Our Future Queen In McQueen

Congratulations to the Royal happy couple . And the waiting is over as to what the bride would wear to stun and amaze the millions around the world witnessing this grand and momentous occasion. The silk gown was designed by Sarah Burton for McQueen. What a great homage to a great British designer. Long Live McQueen......

The Big Royal Reveal



A formal version of this Amanda Wakely bridal dress would suit Ms M to a T.


Only two more days left until we witness 'The Big Royal Reveal'. Yes, the title of my blog post this week is rather sloppy and common in a daytime -TV- meets -reality -show kind of way. The reason for this is that the majority of the masses who watch these type of shows is a fitting heading for my post acknowledging the upcoming Royal nuptials and just what this kind of audience has come to expect. A Royal Wedding is a exquisitely formal event full of protocol, pomp and circumstance and not just a free day off so we can overeat, get drunk and watch One Big Fat Royal Wedding on the telly.  The reason for my ranting is as I overheard a gaggle of gossipy girls who obviously spend hours in front of Living TV rather than just- well er- living? Said group of girls were predicting the dress that Catherine Middleton will walk down the aisle to marry Prince William. I recoiled in horror as one suggested ' I wonder if she will wear a strapless dress?' 'Strapless? Stapless??' I asked myself. I'm sorry but one can't just rock up at Westminster Abbey to get spliced with the future King of England in a strapless Vera Wang and a pair of sparkly spangly Jimmy Choo sandals. Whilst this maybe the choice of many brides-to-be on 'windows into their wedding' shows these girls are glued to nightly - it certainly would not do at a Royal wedding. Especially in a cathedral of all places. The correct protocol for bridal attire at such an occasion would see arms and shoulders covered, nothing revealing or too sexy and exposed toes wouldn't go down to well either with Her Majesty and her regal posse. When Princess Diana married Prince Charles back in '81, big bouffy dresses were all the rage - and it set the tone for a decade of copycat brides who opted for sugary, sweet meringue gowns. I'm certain that whatever Ms Middleton wears to her wedding on Friday morning ,will forward a new era in bridal wear. So what are my predictions for the style of her wedding gown? I'm guessing it will be quite simply beautiful. Silk satin in fabric, with a v-neckline (not too low) and a figure hugging draped waistline that features and accentuates her tiny waist and frame, that then falls into a skimming full length column skirt with a manageable train. And arms covered too, either with a slim sleeve or some kind of removable cape. Tune in this Friday morning and all will be revealed (except the shoulders!!)

UK? ...ok!!





Topshop Mock Croc Vanity Case

Chanel Jade Rose Nail Varnish

Lanvin Metal-cuffed Sandals

Wow..whoda thunk it? A heatwave in England in mid April? And with a four day long bank holiday looming it kind of puts one in the mood to dash off for a few days away to enjoy this British rarity. I've been promised a trip to the seaside and am very excited. Not only of the prospect of having a couple Mediterranean style days away just hours from a drive from home. And the luxury of catching some sunshine without having to board the god forsaken last minute trauma inducing budget airlines,  and everything that goes along with it. And more importantly being able to use my new Topshop mock croc vanity case filled with lots of liquids, pastes and gels that wouldn't be allowed on the airline as hand baggage. ( This isnt a bag you check in, girlies.. it's one to flaunt , look chic and Grace Kelly-ish with) Pile in the bright and bold lipsticks that are so this season and now feeling appropriate and gorgeous eye palettes and nail varnish like Chanel Jade Rose for example - my nail shade tip of for this spring. My fantasy purchase for this weekend would definately be a pair of metal-cuffed leather sandals. I hadn't anticipated summer would arrive so early and doubt if I even had the funds available they would arrive from Net-A-Porter in time before being whisked off to the Great British coast. Happy Easter readers - have fun in the sun (but do make sure you apply lots of sunscreen!!)

What's New, Pussycat?



Andrea looking the cat's whiskers in Wang wings.



Prada Swing - Image by Damon Johnstun

I'll tell you what's new, Pussycat, this week its all about the sunglasses shape of the season. It's all gone 50s/60s in the eyewear department with emphasis on the Cat's Flick silhouette.  It all started last spring last year when we all went mad for Mad Men and then Alexander Wang launched his pointy cat eye shades. A little extreme and out there for some - but for those that could carry off the style i.e. Andrea, who can always be relied upon to push the boundaries of eyewear trends. Not everyone can carry off the fantastic steel tipped Wang like she can ,but it does bring out the 'oooh I like' in those who couldn't dare to wear Wang but fancy the retro shape all the same . This season there are an abundance of cool cats eyes out there in shapes and colours to suit every face . Tom Ford's Nikita's are small and  rounded, while Prada's Swing is a slim wrap-around style. Vintage purists should visit The Eye Company in Soho, London and peruse the amazing collection of original and mint condition fifties and sixties sunglasses. This spring I am going to revive from the fashion archives my 1960s Persol mother-of-pearl chip trimmed sunglasses. Supremely on-trend for 2011 plus the added bonus of the winged shape that gives every face a little youthful lift. Purrrrfect!

www.eye-company.co.uk

Vintage Persol sunglasses - Seek similar at The Eye Company

Fash Pack News Flash

 



Giovanna Battaglia

Fruits in fruition

The international fashion weeks are now all done and dusted and now we have an idea of the trends that will  be big come next Autumn ( Catwalk reports coming soon to The Style Eye) As well as scouring through every show of every city on the Internet, identifying every trend micro or macro - one of my favourite things to check out at the fashion weeks are the images from the fash-pappers. Tommy Ton for Style.com, Yvan Rodic from Facehunter and of course,  Mr and Mrs original street style bloggers, Scott Schuman of the Sartorialist and Garance Dore. What I love about these candid photographs is that the fashion and style is instant and street ready. Looking and lusting over new, fabrics, cuts and shapes for autumn is all very well but you have to wait six months before you can get your hands on any of it. Photographs of well respected fashion editors from the international bibles of style in current season collections, show not only what will be the big hitters once the season is in full swing but also how to tackle one of the trickiest fashion conundrums - Transitional style. Hence the title Fash Pack News Flash - a quick interim lesson from the front row elite on how to wear summers style picks. Tangerine in February ? Summer sandals and its still chilly? Fab fruit prints on the dullest of days? Sounds crazy? Not if you look at how those high summer pieces have been styled for the front row. Take the photograph, shown here of Giovanna Battaglia, fashion editor of L'Uomo Vogue. She has silhouetted spring 2011 collection silver sparkly ballroom style shoes against black opaque tights. Its a perfect transient look - something new and boxfesh to get the spring wardrobe started paired with the practicality and warmth of the tights. The fash pack have also decreed that the bright colours which were all over the catwalks last autumn will come into fruition starting with a eye-popping shades of flouorange, shocking pink and red. Ditto the bonkers but cool fruit prints from Prada and Stella McCartney. See in the photos here how one fashionista manages to pull the look off in early March with a silk blouse and over sized angora cardy. Street style pappers are now so popular that show guests are having to ditch the traditional 'black is the new black' and step up their game in eye-catching outfits. Getting a feature on one of the above mentioned blogs is now almost a rite of passage for some fashion journalists and stylists. Which is why now watching what goes on outside the shows is now just as important as what happens inside the show.

Fringe Benefits





Little Fringe - Big Difference



J'taime Jane

There's nothing like a bit of impromptu spontaneity to boost the enthusiasm. Especially when it comes to a change of image. Best results when going for a new look are, when procrastination and pondering are omitted and the 'just go for it' attitude is in place. Take for example last Sunday evening. After a session in the pub followed by a party at friend's house, I urged my friend Andrea give me a new haircut once I spotted her hair scissors next to the kitchen sink. Andrea gave me one of her stunning 'half cut haircuts' reshaping my long boring brown hair into something easy yet sexy.  I wasn't expecting to start the week with haircut so different that for two days I was unrecognised by work colleagues! I now sport a long, full fringe which covers past my eyebrows and that whispers 'shy but foxy'.  Or when flicked out at the sides creates an on-trend 70s Charlie Girl look mixed-up with a jeune Jane Birkin. As well as the refreshing new look, I have also been discovering this week what the 'Fringe Benefits' are . I am worrying less about forehead worry lines since they are now hidden behind the fringe. I haven't had to worry about my eyebrows being constantly plucked to perfection either. I have spent the extra time experimenting with complimentary new make-up looks. I loved the beauty spread in the recent Sunday Times Style Magazine fashion special. Inparticular, the dramatic lower lid false lashes paired with a shocking pink glossy lip look. Vibrant reds, pinks and orange lipsticks were all over the catwalks this spring.  My new fringe will allow me to focus my lips and be bang on this season's beauty trends and wearing line of fake lashes below enhances the eyes in an unusual but modern way.

Sunday Times Style 6th March 2011

Recent Decents

 



Bang Bang, 9 Berwick Street, London.

Balenciaga S/S 2002 catwalk shoe

Do you ever look back and think 'Oh I wished I had bought .....( such and such fashion item), because I'd still be using/wearing today with glorious gusto' Well? I often do. What I wouldnt do, still to this day, to actually find a matching pair of Balenciaga ankle strap sandals from the S/S 2002 collection. My heart skipped a beat when I found a single size 37 (my size) in a Milanese outlet shop a year later and for such a good price too!! I thought I had found those sandals that I had lusted over from the catwalk shots and seen pics of Cristina Ricci in a green pair whilst out and about . What you have to understand, dear readers, that while today Balenciaga is widely available in big city boutiques and department stores, in 2002 the brand was more difficult to come by. Even in London. So when I found them in Milan I thought I had it all sorted. But no... while one shoe was a 37 the other shoe to the pair was a size 40. Therefore totally ridic, unwearable and out of sync with the other shoe. Thinking back, I'm sure I threw the sales assistant one of my 'Good Luck With That' looks after she explained the reason for their deeply discounted price. I am ever the optimist and still hope that one day before I die or am too old to rock a pair of f*** off sexy heels,  I shall procure those shoes. And that is why I whenever I am passing London dress exchange shops, or Recent Decents as I call them I cannot resist to just have a quick look.  Not quite a vintage shop - most of the stock is still too early for that, but all the same full of interesting and gorgeous items. The difference is here is that their stock is bought from consumers willing to sell off recently purchased designer items they've become bored of, no longer fit or need.  Pieces are ususally in mint condition ( hence why the buyers of such boutiques are quite picky about how much or  little they will give you for your out-of-favour fashion, or even if they will buy it at all)  Last week in Bang Bang , a popular clothing exchange in Soho, you could pick up a pair of perfect condition Agent Provocateur red marabou bedroom mules for just 60 quid. The location of this little treasure trove is literally just a stone's throw from the Agent Provocateur Broadwick Street boutique, where a box fresh pair of Pom Pom mules will set you back £145.00. I know where I'm shopping for shoes that barely touch the boudior carpet!!!! The great thing about these shops is that if you do have something that they are interested in buying ( and do be prepared to be subjected to some humiliation - sellers are treated with an air of disdain if they don't like what you have to sell) then the best thing to do is get the double amount in vouchers. You will be offered a cash price for your item or double credit for spending in store. i.e if my S/S 2010 Celine tan sandals that I bought off the internet last summer that don't fit me properly can raise £30 then i'm sorted for the Agent Provocateur mules....

And in the style of London's fictitional yet most charming second hand dealer. I ask you in a Terry Tibbs tone 'Balenciaga strappy sandals, Spring/ Summer 2002?  Talk to me'

Also Visit Retro Woman, 20 Pembridge Gardens, Notting Hill, London. W11 3HK for more designer goods to buy or sell.