St Valentines...

Happy Valentines day.

whether you're sharing it with loved ones or going stag- Love is more than cards and roses- it is a truly beautiful gift that should never be taken for granted, in all its forms.

Enjoy your day xx

Passion...

When asked to do styling jobs it is normally for a company, event or agency, so I very rarely get to flex my 'artistic muscles' - by that I mean I have a brief to adhere to and don't have too much leeway as the client is always right (even when they're not).

That's why, when I was asked to style this project and was told 'Just do what you want' I got all excited and started trawling markets, charity shops and costume shops straight away!

This became a sort of passion project that I did with the impossibly beautiful Lizzie Robson and the wonderfully talented Marie Harkness they were both accomidating (when I turned up with a pink wig, tins of paint and rolls of material) and also massively enthusiastic.

I have been wanting to get my Picasso on for a long time- I love to play around with paints and this was so much fun- I made a dress out of some ribbon and stiff netting that I found (it only just lasted the duration of the shoot) and splattered paint all over Lizzies face, hair and the make-shift dress... Is it wrong that I kind of wish the dress hadn't broken so I could wear it- I'm sure I could find somewhere appropriate to wear a see-thru, paint splattered dress...

The pink wig is something I have wanted to use for a while- Britney Spears called and wants it back - Channeling a sort of futuristic Marylin Monroe with a pastel over-tone (Don't think I have used them quite enough recently) Lizzie managed to make it look just as seductive and covetable as THAT white dress in 'The seven year itch'!

The last look, a kin to Man Ray's 'The tear drop'- is one of my all time favourtie shots.

I am obsessed with Natalie Portmans makeup in 'Star wars' kind of Alien queen meets Geisha, and wanted to modernise it with just a few necklaces and some architechtual posing.

Thank you girls for providing such an inspirational environment and for putting up with my hair brain ideas ;) Girl power and all that!

In good Company...

The lovely guys at Company magazine asked me to be their featured 'Week in style' blogger on Company.co.uk. The article comprises of seven outfits for each day of the week a long with a brief synopsis of the thought behind them- all of which have featured on this blog at one time or another.

It was an unexpected surprise that was welcome and very humbling as they have a new look magazine out this month which is very impressive both in design and content- if you haven't already got your copy, I urge you to- there is a great interview with Alexa Chung as well as some fantastic street style features.

You can check the feature here

Thank you Company and of course, you guys- the people who actually take the time to read my little blog.

Oh Givenchy...

Is there anything as wonderful as vintage Givenchy? (Ok, maybe vintage Chanel, Dior and YSL... and Biba, Ossie clark- well you get the idea of what I'm saying)

Givenchy made the most wonderful dresses, ones that you would give your right arm to wear even today!

'Sabrina' and 'Funny face' difined Hubert de Givenchys position as the 'go to' guy when it came to fabulous, elegent, couture- swiftly followed by Dior in 'Arabesque'- if you haven't seen this film, then do, Lorens clothes and eye makeup alone make it worth while!

Dressing Audrey Hepburn isn't exactly the most arduous of tasks, she was uniquely beautiful and a wisp of a woman, but never the less Givenchy still managed to make clothes that looked just as magnificent on Hepburn as they did on your more voluptous women like Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly.

These dresses paved the way for Riccardo Tisci to take the helm of such an iconic power house, and we all know how well that has gone- season after season, Givenchy never ceases to amaze me!!

'Fahsion fades but style is forever.' Never a truer word spoken... well maybe by Einstein or Darwin... but you know what I mean!

Pixie Stick...

Jacket: H&M

Shirt: Paris

Bag: Milan

Trousers: H&M

Shoes: Ebay

I don't think I know a single person who has not absolutely fallen in love with this seasons colour palette.

With so many different shades, tones and takes on the trend, 3.1 Philip Lim, Chanel and Louis Vuitton captured our imaginations, setting the tone for Spring... the sweeter, the better.

I just managed to beat the recent freak snow storm in an out and out 'sweet shop' inspired outfit.

Re-living my childhood as a playful vagabond- I was the kind of child who would play outside and make perfum out of flower petals- these colours remind me of the Pixie Stick sherbet tubes you used to get when you were younger (back in the days when you could actually buy single penny sweets) the jacket and trousers are wonderfully soft and slide off the body in the same way the sugary treats would run down your throat as you threw your head back, trying to get the remains from the bottom.

*At this point I must say that getting out paint stains from said garments isn't as hard as one would think- I fell foul to splatters of paint whilst styling a photo shoot in this outfit- not the brightest thing I have ever done but it was worth it, this is a passion project that I am so excited to show you!!!*

This shirt I got in Paris, it's a dreamy pale blue with a minty under-tone and fits like it was made just for me, did I mention that I found it in a little vintage shop just off Madeleine lane...coincidence? I think not.

Beauty's where you find it...

Lana Del Rey recently recieved one of the highest of accolades within fashion publication... gracing the cover of Vogue.
Now I am a massive fan of the Del Rey, I fell in love with her voice last year when she melted onto the scene with that harrowing, raspy tone that you thought only existed in 1930's movies (at this point my mind drifts to a floor length number, in a dimly lit bar with table lamps and smoke in the air.)
Despite the heart melt- I can't help but think that maybe it is a bit premature?
I'm not denying that Lana is absolutely beautiful- a sort of hill billy, Jessica rabbit cross- and I cannot get over how much she looks like a young Mena Suvari, all bow lipped and blue eyed- but the Vogue cover is a much coveted position.
It is a trophy, a beacon of your success, talent and beauty - something that few people attain and by having this honour bestowed upon you, you instantly become a part of history - with fantastic company in tow.
The most iconic covers- or at least the ones that stick in my head- are that of the super model, the absolutely beautiful, inspirational models of the 90's and early 00's - the type that made you dream of becoming a super model, regardless of realistic attainability.
This is how I like my covers stars, real-life muse's.

Too soon, too contrived, whatever the debate- I can tell you one thing, Alexandra Shulman sure knows how to commision a stunning shot.

Golden era...

Vanity Fair's 'Hollywood' issue is legendary. Taking the most beautiful stars and 'up and comings' for the new year and dressing them in outfits one could only dream of.
Shan't mention here the Annie Lebovitz series circa 1995 where Sarah Jessica Parker donned that bra and lurex mini skirt combo.
The most beautiful men and women of our time have graced these covers: Penelope Cruz, Emily Blunt, Natalie Portman, Sophia Loren, not to mention James Franco, Ryan Renolds * double swoon* and Anne Hathaway in 2007's ridiculously sensual 1930 theme.
This year, they have gone for a decidedly 1920's theme- I think it's fair to say that I am completely in love with it- what with my heavily documented affinity for the 1920's and all that.
Shot by the indisputably inspirational Mario Testino, all of the gowns are red carpet ready- think cocktail party in the Hamptons with the Fitzgerlads- the colours are a perfect blush of sherbet hues and candy spun silks.
With Elizabeth Olsen, Mia Wasikowska, Roony Mara and the Paula patton, the cover encapsulates all that is wonderful with women in Hollywood right now- beautiful, voluptous, galmourous and completely muse-like.
Each one of these women is a dream, an inspirational picture of the lost perfection of past years.