Wednesday 30 September 2015

Milan Fashion Week - Top 10

Gucci
The 'Carte de Tendre' was the starting point for what was one of the most magnificent shows we saw in Milan. Whilst the theme was consistent throughout, each look was different from the next. The prints were inquisitive, some traditional and some off-beat, and came in an abundance of colours. The trompe l'oeil details were fascinating and created a real talking point....and of course there was the signature bow. All in all, Alessandro Michele pulled out all the stops and created an incredible collection.
Emilio Pucci
Serving up a change for the brands SS16 collection, the new Creative Director Massimo Giorgetti steered away from the bold and wonderful prints we usually see at Pucci and instead opted for plenty of embroidery. With literal references to the sea, an array of sea creatures were embroidered onto fishnet dresses. My favourite pieces in the collection were the sequin dresses layered over delicate lace tops and the multi-coloured feather dress encased in between mesh panels.
Marni
In a standout colour palette of bold primary colours and sea shell pink, this collection hit all the right notes. Asymmetric layers, plenty of tunic dresses, sporty tech mesh and modern geo's - this collection made a bold statement without being OTT. The large scale floral and leave prints were a key print from MFW.
Marco De Vincenzo
From the opening look on the runway, I was sold on this collection. An incredible coat with shredded bands of black and primary colours was a real standout piece, and this technique continued on some of the dresses. Known for his use of metallic, we saw shimmering fabrics and coloured metallic prints. There were also references to Japan, most notably on the bold Mt Fiji prints. I adored the mix of techniques, creating a contemporary collection of high interest.
Prada
Boxy silhouettes and optional layering, this collection was distinctly Prada. Skirts fell below the knee in traditional proportions and came in fabrics such as tweed, leather and suede. One of the key features of the collection was the narrow lined stripes which featured on a number of different style garments. Adding to the luxurious nature of the Italian fashion house, exotic snakeskin and beautiful transparent organza where used to create the more show stopping looks in the collection.
Alberta Ferreti
Bohemian and safari references were present in shades of brown and other earthy colours. Loose silhouettes were easy to wear and had a romantic feel to them. Strong prints and heavy embroidered dresses completed the evening looks in the collection. The fabric manipulation on the chiffon dresses was just so beautiful and made a softer more feminine addition to the collection.
Etro
An opulent collection on the runway of Etro, full of dresses which you couldn't help but fall in love with. Luxe fabrics and flouncy silhouettes provided the base for some seriously beautiful prints and embroidery. Prints were inspired by European folk costumes and came in flattering colours.
Bottega Veneta
The 'Great Outdoors' was the theme of the show this season. Classic proportions had a casual overhaul bomber jackets tracksuits. An urban camo print features prominently, as did leopard print. Grommet detailing, lace and textured embroidery made the collection sophisticated. The red python patchwork coat was pretty much summed up the highly-crafted appeal of the brand.
Fendi
Red, coral and khaki were the most prominent colours used in this collection. One of the key silhouettes was the bloomer style shorts...in leather. I also loved the high necked tops with billowing sleeves. Karl Largerfeld certainly has fun with this brand creating upbeat modern looks.
Versace
This collection had the key characteristics of a signature Versace collection: Short hemlines, daring cut-outs, bold colours and of course...sex appeal. A punchy camo/skin print echoed across several looks in the collection, which I feel is one of the most memorable from Milan. This collection was all about confidence feeling empowered.

I will be posting my Paris Fashion Week Top 10 next week, followed by a series of trend reports to analyse what we have seen this season.

Phillippa x

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Monday 28 September 2015

A/W15 Print Trend - 80's Abstract Remix

High on your A/W15 wardrobe checklist should be some serious 80's power prints. Seen on the runway at the likes of Jonathan Saunders, Loewe, Christopher Kane and J.W.Anderson, this season prints get graphic with high voltage abstract geometrics. These prints make a real statement in bold colours with contrasting black. Forget shoulder pads, you can rock this seasons hottest trend with punchy prints instead.
Whether you want to go all out or keep it less hardcore with more basic separates, I have found some of the best 80s inspired graphic prints currently available. 
1. Escada £1650 / 2. Christopher Kane £2450 / 3. Rejina Pyo £495
4. Paul Smith Black £94.50 / 5. Vivetta £240 / 6. Ainea £380
7. Loewe £1625 / 8. Emilio Pucci £1230

Phillippa x

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Saturday 26 September 2015

Collaboration: Minnetonka X Maje

Is your wardrobe ready for your new favourite pair A/W boots? Minnetonka, synonymous with the great open highways way out west in the USA and culturally cool moccasins, have teamed up with French brand Maje on a Fall capsule collection. Getting straight to the point, 2 key styles have been designed - one longer style with fringing detail, and one shorter style with lace ups. Both styles are suede. Giving your wardrobe a boho feel for the season, these boots will look nothing short of perfect teamed with an easy breezy dress or skinny jeans and an oversized knit.

The longer style is available in 3 colours and is priced at £289. The shorter style comes in 2 colours and is priced at £179. Which style will you pick?
 
Phillippa x
 
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Wednesday 23 September 2015

London Fashion Week - Top 10

Jonathan Saunders
A colourist and print specialist, Saunders did not disappoint loyal fans with his latest offering. Diagonal colour blocking had a striking impact, as did the patchwork of one colour prints. 'Colour on colour prints' were a recurring theme throughout the collection. Bias cuts, loose fitting wrap jackets, one-shoulder dresses and monochrome belts completed the collection.
Christopher Kane
What I loved most about the collection was the neon lace which gave major throwbacks to Kane's earlier collections, think SS07 and SS11. This collection was nothing short of fun, with rebellious spray-paint prints, plastic cut-outs and  fractured patchworks. A key feature of the collection was the the plastic 'restraint' tags which adorned bags and the models wore in their hair.
Temperley
The theme of the show was 'Havana', which continues the emerging Cuba trend which came through from Resort. As always with Temperley, embroidery played a big role in the collection. Mirrored embroidery was key and came in  the prettiest of colour palettes and metallic. Classic cotton dresses were given an update with  palm leaf and parrot prints. From day to night, this collection was a sartorial summer dream.
Burberry
Without a doubt, the Burberry Prorsum show is the ultimate LFW show to attend. Once again, Christopher Bailey showcased his exceptional ability to combine Burberry's British heritage with modern day femininity and relevance. Pretty pastel shades came into play against a backdrop of predominantly black and off-white. Tie-dye motifs and abstract poppy prints added a playful edge to the collection. Gold regalia detailing on trims, embroidered motifs and piping finished off the garments with exceptional precision. The nylon and leather backpacks added an everyday ease and will for sure be the must have accessory of the season...you can even shop this item now over on Burberry.com
Mary Katrantzou
Each season Katrantzou goes from strength to strength. Micro mini's, jewel coloured quilted dresses, handcrafted metallic embellishment. I loved the small-scale floral prints were beautiful and added a further dimension to the collections. Katrantzou's collections are every evolving and the designer continues to push the boundaries of her own brand.
Erdem
From the very first look the role of Victoriana as a theme was clear to see - The high-necked dresses adorned with strewn floral prints and delicate embroidery, and it wouldn't be Victoriana without lace. Loose waterfall ruffles added a romantic feel, but there was also an element of dark despair which ran through collection present notably in the black neck ties.
Peter Pilotto
This was a much softer look for the brand. The duo behind the brand used to be known for their vibrant digital prints, but recently they have shifted away from this opting instead for simplistic geo prints and cleaner lines. The largely blue and white collection featured lots of lace and below the knee dresses and skirts, all with a super feminine feel.
Roksanda
Emerging as three of the key colours of the season: buttercup yellow, baby blue and sunburnt orange, Roksanda Ilincic used all three. Voluminous shapes are not easy to wear, but the women who wear Roksanda dresses pull them off with ease. Asymmetric styles, cut-outs and shredded chiffon detailing were also important features.
Paul Smith
The most beautiful soft draping in David Hockney inspired colours. Large scale silk screen printed motifs added a clash of colour to the already highly sophisticated collection. Masculine tailoring made for easy to wear silhouettes. Sir Paul Smith is truly a master of British fashion and any of these looks would make a welcome addition to your wardrobe.
J.W.Anderson
Keith Haring style squiggle prints were hard to miss, especially when seen in contrasting black and white. The ruched dress with zip detailing layered worn over lace leggings was a great combo, as was the blue and red bustier and mini skirt combo. This may not be the sort of collection that everyone would want to wear but the unexpected nature of the print, fabric and tailoring made this collection very captivating. Anderson is most certainly an avant-garde designer, elevating London further in the fashion stakes. Keep watching this space...

I will be posting my Milan Top 10 next week, but until then stay tuned to my 'Runway Favourites' board on Pinterest for an extensive look at all the collections (details below).

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Monday 21 September 2015

A/W15 On Trend Now - Pussybow Blouse

Seen on the A/W15 runway at the likes of Gucci and Chloe, the Pussybow blouse is officially back this season. A signature of Margaret Thatcher back in the 1980's, this wardrobe staple has been given a new lease of life for 2015 updating it from bookish to seriously high fashion status. This blouse will give your outfit an air of Bohemianism and add an effortless ease to your look. To wear your blouse with maximum runway impact, team it with a mid-length skirt or a pair of wide leg trousers. A great wardrobe essential that will look equally as perfect at work or on a weekend.

Here is a selection of some of the best Pussybow blouses currently available...
1. Gucci £730, 2. Sacai £650, 3. MSGM £290
4. Gucci £570, 5. Sister Jane £52, 6. New Look £19.99
7. Warehouse £42, 8. Mela London £22, 9. Zeus & Dione £370

Phillippa x
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Saturday 19 September 2015

New York Fashion Week SS16 - Top 10

As I have done the past couple of seasons, I will be posting a 'Top 10' for each SS16 fashion week city starting today with New York.
Victoria Beckham
I adored the fluidity of this collection, the beautiful draped soft tailoring and mid length skirts. The crisp white and black pieces had injections of orange, blue and yellow which added a contemporary twist. The traditional screen-print style surfer motifs were unexpected, as were the hibiscus flowers offset against a backdrop of gingham and windowpane checks. All of the above meant that this collection became one of my standout favourites from New York.
Tommy Hilfiger
It was Island vibes over at Tommy Hilfiger. An abundance of red, blue and yellow, crochet, billowing chiffon dresses, patchworks and swimwear...this collection took you straight to the Caribbean. The bold floral prints were exceptionally eye-catching creating an overall collection which can only best be described as very 'cool'.
Milly
Michelle Smith said she wanted to capture the feeling of a 'summer romance', and she did just that in perfect proportions. Flattering cuts and sophisticated summer colours marked a change in direction from the previously seen sporty collections from Smith. The off-the shoulder pieces were super feminine and the textured hems added a relaxed feeling to the minimalistic garments. My favourite piece in the collection was a great striped knitwear dress...straight on my wardrobe wishlist.
Proenza Schouler
Hints of Spanish influences came in the form of the red, white and black colour palette and flamenco-esque ruffles. Velvet ribbons, fil coupe, feathers, mesh and cut-outs, executed to the highest standard. This collection had all the elements to make it one of the best we saw in New York.
Oscar de la Renta
For SS16 Peter Copping took inspiration from Spain. The carnation print was inspired by the flower of choice that Oscar de la Renta would wear in his buttonhole when he was living in Madrid. The same flower was also thrown into a bullring at the end of the fight. Each look which came down the runway was as beautiful as the next and Copping's exceptional eye for colour shone through in this collection.
Coach
Marking the 75th anniversary of Coach, Stuart Vevers took his runway show to the High Line in Manhattan. Having lived in New York myself, the High Line was one of my favourite places to spend a laidback weekend, so I can imagine how great this location would be for a runway show. Hand painted micro-florals featured heavily, as did bright colours. It was all about comfortable, easy to wear everyday pieces and the shoes had my name written all over them.
Mara Hoffman
It was a print party at Mara Hoffman. Not afraid to shy away from print and colour, this season was no different. The starting point for the collection was the Willie Nelson song 'Blue Skies', hence the large scale cloud print and braided hair. Oversized floral prints packed a punch, whilst the maize print added softness.
Delpozo
As each season goes by I find myself getting more excited to see what Josep Font will serve up next. This collection was a dream like fairy-tale of oversized silhouettes, icy colours, exquisite fabrics, texture and detailing. It was beautifully romantic.
 Monique Lhuillier
Known for her use of colour, this season colours were electric. Primarly a go-to brand for red carpet attire, this collection will make for some seriously gorgeous evening looks. There was a rather artsy element in the collection in the form of soft watercolour floral/paint splatter prints.
 Givenchy
For SS16, Ricardo Tisci showcased the brands collection in New York instead of Paris. Pieces resembling lingerie were paired with tuxedo separates. Sensual cuts were a sartorial dream as were the shoes. As always with Givenchy, the fabric and attention to detail was exquisite.


I will posting a London Top 10 next week, but if you can't wait until then be sure to follow my 'Runway Favourites' board on Pinterest.

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
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Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Aspinal of London X Être Cécile

Launching at the end of last month, and just in time for fashion week, ultra cool brand Etre Cecil has teamed up with Aspinal of London on a standout collaboration. Etre Cecil founder, Yasmin Sewell, described the collaboration as 'unexpected', which is why she says it has worked so well. Aspinal leather goods are usually so refined, so adding a serious splash of shocking pink and neon yellow creates an immediate WOW factor. Expect to see the most stylish girls in town sporting these bags at London Fashion Week. Price Range: £125 - £750

My favourite bags in the collection are the rucksack and trunk clutch - both would look equally perfect styled with jeans and a t-shirt.

Phillippa x

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Monday 14 September 2015

Venice Film Festival - Red Carpet

The Venice Film Festival has just wrapped up for another year. I have put together an extensive red carpet review of all the looks we saw over this week long event.
Elizabeth Banks
Emilia Wickstead / Andrew GN Resort 16 / Elie Saab Resort 16 / Marchesa Resort 16
Diane Kruger
Prada / Oscar de La Renta Fall 15 / BOSS / Valentino Fall 15 Couture
Hailee Steinfeld - David Koma Fall 15 / Dakota Johnson - Marc Jacobs Resort 16
Juliette Binoche - Armani Prive Fall 15 Couture / Amber Heard - Alexander McQueen Resort 16
Kasia Smutniak - Valentino Fall 15 / Paz Vega - Ralph & Russo Fall 15 Couture
Elisa Sednaoui - Armani Prive Spring 15 / Hilary Rhoda - BOSS
Elisa Sednaoui / Alicia Vikander - Louis Vuitton Resort 16
Kristen Stewart - Chanel Fall 15 Couture / Berenice Bejo - Zuhair Murad Fall 15 Couture
Alessandra Ambrossio - Philosophy / Laura Bailey - Valentino
Tilda Swinton - Haider Ackermann / Dakota Johnson - Prada
Elisa Sednaoui - Fendi / Fiammetta Cicogna - Alberta Ferretti
Franca Sozzani - Valentino Resort 16 / Alba Rohrwacher - Valentino Fall 15 Couture

Aside from the red carpet premieres, the actresses were also styled to perfection during their photocalls... 
Alicia Vikander - Louis Vuitton Resort 16 / Amber Heard - Zimmermann Spring 15
Elizabeth Banks - Dolce and Gabbana / Diane Kruger - Preen Resort 16
Kristen Stewart - Chanel / Dakota Johnson - Valentino Resort 16
Paz Vega - Salvatore Ferragamo / Dakota Johnson - Rodarte Fall 15



Overall Favourite Look - Amber Heard wearing Alexander McQueen. This gown had it all: print, ruffles, colour. I also loved the styling, a messy updo hairstyle added an extra element of unrefined beauty. The whole look had a dark glamorous allure…something which Amber Heard always does so well on the red carpet. 

Best Dressed Attendee - Whilst this was a very close call between Eliabeth Banks and Diane Kruger, in the end I opted for Diane Kruger. Each of her red carpet looks oozed European Film Festival glamour. Luxurious fabrics in romantic colours, made for very beautiful gowns which looked elegant on each occassion.

Best Colour and Print - Elizabeth Banks wearing Andrew GN and Elie Saab. Not many stars are brave enough to wear print and colour, especially not when attending such high profile red carpet events, but Elizabeth never shies away from either. Elizabeth always brings an element of her vibrant personality to the red carpet, and whilst I wouldn't say that either of these 2 gowns were the most elegant we saw at this festival they stood out to me because they marked such a stark contract against everything else and I applaud the actress for always making such bold choices.

Most Daring - Juliette Binoche wearing Armani Prive - It is not easy to successfully wear a floor length embellished gown, and add a plunging neckline into the mix as well, makes a very daring look. It was attention-grabbing but for all the right reasons.

Best Photocall - Paz Vega wearing Salvatore Ferragamo. I adore the bold pop of pink on the floral print. Dressing for a photocell you have the opportunity to be more relaxed and playful, this dress has the perfect balance of both.

Who was your best dressed at the 2015 Venice Film Festival?

For more red carpet looks, follow my 'Celebrity Red Carpet' board on interest (see details below)

Phillippa x

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Saturday 12 September 2015

My North London - Favourite Food

This is something a little bit different from me... I am going down the lifestyle route for this blog post. Having lived in North London for over 2 years now, I have made the area my home, exploring different places and dining out a number of restaurants, pubs and cafe's. There is something rather nice about trying a restaurant which has been recommended to you, or taking a stroll and discovering a pub that soon becomes a firm favourite. In this post, I thought I would show you some of my favourite foodie places in North London - Hampstead, Highgate, Crouch End, Islington
Hampstead
The Spaniards
Without a doubt this is my favourite place to eat in North london. Steeped in history, this 16th Century Inn has even featured in a Charles Dickens novel. Seasonal British food is served against a backdrop of old wooden interiors and a roaring fire. The Scotch Egg is to die for, and I also love the roast belly pork  and sausage and mash.
Gail's
One of the only places I will buy artisan bread from, Gail's has the most incredible selection. They also serve healthy lunches. If you try one thing, I would recommend  the chocolate and pecan brownie. Gail's can be found in a number of locations including: Crouch End, King's Road, Notting Hill, South Kensington and Chiswick.
Highgate
The Bull and Last
Located just a short walk from Gospel Oak overground station, this Gastropub serves mains including; steak, roast cod and confit rabbit leg. The desserts are very indulgent!
The Red Lion and Sun
This pub is located in Highgate village and is a pretty perfect place to enjoy a relaxing Sunday lunch.
Crouch End
Tootoomoo
Fast becoming a firm favourite amongst locals, Tootoomoo serves fresh Pan Asian food. The interior is brightly coloured and casual. Portion sizes are great, as are the prices. My favourite dish is the Stir Fry Ramen Chicken followed by the frozen yogurt. Tootoomoo can also be found in Highgate and Islington.
Zer Cafe
Serving a largely Turkish menu, Zer offers an evening special of 2 course for £9.90. Ideal for a spontaneous meal out.
Islington
The Pig & Butcher
This pub/restaurant serves the best quality produce and craft ales. This is the place to go for proper hearty food in Angel.

Have you been to any of these restaurants? or do you have any recommendations for me to try next?

Phillippa x

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