Valentino - worth the hype or worth a miss?

Let's get this straight, I am a massive lover of Vintage Couture - I don't care who it's by; Balenciaga, Dior, Chanel, Valentino - It's pretty, high fashion, bejewelled and like a magpie, I love it.
So I always venture into Couture fashion week with baited breath, but so far have not been let down. Armani, Dior and Gaultier have all proved their worth and have secured their place in fashion history for one more year.
But Valentino, where do I begin....?



When I was a poor fashion student undertaking a National Diploma with little knowledge of fashion designers, I set myself a task of researching designers and Valentino was the first one I came across. And I instantly fell in love. What he achieved was true couture, it was daring and exciting. The colours, the fabrics and the volume all went up a notch with Valentino.

As you can see - the current creative directors have a lot to live up to in my eyes. And I don't quite think they make it to be honest. This weeks couture show was a little... well, boring. There was no pizazz, it just looked like a ready to wear collection with more expensive fabric being used. It was sumptuous, i'll give them that. There was lace, silk and chiffon. But I can't help thinking that this was not what the great man would have envisaged all those years ago.

Gaultier - wow!

Now, we know the term 'Haute Couture' was coined with Jean Paul Gaultier in mind and I for one didn't think he could get any better. But yesterdays show takes the biscuit.

On paper, french can-can girls and british punk rock do not mix, but, Gaultier has worked his magic in the only way he knows how. Topping the show off in style with a classic bridal piece, modelled in a less than classic way.

Gaultiers new muse was the star of the show, not shocking you might say, all designers do that. Yes they do, but do they let their male muse star in their womenswear couture show? I think not.

But Gaultier gets away with it, he's french, Avant Guarde may aswell be his middle name - so it works, and to be honest would you really know that Andrej Pejic is a man if you hadn't been told beforehand?

Words cannot describe the love/hate relationship I have had with Gaultier over the years (I am not a fan of the old Madonna pointy bra effect and never will be), but the reason I keep coming back is that he just keeps us guessing - and that's exciting, that is what true couture should be.

Ooh La La! Etam back with a bang!

It was the most bemusing addition to the Paris Couture Fashion Week line up. Etam. And if that wasn't shocking enough, they were going to bring us Lingerie.
Now, don't get me wrong, I used to work in my local Etam shop about a year before they disappeared from the High Street and about a year and a half before BHS ruined Tammy Girl, but even I had a double take when I saw the listing.
Etam to me were always a bit middle of the road in the fashion stakes, they were where you went when you needed a new coat for work or an everyday pair of Jeans, maybe have a browse whilst you are there. But Lingerie? I don't think our store even sold it.
When I saw this image today I was delighted. The designers have definatley brought the brand back with a bang. It's feminine, flirty and just that little bit sexy. I for one, can't wait until it hits the shops!
But where? Could they take on the High St. Lingerie giants like La Senza? With a growing Celebrity following (Kate Moss, Beth Ditto and Boy George were spotted at the show) and designs like these, they just might do it.

Oscar Nominations are in!

 James Franco is up for Best Actor for his role in Danny Boyle's 127 Hours

BEST FILM
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are Alright
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Javier Bardem - Biutiful
Jeff Bridges - True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
Colin Firth - The King's Speech
James Franco - 127 Hours
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale - The Fighter
John Hawkes - Winter's Bone
Jeremy Renner - The Town
Mark Ruffalo -  The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Amy Adams - The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech
Melissa Leo - The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit
Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
127 Hours - Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
The Social Network - Aaron Sorkin
Toy Story 3  -  Michael Arndt 
True Grit - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Winter's Bone - Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Another Year - Mike Leigh
The Fighter - Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
Inception  - Christopher Nolan
The Kids Are All Right - Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
The King's Speech - David Seidler
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
Black Swan  - Darren Aronofsky
The Fighter - David O. Russell
The King's Speech - Tom Hooper
The Social Network  - David Fincher
True Grit - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1350388/Oscar-nominations-2011-The-Kings-Speech-leads-field-12-nods-including-Colin-Firth-Best-Actor.html#ixzz1C4smwN2z

John Galliano gets Hot!

Flicking through the free newspaper this morning on the way to work I came across the photos from the John Galliano SS11 Haute Couture show in Paris yesterday. And it looks to me like he has given Dior's original 'New Look' a new twist for the 21st Century.

 Galliano has always been my favourite Avant guarde designer and the 1950s have always been my favourite era, so you can imagine my surprise and delight when I saw these pictures.
Galliano says he was Inspired by the illustrator René Gruau, who was close to Dior, Galliano said he was interested in the artist's elegant brush stroke and sophisticated play between light and shade. So Galliano uses block colours and designs that have an elegant mad men style look - but volumised!

Here are some of my favourite pieces; but alas, with Haute Couture currently costing around £50,000 - I feel I may never be the owner of one of these beauties...

High Street Fashion - Outfit of the Week

This weekend I went shopping for an outfit for my post christmas/end of January works party - as my employers didn't think they should do the same as everyone else and have a party at Christmas.
Anyway, I digress...
Out in the Trafford Centre yesterday I realised that the high street fashion stores certainly have alot going for them! Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge and Topshop are the three I found myself going back to for a second time, for three different reasons.
Miss Selfridge, has a massive, gorgeous range of jewellery; chunky bracelets, dangly earrings, all kinds of necklaces and hair fascinators. My favourite is this rhinestone silver necklace (right) at a bargain for £5.00.
Dorothy Perkins has recently begun collaborating with other designers and giving them concession stands instore. This dress on the right is by one of those designers, Rise, and is a steal at £35.00, as it is completely covered in this leaf design with sequins and beads. And looks heavenly on.
Topshop has always been my go to for shoes that are stylish and will literally go the distance, and there are still some stylish buys left instore in their sale section. These shoes are called 'Stella' and are right on trend for this SS11 as they are platform peep toes. And what more reason could you need than over 50% saving at £35.00.

Get into Ballet Fashion with Black Swan

I'm off to the cinema tomorrow with the other half to see Black Swan. I'm going for two reasons, one, because it looks intriguingly good and two, because the costumes look AMAZING.
I have been looking into the costume design recently as I've been teaching my Year 12 students about it, so looking further into the costume design for Black Swan was more of a joy rather than a chore.

Mila Kunis as Lily in 'Black Swan'

Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers in 'Black Swan'

Amy Westcott and co. certainly have done a marvelous job, however, the more I have looked into this - the more I have seen how this film has taken it's costume design influence from high street fashion. So, if you love the look, then you can get it!
Obviously, you don't want to go the whole hog, unless you are an actual ballerina. But as a quirky addition to a lack-lustre outfit the Black Swan look is the way to go.

So, here are some of my top choices for you to emulate the Black Swan look:

Left: Headband, Accessorize: £12 Right: Headband, Topshop: £18

Above: Scarf, Topshop: £25

Above: If you're feeling slightly more generous, give yourself the gift of Marchesa, which combines both the looks of the Black and White Swan.