CLOSER TO KELLY

The Hermes Kelly bag made an appearance at a performance of Closer in Cambridge on Wednesday; I'm not sure what was more beautiful, the bag or it's surrounding city! 

Tall stone buildings, cobblestone streets and quaint cafés make Cambridge the perfect destination for a summer daytrip; or some theatre, in this case.

P.S. I'll be supporting Cambridge in the boat race!

MONEY MONEY MONEY

  

Feeling down? At the moment it's all exams, universities and cold, cold weather. Anyone of age seventeen and eighteen is losing the will to live right now. My advice? Retail therapy, of course!

The book, skirt, and earrings are from Urban Outfitters, one of my favourite favourite shops that I struggle to afford! The socks are from Topshop, where I also picked up a basic black zip-up hoody, and the shirt is from COW, a place I will miss dearly when I leave for university!

BLACK SWAN

Black Swan. The film of the year so far, by any standard.

With the dark, psychological plot comes costumes even more steeped in mystery and complexity, designed by none other than the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte. Season after season, the sisters produce clothes more beautiful and ethereal than the mind could imagine. Yet with aggressive construction, textures and finishes, there is something about Rodarte's aesthetic that stops us dismissing them as just another red-carpet deisgn house. 

Outstanding, and Oscar worthy, on every level. Watch this film!

ACCEPTABLE IN THE 80S

So the eighties, though they may have been thirty years ago, keep popping up in our modern fashion monde. For evidence, look no further than Moschino's a/w ad campaign. For anyone over the age of 35, the idea that shoulder pads, power women and painted-on blusher are quite literally 'retro' must be a pretty scary thought. 

Not ready to re-embrace the decade that fashion forgot? Lust after Louis Vuitton's full skirted dresses, updated for modern women with saucy sweetheart necklines and contrasting black straps. Mad Men has a lot to answer for.

 

The Chloe girl is sitting pretty in the seventies this season, with luxurious satin blouses is subtle tones teamed with high wasited, wide leg trousers. Team with simple seperates in camel for an elegance like no other. 

With hints of the sixties and nineties scattered throughout the international collections this season, one question has to be asked; if we keep harking back to the past for inspiration, what will the look of the '10s be? I'd love to hear what you predict. 

PRET A PREEN

So New York fashion week continues this week, a host of designers having already unveiled their collections to the world.  But with others still hotly anticipated (we mean you, Wang!), now is a good time to take stock of what we'll all be wearing next season.

The formula for Preen this season? Mix Mark Fast with PPQ, send them through Givenchy and you're on the right track. I'm particularly taken by the nude-hued hip-ruffle cocktail dress (above right).

Charlotte Ronson showed a multitude of influences in her simple, yet detailed, collection; velvet, lace and knits made for sumptouusly slouchy trousers tapered at the ankle and playfully oversized seperates. The shots of electric blue and shimmering russets kept a youthfulness about the collection that appealed to those young enough to wear the trends of the sixties without feeling any deja vu. No wonder Peaches Geldof and everyones favourite City girl Whitney Port were front row favourites. 

With many of the major players in this beautiful game still to show, we can only anticipate what will be shown over the next few weeks. elleuk.com will be my first port of call for all the latest looks, as always, but, and I am unabashedly excited about writing this, I will be checking the site from la ville d'amour,  Paris! When I return I'll take a look at the latest shows, and also hopefully show off some Parisian chic! 

Au revoir readers, je t'aime! X

RIP ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

This afternoon I was shocked, saddened and deeply affected by the announcement of Alexander McQueen's reported suicide. At forty years old, Lee McQueen was a designer like no other, and his presence and unrestrained genius will be sorely missed in the coming fashion weeks.

The news, coming just days after the death of his mother and three years after the death of Isabella Blow, the fashion producer credited with his discovery, is being treated sensitively by the media, and this is something those close to McQueen will appreciate. The statement on his website, closed shortly after the confirmation of the death, reads simply

"On behalf of Lee McQueen's family, Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand has been found dead at his home. At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee's family.
Lee's family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media will respect this."

It is reported that McQueen hanged himself this morning in his London home, a thought that seems only to heighten the tragic sense of today's events. Watching his body being removed from the home bought tears to my eyes, tears for a loss resonating hugely both with me and those in the wider fashion world. The presentation of his lower priced line McQ, scheduled for this afternoon, has just been reported to be cancelled, shrouding the future of his main line and A/W '10  show, due to be shown in Paris next month, in doubt. We can all but wait.

RIP McQueen, you were one of Britain's leading lights and the fashion designer of the decade. You will not be forgotten.

  

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Before I say anything, I must apologise for the severe lack of blogging this month, it seems I underestimated the amount of time and effort college is taking out of me. But I never stop watching, and if anything deserves my attention more than psychological experiments, it's Fashion Week. The opening day of the schedule has yet to reveal itself to me, but take a look at these Blumarine looks from earlier (taken from http://www.elleuk.com/). The house went for two very different looks, swinging from tie-dye delights in pastels and summer brights to a more utility-feeling look, reminiscent of last season.

The collection was fresh and breezy, with earthy undertones in simple, military inspired pieces that will work well in England's crazy climate (snow and sun on the same day?!). As always readers, I want to know what you think. What do you expect from A/W '10?

Hopefully the coming fashion weeks are what I need to get me back on blogging track!