Meadham Kirchhoff SS14

So... I was reading Rookie's  Meadham Kirchhoff Spring/Summer 14 piece- which i LOVE- I think their seasonly articles are part of my love for the brand as opposed to a nice extra, it feels like you really get under the skin of the collection before its presented commercially in the magazines.  Edward Meadham described the SS14 offering as- 

“I called the collection Ante Dominae (which apparently is a misspelling—oops!), by which I mean anti-society, anti–mainstream culture. Do want you want, create your own alternative, your own narrative, and your own set of codes and morals."

Considering the collections ethos, I spotted this snakeskin jacket,

Familiar? Perhaps not without the context- but after reading Meadham's commentary, i couldn't help but draw comparisons...

"This is a snakeskin jacket! And for me it's a symbol of my individuality, and my belief... in personal freedom." Wild at Heart, David Lynch

Pretty cool! Its probably one of my favourite things when i actually GET a reference in a collection without looking it up or reading about it, or the feeling of connecting to an ethos behind a collection/brand.. and i think thats why i love the label so much. Sometimes it leaves a bad taste in my mouth when a collection resonates with my interests. I find it hard to swallow that a mostly middle aged upper class man could GET what i'm about- ahem Jeremy Scott i'm looking at you- but with Meadham Kirchhoff the collections are never contrived. The fact they allow a young photographer in to their studio during fashion season really cements their genuine respect for teen girls that love their work- despite the fact we can't afford the clothes. 

Urban Outfitters Camden Launch

On Monday I was invited to the Urban Outfitters launch party of their new store in Camden. I'm not the biggest UO gal there is going, but who am i to turn down free prosecco and a goodie bag? 

As well as all the bubbly i could neck within an hour, freebies included huge tubs of pic n mix dotted around the store, which i helped myself to probably too much of, and manicures! UO may not be the most legit of companies, but they sure do know the way to a girls heart.

The shop itself was pretty cool, with illustrators and graphic designers creating custom pieces on tables for the store while we were there. The Camden branch is Urban Outfitters smallest in London, and has more of a show room feel than a high street store (a good thing), although lack of space did make it hellish once the party got started, (did i really just use that expression?), and what must have been more than 200 pre teens ensued. 

Oh, and there was a photobooth. Which i obviously took full advantage of despite my awful swollen face due to prescribed steroids and being the colour of a tomato due to the 30 degree heat. What was I thinking? 

'Freeze Frame'

Final layout for the photo shoot! Based on i-D magazine blah blah I hate indesign & photoshop spending eight hours in a room with no windows is no fun but I am super happy with the final outcome ! Also excuse the awful name but who's job is it to think of super deep names for shoots? I would like to hire you because i am no good at it.

Spring/Summer 13 Shoot Preview

Rough edits of a 60sish themed s/s photoshoot for my uni project. 
Using patterns from the catwalk e.g prada moschino etc and Marlena is such a babe!!!! I'm obsessed with the glitter/plaits/makeup... I'll post the final images once i have edited properly etc
Oh and a very quick sloppy post i am both ill and lazy not a good combination for a successful blog i will try harder next time i promise i promise! 

Fashion Moment- Flower Crowns

Final piece of work for uni before Christmas-

Flower crowns may not be the most urbane of trends, but what started as Frida Kahlo unknowingly shaping Mexican fashion in the early twentieth century with her ethereal floral headpieces and trademark mono-brow has bloomed into one of the most obnoxious accents adorned throughout the century.

Despite the connotation of 15-year-old topshop princesses swaying to mediocre indie bands at their first festival experience, downing cheap cider and trying with little success to recreate the atmosphere of the summer of love, there’s no denying the never dwindling popularity of the frivolous accessory.

Reaching its peak during the hippie revolution, and worn by everyone from your average acid head Woodstock reveler to 60s folk sweetheart Joni Mitchell, who went as far to note the accessory much later than its flower child heyday in 1991 release The Only Joy in Town. The questionable style of what is essentially a stooped up Alice band has caught the attention of the internets own love child, Tavi Gevinson.

Although Tavis’ adaptation may seem more Drew Barrymore in 90s flick Best Men than surrealist painter Kahlo, whose flowers were said to disguise the pain and anguish so famously featured in her self-portraits, Gevinson’s flower crown tutorial on online magazine rookie has inspired a whole generation of tweens to emulate her iconic look.

For a trend firmly rooted in street style and culture, the flower crown has had its fair share of catwalk fame. Vivienne Westwood’s red label S/S13 features the somewhat obscure combination of 40s inspired headdresses- more reminiscent of your grandma’s rain hat than couture- spruced up with, you guessed, flower crowns in place of the more traditional pin curl. With Celebrities such as Alexa Chung and the more questionable Lana Del Ray championing the look, it’s unlikely to fade any time soon.

Not all of us will be able to afford the plane ticket to see Kahlo’s wardrobe exhibited this winter in Mexico, but we can all- Despite its somewhat shallow exterior- adorn our flower crowns with pride in remembrance of Frida, the first alternative fashion icon.

Christmas Wish List

Christmas by ione-gamble featuring a zipper bag

Long sleeve shirt / Ponte knit pants / ASOS leather boots / ASOS leather boots / Meadham Kirchhoff zipper bag, $1,260

Thought I'd half arsedly, (definitely not a word), attempt to use polyvore!  Everything other than the AMAZING Meadham Kirchhoff bag is actually on my Christmas list, (not sure i'll be able to afford £700 pounds any time soon, no matter how perfect it is), the annoying thing about the bag is i used to own the exact same one when i was twelve in bright green. Somehow its disappeared  probably thrown away by my disgusted mum. Anyway, obviously everything's black and white, I've been lusting after the topshop trousers ever since seeing a girl on my course rocking them. As for polo necks, my friends will tell you that I'm a hater, usually due to the fact i pull faces whenever they wear one. But the lace is so pretty! I'm a convert. 

Anyway, if you have polyvore and if you can even follow people on polyvore then follow me there? I'm not sure I'll ever get in to it/learn how to use it buy y'know. 

P.S I know wish lists are boring but I have no time for anything else maybe I will post something more interesting soon who knows who knows.

"Well, I'm off like a dirty shirt"

With the 80's possibly being my favourite era of all time, its only natural to expect that I take a huge amount of fashion/life inspiration from Pretty in Pink. Arguably my favourite film, but lets not start that conversation. Directed by the mastermind John Hughes, the movie itself has a pastel pretty aesthetic and generally makes me glow a little.  Not only is the film sweet witty and i could possibly watch it 100 times a day and not get bored, (why am i saying possibly? I definitely could),but  oh my god does Iona, Andie's Boss, have style! Her eccentric looks are nothing short of genius, take the above white wig/monochrome ensemble, this is a woman after my own heart.

Oh, and shes also responsible for one half of Andie's awful prom dress, but we wont talk about that.