A/W 17 Trend Report - Star Motifs

The 'Americana' trend has been hanging around for a few seasons now. You may remember Marc Jacobs all out 'Americana' themed collection for S/S 16 - with stars and stripes galore. Then for Pre-Fall 17 the trend re-emerged but with a comic book spin on things, throwing graphic symbols and comic book iconography into the mix. So it comes as no surprise that 'Star Motifs' were a key trend as seen on the A/W 17 runway. Henry Holland delivered a knockout collection featuring bold star prints emblazoned proudly on dresses, jackets and cowboy boots. Mugler delivered a dose of David Bowie with one shoulder embellished cut-out star dresses. The perfect evening mini dress if I ever did see one. The Starman would approve! Putting a further spin on the look, Nina Ricci added illustrations of rodeo riders into the mix, but kept away from the Americana colours for a more everyday wearable look. Tods also toned down the colours to keep things a little more sophisticated. 

Phillippa x

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Menswear Brand To Know - Prevu London

Launching in May 2015, Prevu is a contemporary menswear label founded by Jake Hall, Tom Lipop and Eser Aydemir. Based in Hackney, the brand manufactures in both London and Istanbul using the best quality fabrics from England, Japan and Italy. Prevu aspires to design a modern take on the 'suit' for a younger audience - with outerwear, t-shirts and shorts becoming classic pieces in the wardrobe of a fashion savvy young man. Tailoring is relaxed but the emphasis on style and quality is clear to see, with the clean aesthetic creating the perfect balance between smart/casual.

Here is my pick of the best pieces from the brand's current collection. Price Range: £29 - £190 Available to shop online at www.prevu.london

Phillippa x

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Eyewear Trend - Mono Lens Sunglasses

Undoubtedly one of the biggest eyewear trends of the season - the mono lens. After being seen on the runway, this trend has really been championed by celebrities, stars of the sidewalk whose style we lust over. Popular styles include: aviators, rounds and shields. With social media playing a huge influence on global fashion trends, everyone is looking to take the perfect summer selfie, and the celebs seem to have found a friend in the form of these mono lens sunglasses - Bella, Gigi and Kendall are rarely seen without a pair. Regardless of the shape of the sunglasses, the lightly coloured lens feminises the overall look...whilst looking ultra cool at the same time. 

Whilst this may not be your average everyday 'go-to' eyewear style, they do make for the perfect accessory for summer festivals and holidays if you are looking to liven up your wardrobe. This edit shows you some of the best designer and high street styles currently available...

If you love eyewear then be sure to follow my Sunglasses/Eyewear board over on my Pinterest (details below). On here you will find a vast selection of classic and quirky eyewear styles from the runway, with plenty of great vintage styles thrown in for reference.

Phillippa x

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A/W 17 Trend Report - Desert Neutral

Following on from the Safari trend which I have already mentioned for A/W 17, the calm and serene colours continue with the 'Desert Neutral' trend. Liquid silk dresses are beautifully draped and skim the body with  precision. The blush colours have a sandy undertone to them reflecting the earthy palettes captured within nature. Pairing two of these neutrals together results in an ultra feminine take on colour blocking (as seen at Tome and Sies Marjan). New York based brand Milly added soft texture into the look, whilst Prabal Gurung went for elongated bell sleeves hence throwing another key trend into the frame. This is the colour choice of the season for those refusing to bow down to the dark nights and cooler weather. Any pieces you invest in will also transition well into S/S18.

Phillippa x 

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Outfit of The Month - May

An easy breezy shirt from A.W.A.K.E makes for the perfect wardrobe staple for Spring. Shirts are classic basics to own, and translate effortlessly from day to night depending on the styling. This pinstriped option is ideal to be worn to the office, but also works well for a nonchalant weekend outfit. Frayed hems on denim separates are all the rage atm, with this light-washed mini skirt from Frame being a great investment piece. Inspired by Gucci, this embroidered leather jacket from Topshop is a cute Spring style. Whilst Gucci opted for colourful embroidery and bold motifs, this Topshop number has feminine blooms in pastel shades. I have teamed the outfit with a killer pair of pointed ankle boots from Dorateymur. Whilst I would typically pair with a Chelsea or cowboy boot, I wanted a style that would elongate the leg, and a pointed toe/slim heel combo does this trick! Accessorising the outfit I have opted for a blush coloured clutch from Topshop and a grey tort pair of acetate sunglasses from the Olivia Palermo X Westward Leaning collection. The rose gold mirror lens ties in perfectly with the detail on the jacket.

Phillippa x

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Met Gala 2017 - HUGE Red Carpet Review

The theme of this year's Met Gala, to coincide with the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute exhibition, was 'Rei Kawakubo/ Comme des Garcons. As ever, the stars hit the red carpet in an array of jaw-dropping and spectacular gowns. Here is a HUGE review of who wore what...

Haley Bennett - Dolce and Gabbana / Brie Larson - Chanel / Blake Lively - Versace

Kylie Jenner - Versace / Julianne Moore - Calvin Klein

Gisele Bundchen - Stella McCartney / Cara Delevingne - Chanel

Kendall Jenner - La Perla / Bella Hadid - Alexander Wang

Diane Kruger - Prada / Chrissy Teigen - Marchesa / Ruby Rose - Burberry

Sophie Turner - Louis Vuitton / Janelle Monae - Ralph and Russo

Ruth Negga - Valentino / Stella Maxwell - H&M / Lily James - Burberry

Selena Gomez - Coach / Adwoa Aboah - Conner Ives

Kim Kardashian - Vivienne Westwood / Behati Prinsloo - Topshop / Lily Aldridge - Ralph Lauren Kate Hudson - Stella McCartney / Gwyneth Paltrow - Calvin Klein

Miranda Kerr - Oscar de la Renta / Ashley Graham - H&M

Rita Ora - Marchesa / Katy Perry - Maison Margiela

Rose Byrne - Ralph Lauren / Emma Roberts - DVF / Thandie Newton - Monse

Natasha Poly - Michael Kors / Joan Smalls - Topshop

Lupita Nyong'o - Prada / Zoe Kravitz - Oscar de la Renta / Lily-Rose Depp - Chanel

Maggie Gyllenhaal - Marni / Emily Ratajkowski - Marc Jacobs

Lauren Santo Domingo / Dakota Johnson - Gucci / Kate Bosworth - Tory Burch

Solange Knowles - Thom Browne / Celine Dion - Versace

Candice Swanepoel - Topshop / Halle Berry - Versace

Naomi Watts - Stella McCartney / Hailee Steinfeld - Vera Wang / Riley Keough - Louis Vuitton

Amy Schumer - Zac Posen / Alexa Chung - DVF

Elizabeth Banks - Michael Kors / Dree Hemingway - DVF / Kerry Washington - Michael Kors

Jourdan Dunn - H&M / Daisy Ridley - Oscar de la Renta

Emmy Rossum - Carolina Herrera / Allison Williams - DVF

Elle Fanning - Miu Miu / Jessica Chastain - Prada / Felicity Jones - Erdem

Gigi Hadid - Tommy Hilfiger / Jennifer Lopez - Valentino

Claire Foy - Erdem / Madonna - Moschino

Zendaya Coleman - Dolce and Gabbana / Rihanna - Comme des Garcons

Reese Witherspoon - Mugler / Katie Holmes - Zac Posen / Sarah Paulson - Prada

Hailey Baldwin  - Carolina Herrera / Lily Collins - Giambattista Valli

Best Dressed

1.  Rihanna wearing Comme des Garcons - Rihanna always fully commits to the theme of the Met Gala, never afraid to push boundaries. Whilst this dress may not be the most practical, it fully embraces the theme and for that Rihanna has to be applauded.

2. Blake Lively wearing Versace - Blake always has a good run on the red carpet, rarely putting a foot wrong. This stunning gown by Versace was breathtaking, with the bright blue feathers creating a jaw-dropping red carpet moment.

3. Cara Delevingne wearing Chanel - For me, the Met Gala is always about creating memorable red carpet moments. Whilst many guests opt to wear gowns, Cara went for an exquisite embellished suit from Chanel and therefore stood out from the crowd. 

4. Lily Aldridge wearing Ralph Lauren. Ok, so the dress itself may be a pretty standard cut-out red carpet dress but the killer Balenciaga boots completely elevated this look. I love that she wasn't afraid to add a seriously dramatic pop of colour to create a daring look.

5. Lily Collins wearing Giambattista Valli - Like Rihanna, Lily fully committed to the theme. This ruffled tiered gown had layers of volume and the cinched in waist / bodice combination created impact. Dramatic hair and makeup completed the look.

Who was your best dressed?

All these looks, plus more, can be found on my 'Celebrity -Red Carpet' over on my Pinterest (details below).

Phillippa x

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A/W 17 Trend Report - Racing Vibes

Unleash your inner racing car driver with this season's updated take on athleisure. High impact racing stripes were branded boldly across midriff baring crop tops and super short mini skirts. Rihanna's Fenty X Puma collection was all about those sporty vibes, with luxe daywear pieces intended for those wishing to flash the flesh. Over at Tommy Hilfiger, the Gigi Hadid designed collection went down a storm mixing the models off duty street style look with a strong sporty edge. French brand Zadig et Voltaire went all out with Formula One style racing leather pants, with spliced blocks of patriotic colours. Versace completed the nod to racing with oversized quilted jackets (one trend which doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon) and teamed this look with mono lens sports sunglasses. Key Colours: Red, Blue, Yellow

Phillippa x

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