As you may have seen in my Krazy for Kate post, i am in love with the new arrivals in the Kate Spade Spring/Summer collection and cannot get enough of the quality and quirkiness offered by this amazing brand (just wish it was a tad cheaper). Whilst i have many items on my wishlist, one SS15 item has made it into my wardrobe.....
During my birthday trip to London, i had to visit the Covent Garden store (only 2 mins from our hotel, it would have been rude not too!) and fell in love with the Cedar Street Hayden bag. I was only supposed to be looking but once i spotted this out of the corner of my eye i knew i couldn't leave without it (i did walk away three times but always circled back to her) and as it was my birthday i figured "Happy Birthday to me". Although hubby was not too impressed and had the sales assistant in hysterics as we did the married couple squabble at the till.
I was immediately drawn in by the mix of bold and pastel colours available, including a gorgeous mint green shade. However it was the two tone "pebble/warm putty" that made it to the till, with its nice neutral colour i knew it would perfectly compliment my summer wardrobe, however incredible the other colours they were not as practical and for the price of the bag i needed practical. I love my black Beau but hate carrying a dark bag when the sun is shining - it just doesn't look as nice with a pretty sundress as something a little lighter. If you missed it, check out my Beau bag here...
I was immediately drawn in by the mix of bold and pastel colours available, including a gorgeous mint green shade. However it was the two tone "pebble/warm putty" that made it to the till, with its nice neutral colour i knew it would perfectly compliment my summer wardrobe, however incredible the other colours they were not as practical and for the price of the bag i needed practical. I love my black Beau but hate carrying a dark bag when the sun is shining - it just doesn't look as nice with a pretty sundress as something a little lighter. If you missed it, check out my Beau bag here...
With a large main section and multiple inner pockets, this is great for all the everyday tut i carry around with me plus with both top handles and a shoulder strap, offers flexible carrying options. Aside from the gorgeous color i love the finishing on this bag with subtle gold detailing, that really shows the quality of the brand and the signature spot used in the lining is a nice touch.
For more information/colours and to buy this beauty - check out katespade.com
Please leave a comment below if you would you like to see a what's in my bag post or video.
Happy Hayden
As you may have seen in my Krazy for Kate post, i am in love with the new arrivals in the Kate Spade Spring/Summer collection and cannot get enough of the quality and quirkiness offered by this amazing brand (just wish it was a tad cheaper). Whilst i have many items on my wishlist, one SS15 item has made it into my wardrobe.....
During my birthday trip to London, i had to visit the Covent Garden store (only 2 mins from our hotel, it would have been rude not too!) and fell in love with the Cedar Street Hayden bag. I was only supposed to be looking but once i spotted this out of the corner of my eye i knew i couldn't leave without it (i did walk away three times but always circled back to her) and as it was my birthday i figured "Happy Birthday to me". Although hubby was not too impressed and had the sales assistant in hysterics as we did the married couple squabble at the till.
I was immediately drawn in by the mix of bold and pastel colours available, including a gorgeous mint green shade. However it was the two tone "pebble/warm putty" that made it to the till, with its nice neutral colour i knew it would perfectly compliment my summer wardrobe, however incredible the other colours they were not as practical and for the price of the bag i needed practical. I love my black Beau but hate carrying a dark bag when the sun is shining - it just doesn't look as nice with a pretty sundress as something a little lighter. If you missed it, check out my Beau bag here...
I was immediately drawn in by the mix of bold and pastel colours available, including a gorgeous mint green shade. However it was the two tone "pebble/warm putty" that made it to the till, with its nice neutral colour i knew it would perfectly compliment my summer wardrobe, however incredible the other colours they were not as practical and for the price of the bag i needed practical. I love my black Beau but hate carrying a dark bag when the sun is shining - it just doesn't look as nice with a pretty sundress as something a little lighter. If you missed it, check out my Beau bag here...
With a large main section and multiple inner pockets, this is great for all the everyday tut i carry around with me plus with both top handles and a shoulder strap, offers flexible carrying options. Aside from the gorgeous color i love the finishing on this bag with subtle gold detailing, that really shows the quality of the brand and the signature spot used in the lining is a nice touch.
For more information/colours and to buy this beauty - check out katespade.com
Please leave a comment below if you would you like to see a what's in my bag post or video.
This week's How to Wear is in honour of my summer holiday...
While the Little Black Dress (LBD) rules as the key item in any woman's dress collection, once the summer arrives most fashionista's trade it in for the Little White Dress (LWD).
Lightweight and perfect for the warmer weather, a LWD in lace, cheesecloth or cotton is a great and stylish way to stay cool. Some prefer a simple clean dress others a touch of delicate lace detailing or some boho embroidery - whichever you love teamed with sandals, sunnies and a oversized tote, your all set for the sun. The highstreet in particular have really embraced this piece and there are so many versions available, whatever your budget or preference - sleeves or sleeveless, short or midi, loose or fitted - which would you choose?
Up until last year I was a little dubious about donning a LWD, mainly because of its pale colour and my nack of dropping things, something you obviously don't want to do in a white dress. That was until I found a gorgeous double layer dress with lace detailing from Dorothy Perkins, this dress made me feel brave and looks amazing with tanned pins (and touch wood so far no spillages). A staple piece in my summer wardrobe and appropriate for the office when layered with my favourite longline floral blazer.
* All images from my Pinterest boards
How to Wear: The LWD
This week's How to Wear is in honour of my summer holiday...
While the Little Black Dress (LBD) rules as the key item in any woman's dress collection, once the summer arrives most fashionista's trade it in for the Little White Dress (LWD).
Lightweight and perfect for the warmer weather, a LWD in lace, cheesecloth or cotton is a great and stylish way to stay cool. Some prefer a simple clean dress others a touch of delicate lace detailing or some boho embroidery - whichever you love teamed with sandals, sunnies and a oversized tote, your all set for the sun. The highstreet in particular have really embraced this piece and there are so many versions available, whatever your budget or preference - sleeves or sleeveless, short or midi, loose or fitted - which would you choose?
Up until last year I was a little dubious about donning a LWD, mainly because of its pale colour and my nack of dropping things, something you obviously don't want to do in a white dress. That was until I found a gorgeous double layer dress with lace detailing from Dorothy Perkins, this dress made me feel brave and looks amazing with tanned pins (and touch wood so far no spillages). A staple piece in my summer wardrobe and appropriate for the office when layered with my favourite longline floral blazer.
* All images from my Pinterest boards
Welcome to my new series "How to Wear" - ideas and inspiration on how to incorporate items/colours/prints into your wardrobe. First up stripes..
Stripes are a girl's best friend - vertical or horizontal, teamed with solid colours or a fabulous print you can add to make a simple outfit more chic, especially if mixed with another print like a floral. Whichever form, size or colour - there is a stripe out there for everyone.
Stripes in top form in my opinion are easiest to wear, especially when teamed with your favourite trousers or a nice bold skirt, i think its the simplicity and shaping of a top that make it the perfect canvas for a stripe. Also a classic t-shirt cut right and teamed with jeans is the perfect off duty look for any woman. A bold skirt or dress on the other hand is defiantly a statement way to incorporate stripes, but a good combination for the office.
I used to stay away from stripes, as i wasn't sure if as a bigger girl that they suited me - now i know how to wear for my body shape i have embraced them and love to mix in with my weekly outfits: A skinny horizontal stripe in a soft t-shirt with jeans or slouchy PJ trousers or a vertical stripe in a long line shirt with skinny jeans. A jersey pencil skirt teamed with a simple solid tee and statement necklace (similar to the first picture above) or my favourite is a mix print (horizontal stripe with floral layered on top) flippy hem dress with ankle boots - quite a variety of outfits for a girl who didn't think stripes were her friend!
Its all about how to style them.
Its all about how to style them.
* All images from my Pinterest boards
How to Wear: Stripes
Welcome to my new series "How to Wear" - ideas and inspiration on how to incorporate items/colours/prints into your wardrobe. First up stripes..
Stripes are a girl's best friend - vertical or horizontal, teamed with solid colours or a fabulous print you can add to make a simple outfit more chic, especially if mixed with another print like a floral. Whichever form, size or colour - there is a stripe out there for everyone.
Stripes in top form in my opinion are easiest to wear, especially when teamed with your favourite trousers or a nice bold skirt, i think its the simplicity and shaping of a top that make it the perfect canvas for a stripe. Also a classic t-shirt cut right and teamed with jeans is the perfect off duty look for any woman. A bold skirt or dress on the other hand is defiantly a statement way to incorporate stripes, but a good combination for the office.
I used to stay away from stripes, as i wasn't sure if as a bigger girl that they suited me - now i know how to wear for my body shape i have embraced them and love to mix in with my weekly outfits: A skinny horizontal stripe in a soft t-shirt with jeans or slouchy PJ trousers or a vertical stripe in a long line shirt with skinny jeans. A jersey pencil skirt teamed with a simple solid tee and statement necklace (similar to the first picture above) or my favourite is a mix print (horizontal stripe with floral layered on top) flippy hem dress with ankle boots - quite a variety of outfits for a girl who didn't think stripes were her friend!
Its all about how to style them.
Its all about how to style them.
* All images from my Pinterest boards
Kate Spade over recent season's has become a favourite brand - beautiful but a little too pricey. The main thing that i love about the brand is it's quirkiness - i do like my accessories in particular to be a little different and add an individual touch to my outfit. I also really love the prints, they always seem to be able to make even a simple floral seem different and special.
My only frustration with the brand is store locations (London and a discount store in Bicester) and the prices - not an everyday brand, more of a special occasion purchase and even then one that is very thought through - with most bags retailing around the £200-400 price point, and even most accessories at more than £100 but that's the price you pay for quality and the added beauty of each piece (but still more affordable than super-brands such as Mulberry).
After a recent trip to the Covent Garden store over my birthday weekend, where i gave in and splurged on something as a treat to myself (check out my Instagram to see what i bought), i thought i would venture online and see what other new delights were available and was met by a colourful wave of quirky from bright flamingo's to origami elephants!
Here are the products that caught my eye and have made my accessories wish list:
1. Lily Avenue Carrigan Tote Bag 2. Le Pavillion Clear Resin iPhone 6 Case 3. Flamingo Applique Maise Bag 4. Madison Cloverdale Drive Dot Azzi Clutch 5. Splash out Sunglasses Clutch 6. Elephant Cross-body Bag 7. Fairmont iPad mini case 8. Elephant Coin Purse
The two items on this wish list i would most love to have, would be the Splash out Sunglasses clutch bag and the iconic gold Kate Spade spot phone case - but sadly i don't have a spare £228 floating around for the amazing bag or an iPhone so the gorgeous case wouldn't fit!!(think i may need to get in touch and ask/plead with them to make a Samsung version, then i would defiantly buy one). What new SS15 items would make your wishlist?
All products available from katespade.couk
Krazy for Kate
Kate Spade over recent season's has become a favourite brand - beautiful but a little too pricey. The main thing that i love about the brand is it's quirkiness - i do like my accessories in particular to be a little different and add an individual touch to my outfit. I also really love the prints, they always seem to be able to make even a simple floral seem different and special.
My only frustration with the brand is store locations (London and a discount store in Bicester) and the prices - not an everyday brand, more of a special occasion purchase and even then one that is very thought through - with most bags retailing around the £200-400 price point, and even most accessories at more than £100 but that's the price you pay for quality and the added beauty of each piece (but still more affordable than super-brands such as Mulberry).
After a recent trip to the Covent Garden store over my birthday weekend, where i gave in and splurged on something as a treat to myself (check out my Instagram to see what i bought), i thought i would venture online and see what other new delights were available and was met by a colourful wave of quirky from bright flamingo's to origami elephants!
Here are the products that caught my eye and have made my accessories wish list:
1. Lily Avenue Carrigan Tote Bag 2. Le Pavillion Clear Resin iPhone 6 Case 3. Flamingo Applique Maise Bag 4. Madison Cloverdale Drive Dot Azzi Clutch 5. Splash out Sunglasses Clutch 6. Elephant Cross-body Bag 7. Fairmont iPad mini case 8. Elephant Coin Purse
The two items on this wish list i would most love to have, would be the Splash out Sunglasses clutch bag and the iconic gold Kate Spade spot phone case - but sadly i don't have a spare £228 floating around for the amazing bag or an iPhone so the gorgeous case wouldn't fit!!(think i may need to get in touch and ask/plead with them to make a Samsung version, then i would defiantly buy one). What new SS15 items would make your wishlist?
All products available from katespade.couk
I have always been a magpie when it comes to shoes, as a teenager and in to my early 20's I was always about quantity over quality when it came to my footwear, at one point I think I could have opened my own shoe store I had that many pairs. I remember my absolute favourite at aged 16, were a bright pink pair, of cord patchwork stiletto boots from good old New Look (such a hideous sounding pair now but back then I thought I was so cool!)
I think this shoe philosophy all stemed from my love of beautiful shoes intertwined with struggling with my weight (shoes always fit no matter your size) and my student budget, so for many years I bought lots of pairs of cheap and cheerful shoes. It wasn't until the day I passed my driving test and decided to treat myself to a stunning pair of slouchy leather boots from Barratts, as a well done to myself gift and discovered spending a little more is better especially on footwear - these beautiful boots are still going strong after 7 years although they are now looking very vintage and sadly have sprung a leak (but can I find a replacement pair?? No!) Since that day where possible I will always try and choose styles that are timeless and will look fabulous for many seasons, even if I have to spend a little more, but I do still indulge in some of the more fast fashion styles when I feel my inner magpie take over.
Most of my favourite shoes at the moment are actually from Topshop - their ballet flats fit like a glove and are the best I have found without spending over £50, so much so I own several pairs in varying colours/shapes/textures, plus I also find their heels really comfortable, and although this is a highstreet brand and not too expensive they are leather and well made, so it is a happy balance.
So I thought I would share my favourite summer footwear - the styles that I will be living in over the warmer summer months, something for all occasions:
HEELS
All three of these styles are just the right height for everyday wear, the block sandal in particular has become a favourite within my workwear wardrobe. I used to always look for delicate sandals but could never last a whole day without blisters - block heels are every fashionistas savior, style with comfort. The boots are a staple in my winter outfits but they are a great pair for the summer too as they are very neutral. My mission this year is to wear my summer heels more, I spent a lot of time in flats last year but with my 5"3 frame heels make everything better!
FLATS
When it come to flats i tend to invest in the classic leather styles, like these gorgeous Aldo sandals that go with everything, but save my pennies on styles, like these stunning on trend patent mint slingbacks (£18 absolute bargain). I also tend to stick to classic colours such as tan / nude, and let my summer clothing carry the season's colour but it is nice to inject a little bit of fun in certain pieces.
What is your summer shoe philosophy? Do you have styles you always turn to when the sun comes out?
- ♥ -
With my new house nearly complete I am now focused on the storage of my vast footwear collection - I am a lover of displaying my favourites whilst logically stowing away the remainder. Think I may try the suggestion of show boxes with photos stuck on the end to help!
Do you have any great suggestions for footwear storage?
Soles of Summer
I have always been a magpie when it comes to shoes, as a teenager and in to my early 20's I was always about quantity over quality when it came to my footwear, at one point I think I could have opened my own shoe store I had that many pairs. I remember my absolute favourite at aged 16, were a bright pink pair, of cord patchwork stiletto boots from good old New Look (such a hideous sounding pair now but back then I thought I was so cool!)
I think this shoe philosophy all stemed from my love of beautiful shoes intertwined with struggling with my weight (shoes always fit no matter your size) and my student budget, so for many years I bought lots of pairs of cheap and cheerful shoes. It wasn't until the day I passed my driving test and decided to treat myself to a stunning pair of slouchy leather boots from Barratts, as a well done to myself gift and discovered spending a little more is better especially on footwear - these beautiful boots are still going strong after 7 years although they are now looking very vintage and sadly have sprung a leak (but can I find a replacement pair?? No!) Since that day where possible I will always try and choose styles that are timeless and will look fabulous for many seasons, even if I have to spend a little more, but I do still indulge in some of the more fast fashion styles when I feel my inner magpie take over.
Most of my favourite shoes at the moment are actually from Topshop - their ballet flats fit like a glove and are the best I have found without spending over £50, so much so I own several pairs in varying colours/shapes/textures, plus I also find their heels really comfortable, and although this is a highstreet brand and not too expensive they are leather and well made, so it is a happy balance.
So I thought I would share my favourite summer footwear - the styles that I will be living in over the warmer summer months, something for all occasions:
HEELS
All three of these styles are just the right height for everyday wear, the block sandal in particular has become a favourite within my workwear wardrobe. I used to always look for delicate sandals but could never last a whole day without blisters - block heels are every fashionistas savior, style with comfort. The boots are a staple in my winter outfits but they are a great pair for the summer too as they are very neutral. My mission this year is to wear my summer heels more, I spent a lot of time in flats last year but with my 5"3 frame heels make everything better!
FLATS
When it come to flats i tend to invest in the classic leather styles, like these gorgeous Aldo sandals that go with everything, but save my pennies on styles, like these stunning on trend patent mint slingbacks (£18 absolute bargain). I also tend to stick to classic colours such as tan / nude, and let my summer clothing carry the season's colour but it is nice to inject a little bit of fun in certain pieces.
What is your summer shoe philosophy? Do you have styles you always turn to when the sun comes out?
- ♥ -
With my new house nearly complete I am now focused on the storage of my vast footwear collection - I am a lover of displaying my favourites whilst logically stowing away the remainder. Think I may try the suggestion of show boxes with photos stuck on the end to help!
Do you have any great suggestions for footwear storage?
"Life is one of those precious fleeting gifts, and everything can
change in a heartbeat."
Combined My March & April as the last couple of months have not been that photo worthy.
* Finally spring has sprung! Although I wish the weather had got the memo, I seriously can't dress for this daily changing weather - warm one minute then chilli and raining the next. * My latest hair obsession, beautiful braids - see more in my post here. * Road trip in the sunshine, working a side braid and my new leopard Primark sunglasses, simple but chic armed with an iced vanilla latte. * Social media is a great source for cute little quotes and these two are my favourites this month - minions are cute and this is so true, especially for me and hubby. The little sausage dogs was a pic I shared with my best friend before we went wedding dress shopping and her response was "this is the honesty I need", i know her too well. * More candles for my ever growing collection from Primark, these two tone ones are so cute and smell even better - pink/gold is red berry and the blue/ silver is coconut & vanilla. Great scents and such good value at £3. * A little treat before my trip to London. Wanted a small hands free bag but something that is still cute, this one is a leather/suede mix and the snakeskin panel is very on trend - £28 from good old ASOS. * A personal style post - what I feel has influenced by style and the mix of celebrities I look to for inspiration. To see who else i am inspired by read the post here.
* My favourite Pinterest image of the month, cute casual and very springlike. * Finally gave in and decided to see what all the fuss is about with Real Techniques brushes. Wasn't going to rush out and buy the whole range but decided to start with the stippling brush, to use with my summer makeup. Apart from the price which did leave me feeling a little sick (£11 is a lot for 1 brush), I have been very surprised and pleased at how good a brush it is. Soft and gives amazing coverage, may have to investigate the range further. * My one and only London Primark purchase (was very impressed with my restraint) - this light has been on my wish list for months so was so happy to find one in the Tottenham Court Road store. A gorgeous piece for my bedroom, that is surprisingly bright/powerful for a battery operated light. * So I turned 29 this month and my present from Hubby was a trip to London for a couple of days - some shopping, museum visits, lots of food and a catch up dinner with one of my best friends. * My birthday present to myself a new Kate Spade handbag. Was only supposed to be looking but once I saw this bag I fell in love and had to have, much to hubby's annoyance! Will do a post later in the month to show you this luscious leather lovely in more detail. * The best part of my birthday trip - the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty exhibition at the V&A. Knew this was going to be beautiful but I was blown away by just how amazing it was, a true visionary and a huge loss to the fashion world - post to follow. * Belated Birthday goodies - new summer sandals from Topshop and a gorgeous bright & bold statement necklace from Accessorize. * The usual end to a simple Primark visit, randomness! Went in for two vest tops and came out with hair bobbles, lunch boxes, an inflatable bath pillow and the best pair of hen sunglasses for my besties wedding, so random but so her.
Roll on May!
* A note about my choice of quote for this post, appropriate as i wanted to share that my husband and i sadly suffered an early miscarriage in April, something that has sadden us both deeply and made us appreciate life and all we have (no one talks about it but it is important to).
My March & April
"Life is one of those precious fleeting gifts, and everything can
change in a heartbeat."
Combined My March & April as the last couple of months have not been that photo worthy.
* Finally spring has sprung! Although I wish the weather had got the memo, I seriously can't dress for this daily changing weather - warm one minute then chilli and raining the next. * My latest hair obsession, beautiful braids - see more in my post here. * Road trip in the sunshine, working a side braid and my new leopard Primark sunglasses, simple but chic armed with an iced vanilla latte. * Social media is a great source for cute little quotes and these two are my favourites this month - minions are cute and this is so true, especially for me and hubby. The little sausage dogs was a pic I shared with my best friend before we went wedding dress shopping and her response was "this is the honesty I need", i know her too well. * More candles for my ever growing collection from Primark, these two tone ones are so cute and smell even better - pink/gold is red berry and the blue/ silver is coconut & vanilla. Great scents and such good value at £3. * A little treat before my trip to London. Wanted a small hands free bag but something that is still cute, this one is a leather/suede mix and the snakeskin panel is very on trend - £28 from good old ASOS. * A personal style post - what I feel has influenced by style and the mix of celebrities I look to for inspiration. To see who else i am inspired by read the post here.
* My favourite Pinterest image of the month, cute casual and very springlike. * Finally gave in and decided to see what all the fuss is about with Real Techniques brushes. Wasn't going to rush out and buy the whole range but decided to start with the stippling brush, to use with my summer makeup. Apart from the price which did leave me feeling a little sick (£11 is a lot for 1 brush), I have been very surprised and pleased at how good a brush it is. Soft and gives amazing coverage, may have to investigate the range further. * My one and only London Primark purchase (was very impressed with my restraint) - this light has been on my wish list for months so was so happy to find one in the Tottenham Court Road store. A gorgeous piece for my bedroom, that is surprisingly bright/powerful for a battery operated light. * So I turned 29 this month and my present from Hubby was a trip to London for a couple of days - some shopping, museum visits, lots of food and a catch up dinner with one of my best friends. * My birthday present to myself a new Kate Spade handbag. Was only supposed to be looking but once I saw this bag I fell in love and had to have, much to hubby's annoyance! Will do a post later in the month to show you this luscious leather lovely in more detail. * The best part of my birthday trip - the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty exhibition at the V&A. Knew this was going to be beautiful but I was blown away by just how amazing it was, a true visionary and a huge loss to the fashion world - post to follow. * Belated Birthday goodies - new summer sandals from Topshop and a gorgeous bright & bold statement necklace from Accessorize. * The usual end to a simple Primark visit, randomness! Went in for two vest tops and came out with hair bobbles, lunch boxes, an inflatable bath pillow and the best pair of hen sunglasses for my besties wedding, so random but so her.
Roll on May!
* A note about my choice of quote for this post, appropriate as i wanted to share that my husband and i sadly suffered an early miscarriage in April, something that has sadden us both deeply and made us appreciate life and all we have (no one talks about it but it is important to).
“I find beauty in the grotesque, like most artists. I have to force people to look at things.”
Alexander McQueen
"The first and largest retrospective of the late designer's work to be presented in Europe, Alexander McQueen: Savage beauty showcases McQueen's visionary body of work. Spanning his 1992 MA graduate collection to his unfinished AW 2010 collection, McQueen's designs are presented with the dramatic staging and sense of spectacle synonymous with his runway show."
Spread out over multiple rooms, (so much to see!) with each showcasing an era or collection of his work, all with a distinct theme - from Gothic romance to futuristic and oriental to nature, each room really gave a sense of what the collection was about and what it was inspired by. I recognised some pieces immediately from the catwalk or from the celebrity who wore it - the tartan dress worn by Sarah Jessica Parker to the 2006 Met ball, was beautiful although actually very simple compared to a lot of the exhibit. The weirdest room for me was created around the Eshu Autumn/Winter 2000 collection and was very Game of Thrones with a lot of wool and horse hair and all the outfits finished off with a bizarre latex headpiece with a horn.
Due to no photography allowed in the exhibition (even if I had wanted to try and take a cheeky few it was far too busy to get any decent shots) so all the shots used in this post have been taken from Google.co.uk. Just a few to set the scene of the exhibition but I do recommend going to see it in person, the photos do not do it justice.
 |
| The girl who lived in the tree Autumn/Winter 2008 |
.jpg) |
| The Oriental room |
 |
| The best room at the exhibit |
My favourite room of the exhibition was the multi media room, a collection of outfits, accessories and video clips. A room so full it was almost overwhelming but so inspirational and mind blowing. I spent a long time sat on the seat in the middle if the room taking it all in. With video clips depicting his experimental catwalk moments, surrounded by a treasure chest of fetishistic apparel, accessories and shoes, from the iconic Armadillo heels to bejeweled bodices and silver thorn headpieces, more like pieces of art than fashion -even more impressive in person than in show clips.
 |
| The widows of Cullodeon Autumn/Winter 2006 |
 |
| The mirrored cube |
 |
| Plato's Atlantis Spring/Summer 2010 |
 |
| My favourite collection |
Plato's Atlantis has always been my favourite collection and i was so pleased to see it used in this retrospective. I remember seeing the intricate bug like prints used and the amazing "armadillo" shoes and thinking WOW. I had heard of McQueen before but I didn't consider him a favourite designer if mine until I saw this collection in the catwalk reviews.
The futuristic mannequins added a bizarre final touch to the presentation of these intricate outfits. This was also the last room of the exhibit and for me ended the whole visit on a high.
After what seemed like hours i stumbled into the gift shop and was blown away by the merchandise available to purchase - from the exhibition book (which i did purchase and lugged round London, not my best idea ever!) to silk scarves featuring iconic McQueen prints. Something for everyone to remember this inspirational designer and his breathtaking work.
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty is at the V&A until 2nd August. Tickets are £16 from the V&A or £17.50 online. Go buy one now!
Magical McQueen - Savage Beauty at the V&A
“I find beauty in the grotesque, like most artists. I have to force people to look at things.”
Alexander McQueen
"The first and largest retrospective of the late designer's work to be presented in Europe, Alexander McQueen: Savage beauty showcases McQueen's visionary body of work. Spanning his 1992 MA graduate collection to his unfinished AW 2010 collection, McQueen's designs are presented with the dramatic staging and sense of spectacle synonymous with his runway show."
Spread out over multiple rooms, (so much to see!) with each showcasing an era or collection of his work, all with a distinct theme - from Gothic romance to futuristic and oriental to nature, each room really gave a sense of what the collection was about and what it was inspired by. I recognised some pieces immediately from the catwalk or from the celebrity who wore it - the tartan dress worn by Sarah Jessica Parker to the 2006 Met ball, was beautiful although actually very simple compared to a lot of the exhibit. The weirdest room for me was created around the Eshu Autumn/Winter 2000 collection and was very Game of Thrones with a lot of wool and horse hair and all the outfits finished off with a bizarre latex headpiece with a horn.
Due to no photography allowed in the exhibition (even if I had wanted to try and take a cheeky few it was far too busy to get any decent shots) so all the shots used in this post have been taken from Google.co.uk. Just a few to set the scene of the exhibition but I do recommend going to see it in person, the photos do not do it justice.
|
| The girl who lived in the tree Autumn/Winter 2008 |
|
| The Oriental room |
|
| The best room at the exhibit |
My favourite room of the exhibition was the multi media room, a collection of outfits, accessories and video clips. A room so full it was almost overwhelming but so inspirational and mind blowing. I spent a long time sat on the seat in the middle if the room taking it all in. With video clips depicting his experimental catwalk moments, surrounded by a treasure chest of fetishistic apparel, accessories and shoes, from the iconic Armadillo heels to bejeweled bodices and silver thorn headpieces, more like pieces of art than fashion -even more impressive in person than in show clips.
|
| The widows of Cullodeon Autumn/Winter 2006 |
|
| The mirrored cube |
|
| Plato's Atlantis Spring/Summer 2010 |
|
| My favourite collection |
Plato's Atlantis has always been my favourite collection and i was so pleased to see it used in this retrospective. I remember seeing the intricate bug like prints used and the amazing "armadillo" shoes and thinking WOW. I had heard of McQueen before but I didn't consider him a favourite designer if mine until I saw this collection in the catwalk reviews.
The futuristic mannequins added a bizarre final touch to the presentation of these intricate outfits. This was also the last room of the exhibit and for me ended the whole visit on a high.
After what seemed like hours i stumbled into the gift shop and was blown away by the merchandise available to purchase - from the exhibition book (which i did purchase and lugged round London, not my best idea ever!) to silk scarves featuring iconic McQueen prints. Something for everyone to remember this inspirational designer and his breathtaking work.
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty is at the V&A until 2nd August. Tickets are £16 from the V&A or £17.50 online. Go buy one now!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)