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

Emilia Wickstead LFW

London Fashion Week September 13-17th 2013 showcasing Spring/Summer collections for 2014. I've only recently started following fashion week but it's addictive. Here are some of my favourite collections.

Emilia Wickstead is fairly new to London Fashion Week launching her first label in 2008 and ready to wear collection in 2011. Wickstead's collections made up of cornflower blues, peach, lemon yellow, burnt oranges and blank whites. The bright pastel colour palette and large billowing silhouettes really stood out on the cat walk. Tent dresses and candy stripes in silks and satins gave the collection an Alice in Wonderland vibe. 

Image source:WGSN

Victoria Beckham NYFW

Victoria Beckham: style icon, fashion designer and posh spice. Victoria was first introduced into the fashion industry as a serious designer with her spring/summer collection back in 2009. Since then Victoria has consistently presented confident designs to NYFW that scream elegance and simplicity. Being awarded Designer Brand of the year at the British Fashion awards in 2011 also laid firm foundations for Beckham in the fashion world and led to a cult of celebrity followers. Victoria introduced a second label Victoria by Victoria Beckham in 2012, which is one one of my favourite collections this year at New York Fashion Week. 

Victoria Beckham

The 'flirty' collection was made up of a concise colour palette of black, white, greys, fuchsia pink and red maroons. Emerging trends included the rounded shoulder lines, crisp shirts and pleated frills. Triangle panels and geometric applique added a architectural element to the collection creating tone to the very flat fabrics used by Beckham. 

Image source: WGSN

Victoria by Victoria Beckham 

Such a feminine collection with a strong colour palette of peach, coral, purple, lilac, orange and black. The collection is mainly made up of dresses with a clear 1960's reference. Soft floaty silhouettes, fluted skirts, jacquards and textured fabrics create this relaxed style, the playfully elegant collection will definitely appeal to a younger market but still feels sophisticated and effortless . I especially love the cute geo prints. 

My favourite dress of the collection... Want it.

Image source: WGSN

http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2014/ready-to-wear/victoria-victoria-beckham

And how cute did Harper look sat front row