British Supermodels at the Olympic Closing Ceremony 2012

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I greatly preferred the Olympic Closing Ceremony to the Opening Ceremony. That 'modern day love' scene with the guy and girl texting each other ruined it for me - wasn't it all a bit cheesy? The Closing Ceremony, however, was a thoroughly well done celebration of Britain's greatest successes and achievements. Reading the comments on last night's events, it is a shame that so many people seem to be baffled by the appearance of our finest model exports, which included Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Lily Cole, Lily Donaldson (in Vivienne Westwood), Karen Elson, Stella Tennant, Jourdan Dunn (in Jonathan Saunders) and Georgia May Jagger (in Victoria Beckham). Each wore a stunning, Olympic gold dress designed by some of our most innovative designers such as Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Christopher Kane and, my favourite, Erdem. I still can't quite get over just how phenomenal Kate Moss looked. She was really working that stage like it was still the supermodel era of the 90s. 

L-R: Stella Tennant, Lily Cole, Karen Elson, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Jourdan Dunn, David Gandy

The British Fashion Industry is one of the greatest contributors to the UK economy and our designers continually remain at the forefront of the industry with their cutting edge creations. I'm so glad that this was acknowledged on the world stage, but it's a shame that the value of the industry seems to be so vastly underestimated and lost on the majority. Admittedly, it didn't help that the credits for the designers were tuned out on the television streaming in order to comply with zero-branding rules. Similarly, although I quite liked the appearance of the billboards to a soundtrack of David Bowie's Fashion, I'm sure more could have been done to make this part a modern spectacle in accordance with how fashion has changed since the days when supermodels simply stormed down runways; amidst everything else that was going on, it's no wonder that this part seemed a little throwaway in comparison.

What did you think of last night's ceremony? Did you enjoy the fashion feature?

My Fashion Alter Ego in Flare Magazine September 2012

Quite in love with this editorial from Flare Magazine's September 2012 issue featuring Hannah Glasby and Melie. The styling of some of the most outstanding pieces, which hit the catwalk back in February by Alexander McQueen and Dolce and Gabbana, look incredible and my deeply repressed, inner Anna Dello Russo would definitely sport the wild, exaggerated bird's nest hair if I released her.

You can watch the behind the scenes video of this shoot on my Facebook page.

Do you have an inner fashion alter ego waiting to come out? What are they like?

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Gwen Stefani Covers Harper's Bazaar US September 2012

Gwen Stefani looks stunning on the September 2012 cover of Harper's Bazaar US. Wearing the much coveted pink strapless dress from Raf Simon's final collection for Jil Sander and a matching, voluminous Alexis Mabille hat, the pink-themed editorial references a scene from one of my favourite Audrey Hepburn movies, Funny Face. 

The accompanying editorial photographed by Terry Richardson is equally as brilliant as the cover, with Gwen modelling designs from The Row, Alexander McQueen and Versace. Of course, the hype around Gwen has intensified since No Doubt reformed earlier this year, yet what really intrigues me is how she seems to have not aged a day since the band took a break back in 2004. She looks truly sensational!

Gwen on finding her signature look: 

"It was like I'd unlocked the key. I remember feeling like, 'I have arrived. This is me. Finally.'" The red lip came when her grandmother gave her a crimson lipstick when she was in high school. "I remember sitting in my ghetto, beat-up Honda Prelude and putting on that lipstick in the rearview mirror and being like, 'Uh-huh, I like that. That's the shit right there.' I never stopped after that."

      

You can see Gwen's full editorial at Harper's Bazaar US website now. 

What do you think of Gwen's cover and editorial? Will you buy this issue? I've never bought Harper's Bazaar US before, but I will for this!

subtle skulls

Tom Binns earrings, Mawi ring, Daisy Knight necklace and ring, Alexander McQueen ring all from Net-A-Porter.

I'm all for the skull trend jewellery. The key piece I'm coveting is the Iosselliani skull necklace, which you might know better as being the favoured cameo skull necklace often worn by Alexa Chung. I don't really work the edgy, Gothic look that so often goes hand in hand with full on skull adornment. I'm looking for more subtle pieces, like these stunning ones above. The Daisy Knights necklace and ring are particular favourites. They're so simple, yet striking when you look at them up close. Yet more to add to my ever increasing/completely unobtainable Christmas list.

fly away

Alexander McQueen S/S 2011

Source: style.com

New Chapters

Undeniably a collection under the McQueen name, but with far less of the theatricality we've come to expect from the brand. The dresses and prints were stunning and in such striking colours, and the look second to last is just incredible, even though it has the effect of making me cringe slightly with its centipede-alike skirt. Can't wait to see what else Sarah Burton comes up with, because it looks like she'll be taking the McQueen name in a promising direction he'd surely approve of.

One thing I look forward to seeing other than the clothes of a collection, is what the designer will wear at the end. Don't you just love the contrast of Sarah's basics to the show she designed?

P.S - Sorry I've been a bit MIA lately. I've had ridiculous trouble with internet, phones, laptops - generally all technology. Hopefully it will all be up and running again soon!

Source: style.com, style.it

CDFA 2010: Sarah Jessica Parker

A beautiful McQueen gown, and such a sensational palette of colours that suit her so well. The gown's a statement, but the hair is a tad too casual. Scrap the bracelets and the bag that just doesn't go, spruce up the hair, keep the earrings and voila! Would have been perfect for me.

Alexander McQueen AW 2010

Just phenomenal.

Video: youtube

Betsey Johnson remembers McQueen

Complete with the waxed red lips shown at Alexander McQueen's fall 2009 collection, Betsey Johnson paid a tribute to the late designer in the final piece of her show.

Hope

I hope that wherever Lee McQueen is now, that he is truly happy. Always unique and original in his designs, a talent who was among only a handful of those who have changed the fashion industry forever - he will be greatly missed. We owe him a huge thank you, for leaving us the mesmerising legacy that is all of his work - words cannot describe.

Phenomenal Shoes

Alexander McQueen

 I know everyone is going to be blogging/talking about Alexander McQueen's 2010 S/S show. The thing is....how can you not? The show was breathtaking, and that's the effect from looking at it on the insignificance of a laptop screen, I can't imagine what it was like to watch in person. Of course, we all know to expect eccentricity, surrealism and a complete shoving of every fashion boundary there is in a McQueen show. However, even though we expect this you can never fully imagine what he will create, as every show is out of this world. And this is exactly the angle of his S/S collection. Apparently, McQueen was envisioning life on Earth post-apocalypse....once we have devastated it with our carbon emissions etc. To quote from Sarah Mower's review on style.com, 'Humankind is made up of creatures that evolved from the sea, and we may be heading back to an underwater future as the ice cap dissolves.' For me personally, I didn't see the models as inspiring the look of creatures as such, as the digital prints reflected animalistic details like snakeskin. The backdrop of the show saw Raquel Zimmermann being covered in writhing snakes, and the clothes for me similarly suggested that animals had become one with human, becoming live cover-ups. Maybe that's in the eyes of McQueen's future? Who can possibly know other than himself.

That's one of the great things with the choice of colour, and the intricity of the detailing of the prints; you can interpret almost anything from them. For me, I saw the face of a man, a tiger and even mice...I think I've clearly been whipped up into a McQueen frenzy!

Anyhow, the collection was absolutely stunning. Ok, on the face of it you might think how the hell can you translate this to be wearable? But it's easy to see the familiar trends that have emerged from the S/S shows: thigh-skimming dresses, sky-scraper heels, a stong, exaggerated upper silouhette...we have actually seen this for the past few weeks. However, no one has made it into such a performance or such a clear work of art as well as being fashion. The only advice I can give when viewing this collection, is to look at it after you've seen the other offerings for today, as once you've seen this...everything else looks disappointly dowdy and boring.

Grunge Gorgeousness

The photo says it all....

Alexander McQueen, Skull Clutch