Trend Fusion

I was delighted to see sunshine when I opened the curtains this morning and couldn't wait to pick out summery outfit (of course it wasn't as warm outside as I was hoping). I have a very short attention span and even though I have hardly had a chance to wear my summer clothes yet, I am starting to get a bit bored of some of the trends for SS10, I suppose I have been looking at them and thinking about them for the past 6 months. Perhaps time to think of new ways of wearing them. Today I decided to mix up some of the trends, so here is my mixture of military (the trousers and jacket)and stripes with a little animal print (the scarf) thrown in. Do you get quickly bored with your clothes, if so, what do you do for a different look?



Jacket - Topshop (many years ago)
Trousers - Mango
Stripey top - Dorothy Perkins
Shoes - No Name
Bag- Monsoon
Scarf - a present

Grey marl - the new black?

By Zoe Elia Cropped Jersey Biker Jacket - My Wardrobe

Vivienne Westwood Grey Fortune Dress - My Wardrobe

Best Behaviour Cut Out Jersey Top - Urban Outfitters

Karen Walker Ruffle Cross Over Dress - Urban Outfitters

Grey marl / checked blazer - H! by Henry Holland, Debenhams

Ruffle Hem Dress - Peacocks

Every where I look recently I am confronted with jersey grey marl pieces. I realise that I am probably being slightly boring by announcing that we have yet another 'new black' but with it looking to be such a huge trend for the summer dare I say I think it could be.

Grey marl is something that I have great affections for, perhaps due to its association with my teenage years. In fact I only recently threw away a pair of grey marl trackie trousers that served me throughout my teens and twenties. I love the comfy relaxed look of it, the slightly textured appearance and its neutrality. This season, I am loving even more for it is being mixed up with patterns like florals and checks as well khaki, neutrals, ruffles and tailored pieces (all other favourites of mine).

After spending the winter swathed in thick black clothes, by the spring and summer I am completely ready for an alternative that is lighter and fresher. Grey marl is just that, admittedly it will never be as versatile or slimming as black but it is much less draining on the complexion and adds instant laid back chic to almost any outfit.

Couture - What is the point?

I love the couture shows and the luxury, the drama and the fact that it is all completely over the top. But I am sure many others have written and posted on this subject and I am still not really getting it, what is the point of couture?

By Couture, I mean 'Haute Couture', the very highest end of luxury fashion, the luxurious, hand crafted pieces of artwork made with intricate detail and expert tailoring made by a select few fashion houses as opposed to Juicy Couture, Tesco Couture or anything else which uses the word 'couture' in its name.

I know that unless there are some very dramatic changes in my life (perhaps a very big lottery win), I will never wear couture or probably even get to see it up close. So for me the point has always really been an art form to look at. I have also always thought that couture is important as inspiration for all sorts of other fashion. However, the main point of couture is its attention to detail and craftmanship, if this other fashion can't replicated on a lower budget, then is there any point?

From the fashion brands like exboutique.com point of view couture is part of their overall marketing . Whilst they often make a loss on couture is is considered a worthwhile exercise in building the brand and like many branding or marketing activities has a subtle effect that cannot neccesarily be measured by a return on investment. The Haute Couture shows recieve massive press coverage, this is so much more valuable than advertising. But with the current economic situation and so many fashion houses struggling (The loss of the Christian Lacroix label is a real shame), is couture still relevant? and with conspicuos consumption being very out of fashion, will it sell any more?

The latest of the couture collections seem to have set out to prove that couture is still very relevant. Young models to appeal to a new generation of fashion lovers and subtle luxury that is not overtly opulent. They are appealing to a whole new range of customers notably from Asia, so their relevance is evolving and changing all of the time - as is everything in the fashion world.

I think for those select few houses that do have couture collections, it is a sign of their status of being top of their game. With new up and coming labels launching all of the time, Haute Couture allows these labels to stay ahead of the pack. I guess the point of couture is not really whether it sells, I expect they can always give it away or lend it to celebrities for red carpet events. It is a marketing tool and one which the rest of us can enjoy as an art form, so lets enjoy it (even if we can't wear it). Here are some of my favourites from the SS10 couture collections:

Armani Privé

Dior

Jean Paul Gaultier

Chanel

pictures from http://www.style.com/

Givenchy

SS10 Outfit challenge - Safari Trend

It has been a while since my last outfit post and since I last put together an outfit for my no more wants challenge partly because things have been just so mad busy I have lost all ability to think creatively and sunk into that comfort zone of old favourites. I haven't given up on the shopping ban though, even though there has been much temptation.

So as I sit here at 5.30am on Sunday morning watching Dora the Explorer again, It seems like the perfect time to squeeze in an outfit post with the pictures of an outfit that I took yesterday accompanied by a few strategically placed animals, the monkeys are my absolute favourite, although not entirely sure of the accuracy of these species on an African safari, they have been collected by the children on our many zoo visits.

So enough about cuddly toys, some of favourite safari style outfits from the SS10 catwalks.

At Oscar De La Renta

At Louis Vuitton

At Kenzo

At Elie Tahari

At Giambattista Valli

This challenge was the perfect opportunity to wear my favourite bargain ever, this Burberry Prorsum top which I picked up for about £8 in a second hand shop. I have resisted the urge to add all sorts of animal and tribal prints in favour of a more mininmalist approach which is highly unusual for me. I may well revisit this trend though with more pattern added once the weather improves a bit.

Jacket - Burberry Prorsum, second hand

Top - Next

Jeans - Marks and Spencers, Autograph Weekend

Shoes - Next

Necklace - Monsoon

Bag - present

Bangles - presents and New Look

catwalk pictures from http://www.style.com/

SS10 Trends - Lime and Citrus Green

In amongst the khaki that was featured in so many of the SS10 catwalk shows (and also happens to be my favouite colour), I also spotted some other greens which could be described as Lime/ citrus and perhaps even mint. Although you don't often see people wearing these sorts of shades of green, I really love them.

At Versace

At Proenza Schouler

At Peter Pilotto

At Louis Vuitton

So for my next No More Wants challenge outfit I decided to unearth one of my favourite dresses. I actually love these greens combined with khaki green but unfortunately didn't have anything that looked right with this dress. I also decided to try my hair slightly different today with a side ponytail.

Dress - Ringspun
Jeggings - Topshop
Shoes - Next

catwalk pictures from www.style.com

SS10 trend - neutral/ nude sheer dresses (and socks!)

Next up on No More Wants, the SS10 trend for neutral or nude sheer dresses sometimes with socks. These dresses were just about every where on the catwalk. These are just a few examples but there were plenty more including longer styles, minimalist and full on frothy versions.

At Jonathan Saunders

At Givenchy

At Fendi

At Calvin Klein

At Burberry Prorsum

At Meadham Kirchhoff

And so to the challenge - to create a look for this trend from items in my wardrobe. I have had this chiffon dress for a year or two but have only worn it once or twice. Whilst, I love feminine clothes, there was just something too sugary sweet about this dress. It was also never that practical for the UK weather. Taking inspiration from Meadham Kirchhoff (although I am not sure if I like the collection) and Burberry Prorsum (I love the collection with all my heart), I tried adding a pair of grey knee socks ruched down with a pair of strappy wedge shoes. I also added a vintage/ second hand charcoal grey suit jacket. Funnily enough, I was really worried that this look wouldn't work but I really like it. The dark colours toughened up the sheer, cream frilliness of the dress making it much more wearable for me than just on its own. I think I will definitely be getting a to more wear out of this dress.

Dress - Asos

Jacket - Secondhand

Shoes - Karen Millen

Socks - Peacocks

Necklace - present

Catwalk pictures from http://www.style.com/

No More Wants Challenge SS10 Trend - Shorts

At Alexander Wang

At Etro

At Rochas

A Matthew Williamson

There seems to be a pair of shorts for just about any occasion for SS10 from evening to tailored and from leather to super short and sporty. I bought myself a pair of navy blue shorts in Topshop last year but I don't think I have worn them once yet. They looked great in the changing room mirror but once I got them home, I went right off them - what is it about changing room mirrors in shops

Anyway with shorts being a big trend and my self imposed shopping ban, I decided to give them another go. I have not been blessed with the longest of limbs and so shorts can be a bit of a challenge of me. But I rolled them up a little bit and took advantage of the cold weather to wear them with tights. Finally I took the opportunity to wear the new Topshop wedges to add a much needed bit of height and length to my legs(wow I almost feel tall). The top also fits in with another major Spring trend and one of my favourites - florals.

Shorts - Topshop

Top - Next (second hand)

Tights - present from my lovely mum (Tesco I think)

Cardigan - Fennwright Manson

Boots - Topshop

Necklace - pressy from my sister

green ribbon - borrowed from a skirt

Catwalk pictures from http://www.style.com/

Dolly Couture

As a child I loved my dolls and cared for them as if they were my own children. I especially liked getting them dressed up for a special occasion, perhaps a dolly's tea party. I loved the itsy bitsy clothes and teeny tiny details on them. Of course my dolls clothes weren't exactly couture, even though I would very much have liked them to be. I am guessing that I am not the only fashion and dolly lover around as their has been quite a bit of talk lately about Louboutin clad Barbies and other sorts of collaborations.

These couture clad dolly's really caught my eye though. They were created by Andrew Yang, artist and former Dennis Basso employee. He has previously made plenty of couture detailed dolls but these lovely little model dolls in mini versions of outfits from the ss10 collections are by far of the most interest to me. If you were wondering who would wear these clothes, now you know. The clothes are gorgeously intricate and detailed copies of Lanvin, Givenchy, Rick Owens, Gareth Pugh and Proenza Schouler to name but a few. They are available to buy at http://www.thekouklitas.com/ (if you love dolls, you have to check out this site) and if you don't see an outfit you like, you can get one made. Hmm I think one in a Luella heart dress would be lovely.

photos by Dan Forbes for The Block