Showing posts with label Sheer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheer. Show all posts

Friday, 26 February 2016

5 Style Hacks I'm Stealing from London Fashion Week (And a Couple I'm Not)

London Fashion Week is renowned for styling sleights whose recreation outside the rarefied confines of Brewer Street NCP would see their proponents running the risk of a lifetime Tesco ban. But it's also an inexhaustible source of inspiration for those of us who fancy a little wardrobe shake-up... And nothing need stop you receiving your Ocado delivery in glittery pyjamas, eh?

Here are my Fashion Week-inspired resolutions for 2016...

1. Discover New Layers

Style Hacks, London Fashion Week, LFW, AW16, Outfit Ideas, Styling Inspiration, Stylist, Fashion Blogger, Designer, Sam Muses, Skirts Over Skirts, Skirts Over Dresses, Skirts Over Suits
L-R: Topshop Unique; Fyodor Golan; Mother of Pearl; Simone Rocha
Skirts over trousers: Yawn. Skirts over... skirts? I'm listening. Skirts over suits? *Yelps with excitement*

2. Try the New High/Low

Style Hacks, London Fashion Week, LFW, AW16, Outfit Ideas, Styling Inspiration, Stylist, Fashion Blogger, Designer, Sam Muses, Trend Report, Sports Luxe, High Low, Hi Low, Sequins, Ruffles, Slogan Sweatshirt
L-R: Peter Pilotto; Mother of Pearl; Preen; Preen
Sports/luxe: done (over and over and over and...) But prim/prairie, demure/disco and sports/vamp, on the other hand...

3. Ruffle Some Feathers

Style Hacks, London Fashion Week, LFW, AW16, Outfit Ideas, Styling Inspiration, Stylist, Fashion Blogger, Designer, Sam Muses, Trend Report, Ruffles, Florals, Yoke Blouse, Frills, Bib Detail, Pep Hem, Peplum
L-R: Erdem; Mother of Pearl; Paul Smith; Huishan Zhang
Or, at the very least, some neck and hemlines.


4. Pop Some (Statement) Collar...

Style Hacks, London Fashion Week, LFW, AW16, Outfit Ideas, Styling Inspiration, Stylist, Fashion Blogger, Designer, Sam Muses, Trend Report, Statement Collars, Coloured Fur, Fun Fur, Faux Fur, Parka, Pie Crust, Ruff, Elizabethan
L-R: Burberry; J. JS Lee; Osman; Roksanda
After 400 years in the fashion wilderness, could 2016 see the return of the ruff? Roksanda (incredibly) put forward a pretty convincing case... But, whilst I muster the requisite courage (and wait for Zara to rustle up a copy), I'll be following Burberry's failsafe formula: fun fur + parka + peppy prints + preppy accessories = trans-seasonal style perfection.

5. Jazz Up My Hosiery

Style Hacks, London Fashion Week, LFW, AW16, Outfit Ideas, Styling Inspiration, Stylist, Fashion Blogger, Designer, Sam Muses, Trend Report, Pom Pom, Socks with Sandals, Socks with Heels, Pom Pom Coat, Pom Pom Socks, Glitter Tights, Accessories
Clockwise from L: House of Holland; Osman; Mother of Pearl; Ryan Lo
And once I've finished rifling through the darkest recesses of my sock drawers in search of those Burberry-alike textured tights, I solemnly swear to finally try out the socks-and-sandals thing... Before investing in some new-style pom pom-adorned accessories (because, come next season, a bag charm just isn't going to cut it) and (*squeal*) some glittery tights. The '80s party dressing trend is going to be the best Crimbo gift an adult woman ever received.

And 4 I Won't Be Trying At Home...

Style Hacks, London Fashion Week, LFW, AW16, Outfit Ideas, Styling Inspiration, Stylist, Fashion Blogger, Designer, Sam Muses, Trend Report, Contouring, Headscarf, Skirts Over Trousers, Dress Over Trousers
Gareth Pugh; Ashish; Christopher Kane; Mother of Pearl
1. '80s power suiting? YES. Contouring using tights? No.
2. Glittery pyjamas? Yes (please). Hair of Marge Simpson and Krusty the Clown's lovechild? No.
3. Bag-for-life-based millinery? Call me old school, but I think I'll be sticking to umbrellas for the time being.
4. Skirts-over-skirts? Intrigued. Skirts-over-trackies-over-socks-under-slippers? Baffled.

Need to Know: Your LFW Crib Notes

  • The Hottest Colours: Olive Green, Yolk Yellow, Rose Pink
  • The Greater Spotted Prints: Gingham, Houndstooth, Florals
  • Most Referenced Decades: '60s, '70s (yes, I know), '80s
  • Most Commonly Credited Concepts: Fading Beauty, High/Low
  • Most Unexpected Trend: Corsets over everything...


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Saturday, 18 July 2015

Express Yourself (Editorial 3)

Hot on the heels of Editorial 2 came our third and final LCS styling challenge... and, this time, the brief was thrown wide open... Given a starting point of "Express Yourself", we were to target publication in an edgy mag in the mould of i-D. First thoughts (obviously) revolved around Madonna clad in double-breasted suit and monocle in the pop video of the same name... Hmm...

Since we were to be provided with our choice of male and/or female model once again, as in the previous shoot, I decided, once again, to take full advantage of the situation and use both, switching up my gender references (not that this turned out to be an entirely unique idea - at least half the class seemed to decide at this point that their portfolio would not be complete without at least one man in a skirt).

Delving into the street style archives and current catwalk collections for inspiration, I opted to combine elements of gothic Victoriana (inspired by Givenchy and Thom Browne's AW15 shows) with a nod to street-style sportswear, playing on the theme of expressing vs. concealing with sheer fabrics and veils. I'd already decided to use our final shoot to push myself out of my darkly romantic, vintage-inspired comfort zone with something a bit tougher and edgier, more graphic and pared-back... so this brief provided me with the perfect opportunity to do just that... which, on the whole, I think I managed pretty well, whilst retaining the essence of "my" style... because, OK, there is a darkly romantic vintage vibe (modern, female version of Charlie Chaplin, anyone?) about some of these shots, but so what?

Express Yourself, Editorial, Stylist, Androgynous, Gender Neutral, Velvet, Suit, Givenchy, Thom Browne, Faux Septum Ring

Express Yourself, Editorial, Stylist, Androgynous, Gender Neutral, Skirt, Mesh

Express Yourself, Editorial, Stylist, Androgynous, Gender Neutral, Velvet, Suit, Givenchy, Thom Browne, Faux Septum Ring, Sheer, Mesh

Street Style, Androgyny, Gender Neutral, Givenchy, Thom Browne

Photographer: Leigh Keily
Models: Bella Glanville at Milk and Phillip Gardner at Nevs
Make-Up: Martin Carter
Hair: Carolina Crona
Styling: Samantha Simmonds


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Monday, 25 May 2015

Cannes Style on Trial: My Frocky Highlights (and a few Horrors)

Natasha Poly Cannes 2015
Natasha Poly
Left: I die. '70s-style glam milked for everything it's worth in Michael Kors. Right: Erm... the ultimate beach-to-red-carpet look? Just... T...M...I.

Naomi Watts Cannes 2015
Naomi Watts
Left: Oh dear. Whilst I love the graphic silhouette of the frock on the left, its bra-style neckline really isn't doing anything for poor Naomi's B-cups, and its unrelenting black washes her out and betrays quite a few more of those 46 years than we're used to seeing... Right: This feathertastic Elie Saab masterpiece, on the other hand, not only shows off her figure to perfection, but makes her classic "Summer" complexion positively glow by virtue of its soft grey hue... As well as simply embodying amazingness in dress form. #CinderellaMoment.

Cate Blanchett Cannes 2015
Cate Blanchett
Left: Pure goddess material in Armani Privé's dress of dreams... And Right: Proving that being 46 is not, in fact, always a barrier to pulling off head-to-toe black or, indeed, looking smoking hot in a sheer Alexander McQueen number, I don't think Cate put a fashion foot wrong over the last fortnight, switching from edgy to ethereal with applause-worthy aplomb.

Fan BingBing Cannes 2015
Fan Bingbing
Left: Love this Marchesa look... Fairytale opulence which somehow manages not to teeter into the realms of cartoonism. Right: '50s poise perfected in Ralph & Russo Couture... it's just a shame that the shoes are kinda saying "I have a second job as a stripper".

Sienna Miller Cannes 2015
Sienna Miller
Left: Classic red carpet style in Ralph Lauren, topped off with red lips, no fuss hair and serious flair. Right: Erm, a sheer star-print maxi with matching cape? This shouldn't work on so many levels, but there's something about the unapologetic playfulness of this Sonia Rykiel number that I really, really like...

Diane Kruger Cannes 2015
Diane Kruger
From Prada to Anthony Vaccarello: another masterclass in shifting seamlessly between classic and contemporary dressing (and, coincidentally, another dose of star print) c/o one of my long-term style icons.

Adriana Lima Cannes 2015
Adriana Lima
Left: The ultimate hourglass curve-hugger, exquisitely crafted by Ulyana Sergeenko - sometimes you just can't beat the classics. Right: Er, case in point. Less: not necessarily more.

Poppy Delevigne Cannes 2015
Poppy Delevigne
Left: Something about this Chanel dress feels a little "beachy" to me? And the make-up and jewels seem to belong to a whole other look.. Right: But this green Burberry Prorsum gown is the stuff of fantasy - and look how beautifully necklace is working with neckline this time - echoing, complementing, but not overpowering... perfection.

Rachel Weisz Cannes 2015
Rachel Weisz
Left: Whilst Rachel undoubtedly boasts a figure many women half her age would quit cupcakes for, Prada's stretch satin is a step too far for all but the most Twiglet-torsoed among us. Right: But this super cute '60s style Chloe shift is an unarguable win - who would have known those legs were hiding under that bias cut?

Miranda Kerr Cannes 2015
Miranda Kerr
Left: One of my favourite Cannes dresses - this Ungaro beauty is stunning in its simplicity. Love the pillar box lip/candy coloured frock clash too. Right: Quite a nice "daytime" look, but I would have loved to see her up the edge factor of this David Koma dress in terms of hair/make-up/accessories.

Lupita Nyong'o Cannes 2015
Lupita Nyong'o
Left: Despite some stiff competition, Lupita has to be my overall winner. For managing to make me covet a Kermit-green gown, and for her outstanding efforts in maximisation of twirl potential, I bow down (although, yes, Gucci are probably also due some credit for the creation of this one-of-a-kind (grr!) vintage-style vision of wondrousness). Right: And her "off duty" style ain't bad either: from '70s siren to '50s fox in the swish of an Oscar de la Renta skirt (and she even got the shoes right).


What was your favourite (or least favourite!) Cannes combo?



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Monday, 18 May 2015

The Sweet Scent of... A Bargain Bag

Rare London Perfume Box Bag, Clutch, Chanel, No 5, Dupe, High Street, Missguided, Monochrome, Gingham, Midi Skirt, Primark, Sheer Lace Crop Top, Vintage Style, 60s, 50s, How to Wear, Styling Inspiration, Sam Muses, UK Fashion Blog, London Style Blogger

Hands up: who hasn't secretly (or not so secretly) been hankering after a Chanel perfume bottle box clutch since what now feels like the beginning of time? This Rare London gem may not be able to boast the No. 5 label, but nor does it come with a £6,000 price tag (in fact, it's... £12. Yep, seriously), and, in all other respects, down to that iconic chain strap, it's pretty darn close. Not to mention plenty big enough for your phone, keys, emergency chocolate... even sunnies! For me, the choice was always going to be clear, but if you're not quite so much of an exhibitionist, it's also available in a devastatingly classy black opaque variant.

17 May 2015

17 May 10

17 May 9

17 May 8

17 May 6

17 May 5

17 May 4

17 May 3
Completely Gratuitous Hair Shot
17 May 2
Bag: Rare London, Top: Primark, Skirt: Missguided, Shoes: Boohoo (Past Season)


Have you sniffed out any bargains recently?


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