Luxx simple silhouette

As mentioned at the weekend i read lots and lots of newspapers, making sure i didn't miss anything from london fashion week and The Times on saturday had a great fashion supplement, Luxx magazine which shot images of all the new silhouettes for the season.
The main fashion story Back to the future i loved. The shoot was styled by Clare Lazaro and shot by Luis Montiero, the way the photographer and stylist worked together really shone through, the images are beautiful: the lighting really enhances the silhouettes and almost makes the model plus her outfit look like negative structures. For those of you that didn't see the shoot...

The clothes used ranged from Burberry to Shaun Leane at selfridges, my favourite shot included a 'cage belt over a streamlined godet skirt' and a lace shift, peplum included, from Prada. The styling was very simple but very beautiful, the lighting was a stunning mix of mauve, berry pink and green. One thing that i don't really notice (which is really bad of me!) when looking at a shoot are the actual models themselves and how they pose- the silhouettes they created were stunning.

The Shooting Party, another fashion shoot, styled by Amanda Bellan and shot by Jonathan Glynn Smith gave a whole new meaning to eccentric layering!

I also read an article discussing places of exclusivity, by this i mean those places that you never hear anything of and yet they seem to be very successful. It's this marketing deal with 'playing hard to get' which i just love-yeh, why is it things we can't have we try so very hard, no matter what we have to do to get it? And how insane is it that places like Bistrotheque, a small building tucked away in east end ldn a bar/restaurant/club keeps on going?! In some respects though i do agree with the co-owner David Waddington that,
"If you go for the big splash opening, you'll get lots of people that really like it, but also lots that don't"- yes, with this i can understand David not wanting a bad word of mouth, but without any mouths being their to talk, hows the word gonna get spread?! By inviting customers you know will like your product/place etc you will get some good clients but without even giving other people the chance to check it out themsleves, you may loose another market.

And very quickly there was this great little article showing a variety of creative people discussing how they decide what clothes to wear, and Lulu Guiness' statement of not owning a pair of jeans! Shocking! Well...definatly for a student.

London baby??

London is like marmite- questionable.

I’m as far from an original London girl! i moved down here last September to go to uni to study fashion for 4 years, well 1 yr studying fashion foundation and then 3 yrs studying fashion promotion and imaging and being me i get homesick a lot! So i do go home quite a bit on the trusty old megabus-this is my time to think, seriously. I have so much time on the bus to schedule my week, look at my timetable for the following week, catch up on the weeks news (as i did at the weekend with the huge Sunday times newspaper and the independent for this weeks round up of London fashion week!-blog later, promise..) and coming through London is always interesting. Even though i have lived 30 mins outside of london for a year i still feel like that virginal tourist that’s constantly checking out all the window displays, the very geometric concrete buildings, Selfridges ever changing windows, (which i always hope no London red bus will pull up to the side of my megabus, blocking my view!) the bustle of baker street near the huge blocked Primark store. I’m trying to get to love London because due to the sheer size it annoys me and sometimes terrifies me! Im hear for another 3 yrs, i have to learn! Not only does the size aggravate me; there is a lot of pompous people about too, however weighing interesting people to the pompous, i think 2:1 to the former.

I feel as though every megabus trip helps in some way to enhance my feeling for the city. I love people watching and ldn has a hell of a lot of people to watch, including lots of up and coming students, (the futures work force!) elder women and gentlemen just leaving small, quaint galleries, backpacks and beige sandals included, W.A.G. wannabes, London ‘in it’ girls, cockney geezers, fashion trend setters and followers: i could go on but i will be here for ever and my coffee’s getting cold. Not only are the people interesting, the city itself has lots to offer-lots of exhibitions, The House of Viktor and Rolf at the barbican centre i saw last weekend which was amazing; recently, London fashion week, that is a must for every year (and still will be even though the fashion week has been shook a little this week with the bigger cities trying to kick us out of the fashion circle, have these people ever met the fashionistas of ldn?!) the business guys and gals doing their thing, in monochromatic attire, all the valuable newsagents! Etc.....

well looking at what i have just wrote maybe ldn is a good city to live in, or near to. Maybe i should try and read the Evening Standard every day to really get to know the city, or will this just scare me and make me wanna run away, who knows?!

Topshop Lookbook a/w 08

Check out Topshop.com for help in styling ideas and some amazing garments for a/w 08. Topshop, aided with Katie Shillingfords stylish eye, put together this essential stylising lookbook to help anyone who's somewhat confused as to what to wear for a/w, especially with your minds being beautifully boggled with this weeks amazing fashion week! (which by the way i havent forgotten, i will be blogging a huge blog report on my take of the fashion week soon- i just gotta gather all the bits of newspaper all over my desk and mag tear outs to help me!). The Bandstand Lookbook has some of my favourite looks, with lots of slouchy layering and subtle colours i'm in heaven....masculine style. My only complaint about the images is that the models are used throughout for each collection and the strong featured, large eye browed women do look a little odd with the boudoir collections including fine fabrics and baby pink mongolian fur (i'm guessing).

London fashion week? couple of days? weekend?..

Yesterday i bought myself a couple of papers to catch up on London fashion week (which i need to do this morning) as i am no longer on this universe as i dont have the internet still! And i read that this maybe the last official London Fashion Week. Apparently New York and Milan want to put their dates further back meaning we only get maybe 4 days at a push next year!

So, i have the week off to try and blag my way into fashion week (before it will no longer be called London fashion Week) and i'm unsure as to how to do this. I have a friend that last year made some fake business cards and in a very hair stylist way asked to be let through as her model was about to be on the catwalk..and she got through, if its this easy surely i will be able to do it! There isnt just this worry nithier-what will i wear?! Should i wear clothes that are on trend now, should i wear something that i just like for liking sake or should i look at the last couple of days to check out Londons spring/summer 09 trends. Anyway whatever i wear i have to be there so, i have scheduled wednesday in my diary to be the day i go for it. I've decided too that if i don't get in (which is highly likely) i am gonna try and take some photos of cool street style.

I will keep you posted, wish me luck..

Well hello..

I really, really love this, anyone else?...

Vivienne Westwood album.

Is there anything that this woman hasn't done....Vivienne Westwood is launching Catwalk Breakdown on the 15th september exclusively launched at Selfridges, in the Wonder Room which will be almost a gallery exhibition showing pieces from her collections, so if your a huge fan of her work definately go to the launch which has ever so cleverly been launched along side fashion week-think of all those fans! Basically the album is a huge mixtape of Viv's favourite tracks including many that have been heard during her crazy catwalk shows. The album is very eclectic with every thing from contemporary up beats to classical pieces. Westwoods explanation as to how the mixtape came about included..

'My clothes always tell a story... And I choose the music accordingly. Sometimes the music can just be sexy, it can let you relax, look at the clothes, put people into a fantastic mood. Then it might just have to swing back and lift you up to the final triumph of the fashion show. These are some of the pieces that I’ve relied on over all these years –my classics. They’ve never failed me.'

Distill magazine.

I came across this magazine around 2 weeks ago and i should have blogged about it sooner but with packing, moving journal etc..i had no time (altough i did have time to read it!) Anyway, ye, 2 weeks ago was the launch of Distill magazine. When i first picked it up off the shelf my immediate thought was that from the front cover, which shows you 10 differnt covers of mags around the world, i thought the mag would be an international mag for people already in the fashion industry and maybe the mag would be full of numbers and facts, blah blah blah...so when i opened it i was really pleasantly surprised.

If your a fashion student then this is serously like a bible for you (it saves you tones of money too!). The concept of the mag is basically pulled from mags all around the world. The editors and amazing guest writers help in deciding what is picked to put in the magazine. They choose different things from magazines, such as photo shoots, illustrations, styling ideas: their choice is based on what inspires themselves in the hope that it will inspire you. And it really does!

The magazine is divided into sections so its easily readable.

I especially loved the material girl shoot Distill picked from a magazine.

As im in the libary now and i don't have the mag with me- i will blog later about my thoughts on the mag but for now you can read this review of the mag from the independent website and also just buy it you wont be dissapointed.

Uni...

Hey ho so im back at uni, and i don't have the internet but should be getting it soon so there will be a little loss of blogging..as you can see sorry!

Lets get to the fab stuff...

My last blog i posted was about the autumn/winter trend-tartan, and like i said if you want some tartan get yourself off to primark, some of the tartan lovelies they have there are amazing. I bought Look mag yesterday and there was this really cool quirky shoot from Primark (not a huge shoot but a shot of some of the goodies they have in their a/w collection!) and the dresses there are amazing! They are so on trend! With their peplum esque dresses and huge bows on just about everything. If you have bought yourself any high end fashion mag you will have definately have seen the old english, D&G advertisements with every model wearing tartan! They are fabulous!

Whilst being at uni too i have noticed nearly everyone wearing the stuff, this gives me a rebelious attitude but the stuff is so cool and easily worn with anything i find. (Make note to self-Ashleigh take your camera around with you!!) Next week i am gonna try and blag my way into fashion week and if not take some little street style shots of the people trying to get in!

Check your Tartan.

I've already got myself some Autumn tartan (will post photos later); 2 shirts (that are stupidly similar-well i just wanted them in 2 colours!) in red and blue check. The material is so comfortable, you can dress the shirts up with a patent waist belt or dress them down and clash with the red tartan belt i got from Primark for £2. If you love the trend and don't know how to put or what to put together take a look at D&G's catwalk show.
Domenico and Stefano certainly know how to set a trend- their A/W 08 collection was dripping with the stuff! When you have checked out their collection take a look at the NOTW site to see where to get your pretty plaid pieces.

"Deer Friend"... any more collections?

I saw another Topshop range in this weeks Look magazine, named (so apt) Deer Friend, and i think its gonna be very popular! I kinda got a mad hatter feeling about the range; the pieces look really playful, there's plenty of colour and lots of graphic prints. I specifically like the blouse shown in Look- it has a repeated graphic print all over, the colours are quite neutral, the print is a small black deer with an added shot of bubblegum pink and violet. The blouse has a huge black bow just below the scooped collar. At £32 too! Bargain! I'm not usually one for colour but i see a little change in style for me! I'm unable to find photos of the collection on the net so buy Look and you will see it in there, page 5.

Leather trousers: friend or foe?

Leather trousers are apparently back for A/W 08. When i read this in last weeks grazia mag i immediately thought of the Friends episode where Ross is on a date and unfortunatley gets himself in a bit of a muddle. He gets himself stuck in his leather trousers, he uses everything from soap to talc to get himself outa them but nothing moves! Leather trousers though were actualy seen on lots of the catwalk shows including Alexander McQueen, Preen, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs and MaxMara. The style was anything from tight almost sprayed on pants to well structured wide leg at Marc Jacobs. This trends fits very well with the glamour goth style thats gonna be huge in A/W 08, but if you aint feeling the goth style then leather trousers will more or less go with lots of pieces in your existing wardrobe, pair them with slouchy knits for a mix of yummy fabrics or put with ruffle blouses for a punk feel (don't forget the chunky, layered necklace!)
Leather trousers have been seen on the very style gorgeous Ashley Olsen and 07-08 model Agy Deyn, you can bag yourself a pair from Topshop unique collection or M&S at bargain prices!
My favourite catwalk pair are from the Louis Vuitton catwalk a/w 08 collection.

Is this a trend you will follow or run away from?!

Stunning, simple Styling

I just had to put this small post in. I was checking my email today and i just saw something that caught my style searching eye...
I love the styling of this outfit, yes it is very simple but its very chic and in a way it reminds me of power dressing. The tucked in black vest, the check skinny trouser with added skinny patent belt and the peep toe heel! F A B U L O U S....

Music Gigs-literally!

OMG how amazing are these! They're pretty pricey but they look and sound so worth it! (Prices range from $399-$249) All the technical stuff outa the way....

-they have a memory of 512 MG to 2 GB that can include 240 songs, audiobooks or any other files you may need to keep that close! So when you're going to uni and think god damn i forgot my memory stick, it's that hot your hair is stuck to your face and your half way there, well if you have your gigs on then there you go- your files on there. You dont have to worry about packing your slouchy bag with any memory stick or cd!

They're made by Oakley and there model name is Split Thump Sunglasses, they're available for men and women. On eithier side of the glasses there is a O logo that looks so disguised no one would realise that they were musically enhanced! These are perfect for an excercise too as a fully charged pair will last you 8 hours, what a workout! Personally i think the idea is great, as sunglasses are a huge business spesh in the summer and when you go to that summer bbq you could throw a silent disco! The only negative i think there is is that they could maybe make the pair look a little more stylish but other than that i would definatley want a pair!

NYLON Denim issue...

I know im so late with this but i was out the other day in sunny, busy Leeds shopping for some uni clothes and i strolled into WHS to buy the paper and i saw the august NYLON issue on the shelf. I have read NYLON in the past and i do like the magazine. Its great for quirky advertisments and its very up to the minute in that it has a very indie style. Also i think the NYLON team are great and very admirable, at the beginning of the issue it shows you the readers opinions of the mag and NYLON have shown some of their bad reviews, at first i didnt really get this but i do admire them to show the comments, i mean nobody is perfect! I really loved the issue too because of its focus on denim! I love too that the mag is american and as i really wanna move to New York once i have graduated i can begin to look into New York fashions. If you havent bought the issue and it is still in your mag stores near you buy it, especially if you love your denim pieces!

Street Style

As a fashion student i really should take my camera with me everywhere, and today i learnt my lesson! I went into leeds to do a little shopping (+ visit 3 cities-more in a bit) and i saw what can only be described as a brown leather dress shoe in the middle of the city and then weirdly i saw in my hometown, a jacket on the street floor! Maybe there is a naked guy running around leeds?!! Street Style communicated- literally!


Yeh like i just mentioned i felt like i had actually visited 3 cities today. Leeds to start with-strolling down the central road looking in all the lovely high street stores-Topshop, H&M, Lush oh my! Then secondly Tokyo, we went to the fab restaurant Little Tokyo-the food was unbelievable, i ordered Crystal Prawn duplings to start, then my main (i felt very greedy!) was Teryaki beef in a food box-the presentation was stunning and the food was so good, if you ever can get to a Little Tokyo i would definately recommend buying one of these. It consisted of japanese salad which was stunning:coated in rice vinegar, tempura vegetables with soy sauce, rice with seseme seeds and finally the Teryaki beef-mmm..

Then in the afternoon i bought (very late i know!) the denim issue of Nylon (which is obviously american). So i travelled millions of miles in a saturday!



What a fab day! x