CAN'T WAIT TO WEAR: CROSS-BODY BAGS

Posted by the Fashion Junior at Large

I feel as if, in order to truly appreciate the joy of the cross-body bag, one needs to have previously been devoted to its design antithesis - the clutch. There is definitely a time and a place for the latter, like elegant social occasions where you'll be sitting down for the duration of the evening, and only require a phone, credit card and lipstick. The clutch is not suitable for Fashion Week, which is a lesson I learned the hard way.

I erroneously took a Marc by Marc Jacobs oversized clutch to the London Fashion Week exhibition in 2008. It was heavy, it made shaking hands a chore, and carrying lookbooks laborious. Ever since then I've been a cross-body bag convert and devotee, and joy of joys it's back for the season and just in time for London Fashion Week this month.

Chloe - This looks like a vintage find from Beyond Retro

Dior - Alligator and snake skin styles are major this season. Love this one so so much.

Gucci - Tassles and double strap

Marc Jacobs

Louis Vuitton front view

Louis Vuitton - Possibly the most worshiped and controversial bag of the season as seen on Victoria Beckham (who claimed her bag had a specially made faux fox tail instead of a real one) and fellow blogger Bryan Boy

Click to shop these beauties:

Porenza Schouler, £1560

Oasis, £45

Marc Jacobs, £725

Clarks, £69.99

ASOS, £65

Photo Credits

Catwalking / Chris Moore

Net-a-porter.com

asos.com

clarks.co.uk

oasis-store.com

MY NEW FASHION WEEK UNIFORM (AND YOURS TOO!)

Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

New York fashion week kicks off tomorrow, and London Fashion Week starts next friday... so it's time to work out the fashion uniform of the season. Knowledge is power! Having a uniform makes life so much easier too.

My favourite SS10 look from LA Label  L'Agence, available at Selfridges

They say that fashion changes and style stays the same. Well, that's not true. Fashion can change every week (I know this from working on Grazia, and this is what makes fashion fun).  What constitutes the very core of a stylish wardrobe changes too, just not as often.

For spring there has been a big style basics change. I am seeing it everywhere. Yes of course on fashion conscious women, but also on young girls shopping the high street and on the LA girls who love their casual elegance.

What has happened is, in one set of fashion collections, the former “essentials” of every girl’s wardrobe; namely the blazer, slim jean, basic legging, printed blouse, and statement dress have been replaced by a new set of loose, luxe easy to wear clothes that define a new body proportion. I can say this with authority because my fashion buyer friends agree with me – this is what they are buying for their shops!

"A couple of years back to satisfy demand I would have to buy at least five types of blazer, and at least ten styles of straight-leg dark denim jean," says a very influential buyer friend of mine. "Now it's a biker jacket hybrid, a draped loose jersey T-shirt, a luxury legging or legging jean, a short tunic dress and carrot leg trousers that I need to buy into in different ways," she said over lunch recently. You will already be vaguely familiar with the new style basics, now you just have to buy one or two to see what I mean. They will change the way you feel about the rest of your wardrobe, and give your fashion mojo a boost.

THE FASHION EDITOR AT LARGE TOP FIVE CORE STYLE ESSENTIALS FOR SS10

1. A drapey yet snug-fit washed leather jacket with biker details (see this one by one of my favourite labels right now Helmut Lang, from Matches) I tried this on last week, and knew in an instant that it would go with everything from a sexy dress to joggers to jeans, traveller pants (see tomorrows for these babies!!), leggings, and shorts. It's elegant, smart, louche but most of all uber chic, flattering and will serve as a staple for the next couple of years at least. 

2. Baggy trousers with slim-fit ankle, these ones cost £95 and are by Whistles. The tapered rolled-up ankle creates the illusion of a spindly ankle, and therefore of a slim body. Like!

This is my actual top, £25 from Cos, this is a khaki one and they come up over the wrist and you tuck your thumb in the cuff- also bought in black, white, grey

This black mesh tank £25 from COS pulls down to upper thigh and is an amazing layering piece (Also comes in pale nude) 

3. Good T-shirting.  For British readers may I reccomend COS. In the last week have bought ten t-shirts and five vests which am shaering with my other half. They are so useful, and worth every penny. My other preferred T-Shirt labels are Splendid, American Vintage and TopShop.

4. Luxury leggings. See the above from Les Chiffoniers at Matches. Don't need to explain the usefulness of these. These will not date like the printed ones that are around at the moment.

5. A peep toe ankle "boot". These ones are by ACNE, from Net-a-Porter. If you have an eye for fashion, you will NOT get through spring without getting a pair of something a bit like this on your tootsies. Trust!

and finally...a bit of mood

Unique by TopShop backstage shot from SS10

Think of this post as a cocktail, with five parts staples and one part frou-frou cocktail umbrella's, glace cherries and sparklers. To look Fashion Now get all of the above and mix it liberally with all the elements of the above photo!

JUST BECAUSE THE LADY LOVES CHANEL...

Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

This is for all my friends who get more excited by new Chanel accessories than by anything else. This season they have more reason than usual to be under their spell, as these renditions of - in particular - the 2.55 bags take the trend for luxe prettiness into another stratosphere, leaving everything else trailing behind. The clogs are a wickedly humorous touch too, and they are so flattering to wear. Which I was NOT expecting. Enjoy....

Mmm. *Sigh* These beauties are arriving at Chanel boutiques in the next few days.

Find your nearest Chanel store here....

I've got ACNE

Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

This is the Fashion Editor at Large's absolute favourite look from SS10 ACNE

Love the label ACNE. It's the acronym for Ambition to Create Novel Expression and this intention sums up a philosophy to work that is as good as it gets.

Tonight ACNE are having a catwalk show in London. It's their AW10 show. This show will be held before any other mainstream catwalk show in New York, London, Paris or Milan. So, quite a bold move. But if you think that Stella, Celine, Givenchy and a large number of other fashion houses have shown their pre-collections already in Paris we can see that ACNE are in a comfortable place. Their clothes are the equivalent of a giant pre-collection without the mainline to go along with it. In this, as in so many things, ACNE are on another plane of thinking when it comes to conducting their fashion business.

ANYWAY. I adore Jonny Johansson the man behind ACNE fashion, we have enjoyed some fun dinner conversation and I have a sense of wonder for the way his mind works. 

So when I read the below, it made me even more intrigued for the show tonight.

"When I was playing football with my sons, I approached this man who was wearing the most incredible shoes. I had seen him previously walking by my apartment in the most amazing creations - and I was super intrigued as to who he was - it was only later when talking to him that I found out he was Ingmar Bergman's set and costume designer and I realised I loved his work as much as his look."

Turns out Jonny is talking about the legendary Charles Koroly, one of the most successful costume and set designers in Sweden. When we get access to the show venue later it will be Koroly's set design serving as a backdrop to ACNE'S AW10 catwalk show. I wonder if he will be there wearing his incredible shoes.

Love, love, love this dress! Might have to battle with the Fashion Junior at Large for it. Or maybe we can wear on alternate days.

This jacket is Garth Brooks-tastic

This dress will become wearable on the last day of my greek holiday this year, I hope.

Shop the collection here:
http://shop.acnestudios.com/default.asp
Check back later for reports from the show!

CANT WAIT TO WEAR...CAN'T WAIT NOT TO WEAR....

Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

CAN'T WAIT NOT TO WEAR: in my Woolrich parka, GAP khaki's and motorbike ankle boots

CAN'T WAIT TO WEAR: my new pair of what I am calling my rose-tinted spectacles from the 70's. 

A quick post on the END OF THE WINTER SEASON. When you are a fashion journalist on daily or weekly print meda, January is a long month.  This is because in fashion-land, winter ends with the cessation of winter sales and the arrival of new season spring stock into stores. Today was that day, and the longest month of the fashion year is now over. I will celebrate with one YAY! 

This is good news for me as a fashion journalist on the simple level that I can now write stories that have follow through (imaginary or otherwise) at retail level for readers. All the information gleaned and absorbed at the SS10 shows in London/Milan and Paris now has relevance to the fashion-loving public and the fashion journalist can unleash all those thoughts, ideas and fashion facts. After all, there is not much use writing about the trend for wearing pink with khaki if there are rails of sale coats in the shops.

For me personally, the first day of fashion spring is a one for me to hit the shops to see how retailers have bought into the collections. What is in a shop - high end fashion, or high street - is almost NEVER exactly the same as what was in the lookbook you saw, or the catwalk show you viewed for that season. Strange, but true and the reason why a shopping recce is essential.  

ANYWAY. I shopped in a carefully planned and perfectly executed manoeuvre on the Marylebone High Street today, and the experience served to remind me 1. that there is a whole new fashion uniform to get to grips with this season and 2. that my wardrobe is in desperate need of an overhaul. There are things that I love, such as my Woolrich parka - the fashion parka of the winter hands-down - and my Gap khakis (three seasons old) and the motrocycle boots by Gap (even older) that I have come to rely on heavily in this lull of darkest winter. Wearing these items yesterday on a jaunt to Brick Lane Market, (which I see through new eyes since being shown around by my old friend Tamsin O Hanlon just before Christmas) I realised they needed retiring.

This brings me neatly onto the phenomenon I have only just cottoned onto in my own life which I am calling the "I can't wait to wear" frisson. The items listed above (and what I'm wearing in the picture at the top) are things I now CANNOT WAIT NOT TO WEAR, because I want winter to end, and to start wearing my new clothes. (More about them later this week - for I bought two items of CELINE!!!! And a pair of Phillip Lim 3.1 carrot leg khaki's.)  

ALSO, I found the rose-tinted spectacles I'm wearing in the picture at Brick Lane yesterday for £25. These glasses are my new Spring facewear, items I CANNOT WAIT TO WEAR a whole lot more!

Now, I'd better go. A glass of Cotes-du-Rhone calls....

FASHION JUNIOR AT LARGE: MY LUST LIST FOR SS10

Posted by the Fashion Junior at Large

Although it's by no means been warm, the last few days have been comparatively milder than recent weeks, and the spring / summer 2010 trends have already begun to trickle into shops. I can see light and daffodils at the end of the tunnel and I'm starting to fantasise about what I'd like to be wearing as spring evolves. Some of my dream items fall into the 'wardrobe staple' category, and some do not. Some of them I can afford, others I most certainly can't! So here it is - my Lust List for SS10.  Feast your eyes...

ACNE wedge boots - £415. Oh my god I love these, and after reading a post by Luxirare charting the trials and tribulations she experienced whilst making suede ankle boots I appreciate them all the more.

These shorts grabbed me at the Whistles press day. The blush coloured suede produces a much softer look than leather versions (which I'm also massively in the market for). These beauties arrive in stores in mid February priced at £125.

Massively predictable I know but the Mulberry Alexa (£795) is bloody gorgeous. I've been admiring vintage men's briefcases for a while now, and this hybrid based on the classic Bayswater is bang on the money. The Fashion Editor at Large and I love cross-body bags in general so expect a post soon.

I came across Litter SF a few months ago whilst researching a story. They hand make all types of jewellery including chain garters, thumb holsters and studded shoulder pieces. Personally I'm loving this beetle 'handlet' (approx £77).

This might be a liiiiittle bit beyond my reach in terms of budget but that doesn't mean I can't sit back and appreciate its brilliance. It's Celine, it's chic as hell, and it's sold exclusively in 24 stores world-wide including Selfridges, Dover Street Market and Harvey Nichols.

At the ASOS press day I was really excited by their Black collection. I'm not sure how easy it would be to sit down in this dress, or if I'd even be brave enough to wear it out (lets be honest, it's in no way a subtle take on the lingerie trend), but I think it's beautiful nonetheless. We'll have to wait until April for this one, and it costs £95.

Who doesn't own a grey jumper? I'm a huge fan of the 'new twist on an old classic' formula, and the sheer arms on this Stolen Girlfriends Club sweatshirt make everybody's favourite staple look very of the moment indeed (transparency is huge huge HUGE this summer). Get it now on ASOS for £180.

Topshop's sheer tube dress is like a blank canvas for limitless creative styling. I'm envisioning all the fun I'll have layering it this summer. It's only £38 and will go into stores at the start of February. MINE!

This is the most exciting print I've seen in a while. Kaleidoscopic exotic birds, Venus fly traps and red lipstick! It's awesome! The dress is by Belle Savage at ASOS (£320) and will be available to buy in March.

I missed J+ at Uniqlo the first time around, and I don't intend to make the same mistake again. In my mind the coats are far and away the strongest pieces. I'll probably be wearing this one (£99.99) sans the belt.

Picture Credits:

ACNE, Whistles, net-a-porter.com, Litter SF, Style.com, ASOS.com, Topshop, Uniqlo.

MORE JOSEPH SS10!

Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

It's taken me a while to get back to Joseph SS10 part II. A while that has been taken up by an exciting POP magazine commission, and getting my new logo installed as well as widening the visual register of the blog(thanks hapsical you are the best fashion blog geek ever). This is proper progress, and I have been jumping around the living room in a mental kind of hyper joy while my dog Walter looks at me wondering what the hell is going on, while outside thick snow is falling..

I have been having personal wardrobe issues with fashion of late. I don't feel that many designers are catering directly to me/my generation - me and Kate Moss, Stella Mc, Gwyneth Paltrow are of the age group in question.

So I'm pleased that Joseph is making waves in my head. I'm connecting its relaxed sexy urban look with luxe basics labels like Helmut Lang and rebuilding my idea of what fashion is for me, and how I can communicate who I am in a way that feels right with my clothes.

So here are the rest of my Joseph hot picks for Spring 2010 part one is here.
6.

I'm really into Lame for SS10. Joanna Sykes for her Sykes label has done the best silver Lame suit for spring 2010. These trousers are fab. Who knew the harem pant thing would become so mainstream? Olivier Theyskens was a pioneer when he introduced the drop crotch pant at Nina Ricci for AW2008.

7.                                                       

In terms of everyday fashionable legwear the noughties were dominated by skinny jeans, and then by leggings. So it follows that as we depart the decade the two should have become one. The great thing about a jean/legging is that though body-hugging, the garment won't require a crappy rendition of the Single Ladies video dance to squeeze into them. For Spring 2010 jean/leggings will be a staple, and these are damn good ones. As are the those by James Jeans which my colleagues on the fashion team at Grazia are obsessed with.

8.

This woven leather jumper is just what I would wear if I had toned, fit body and was working from my condo on Venice Beach overlooking the ocean. I would take my lunch break and rollerblade up and down the boardwalk. I would wear a bra underneath though.

9.

Charles Anastase is a Parisian designer on the London scene. I like his aesthetic - and I LOVE his fashion illustrations, so am delighted Joseph collaborated with him on this T as well as a few other designs.


That's it on my Joseph own label examination for SS10. My next Joseph investigation will be to reveal which Givenchy and Haider Ackermann looks they have bought for the new season; writing that post will be a form of self-torture.


Want more? Then head to Joseph where they've got Charles Anastase at home on Joseph TV and an Isabel Marant interview.

I CAN'T STOP WEARING...Givenchy wedge ankle boots

Posted by the fashion editor at large

These are things of beauty. I share them with my girlfriend. Oh the joys. We bought them at Joseph on Westbourne Grove at the beginning of the season from a man called Hannibal. Really.  I am properly obsessed with them and will probably wear these tonight to the Prada book launch. Onto wedges in general. I keep trend-spotting girls in wedges. Wedges should not be fashionable. I feel they look a bit medical. But, still, yesterday evening as I walked down into Oxford Circus after a jaunt to TopShop (they have done a fake 80's Versace wall in there which is genius) I trend-spotted a girl in burgundy straight cut cropped above the ankle sta-press trousers, a beige trench (Burberry) with the collar pulled up and black wedge shoes, they looked like ACNE, but could have been Margiela. At that moment I knew the wedge thing is not going away. It's going to get much bigger. By next spring I think it will be a mega-trend. From this moment I am going on a wedge hunt. I have already clutched the three beauties below, also by the lovely Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy, to my heart.  It's the TopShop SS10 press day today...  I will be reporting on what I find there later!

Pics: Chris Moore/Catwalking

THE BEST JEANS IN THE WORLD EVER ARE SUPERFINE

I've kinda gone off jeans lately. I have a cupboard full of jeans and every morning I swing open the doors of said cupboard and lean in with a hand out fully expecting myself to want to wear a pair today. But when it comes to it, I don't. It's strange how you can observe yourself not wanting to do something you thought you wanted to do. But this happens daily. Instead of jeans I'm grabbing either my tailored harem pants from Full Circle, my button leggings from Future Classics or thick wool treggings from Freda at Matches. There is good reason for this of course, jeans have stopped being uber-fashionable and gone back to informal basic status. WELL, that's what I thought BEFORE I saw the jeans shown above from Superfine, which are available online at Browns. In my head I am so that girl today (most days). What I LOVE about both of those jeans - apart from the design, obviously - is that they look like a lifestyle choice. They are definite and sexy and you can wear them a hundred times and know you'll feel good. And I can vouch for the fact that Superfine fit like a glove and the waistband doesn't cut into you in a way that makes you fear for your fertility as so many jeans do. Tomorrow I am getting myself to Browns and using my press discount! :)