Models models everywhere

After stumbling across the youtube clip of Vogue's uber model round table pow wow, I found myself wondering which of today's big modelling names have the staying power exhibited by Naomi, Iman and Paulina.


My favourite (today at least) is Chanel Iman, so here are pics to explain why.



I remember seeing this Dsquared2 A/W 09 show pics a couple of months ago during fashion week, and loving the tongue in cheek set up of the show. The homage to the latte drinking-NY chic girl was inspired, and finally I have a legit excuse to put a pic from the show up!



I love that she looks so different in this pic, plus this Dior gown is simply gorgeous.



Last but not least....are we all completely green with envy yet?

Until next time......

Taking it to the max

So, with the beautiful summer weather hitting us at the moment, I'm looking for the perfect maxi dress.

I failed to indulge when this trend blew up a few years ago...partially..ok I lie..mainly from a fear of tripping and falling flat on my face whilst running to catch the tube (which adds to the many fashion related reasons why I refuse to run for buses or tubes...but I digress...).

Anyway, with last years big SS09 shows taking a leaf out of Nicole Richie's book (is it me or isn't she always in a maxi?), and i'm talking all the big players such as Hermes, Galliano and Versace, it's no surprise that maxis are popping up all over the place.

So whilst indulging in a spot of online browsing (mainly because no shops are open at 11pm and also because running into friends whilst carrying shopping bags is really not going to give much credibility to my cries of being 'soooo broke'!), I've shortlisted my top 3.

First is the bandeau print for Gestuz, purely because I love the quality of Gestuz clothes, and know this satin dress will feel smooth as butter once on.



Second is this neon pink maxi from LNA. Despite not being a fan of hot pink, I adore the way the lace collar picks up what would otherwise be a pretty simple maxi.


Last is this number from All Saints purely because it's so dramatic. No you wouldn't wear this for brunch with the girls...(or maybe you would?) but it's got some exquisite looking bead work around its neckline, which justifies its mention.


Until next time....

All eyes on....

In keeping with the original hidden gems in London theme of this blog (yes I have strayed slightly from the plan), introducing a no longer hidden gem.....

Isabel Browton

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A womenswear designer that came to my attention a few months ago.

Perhaps it her Ferretti inspired her collection, or the risque yet completely wearable thigh skimming hemlines, that caught my eye....either way I'm sold.

The Brighton University fashion design graduate gives us a one minute delve into her world:


Q: So Isabel, who are your fashion inspirations?

A: Elspeth Gibson (who she did a placement with), Temperley, Luisa Beccaria, Lela Rose, Chanel. I'm also very inspired by vintage garments and techniques.

Q: What's your personal fashion style?

A:I think my style is quite classic and simple with feminine/vintage touch. For example I like classic black dresses worn with a piece of beautiful vintage jewellery or beadwork.

Q:If you had your pick of every model, even the super(expensive) ones, who would you choose as the face of your collection?

A:Lily Donaldson - she is English and quite classically pretty. I would want my dream model to be an English rose.

Q:Where would you like to see your career go?

A:I would like to carry on working for designers (she currently works as an assistant designer for LK Bennett) to gain more experience and then I would like to launch my own small label and have a boutique selling this as well as other labels and jewellery.

Fingers crossed!!

Green frenzy

They say hell hath no fury than a woman scorned.

Well I beg to differ.

I say, hell hath no fury like a woman interrupted whilst trying to secure celebrity designer cast offs at bargain prices.

Today I went to the Buy My Wardrobe event at London's Adam Street Member's Club, and once again I was reminded of the insanity that is clothes recycling.

This got me thinking. Yes we are in a recession...or so i'm told. (I'm adopting the "if-you-ignore-it-for-long-enough-it-will-go-away" attitude). But over the past few years there has been an epidemic of fashion recycling, clothes swaps, fashion auctions etc. With each comes excitement at the prospect of picking up fantastic little gems, yet the event itself always leaves me feeling a little short-changed, with a whole new pile of "bargain" clothes that I'm never going to wear, or worse..... missing my cast offs.

I know i'm not alone on this....am I?

Yes one man's rubbish is another's treasure, but as I heard a disgruntled shopper say today "there's a reason these women are getting rid of these clothes". Some cheeky seller even brought Primark clothes to sell at marked UP prices!!!

Yes, on occasion we may stumble across bargain price vintage Chanel at one of these events, but i'm not sure that forgives having to trawl through the 10 year old topshop vest tops, which we rejected first time round all those years ago.

True, my opinion may be clouded by my lingering bitterness from being stung at a couple of these events, but I think it's safe to say despite being green, there's no imminent danger of swapping replacing buying new.



For those wondering what happened to the promised crop top pics, no I didn't fall off the ball, there simply were none! I blame the past week's dismal weather. With the sun coming out to play this week, i'll be keeping my eyes peeled for what is now officially "crop watch".

Snip snip...

So crop tops are back again...sigh...
...like we ladies really needed more pressure to get our abs in pre baby Britney like condition!

This was one trend I was glad to see the back of the first time round (despite being about 10 years old when crop tops were hot in the 90s) when the Saved by the Bell gang and original 90210 crew were rocking these like their life depended on it.

This time round, crops are more varied and quirky than the Kelly Kapowski shrunken tee variety of the 90s, and are being worn alone or layered over tanks.

Those paying close attention may have noticed a spattering of crops on A/W '08 runways but like most trends, its first runway appearance failed to catch on.

However, the re-appearance of the crop in Spring '09 collections of designers including Proenza Schouler, and on the perfectly formed bods of celebs such as Agyness Deyn and Daisy Lowe, cemented the triumphant return of the Kapowski. (Kudos to Miss Lowe who was snapped wearing hers back in Autumn '08)


Some cuties available at the moment include this stripy number from ASOS and this grey bustier crop from Alice McCall.



I remain skeptical of how welcoming the typical London girl will be towards this trend.

In fact, I'm going to keep count of how many crops I see over the next week.
Results posted at the end of next week plus photos...if any!

A feast for the eyes.

"a bespoke boutique style magazine. With every turn of the page, we will stimulate, saturate and satiate your senses with a medley of evocatively alluring imagery and captivating articles"




I've clearly been asleep as today I stumbled across a fabulous bi-annual London based magazine called Volt. Yes, I'm probably a little late with this discovery, but forgive me, I'm still new to this whole fashion game.

As a sucker for edgy, aesthetically breathtaking shots served with a generous dollop of pretty on the side....yes I said pretty, a word known to cause all cutting edge fashion photographers and such to inhale sharply with horror....but you know what....sometimes no other word does a fashion shot credit like the word pretty does. After all, it's all about aesthetics.

To me, pretty is to the eyes, what sweet is to the taste buds....um um good.

Back to the point... I immediately fell in love with this mag. It's lacking on wordage ( a warning for those of you who think vogue reads more like a photo album than a magazine, you'd probably feel short changed on a copy of Volt) and it won't slip into your handbag with ease since it's a weird (slightly larger than) A3 size.

But....it's too pretty for words that I had to share. For those of you who missed this little gem, like moi, you need to check it out.

I've taken a few pretty pics, one from the latest issue and one from the last issue which I adore. The first is by Greame Montgomery and the second is by Benjamin Lennox.

New found treasures

I'm officially in love with random finds in thriftesque vintage shops. My best buy of late has definitely got to be this cute pink top hat fascinator. My next mission is to work out where to wear it to without looking too Ascot!


On another note, as a lover of print tights (they hide a multitude of sins and spice up a pretty standard outfit), I'm soooo thrilled floral tights are big this spring. I've already snapped up a couple of pairs courtesy of topshop, but I'm feeling the uncontrollable urge to get hold of a couple more. I love, love love these by Jonathan Aston, next on the list I think.....