much too much

Raf Simons for Dior

I don’t know about you, but I’m excited.  Excited that it’s nearly summer, excited that in five weeks my first year at university will be over, but more excited about the house of Dior’s announcement.

If you hadn’t heard, Raf Simons, the genius behind Jil Sander will fill John Galliano’s boots at the French fashion house.  It’s been rumoured for months, the fash-pack have sketched around the subject, dreaming up minimalist scenarios left, right and centre, but this week it was finally made truth.  From the rapturous applause that Simons have received from what appears to be the entire industry, there is no doubt that upcoming Dior shows will be enormously highly anticipated, with every editor clamouring to get hold of a front row seat.

We may or may not be surprised to learn that the Belgian genius didn’t study fashion; no, he went for industrial design.  This shows, for sure in every collection he’s produced.  Clean lines are the name of his game, he works with asymmetry and that paired down economic feeling to achieve the look that he is known and loved for.  If you love Cos, you’ll love Raf Simons, in every aspect.  He’s all about feeling a little bit architectural, and we can’t help but lap it up.

The Spring 2011 Jil Sander collection was packed full of fluorescent colours; anywhere else and we might have gasped in shock and shaken our heads, but Simons delivered it with such elegance and simplicity that we could not help but be won over.  This effortlessly chic collection made anything else presented that season look just a little too much, and consequently caused an explosion over the high street.  And that’s exactly how it should be done, designer to high street conversion in one fail swoop.  I would not expect anything less from Simons.

Simons makes his Dior debut in July at the ever anticipated Paris couture week.  He told the New York Times that he aims for a ‘very modern Dior’, finding the ‘period between 1947 and 1957 extremely attractive’, a period of ‘a lot of modernity’, so something quite spectacular is clearly on the cards.  This all bodes well for our favourite Belgian, and his new customer base in Paris.  Watch this space for what comes next for Raf Simons.

image via graziadaily.co.uk

Written for CUB magazine

Disposable Society

Admittedly this blog isn’t strictly a fashion blog, but I am mostly a fashion and beauty writer so doing this piece was a little bit different for me.  Fun, too.  And interesting.  All good things.  So anyway, here it is, my piece on the Disposable Society that we live in.  It was written for something really really really important, but my blog is quite important too so here goes…

We are in the wake of a tsunami, one that comprises non-recyclable packets, Dominos boxes and the fast fashion that lines the high streets of our towns and cities.  Whilst everything appears affordable and vouchers can be sought to further cheapen the load, we live in a society where everything is replaceable.  Significantly less people can sew, socks are replaced instead of darned; televisions are cheaper to buy new instead of repair.  Convenience is the highest point of desire.  The younger generation are stuffing themselves with processed food, the kind of food that can be ordered straight to their beds, hassle-free and mess free.  Fast fashion exemplifies the immediacy that everything must have; weekly outfits are sought from the lower end high street instead of keeping that one dress for special occasions.  Every night is a party without an occasion.  Special occasions are reborn with two for one’s, trebles for singles and supermarket offers making it easier for the younger generation to live hedonistically, with no care for their health, environment or their society.  Young people are being unknowingly manipulated by the multi-nationals into a culture where products are so convenient, so quick, so fast and so immediate that they have no concept of their true value or worth.  The riots of last summer showed the general public the extent of the young generation’s lax attitude towards both their surroundings and society.

As companies constantly update and revolutionise technology, it is no wonder that our society has become reliant on the newest, freshest pieces as they turn every corner.  We have become accustomed to replacing everything long before the expiration date.  Obsolescence has developed to become a culture in itself; the replace-ability of objects has powered its own train.  Where video games in years gone by could be played over and over, now those such as Grand Theft Auto have a beginning, middle and end, fuelling consumers to buy continual installments.  The twentieth century has bred this phenomenon, with products being unashamedly manufactured with some kind of conscious style obsolescence.

This surely cannot be healthy.  A generation brought up surrounded by convenience has bred a lack of work ethic, a lackadaisical financial attitude and the need for immediate results. 

How can we save ourselves?  Can we shout from the rooftops and inject chicken with awareness instead of water and hormones, can we infiltrate the minds of the young through media and social networking to appreciate life for what it is and discover how to make their own bread, darn their own socks and knit their own jumpers once more.  Can we rediscover how to enjoy each other and the true essence of life here on earth – it is short, valuable and amazing and not about stuff.

Charlotte Free for Forever 21

While travelling in both America and Europe last year I did some very successful shopping in Forever21!  It’s super cute, not painful on the purse and really inclusive of loads of different styles, all in all a great place to shop!  The nearest store to where I live in London is the one at Westfield in Stratford- I think it’s a shame how spread out it is in there but it’s a great experience and I always find what I’m looking for in there!  I know Rachel is a fan, so we’re going to have to fix up a time to get stuck in together!

Regardless of the Westfield store, Forever 21 have released their new campaign piece this week with the candy-cute Charlotte Free taking centre stage.  She’s pretty quirky and I love the simplicity of this campaign.  For a store that contains so many colourful pieces, usually resembling a rainbow, this is really neatly paired down and chilled out.  

So here we are, Charlotte Free for Forever 21, rocking some ace prints, collars and textures!

Wolf and Badger

We should all have heard of Wolf and Badger.  The unique lifestyle brand showcases the best fashion and design talent from around the UK and abroad, with the luxury to browse in store.  Supporting exciting and independent talent, Wolf and Badger are definitely one to watch for developing designers and brands.

April sees the launch of a new Wolf and Badger store, with the flagship set to open on Mayfair’s Dover Street.  London Fashion Week NEWGEN winners and other expanding British designers are to sell their wares in this uniquely designed concept store.

Quirky home wares, original accessories and a selection of fragrances enhance the exciting shopping concept.  With an ethos to find the next big name in fashion, Wolf and Badger are around to share with us the early stages of exciting brand development.  Featuring brands including Zoe Jordan, Bora Asku, Tim Soar and J JS Lee for women, with jewellery from Maria Francesca Pepe, we can only expect the positive promotion of more young and fresh British design.

If you can’t contain yourself before the opening of the flagship, take a trip to The Lab in Notting Hill and indulge in some Wolf and Badger magic.  With an exclusive selection of pieces now available online at the newly updated and expandedwww.wolfandbadger.com, treat yourself to something special from the best of young British design.  With free delivery, who can resist?

House of Billiam / / Dover Street Market

16th March brings the launch of a new brand to Dover Street Market.  Coinciding with the store opening of Dover Street Market in Japan, the London establishment is adding House of Billiam to its legendary books.  The exclusive eight-piece varsity jacket collection will be sold in both London and Tokyo stores.

Started in 2009 by Thomas Bird, House of Billiam has worked to develop its unique approach to street clothing, having collaborated with the famous British store Liberty and United Arrows, amongst others.  With over one hundred thousand variations of garments available online, House of Billiam are working to bring back a real individualism to streetwear.

Each piece of this collaboration with Dover Street Market is manufactured and developed in Hackney, where the up and coming fashion house is based.  Every jacket is fully reversible, using a range of British techniques and fabrics, from merino wool to drill cotton military prints.  All fabrics and individually sourced from around the UK to promote a home land image, each piece being carefully selected to reflect the aesthetic of House of Billiam.

For more information visit: http://www.houseofbilliam.com

Written for IDOL magazine / / image via www.houseofbilliam.com

Clements Ribeiro AW12

Held in the extravagant Goldsmiths Hall, anyone joining the seated or standing at the Clements Ribeiro show was surely going to be in for a treat.  For a venue lined with gilded mirrors and boasting an ornate gold ceiling, the collections shown inside it needed to have a very special something.

Thankfully, Ribeiro’s collection can be summed up in a few words- sophisticated, feminine and modern.  The show opened with vibrant folkish prints over the return of the leather midi skirt; the midi stayed with us throughout the collection in a selection of fabrics and textures.  The collection was packed full of bohemian Slavic influences, but with a modern and fashion forward attitude.  Super bright fuchsia pinks, bright mint  punctuated the folk themed patterns, in the strong and solid quantities once adored by followers of the label.

In a clear movement from old style Clements Ribeiro, perhaps you could leave the collection feeling a little disappointed in the transition.  Despite this, the ‘un-corporate’ aesthetic that Clements has stated to be the new direction is clearly a work in progress, and we must expect great things to continue to emerge from this fashion house.

Written for IDOL magazine / / images via style.com

Richard Nicoll AW12

Another review that’s a little bit late, but I really love this collection so I think that makes it all better!

Perhaps you could be forgiven for thinking that Richard Nicoll’s collection is somewhat functional.  Clean lines and suitably midi-length dresses added together to create a very accessible, wearable collection that oozes grown-up chic.  Where other winter collections might have maximised on gothic themes, Nicoll’s colour palette gave us a lovely new look, including a stunning burnt orange, muted blues and popping yellow in amongst the mix of soft grey and white.

The silhouettes in the collection were unfussy, uncomplicated and entirely straight edged.  We might have seen other architecturally inspired pieces from other designers this season, and over extravagant colours but Nicoll isn’t buying into any of that.  Simple shifts highlighted this very feature of the collection, allowing the eye to settle gently from look to look, with no complaints.

With Nicoll himself proclaiming that this season is his favourite collection, we can see why.  The collection is functionally simple, a little minimalist but ultimately chic enough to make its mark quite firmly for winter.  There’s little doubt that the high street will catch onto Nicoll’s simple aesthetic, and we can’t wait to see it.

Written for IDOL magazine / / images via style.com

A tribute to Raf Simons

Autumn Winter 2012 saw Raf Simons’ final collection for Jil Sander, as the founding lady herself prepares to return to the fashion house.  I’ve picked out my favourite looks of Simons’ collections for Jil Sander over his seven reigning years.

AW07

AW07

AW12

AW12

AW12

AW12

SS06

SS06

SS08

SS09

SS12

SS11

SS11

SS11

SS11

Heat + Jergens!