where has all the lippy gone...

... a desperate plea for a return to gorgeous smackers!

Although i have always been an advocate for beautifully lacquered lips my distress at the current lack of lipstick wearers has been recently compounded by it's extensive usage in film/tv and on the catwalk. Keira Knightley looked sublime in 'Atonement', where there was not a scene lacking lipstick and in the recent Stephen Poliakoff drama, 'Capturing Mary', Ruth Wilson looked divine in sumptuous late fifties gowns and matt, bright lips.





Equally exciting for me were the lips seen on models in aut/winter '07-'08 Christian Dior, channelling a modern take on '40s style.

Why, then, when lovely lips (sorry for the revolting adjectives) and by this i mean lipstick, preferably matt but glossy finish equally good when used in the right time and place, not lipgloss, are to be seen everywhere are they not seen everywhere on our streets? Lipstick used to be a woman's first line of defence, a prerequisite for glamour, now its largely seen (especially, i've found, by men) as an example of 'trying too hard', that dreaded element of modern style. therefore, when dousing my lips i try to get into a mindset of the 1920's-late '50s woman, seeing it as more elementary to style than the modern make-up mindset allows.

knitting needles to the ready!

Although not very competent at knitting i'm thinking a massiiiiiive scarf like those seen at Giles are within my ability.

I also like the smaller knit of this woman's long scarf, taken from the sartorialist.

leather up for winter

Christopher Kane was no doubt nervous about the reception his latest offering, autumn/winter collection '07-08, would receive. After wowing the world with his spring/summer '07 collection, which boasted an impeccable merging of colours with body contouring mini dresses and frills, all waited with baited breath to see if he could deliver again.

(below: s/s '07)

Luckily for us, Christopher Kane is not a man to disappoint. His autumn/winter collection brings his micro dresses into winter with leather, crystals and velvet.

(below: some highlights of a/w '07-08)

Absolutely love the two dresses above in particular. Not too sure about the two below, however, a little too Chloe for winter for my liking but still enjoy the sumptuous wintry feel he's created.

(below: Chloe s/s '07 & right Christopher Kane a/w '07-8)

This season i would like ...

... these sun glasses from Biba.

Big Trousers

So, still stuck in my summer rut and rather thinking that, with this current weather, i may as well go straight into my autumn wardrobe i have found a few old delights at the depths of my wardrobe. One such item is a formerly much beloved pair of harem pants. Bought three years ago (i think) as my Christmas dinner outfit the said trousers were since been worn for a variety of occasions - including, unfortunately, fancy dress - but were then relegated to the back of my drawers. Marc Jacobs' s/s '07 collection saw many balloon type, voluminous trousers in grey, beige and cream tones. This woman - off Facehunter.blogspot.com - successfully pulls off the trousers in a sophisticated, layered fashion in more neutral tones.

Unfortunately, i do not do layering (i am trying but a slightly chubby 5ft 3" frame just doesn't yell "layer me", i just end up looking like a snow ball, rolling down the hill gathering more snow) and am far too young for a neutral pallet. Therefore, I'm far more likely to rock my harem pants in truly eighties inspired fashion, like this woman from hel-looks.com below. I apologise now.

This season i would like ...

... shoes with a perspex heel.

Despite my better judgement (which is saying i'll look like a cheap American bar tender/table dancer, though maybe this is part of the appeal) i feel a perspex heel, killer high of course, would sufficiently jazz up my weary wardrobe.

The spring/summer '07 collections were littered with perspex heels and not just from those designers peddling the 'futuristic' look.

(Above: Marc Jabobs, Channel, Emilio Pucci.

Below: Alexander McQueen, Lanvin.)

Of course, having a limited budget the below options are more likely. Which, it has to be said, has deterred me a little. In the process of moving from the catwalk to the high street more than the usual amount of style has been lost with these shoes. Also, though it seemed rather daring and modern when i saw the designer models, by the time the trend had trickled through to high street versions i can actually afford, the whole effect seemd totally naff and i felt myself the quintessential fashion victim. That said, id still happily wear the marc jacobs pair above if given £300.

(Above: Asos, Dune)

an english summer ...

Summer, in my wardrobe, is unfortunately less easy, breezy, languid days and more a tornado of destructive events. Each year i despair that the bringing of scorching days and warmer, fuzzy nights (ok maybe only some of the time, but still getting the mind set here) seems to bring a total lack of style for me. Don't get me wrong, my winter wardrobe is distinctly lacking in the comprehensive style front, but it does not create a total melt-down of the style spirit, as summer does. For this reason i declare each year that this summer will be different, that i will attempt to construct attractive and stylish outfits - even if this does mean buying a whole new wardrobe of clothes. Yet each year i open the wardrobe and, faced with the same problems, dissolve into a fit of tears, try on and throw around each item of clothing and despair that my only gorgeous outfit (a vintage Laura Ashley summer dress) makes me look like a shot-putter due to the 1 stone weight gain i seem unable to prevent over winter!

This year, then, will be different. Well, only to a certain extent seeing as i have already gone through the first stages of anguish - clothes throwing, tears, fear of weight gain - so the difference is confined to affirmative action. Plans to; lose a stone, effectively wear the clothes i already have by careful accessorising and the purchase of three, sure fire summer looks are now underway.

Turbans 'R' Us

Fed up with reading yet another 'witty' angst ridden story of yet another woman attempting to 'test-drive' the turban, i feel an unusual obligation to defend this, granted, rather daring piece of head wear. Having purchased a turban in a vintage store last year i was excited/slightly miffed to see a splattering of them over the spring/summer '07 catwalks. The emphasis here should firstly be on the word splattering, for that's what it was. Ralph Lauren and Prada parading the turban does not an onslaught make!

Left: Ralph Lauren Right: Prada

All the models were sent down the Prada catwalk with sumptuous silk turbans in a variety of opulent colours. Despite the collection being far darker than the average summer wardrobe the turbans were teamed with very wearable - if a little short - pieces. Below is a typical example of one of the starched, patterned tunics Miuccia coupled with headpiece. Ralph Lauren, in contrast, chose to pair the black turban with a diamond brooch, black trouser suit and tie with a white shirt. Exuding power and control the models were radiant with elegance and sophistication.

Aside from it's recent eruption onto the catwalk the turban has, throughout the twentieth century, been indicative of female strength and beauty. This has undoubtedly translated throughout the centuries through Sikhism, from the Old Testament, when the turban was a symbol of dignity, self respect and authority. Europeans have embraced the turban from the eighteenth century but it was from the early twentieth century that it was used as a classic, chic piece of headgear, as seen in with these hat patterns.

The turban has since then been embraced by Hollywood, famously by Joan Crawford and Audrey Hepburn (below).

Why, then, are people so shocked and disinclined to promote the current flux of turbans in the world of fashion? In particular, why are people so ready to mock and giggle at what they presume to be fashion's most recent ridiculous trend? One can only presume they are wearing the look wrong, as Prada and Ralph Lauren have, as discussed earlier, depicted clearly wearable ways to adopt the headpiece. Tonight i am defiantly wearing my turban to the pub and i'm sure will not experience the hysteria so many fashion journalists seem to have faced!

Metallica Inspiration

This season a full range of metallic accessories, from bags to belts, have been seen on any respectingly fashion conscious celeb. From fingers littered with chunky gold rings to gold studded belts a metal accessory is an easy way of channelling the futuristic/punk trends coming off the spring/summer '07 catwalk. As seen above Hussein Chalayan, Lanvin and Balenciaga all put out shows with a strong futuristic vibe. Adopting gold studded accessories also ties in nicely with the '80s casual day look which appears almost unavoidable at the moment.

Recreation Station

The Flower Shower floral trend look is simple and realtively cheap to recreate. Simply go to http://www.vvrouleaux.com, pick and mix your favourite flower items, get out the super glue and an old hair band and get creative. Below are some hot choices from the site.

Flower Shower

Romantic Florals (Clockwise): Sonia Rykiel, Valentino,

Roberto Cavalli and Louis Vuitton.

Regardless of the year the spring/summer season is awash with floral. This year even the high street got in there early with Topshop’s Celia Birtwell designed range giving a nod to her original floral prints. On the spring/summer ’07 catwalk the floral ‘trend’ ranged from the gentle romance of the floral at Lois Vuitton, Valentino and Roberto Cavalli, the headbands at Sonia Rykiel to the lush excess of floral adornment at Alexander McQueen and Manish Arora. So, this summer floral, whatever the size, will deffinitely give you a fresh and blossoming look.

Heavy Floral Adornment at (left to right): Alexander McQueen,

Manish Arora.