TAXI.IRIS

I'm having a real mush brain Sunday.

But Dazed Digital just led me to Iris Schieferstein. And she is SICK (you might think literally), the artist creates piece which merge taxidermy and cordwaining. As a girl that has a weird love for taxidermy and a bit of a shoe obsession she is right up my street.

It's all a little bit fairytale..unicorn ladies and all that.

And it's not all about footwear...she's really experimental with her art.

Seriously needed that inspiration kick.

BLACK SWAN

I put off watching this, didn't expect to like it.

BUT was definitely wrong, checked it out last night and thought is was amazing. Loved the contrast of innocent and real darkness, the animalisticness..which totally isn't a word and also the casting. So if you think it's going to be a bit girly and pathetic and like me have avoided watching Black Swan until now...have a watch.

EVENTS

Can't wait for these.

Come Come Come Come Come Come Come.

PRADA

I'm just a bit in love with Prada at the moment. I've been spying their ads for years when i've been flicking through fashion magazines but recently i've really pulled my socks up and become a bit of an obsessive.

Firstly.

Miuccia..."How does she create fashion gold? With a little madness in her method." I love that she is a little bit crazy.

...Anna Wintour showed her support by wearing Prada's banana skirt at LFW.

Secondly....

The Prada store in New York is the most amazing retail environment you will ever see. It looks almost unassuming from the outside but the interior is the sleekest  most innovative space I have ever seen. PLUS the most beautiful assistants dressed in perfect tailoring cropped just on the ankle.

Designed by Rem Koolhaas.

Not sure these photos really do the design justice but they are so hot on people taking photos instore I didn't DARE.

Thirdly...

Of course their latest offering at Milan fashion week was amazing.

P.S. Managed to save this as a a final image before it was actually finished so it doesn't look great. But you can still see the gorgeous collection. Love all the different textures and 1920's shapes.

One day, eh.

DRAW

I have been such a naughty girl....and put Sasha and cider way before blogging this weekend. So i'm going to start making up for it now!

So here's some doodles i've been experimenting with. They're kind of half traced and half free drawn. I used a copy of Rika Magazine to find some images. Taped over some tracing paper so I could use the basic shapes and proportions but still add my own details and drawing style...and of course I little hint to my blog address.

I'm liking the simplicity of these but might have a go at adding some colour or some pattern swatches. If anyone has any pointers of how to do that in Photoshop..le' me knowww.

See more from Rika (..which is actually a clothes brand that produces seasonal publications..) 'ERE

And here's another based on the Opening Ceremony ad's...had a little play with it to come up for this design to use in a uni presentation about US Retailing and how it could be transferred to the UK. The UK store is loosely based on Harrods, I wanted it to look kind of regal.

X

'xciting.

(have a little peep above)

Gunna be trawling eBay for a BIG look.

Architecture Inspires Fashion...

Is one of the themes for my Design and Visual Culture Essay...

So far i've thought of the Chanel perfume bottles, inspired by Parisian buildings..

As well as the latest collection by Mary Katrantzou...

If you've got any other ideas for me to explore please drop a comment in the box.

Haze

I think I felt the 1970's coming.

I'm gagging for a rummage in the vintage shops to find the perfect pieces to channel the look with once the sun comes out.

But until then i'm loving the sunny haze that makes imagery look so 1970's.

All Images by Peter Knapp 1971 for Vogue.

And Sofia Coppola's Virgin Suicides encapsulate that era of hazy innocent sleaziness in her gorgeous film Virgin Suicides. 

I'm loving the portrayal of 1970's cheek in the Orla Kiely ads....

..and researching these ads has led me to the amazing photographer Venetia Scott, who's just shot straight to the Top 5 of my favourite fashion industry names. And her CV is enough to make you weep.

Mega weirdly..I know Stan in the last photo, we met at Glastonbury and hung out over the summer. 

Small World.

Pre-Milano

This is my last installment from London Fashion Week..all though of course I will be keeping a close eye on what is to come in Milan and Paris.

So...it's my last set of favourite collections.

Mark Fast

It's about time that Mark fast was recognised for something other than the size of his models..this should help.

Delicate cobwebs, hard vs soft, leather, bulky futuristic knits, sheer reveals, underwear as outwear, tone on tone colour, innocence vs naughtiness, celebration of form, thoughtful body-con. 

If I had the body and the pay cheques i'd be rocking Mark Fast. 

Ashish

I love the way Ashish brings the luxury of sequins back down to earth..to daywear: Holy Crap/holey knits, amazing cobweb tights, safety pinned denim, punk vibes, Halloween, farmer's wife tweeds and twinsets, woolen fringing, 1990's teenager.

(Love the skeleton top too much!)

Don't be shocked.....

Julian McDonald

Seriously, if you'd have said his name to me yesterday I would've thought middle aged tart at the TV Soap Awards. BUT...a little bit McQueen, amazing outwear, biker jackets peeping from chunky knits, fur ruffs, decadent lace, moody elegance. Shocker!

Mario Schwab

An super polished new take on heritage themes. Brogue style leather details, pearl trims, leather, satin, structure, gas flame colour pops, bust emphatic details, buckles, industrial additions, embellishment.

Meadham Kirchhoff

I'm used to seeing them work basics beautifully but loved this. Russian Doll, European widows, religion, childhood, dereliction, layering, 1970's Swedish embroidery, rough texture. P.S Loved the stage design with the tangled mass of discarded items (top row).

And let's not forget the boys...

MAN Felipe Rojas LLanos

This collection really caught my eye, simple and really slick. Pyjama cuts, worn in jersey, tree bark shine, nipped in cropped ankles, sloped shoulders, undone feel.

The Pyjama suit is so relaxed and fresh, perfectly kooky with specs, bare ankles, Black loafers, a white shirt and black bow tie for an undone formal look.

See ya in September LFW.

Monday of LWF

Right back to the big boys.

Burberry Prorsum

Wasn't a huge wow for me, I usually LOVE Burberry Prorsum...but: Amazing winter Clementine shades, most natural yet polished farmy textures, militarian fastenings, nipped in waists, tweeds, more kitch super fake animal prints, cheeky cut outs, crisp black and white against strong autumnal shades.

 Christopher Kane

He's just amazing, he always produces something beautiful and innovative: Hello crochet again (serious bullying my Granny into joining a knitting circle), super space aged lines, neon flashes, super deep necklines, laminated texture, sheer peep panels, clashing textures, old vs new. 

Erdem

Such a recognisable style now..plus Sam Cam can be seen right on the front row: Amazing use of colour with black, super complexed prints and textures, signature pattern clashes, floaty vs structured, demure, polished and prim...fresh and moody, grown up tie dye. 

 Holly Fulton

Holly is really on my radar at the moment..the New York skyline reminded me of her designs and i'm currently researching the referencing of Architecture in Fashion: ...the architecture and city skylines are still present, art deco, flapper girls, fur trims, fresh colours, amazing lip print, structured fabric...love the model carrying her shoes (a styling tip to note.)

x

24 just ain't enough

There are not enough hours in the day at the moment...i'm discovering too much to share and document on my blog.

So..i'm making a list of the designers i've noticed while browsing the LWF shows on Vogue.com each day, designer who I haven't noted before but I want to learn more about now.

Check out their shows..and I hope I can revisit them in more detail when I don't have 2 presentations looming.

Louise Amstrup

Belle Sauvage

Lako Bukia

Bryce Aime

Four really dark and mysterious designers..check out their shows!