Monday 30 May 2016

S/S 16 - Get The Look

As always, catwalk trends filter down to the highstreet, with many retailers designing their own versions of the most hyped runway looks. For this post, I have selected 4 of the key runway collections from S/S 16 and shown you how you can get the designer look for less. I have picked some of the most coveted looks from New York, London, Milan and Paris.
New York - Tommy Hilfiger
 London - Jonathan Saunders
Milan - Versace
Paris - Valentino
 
For more, on trend, seasonal runway looks follow my 'Runway Favourites' board over on my Pinterest (details below)
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22


Saturday 28 May 2016

Louis Vuitton Cruise 17 - Review

The Louis Vuitton Cruise 17 runway show took place yesterday in Rio de Janeiro. I was so in love with what I saw that I had to share the collection with you. You may know that I've been a huge fan of Nicolas Ghesquiere since his time at Balenciaga, but since being at LV he has made the brand one of my favourites.
The Location - Taking place at the Oscar Niemeyer designed Niteròi Contemporary Art Museum, I honestly can't think of a more incredible location for a runway show. The models made their way down the iconic red ramp and guests were seated on coloured metallic stools.
The Collection - With Ghesquiere's signature sporty references, this collection featured bold NASCAR inspired graphic prints, checkerboard grids and block colours. The LV logo and clover motif were reimagined in this style and printed boldly onto trim details and accessories. Silhouettes were cropped and ruffled with cut-out panels. Sure to be a must-have accessory for the season, several models wore metallic skinny scarves with fringed details adding a super cool edge to the looks. More sporty references came in the form of soccer player illustrations, which were also interpreted as embroideries. And finally...the bags. Brazilian artist Aldemir Martins created the exclusive prints for this season's iconic City Steamer and the Twist, but the pièce de résistance was the boombox which was made from several petite malle bags - genius!
The Guests - Alicia Vikander, Zendaya, Alessandra Ambrosio, Chiara Ferragni, Liu Wen, Jayden Smith, Isabela Fontana, Catherine Deneuve, Miroslava Duma, Alexia Niedzielski
If you want to see more runway looks from the #LVCruise collection, then head over to my Pinterest page (details below). Also, if you can't wait until next year to wear this collection then you are in luck as from today a limited number of the bags are available to purchase from the Louis Vuitton website.
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22
 

Cannes Film Festival - Best Dressed

The Cannes Film Festival has wrapped up for another year, and the beautiful people of the world of film, and the runway, have jetted out of the Côte d'Azur. With a sea of couture gowns taking to the red carpet, who was your best dressed at the festival this year?...
1. Cheryl Cole - Naeem Khan SS16
2. Kirsten Dunst - Gucci
3. Kendall Jenner - Roberto Cavalli
4. Bella Hadid - Roberto Cavalli
5. Elle Fanning - Zuhair Murad Spring 16 Couture
6. Sofie Valkiers - Georges Hobeika
7. Jourdan Dunn - Ralph & Russo Couture
8. Blake Lively - Vivienne Westwood Couture
9. Chloe Sevigny - Chanel
10. Melanie Thierry - Giambattista Valli Couture
 
For a more extensive look at all the red carpet looks from Cannes, take a look at my 'Celebrity Red Carpet' board on Pinterest (details below)
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest -phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22


Wednesday 25 May 2016

On Trend Now - Denim Patchwork

Typically seen as a summer fabric, you can't go wrong with a few cool denim pieces in your wardrobe. This season it is all about patchwork denim - offering a fun alternative to your standard denim shirt. Cropped jeans are huge this season, so take it one step further and opt for a patchwork pair instead - Topshop have a great selection.  If designer is your thing, take a look at the much coveted denim cape from Saint Laurent's S/S 16 collection.  Alternatively, if you are looking for something a little more 'everyday', you should look at a dress. There are so many different styles to choose from including shirt dresses and pinafore's - both of which would be ideal for a festival. With all that in mind, I have put together a quick little edit to show you the best patchwork denim pieces currently available.
1. Sea £180 / 2. Saint Laurent £1095 / 3. House of Holland £272
4. Lisa Marie Fernandez £310 / 5. Diesel £115 / 6. See by Chloe £310
7. Topshop £42 / 8. Norma Kamali £115 / 9. SJYP £285
 
For more on trend denim looks, be sure to check out my 'Denim' board over on my Pinterest (details below).
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - phillippadesign22


Monday 23 May 2016

Billboard Music Awards - Red Carpet

Last night the 2016 Billboard Music Awards took place in Las Vegas. We saw a number of key runway looks on the red carpet, so who was your best dressed at this event?
1. Lucy Hale - Zuhair Murad
2. Kate Beckinsale - Hamel
3. Ariana Grande - Atelier Versace Couture
4. Mila Kunis - Zuhair Murad Couture
5. Rihanna - Dries Van Noten Fall 16
6. Halsey - Fausto Puglisi
7. Tove Lo - Stella McCartney SS16
8. Zendaya - Calvin Klein
9. Priyanka Chopra - Atelier Versace
10. Kristen Bell - Jonathan Simkhai
 
For more red carpet looks, check out my 'Celebrity Red Carpet' board over on my Pinterest (details below)
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22
 

Americana - Marc Jacobs S/S 16

Marc Jacobs went all out with the Americana theme for his S/S 16 collection. Models were decked out in red, white and blue, stars and stripes, American iconography, ripped denim and some seriously kick-ass metallic cowboy boots. This was a collection about excess, not that Marc Jacobs ever does anything by halves! With references to the movies, garments were printed and embellished with motifs including popcorn, hot dogs and a screen print of screen icon Janet Leigh. This is one of the must have collections for S/S 16 and having an all-American road trip top of my bucket list you can imagine how much I love it! Take a look at all the best pieces from this collection which you can shop now and give your wardrobe some serious kudos.
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Saturday 21 May 2016

Exhibition - Missoni: Art and Colour

Last weekend I went to the 'Missoni: Art and Colour' exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey. This is one of favourite museums in London and I also LOVE Missoni, so this was a winning combination. I have loved Missoni for over 10 years now, being one of the key brands that helped me reaffirm that I wanted a career in the fashion industry. Having the opportunity to see so many incredible looks from several Missoni collections was exceptionally inspiring. The exhibition is in association with MA*GA Art Museum, Italy, and The Woolmark Company.
The exhibition draws on the private archive of Missoni collections from 1953 to the present day, but also explores the leading 20th century artists who first inspired Ottavio and Rosita Missoni to create their now signature and iconic style. Works on display are by the likes of Sonia Delaunay, Gino Severini and Edoardo Landi.
If you are a textiles designer/student or you work in fashion, then I highly recommend this exhibition. It is a prime opportunity to see the collections, print and knitwear samples close up. I also discovered several artists whose work I will now research further as I really liked what I saw. I'm such a magpie when it comes to colour and print, so you can imagine I was in my element looking at all the work! Just look at all the vibrant colour and texture in the below garments...
Missoni Art Colour runs until the 4th of September, tickets £9.
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22
 


Wednesday 18 May 2016

Pre Fall 16 Moodboard - Neon Geo

Small scale geometric prints were given a vibrant update for Pre Fall 16, with M by Missoni and Red Valentino both reinventing the style by adding contemporary pops of neon colour. Look to modern architecture as a source inspiration, with sharp lines and panels of bright colour brightening up many a dull city landscape. There is something fresh and playful about this print trend, moving away from traditional geo's and  not being afraid to add a splash of vibrancy into your wardrobe. Look to Swedish architecture company 'Wingårdh Arkitektkontor' as a point of reference. Key Colours: Acid Lime and Fluro Coral.
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Monday 16 May 2016

Pom Pom Details for S/S 16

Forget suede fringing, if you are going for the 'boho' look this summer then it is all about pom poms! A super pretty and fun way to add personality into your outfit, coloured pom poms are perfect for high summer. There are a number of great apparel pieces with pom pom details, some of which can be seen in the edit below. However, the best way that I have found to get this look is with accessories. Pom poms on sandals are very popular, especially if worn on holiday or at a music festival. For S/S 16 Jane Carr has two great scarf styles, the 'Boho Scarf' and the 'Nomad Wrap' - both of which come in a number of different colours. Alternatively, why not get crafty and try making your own pom poms. There are numerous tutorials online showing you how to make them. You can then customise pieces in your wardbrobe which you already have and want to give an update for summer. Take a look at this edit for inspiration.
1. Chloe - £1665 / 2. Aquazurra - £530 / 3. Lanvin - £770
4. Mary Katrantzou - $1685 / 5. Dolce and Gabbana - $1695 / 6. Jane Carr - $225
7. Aquazurra - £470 / 8. Dolce and Gabbana - $4495 / 9. Jane Carr - $195
10. Topshop - £3.50 / 11. No. 21 - $1395 / 12. TBags Los Angeles - $203 
13. Spencer Valdimir - $1610 /  14. Sophie Hulme £150 / 15. Yosuzu - £260
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Saturday 14 May 2016

Interiors - Reflect and Repeat

Don't you just love it when you discover a new brand by complete chance on Instagram? That is exactly how I found 'Reflect & Repeat'. Some of you may know that I have a Textiles and Surface Design degree, so I'm somewhat of a magpie when it comes to print and colour. Reflect & Repeat has both those things, so it was a match made in print heaven.
 
About The Brand - With 10 years experience in fashion and textiles, Jo Mitchell launched Reflect & Repeat in Autumn 2015. The incredible floral prints are inspired by the English country garden, but with a contemporary twist. The luxury interiors collection, featuring these beautiful cushions, would look fabulous in a contemporary room setting. The vibrancy of the colours will add an injection of personality into your living space. All products are made in the UK and where possible organic cotton is used. Jo has also teamed up with Hemsley + Hemsley, the chefs currently taking the culinary world by storm, on an exclusive range of aprons and tea-towels inspired by their recipes. You can shop all Reflect & Repeat products online now. All links are listed below.
Twitter - @reflectrepeat
Instagram - reflectandrepeat
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22


Wednesday 11 May 2016

On Trend Now - Bandana Scarf

This is the one scarf style that there is no escaping from this season - the bandana! Traditionally in red, blue or black, and with a one-colour paisley print, the bandana scarf is super versatile and can be styled in several ways. It can be worn folded corner to corner, around your head to hold your hair back or tied neatly around your neck - the latter of which will give your outfit major kudos! There is something rather American and rock 'n' roll about this look, so style with cool denim pieces, a vintage tee and a leather jacket and you won't go far wrong. Take a look at the edit below for the best street style looks from the likes of Karlie Kloss, Leandra Medine, Joanna Hillman and Harley Viera-Newton to see how they styled their Bandana's.
Conventionally bandana's are made of cotton, but elevating this style of scarf to high fashion stakes several luxury brands have created silk versions. The light blue silk style from Jane Carr, see below, is my favourite I have seen. If the bandana is your kind of thing, and you know it compliments your style then Saint Laurent and Marc Jacobs have some great options. If, on the other hand, you feel you will only get on board with this trend for the current  season then do not worry as the high street has some great alternatives. Perhaps you want to wear this trend to a festival but don't want to spend much money, then head to New Look, H&M or Forever 21 for styles that come in at under £5. Which is your favourite?
1. Saint Laurent - £380
2. Jane Carr - £130
3. H&M - £3.99
4. Diesel - £55
5. Marc Jacobs - £180
6. H&M - £4.99
7. Chan Luu - £45
8. New Look - £3.99
9. Levi - £10
10. Cara - £5.80
11. Saint Laurent
12. Forever 21 - £3
13. Joe Browns - £11.95
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Monday 9 May 2016

Brand To Know - Monse

Since launching their debut S/S 16 collection at NYFW in September 2015, Monse has become one of the fastest rising brands in fashion. Having secured Net-a-Porter and Bergdorf Goodman as stockists in their first season, Monse has been nominated in the 'Swarovski Award for Womenswear' category at the 2016 CFDA awards.  
About the Brand - Founders Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia, met whilst working at Oscar de la Renta, where they have a combined 18 years experience. Their label Monse is centered around the notion that women need not be corseted in eveningwear, opting instead for loose fitting silhouettes with a subtle hint of undress about them. For both S/S 16 and A/W 16, seen below, they took a classic shirt and played with the concept of tying it in various ways to create strapless dresses and interesting off the shoulder looks.
Stylists and celebrities were quick to notice Monse, for it's subtle sex appeal and laidback eveningwear aesthetic. The soft silks and luxurious velvet fabrics lend themselves perfectly to draping, meaning the wearer can feel confident in what they are wearing and need not be self conscious. Celebrity fans include: Selena Gomez, Jaime King, Kate Bosworth, Kerry Washington, Brie Larson, Sienna Miller, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lady Gaga.
 
If you are looking to invest in something different for S/S 16, then Monse could be the brand you have been looking for. With a price range of $500 - $4000 you can invest high or low depending on if you want daywear or eveningwear. No doubt Monse will increase it's stockist list over the coming seasons as the brand gains popularity, but for now take a look at what Net-a-Porter have to offer from this brand. Be quick before it sells out. Happy shopping!
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Saturday 7 May 2016

Outfit of The Month - May

This Stella McCartney Resort 16 shift dress features one of the standout prints from the season. A much coveted collection, this dress is a real statement piece for Spring. The resort 16 lookbook styled this dress with flat white slip-on shoes, but for this outfit I have opted to style with a pair of Bordeaux coloured suede heels from Aquazurra. This elevates this look from daywear to eveningwear. Completing the outfit is a blush pink leather envelope bag from Eddie Borgo and an exquisite gold bracelet by fine jeweller Jemma Wynne with 3 emeralds.
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Tuesday 3 May 2016

Met Gala 2016 - HUGE Red Carpet Review

The theme of this year's Met Gala was Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. Let's take a look at who wore what on the red carpet...
Claire Danes - Zac Posen / Zoe Saldana - Dolce & Gabbana
Nicole Kidman - Alexander McQueen / Brie Larson - Proenza Schouler
Taylor Swift - Louis Vuitton / Naomi Watts - Burberry
Naomi Harris - Burberry / Rachel McAdams - Valentino
Nina Dobrev - Marchesa / Kate Bosworth - Dolce & Gabbana
Lorde - Valentino / Karolina Kurkova - Marchesa
Kate Hudson - Atelier Versace / Saoirse Ronan - Christopher Kane
Dakota Fanning - Nina Ricci / Emma Watson - Calvin Klein
Michelle Monaghan - Rosie Assoulin / Bella Hadid - Givenchy
Demi Lovato - Moschino / Florence Welch - Gucci
Rita Ora - Vera Wang / Allison Williams - Peter Pilotto
Emma Stone - Prada / Selena Gomez - Louis Vuitton
Karlie Kloss - Brandon Maxwell / Kendall Jenner - Versace
Lupita Nyong'o - Calvin Klein / Hailee Steinfeld - H&M
Mia Goth - Prada / Gigi Hadid - Versace
Anna Kendrick - Derek Lam / Jessica Chastain - Prada / Amber Valleta - H&M
Jennifer Connelly - Louis Vuitton / Michelle Williams - Louis Vuitton
Mia Wasikowska - Prada / Lily Collins - Valentino / Miranda Kerr - Louis Vuitton
Alicia Vikander - Louis Vuitton / Emma Roberts - Tory Burch
Beyoncé - Givenchy / Amber Heard - Ralph Lauren / Lily Aldridge - Michael Kors
Sienna Miller - Gucci / Zendaya - Michael Kors
Elle Fanning - Thakoon / Blake Lively - Burberry
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - Ralph Lauren / Margot Robbie - Calvin Klein
Katy Perry - Prada / Bee Shaffer - Alexander McQueen
Dakota Johnson - Gucci / Chloe Moretz - Coach
Olivia Wilde - Michael Kors / Kristen Stewart - Chanel
Alexa Chung - Thakoon / Kate Mara - Paco Rabanne
Anna Ewers - Jason Wu / Jourdan Dunn - Balmain
Poppy Delevingne - Marchesa / Kylie Jenner - Balmain
Cindy Crawford - Balmain / Kim Kardashian - Balmain
Alessandra Ambrosio - Balmain / Joan Smalls - Balmain
 
Best Dressed
1. Zoe Saldana wearing Dolce & Gabbana - I was almost speechless when I saw this gown, it was truly stunning. The most show-stopping gown of the night and no doubt will make one of  best dressed of the entire year.
2. Claire Danes wearing Zac Posen - Whilst this gown was similar to what we have seen from Zac Posen before, this gown had L.E.D lights in it. Love it or hate it, it was certainly impressive!
3. Kate Hudson wearing Atelier Versace - I loved the engineered design of this gown and it was attention grabbing without being too over the top.
4. Michelle Monaghan wearing Rosie Assoulin - One of the most daring uses of fabric we saw at this event. It was risk taking and it paid off. I loved how different this gown was.
5. Bella Hadid wearing Givenchy - Bella is becoming somewhat of a Givenchy muse and from this gown it is easy to see why. She looked incredible in this sophisticated black dress with ruffle detail.
6. Kendall Jenner wearing Versace - It was pretty a standard 'supermodel' dress but Kendall looked flawless.
7. Alicia Vikander wearing Louis Vuitton - It came as no surprise the Alicia wore LV but she wears the brand so well. This edgy short dress used various fabrics and I loved the bold red colour and boots.
8. Blake Lively wearing Burberry - Going against the grain of the more 'edgy' gowns, Blake opted for a super feminine and classic Burberry dress. The embroidered detail on the silk organza train was beautiful.
 
Least Favourite
1. Emma Watson wearing Calvin Klein - I just found this outfit abit 'confused' looking and not the most flattering.
2. Emma Stone wearing Prada - The plunging neckline, the oversized waist belt and the thigh high split. It was all too much.
3. Gigi Hadid wearing Versace - It wasn't that I didn't like the dress, it was more that I expected something a little more daring from Gigi.
4. Chloe Moretz wearing Coach - The dress itself was pretty safe, but I feel the overall styling let this look down. A sleek updo hairstyle would have been preferred.
 
Who was your best dressed?
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Monday 2 May 2016

Shoe Brand To Know - Chiara Ferragni

Superstar fashion blogger Chiara Ferragni launched her eponymous shoe brand back in 2013 and since then there has been no stopping this blogger turned business woman. Known as one of the industries most influential bloggers, Chiara Ferragni is always front row at the biggest and best runway shows and has previously collaborated with Superga and has been a brand ambassador for Redken.  Chiara Ferragni shoes are designed by an in-house team of 3 up and coming Italian designers, under Chiara's supervision  as creative director. Known for their bold primary colours, glitter and iconic 'flirting' motif, the shoes are playful and fun with major street style kudos. They are now highly coveted, sold in some of the world's most desirable luxury department stores including: Le Bon Marche (Paris),  Selfridges and Liberty (London) and Apropos (Germany). The latest collection is titled 'Heroes To The Rescue' and feature superhero iconography and slogans. All Chiara Ferragni shoes are made in Italy using genuine leather and are hand sewn. Prices: £188 (espadrilles), £198 (slip on sneakers), £219 (slippers), £271 (pumps), £292 (platforms and lace-ups), £313 (sandals and ankle boots), £417 (over the knee boots).
Chiara herself acts as a brand ambassador for her own brand, regularly seen wearing her own collection whilst sat front row at fashion week or attending an event. The collection is diverse enough to mix statement pieces for more select occasions with easier to wear everyday styles.
If you love shoes then be sure to head over to my Pinterest page (details below) and follow my 'Shoes/Boots' board for more high fashion footwear.
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22