Chanel Cuise 2013

I don't normally blog about designers, I'm one of these people that loves wearing clothes and buying them, but designers really never leap out at me. I stick strictly to my favourites of Celine, Acne, Topshop Unique, Alexander Wang & Surface to Air, with look ins from the likes of Felder+Felder etc. But when Dazed Digital posted the Chanel Cruise 2013 collection it instantly caught my eye. Lagerfeld was sums up the collection as 'Versailles in socialist France' and it has a very Marie Antoinette vibe. The majority is completely impractical and fussy but you have to admire the costume and design aspects, how he has twisted the typical Antoinette inspiration into a modern, pastel, creeper wearing new look. Although I'm rather bored of creepers now, far too masculine and butch for summer, the pastel ones featured are adorable and are not overwhelmingly harsh.

 

Images courtesy of Dazed Digital

Re-Dress

I was recently part in a fashion film, 'Re-Dress', which was a collaboration with the 3rd year design students of Heriot Watt and Paxton House stately home. The film was shot by Tim London and was the most embarrassing thing i've ever done, I had a constant smirk on my face which receieved many a telling off! The garments were made based on each student's personal impression of Paxton. There were gowns with stiff collars, lace skirts and intricate prints. My personal favourite was a body suit with knitted sleeves and extensive detailing on the front.
I was a bit dubious about the whole thing, seeing as I had to pretend to slap a girl, lie with my legs spread on a bed and pretend to play croquet but it's actually really really cool! A bit of a Tarantino vibe with a retro 60s etiquette backing track. The exhibition of the student's work is currently on at Paxton House in the Borders until the 31st May, and again from the 6th-31st August. I'm still to see the look book which will be an epic cringe all over agian but the clothes and beautiful and totally worth a look.



Unfortunately it's an 'unlisted' video so here's the link honeyboos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyIelBug3Co

And here's the poster with the beautiful Siam Colvine

Swimwear

I don't think, in a million years, I could have seen myself buying a swimsuit after I was 11 years old, BUT THEY'RE JUST SO BEAUTIFUL. I'm having a tan plan holiday this year so a bikini will be needed for maximum tannage, but next year it is in the family grapevines that we're going back to Florida before we all get old and our parents look ridiculous chasing a bunch of 20 and 30 year olds around Islands Of Adventure.
However Florida means WATER RIDES, and with American food I don't think I can face running around with my belly out all day so a swimsuit is on the cards. I've done a bit of searching already, keeno, and these are the beauts I have decided I need in my life.

 

Insight, Neon Print Cut Out

Urban Outfitters / ASOS

 

Faster by Mark Fast

Reptile Mesh

Urban Outfitters / ASOS

 

Black Milk, Moonwalker.

BlackMilkClothing

 

Cos, Jacquard Print.

Cos Stores.

Portfolio//Street Style #1

I've recently had to organise my portfolio of work and even at this stage where I seem to have barely anything I still manage to forget about work. I photographed this girl at London Fashion Week at Somerset House in September '11. I had seen her about the cobbles before I finally photographed her and I'm glad I waited because this was her best outfit. She wasn't one of those girls who dresses ridiculously to get attention, this is clearly her way of life and who she is, not just who she decided to be that day. I wish I remembered her name, but I know she was doing street style for *i think* Metal Magazine. Really gutted I didn't see her again in February because she is truely beautiful.

1883

Since our typography class last semester I have become unreasonably judgemental about fonts. Refusing to buy certain birthday cards because the fonts ugly and WHY did they think that would say Happy Birthday??? Yes, this is how my brain works. I also have an unnatural love for Times New Roman, but that is a completely different matter altogether.

The meaning of this post is to declare my love for good typography and layout, and no magazine has my love more than '1883'. A relatively young magazine, currently on it's 4th isuue, it is released quarterly and has some of the best fonts+layouts than any other current fashion and culture magazine, think bold fonts, brilliant colours and brave placement

I find it annoyingly hard to get, althought Ayr's WHSmith may come out with a few gems such as The Hunger, Fantastic Man and Garage it is never the most reliable source. If you want to see more of the magazine check out their website 1883magazine.com and also their blog, where their bold, trademark style is carried on throughout.

COS.

Cos has slowly become one of my favourite stores. Compared to the rest of the high street, Cos has a sense of originality and oozes chic, simplistic style. I don't know any other high street brand who would use architecture as one of their inspiration sources, which is clearly shown through sharp cuts and structured dresses. For someone who is not big on too much colour or pattern Cos is heaven. Colour is minimal, with the main bulk of their clothing being white/grey/black/blue with the occasional splash of soft gold and greens. There is a small area dedicated to the more colour and pattern brave, but i've never lingered long there. My recent purchases have been a short sleeved white shirt, which is elasticated giving it some added comfort, and a sports jacket in soft gold. For a size 8 it is still quite over sized and the colouring and cut of the colour prevents it from looking like something out of Nike. My only criticsm is, Cos is not a friend of the big breasted. The small cut European sizing doesn't cater for much above a B, seeing as I managed to make a shirt gape for the first time in my life. Being smaller/taller than average is useful for their longer styles, as being an run of the mill 5,5 most of their midi styles sat awkwardly on me. However, despite these MILD criticsms, I would happily spend my life dresses head to toe in Cos.


http://www.cosstores.com/

 

All images courtesy of Cosstores.com

Chadwick Tyler.

I've been obsessed with Chadwick Tyler ever since I bought Grey Magazine Issue 5 back at London Fashion Week in September. Tyler did a editorial spread with Mercedes Benz, which was both beautiful and eerie. That however is a consistent theme within his work and takes fashion to that uncomfortable edge which not many photographers can do. 

www.chadwicktyler.com/

All photographs courtesy of Chadwick Tyler's 'Tabernacle' series.