Summer in Stripes

Looks like stripes are back once again for the emerging summer season. With Prada fronting their S/S 11 collection with colour flash stripes and Jill Sander and Marc Jacobs jumping on the bandwaggon it's going to be a hard trend to avoid this season! And what better way to add an exciting twist to the bright colour blocking trend blasting into our wardrobes brightning up the summer season! Here are a few inspirational pics to get the moody flowing....

Image #1 -Lighthouse in Plymouth, Photographer - myself
Image #2 - Vogue April 11, Feather Stole by Lizzie McQuade Photographer - Tim Walker
Image #3 - Vogue April 11, Dress by Marc Jacobs and Hat Prada, Photographer - Tim Walker
Image #4 - Vogue April 11, Dress by Vivienne Westwood, Photographer - Tim Walker
Image #5 - Prada SS11 in Elle
Image #6 - Stripes clockwise - maxi dress H&M, Yellow Striped blouse self made, Blouse vintage, Skirt vintage, Photographer - myself.

Yohji Yamamoto

The Japanese wave through fashion is definitely prominent on the fashion scene in London these days. What with the fashion week bonanza's at an end fashion exhibitions are the current fashion fix and the V&A are the top suppliers giving us a buzz of Yamamoto! This eagerly anticipated exhibition hit the scene on the 12th March and I was right there to experience it for myself. This retrospective of Yamamotos' geniusness showcased 80 pieces from womenswear and menswear collections. Though the setting was a little 'off' (the rushed looking figure sketching on the wall seemed to put a downer on the room), the layout was a little more interestingly separated by scaffolding adding emphasis to the structure of the garments on show. The garments displayed where well chosen and inspiring, each giving us a different side of Yamamoto's creative flair yet each one representing true Japanese craftsmanship and attention to detail. This beauty was bought to life through the videos and photography presented on the edges of the room. Original look books where a true representation of how a great team of creatives can produce the most beautifully fashion pieces. With collaborations with photographers such as Paulo Raes, Max Vadukel and Nick Knight and creative director Marc Ascoli this exhibition is truly inspiring and a definite must see!

Issey Miyake

With the departure of creative director, Dai Fujiwara, I thought I would dedicate this post to his womens wear creations for the innovative brand over the past few years. True to fashion, he blew us away with his final collection this a/w 11 fashion week. Opening the show with oversized wearable paper origami outfits set the scene for strong shapes and silhouettes with a drop of the Issey Miyake genius! These designs where then seen toned down in fabric versions constructed out of miss-match prints. The contrast of strong shapes against loosely flowing fabrics created an interesting mix of silhouettes and presented a wide range of fabrics. However, above all, I simply have to mention the amazing 'zig zag' trousers! Perfect on and off the run way they present an exciting new direction for trousers! Here are a few snaps from the show....

Finally, here are some inspirational pictures of Dai's work over the past few seasons!!

                                                                        (Spring / Summer 2011)

                                                                        (Autumn / Winter 2010)

                                                                         (Spring / Summer 2010)

                                                                (Both Autumn / Winter 2009)

                                                          Farewell Mr. Dai Fujiwara!!!!
Images style.com

Paris' Game Of Two Halves

Paris fashion week has come to town and its seems that its not just the clothes that everyone's talking about. With the outrageous behaviour of a fashion genius, Dior dropped their creative director of 15 years, Mr John Galliano. Meanwhile, Dai Fujiwara presented his last collection for Issey Miyake after delivering 5 years worth of outstanding collections. But in the world of showbiz, the show must go on....

As ever, Paris Fashion Week has not disappointed. With a prominent emphasis on the feminine/masculine contrasts, designers brought us hourglass mannequins battling against androgynous draping and boxy jackets. Comme des Garcons designer Rei Kawakubo contrasts rouched multicoloured dresses constructed of vintage silk scarves against masculine half blazer-half womens fitted jackets. The collection brings a kind of confusion through the bold asymmetric silhouettes and designs.

This half man-half woman trend was continued over at Junya Wantanabe. He used sculpted leather to re-invent the leather jacket creating strong hour glass silhouettes softened with bell bottomed sleeves. The battle commenced when they where then challenged by boxy two pieces and over sized draping. The predominantly black collection was broken up with the introducion of brown splashes. Biker chic has been given a make over and most definitely slots in perfectly with the grunge trend hitting our wardrobes this coming fall.

On the Uber-Creative side of things Viktor and Rolf filled their catwalk with red-faced models dressed in Middle Aged inspired designs. The felted wool and leather collection mixed sophisticated tailoring with quirky detailing and strong silhouettes. The range of coats are definitely going to be on every girls fashion wish list who are bold enough to wear such a statement piece. The strong detailing courageously takes a new turn for outerwear this fall taking carefully crafted tailoring to a higher level. The Dutch duo proved to us that curves are definitely in this season with yet more emphasis on the hour glass figure nipping in at the waist exaggerated by the pin-wheel-esq detailing placed on the shoulders and full skirts. The collection took a futuristic turn with the designs re-invented in a not overly shiny shade of silver in which the detailing became a little more extravagantly 3D creating a Middle Aged knight in fashion armour. The collection as ever was true to the brands lust for creativity and innovation.

images courtesy of style.com

The Do

I know im a little late in posting this but here's the music video I worked on whilst interning with super stylist Nove Dando!! After a late night of cutting and stitching the costumes where finished and made especially for the Slippery Slope video. Olivia and Dan along with the dancers where a pleasure to work with however the bird was rather diva-ish deciding to perch on the highest point of the studio whenever the opportunity arose. Working on set of the Slippery Slope video was very exciting, and being the first one I have worked on I gazed aroung in awe at the amazingly talanted group of people working on the video. Check out the final result to this catchy number by The Do! Enjoy...