Fashion Flashback: Red Velvet in Autumn Winter 2010

There was a trend back in 2010, which caught my eye, that didn't seem able to transcend the numerous runways upon which it was showcased. These included the collections of designers such as Alexander Wang, Antonio Berardi and Altuzarra to name just a few. The trend was red velvet. Although velvet, generally in black, was reincarnated in various forms across the high street, I didn't see a red version crop up anywhere and I can see why. While I was instantly drawn to it on the runway, I struggled to envision myself in any form of outfit comprising red velvet that didn't draw up connotations of an unusually modest Mrs Santa. Red velvet on the catwalk or the red carpet looks tricky enough, but on the high street? It's less than doubtful.

Alexander Wang Fall 2010 and Altuzarra Fall 2010

Backstage Altuzarra Fall 2010

However, scouring the web today I came across a red velvet item that launched me right back to those collections of Autumn/Winter 2010. New in to Topshop this week is a burgundy playsuit with full length chiffon sleeves, which really play up to red velvet's more Medieval associations. It seems to be only the playsuit style which draws it back to the present day.

Topshop Burgundy Playsuit £45

I also recalled some celebrities who have tried and tested red velvet with varying levels of success. Katy Perry typically went all out with a fifties style dress that made me run a little further from the idea. However, just as Jason Wu accessoried a look with a simple burgundy velvet scarf back in 2010, the best styles take a 'less is more' approach. If I decide to try this out, I'm going to be looking to Chloe Moretz in McQ or Emma Stone in Chanel for my inspiration.

Chloe Moretz in McQ and Emma Stone in Chanel Resort

What do you think of red velvet? Would you or do you wear it?

New York Fashion Week Fall 2011: The Trends

New York fashion week has nearly come to a close and already some trends have started to emerge. Fur, monochrome, 'proper coats', and lady-like sophistication are themes commonly surfacing across the shows. Currently my favourite looks derive from the mod style, monochrome palette seen at DKNY - a collection I'd be able to wear in its entirety. 

My reference to 'proper coats' stems from my Dad, who always looks at my trench coat or leather jacket and says 'what you need is a proper winter coat!'. What he means is something padded, puffy, very warm, and severely unattractive. However, the stereotyped Mancunian favourite, the parka coat, has seen a revival on the runways alongside the long lost (and rightly so) puffa jacket, so even my Dad has a trend to be pleased about.

What trends/collections do you like so far? I can't wait for Proenza Schouler.

P.S - I decided to sell my Asos Avenue boots, so they're now on eBay if anyone wants them.

Sources: style.com/style.it

Alexander Wang A/W 2011

 

Slashed elegance.

Source: style.it

fresh faced

Alexander Wang's models via June

In the small town I come from you often hear young school girls going through magazines saying 'how is she a model? She's not even pretty! I'm prettier than that!'

The thing is, you don't need to be stereotypically 'pretty' faced to be a model, but you need to be able to take off your make up, scruff up your hair, and have the look. The bare faced, impossibly, striking freshness that all the models of the above have. Just look at Abbey and Natasha (I'm bias - they're my favourites). You can't master it. You either have it or you don't. 

I'm definitely on the scary side of things when I wake up in the morning, but then I'm just hoping to write about fashion. :)

Alexander Wang: Again

It feels like I've blogged about Alexander Wang's s/s '10 collection alot, but I think I've finally figured out why. The concept of that collection really intrigues me. Or more to the point, the concept of wearing sportswear outside of the gym intrigues me. When I first saw it I didn't think it would work at all. Tapered trousers in jersey? Really? Tube socks on our pasty British legs? I didn't see us Brits or anyone falling below the standard of the models who walked Wang's catwalk, working it in quite the right way. Then I kind of came round to the idea a little more, and a little more, until BAM! - I'm all grey jersey and tube socked out. 


The second problem I thought I'd face, was whether highstreet retailers would bring out a worthy interpretation of the original collection. It was a fair while before I saw anything Wang inspired, everyone seemed to more readily jump onto the pastel bandwagon. Topshop was the first place that I spied the first of many American style sweaters, lazy drawstring tapered trousers, and cropped tees. What surprised me was how appealing it all was. I envied the girl who could pull off those jersey trousers. I constantly refer to these because I can't imagine a more comfortable garment. The chic look of a tapered leg with a touch of your most comfortable pyjamas - perfection in my mind. I think at the time I was wearing a dress that had a tendency to dance with the wind, and boots that made me feel like they personally hated feet, so I was really in the position to be encouraged to embrace them. 


Moving on to the shoes, as any old-school readers will know, the Wang 'Freja' boots were an instant hit for me. Sadly, I didn't see any affordable versions of these until this post, but Zara and Topshop did their own interpretation of some of the other footwear in the collection:

Topshop £80

One thing from the collection that the shops hadn't yet braved, however, were the sleek, skin tight, thigh high mini dresses. Until now. A couple of weeks ago I saw a brilliant version on ASOS, which was even better than the one I'm about to show you (it had the long sleeves). However, it seems to have either gone out of stock, or stopped being in production because I can't find it on the site now (I'm sure I made a resolution to buy on impulse to avoid these things happening). In the meantime, Topshop have succeeded in producing this 'power mesh ruch' dress, which is about the closest dress I could find to channel the Wang vibe.  

I'm slightly disappointed with myself that I've only just taken to this collection, as Wangs a/w will no doubt soon be inspiring us to take an entirely different direction. But hey, we've got at least a week of sunshine to enjoy over this summer, surely? And while the sun is shining, the s/s collection has all the right looks to adopt.

P.S If anyone sees that ASOS dress, let me know. It was about £38.

Photos: Style.com, Topshop.com 

Rag and Bone Resort: It Hits Hard

Seriously, in my absence I swear every store has bought in everything I've been looking for in clothes the past year. Well, that would have to happen wouldn't it, holiday or not, because I also have close to zilch money, and whenever I have no money everything I want comes out to play.

For now, the Rag and Bone Resort collection has been the one to catch my eye. Resort collections and pre-collections seem to bypass my attention, because (if I'm being totally honest) I'm such a newcomer to the fashion world I'm still learning so much, that I never really knew anything about resort collections, and pre-fall collections and everything else that can possibly come in between. Trust me though, if there was ever a student trying to learn in the school of fashion, it's me.

Rag and Bone really stood out as being a collection that strongly channelled the preppy, school girl trend for a/w 2010. I'm going to really try and refrain from referring to the trend as 'school girl' - 1. because I don't think any self-respecting woman is going to buy into being a 'school girl' and 2. because you can buy a school girl outfit in Ann Summers, and this trend is about as far removed from slutty, school girl outfits as you can get.

The main thing I loved about the Rag and Bone collection was that it brought together every shade of grey you can expect to see in the skies of England come winter. And I love grey. And I love lots of layers of cosy knits. Rag and Bone also did this very, very well.

As I've been spending the last couple hours indulging in catching up with my favourite blogs and websites, I've come across some snippets of the Rag and Bone Resort collection, and have been tempted away to have a peek for myself. The two looks below are my favourite. Victoria Beckham was recently seen (leaving an airport I think, as she always seems to be) in a short, red mini and amazing, peep toe, black leather Louboutin's. Speaking of Victoria, she is fast becoming a bit of style inspiration for me. She always looks so groomed and refined, and usually quite chic and I like that. When I danced about my friends living room, for an 8th birthday Spice Girl themed party, I never thought that the Posh one my friend was dressed up as in a black mini, and clomping around in her mum's heels, would later be the Victoria Beckham we've come to know today. If only Victoria had worn the Alexander Wang boots from his s/s 2010 collection that I'm so in love with, the look would have been tipped perfectly over into ever-so-slightly edgy territory, which would have been so good on her.

Anyway, to get myself back on track, I've been thinking about this look for a while. I don't own a red dress and I'm not sure I ever have. This seems like a great shame to me at the moment. So with Victoria Beckham's outfit in mind, I have now fallen for this one by Rag and Bone. One thing I'm really falling for is ankle boots and socks, or super, super chunky heeled sandals with socks. Or for festivals - wellies with high socks. You catch my drift?

It actually physically pains me to see such nice clothes and know that I cannot have them. Time to raid the highstreet for the next best thing I think.

And just for good measure:

Seriously, the boots and socks...

Photos: style.com

Daily Mail

Revive

Alexander Wang 'Rocco'

So, studs and black leather have all been banished from our summery minds, and we're now in the midst of marshmellow pastels, and everything girly, floaty and pretty. Until Alexander Wang said 'there shall be no more!'. Well, not exactly, because his Rocco bag's been around a while, however the time is perfect to revive the hype that's surrounded it previously.  Available in leather and black velvet (sounds very seductive to me), this bag brings back leather and studs in all their glory. Now, how about mixing that up with your summer trend pieces? Perfect.

Want the bag, but not feeling the £795 price tag? What about this look-a-likey from Asos for £45? As a student, I know what I'll be buying...

Simple

Latest buy = a black, jersey, 3/4 sleeve maxi dress from H&M. I'm really into jersey stuff at the moment, mainly because it's one of the most comfortable fabrics to wear,  that still manages to look really good. I can literally slip my dress on, add a belt and flipflops and it somehow comes across as being effortlessly stylish - excellent!

Next buy = a grey, jersey, maxi skirt from....who knows, there's plenty about at the moment. I'm thinking of matching it with a loose, white tee, some low top sneakers and maybe a thick, brown, leather belt + tying my hair in a thick, side plait. The fact it all seems so casual really appeals to me. That's my take on the sportswear trend sorted!

Topshop

L'Agence

Warehouse

Alexander Wang

Aren't they just a blank canvas waiting to be styled?

Next Does Alexander Wang

My love for the s/s Alexander Wang collection has steadily grown as the season's kicked in. After trying on some harems in Topshop, I realised just how damn comfortable and yet amazingly stylish we'd all be, if we bought into this sportswear look. So my eyes are now on A.W lookalike watch, as of course, chances of Alexander Wang pieces being in my price range are slim to none. 

Today, I went shopping in Next to find an outfit for my 2 year old niece. Lo and behold, I walked in to find my next shoe purchase fitted on the foot of a mannequin. So that you can fully appreciate that these shoes are the nearest lookalikes to the AW originals I've seen so far on the highstreet, let me share some of favourite looks of his collection that featured them.

The £620 originals

The £45 Next Lookalikes

Now I know they're missing the finer details, but for highstreet I think they're pretty good. They're black, they've got a touch of the double layer leather going on, they're peep toe. My boxes are all ticked. Ok, so my legs are gonna feel pretty comfy in some grey sweat-pant harems, yet my feet will be in high heel hell, but I'm sure it's going to be worth it.

Photos: style.com

net-a-porter

Next

velvet, velvet, velvet

It always confuses me greatly, how every season there seems to be an unknown collaboration of designer brains, which results in each of them simultaneously churning out similiar, if not the same, trends as each other. Take for example, blood-red velvet. Maybe it's been inspired by the recent subversive, vampire loving frenzy caused by the Twilight series and more smaller, fang-tooth based programmes on television, who knows? But for some reason, a little lightbulb of inspiration flicked on in the minds of Alexander Wang, Altuzaar and Jen Kao (I suspect the first of many) and it read: RED VELVET!  

Alzutaar, a favourite of Carine Roitfeld, took what I feel was a 'cult' vibe - the type of cult who meets at midnight, with blood-sucking initiations or something along those lines. Can you tell I'm not one of the millions who's watched a vampire film? Slashes of velvet cut across the top of necklines, which then plunged downwards to the waist. Thin, strands intertwined to loosely stitch together such unashamedly, low necklines in a gothic manner. Not disimilar to Christopher Kane this spring, hemlines were boldly cut up to the thigh, but the heavy velvet of this collection made it far more seductive and sensual. I can't decide what I think of that cloak/dress, but it proved to be a successfully simple, statement piece.

I've seen velvet on the catwalks for A/W 2010 enough already, to know it's going to be a big trend for the end of this year. The majority of Alexander Wang's collection featured velvet in some variety, and though not velvet, Jen Kao also chanelled a favourite colour choice so far; blood-laced burgundy.

Think you could love this velvet look?

Daydream

The spring looks are dropping into the stores rapidly now, and we're being told in abundance what we should be looking to wear in the coming months. However, what I haven't seen much of are the new beauty trends. As changing your hair and makeup is a far easier, quicker and cheaper way of updating your look now, if you're still embracing the Winter season, this might be a simple idea for you.

Whilst the heavy side plaits at Alexander Wang are sure to be a talking point soon enough, I loved the crimped curls at Diane Von Furstenburg. Created with multiple wet plaits (I gather from the photos at style.com), the look was classically girly, fun and pretty, and is something I haven't seen on the catwalk in a while. It looked perfect for that idealistic picture I create of spring in my head every year: green meadows, lots of daisies and lazing around in warm sunshine and gentle breezes, (maybe I should live on the set of Little House on the Prairie?). With added golden leaves and flowers intertwined in their hair, the models looked stunning, and the look was captured most perfectly on Arlenis Sosa.

Similarly to the plait seen at Alexander Wang, I loved the messy undone look seen at Miu Miu. I think hair extensions will definitely be in order come summer, but I might change the plait to a fishtail braid. I've always wanted to be able to do them, and have just learnt how!

So come spring time, I'll take the heavy fringe from Alexander Wang, the hip length plait at Miu Miu, make it my own with a fishtail and then undo it all later for the Furstenburg crinkles! Phew...sounds alot more complicated than I thought! ;)

What beauty trends do you want to try this spring??

Alexander Wang, Studded Leather Bag

 

It's been out a while now, but my blogging is new and I love it...it had to be posted.