British Reign

No, I'm not talking about the typical British weather, but with the city brushing up the confetti and beautiful mess that LFW left behind and I could not feel more proud or patriotic of what our country had produced to showcase to the rest of the world.

With Vivienne Westwood being the godmother of British Punk fashion, her collection did not disappoint, with make-up looking ghoulish and the prints beautifully haunting.

 

 I love the cut-out shoulder detail, the use of loose and draped fabric, and the cocoon shapes.

        

Mulberry's spring/summer collection saw Emma Hill departing from her role as creative director at Vogue, and she definitely went out with a bang. With metallic suits, vibrant floral prints that had a 70s vibe, same-tone stripes and luxurious leather. I particularly lik the detail of the stand of buttons lining down the side of skirts eand dresses.

        
       
       

My personal favourite collection though from LFW, was Burberry's.

I love Burberry and how quintessentially British it is, and supports British production and its resources, and Christopher Bailey created a fantasy of vibrant pastels and delicate sheer dreams.

   

The use of lace and high-waisted underwear looked both chic and classic, and I love all the use of embellishment.

I love all the classic trenches with a fun and feminine twist, and also the twisted and tied necklines  and skirts, and the slick pencil dresses.

And if pastels are a bit wishy-washy for you, there were also bold red and polka dots on show, which had an air about the 60s about them.

This was seen in the menswear as well, and I don't often have much to say bout the menswear, but I really loved how smart yet fun it was.

This is pretty much all my favourite things in one collection, and the finale for it could not be more beautiful, with pastel petals raining down.

Sources: Burberry on Twitter, Style.com, Elle.com, Burberry.com

What did you think of thes collections? Did you think our British designers did us proud?!

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

Ethereal Dreams

With NYFW over and all eye's on London now, I thought I'd just share with you what was I think my favourite collection from NY.

Zac Posen's spring/summer collection for 2014 was everything that I love, lust and drool over when it comes to fashion and clothes.

It's like he tapped into the darkest and deepest parts of my mind, heart and soul,  and produced a collection that took my breath away and would make every woman feel like a princess, no matter what their style. From sleek and sexy floor-length dresses and flirty frills that would belong to any fairy flittering by...

to the biggest and most beautiful skirts and even fitted and fierce jackets.

With metallic shades of slate, perky peach, blushful blues, and rosy reds, drifting down the runaway, with shimmers of silvers and metallics, it was like a dream drifting swiftly by.

         

Not just with perfect pastels, which you all know I love, but I loved how they broke up the airy shade with glimpses of lustful red, which looked deep enough to lose yourself in.

The most beautiful and clever element to this collection though, I thought, was the contrast of the flowing light chiffons and satins, with the bouncy twirls and frills that surrounded them, and folds and bends that created these amazing structural shapes. Just take a look at those fantastic and full skirts!

My personal favourites though were the angelic, silver dress, whose clever cut of fabric could drift you away into your dreams...

this beautiful gem of ruby red, that would look better than any Christmas bow ever could...

this lilac number, which it's gorgeous draping and fabric manipulation could hypnotise you (also, how amazing does it look along with the model's gorgeous green hair?!)...

and finally...(be still my beating heart!)...this perfect, peachy masterpiece, with it's fitted bodice and beautiful and delicate draping and frill that would look at home on any Greek Goddess.

Source: style.com

I could stare at this collection all day, and still find new things I love about it...

but for now, I think I'm going to continue with some sketches inspired by this collection, and add a piece of Zac Posen's style in my wardrobe.

What do you think of this collection? Whose collections have you loved at NYFW?

Hope your're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

Festival Festivities

During the past weekend, I slipped my wellies on, and spent it at V Festival.

The weekend was filled with music, drinks, party hats, bands I'd been dying to see and bands that i love, and was shared with friends who put out with my out-of-tune screaming along, and new people who jumped up and down incessantly with me in crowded seas of fans.

During the Saturday, it was my best friend's brother's birthday, and he turned 18! In my eyes, I still think of him of the 13 year old that used to open the door for me when i came around, and then scuttle off to play Xbox...and now, he's about to go to uni and a proper grown-up young man, and what better way to spend your 18th birthday, than at a festival :)

If you follow me on Instagram, I'm sure you would've been sick of all the videos and selfies I took. 

We were prepared for the forecast of torrential downpours of rain...

...but thankfully, the skies were forgiving and we only saw sights of a few raindrops, and after that Sunday was just sunshine and smiles!

With the sunny Sunday saying hello, I went to town on my festival outfit and went a bit mad with pastel power, and bright make-up ad socks to boot.

I am in love with these shorts, not only are they coloured in with pretty pastels, which i always have a soft spot for, but each panel is a different colour! 

Music plays a massive part in my life, and I don't understand how music couldn't mean something to you, so when live music is around, I'm just in my element. It's not even if the band is amazing, or if they're interaction with the crowd makes you feel connected, which 99% of the time, both of these are true, but most of all, what i love the most, is the atmosphere. There's just something about being with a crowd of people, even if you are squished like sardines, you forget all about that fact because you're with people who all have the same passion as you for the act you're there to watch, and singing your heart out along with them, and jumping like crazy kangaroos.

Lissie and Seasick Steve are both artists that i really like, but know limited amount of their songs, but one of Lissie's song, is one of my favourite songs, go and Youtube 'When I'm Alone' by her, and I guarantee you won't regret it :)  Despite not knowing a lot of their songs at all though, I thoroughly enjoyed their sets, more than I expected, they are both such talented artists, that are amazing and charismatic live, and definitely made me want to go and check out more of their work.

Lissie @ V Festival 2013

Ellie Goulding and Kings of Leon are both acts that I've seen live before, and were absolutely blown away by, and seeing them again, I once again was lost for words (and also lost my voice due to all the screaming!). One of the things that really impressed my was Ellie's passion and energy, and as strange as it sounds, Kings of Leon's visuals were just stunning. You know those big screens they have so everyone at the back can see? Well, they didn't just have them showing the band playing, but they had edited them to go along with and fit in with the the vibe of the song they were playing, and the lights of the show were just as good.

Kings of Leon @ V Festival 2013

Ellie Goulding @ V Festival 2013

Two Door Cinema Club is a band that I love, and have been DYING to go see live for years, but fate just intervined and our paths never crossed, however, I finally saw them, and they were the energetic and exciting band that I was hoping for and more.

Two Door Cinema Club @ V Festival 2013

The Vaccines and The Script are both bands, whose songs I enjoy and sing along to, but have never paid all that much attention to. Well, that all changed at V. The Script had such amazing interaction with the crowd and just seemed so humble and excited to be playing, and really got everyone involved with the brilliant live set they were playing. And The Vaccines just made all the songs that I love, come alive on stage.

The Vaccines @ V Festival 2013

The Script @ V Festival 2013

But the main attraction, and the main reason why I was so excited for V this year was for the Queen herself.

Beyonce.

Beyonce @ V Festival 2013

Despite her coming on stage late, I still lost my goddamn mind, and after wanting to see her for so long, it wasn't just a live set, it was an experience.

I read  a blog post not that long ago from The Man Repeller, and I completely agree with what she said. It's not until you see her in action do you see her  passion, her drive, her gratefulness, how humble she is, and what a showman she is.

Beyonce @ V Festival 2013

She was fierce during 'Run The World', danced her bootylicious booty off to 'Crazy In Love', belted her lungs out during 'Halo', got the crowd going and singing along with 'Irreplacable', and of course, got everything turning their hands back and forth during 'Single Ladies'.

Did you go to V this year? Who was your favourite act? Have you been to any other festivals?

Hope you're all well, and have a brilliant Bank Holiday if you're in the UK!

Speak soon,

A.x