Vogue Festival 2014

Vogue Festival Saturday 29th-30th March held at Southbank Centre, this two day extravaganza featured one hell of a line up:

Me and Jasmine

Saturday

Personal Style And Do You Have It? - with Alexa Chung, Amanda Harlech and Lucinda Chambers 

The Power Of Two In Fashion - with Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler

The Philo Factor: Reinventing Cool- With Pheobo Philo and Alexandra Shulman

My Fashion Life - Manolo Blahnik, Tory Burch and Angela Missoni

Valentino: King Of Glamour - Valentino Garavani

Sunday

What's It Really Like To Be A Model? - Karlie Kloss, Edie Campbell, Jourdan Dunn and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Fashion, Beauty And The Digital Revolution- Nick Knight, Mary Katrantzou, Pixie Geldof and Miroslava Duma

Good Taste, Bad Taste - The Shock Of The New - Grayson Perry, Lily Allen and Jasper Conran

Want To Work In Fashion? Vogue's Fashion Masterclass - Lisa Armstrong, Sarah Burton, Daniel Marks, Alexandra Shulman and Louise Wilson

Fashion Legends- Franca Sozzani and Naomi Campbell 

We (Myself, Jasmine, Leah and Emily) my fashion girlies from WSA, were fortunate enough to land ourselves tickets for Sunday and the 'Want to work in Fashion?' talk, which for four fashion students is perfect.

We were allowed entry into the foyer at 4pm, there was loads on offer including free hair, make up and nail bars, Burberry photo booth, Vogue cafe, champagne bar and Vogue gift shop; where I picked up a Vogue keep cup so I can now take a stylish cup of coffee into my lectures and a 1960's Vogue print for bedroom in my new house. Our talk was at 4.30pm and wow what legends were on the stage. If I'm honest I was a little scared when I left, the fashion industry is so daunting and a surprising small world, first impressions count. 

Check out the 'Want to work in fashion?' report here: Fashion Masterclass

One of my favourite quotes -

"Niceness is terrifically underrated" - Lisa Armstrong

Me and Emily

London Fashion Weekend Febuary 2014

20-23rd February 2014 was Vodafone London Fashion Weekend, a follow up to London Fashion Week. We were lucky enough to score silver tickets for the Sunday which was also Momma Jones' birthday (sorry Mum), our tickets also included a trend show and filled tote bag designed by Julien Macdonald. Our goodies included Essie nail polish, Mabelline baby lips, dry shampoo and a flapjack to save us from starvation. 

Me and Jasmine

LFWend is set at Somerset House, there was loads to see and do, all the wings were filled with designers including: Charlotte Taylor, Textile Federation, Cadenzza and Yolke to name a few, check out the full list of designer shopping here http://www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk/index.php/shop 

We also caught the 12.30 Trend catwalk show which showcased 4 popular trends for Spring/Summer 2014 including Precious Metals, Flower Power, Lace Embrace and Good Sport. Precious metals is by far my favourite, I love anything shiny this season I'm like a magpie. 

Catwalk photography on your iPhone is a skill on its own, I don't know how these bloggers and fashionista do such a good job, this is my only non blurry attempt. 

All images my own

My OOTD included a white leather cropped T - Zara, grey skirt - New Look, Mac - H&M, statement necklace - Primark and black patent sandals - New Look

You can get tickets for London Fashion Weekend 18-21 September 2014 soon
http://www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk/index.php/tickets/tickets
Hopefully I'll be helping out interning at LFW in September and won't need tickets, fingers crossed.

HELLO MY NAME IS PAUL SMITH

Exhibition at the Design Museum based on the life and work of British fashion designer and legend Sir Paul Smith. 
(15 November 2013 – 22 June 2014)

Ever since watching this video of a lecture given by Paul Smith I have been a big fan, I've never massively loved his designs but his work ethos is inspirational and I love the way he works as a designer. "Beach hut - sweater " hehe.

Paul Smith was never trained and learnt everything from his wife Pauline. He started his career off in a 3m x 3m windowless shop and with lots of hard work turned it into a fashion empire. 

Check the video out: Talk by Paul Smith

Another thing I love about Paul Smith - he is MESSY, yay this makes me feel so much better about being such an untidy designer and never throwing anything away. 

The best part of this day I MET PAUL SMITH

He was lovely, everything you would hope a designer would be 

(a normal down to earth person)

Great piece of advice from Paul Smith "Don't assume"

All my own images

This was the same face I pulled after meeting Paul 

Another great thing about this exhibition, you can take photos! Such a rarity these days, thank you Design Museum.

Such a brilliant day out, I really recommend you check it out http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2013/paul-smith

(extended till June 22nd 2014)

Isabella Blow : Fashion Galore!

So my New Year's resolution was to post more and what a failure that has been. My other resolutions haven't followed suit either and I am officially back on the bourbon biscuits, to my flat mates delight. But after being inspired by a few newly found blogs including Fashion Fumblings I'm back on the blogging wagon. 

I love a trip to London and this year i've been fortunate enough to make it down to the Capital on multiple occasions. Here's my insight into the current exhibitions around London

Isabella Blow : Fashion Galore at Somerset House (20 November 2013 – 2 March 2014)

Image source: Somerset House

This was a really interesting exhibition, celebrating the life of a socialite as opposed to a designer or artist, that these events are usually based on. Isabella Blow - British patron of Fashion. The exhibition showcased many pieces from Blows' personal collection as well as work from talent she supported and launched including Alexander McQueen, Philip Treacy and Julien Macdonald.

The exhibition showed the late Alexander McQueens' Central Saint Martin MA collection(discovered by Isabella), as a Fashion student this was really exciting. I am a big McQueen fan but in all honestly I wasn't that impressed with the quality of his collection, I do think standards are immensely higher now the industry is so competitive. However the transformation in his work leading up to the last collections he designed was amazing. To see such a progression in his work gives us all hope really.

I'm now a big fan of Philip Treacy, brilliant innovative designer, definitely been inspired to do a millinery class over Summer with Mother Jones.

I also fell in love with photographer Steven Meisel, I was really gutted to find they didn't have any posters of his work in the gift shop. I would kill for one of his prints, really beautiful examples of fashion photography. 

Image source: Somerset House

If you haven't already hurry up and check it out at Somerset House 
http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts/isabella-blow-fashion-galore

My own image

Golden Globes

Golden Globes 2014, I'm not entirely sure who was nominated for what award or who fell over this year but I was all over the red carpet looks for Hollywood's biggest night out. 

My top 5 looks 

5. 

Aubrey Plaza in Oscar de la Renta

Can't beat a bit of colour clashing satin (Sandra Bullock also wore this trend)

4.

Michelle Dockery looking elegant as ever in Oscar de la Renta

I could get married in this dress, such a beautiful shape and fit

3.

Taylor Swift in Carolina Herrera

I thought this dress was a classic look for the red carpet

2.

Emma Roberts in a custom Lanvin

By far the sexiest look of the night, it was like she had been painted into her dress 

1.

Lupita Nyong'o in Ralph Lauren

Without a doubt the best dress of the night the caped Ralph Lauren dress is from the Spring/Summer 14 collection

TREND ALERT: RED was all over the Golden Globes 

(colour of the moment)

And a little mention to my biggest girl crush Jennifer Lawrence 

J-Law in Dior Couture

Images courtesy of Vogue.co.uk: Vogue Golden Globe Awards 2014

This caused a bit of an internet sensation of Jen wannabes

Image source: http://www.neverunderdressed.com/fashion/news/jennifer-lawrences-dress-goes-viral

We <3 you Jennifer

Knit Workshop

I'm currently 2 days into my first official time tabled week at Winchester School of Art after a messy freshers week. In our first knit workshop we covered knitting machine basics, including: threading up, colour changing, laddering, lace holes and moving stitches around. I'm a big knit fan, it's so hands on theres something more satisfying about creating your own fabrics.

Up cycling
In our second workshop we were asked to bring in an old knitted jumper to up cycle. It was a bit daunting just hacking into something with no planning but so fun. I used laddering and fraying to create texture as well as added a laddered piece I made on the knitting machine in a contrasting colour. I also added pieces I had finger knitted in thick and fancy yarns. 

My original jumper

My final piece inspired by the theme Russian Culture

My tutor described it as 'very Alexander McQueen' can't complain about that comment. 

Unique LFW

My first fashion blog post featured Unique A/W13 and here I am sitting in my Unique inspired fluffy jumper (unfortunately my student finance doesn't stretch to the real thing.) But once again Emma Farrow has pulled it out the bag, everything about the collection screamed Summer even down to the bronzed models. Flowing water like silhouette dresses along with 70's referenced geometric prints and colour palette caught my eye most. Bottle green, violet, ocean blues, warm butter yellow and a selection of greys made for a individual colour palette on the catwalk, moving away from the baby pastels shades widely featured at London Fashion Week. 

Lots of layers and gentle fabrics to make up a relaxed and comfortable collection that echos lazy days at the beach and long drives with the roof down. 

Check out the Vogue show report http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2014/ready-to-wear/topshop-unique

Image source: WGSN