Nice Things: Zara Jackets and Coats

Zara have just released their September lookbook for their TRF collection and unsurprisingly there's a whole host of looks for me to obsess over. There's a lot of luxe-casual looks featuring Balmain-esque beaded jackets paired with skinny black jeans that look glamorous, but effortless. There's also a hefty influx of camouflage prints and some great knitwear that will become a staple come winter. Unfortunately for my bank balance, Zara have really nailed their coat and jacket designs for the coming season - I want 4 from the TRF collection and 1 from their mainline. 

I'd definitely opt for the grey coat, but as for the jackets, I can't decide. Help me?

View the rest of the September TRF collection at Zara here.

Zara's Valentino-Alike Kitten Heels

It's taken a while for me to fully come around to the concept of a kitten heel. It's difficult enough to abandon any form of a heel to wear flat shoes (which are not comfortable despite the lies people will insist on telling you), but a kitten heel? That little nubbin of a non-heel? I've never been convinced -  until now. I was almost swayed a few years ago when Alexa Chung had to be surgically removed from her Valentino studded kitten pumps, however platforms were still standing strong too, so I towered on with my 6 inch stilettos. The kitten heel saga diminished some-what over the subsequent fashion seasons, never fully able to push its tiny form into the wardrobes of the mass market, but now I think times might finally be changing. 

In Zara's latest collection for autumn 2012, a pair of nude kitten heels have emerged that bare more than a passing resemblance to the Valentino sell-outs that have come before them. They feature sequin embellishment rather than studs, which is a slightly sad indicator of their high street origins, but I still think I can find a place in my shoe cupboard to love them. I just wish I'd not been so afraid of this trend 2 years ago...

I notice that Zara have named them 'pointed medium heels'. I wonder if that's because the term 'kitten heels' is still not cool?

What do you think of kitten heels? Will you be wearing them?

Zara Fall 2012 Campaign Featuring Freja Beha

Zara's campaigns are often my highlight of the high street's seasonal offerings, but their autumn 2012 campaign is easily their best to date. Not only do I want to own all of the clothes featured, but their choice of model is perfect - the stunning Freja Beha Erichsen aka the epitome of effortless, cool dressing.

That black dress will be a staple in my autumn wardrobe...

You can watch Zara's Fall 2012 campaign video over on my Tumblr page.

What do you think of the campaign? Do you think Freja is a great choice for Zara too?

Source: FGR

Zara's November & Evening Lookbooks

I can sum up how I want to dress for the remainder of the year with the following images taken from a combination of Zara's November and Evening lookbooks. I always head to Zara for simple, classic, minimalistic cuts that look far more expensive than they really are, but they're also fantastic at channelling  high-end designs that could be straight off the catwalk. Model Kasia Struss looks stunning in the range, which includes attention-grabbing clashes of texture and print contrasted with polished, elegant cuts. After seeing the sleek lines of the polo neck and pencil skirt in the first shot, how disappointed was I when, after rushing to my wardrobe to retrieve my one and only polo neck, I realised I'd placed it in the 'charity' pile during a wardrobe clear out. The injection of androgyny given to some of the outfits will revive my current evening wear, and the final black dress, with its asymmetric hemline, will be a refreshing addition to my ever-expanding collection of black dresses.

What do you think of Zara's latest collections? And is Kasia Struss your new girl crush, because she is mine.

Zara March - April 2011

I always think Zara get it pretty spot on each season in recreating key looks from the catwalks, and I love the way they've embraced the more clean, minimal styles. My personal style definitely resides in the camp of minimalism with the occasional feminine touches, but sometimes I don't know if these looks (like the ones above) look a bit too mature for someone who's 21. What do you guys think? I think some personal, carefree touches make the looks less severe like the layering and rolled up sleeves in the first photo. 

Also, does anyone know who the model is from the March Lookbook? I love.

via Zara

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

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?

Down With The Kids

Come September 2nd Zara should have officially jumped on the online bandwagon, and about time too, right? It was about two years ago that Zara started rising up on my top highstreet store list, but when I visited their website I was really disappointed. It was really inaccessible, you couldn't view a very big range of clothes, it was awkward and just seemed really inadequate for such a big brand. I've never understood why 'in this day and age' big highstreet stores haven't started selling online. To my simple mind I don't see how on Earth they can compete, and I don't know what stops them from retailing on the web (yes, H&M I'm talking to you). In fact, H&M is another store that has a really frustratingly disappointing website. However, they too should be all ready to go live come autumn. I can't wait to be able to buy from both these stores from the comfort of my sofa, especially when I'm back in Devon for the summer. If only Gap had been available online back when those suede Pierre Hardy boots came out, I would have been able to burn those Uggs once and for all.

The new campaigns for Zara have just come out, and I'm really excited for that very Burberry inspired shirt. I'm all for these shirts, blouses and high neck lines next season. I really need to compile my a/w wish list...

Update: Just remembered this post I wrote back in October 2009. It seems like an age ago that I wrote it, and we're still waiting for the online stores. Fingers and toes crossed the wait doesn't go on much longer!

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 

a cult shoe

The Isabel Marant black studded boot has aquired a cult following. Whilst I do love them, I don't have a hope in hell of buying them (they cost £659 if you're wondering). In a way I kind of wouldn't want them, in the same way you're slightly put off an A/W 09 sequinned Balmain dress. Of course...if anyone is giving them away, I won't say no. 

Anyhow, I went into Zara today, and saw stood on the bottom of the shelf a pair of beige, suede boots clearly influenced by these Marant wonders. They were minus the studs, but had the same awkward, dwarfed shape to them, though more as though they were once a knee boot that had melted into itself to ankle height. I can't get a picture of them anywhere, so if anyone finds one me let me know. The Zara website is a bit of an over-complicated, inaccesible let-down and photos of their range seem impossible to come by.

They have some great shoes in right now, including another pair I spotted that looked very similar to the heavy, Burberry rubber sole boots I blogged a while ago.

http://misspdolly.blogspot.com/2009/10/burberry-boots.html

Tis the season to wrap up your feet in heavenly shoes.