Swan Lake

Nina Ricci FW07'

Merry Christmas everyone x

image via Tumblr

Bat Girl

Happy Halloween! Ok, so I'm a day late... I am usually the biggest Halloweenophile going but this year real life just got in the way and I just wasn't 'feeling it'. I did however stumble upon these awesome bat print pieces by Russian designer Alexander Terekhov today on Tumblr and thought they were particularly in keeping with all things spooky. They are actually from the designer's SS11 collection but I actually think the cute collared dresses and quirky prints means they could be worn for many seasons.

The accessories are great too; many of the girly dresses were paired with bare legs and stompy Doc Martens that were reminiscent of Thora Birch's character in Ghost World and also that Luella show from SS08. The thick framed cat-eye sunglasses in black, white, tinted and clear lensed were also pretty swoon-worthy.

runway images via Alexander Terekhov.com, sunglasses collage via Cats and Couture

Shine On

I'm aware the Resort shows were a couple of months ago now but I wanted to share with you one of the stand out collections of the season from Theyskens Theory.  Better late than never, right?

It wasn't just the usual front-row glitterati donning shades at Theyskens' Theory; the models breezed down the mirrored runway in matching mirrored aviators and well worn looking separates which were at the same time exquisitely cut and deliciously slouchy and worn with a nod to the 90's with ankle boots and bare legs.

Otherwise pretty bias cut floral printed dresses inspired by the work of painter James Entor were roughed up with perfectly proportioned shrunken biker jackets, continuing Theyskens' Theory of cool.

Wuthering Heights: Charles Anastase AW11

Charles Anastase, AW11

Anastase's girlish muse was present as ever in his collection for AW11; her tall willowy frame clad atop towering platforms in demure long sleeved dresses embroidered with emblems of shining clovers and fairytale horses, double breasted princess coats and Peter Pan collared playsuits in rich velvet and charmeuse silk.

But at times there was more than an element of the uncanny about her as she floated down the runway in lingerie inspired dresses of billowing pale coloured silk, set against a moody looking backdrop of storm clouds.  With her vacant eyes staring from beneath the wild halo of her hair, I was reminded of a doomed Catherine wandering the stormy moorland calling to her lover Heathcliff.

But for all its theatricality and whimsy, the collection was ultimately filled with perfectly proportioned, infinitely wearable and maybe most importantly, totally desirable pieces that any London-dwelling Lolita would love to wear.

images via Style.com, collages by me

I want Antlers!

I think it is safe to say that Paris was definitely my favourite Fashion Week.  There were so many amazing collections to blog about, I had a really hard time editing down picks from my favourite collections in to manageable and readable posts.   However I could not resist posting quite a few (!) looks from Jean Charles de Castelbajac's AW 10 collection.  

I had never really seen his work till this year, and when I saw the models bopping down the runway wearing antlers and dresses emblazoned with giant Bambi prints I was hooked!  I later discovered he was the one responsible for the Kermit the Frog dress, as worn by Lady Gaga, and he has also created a number of the pieces featured in her new video.  I have a bit of a thing for Bambi/Deer prints- I think it all started last year with that beheaded Bambi dress that Lily Allen wore by Giles.  And I subsequently bought a pink tea dress with a deer print all over it...anyway I digress!

The collection was inspired Lady Godiva, with lots of medieval influences present- in the looks above it can be seen in the tapestry-like leaf print on dresses, the 2 piece suit with high-necked ruff collar and the pixie hooded coat.  Combined with the cute Bambi prints and whimsical antler headware (what is it with ears/antlers at the moment?  They seem to be everywhere? Bunny and mouse ears at Maison Michel, more antlers at Topshop Unique) antlers, the collection takes on a modern Fairytale feel.

But Castelbajac's models were no damsels in distress- rocking down the runway in multi-buckled, strong shouldered coats in gleaming silver and castle stone print.  There was hardwear-a-plenty with armoured dresses constructed from sturdy panels of acrylic and necklaces consisting of heaps of heavy looking chaining and long medieval talismans.  

Colour was injected in to the collection through the use of stained-glass window prints and rainbow jewels featured on dresses and sculpted jackets.  

A few of the more wearable pieces were some killer little LBD's (antlers optional).  Castelbajacs maidens have no use for a Prince Charming... in this collection she could be her own Knight in Shining Armour!


pictures from WWD.com, collages by me.