Cannes 2014

The Cannes Film Festival, possibly the most glamourous week on earth?  The biggest stars, from Leonardo Dicaprio, Brangelina and our very own Cheryl Coal; flock to the gorgeous south of France to celebrate the who’s who of the film industry.  After the hideous outfit dissapointment of The Met Ball this year, we all needed some proper glamour to restore our faith in the Hollywood!  It seems one individual can do that all on her own….of course I am talking about Blake Lively! Who else?  She is every bit the Hollywood Glamazon and consistently looks unreal on the red carpet, hair, make-up, the whole ‘look’ is spot on!  An accessory named Ryan Reynolds doesn’t do her much harm either……

Stunning in a deep red Gucci Premiere gown with high thigh slit

Old School Hollywood Glamour, again courtesy of Gucci Premiere

Cute in Giambattista Valli Couture and flirty in Chanel SS14 Couture

Ever changing hair and make-up keep Blake’s look fresh

The most wanted accessory of the season – Ryan Reynolds also in Gucci….!!

 

Holiday Wardrobe

The perfect holiday wardrobe can be a hard thing to master.  How many bikinis can you cram in, is colour and pattern key or a cooling, neutral pallet the solution?  How do I tan in my high waisted bikini bottoms and so on and so on….When dreaming of the perfect holiday setting, not many places beat Italy, therefore it is no surprise that upcoming Italian designer – Stella Jean has created the most enviable holiday wardrobe going!  Just as it did on the SS14 Catwalk, the pattern, colour, vibrancy and drama of the S/S14 shoot brought…..Gorgeous!!

Stella Jean Beachwear Collection

Stella Jean Beachwear Collection

Stella Jean Beachwear Collection

 

 

Comfortably Couture

I can’t think of a past moment in time where the lines between fashion and functionality were so blurred.  I didn’t think it got more practical than Ashish’s SS14 take on the plastic bag, a Marks and Spencer plastic carrier bag to be precise;  apparently I was wrong.  Step forward (in a very comfortable trainer) please Chanel – who else could send all 64 Spring 2014 Couture looks down the Couture catwalk in trainers?!  It wasn’t just trainers either, there were bum-bags, knee pads and one of my favourite accessories of the last few years, the rucksack; all with a couture esk make over, Amazing!  SS14 here we come in our sensible and extremely comfy trainers with our Birkinstock’s reserved for the sun, our knee length skirts barley showing our knees and a cheeky boiler suit for nights out.  Practicality here we come and we look good…

Ashish SS14 Look 3 and Look 28

Chanel Couture Look 7, 18, 27 and 53

Chanel Couture Spring 2014 Close Up

Nicole Kidman for Jimmy Choo

Wow!!  Nicole Kidman stars in her second campaign shot by Camilla Akrans for legendary shoe brand Jimmy Choo.  Obvious similarities have been made between 1960’s legendary French actress, singer and iconic model Brigitte Bardot and the swimsuit wearing, beehived Kidman who looks AMazing as usual!!

Nicole Kidman for Jimmy Choo SS14 By Camilla Akrans

Nicole Kidman for Jimmy Choo SS14 By Camilla Akrans

Brigitte Bardot by Douglas Kirkland

Another one bites the dust

Recently it seems every new piece of news from the industry brings news of a big departure.  Emma Hill at Mulberry started the trend, closely followed by Marc Jacobs’s dramatic departure from Louis Vuitton, after which Angela Ahrendts decided to up and leave the fashion world behind; moving from Burberry to Apple and to top it off, this weekend the news that Jill Sander has yet again left the position as Creative Director of her own name brand, after having only returned just over a year ago!  Great losses on each part, however also exciting to see what they all go on to do and more importantly who becomes the lucky one to take over each of these four fashion power houses….watch this space!

Mulberry: SS14 Look one, Emma Hill’s final bow

Louis Vuitton: Marc Jacobs bids farewell, SS14 Look One

Burberry: Angla Ahrendts, SS14 Look One

Jill Sander: SS14 Look One, Jill Sander’s AW13 Bow

Fashion comes Home for SS14

Paris is the home of fashion, this has never been as true as it is now.  I wasn’t sure if anyone could take anymore after the departure of Marc Jacobs from Louis Vuitton was announced, the anticipation for his last show was enough to send even Anna Wintour (well, maybe) into a frenzy!  Yet Chanel was to come and Karl Lagerfeld is not upstaged easily.  For me, this Chanel collection could have been staged in a tip and the clothes would have looked as breathtaking as ever; however in true KL style the Grand Palais was whitewashed and turned into a modern art hanger with over 75 life size pieces of ‘Artwork’ (designed by the one and only) lining the catwalk.  You couldn’t help but think about the ever potent question; is fashion art?  If this man’s creations aren’t worthy of the art world then I don’t know what is.  This collection was one of the best seasons Chanel has had for a while; breathtaking yes but also wearable, it had it all!!  This year Wang took Balenciaga and whipped up something that was noticeably Wang but still oozed Parisien chic with a Balenciaga attitude! Heremes and Dior were both in full bloom with florals leading the way in an oversized print as well as our old friend snakeskin adding an extra kick to trims and accessories; Miu Miu finished off the epic week with a sickly sweet presentation of pastel colours and swinging 60’s pea coats.  Too much to write about all in one, the pictures will do the talking:

Louis Vuitton SS14: Look 1

Chanel SS14: Look 18, 35, 48 and 83

Balenciaga SS14: Look 8, 13, 33 and 34

Christian Dior SS14: Look 4, 21, 25 and 31

Hermes SS14: Look 1, 10, 21 and 33

Miu Miu SS14: Look 1, 20, 32 and 39

Milano SS14

For me, Milan is a showman’s playground, colourful, fun and fabulous; a place where Anna Del Russo almost blends into the background (almost)!  As fashion moves from the innovation of London it looks towards the Italian city in expectation of big shows from big brands with major trends.  Gucci kicked things off in a surprisingly relaxed manner, exploring the sportswear trend in a luxe, Italian way, styled with killer heels and slicked back hair.  It was, I felt, one of the weakest Gucci outings in a while, however I still wouldn’t mind looking like that when heading to the gym!  Next up, Dolce&Gabbana sent the internet into overload!  Visions of ancient Greece were intertwined with the classic black Dolce lace, topped off with olympic style wrestling belts and gold everything!  This was the year of the Sicilian goddess…one can only dream!  Moving on from the more traditional Milan to the world of Prada where Miuccia was on a feminist mission.  Celebrating feminism through the exploration of girl gangs and tough love, it was a collection of contradictions that, as always created one of the shows of the season!!  Other standout shows included Marni, Versace, Fendi and of course the queen of cool Jil Sander.

Milan SS14: Gucci and Prada

Dolce & Gabbana Finale SS14

Milan SS14: Jill Sander, Fendi, Marni, Versace

London reaches new heights

After the 90’s sports luxe of New York and already a couple of season defining shows; all eyes moved to London where expectations were high. What were we given?  A bevy of pastel clad beauties at Burberry, Ibizan goddesses from Topshop Unique, sexed up plant hormones (yes, really) at Christopher Kane; hippies, florals, metallics and of course Mr Tom Ford!  Special mention for Simone Rocha who surprised everyone with a much more subversive tone – still a newcomer yet Rocha junior added to her success of last season to produce one of the most intriguing shows of the season!!  Just like magic, London bought together the diverse, the individual and the creative alongside pure craftsmanship, skill and attention to detail; one of the finest LFW’s to date!  Just take a look……

SS14 Looks from: David Koma, JW Anderson, Roksanda Ilincic and Burberry Prorsum

SS14 looks: Richard Nicole, Christopher Kane, Topshop Unique and Tom Ford

Simone Rocha SS14 Look 9, 17, 21 and 36

Marc By Marc Shows who’s Boss

Youthful, fun and simply show stopping; it could only be Marc by Marc Jacobs!  Sequins, metallic leathers and silk pyjama’s made the show one of my highlights of NYFW.  Wearability factor was high, I could imagine the pink sequin dress on a perfect summers evening, the silver leather mini dancing the night away in Ibiza and the baby pink trouser suit rocking a hot summer in the city.  This man rarely puts a foot wrong and today he definitely produced one of the most enjoyable shows so far……

Look 1

Look 10

Look15

Look 25

Look 33

Look 39

Look 43

*All images Marc By Marc Jacobs SS14 courtesy of Style.com