How does one top a pencil skirt - made out of real pencils?

As the rain beats a steady, rhythmic pattern on the London pavements, the last thing one expects to see is a flame haired damsel riding a bicycle, in platforms even Naomi Campbell would shy away from, a black ring around one eye and a t-shirt that blares the words CLIMATE CHANGE or something to those odds. But if you had been in St. Pancras last night that isn't far from the image you would have seen, for it was the holy of all holies....Vivienne Westwood's SS14 collection. As a pale, red headed beauty walks onto the catwalk, hair covering her eyes, you wouldn't be surprised if it was Grace Coddington or Viv herself from 30 years ago. The shape starts to dance, moving around in an almost animalistic manner, swaying to the silent music....until she abruptly stops, lifts her head up and you realise it is the iconic, Lily Cole. Of course you understand now; the two women are trying to save the world one logo emblazoned tee at a time. The show that follows is quick and dirty - the way any Vivienne Westwood show should be. It is fashion in its purest form - wearable but with that elegant mix of eccentricity. As if the mad hatter were alive and well and designing for Ms Westwood himself. And the only thing better than that? My housemate was sat next to Anna Kendrick....Shawty get daaaahhhhhhn.


Vivienne Westwood Red Label - Vogue.co.uk

Now, some may say I am biased, but LFW is by far my favourite - Mary Katrantzou, Christopher Kane, Vivienne Westwood, Jonathan Saunders, Roksanda Illincic, Erdem, Marios Schwab....need I go on? Here are some of my fav pieces so far:

Peter Pilotto (Vogue.co.uk) - The AW13 collection was so spectacular I was considering selling a kidney to get even a tiny piece of it. Prints. That is the word I associate with PP - eye watering, hallucinogenic, utterly perfect prints. And what is this? Yes he has not only paired the on trend kaleidoscope print with a bell shaped skirt, but has made the entire ensemble pastel coloured. Incroyable.



Burberry Prorsum (Vogue.co.uk) - This is the show to be seen at. It may have gone through that strange chav phase, but now, you are only truly in fashion if you are watching the new collections strut down that runway - thank goodness they stream these things live now heh!! Pastels, sheers, lace, female boss suiting and underwear as outerwear was championed on the catwalks this season. Some of the outfits saw all of these things at once, proving the only way is Burberry. I wonder if they vajazzle??



Roksanda Illincic (Vogue.co.uk) - Taking a 50s housewife skirt and toughening it up is no mean feat. A Grease like flavour could be seen throughout the collection with high waisted, full skirts being worn with pretty tops and bows in their hair. Boxy shapes and monochrome brogues brought these pieces firmly into the modern day however, making an irresistible combination of...well... Danny and Sandy.



Jonathan Saunders (Vogue.co.uk) - To some, a trip to your Dad's wardrobe in the 70s, to others the perfect combination of the SS14 trends in separates. Block colours, knee length shorts, silks, boxy cropped jackets, sheer shirts...this man has thought of everything. But then again I supposed that's why he is one of the most recent British Fashion Council/Vogue Fashion Fund winners - keep an eye on this maverick, I believe the best is yet to come.



Mary Katrantzou (Vogue.co.uk) - If you haven't seen her pencil skirt (literally made with a pencil print) then you haven't lived. You know how Michael McIntyre is so funny because he tells us stuff about our lives we already know? Observational humour if you will. Well Mary does the same thing but with prints. A thousand mirror print flowers on a skin tight silk dress? Lipsticks chasing down the side of a bell shaped ensemble? It is real life....with a slightly less real price tag. My forever obsession - Brogue dress, mmmmmm.



And on that note I suppose I have to leave you with the Mary Katrantzou pencil skirt, which started out on the catwalk as this (telegraph.co.uk) .... yes they are real pencils...



And was translated into this (polyvore.com)...


See you tomorrow for more LFW fun!

Today I saw Maureen Lipman - It was a party.

Evening All,

I first have to say this ... and I don't mean to brag... but, I finally got round to taking March's issue of In Style out of the packet (don't judge, i've been busy) and guess what? Every trend I have told you to buy or become a part of is in there. That means I am officially a trustworthy source, right? Not only the trends, but also certain key piece I have told you about and style icons to watch out for - Felicity Jones, Rooney Mara, Clemence Poesy - I'm looking at you. So I'm not saying that I am Editor of Vogue material yet...but I am thinking about getting a power bob...

I had a fabulous day today with my Dad - those of you that don't know me, I am a Daddy's girl and I hang out with him all the time - it's a party. He wont appreciate me saying this but the guy is more into fashion and Cher than any gay man and yet he is the straightest thing I've ever seen - Blondie, he is looking at you (he once told me the only reason they weren't married is because she hadn't met him yet - knowing my Dad could literally persuade Liz Hurley to buy safety pins - if you don't get that I give up - then I am in no doubt this is the truth). Well today he came to visit his daughter in the big city and we did touristy things like watch a guy that looked like the lead singer from LMFAO do this weird but amazing roller skate course and then tried to run through a plastered up archway in the V&A to see if it worked like Platform 9 and 3/4 in Harry Potter - it didn't; people stared.

All in all it was one of those days where you really appreciate living in England with its varied culture, beautiful scenery... and Krispy Kremes. We ate more than the body can handle including my food soulmate - the macaron. Harrods and Covent Garden (as I discovered yesterday) have a store called Laduree which sell the most amazing macarons in a variety of flavours. If you have never had one, PLEASE do us all a favour and buy one (unless you are allergic to nuts, in which case don't....no one likes a puffy face). I would eat all my meals in this form if I could after discovering them a few years ago. PS - Laduree's website is the cutest thing you have ever seen. PPS they have just teamed up with designer Tsumori Chisato to celebrate their 150th anniversary! They have brought out a Cherry Blossom flavour (we tried it today - DELISH) which they present in a cute box designed by TC. Pick some up and hate me for making you obsessed with them. I can deal with it. They are by far the best gift to give someone and come already packaged in the sweetest (pun intended!) boxes. Give to Mummy's on Mother's day or girlfriends on birthdays and watch them ask "are you trying to make me diabetic, or just fat" like in that oh so romantic movie The Vow. You're welcome - you will understand when you have tried them.

http://www.laduree.fr/en/fabricant/produits/macarons

Now onto the oh so tasty, but in a different way....

U

Fashion Trend: Uniform - don't be creepy I am talking military. All over the runways which now means it needs to be all over your wardrobe. We are talking anything army green, anything with gun metal, double breasted blazers, trench coats, leather knee high boots, thick black waist belts and army style fixtures. Pretty much everything the boy you fancy who is the in the army wears. Everyone from Jason Wu to Burberry Prorsum showed this type of clothing on the catwalk for A/W, so you know it is going to be a big deal. Get ahead of the game by wearing anything you have in this colour with gold or gunmetal accessories, a big black waistbelt and black leather flat boots - that's an order.


Alexander McQueen A/W12
http://www.wwd.com/eye/fashion/fall-2012-trend-military-surplus-5757263/slideshow/5762884#/slideshow/article/5757263/5762886

Fashion Piece: Undies!! Now in the future, don't get me wrong, I want to shop at Rigby and Peller, Agent Provocateur and La Perla, but you have to look at what I found. Now I am not condoning these nor want you to think less of me, but the bit in me that loves reciting all the words to Wayne's World and still wrestling with my brother even though I am nearly 23 and he is 26, is in love with these. It is a collection from House of Holland that literally says what's inside the tin....if you see what I mean. These are only for those of you and your partners (I nearly wrote parents then - these are NOT APPROPRIATE for parents!!) who have the sense of humour necessary to understand the frivolity of these. Do not send to your feminist friends or to your brother who lives on a commune in India praying and doing yoga. Enjoy them for what they are... a little bit of innocent (ahem) fun. I have put the least racy ones on here. Girl's undies £18, boys £21 all from http://shop.houseofholland.co.uk/collections/underwear

Store or Label: Uniqlo - I am quite new to this store because I only really get the chance to go when I am in London. I do remember years ago my Nan (of all people) telling me they were important. Turns out she isn't wrong (well I am sure she is wrong about George Clooney being gay, but...). It is like a cross between H&M and Gap/J.Crew. They have good quality, fast fashion at a reasonable price. Look here for your coloured denim this season and for any staples you need. They also do collections and collaborations with a lot of people, so they are definitely worth keeping an eye on. A great place to shop for your basics.



Dip Banner Barette £29.90 - Try this: correct colour for getting into army trend!
http://shop.uniqlo.com/uk/goods/072146

Celebrity or Designer: Ungaro - the collections just get better and better. The summer collection was stunning. So feminine and elegant. This house knows how to dress a woman, to make her feel beautiful and special. The prints, the shapes, the materials show that the woman is the foremost importance in the design technique. Prints not dissimilar to Mary Kantrantzou, shapes like the romantic dresses seen on Christian Dior's A/W12 range. Not too shabby....


Summer 2012 ungaro.com

Spring 2012 ungaro.com

And now I must sleep for the week begins again tomorrow. Hold your heads high and be all you can be! Night!
Becky xx







If the world ends...beep me

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! The world is filled with love...and loathing of chocolate and cheap cards depending on how recent and how messy your last break up was... I find it mildly amusing that there are so many ways to tell someone you love them these days that a card isn't really necessary. If you need to get hold of me (to tell me you love me or otherwise) you can call me, text me, BBM me, WhatsApp me, e-mail me, speak to me on Facebook and on Twitter all to be picked up from the comfort of my Blackberry. If you have any bad news to tell me however, please use my pager...because I don't have one. Whatever you do today, be old fashioned and call your loved one. Tell your best friend she is beautiful and you have missed her, hug your Dad, give flowers to you Nan....and IF you have a beau, tell him he is alright as well...remember:

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

- 1 Corinthians 13:4 -

There is your culture for today - and now onto...

E

Sonia Rykiel Fruits Defendus Dress
Available from Shopbop.com

Chilli Print Dolce and
Gabbana Dress

Fashion Trend: Edible designs. Don't be weird, i'm not talking about going to buy creepy candy underwear - even on St. Valentine's it is still unacceptable. Im talking food prints!! You know how I love a good print - well so apparently do the celebs. Pixie Geldof wore the cutest chilli print dress to the Elle Style Awards last night. Fruit has popped in and out as being on trend, but I say if it's good enough to eat it's good enough to wear...watch out Ryan Gosling... If you are too nervous to wear a full on pineapple on your head do not despair!! Jewellery or just one statement piece is as always a winner. A star (fruit) is born!!

Embellished Titaness Dress
All Saints - £140

Fashion Item: Embellished Titaness Dress - All Saints. I had a struggle today whether to make my fashion trend section about edible patterns or embellishment, because both are very seriously nigh. The only thing with embellishment this season though is that more is more; which is why I am craving this dress from All Saints. Look at everything Burberry Prorsum and see what I am talking about. This dress is my sequin seductress, my glittering goddess, my little plastic painted square...well you get it. Go, buy it - Happy Valentine's to you.

Store or Label: Etsy - you knew I was going to write that right? If you haven't visited Etsy yet...are you a glue sniffer? It is the best thing since home-made slice bread - infact there is probably someone on there making that. For those of you unaware, it is an online market place of people selling home-made goods. But fabulous ones. I regularly buy Christmas and birthday presents from here, because you can find anything. Your brother like lights made from Heineken bottles? Your best friend have a penchant for handbags made of recyclable materials? Do you want a picture of your face made from chocolate? Just me then.... Give it a go, see what you can't live without. 

Celebrity or Designer: Eddie Redmayne. Seriously, what am I supposed to say? Hot. He just won best actor last night at the Elle Style Awards - and was dressed to perfection. Slate grey suit with white shirt and purple tie - very Etonesque, but less prudish. He has been around for a little while now, but shot to recent fame with a lead role in 'My Week with Marilyn' starring opposite Michelle Williams, who seems not to be able to say a bad word against him. He is also the current face of Burberry Prorsum. I have to stop writing now and take a cold shower. Not your usual fancy man, but "What's in a name? That which we call a fox, by any other name would be as foxy." Or something along those lines, right Shakespeare?

I love you all. Go out and spread the love. It is after all, all you need!

Becky xx

B is for Ben Foden?

The steam is rising from their bodies, the fire is blistering behind their eyes, the profanities are flowing freely from their mouths....thats right, the rugby is on. Therefore it has been very difficult to not make my B blog (following on from the A yesterday) about Ben Foden and balls....the rugby kind of course. All jokes aside, I often wonder why some of the younger rugby players are never faces of fashion companies. I understand Dan Cole may not be your man of choice unless you work for a facial hair trimming company, but most of them have the body and the height that would look damn fine in an Armani suit. Anyway, I digress...

B

Navy Poplin Dress - Jason Wu for
Target

Fashion Trend: Bargain designers. What I mean by this is designers creating lines for highstreet companies. Most recently we are talking Jason Wu for Target and Marni for H and M. This trend gives us mere mortals the opportunity to tell that lady in the street that asks where we bought our skirt, that it is in fact Stella McCartney. She will walk off trying to work out if youre that one off This Morning and you will quietly mumble "for H and M" and hope she thinks you coughed. The only sad thing about this trend is that those of us who live, breathe and embody fashion are often pipped to the post when trying to buy our new bargain piece because mean wannabe money makers buy up the whole collection and sell it for closer to the price Jason Wu already sells his clothing at. Shops should have a system where you can only buy one of each piece per transaction, making it harder for people to ruin the opportunity for others. (www.target.com)

Beaded Woven Wedge Sandal
Burberry

Fashion Item: Beaded EVERYTHING from the Burberry Prorsum range. The Beaded Woven Wedges and the Beaded Georgette Dress. Wear them together!!!! The dress only comes in the gorgeous yellow, but the wedges come in that colour and turquoise...can you imagine them together. Stop. Its too much fabulous. (http://uk.burberry.com/store/womenswear/dresses/prorsum/prod-44550761-beaded-georgette-dress/ + http://uk.burberry.com/store/bags-shoes/shoes/wedges/prod-38185071-beaded-woven-wedge-sandals/)

Store/Label: Balenciaga. I am choosing them because I LOVE their RTW collection. I am also obsessed with their advertisements in Vogue etc. As I have said in a previous post, the model is not classically beautiful, she has downright bed hair and basically looks out of her depth. But my god does it make me want to own the clothes she is wearing. (www.balenciaga.co.uk) For those of you - and that includes me, who find this a little out of your budget, I am also loving www.boohoo.co.uk at the moment. Its Net-A-Porter for those of us who cant afford the brand new LV bag we want...even though we love it WAY more than those who can, right?!!!!

Celebrity/Designer: Blue Ivy - Beyonce and Jay-Z's baby girl. Whether or not you believe this is their actual child or that Beyonce didnt carried it and used a surrogate, you have to admit you are eager to look into this girl's wardrobe. Beyonce was spotted for the first time at Carnegie Hall on Monday supporting her husband on his double performance. Whatever you want to say, pregnancy definitely agrees with her and she stole the show in a tight fitting red dress...and she wasnt even on stage.

Go out Be Beautiful and have a great Saturday night!!
Becky xx