A Midsummer Night's Dream

Well, I'd used the 'caped crusader' pun too many times already... And the sun did come out for a couple of minutes this week, so the concept of 'summer' doesn't seem quite such a reach as it did a few days ago, when I literally had to wade, rather than walk, around London...

I'm a sucker for a built-in cape (superhero complex?) - so as soon as I discovered that this angelic 'can't believe it's not designer' beaut cost less than £20, it was a case of 'get in my wardrobe. right. now.' It doesn't, sadly, allow me to fly over puddles, but it does look great with my staple pleated maxi on drier days...

Top: Forever 21, Skirt: Jane Norman (Past Season), Belt: Primark, Shoes: Tu

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Max(i) Factor

Where did winter come from? Single digit temperatures made an unwelcome return to our shores this week, banishing December's gleefully unseasonably bare ankles and pom-pom topped flats in favour of 100 denier hosiery and heavy duty booties... but, in this tassel-trimmed maxi, H&M have come up with the ultimate weather-beating - not beaten - wear-all-year staple (just don't forget the 100 deniers)...

Dress: H&M, Coat: Very, Boots: Stradivarius

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"Shortcuts" to New Season Style...

Every 6 months, we start talking about that "tricky transitional" period between seasons, but I think this month has seen me waste more frantic minutes darting between the Met Office iPhone app and increasing-by-the-second pile of discarded-in-despair clothes on the bed/floor/cat than ever before. But the upside is that all those too-toasty-for-summer-but-insubstantial-for-winter ensembles have come into their own - sleeveless coats and gilets are GO!

And to address the elephant in the post - yes, I have had another little new season makeover myself, c/o my latest hair modelling job - and it's only a tiny bit annoying that Justin Bieber had to go and get virtually the same haircut... and then style it like a troll doll.

Dress: F&F (Past Season), Gilet: H&M, Shoes: Primark

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My AW15 High Street Hit List

Summer has always been my favourite time of year and, until I began peddling it myself, all that fashion chat about autumn/winter in August would fill me with a creeping sense of dread (along with an unconquerable compulsion to invest in a new faux fur coat). But this year, I think I've actually managed to convince myself - this season's 1870s meets 1970s vibe is right up my street. Presenting your AW15 everything-under-£40 capsule wardrobe (a.k.a. my birthday wish list - shhh).

Gilet £18, Jumper £8, Skirt £15, Bag £10, Boots £18: All Primark

Blouse £18, Dress £20, Shoes £14: All Primark

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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.

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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