Sonya Rykiel A/W

Bold colours, kooky tailoring and voluminous ruffles were the name of the game at Sonya Rykiel’s A/W show. Alice bands with pom poms – reminiscent of preened topiary bushes – bobbed upon heads, the figures underneath cocooned in chunky knit dresses, oh-so-cosy cashmere coats and sheer, body-skimming silk dresses in electric blue, scarlet, ochre, black and blush. There were plenty more quirky touches to come. A stripy, knitted full-body suit was teamed with aviator goggle style glasses and a top hat, while ridiculously puffy dresses that looked like marshmallows bounced happily down the catwalk – the models clearly enjoying themselves and providing an effect that was infections. The accessories too only added to this charming, eccentric English aesthetic. Gorgeously tactile fluffy totes, retro-inspired leather belts, cosy woolly tights and daring platform heels – with the ubiquitous platform wooden sole that next season is all over – striding the looks down in style.

[Images: tfs]

Triple denim

Because the best things always come in 3's.

[Model: Noot Seear in vogue italia february 2010. Images from Knight Cat via tfs]

The Princess

If Elvis is The King, then Riley Keough, his 20 year old granddaughter, is surely The Princess. Show-stoppingly beautiful, with "her grandmother Priscilla's bone structure, her grandfather's jawline and her mother Lisa Marie's almond shaped eyes," - as well as kohl-lined eyes and the tattoos on her hand and wrist that speak of the rock'n'roll running through her veins. But on top of all of this, Riley's got the most intrinsic sense of style, as profiled in the latest issue of British Vogue. Vintage dresses, tailored jackets and quirky, unique and easy-to-wear pieces, she cites Alexander Wang, 3.1 Philip Lim, Chloe, Lanvin and Alaia as her favourite designers, with Doc Martins being her footwear du jour. Oh, to have such a wardrobe!!

[tfs]

Embellish

Unless you've been living in a hole for the last six months or so, you'll have seen embellishments everywhere this season. From sequins and studs to badges, chain mail, zips, lace paneling, glitter, appliqué and more, it’s almost a glutton-fest for your fingers to touch all this textile-icious finery. I love fashion ornaments like no other – in fact, my friend’s often call me a magpie as every time I flick through a vintage jumble rail or pour my way through the heaving throng of Oxford Street’s Topshop, I am instinctively drawn to the glitteriest or most textured garment I can find. (I think it’s because I adore thrifty, mix-match style and I’m a sucker for an original find – plus I loooove mixing different textures and colours together.)

But now, without even meaning to, I seem to be moving away from the twinkly, 3D trend I once championed. My oh-so-garish 80’s sequin cocktail jacket, which I wore at every opportunity when I first got it (not kidding), has been cutting a lonely figure in the bottom of my wardrobe since the end of summer. And my pretty, flapper-style sequin beret? The same fate has bestowed it. But why…?? I think I just get bored of things. (And far too easily in my opinion, especially due to the state of my bank balance.)
But by discarding some of my former favourite pieces, this does not mean it's the end - but a new beginning. HURRAH! Beautiful embellishments are still on the agenda, but in a subtler way – less feminine and more grunge. Think Kurt Cobain mixed with Sienna Miller and you’re on the right track. I’m doing away with brightly coloured, full-length sequin panels and introducing delicate embroidery, dirty gold studs and clusters of chunky, jewel coloured rings. Deeeeelightful!
Ps. There's a whole webpage dedicated to rock chic jewellery on Asos at the moment... enjoy! http://www.asos.com/Women/Ctas/Rock-Chic-Jewellery/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=9530&affId=1257

[Knight cat, fashion canvas, tfs]

Minus 40

I am becoming increasingly aware that this cold weather – the one that renders me utterly useless, with a slow brain, chilblains on my fingers, and numb, puffy toes, and forces me to rush home to shiver in bed with a hot water bottle at SEVEN PM EVERY SINGLE NIGHT so I don’t freeze to death – is here to stay. And, instead of surrendering to its evil blasts of frigid, frost-bitten air, I am going to fight it. And, damn it, I am going to fight it in style!

Having not yet started my Christmas shopping – save from half my boyfriend’s present, which if I hadn’t already got I would probably have night sweats wondering where, when, and how I’m ever going to get a hold of it in such a short time – I am going to bitch it like a dream this weekend. East London, North London, hell even a little bit of Portobello Road in the West is going to get a thorough seeing to from my cash card. And hopefully, at the same time as shopping for my nearest and dearest, I’ll be able to find a selection of pretty vintage coats, faux furs and gloriously cossssy accessories to keep me warm and snug through the wintery months – even when the trees and houses are shattering in into clouds of ice-dust around me in the minus 40 degrees temperature*.

Here are my favourite looks for winter…

* Slight exaggeration. I am a wimp when it comes to the cold.

You can’t go wrong with a lumberjack shirt and leather combo

Monochrome makes this faux fur chubby look even more outrageously covetable!

Go wild with leopard print a la Kate Moss, Alexa, Mary-Kate…

Scarlet woman: A shock of colour in the fluffiest wool

Butter soft leather + metal studs +vintage badge embellishments = divine

[Drip book, the fashion spot, fashion canvas, Terry Gates]

There are not enough words to say how much I love this...

So I won't.

[The Fashion Spot]