London Fashion Week

London fashion week fired up on February 15^th this month, lasting until the 19^th February. I’m always so jealous of the FROW at London Fashion week catwalk shows. London Fashion Week seems to almost arise from nowhere, it’s quite a hushed event but for those in the fashion world it is anything but a secret. The shows showcased the Autumn/Winter 2013-2014 collections during the spread of the week. I tracked the week during the time of the shows and have picked out some of my favourite designers, collections and their pieces.

Just Cavalli – Some common complaints about Fashion Weeks and ‘straight from the catwalk’ designs is that the collections are not ‘wearable.’ Their definition of ‘wearable’ may be that the pieces are too extravagant for everday life because the pieces are obviously wearable but they are also extremely daring. Not in Just Cavalli’s case! Just Cavalli brought an element of ‘wearablility’ to London last week with its designs. They were casual, fun and vibrant. Their patterned designs ranged from the ‘power’ animals such as the ‘tiger’ and ‘snake’ to royal looking Eastern patterns. A fantastic Autumn/Winter collection from Just Cavalli!

Style Tip: To achieve Cavalli’s look this Autunm/Winter season make sure your wardrobe is youthful and colourful! Stick to the richer and warmer colours like bronze, red, purple, brown orange or gold but also mix it with some monochrome!

Fendi – Fendi went tribal this collection from head-toe! Decorated in fur and enriched tribal colours, the collection was colourful and exciting! The designs are courageous and lively whilst not being too intimidating with excellence.

Style Tip: Get out your furry garments this A/W season like Fendi! Keep it bright, fun and young!

Giles – Certainly amongst the more theatrical shows of London Fashion Week! This collection is captivating, contradictory and clever! The collection was captivating with the disturbing element of the show; models’ makeup was dark and emphasised the darker elements of the show, designs complimented the makeup..However, the show was contradictory with a mixture of angelic designs and fallen angel effect. With the colour palette of the designs, Giles ranged from the darker spectrum including deep purples and blacks to rich golden tones with pressed fabric detailing. Finally the collection was clever because this strange concoction of purity and darkness worked!

Style Tip: To get Giles’ A/W 2013-14 look commit to a floor length gown.

MaxMara – This collection was all about block colour and simplicity. Oversized everything but still with ultimate elegance, MaxMara’s collection is casual and to adopt their style would require minimal effort! Forget jewellery, hats, scarfs and all of that extra fuss and detail because MaxMara has hit the catwalk with pure fabric!

Style Tip: With a touch of sheer fabric, some simple stripe patterns here and there and a handful of fur dashed occasionally you have MaxMara’s look this A/W!

Tom Ford – Ford’s collection experimented with Mexican and Native American embroidery for London Fashion Week. His designs are also geometric and include some animal prints such as the leopard and zebra, with a wide range of colours. The clashing element of these designs is eye catching and brave!

Style Tip:  To get Tom Fords look mix patterns and prints – don’t be afraid of the clash!

Topshop Unique – A lively collection with furs, prints, diversity and a wide spectrum of colours. Oversized garments, crop tops and a laid back, casual feeling is the essence of Topshop Unique’s collection.

Style Tip: Be casual yet stylish this A/W.

Gucci – Think aggression, seduction and fire – all of which sum up Gucci’s collection. With a rich metallic sheen to many of Gucci’s A/W garments and a subtle range of colours, the collection was nevertheless lively and full of substance. Gucci’s collection was all about femininity and power. A common trend throughout the designs included the below the knee hemline and an emphasis on the woman’s silhouette and shape.

Style Tips: Keep it fierce and eye catching, remembering that below the knee hemline for your skirts and dresses is vital to obtain a Gucci look!

Vivienne Westwood – Never influenced by current trends, styles or crazes, Westwood creates another magnificent collection based on her impulsive feelings and emotions. The result? A true theatrical array of designs, both captivating and unique in every way.

 Style Tip: Mix it up like Westwood this Autumn and Winter, experiment with layers, patterns, fabrics and textures to achieve the unique and intriguing feel of Westwood’s collections!

Remember those are just a select few of my favourites from London Fashion Week, needless to say I could have mentioned many more equally fantastic, diverse and creative designers and their collections!

 What were your favourite moments from London Fashion Week? What collection are you going to try and adopt the style of the A/W season?

  So I’ve showed you London, now roll on Milan and Paris fashion week! 

Brit Awards

So, the Golden Globe awards came, followed by the SAG Awards and then the Grammys. I had been waiting for what seemed like forever for the Brits to come around and yesterday it finally arrived! I love the Brit awards, (partly because I’m British), but it also has a collection of some of my favourite artists and their outfits! My guess is that most of you tuned in yesterday to watch the Brit Awards including me. I thought that I would dedicate this blog post to highlight some of my favourite outfits from the Brit Awards, including  style tips for each outfit on how you can get their looks!

Brit winner Lana Del Rey wore a Chanel dress paired with Jimmy Choo shoes and a stylish fish tail plait. I love Lana’s look, it’s simplistic but has edge.

Style Tip: To get Lana’s look invest in a shirt style dress and a belt, keep the colour simple and pair it with a fish tail, side plait!

Giving a show stopping performance, Taylor Swift made it clear that she ‘knew he was trouble’ (ehem Harry Styles) but Taylor also knows how to rock an outfit! She wore a statement golden belted, floor kissing Elie Saab dress with a pair of simple but effective open toed heels! Swift accessorized with a ring and a plain bangle emphasising her black colour scheme. To break up the all-black effect Taylor added the belt to introduce some colour and sparkle!

Style Tip: To get Taylor's look invest in a statement belt which you can recycle and use on outfits that need some colour and that extra something!

Jessie J wore a slitted bodice, floor-length Versace dress complimented well with some Jimmy Choo shoes! Accessorising basically with golden hoop earrings and a golden belt, Jessie keeps it simple!

Style Tip: Accessorise like Jessie and don’t overdo your accessories!

Little Mix didn’t go home with any Brit awards but they went home with some awesome outfits. (From Left) Perrie rocked her pastel colours in her cute flared dress paired with some white platforms and a rather interesting floral head piece! Jesy wore a Celeb Boutique dress (sporting the S/S trend of black and white stripes), a clutch bag and some high black platforms. Leigh-Anne wore a pure white gown by Aqua, revealing a little more than the other girls! Gorgeous nevertheless Leigh-Anne looked like a goddess with her simple addition of her thick, golden bangle and hoop earrings. Jade wore a shiny, metallic effect dress by Mary Benson, accessorized with a cute bow and some killer heels.

Style Tip: To get Little Mix’s look experiment with clothes! Be daring and choose outfits which  wouldn’t necessarily be your first choice! Add a splash of colour like Jade, invest in some pastels like Perrie or go ultra girly like Jesy and Leigh-Ann! A Little Mix must have are some super high heels too so make sure that you’ve got your pair!

Rebecca Ferguson looked classy with her beaded floral patterned frock at the Brits this year, with Chocker style sparkly shoes to add glamour to her outfit. Ferguson nailed S/S trend of slits with her thigh-high slit in her dress.

Style Tip: Buy your Chocker style shoes to give your dress some wow-factor from head to toe.

Known for her quirky personality and quirky style, Paloma Faith’s outfit is bound to receive some mixed reactions! Encrusted with different coloured gems and jewels, Paloma uses that as her source of colour in the mist of her nude colour scheme.

Style Tip: If your style is quirky make sure it’s not too in your face, you want your outfits to receive a reaction but not a common one of disgust or horror! Make sure if your using gems and jewels to grab attention that you have a base of one colour throughout. Paloma uses nude colouring but match the colour to your outfit. This will avoid a crazy flash of colour as we walk by someone while still grabbing their attention!

Emeli Sande wore an all black knee-high dress, paired with simple heels and her famous up-do! Emeli has no accessories which I would have liked to see but she does add a hint of colour with her nail varnish.

Style Tip: If you want Emeli’s look adopt a high neck dress, keep to one colour but use nail art as your source of adding colour.

Catherine Jenkins looks like a marble in this beautiful Stella McCartney dress! Paired with some shiny aqua shoes, Catherine brings colour to the Brits as well as style!

Style Tip: No accessorising needed with an outfit like Catherine’s, let the outfit do the talking!

The Guys – a Brit’s special!

I don’t usually include boys' fashion in my blog but seeing as they’re everyone’s favourite teen boy band I thought I’d give them a special cover! One Direction graced the Brits in dashing suits, designers include Alexander McQueen, Topshop, Asos, Burberry and Kurt Geiger – One Direction certainly pulled it off! Their attire varied from smart to casual with Niall wearing some casual grey trainers while Harry, Zayn, Louis and Liam all wore plain shoes.

Justin Timberlake gave a charming performance to match his charming suit! Timberlake’s suit had a sheer shine to it and a lovely looking, friendly owl embroidered on the left hand of his suit!

Tom Daley, you can’t deny that you smiled as this British Olympian made an appearance at the Brits. Voted the Worlds Sexiest Man, Tom Daley wore a classic smart suit for the occasion.

Robbie Williams gave the classical suit a little makeover with his purple colour scheme!

So, what do you think of the Brits outfits this year? What’s your favourite outfit?