Couture SS14 // Valentino's Fairytale Opera

Image from celebmafia.com

Hello!

You may have noticed all the extravagance and glamour of Couture Fashion Week occurring recently; I haven't had time to fully examine all the shows, but the genius that is Valentino most definitely caught my attention, so I thought I'd share my favourite bits with you. I know, I only just spouted about my adoration for them and their SS14 ready to wear show in this post, but I couldn't not talk about this incredible collection!

The location and runway were transformed into a forest wonderland, with deer and butterflies scattered across the walls to set the scene. And the dresses? Mesmerising. Some were slinky plain fabric, draped exquisitely, some were delicate layers of ballerina-style tulle with frills and embellished snakes and peacocks entwined about the body, and others were sheer lacy ballgowns embroidered with various wildlife. The dewy, fresh-faced models were like fairytale princesses in an earthy palette of browns, blacks and mossy green; simply beautiful.

Sexy and feminine, yet girlish and magical. There's something about those 3D butterflies across the decolletage and a transparent skirt printed with a music staff that got my heart racing.

Thank you, St. Valentino.

Images of the runway from the Vogue website; see the full collection and show report here.

What were your favourite couture week moments?

Sophie

Golden Globes 2014

Hello! Just a quick post with my favourite looks from the Golden Globes the other night. You've probably seen these a million times already but hey, I wanted to pick what I thought were the best of the bunch.

Emma Watson, you beauty. This caused stirs of 'what was she wearing?' but I absolutely adore her completely backless, postbox red Dior dress paired with those skinny black cigarette trousers. Fricking divine. Looks so effortlessly elegant from the front, and yet so effortlessly sexy from the back. She kept the makeup simple, with a sleek bun, red lips, and those excellent brows. I could literally look at her face all day long. Great, unique choice, Emma. My top outfit of the night!

Some others I liked...

The ridiculously beautiful Jessica Chastain, bringing it once again with a simple black strapless Givenchy number, classic pearl necklace and those flaming orange curls. She's always a winner.

Cate Blanchett, winner of Best Actress, looking exquisite as always in an intricate black lace Armani dress.

Kaley Cuoco, from my (probably) favourite ever TV show, The Big Bang Theory, in Rani Zakhem. Not 100% convinced on the slicked over hair, but love the bustier shaping and dreamy watercolour florals of the dress. Nice.

Brilliant actress Lizzy Caplan in Emilio Pucci: I love the shape of the neckline, the geometric clutch bag, the futuristic-yet-medieval sleeves...basically, it's all good.


And to finish off, it's Emma Watson again! Yep, she's so awesome she decided to change into another show-stopping outfit for the after party, making her my double favourite of the night!

Here, Emma wear a stunning gothic floral dress with sheer mesh panels from Theory. Just, wow. She's definitely becoming a style icon, and one of my inspirations.

So there you have it! 

What were your favourite red carpet looks from the Golden Globes? 

Let me know!

Thanks for reading,

Sophie.

Dane DaHaan for Prada SS14

An intriguing little story popped up on the Vogue email newsletter today: 27 year old actor Dane DeHaan is the new face for Prada's SS14 menswear campaign.

You may recognise him from the brilliant superpower film Chronicle, western Lawless, the controversial Kill Your Darlings or as Gosling's offspring in the emotional The Place Beyond The Pines, but now he has Prada model to add to his already fairly excellent career. I think Dane is one of those actors that you always recognise his face, but can't really place him, and are surprised when you realised how much he has been in! I've always thought he was interestingly beautiful, and he looks great in Prada's gorgeous new collection, which I already raved about in an earlier blog post here. 

I just love those floral sweatshirts! A very cool new campaign. Roll on SS14!

What do you think of Prada's new face?

Fashion Week Favourites: Meadham Kirchhoff's Victoriana Schoolgirls

Hi there!

Even though London Fashion Week was over a month ago now, I've been so busy that I'm still catching up on next years collections! However, when Meadham Kirchhoff's collection of brilliance caught my eye, I couldn't resist doing another Fashion Week Favourite.

Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff never fail to surprise; their designs don't really understand the meaning of rules, or subtlety, and the word wearable doesn't really spring to mind either. But, they are always incredibly creative and inspiring, and the kind of clothes I'd want to wear if I was that little bit braver or, you know, cooler.

There was an air of Halloween about this collection, despite it being that of next summer...but then again, there always is that slightly gothic edge with Meadham Kirchhoff. There's lace, lots and lots of lace, mostly black and white but with a pop of seductive red thrown in for good measure. Masculine tailored jackets with military details sat over frilly babydoll dresses and knee high socks add a sense of formality, roughed up by cut-off sleeves and exposed midriffs.

Accessories are also the stars of the show; there were multiple childlike bows adorning fiery red ringlets, oversized bonnets-come-sunhats fresh from a Jane Austen novel and the coolest fricking sunglasses I have ever seen. Spiky black frames with bats round the ears? Yes please.

Those glasses, oh my. ♥

Take a bow, Meadham Kirchhoff.

All images from the Vogue website, see the full show and catwalk report here.

What are your favourite trends this season?

Fashion Week Favourites: Valentino's Tribal Couture

Hello!

Well, sadly, Fashion Month is over! Paris Fashion Week was the last piece of runway loveliness for us to lust over this season, and boy, was it a good one.

So the next in my Fashion Week Favourites is from the French capital itself, and it's the fashion legend that is Valentino.

Valentino, lead by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, is always a beautiful show to watch, but this season it just seemed to push the wow factor up a notch. Valentino is always reliable for classically stunning gowns and eveningwear, but this collection was more diverse and definitely more wearable. There was a varied mix of inspiration on display, from tribal embellishment to schoolgirl headbands and masculine shirts. I love the details here; the necklaces wrapped round to create chokers, the basic white shirt turned into a cape, demure shapes combined with autumnal lace and sheer mesh.... it's all very, very good. 

My favourite collection of the season? I think so.

Valentino, be my valentine? ♥♥♥

All images from the Vogue website, see the full collection here.

Did you like the new Valentino collection? 

What was your highlight of Fashion Month?? Let me know!

PS: Also, I am super excited to say that I am now a volunteer student blogger for handmade jewellery brand Jewellery Moments! My first event is Durham Fashion Week next Saturday, and I cannot wait! Check out their bespoke jewellery here.