Celebrating Matthew Williamson's Amazonia Collection

Last week I attended a dinner at Matthew Williamson’s Queen’s Park Studio for a dinner to celebrate his new Amazonian-themed collection. Well, I say dinner but it was certainly more of a tropical extravaganza. Hosted by Matthew’s right-hand girls (and party planner extraordinaires) Rosanna Falconer and Georgie Macintyre.  In the company of three parrots (yup, not even kidding) and a flurry of exotically dressed guests, I was served a delicious Balthazar London feast and waaaay too many glasses of NYEtimber bubbles amongst various wild and feathered figurines surrounding my plate! We were then adorably spoiled with mini meringue pies and jelly snakes served alongside our mint drunk from elegant vintage crockery.

The collection, inspired by the Amazon and the spiritual revelations and awakenings reportedly experienced from consuming ayahuasca, the enlightening drug shamans have used for centuries as a window into the soul and cure for illness and depression.  The typically vibrant Matthew Williamson prints contain beetles, monkeys, snakes and a lot of stunning, tropical flowers; mood lifting indeed!

TLC Loves Matthew Williamson's Amazonia Collection...

Above (L-R) Clockwise:  Raspberry Jungle Bloom Silk Chiffon Gathered Gown (RRP. £950.00), Mint Jungle Bloom Embroidered Flare Dress (RRP. £795.00), Raspberry Mother Amazon Silk Slip Dress (RRP. £295.00), Jungle Bloom Embroidered Halter Gown (RRP. £2,295.00), Lemon Jungle Bloom Silk Chiffon Gathered Gown (RRP. £950.00).  See the rest of the Amazonia Collection HERE.

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The Golden Globes 2016

Award season kicked off this week with the 2016 Golden Globes (a lot like the Oscars, but a whole heap more drunken!)  Of course this time is about reflecting on and celebrating the most recent, epic movies and all the outstanding performances that Hollywoodland have exposed… But let’s not kid ourselves here, it’s mainly about the red carpet dresses, people! 

Here is a look at my favourite looks of the night… Ladies, Red Carpet High Fives all round!

Above: Jennifer Lawrence. Wearing wore a bold red Dior Haute Couture column gown topped off with more than 156 carats of Chopard diamonds, J-Law sizzled. A total head turner and show stopper (*and most importantly, she didn’t fall over.)

Above:  Alicia Vikander.  Nominated for not one, but two, Golden Globes, this beauty wore a refreshingly understated, yet effortlessly chic apron-front Louis Vuitton dress with ruffles and shimmering piping.  The cross-strap detailing of the column gown, and delicate pleating, oozed elegance. A total win.


Above:  Cate Blanchett.  The Marmite dress of the night; you either loved it or hated it. I LOVED. For me, Cate can do no wrong on the red carpet, continuously making unexpected, risky and regal choices. Wearing a Givenchy Haute Couture design, with Tiffany & Co. jewellery and a Roger Vivier clutch, Cate’s pale pink 1920’s silhouette, capelet and fringing was all kinds of Downton FAbbey.

Oh, and then there's that awkward moment when bad dresses happen to good people...

Above (L-R): I love Kate Hudson, she’s hilarious… However, I’m still waiting for the punchline of this outfit.  Despite her killer abs being more than sensational, this two-piece Michael Kors (stripper) ensemble, was just not red carpet worthy.  Eva Longoria’s underwhelming and rather conservative floral and bow ensemble just didn’t match the rest of the glitz and the glamour on the red carpet sadly. Melissa McCarthy apparently designed this metallic wrap dress/rain mac herself… Yikes! #StickToYourDayJob.

For the full list of Golden Globe winners, see HERE.  

 

The Met Ball 2013

The Met Ball in New York took place last weekend, the fashion industry’s annual opportunity to show off the most beautiful gowns on the most beautiful people.  This year designers created outfits inspired by ‘punk chaos’ so safety pins, colour clashes and stud embellishments were key in creating some of the most show stopping gowns....

Above:  Cara Delevigne perfectly punked in a plunging Burberry dress armoured in tiny gold spikes.  Hands down the  best dressed of the night.

Above:  The saying goes, 'Go Hard or Go Home' and Sarah Jessica Parker went Hard as NAILS!  SJP accessorised her voluminous Giles Deacon ball-gown (and lace knickers!) with thigh-high velvet TARTAN Louis Vuitton boots and a Philip Treacy Mohican headpiece!  

Above:  Some celebrities really embraced the theme with punk hairstyles and make-up, particularly Anne Hathaway who, wearing vintage Valentino (1992) with yellow nailpolish, took the opportunity to debut her new peroxide hair. I LOVE punk Anne!

Above:  A little safe and not particularly 'punk chaos' but I will NEVER tire of Rooney Marawearing white on the red carpet.  The actress contrasted her dark lipstick with her delicate white lace Givenchy gown.  Otherworldly. 

Above:  Errrrrrrm... Yup. That would be a floral upholstered Kim Kardashian in a Riccardo Tisci designed Givenchy gown, complete with 'gleeves' (glove sleeves).  Dreadful. 

Kate Moss 'Checking Out' of The Ritz in Paris (Vogue US)

I can’t believe I have only just seen this stunning US Vogue editorial, ‘Checking Out,’ published last April.  Photographed by Tim Walker and styled by the magazine's creative director Grace Coddington, Kate Moss wears a dramatic selection of Haute Couture SS’12 designs (Valentino, Dior, McQueen, Givenchy to name but a few!)  The supreme decadence of Marie Antoinette is channelled in the opulent surroundings of The Ritz Paris.  

I have a desperate urge to hop on the Eurostar right now.
Or have a pink bubble bath at the very least.

Gwyneth Paltrow Flying High at the Oscars

My favourite look from this year’s Oscars was undoubtedly Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford. Despite Angelina’s left leg trying its best to pull focus, Gwyneth was stunningly statuesque in a white column gown with matching cape. With natural make up and a soft, relaxed ponytail (an unusual red-carpet trend at this year’s awards) Gwyneth looked breathtakingly fresh, modern and elegant amongst the annual swarm of frills and fluff.

Gwyneth revealed, “I saw a pic of Jackie O in a white dress with a cape and it's been a while since anyone's worn a cape, frankly, except for Superman." The picture she described (left) was of Jackie O in the cream chiffon gown and sweeping cape she designed herself and wore to the inaugural ball in 1961.

Coming a close second to Gwyneth was Oscar nominated Michelle Williams (below) always a red carpet favourite of mine, wearing a pomegranate-coral coloured peplum gown by Louis Vuitton. I loved her clashing pink clutch bag, bright pink lips and the adorable diamante bow brooch attached to her waist.


A special style mention should go to Natalie Portman (far left) the picture of timeless elegance, who chose to wear a 1954 Christian Dior vintage couture polka dot gown despite having her choice of every new dress off the runway. Also, the Oscar nominated Rooney Mara (left) who wore a unique, backless Givenchy structured dress with origami folds and lace details – the white gown along with her porcelain skin, deep red lips and blunt, raven hair created a startlingly striking look on the red carpet.

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Right: Cameron Diaz, who rarely ever puts a foot (or Choo) wrong on the red carpet in my opinion, shone in both her contrasting dresses on the big night; a beautiful and shimmering, pale pink Gucci dress for the awards, followed by a dazzlingly bright orange dress by Victoria Beckham for the Vanity Fair party.