Androgynous Girl

I currently can't get enough of this article. Who would have thought that androgynous dressing could look so feminine?

Article. In Style magazine

Mulberry Spinningfields Opening Party

Mulberry has always been a favourite brand of mine. The Spring Summer 2011 show with it's Secret Garden theme, army of redheads, oversized roses and cute-as-a-button pugs pretty much sealed the deal for me that Mulberry is the ultimate quintessential British brand.

So, imagine my delight to find myself invited to a press lunch and the opening party of the new Manchester store!

The store is located in the luxury Spinningfields of Manchester city centre, just around the corner from the festive ice rink. We were greeted by a bunch of gold Bayswater balloons bobbing in the air outside the store and were handed strawberry and rose petal champagne cocktails as soon as we entered the door into the bustling crowd.

The store itself is full to the brim of lovely, buttery-soft Alexas and Tillies and Baywaters. Terratocca pots full of flourishing green plants filled the tables around these bags.

The entertainment on the night included a photo booth that we spent plenty of time posing in; performances by Ellie Golding and Sunday Girl and a DJ session by Daisy Lowe. Along with the cocktails, miniature fish and chips, burgers and victoria sponge cakes were served.

At the end of the night, I left accompanied by an impressive goody bag, a brand new sparkling Tillie bracelet and a Bayswater balloon. Definately a night to remember!






Photographs via Mulberry

Chanel Pre Fall 2011

I adore these soft-focus shots of Freja, Bambi, Sasha et al lounging around behind the scenes at Chanel's Pre Fall 2011 show in Paris last week. The collection fused together the opulence and extavagance of the lost culture of Byzantium with a bohemian sixties vibe, courtesy of messy beehives, pea coats and a geometric silhouette. The traditional tweed jackets and quilted bags were scattered with multi-coloured precious stones; gold jewels dripping from earrings and adorning the model's textured beehives in the form of filigree headbands.

Seeing the traditional catwalk images on style.com can seem a million miles away to the Chanel enthusiasts such as myself: viewing the collection sat in my pyjamas, wrapped up underneath the duvet whilst my boyfriend watches the snooker and my cat sits on my feet purring gently. Behind-the-scenes photographs such as these can make it seem a lot more real, more personal. Who knew that picture-perfect models could get slightly bored and sullen backstage, leaning against the walls, trying to not to mess up their hair, shuffling their feet and counting down the seconds until they walk out infront of the whos-who of the Fashion world. If possible, these off-guard, candid shots make these girls seem even more otherworldly beautiful. Staring into space, unaware of the cameras, grimacing as their hair is yanked this way and that; these unposed photographs show the models as their true selves.

Images. Style Rumour

Burgundy

Forget Camel, my favourite colour of the season is rich, warm, elegant Burgundy.

Photos. Viktor Vauthier, Facehunter, Fancy Fine, Cherry Blossom Girl,Birds of a Feather, Way Beyond Fabric

Out of a Strobe

There are 1000s of etsy vintage stores out there and it takes a lot of work to make yours stand out. One particular store which I have seen mentioned here and there, that is propelling above the rest, is Out Of A Strobe Vintage.

Out Of A Strobe is run by Kimmy - a lifelong vintage enthusiast, currently living in Germany who has spent the past few years travelling the globe, working for PPQ, styling for various magazines and is now dedicating her creative talent to her vintage site.

The Etsy store features the likes of nineties grunge floral dresses, cosy cable knit jumpers, faux fur coats and lace-up leather boots, all styled and posed by Kimmy herself. U Came Out Of A Strobe is the accompanying blog - packed full of the inspiration behind the collection. And what really makes Kimmy's site stand out from the others, is her self-styled look book.

The shoot is perfect for Fall. The model is photographed in shearling jackets layered over flimsy patterned dresses; slouchy oversized jumpers worn with floaty chiffon skirts; lent against trees, strolling through meadows, laying in the tall grass. This is the work of someone who is serious about what they want to achieve and has all of the tools that they need to get there!

Louise Benson

Sometimes, I stumble across photographs that I really, really wish that I had taken myself. The stories that accompany them tell of summer jaunts in the countryside, inprompt photoshoots with friends, quaint holidays in French villages and discovering unspoilt parks in the midst of bustling cities. Louise Benson's photographs make me look at the South in a new light. Her interpretations of London/Cambridge/Brighton (and those quaint French villages) make me want to ram my belongings into a suitcase, grab my camera and lead my friends on an adventure up hills over fences into rivers and onto roofs.

Abigail Varney.

My top tip for the day: check out the stunning photography of Abigail Varney

Work Wear

Since starting my new job this week, I have been rethinking office work wear. I work for a luxury fashion retailer, so I have to look smart, but I would also like to incorporate a bit of stylishness into my work wear, and ultimately, a bit of 'me'. I don't wear trousers, and I generally don't wear black, so I have been searching high and low for inspiration of what to wear for work.

shirt dresses
lina di moda

plaid shirts, tucked into high waisted skirts
lea seydoux

starch white shirt tucked into a slinky black maxi skirt
first of august

cutesy pinafore dresses layered with cotton shirts
esme and the lane way

Midi A-line skirts (black leather, perhaps)
park and cube

tailored dresses and chunky cardigans
stockholm street style

mad men inspired dresses - nipped in waists, full skirts and buttoned up collars
dvn

pretty silk blouses with bows and a-line minis
clemence posey

neutral coloured silk shirt and smart skirt combos
the golden diamonds

smart fitted jumpers, full skirts and court shoes
vogue australia

peter pan collars peeking out underneath sweaters
caroline's mode

a high-waisted sheer polka dot midi-skirt with a plain black jumper
birds of a feather

classic parisian style -tailored skirt, smart shirt and beret
all the pretty birds

a smart skirt, with braces and a jumper
altamira

What do you wear for work?