Sam Muses: Izabel London

Showing posts with label Izabel London. Show all posts

Wednesday, 15 July 2015

Into the Wild (Editorial 2)

When I heard that our second LCS editorial was to be shot on location, in "the wild", I was instantaneously possessed by an unassailable compulsion to conjure up an epic fairytale romance in the mode of a Leith Clark-styled Harper's story... This was what I'd been waiting for all my life. Drawing additional inspiration from the trademark dark romanticism (or "savage beauty", dare I say?) of Alexander McQueen's AW15 collection, and the mussed-up elegance of Haider Ackermann's SS15 menswear, I decided to make volume and layering the keystones of my "regally dishevelled" prince and princess's looks.

Editorial Shoot, Stylist, Cinderella, Samantha Simmonds, Sam Muses, Leith Clark, Harper's Bazaar, Andreia Chaves, Alexander McQueen, Haider Ackermann, SS15, AW15, Feathers, Twig Headdress, Headpiece, Fairytale, Layering, Volume

My Mood Board

Location and concept sorted... now I just had to style up "couture" looks for two on zero budget...

Easy. First stop - my own wardrobe. 4-year-old Limited Edition Primark dress (previously part of my Alice in Wonderland/Jesus - don't ask - costume, worn for last summer's onstage crucifixion) layered over £10 Izabel London tutu for a lavish tiered effect, and under Topshop's new dusky-feathered gilet for an additional "lift" and nod to the wilderness.

Accessories-wise, it was customisation o'clock once again... Inspired by Andreia Chaves' mirrored shoe boots, I marshalled a few hundred mirror mosaic tiles (nope, I'm not exaggerating), a whole lotta hot glue and 11 hours of my time in the service of creating my take on Cinderella's glass slippers...

Cinderella, pre- glass slipper loss (and/or disintegration)

Did they fare better than Cinders' originals in the great outdoors? Well... no, not really, since you ask, but Franco, our lovely photographer, was kind enough to touch up the tiles wickedly whipped away by the wind by the time the above image was shot #AboveandBeyondtheCallofDuty.

A bangle wrapped with ribbon and some illicitly-gathered twigs fashioned, along with some more of those damned mirror tiles, into a headdress, and Cinderella was complete. Then, of course, Prince Charming had to be appointed - from sources outside my own wardrobe, obviously (well, aside from the Primark faux fur... and I'm keeping that snake-print scarf).

On top of the world: my favourite shot

Photographer: Francisco Gomez de Villaboa

Models: Eliza Franks and Jack Harrison at Milk Management

Make-Up: Martin Carter

Hair: Carolina Crona

Styling: Samantha Simmonds

Keep your eyes peeled for the results of Editorial 3, coming soon to a screen near you...

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Thursday, 25 April 2013

How to Wear a Tutu: 7 More Ways

I've been slightly obsessed with the idea of wafting around dressed as Margot Fonteyn since, ooh, the early nineties (playschool me was sooo ahead of Carrie), but my tutu cravings reached boiling point this year, only to be sated by this amazing Izabel skirt, reduced to £8 in the Debenhams sale! The finishing of its satin underskirt isn't the best, and you have to work around a not-too-pretty black elastic waistband, but, at this price, I still count it a gift from heaven!

It's proved a lot more versatile than the Sugar Plum Fairy costume piece you might easily mistake it for too - to be honest, I'd quite happily wear it every day (and if I had come across it in 1991, I'm not sure it would ever have been possible to prise me out of it)! You may have already seen it paired with my new denim Western shirt here, or layered over my Barbie T-shirt dress in this post, but here are seven more ways I've worn it so far...

1. Off-Duty Ballerina

Skirt: Izabel London, Jumper and Shoes: Both Primark (Current), Hair Band: New Look

2. La Parisienne

Skirt: As Above, Top: New Look, Shoes, Belt and Necklace: Primark, Beret: Marks & Spencer

3. Blazer and Bling

Skirt and Shoes: As Above, T-Shirt: New Look, Collar and Blazer: Peacocks, Belt: New Look (from Gilet)

4. Peplum Princess

Skirt: As Above, Top: Primark, Belt: H&M (Past Season), Shoes: Marks & Spencer (Past Season)

5. Sheer Wonder

Skirt: As Above, Top and Shoes: Primark (Past Season), Belt: Peacocks (Past Season)

6. Zip It

Skirt: As Above, Top: New Look (Past Season), Belt: ASOS (Past Season), Shoes: New Look + D.I.Y. (See This Post)

7. Danseuse

Skirt: As Above, Body: Miss Selfridge (Past Season), Belt and Earrings: Primark, Shoes: Topshop (Past Season)

How would you wear yours? Now that it's (finally) starting to warm up a bit, I think I'd like to try moving away from more polished looks to see how it looks with a relaxed jersey vest or crop top, and maybe even trainers... I love the effortless elegance and (surprising) wearability of this ankle-length cut, but I do have my eye on a just-above- or below-the-knee version for summer... and just maybe I'll dare to dig out my frothy pink mini again...?

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Thursday, 18 April 2013

How to Wear A Western Denim Shirt

Flaunting its Western credentials, locking on to this season's denim mania and shamelessly appealing to my (unashamedly) girly side with its puffed sleeves and delicate lace panels, this shirt implored me to pluck it from the Primark rails a few weeks ago...

But what was I to team it with? Aguilera-style chaps and a stetson? I tried it on with the dungarees I raved about in my Primark SS13 post, but, far from the effortlessly chic avant-garde cool result I was expecting, I looked more like Window Cleaner Barbie, or, indeed, myself circa 1990 (I was 4).

Not to be deterred, a spot of experimentation yielded (I hope) much better results!

Little House On the Prairie

Shirt: Primark (Current), Skirt: Izabel London, Boots: Primark (Past Season)

You may have already spotted this amazing Izabel tutu (which I picked up for £8 in the sale at Debenhams!) in my Barbie post, and you'll be seeing an awful lot more of it in the near future! I love the denim vs. chiffon texture clash, coupled with the way the skirt brings out the feminine detailing of the top... and I just had to finish the look off with cowboy boots for that turn-of-the-century cowgirl look!

Oh, Do Beehive!

Shirt: As Above, Skirt, Necklace and Socks: Primark (Past Season), Shoes and Hair Band: New Look (Past Season)

I've seen so many stylistas rocking the denim shirt + pencil skirt + statement necklace ensemble that I couldn't wait to try it out, but all the combos I tried just felt a bit... blah - so after a bit of wardrobe ferreting, I decided to switch it up a bit with a printed lantern midi instead, adding colour pop peep toes and lacy ankle socks for a rockabilly feel.

Rock On

Shirt: As Above, Skirt: Primark, Boots: Peacocks (Past Season)

Western shirt + leather skater was already a tried and tested partnership (see this post), but denim gives it a different feel - who knew how versatile a leather mini skirt would be?!

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Sunday, 24 March 2013

I'm A Barbie Girl... 5 Ways to Wear a Cartoon Print Dress

I've been referred to as Barbie by friends and strangers alike for the last 10 years. It had admittedly been my ambition to become as much like the fantastic plastic one as possible from the age of 4, so, although I have spent much of the last few years tweaking my clothing choices (and poses!) in an attempt to avoid looking like a Mattel product, and tease at least a modicum of "edge" from my look, I'll still grab any opportunity to unleash my inner doll... I've been coveting the Miss Selfridge Barbie collection for some time now, but wasn't sure whether I was prepared to fork out £20+ for jersey basics, so when OMG Fashion offered to send me an item of my choice, this amazing midi dress immediately caught my attention - had. to. have. it.

I'm a bodycon midi addict at the moment, as you may have noticed - there's a mini version of this dress too, but knee coverage = guaranteed grown-up sophistication, however play-school appropriate your print of choice may be... right?! At £15, this is majorly good value, super comfy, and surprisingly versatile. My only gripe? I wish it was a little more fitted at the waist - if pulled straight, it "tents" a little unflatteringly from bust to hips, but, worn casually ruffled, cinched in with a belt, or even layered under a top or longer midi as a faux pencil skirt or T-shirt, it's perfect.

If you're not quite brave enough to go top-to-calf Barbie, there's a super cute long-sleeved crop top with your name on it (well, if your name happens to be Barbara). And if you're more of a Batgirl, check out these amaze leggings, body and dress, all well under £20... My (rather ill concealed) inner child is going to be very happy this season!