinking about the influences of US style on Mexico and vice versa, particularly in places like Southern California and Arizona. I used another North American icon (and California resident) to really try and show the contrast and mix. The only shame is that as I'm a little on the short side I have to cuff the jeans which obscures a little of the patches.

These jeans, or a version to reflect any kind of mix or style I think would be a pretty easy DIY, either using different fabrics and prints, or embroidering your own design if you have the talent. I think that a pair of jeans using some traditional Chinese fabrics and designs might look really cool.   



Topshop multi-strand necklace / Vintage Mickey Mouse sweatshirt / Vintage Levis jeans / Nike Pegasus trainers

Some cool Asos patchwork boyfriend fit jeans available here

Friday 16 May 2014

Brasilia



Twice a week I do some volunteer work teaching English as a foreign language. One of the places where I teach is a community centre which has its own Brazilian steak house on the ground floor. The restaurant has a bunch of books about Brazil, include a big coffee table style number full of pictures from all over Brazil. There are lots of the images that you would expect; rawkus football fans in yellow, blue and green, tropical Amazonian rainforest and the golden beaches of Rio. However, the pictures that really caught my eye were the ones of the country’s capital city Brasilia. 
Brasilia was largely designed and built in the 50s, and has that mid-twentieth century vision of ‘the futuristic’ vibe about it. It reminds me a little of vintage sci-fi films from the 50s and 60s where the future involved lots and lots of shiny materials and curved lines (see also: 50s kitchens).



Photos from Joao Vincente

I like that way that the white buildings with their convex and concave shapes sit kind of like aliens in the luscious green landscape of the Brazilian sierra. I started thinking about how I could translate this into an outfit. I wanted to mix ‘natural’; flora and fauna prints, greens and relaxed fits, with something probably white, a bit architectural and structured, and with clean lines that are hard to find in nature.


Topshop cropped button down shirt / Topshop lizard cuff / Topshop pony hair bag / Zara print trousers / Topshop suede brogues


Vintage floral button down shirt / Topshop wool vest / Vintage glass pendant necklace / H&M patent leather bag / Topshop tuxedo trousers / Zara brogues


Lulu & Co print tshirt (available here) / hoop earrings / Asos White leather bag / Topshop bracelet / Warehouse patent faux leather skirt (available here) / Asos White perspex heel shoes


Topshop cropped button down shirt / Topshop slip dress with splits / Vintage Moschino backpack / Topshop buckle sandals / Asos beetle cuff 


 Topshop print button down shirt (available here) / hoop earrings / Asos sheer panel shift dress (available in navy here) / Vintage leather bag / Alaia buckle sandals with metal insert


Monday 12 May 2014

The Wedding Dress

I recently went to see the Wedding Dresses 1775- 2014 exhibit and the Victoria and Albert Museum. I know that people spend a long, long, long time deciding on their wedding gown, because obviously it's something that you hope you will have the chance to do just once.

Although I though the older dresses were interesting (I learned that white dresses were not actually always de rigueur and that they really took off in popularity after Queen Victoria wore white to her wedding), I though the modern section of the exhibit was the most fascinating. This is partly because I just don't do old. I actually have a degree in history, but I focused almost exclusively on modern history, especially the 20th century. I know that ancient and pre-20th century history can be really fascinating but it just isn't what I'm drawn to. 

The other reason that I really liked the modern dresses was that there was a huge amount of diversity in the styles, fabrics and even colours. There were some fantastically diverse designs on display, and they explanations of what was envisaged by the designer of the dress, or what was requested by the bride were interesting. I was curious to see how different women had chosen to express themselves on a day, probably above all days, that they know all eyes will be on them. (Plus, the amount of celebrity wedding dresses on show allowed for some grade A fan girl-ing).

The exhibition is open until March 2015 in case you want to have a look.

Dresses on display as part of the V&A museum
Images via:

I'm not getting married any time soon, however the exhibition was so beautiful that I couldn't help but think about wedding dresses, not really with myself in mind, but more in terms of 'wouldn't a  bride look absolutely amazing in that'. I also recently watched 27 dresses, so that might have influenced things a little bit.

I really like the idea of wearing vintage. My mum wore a vintage silk crepe 1940s floral tea dress to her wedding so maybe that is where the idea comes from. I'm not super traditional so I don't really feel compelled to stick only to white. I look at it more as your wedding is a chance to wear something that you could never wear normally, and maybe to spend that little bit more on it than you would a normal dress. I think it would also be nice to wear something you could wear again (I know not everyone would agree). My mum used to wear her wedding dress, and I then wore it when I was at university. My mum always said that she liked wearing the dress because it reminded her of her wedding day, which was a fun day. Plus, it seems a shame to only wear once possibly one of the most beautiful dresses you will ever own.

Something a little different to walk down the aisle in. Someone marry me?



Saturday 10 May 2014

Skirt + trousers



Clockwise: Dries van Noten A/W 13, Roksanda Ilincic Resort 14, Mulberry A/W 13, Celine S/S 11
All photos from style.com 

I wasn’t sure about skirts and dresses when I saw them on the catwalk again. This was primarily for three reasons;
  1. I remember the 00s incarnation of this trend; handkerchief hem dresses and skirts over bootleg jeans. All I have to say is do not want.
  2. I’m not a fan of ¾ leggings under dresses and skirts. This look has been floating around for ages and I just can’t get on board.
  3. I didn’t want to look like I was wearing ALL THE CLOTHES!


Emma Watson in Dior. 
Images via Marie Claire


Emma Watson started to convince me with her red carpet versions, but I still wasn’t sure that it would really work in real life, you know, when you’re not shimming down the catwalk or posing on the red carpet. Then, a couple of days ago when I was walking past one of the local art colleges (always a good place to see people being different and creative with fashion and trends), I saw a girl who finally made me to give it a try.

This girl was wearing a maxi dress (although it may have been a skirt, I don’t remember) with a leather jacket and some stomp-y boots. The dress had a thigh high split on the front and the fabric was cut so the slit was less ‘peek-a-boo’ and more ‘this is my leg’. This girl was also wearing a hijab. I assume to fit in with the guidelines of her religion under her maxi dress she was wearing some cargo jeans.

The outfit without the jeans would have been pretty ordinary as maxi dresses and skirts with splits and leather jackets have become quite ubiquitous, but the jeans underneath made it look different and fresh. I liked that she didn’t try to make her trousers look more like tights and sort of make her outfit look apologetic that she had to adapt the trend to fit her religious beliefs. I like that she chose a pair that complimented that outfit, fitting in with the tough jacket and boots and that contrasted with her floaty dress.
I wanted to play around with ‘tough’ trousers- leather, denim, cargo trousers, under dresses and skirts of different shapes, styles and lengths, though definitely no handkerchief hems or bootleg jeans. 

Whistles leather moto jacket / Zara snakeskin maxi dress / vintage belt / Blank NYC cargo trousers / Chloe biker boots

 Zara shift dress / Asos White leather bag / Topshop tuxedo trousers / Zara brogues / Topshop bracelet

Topshop tear drop necklace / Topshop ribbed sweatshirt / Vintage Ungaro ribbed skirt with fringe hem / Topshop jeans / Vintage clutch / Lanvin shoes



Asos tortoiseshell print mirrored sunglasses / Tophsop a line wool dress / Zara tie dye bag / Zara trousers / Asos creeper brogues

 Topshop ring as necklace / COS ribbed jumper / Zara flock skirt / Topshop jeans / Vintage Bally bag / Zara suede wedges

Wednesday 7 May 2014

FRUiTS

It was when Gwen Stefani's shit first went bananas (B-A-N-A-N-A-S!) that I first remember Harajuku style becoming really popular. There were lots of elements of the style that I liked (clunky shoes, some of the plastic jewellery), though I never really went for the fruits looks full on. 

I saw this scan from FRUiTS magazine on  Sea of Shoes several years later when Harajuku-light was still playing on my mind. 


FRUiTS magazine scan
Image via Sea of Shoes 

After seeing this image I spent ages and ages searching for the perfect military marching band style jacket. This is probably a little harder if you live in the UK compared with the US since we don't really have marching bands, so they're vintage uniforms aren't lying around. This girl had the perfect look; relaxed and cute, but slightly rock and roll.
 
I finally found an affordable vintage marching band jacket on ebay but when it arrived it didn't fit like this girl's and it was too boxy around the shoulders, so I sold it on. It was a disappointing day. 
I decided that what I actually really like in this picture was the cropped slim fit of slightly off-beam  jacket with the cut offs and a logo tshirt. The military marching band jacket was cool, obviously since Jimi Hendrix wore one, but the essential thing was the fit and that it was a bit quirky, be that military style or not.
I was so beyond thrilled when I found this Moschino Cheap & Chic jacket on ebay. It has the perfect shape that nips in to the wait, but cutting off there instead of darting out again. The bicycle buttons fit in place of the military frogging details and are just a little bit odd but in a good way. (It also has a really awesome lining).



 Vintage Moschino Cheap & Chic jacket / Adieu tshirt / Diesel jeans cut in to shorts / Chloe biker boots

I haven't yet been able to think beyond finally successfully recreating the look I have coveted for so long, but once I get over FINALLY being able to dress like the fruits girl of my dreams I thinking I'll try something like this (facial expression included):

Amber from Clueless 
Image via Retro Chick 

Sunday 4 May 2014

Flamingos, Dior Addict


The other day I was stood on the tube opposite a poster advertising a Caribbean cruise, or holiday, or something. Anyway, the picture featured the flamingos of Aruba. (It also told you that the flamingo’s ‘knee’ that looks like it bends the know way is actually its ankle, which was kind of interesting.)

Back to topic; tropical beaches look pretty darn appealing when you are squished into an overcrowded train carriage and your short stature means you are nicely about armpit height for all the sweaty commuters grasping the over head rails. What looked especially nice were the pink flamingos against the blue sea and pale yellow sand.

I had a long time to ponder this advert (7 stops). The colour scheme looked really cool; bold and pale pinks, bright blue and pale yellow (with some black accents here and there) is not something I would have ever though of. As I wriggled my way off the train and on to the platform I saw the same colour scheme in an advert for Dior Addict on the back page of another commuter's magazine. I had liked the Dior ad for a while, but I’d not picked up on how awesome the colour palette was until now. 

 

I have no idea what Dior Addict actually smells like (I’m not big on perfumes), so while it might be argued that the ad hasn’t technically been all that successful I have watched the full cut several times on Youtube, so that’s something. Aside from the fun colour palette, the Dior ad has a nice playful 60s vibe; think Bridgette Bardot in Canne being her coquettish, adorable self.
 



Photos and video from House of Dior 

I came home and rifled through my wardrobe to try and find some bits and pieces to make up an outfit. I wanted to look a bit 60s French woman if possible (this is the case most of the time), but the colours were the most important thing to replicate.

Vintage Valentino blazer / Topshop v neck jumper / A J Morgan cats eye sunglasses / Vintage fuzzy skirt / Asos White leather bag / Asos ankle boots

Whistles leather motorcycle jacket / Topshop leather tshirt / Asos White leather bag / Vintage Givenchy skirt / Topshop studded flats

Vintage felt hat / Topshop faux fur jacket with knit sleeves / Gap tshirt / Vintage bag / Topshop jeans / Zara suede wedges

Topshop fuzzy bomber jacket / Topshop paper chain necklace / Gap tshirt / Topshop leather pouch bag / Topshop faux wrap skirt / Zara suede wedges

 Topshop fuzzy bomber jacket / Topshop cats eye sunglasses / Topshop ring as necklace pendant / Acne tshirt / Vintage Moschino backpack with vintage scarf tied on / Topshop jeans / Asos bow flats