erdem at matches

One of my absolute favourite designers, Erdem, has launched an exclusive capsule collection for Matches Fashion. I'm slightly disappointed that the print is the same across all the pieces, but nevertheless, it's a beautiful collaboration of blues, blacks, purples and hints of orange on the kind of timeless, elegant styles Erdem does so well. I'm a huge fan of the full length pieces he created for this winter- they're firmly on my dream wishlist, so it's no surprise that the 'Aurelia' is my pick of this collection.

For more pieces and further information visit matchesfashion.

What do you think of his exclusive collection? Something to add to your dream wishlist too?

Next's Surprise

As a twenty year old university student, I don't tend to imagine that I'm Next's target consumer. I think my sister is more their type. A thirty year old working mum who wants to look stylish at home and work, with well put together outfits that don't take much thought and look effortlessly good.  She's the one who orders their catalogue, but it was me who looked at it first when it came through the door. I was completely taken aback at the clothes they have brought in for autumn. There were so many pieces that recreated catwalk looks from Chloé to Burberry Prorsum, Celine to Ralph Lauren and the best thing of all was that they had chosen the best looks from those catwalks and created inspired pieces that were coveted by me, the twenty year old university student.

Faux Sheepskin Jacket £75

By far one of the best interpretations of the aviator jacket on the highstreet. The fitted style is definitely my preference compared to the more loose fit versions, which just dwarf my frame in bulkiness.

Lace Shirt £32

The highstreet didn't make enough of this look for me. Buttoned up to the top and tucked into some black leather shorts - perfect.

Dress £40

The camel coat edged in black silk at 3.1 Philip Lim was one of my favourite looks from his show. I need this dress to channel that detailing, and the streamlined simplicity of the dresses seen at Celine.

Maxi Dress £45

Can't wait to try out this trend. Maxi's for winter seem so good right now. From the layered boho look at Ralph Lauren, to those autumnal beauties at Erdem, I haven't seen anybody working the winter maxi yet. It needs to be done.

Dress £35, Shorts £28

I don't think anything needs to be said for that faux leather dress lovely, does it?

And to top it all off Next (so far) isn't asking for too much of our money in exchange for these beauties. I'm sold.

Top buys:

Camel dress, lace shirt, leather dress.

Take a look at...Look magazine's show featuring Next.

Do you regularly shop at Next, and if not, have you been converted?

Source: next.co.uk

Zara Online

For those of you who follow my blog or Twitter, you'll know that I've been massively excited about Zara launching online. I went on this morning to see how they've organised the site, and I'm pretty pleased. At first it was a bit disappointing because you couldn't see any of the clothes in detail and so ordering was out of the question, but it seems that everything is running just fine now. I've rooted through everything and concocted my wishlist as expected. I'm going shopping tomorrow to revamp my wardrobe, after chucking out a hideous amount of clothing, and my autumn wishlist is far beyond my budget, but I'll consider that more when it comes to it. Zara will most likely be first stop and I'll be on the hunt for these:

Imitation Sheepskin Skirt

At first I wondered why this was called 'Imitation Sheepskin' because the small photograph made it look like a soft fabric, but on closer inspection it's actually a faux leather pleated skirt.

I'm completely sold on this because I loved the Proenza Schouler a/w show, and this skirt is perfect for working an inspired look. All I need is a black shirt (preferably with a leather trim if you're listening highstreet).

Short Sleeve Ponte Di Roma Dress

My own take on the clean, minimal look seen at Celine will be channelled through a dress like this. If the pocket lining was black it would have been perfection.

Velvet Bermuda Shorts

Velvet was seen on so many catwalks for a/w, but it's a fabric I haven't worn since I was about nine and I had an aubergine polo neck. Honestly, it was better than it sounds. Even though I haven't seen velvet worn badly, I'm sure it has every potential of looking awful, so I might just test the waters with these shorts.

Pleated Trousers With Belt

Gauze Blouse With Bow Knot

I love these last two pieces. I don't really wear jeans. My only pair are embarrassingly about 4/5 years old, and are now a pale shade of their original indigo. Because of this, I'm always on the look out for cool trousers. I was a massive chino lover for the summer, and I think these will become a new staple for autumn. The shirt has a vague 'gauze' pattern on it up close, so I'll investigate that one tomorrow, but hopefully it will look as good as it does in my head.

And then there were these shoes. Shoes so unlike anything I own or would usually wear but I'm really drawn to them. Tomorrow is going to be a fun day of experimentation!

I'm so pleased Zara's finally online. Now we just have to wait for H&M to join the club. If I wasn't going shopping tomorrow I would've had bought all of this online, so I haven't used the site for buying yet, have you? 

Source: Zara.com

Military Lines

This military style coat might just make my Burberry Prorsum pea coat dreams come true. I'm loving the styling at Asos at the moment. When you first get onto the website, they seem to have started to think about taking on a new look (less cheesy catalogue, more fresh and edgy) and it is looking pretty hopeful.

Asos Military Button Coat £75

Source: Style.com & asos.com

Fall Fever: @ Topshop

Fall Fever

Some bits and pieces on my current wishlist for autumn. There's a lot more to come...

Shirt - Topshop

Leather Shorts - Topshop

Mid Length Skirt - Warehouse

Leather Dress - Oasis

Cable Knit Socks - ASOS

Leather Shearling Gilet - Topshop

Faux Shearling Bag - Accessorize

Feather Ring - Topshop

tomorrow! tomorrow!

...starts off London Fashion Week - best bit of all, eh? Ok, I'm biased, but really there are so many great designers to look forward to seeing. Here's a collection of my favourites :

Who are you looking forward to seeing?

Preen A/W '10: modern romantic.

Do you get that knot of excitement inside, when you see a designers collection, which you just know is going to be a big hit, because every, single piece just works? For last season it was Burberry, Christopher Kane and Alexander McQueen to name a few off the top of my head, who I felt were going to largely shape the highstreet for the next six months, just from that one collection. So far, I've felt the same about Preen. It was the first collection I've seen of NYFW that gave me a sliver of excitement and finally animated me, as I sat trawling through style.com (not to say I don't enjoy doing this, but you know, it takes a while looking through these designers!). 

First up: florals with a contemporary feel. 

The sneaky peeks of décolletage spied through cut-out panels of heavy black and sheer fabrics, made floral print look contemporary and sexy, whilst still exuding the labels cool factor.

Masculine tailoring that doesn't make you look too....well, mannish?

What I really loved about this collection was the masculine tailoring, which looked effortlessly cool and still somewhat chic, without being at all androgynous. As Meenal Mistry said in her review of the collection, this type of tailoring has moved on from the slouchy, younger looks of 'boyfriend' size. This is about "husband" pieces; heavy, well structured and so big they can wrap you up nearly twice round; the look is strong and undeniably sexy. It looked particularly nice in a neutral palette. The key here, is whatever you wear underneath your coat,  make it ultra feminine. Whether that's with a protrusion of sheer fabric or with the underwear as outerwear trend; with sexy, cut-out panels or if you just keep the legs out, it's the fusion of feminine and masculine style which makes this look so appealing. 

Bits of the collection reminded me of Christopher Kane's S/S '10 (yes, I really did love his collection and you will hear about it alot). However, Preen's wasn't about being subversively, sexy; it was bold and confident, and it made a very strong statement.

What do you think of Preen for A/W '10? Who's designed your favourite collection at NYFW so far?

Photos: Style.com

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.