Easter time....

Happy Easter everyone!

Hope you’ve all managed to keep up with lent (I most certainly have-result!)

I have chosen a few key outfits from collections showcased at all the Fashion Weeks S/S 13 that I think everyone should wear this month. Some are bright, some are more pastel coloured, but all are fabulous-and should chase this horribly cold weather away. If it doesn’t work, however, it looks like the Easter Bunny will have to borrow Santa’s sleigh!

The first collection is Louis Vuitton in PFW. This collection is bold, it’s vibrant, and it’s oh so 60s. The beautiful yellows, greens and browns really signify how much colour Spring brings every year.

The second is the Pre-collection by Valentino from Paris once again. The garments in this collection are just magnificent. The pastel flowers in the Pride and Prejudice-inspired dresses are stunning; and teamed with the mesh and lace, makes this style definitely something want to buy or make for myself!

My third choice is the Meadham Kirchoff show from LFW. I love their nail designs, and it seems that Creative duo Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff have really taken the ‘less is more’ notion to the extreme opposite with their Easter Bonnet-style collection.  It’s Little Bo-peep, meets Minnie Mouse, meets Moulin Rouge (brought nicely to my attention by the Vogue website)

The Libertine Collection shown at NFW is my number 4 choice, and really inspires the question, who came first the chicken or the plaid? The kookie-Japanese inspired clothing is layered, tie died and lush.

Alice by Temperley at LFW is fifth on my most wanted list (this list is not in chronological order-although my favourite would have to be Valentino). This collection provides a darker side to Easter, with its dark lace trimmings- but still features some stunning colours to team with the black.

And last, but by no means least, the Couture Collection, showcased by Alexis Mabille shown in Paris. The pastel pinks, yellows, oranges teamed with the mesh pleats silk and lace are just a beautiful example of an all-round perfect Couture show.

Well these are my picks, I hope you all have a fashionable Easter; my money shall most likely be going on some pastel coloured beauties, rather than Easter eggs!

Au Revoir!

Mica

Catliner

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Hello all you fashion enthusiasts!

I remember the first time I used liquid eyeliner, I was about 13 and living in Cyprus, and my mum had to apply it, as I was too young and inexperienced. I’ve always loved the chic and cat-like look that liquid eyeliner creates. It’s a very 60s look and depending how what shape and size you create; it can widen or even narrow the look of your eyes.

I used to use the type of product that includes a brush and pot, like nail varnish; nowadays I find it 10x easier to use the type that comes in a felt tip pen-style. Currently, my favourite brand is Collection 2000:

http://www.boots.com/en/Collection2000-Extreme-24hfelt-tip-liner_1160659/

Over Fashion Week A/W 2013/14, many designers have taken a much more graphic approach to liquid eyeliner, with bold geometric shapes and thick lines swept all over the lid.

Here are a few of my favourite picks from A/W shows, taken from the Vogue website:

Aquascutum: I love the way the point on the outside of the model’s lid is more of a rounded square, rather than the traditional triangular point. It sweeps gradually across the lid, fading as it reaches the inside corner, matching the shape of the eyebrows. The eye lashes are soft but well defined, and the rest of the face is very minimal and natural.

Aquascutum

DSquared2: This look is obviously inspired by the 70s, judging by the bronzed, glowing skin, thick defined line on the lid and the full lustrous lashes. The lower lid is also lined with a soft kohl pencil, right into the inside corner, widening the eye and completing the look nicely.

Dsquared2

Kenzo: Kenzo’s models rely heavily on their makeup to define their faces, as the hair is scraped back very tightly, and the eyebrows are almost non-existent. The line on the lid is thicker towards the outside corner, with a very square shape, and mascara is used on either lashes. The lips are stained with a matte red, which really vamps up the look.

Kenzo

Lanvin: The models at Lanvin have a shiny, glowing look, with peachy glossy lips and a thick block line along the top lid, blending into the inner corner and flicking right out towards the eyebrow.

Lanvin

Mary Katrantzou: Mary Katrantzou’s eye make-up is one of my favourites from this fashion week. The bold sharp geometric edges form a great shape around the eyes, and the pale lips and natural face look very beautiful.

Mary Katrantzou

I may try some of these myself, although, I may have to get someone to help me!

More soon, au revoir!

Mica

The Swinging 60s and Marc Jacobs

Imagine it. The 60s. In London. Following Jean Shrimpton around with your 35mm camera like some kind of paparazzi blood hound. This is what I was channelling when writing my article for my Editorial Project at Uni (I study a BA honours in Fashion Media and Promotion-sounds very fancy I know). After what seemed like a million cups of herbal tea; I’ve developed a weakness for Lady Grey, I finally got to the stage where I decided it was complete. Staying true to the theme, I want to share a segment of this article; linking it to the Spring/Summer 2013 collection showcased by the Fabulous Marc Jacobs. I have always adored the 60s, and I hope to illustrate this.

Here are the ‘best bits’ from my article

“When people say ‘the swinging 60s’, what do they actually mean? Just who were the icons of that era and what did Britain learn from them? Those were the kinds of questions that I asked myself in preparation for the Biba and Beyond Exhibition at the Brighton Museum and Gallery. I knew a lot about Mary Quant and what her mini skirt did for youth culture; but I was unsure of Biba’s influence over the 60s....
After moseying on up to the 'Biba and Beyond' space at the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, I could soon see why Barbara Hulanicki was so successful. Her fashions were awesome. Emigrating from Poland after her father was assassinated, and moving to Brighton, she studied at Brighton Art College. Hulanicki’s talents were soon discovered after she won a competition with the ‘Daily Mirror’-by designing a sleeveless gingham shift dress.
The 1960s was well known for not only its fashion and music, but also its advancement in medical technology. It was a time for sexual freedom and youth culture; so the invention of the contraceptive pill was a big deal for youth at that time. But was it as easily accessible as it was advertised? I interviewed my Grandmother for her view of the 60s, and being born into a family of 5 children in North London suburbia, her lifestyle maybe wasn’t quite as ‘swinging’ as a central London girl's life would have been.
My Grandmum, Judy, considered herself to be a ‘true child of the 60s’ age 11, and even though she was far away from all the hustle and bustle of a busy city life, she was still caught up in the ‘excitement of the newly emerging youth culture’ with artists like the Beatles and The Rolling Stones; as well as the fast changing fashion, happening very suddenly. Like Barbara Hulanicki, she too was an aspiring designer, writing in her Grammar School English essay in September 1960 that if she had the chance, she would like to be a Fashion Artist and have ‘lots of lovely clothes’ which she adored.”

This season, after the snow has vanished, Marc Jacobs has predicted that women everywhere will be fashioning a more modern variety of the 60s style. Staying true to the smokey eyes and the infamous ‘beehive’- but modernising the smouldering sex appeal encapsulated in that decade with oversized black and white or beige coats and sheer flesh coloured blouses.

That was just one half of the show. The rest consisted of tiny silk t-shirts with ruffled collars, midi silk dresses with ruffled sleeves, and woven black and white PVC skirts; teamed with equally shiny striped long-sleeved tops. All outfits flashed a reasonable amount of flesh- be it leg, abdomen, etc.

The show oozed a very cool and sexy atmosphere throughout- with each and every model pouting their way down the runway. This homage to the 60s was something that my Grandmother would have greatly enjoyed-I am determined to take her to a Fashion Week show one day.

Lots of Love, 

Mica x

Red Valentino

Happy Mother’s day! (I wrote this on Sunday 10^th March)

As you probably already know (based on my all my previous posts), I LOVE fantasy.

The Red Valentino Ready to Wear Collection in New York had, for me, the best Mis-en Scene in all the A/W 2013/14 shows.

The clothes, were so feminine and chic, and had a big French influence. The roses, the illustrative wooded background. The photos from the Vogue website look more like a photoshoot than a catwalk show.

I especially loved the floral embellishment on the skirts, blouses and dresses. Nothing beats intricate detail in my eyes. The delicate garments fitted beautifully on the equally delicate pale skin of the model.

I adored the baroque-esque patterns on the dresses, teamed with Hansel and Gretel-style plaits and ribbons- and the matching patterned clutch bag was the icing on the cake.

I admired the netted socks worn under what appeared to be velvet and jewel encrusted stilettos.

My favourite look was the tartan coat/skirt combination. With the faux fur collar, it’s very Parisian and beautiful.

The make-up was so sculptured and perfect, like a doll. With a pale- geisha looking face; and the signature pink cheeks, ruby red lips and eyes covered in black liquid eyeliner and beautiful long eyelashes.

Overall, a very lovely collection. 

Mica xx