Tom Ford Autumn Winter 2012 Colour Collection

When an invitation came through the (virtual) post to attend what was essentially a make up party for the new Tom Ford A/W 2012 in Selfridges, naturally I jumped at the chance to spend some pennies! So myself and Mama-Glamourati took ourselves off to Personal Shopping and settled in for a demonstration of the autumn/winter looks, a mini-make over and a general frolic with the new products.

Heaven on earth has been found!

Make Up + Champagne = GUARANTEED FUN.

New fun additions include a lip and cheek stain – for a just bitten lip or a up-to-no-good cheek flush. The new lip colour comes in the form of Aphrodisiac, a jewel bright magenta perfect for slicking on and brightening up a cold cold day. Or pair it with the new lacquer Naivete for a statement glossy berry lip.

Aphrodisiac and Naivete

For this collection, Mr F has created the most versatile colours yet; from enchanting floral pinks and lavenders to deep shades of black cherry and emerald.

Needless to say I bought a few treats! Most noteworthy of all was the new eye-quad ‘Enchanted,’ which I fell absolutely head over heels for. It is the most perfect palette that contains 4 absolutely gorge autumnal colours which create an impossibly pretty smokey eye from the most minimal of effort. I suggest everyone, the world over, should get one immediately if not sooner!

Limited Edition Enchanted Eye Quad

 

Sigh it’s so beautiful…I almost don’t want to use it for fear of spoiling it!

Oh the rain.

A fashion blog in this English ‘summer’ has become nigh on impossible. We seemed to have completely missed out the Spring/Summer12 season and gone straight to Autumn/Winter.

Yes, England now has a monsoon season which has stretched from June until the present day and prevented most from leaving their house – let alone write about one’s floaty, pastely summer wardrobe.

Rain coats, thermal socks, wellies and umbrellas. That has been my 2012 summer look, and that is depressing. The ever falling rain has quite literally dampened my soul and fashion spirit. Pun very much intended. Today is a fair day: grey skies with a small chance of rain so I am taking my chances and bringing out my flatforms, bought early in the summer and not yet worn for fear of their drowning! Flatforms = my new love, even if they do make me walk a bit like a geisha!

1. They go with everything. 2 They are mega on trend. 3. They are surprisingly comfortable. They do, however, come with a warning… Don’t get drunk while wearing them or you may will fall off of them! And that is NOT cool or graceful!

Flatforms: River Island, Trousers: ASOS, Shirt: M&S, Necklace: Lulu Guinness

Crazy for collars

I love a collar, there’s no funner accessory at the moment, and that’s no word of a lie. Traditionally belonging to the masculine wardrobe, Marc Jacobs reclaimed it in his Louis Vuitton S/S12 show and made the collar ultra-feminine through his use of pastel colours and broderie anglaise. It is ‘dolly girl androgyny’ at its finest.

Collar from Louis Vuitton S/S12

Collars are the new game changers. They add instant style and personality to an outfit. Their versatility is a key reason for their popularity: sequined peter pan collars serve to smarten up a plain tee, whilst a studded angular one will toughen up a summer knit. Recently I caught sight of the most beautiful feathered collar over at The Sartorialist, and have been itching to create my own.

One H and M gold necklace, one glue gun and one string of feathers later and I have the most fabulously opulent addition to my collection of collars.

Who doesn’t enjoy sartorial maths?

WHITE HOT

This is an ode to Acne . The minimalist Swedish fashion house and one stop shop for all your my sartorial needs, who have rescued me from work induced depression. Jonny Johansson, Creative Director (and owner of one of the best alliterative names in the world) has delved into the Acne archives and reworked their very best creations in stark white. The 20 piece capsule collection is just perfect for the coming months. Oh the denim, oh the leather! The pulse-racing pieces are the boxy denim skirt, the leather tee and the oversized silk shirt.

Photographs: Acne Studios

Want. Need. MUST HAVE. Overdraft you are worth it.

full on pastel lust

Rain is not my friend. Wind is not my friend. The elements are keeping me prisoner in my winter wardrobe, when all I want to do is frolic in my Louis Vuitton/Jil Sander/Preen/Prada induced, sorbet coloured spring time one!

I am stuck in wardrobe-limbo waiting for the sun to shine so I can start wearing my deee-liciously saccharine colour palette.

Oh well I shall merely gaze and sigh in wonderment, and wait for the rain to stop..

Clockwise from top left brogues: Topshop, trousers: Tibi, shirt: H & M, dress: Vionnet, sunglasses: ASOS, blazer: French Connection, necklace: Tom Binns

My love affair with Liz

Elizabeth Taylor is an icon. More specifically, my icon. Last night was spent in sheer bliss: in the company the most glamourous woman there ever was, who had the most amazing jewellery collection there ever was. Married 8 times to 7 men, she collected the finest jewels in the world like most collect loose change. ‘Elizabeth Taylor: Auction of a Lifetime’, told the story of her life through her fabulous jewellery – now that’s my kind of documentary!

She adored fur, extravagant headwear, men, a drink and most of all diamonds.

She made a household name of Valentino and Halston, had brows one can only dream of, raised over £270 million for AIDS and HIV, and thought nothing of swimming in Cartier.

I shall follow her guidance forever: “Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.”

Tom Ford AW12/13

The details of Tom Ford’s AW12/13 show have just been released after a long, arduous wait and oh the leather, oh the shoulders, oh the stilettos, oh the crocodile appliqué. Yes, crocodile appliqué

Now this is POWER dressing

“I like a lot of black this season –I like strong colours too but with black as the accent”

I like what he likes.

all i want to wear

Printed trousers are everywhere. You could say they are having a ‘fashion moment.’ For good reason too, they are the perfect piece to put you in the springtime mood and there is a pair for every SS12 trend – florals, havana, pastel, futuristic…the list goes on.

They are instantly chic with a plain tee, or make like Mary (Katrantzou, obviously!) and clash your prints for ‘fun-time-on-trend-print-on-print-dressing’.

Mary Katrantzou's latest collection for Topshop featured clashing prints

The holy grail of statement trousers come from Stella MccCartney’s 2012 cruise collection and I am completely and utterly in love with them. These silk trousers are 24 hour printed perfection: dressed down with a simple tee and black boots for off-duty cool and for the evening pair with heels and a luxe tux.

I. Just. Want. Them.

Stella McCartney Christine hawaiian print trouser picture Liberty London

Unfortunately, at £665 methinks these trousers will be in my dreams, rather than my wardrobe! My much more reasonably priced tropical fix came from River Island and are the perfect thing to brighten up anyone’s morning.

trousers: River Island; tee: Acne; tux jacket: ASOS; boots: Topshop

Who doesn’t enjoy a good print? Olivia Palermo certainly does – for more printed love check out her blog:

http://www.oliviapalermo.com/how-to-rock-printed-pants

dreaming in a sea of shoes.

I’m sure I am not the only female who finds themselves from time to time in what I like to call ‘shoe reverie.’ My most recent one involved an array of feet treats all of which I yearn for! The Acne ‘Alice’ shoes have been spotted bringing joy to the feet at fashion weeks the world over. I myself have indulged in the lemon Zara courts, with their on trend metal toe cap – oh hello bargain Louis Vuitton SS12! I also have my eyes, and heart, set on the swoonworthy pixelated beauties from Preen for Aldo Rise. Sigh, a girl can wish..

Lust away my friends. Lust away.

Clockwise from top left: Acne, Zara, Topshop Premium, Nicholas Kirkwood, Preen for Aldo Rise, ASOS

stylinguistics

“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”

Yves Saint Laurent

YSL Cruise Collection 2012 Film