Get The Look - Taylor Swift: Reputation (part 1)

Ok so it goes without saying that i'm a huge Taylor Swift fan! With each album she releases, her style changes considerably. With the 'Red' album she often wore micro shorts with slim fitting tops and teamed the outfit with brogues. Taylor also wore lots of pretty floral dresses and classic red carpet gowns. Next came the '1989' era and Taylor's style changed once more. Later she began dressing a little more edgy, dyeing her hair bleach blonde and experimenting with different silhouettes. And then we get to the present day and Taylor's 'Reputation' tour is in full swing. With the help of her stylist, Joseph Cassell, Taylor has been wearing her edgiest looks to date. All her outfits are fully in tune to the theme of her album. Snakeskin/snake motifs have cropped up several times in her latest looks, as has: camo print, plaid and distressed fabric (bleached materials, ripped/frayed hems). She is regularly seen wearing pieces from French brand Faith Connexion, which has become her go to brand of the year. She also regularly wears: Gucci, Alexander Wang, and her own personal rep tour merch. I have put together a number of outfits, which I would love to see Taylor wear during the 'Reputation Era', especially during her meet and greets backstage on her tour. I have split this into Part 1 and Part 2. What do you think of these looks, perfect for Taylor right?

Outfit 1

Taylor was recently spotted wearing this exact sequinned top from Ashish, but I couldn't resist using it myself for the starting point of this outfit. I have teamed it with a pair of cut-out snakeskin ankle boots from Chloe(need these in my life!), plaid bag from Balenciaga and black denim separates. A snake ring from the official tour merch completes the look.

Outfit 2

This era, Taylor has really played with layering pieces and this skirt from Alexander Wang is perfect for that vibe. It is constructed to look like a shirt tied over a skirt and it works perfectly to create an edgy, yet wearable, daytime piece. A loose fitting, ruched, jersey top from Raquel Allegra compliments the double layering on the skirt. The oversized jacket is from Off-White and adds to the 'tough' look that Taylor has been sporting lately. I paired the look with army boots from Gucci and of course a snake motif bag, also from Gucci...I mean I just couldn't resist.

Outfit 3

Eagle-eyed fans will have spotted that Taylor wore a Fausto Puglisi outfit in her 'LWYMMD' music video. She later, wore a custom Puglisi outfit for a recent street style look whilst out and about in New York. With this in mind, I based this look around a pair of printed Fausto Puglisi biker boots. This style of boot has been Taylor's main choice of footwear this era, opting to wear them as part of her tour outfits. The leather mini skirt is super edgy thanks to the thread detailing, it comes from Saint Laurent, as do the snake earrings. Continuing the snake motif theme, the hoodie is from Gucci and clutch bag from Red Valentino.

Outfit 4

This forth and final outfit, is my favourite of this post. I am a huge fan of London-based brand Rockins and I actually own the snake motif skinny scarf seen below. I knew I had to style it up for this outfit. A frayed plaid shirt is perfect for Taylor and teamed with frayed shorts, with lace details, it's a winning combo! One of my favourite elements of this look, is the leather corset from Zana Bayne. It's quite different for Taylor but works really well with her current style. A Gucci bag, with snake clasp, and studded biker boots from Saint Laurent complete the outfit. 

Which is your favourite look from this edit?

Part 2 coming next week!

Don't forget that I also have a Taylor style board over on my Pinterest. Here you can find all of her red carpet and street style looks, as well as editorials and candids (details below)

Phillippa x

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Resort 19 Trend - Block Colour

It was only last week that I was showing you the 'ice-cream colours' trend for Resort 19, and this week it's a whole different story. The bolder, and brighter, the better! Colour-blocking is never for the faint hearted - it's an unashamedly bold sartorial statement. Ok so who was championing the trend this season? You can always rely on Versace for pulling a showstopping bold collection out of the bag, and even for resort that was no different. Ribbed knitted dresses, in block panels of: blue, orange and pink made a real statement. Intersected with slashes of black for the ultimate eye-catching assertion of vibrant colour for the win! More of the same was seen over at Victor Glemaud, who delivered acidic orange vests layered over cornflower blue polo necks...not to mention being teamed with pink kick flares with yellow piping. It was a bold move that paid off, thanks in part to the overall relaxed feel of the collection. Elsewhere, Calvin Klein and Vionnet opted for a sporty take on eveningwear. Klein showcased floor length dresses with polo necks, whilst Vionnet added a dose of the 90's trend to the mix with classic waist bags. These bold colour combo's also strongly reminded me of the work of Mowgli Omari, one of my favourite artists whose work is created using coloured paper. 

Phillippa x

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Resort 19 Trend - Ice Cream Colours

Ice-cream colours for spring...what's new? Ok so we've definitely seen ice-cream pastels for spring for several seasons now, but its a winning colour palette. In previous seasons we have seen block colour pastels, but for Resort 19 things are a little different. Sorbet shades were combined into single garments, creating dreamy pastel rainbows.  Many garments were tiered, or ruffled, meaning these icy blush colours sat harmoniously next to each other. Preen took the trend one step further, and placed pastel coloured ditsy floral prints, on top of the already pastel backdrop. Many designers also focused on occasion wear dressing with his trend. We don't often see pastel shades on the red carpet gowns, so this new take on eveningwear will make a refreshing updated take on dressing for the red carpet.  If you, like me, like to have transseasonal pieces in your wardrobe, then i'd advise against investing too greatly in this trend. Whilst these ice-cream colours will look suitably fresh in Spring, teamed with sandals and white accessories, they will be somewhat harder to style for the autumnal months.  Overall though, just because a colour palette is ultra feminine and delicate doesn't mean it can't still make an impact. 

Key Designers: Preen, Dennis Basso, CF Goldman

Phillippa x

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A/W 18 Trend - Tapestry

So we are currently experiencing a heatwave in the UK, and here's me sat inside writing a blog post about autumnal trends...and when it comes to fabric does it really get more autumnal than tapestry textiles in a leafy colour palette? Seen at both Mary Katrantzou and Off-White, tapestry textiles were revived for the runway and constructed into edgy silhouettes with modern styling. Tapestry, given the nature of the fabric,  is always going to look fairly traditional. If you stay true to the heritage of the fabric, then most likely the colour palette will be beautiful earthy shades of blue and green - both designers in question here did just that. Gorgeous autumnal teals were offset with rustic browns, creating a harmonious colour scheme. Katrantzou, whose work is always ornate and highly decorated, used tapestry from the famed Parisian manufacturer 'Gobelins'.  She interpreted the fabric for the runway by showcasing quilted jackets, with patent trims, as well as off-the-shoulder dresses with corset waists. Over at Off-White, Vigil Abloh took tapestry down an equestrian route. Tapestries adorned with horses, were fashioned into tailored jackets, dresses, corsets and high-waisted shorts - the later two of which are set to be amongst the most coveted pieces of the season. For me, the key to nailing this trend is all in the styling. It needs to be edgy, else it could look dated. Opt for a cinched in waist or tubular bodice. Layer with a crisp white shirt and team with a statement heel or cool trainer for a sporty vibe. 

Phillippa x

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Taylor Swift - Reputation Stadium Tour

So after a decade in the making, I finally got to see Taylor Swift at Wembley last month! Having been a fan of Taylor for a full 10 years, first listening to her music whilst I was at college, I have never had the chance to see her perform live before. When she toured with her last album '1989' in 2015, she performed at British Summer Time festival in Hyde Park, but I missed the chance to get tickets. At this show, she was joined on stage by: Karlie Kloss, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Martha Hunt and Serena Williams during a performance of her hit song 'Style'....I was gutted to have missed it. I knew in this moment that the next time she toured the UK, I would go to see her. Fast-forward to the present day and Taylor is currently touring with her latest record 'Reputation'. The album was released in fall 2017, and it's pretty much all I've been listening to since it's release. The record is inspired, in part, but a certain American rapper and his reality tv star wife who seemed to take it upon themselves to bring about the demise of Swift by using dirty tactics on social media. Unfortunately for them, Taylor was not prepared to let her this incident end her career. Showing a high level of integrity, she took back ownership of her reputation and even started using the snake emoji as branding for her record. A genius move! The rest of the record is inspired by personal narratives about love and life. 

I got tickets to see her at Wembley, and what a show it was! Yes I was so far back that I could barely see Taylor herself on stage, but honestly that didn't matter one bit. The second the intro of the opening song 'Ready For It' started playing, the entire stadium was on their feet...and it stayed this way for the entire show. It was an atmosphere like I have never experienced before at a concert, and i've been to many gigs and even Glastonbury on a few occasions. The fans were truly all in, no matter their age or gender. Taylor excited the crowd by playing on 3 separate stages, 2 of which were located on the pitch itself, meaning fans in this area had the chance to get super close to the popstar herself. The show really came alive as the sky darkened and the wristbands, which we received upon entry, all lit up in sync to the music. In regards to the setlist, I love that Taylor performed several tracks from her previous records, mixing them in with newer material to create a medley of archive hits. A personal highlight for me, was when Swift performed a surprise acoustic version of 'Fifteen', which was the first Taylor song I ever heard way back when. I also loved the fun performance of Shake It Off with Charli XCX and Camila Cabello, as well as 'Getaway Car' which had incredible visuals. The show ended, with huge applause, to 'This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things'

(above, Taylor performing 'Shake It Off' with support acts Charli XCX and Camila Cabello)

At a recent show at the rose Bowl in California, Taylor surprised fans by performing duets with: Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes and Troye Sivan. With her London date being at such a legendary venue like Wembley, I was fully expecting a special guest appearance...and my goodness Taylor did not disappoint. Cue Robbie Williams taking to the stage with Taylor to sing 'Angels'. I have NEVER heard a crowd cheer so loud, it was unbelievable. Angels in undoubtedly one of the most iconic British songs of all time so to hear that performed at Wembley, during the Rep tour, was totally unexpected and magical. 

(above, Taylor performing 'Angels' with Robbie Williams)

What I love about Taylor, aside from her music of course, is that she carries herself with such a high level of grace and elegance. In a world where girls are constantly striving to look a certain way, post seductive selfies and dress provocatively - especially in the entertainment industry, it is a breath of fresh air to see such a successful young woman rise to the top of her game without compromising herself to conform to 'industry ideals'. When you watch Taylor perform, you can see that she is whole-heartedly in this industry for all the right reasons - she loves writing, recording and performing. There is no hidden agenda or deep desire for fame. I think we can all learn a lot form Taylor - she's smart, respectful and hardworking.

My Top 10 Taylor Tracks

1. Wildest Dreams

2. So It Goes

3. Enchanted

4. Red

5. Style

6. Delicate

7. Bad Blood

8. Getaway Car

9. Out Of The Woods

10. Call It What You Want

Phillippa x

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Outfit of The Month - July

It's that time of the month again...OOTM time that is! So if you are familiar with my OOTM posts, then you'll know for sure by now that mini skirts are my thing... I'm literally obsessed with them. This camo skirt from Nila Lotan really caught my eye. It gave me serious 00's vibes (Destiny's Child 'Survivor' music video much!). Whilst I love a good throwback, for me I like to keep styling modern. I've teamed the skirt with the coveted 'marching' tee from Re/Done. I've seen so many celebs wearing this t-shirt, including Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Roberts - and I'm all about a good slogan tee. As this one has a block colour print, it's still a super wearable style and a cool update on a basic white t-shirt. As you might be able to tell with the styling of this outfit, i've gone for quite an edgy look. The super casual skirt/tee combo is made more 'put together' with the inclusion of a blush pink tailored blazer from Elizabeth and James. I'm a huge advocate of a tailored blazer, but I usually opt for black. This ice-cream pink number adds a hint of femininity to the overall look and works perfectly for the summer months. For footwear I had to go for a 90's style trainer. These are literally everywhere atm (I even wrote a blog post on the so called 'ugly trainer' trend). Whilst trainers were once considered 'sporty or casual' this new wave of sneakers are a very desired high fashion look. It's not a style that I would usually go for, but i'm loving this high top pair from Chloe. The red and green splashes of colour perfectly pick up on the colours in the skirt/tee. The cute bucket bags comes courtesy of Nico Giani and can we please just talk about those shades? Yellow zebra print, slim cat-eye sunglasses - yes please! I adore the contrast of the zebra print with the camo. Whilst on paper you may not think these two prints would work together, the reality is the clashing print combo totally works and i'm living for this look right now. What do you think of this outfit?

Phillippa x

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June Music Playlist 2018

Walking Away (Mura Masa remix) by Haim

Redbone by Childish Gambino

Victoria Falls by Flyte

Dress by Taylor Swift

Outgrown by George FitzGerald and Bonobo

Shed by Kiasmos
Clairvoyant by Nakhane

Find Yourself by Before You Exit
Rose Garden by Rae Morris

Walls by Ruben
Baby Luv by Nilufer Yanya
Ivory by Movement
Nostalgia by Doe Paoro (RAC remix)
Tell My by Pines ft Water Park
God Save Our Young Blood by Borns ft Lana Del Rey
Stuck With Me by The Neighbourhood
Saturdays by Twin Shadow ft Haim
My Love by Amethysts
In The Air by DMA'S
Girl Like You by Toro y Moi

Nice For What by Drake

A$AP Forever by A$AP Rocky ft Moby

Pineapple Skies by Miguel
The Prize by The Kite String Tangle

OMG by Camila Cabello ft Quavo
Faded Memory by Planete

Turbine Blu by Seekae
Walk by Kwabs
Breathe A.gain by Couros
Out of Focus by Chelsea Cutler
Following The Sun by M.I.L.K
Toluca Lake by Tep No
Mephisto by JATA
My Thoughts On You by The Band CAMINO
Oceans Away by ARIZONA
Face To Face by Mat Kearney
Stuck In Orbit by What So Not ft BUOY
Daydream by Milk & Bone
O B 1 by Jagwar Ma

Rabbit Run by City Calm Down
Tearing Me Up by Bob Moses
Show Me by John Splithoff ft Madison Ryann Ward
Walk by Kwabs

Here We Are by LOWES

Late Night Store by Husky
Rolling Dice by Just A Gent, Ella Vos, Joey Chavez

Goodbye by Porches
UFO by Mallrat ft Allday
Tonight by Club Kuru

Doom or Destiny by Blondie
Happy Love by ROMANS
Sleepy Eyes by Elohim, Whethan

Let Me Down Easy by Gangs of Youth
It's Gotta Be You by Isaiah
You And Me by Shallou
Love$ick by Mura Masa ft A$AP Rocky

Turn Up The Love by Aluna George

Warm by SG Lewis
Cruel Mistress by Crazy P
Hideout - S.Carey
Bloom - Troye Sivan
Green Light (Chromeo remix) by Lorde

The Kids Don't Wanna Come Home by Declan McKenna

Hell by Mura Masa

Phillippa x

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