British Fashion Awards 2013

Celebrating their quarter century, a whole bevy of British beauties descended upon theLondon Colliseum on Monday night for the much-anticipated 2013 British Fashion Awards.  What I love about the British fash pack, is that they never arrive at awards show looking too over done.  This year (with the exception of Rita Ora and Rosie Hunting-Whitely who perhaps tried a bit harder) the fashionistas arrived ready to let their dishevelled bed head hair down (rose-gold ombre hair in Sienna Miller’s case!) and wearing couture and designer gowns with the perfect nonchalance. These are some cool cats. 

Above: (Clockwise) L-R:  Kate Moss (in Alexander McQueen) and Rita Ora (in Vivienne Westwood), Alexa Chung in Stella McCartney, Laura Bailey (in Roksanda Ilincic) and Rosie Huntington-Whitely (in Antonio Beradi).

Above:  My favourite look of the night was 21 year old Suki Waterhouse who wore a plunging lilac lace Burberry dress, accessorized with a Smythson clutch and a Noor Fares dangling necklace.  The model wore her ash blonde hair in a scruffy up-do.

Amusingly, having scooped the last three British Style Awards herself, Alexa Chung passed the style baton on to none other than Harry Styles!  I wasn't entirely aware that it was fashion that ol'Harry was known best for... Perhaps that's what the kids are calling it these days.  In any event, the award obviously must now be retitled the British Styles Award?!  

Above (Clockwise L-R): Lily Donaldson (in Marc Jacobs), Harry Styles (in Saint Laurent byHedi Slimane), Sienna Miller (in Burberry), Model of the Year Edie Campbell (in Louis Vuitton) and Poppy Delevingne (in Emilia Wickstead).

Above: Kate Moss, synonymous with British style, received a special recognition award celebrating her success in the fashion industry.  Discovered at 14 years old and turning 40 next month, this does beg the question,  why did this take so long?!  Congrats KM!  

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

        Womenswear Designer of the Year - Christopher Kane
        Menswear Designer of the Year - Burberry
        International Designer of the Year - Miuccia Prada for Prada
        Designer Brand of the Year - Burberry
        Accessory Designer of the Year - Nicholas Kirkwood
        Emerging Womenswear Designer - Simone Rocha
        Emerging Menswear Designer - Agi & Sam
        New Establishment Designer - JW Anderson
        Model of the Year - Edie Campbell
        Red Carpet Award - Erdem
        Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator - Lady Amanda Harlech
        British Style Award brought to you by Vodafone (voted by the public) - Harry Styles
        Special Recognition Award - Kate Moss
        Special Recognition Award - Suzy Menkes
        Outstanding Achievement in Fashion - Terry and Tricia Jones, founders of i-D

Above (R-L):  Agi Mdumulla and Sam Cotton, Suzy Menkes OBE, Lady Amanda Harlech,J.W. Anderson with model & Arizona Muse, Simone Rocha and Tim Walker.

Kate Moss Walks for Louis Vuitton AW'13

Two years ago it was a cigarette, last year a carousel, and this year it was a cropped black wig.  Kate Moss once again walked the Louis Vuitton Fall 2013 runway on the final day of Paris Fashion Week last week.  Kate wore the revealing, floral embroidered gown with her signature nonchalance, supporting her good friend, designer Marc Jacobs.

The show had a real Downton Abbey vibe – according to the show notes this was translated with an ‘attitude of getting dressed up only to find the most glamorous destination is one's own hotel room.’   With that energy in mind, models emerged from behind closed doors adorned in a selection of gorgeous 1920’s-style French lace lingerie dresses and shimmering long-sleeve gowns covered in rounded, lavish overcoats in dusky pink and soft grey. 1940’s-style inspired suits, ladylike shirts and jackets in an array of velvet, tweed, printed satin (and unfortunately fur) made for an elegant, sophisticated collection (despite the lack of bras - apparently not so 2013).  I adored the luxe silk pyjamas which were not only worn by several models on the runway, but also by Marc Jacobs himself as he took his bow (below).

blog_224153_1962155_1363628727.jpg

Valentines Day Gift Guide 2013

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Topshop Iris Print Dress - RRP. £42.00, Rosie for Autograph Rose Bra and Brazilian Knickers - RRP. £22.50 & £12.50,  REN Moroccan Rose Bath Oil at ASOS - RRP. £30.00,  Fabulous Frocks at Waterstones - RRP. £14.99 £13.49, Miu Miu Sunglasses - RRP. £225.00,  Harvey Nichols Valentines Hamper - RRP. £70.00

blog_209828_1920395_1360615773.jpg

Kate: The Kate Moss Book

Rizzoli have released a Kate Moss coffee table book featuring a collection of photographs, chosen by Kate Moss herself, spanning the supermodel’s lengthy 20 year career.  Edited by her ex-boyfriend Jefferson Hack and close friend Jess Hallett, contributing photographers include Hedi Slimane, Juergen Teller, Terry Richardson, Mario Testino, Corinne Day and Karl Lagerfeld, to name just a few!  The 488 page book, which will be on EVERY fashionista’s Christmas list this year, is a ‘highly personal and complete retrospective of Kate Moss’s career, illustrating her evolution from girl to supermodel to photographic icon,’ which is also reflected by using 8 different covers (below) depicting this transformation.  This book is the ultimate roundup of the ultimate British supermodel. Dear Santa…

Below (L-R): Kate Moss attending a book signing wearing SS'13 Marc Jacobs, attending her book launch at 50 St.James Street Mayfair. 

'Kate: The Kate Moss Book,' RRP.£50.00
(Currently available here from Waterstones for RRP.£39.50)

Cara Delevigne - Model Du Jour

Phew!! Was there a single catwalk in the past fashion month that Cara Delevigne did not walk?!  The British model du jour, Cara appeared in 28 shows over the course of New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks, making her the most booked model of the season. Cara walked for Burberry, Matthew Williamson, Marchesa, Jason Wu, Rag & Bone, Fendi, D-Squared, Sass & Bide, Mary Katrantzou, Ermanno Scervino, Acne, Marc Jacobs... And the prestigious list goes ON! This girl deserves a BIG holiday (and a foot rub...)

And behind the scenes... Some of Cara's Tweets. What's NOT to love about this girl?!!

New York Fashion Week's SS'13 Trends

After eight days of being glued to the shows at New York Fashion Week I have been shown an insight into what next year's fashion holds in store.  Amongst the sporty references, monochrome combinations, oversized silhouettes and powerful prints, there were four main trends which I could see standing out above the rest...

1.  FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

An S&M influence was clear to see on the catwalks, and although this has said to have been inspired by famed fashion photographer Helmut Newton's iconic black and white images, I think it may also be accredited to the bestselling novel, 'Fifty Shades of Grey.'  When even Oscar de la Renta, known for his ultra feminine style, succumbs to using leather and latex, you know next Spring's wardrobe will be all kinds of racy.

Above: Herve Leger By Max Azria

Above: Jason Wu

Above: Oscar de la Renta

2.  CUTAWAY

Following on from the previous trend, even more skin was shown on the SS'13 runways this Fashion Week with several designers slicing and dicing their dissected garments.{cke_protected_1}

Above: Peter Som

Above: Victoria Beckham

3.  FEARLESS SHEERNESS

Once again, MORE skin!  This trend however, is a far more subtle way of showing off your body, with sheer paneling and 'peekaboo' layering.
{cke_protected_2}

Above: J Mendel

Above: Charlotte Ronson

4.  BOLD STRIPES

Horizontal, vertical, monochrome, colourful, barcode, prisoner... you name it, the NYFW SS'13 runways had it!  There were dizzying zigs and zags in every direction! 
{cke_protected_1}

Above: Marc Jacobs

Above: Michael Kors

Above: Oscar de la Renta

Beyonce and Ivy's Cat and Mouse Footsteps

Last week Beyonce was photographed in NYC wearing a pair of much sought after Charlotte Olympia leopard print kitty flats (that I wrote about here) whilst 2 month old Blue Ivy, followed in her Mummy's fashionable footsteps, wearing teeny tiny Marc Jacobs gold mouse pumps. The diddy mice have attached socks and embroidered tails. Adorable!