Hazy afternoons..

Here we are crawling closer to the hazy blissful afternoons of summer. One week to go then I'll be free of uni work (apart from my ever looming thesis), free of assessment and tutorial forms, which have to be the bane of my life, and onwards to planning my strategy for fashion domination. Jokes. But seriously this summer is all about planning for the future and hopefully becoming one step closer to my dream career.

I'm sleepy though today, and after a long day of editing I suddenly remembered a fashion film I had seen a while back. I loved it immediately, but today it seems to sum my feelings up entirely. Directed by one of my favourite photographers, Beau Grealy, it tentatively encapsulates a dreamy afternoon on a lazy summers day. There is something quite sad and wistful about this film however, which only lends to its mysteriousness. Pure bliss.

Afternoon Sister from TEST on Vimeo.

Director:Beau Grealy

Models:Donna and Rosie @ DNA
Stylist: Sarah Cobb
Make Up: Stevie Huynh
Hair: Shin Arima
Producer: Nikki Stromberg
Photographic Assistants: David Engelhardt and Shaun Hartas
Cut and Graded by Swell
Music: The Gentlemen of NUCO performing an original arrangement of Radiohead’s “Nude

TEST 2010

NEO-TRIBAL

Above Mike Gonzalez s/s 2011

Above image from Bon magazine
Photographer: KT Auleta Styling: Polina Aronova

Tribal is back. This time its edgier- combined with the bold colours of summer. It's tribal meets rave. Think neon colours of holidays spent in Ibiza combined with bright tribal prints and textures- all to create clubbing couture. If floral isn’t your thing this is definitely a creative alternative to the romantic trend. Tribal-chic isn’t hard to achieve, just some clever clashing of bold prints does the trick. Featured on the spring/summer catwalks by designers such as Mike Gonzalez, Missoni and Sass and Bide.

Below: s/s 2011- Holly Fulton, Missoni, Sass and Bide

Man ALIVE! Hawt couture

House Of Holland A/W 2011 from TEST on Vimeo.

Fashion Designer: Henry Holland
Director: Sarah Chatfield
Models: Dree Hemingway and Pixie Geldof
Stylist: Sam Ranger
Art Director: Jamie Perlman

Video from testmag.co.uk

Furbulous.

Gucci A/W 2011

One thing that's struck me so far from each Fashion week around the world, is the collective interest in fur. But this is not fur like we have seen before, oh no. Get ready for bright dye fur. From design houses such as Gucci, Prada and Fendi it has been featured prominently. The unnaturally coloured fur is the next big trend for winter. I'm already trying to figure out how I'm going to dye my white fur coat from winter '09. Tie-dye teal is always a possibility..
Prada A/W 2011

Roksanda Llincic A/W '11


Matthew Williamson A/W '11 and Alexander Wang A/W '11


(It even comes in manly cammo print for the guys) Fendi A/W '11

Coming in bright red and turquoise to black and white striped, it's fur gone bold. Which I guess is quite exiting really. To be honest I'm pretty sick of the 'art school-meets-east london-granny look' which if you're wondering consists of: hair put in a high bun, 'controversial' over-sized glasses, brogues and your gran's vintage fur coat.. oh and some sort of garment from American Apparel. I'd love to see the vintage fur replaced with this modern twist. Who knows maybe even the granny glasses will get replaced with some sort of neon monocle. One can only hope.

___________L_____F_____W____________

Yes it's finally here, and prompted my return from my long absence from the fashion blogging scene. Caught up in a whirlwind of second year fine art shows and essays I got, shall we say, undeniably unforgivably distracted. But I'm back lured by constant buzz of London Fashion Week drifting in through my window.

Kicking off with Louise Gray's A/W collection....


I had to start with this mesmerizing hurricane of pop addiction. This haphazard array of colour and clothing really shouldn't work. But for some unknown, unquantifiable reason, it does. This hypnotic blend of colour and pattern transfix as the models storm down the runway. On top of it all, slipped in there is also a bit of bondage. Playful headpieces given an edge with bondage like straps attached to their bodies in the most unusual fashion.

Headpieces appear to be causing quite the stir this season with Sass and Bide also sporting eye catching pieces. Their cylindrical headpieces giving the models an aura of Eygptian queen-like elegance.

C’est Ci Nes Pas Une Chambre

I HAVE INTERNET! Finally, the joys of speedy surfing brought to me by o2. I tried to post before using my dongle but it just turned all my posts into a jibbering mess of html nonsense.

Anyway I wanted to post this the day after her show but my internet blew up in a puff of anti-social smoke. Here it is anyway just because I love it so much.

Mary Katrantzo's first stand alone show entitled 'This Is Not A Room' completely blew me away. It's definitely my favourite Spring/Summer 2011 collection by far. The bold hyper-realistic digital prints used depict futuristic rooms on luxurious fabrics. These surreal lampshade skirts adorned with beads and jewels work in a way I never imagined possible.

Basso and Brooke s/s 2011

I wish I was there in London running frantically from show to show shmoozing along with all the glamorous guests. But I'm not, I'm in Edinburgh sniveling from a post summer cold haphazardly preparing for my eventual trip back to London, post LFW excitement. One day I'll nab an invite until then I bring you the most delicious pieces from my favourite collections.

Bright and early this morning, while I was still in bed, Basso and Brooke debuted their Spring Summer 2011 collection. A dreamy mix of digital prints covered a variety of dainty dresses. A softer more pastel based pallet compromised this collection in comparison to a/w creating a more feminine approach.