W Magazine Celebrates 40 Years With Keira, Scarlett, Mia and Rooney

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, W Magazine has released four different covers, each one referencing one of the last four decades with a different actress. The magazine features Keira Knightley for the noughties in Chanel, Scarlett Johansson for the nineties in Dolce and Gabbana, Mia Wasikowska for the eighties in Balenciaga and Rooney Mara for the seventies in Prada. Each version takes the actresses out of their usual style comfort zones, which makes them easily the most exciting covers for me in a while. I'm torn equally between the glamorous, yet slightly masculine look of Keira and Scarlett's nineties grunge look.

Which is your favourite cover?
	Keira in Chanel
	Scarlett in Dolce and Gabbana
	Mia in Balenciaga
	Rooney in Prada
pollcode.com free polls

Image: W Magazine

Like me on Facebook | Follow me on Twitter | Follow my blog on Bloglovin'

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?

Facebook - Twitter - Bloglovin

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's Dolce and Gabbana Heels

A proper image of ELLE UK's September 2012 subscriber's issue hasn't been released yet (as far as I can tell), but it came through my door the day after I posted about Rosie Huntington-Whiteley being their cover girl. The subscriber's version was a little bit disappointing, especially for a September issue - it's basically a zoomed out version of the news stand edition. However, aside from Rosie's insanely long legs, I was seriously distracted by something else - her shoes. 

Dolce and Gabbana Sandals at Luisa Viaroma

Completing the entire Dolce and Gabbana look is a pair of incredible heels that first appeared on the runway of the design duo's Fall 2012 collection. Although I'm a sucker for a great pair of heels, it's a shame the real highlight of the cover stems from the rose adorned platforms. 

The price is almost as staggering as the heel too at £1742.62, but you can excuse your purchase with the 'but they're pieces of art' line...

What do you think of Rosie's shoes? What did you think of the subscriber's issue?

Milan Fashion Week AW11: My Top 5

Source: style.com

Dolce and Gabbana Jackets and Shoes

Dolce and Gabbana have just made androgyny very sexy. Tuxedo jackets, shirts and ties, mannish shoes, braces, and the kind of tailored, yet spacious trousers that a woman's world is usually devoid of, all came into play for their AW11 show. For every sultry, masculine look that strode down the runway, a playful, star studded, figure hugging dress would saunter down as part of the counter balance. My personal favourites were the looks which walked across the middle ground. Oversized, mannish coats and jackets, in cupcake pastels, instantly caught my eye, as did a pair of pink Oxford shoes (or what appear to be Oxford shoes. It's hard to tell from the photos). Sure, I'm being a slave to the stereotype that girls only like pink and pretty pastels, but in this instance it really is the truth.

Source: style.com

Socks

As I mentioned earlier today, the weather is playing around at the moment as to whether or not it wants to allow me to slip into the comfort of dresses/skirts with tights. I always have a bit of a trouble buying either because I'm 5ft 8, so everything comes up more tunic length rather than mid-thigh and beyond (aka the realms of decency). So, I'll be more than glad when I can hold my dignity within a pair of tights again. However, before I get into them, I really want to try out chunky knit socks and socks with heels (I can't quite bring myself to say socks and sandals positively just yet). Topshop's 'The Outsiders' look book first brought the chunky knit socks to my attention, and now Free People is stepping the desire up a gear. 

And whilst we're at Free People, I may as well chuck in these lovelies because they're just too good to miss.

Sam Edelman Falken Ankle Cuff

Any kind of knit wear just takes me back to the gorgeous collection of D&G for a/w. But I go on about that enough already...

Running Late

Along with the ad campaigns I blogged about the other day, Zara have just released their a/w lookbook on their Facebook page. The casual lookbook (as opposed to the 'woman lookbook') has a much younger, fresher feel to it and a couple of the shots really remind me of some campaign shots Cow Vintage did a while ago. The feel is ever so slightly nineties, particularly for the men and most importantly it's PREPPY.

I am very pleased about this because the preppy, studious look was a foundation for a few shows, done best for me by Proenza Schouler and Rag and Bone. The preppy look is all about pleated skirts, long socks, satchels, duffel coats, and heavy layering up top. While all the fashion editors are very excited about dressing for 'real women' in every shade of camel you can go for (I note the shade is very much the same as my cup of tea, but that just wouldn't have the same effect would it?), I am excited about the preppy look because it was just done so, so well. And I'm a student, which means it all works together perfectly pour moi.

As I've mentioned, the magazines are all for camel coats, and trousers at the moment. There is so much hype about trousers you would think there have been NO trousers around for the last century. And while they are in the midst of their excitement, they have completely ignored studious style. So I am currently very thankful to Zara for picking up on it. In fact, they are the only company I've seen who have done some preppy styling. I really would have thought we'd have seen something along those lines from H&M and Topshop already.

Anyway, enough of talking about it here it is.

I realise that unless you were also really excited about the preppy look then this might be a bit of an anti climax for you, so here's some more of the lookbook. 

I'm debating whether to try loafers, but I can't wait to wear some chunky alpine print knits, which will all be very much D&G inspired. 

AND...! something else from this lookbook which has also really excited me....

Grey knit shorts! Just plain amazing. I loved them at D&G and while I'm still favouring the playsuit these will do nicely.

What do you think of the lookbook? Any pieces you think you'll be buying?

Hello Boys

I love this guy's hair.

Isn't this a nice start to the weekend? :)

Jak and Jil

D&G Fall 2010 Campaign

I love how unrealistic these clothes are if you were actually going to go skiing. Playsuits and bare legs? Sheer maxi dresses? I can feel the chills already. Still, I love the concept of it all and it's one of my favourite collections from the Fall 2010 runways. Knitted shorts and playsuits - combinations that I never thought could work so perfectly.

Fashion Gone Rogue

Dolce and Gabbana

I completely overlooked the Dolce and Gabbana spring collection, and it's only now that I keep seeing the same floral, red silk shorts and clashing flower print top in editorial after editoral, and keep loving the look, that I've gone back to see what I was missing. The collection didn't really get the 'vibe' that we're all buying into this season; the spring time girliness of pastels, ruffles, draping, all so pretty and, well, just that - pretty. Instead, Dolce and Gabbana took the route of alternative gothic glamour: lots of white and black lace, cross necklaces, stained red lips and those shorts in blood red, with printed white roses in silk - it wasn't too hard to draw a comparison to coffin lining, (there's a definite dark undercurrent to this collection). Nope, there's not a single pastel shade in sight, though a hint of a nude and a nod toward 'double denim' with black lace creeping over it - naturally. The runway saw some masculine tailoring at first, in a simple monochrome palette. It would be kind of perfect for particularly stylish undertaker, though I'm sure undertakers don't make up the the majority of D&G's clientèle. Black and white made a strong base, which really made the red floral prints stand out,and look especially stunning. 

I'm thinking, forget layering up your denim, double florals is the way to go. And if you have to add a dimension of lace, and make the colours more vibrant than muted and soft, so be it. Because already I'm getting sick of the dreamy, girliness - Dolce and Gabbana's dark romance is looking a lot more appealing.

P.S - I might have to pop over to my Nan's and borrow of a few of her hair combs, or hope some vintage ones come into Cow Manchester - I love the dishevelled buns held together with a mishmash of combs.

Photos: style.com

D&G

Fancy a trip to the slopes? I do. Even more so after seeing D&G's ski themed collection. When I saw the odd picture littered about on the internet, it kind of looked a bit gimmicky, so overused and blatant was the fully themed out style, but I've just had a look and it's probably one of my favourite a/w collections so far.

In winter, I don't think there is anything better than a chunky knit. I am still trying to hunt down my own chunky knit sweater dress, and just when I think I've finally found 'the one', courtesy of Topshop Boutique, that typical, downright annoying thing happens, when you begin flicking the hangers back one after another: 16, 18, 12, 12, 14, 16, -where the hell are the 8's dammit!?! Or in my case, they finally become available online as no more are going in store, only to be provided in grey and salmon pink, no sir, black for me please. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, chunky knits...

Chunky knit body suits? check. Chunky knit playsuits? check. Chunky knit shorts? You guessed it; check. If this is the future of autumn/winter style, I'm almost tempted to bypass spring and start layering up in D&G's collection. One of the interesting things I liked about it, was how surprisingly well said chunky knit wear goes with floaty, transparent white shirts, complete with black pussy bow tie. Or even with maxi length skirts, again in airy, light material adorned in an autumnal leaf print. I really loved the alpine prints though they kind of seemed a bit like a novelty, and the warm burgundy colours mixed with cool black and greys.
All the shorts and the knitted playsuits made up my favourite pieces, but I would protest till the end, to not see a return of furry boots. I'd rather see an eternal army of Uggs, than people trawling through puddles with bedraggled, fake fur, pink snow boots. It's the one item for which pastel shades are never in trend.

Photos: style.com

Just a quick question

Can someone please explain to me why everyone is praising Britney's choice of dress for the Grammy's???????? I did go for a long run today and it's left me pretty tired, but not, I don't think, delusional. With my eyes I see: of all the gorgeous dresses you can buy - 1) a VERY bad choice of dress. 2) With all the style advise you can afford to buy Britney - a clear avoidance of stylists. And 3) - well just an ill-fitting, badly chosen piece of Dolce and Gabbana that does nothing for either it's wearer or designer.

Please tell me I need an eye test if I'm wrong.