A/W 18 Trend Report - Scarf Prints

Another one of the biggest emerging print trends, as seen on the A/W 18 runway, was the 'scarf print'. Granted these prints have been seen before most notably at Hermes, who are of course famed world over for their silk scarves, but for Fall 18 they were widely seen on the catwalk and styled to look both traditional and contemporary. Such prints always have a tendency to look rather formal, given the nature of the prints themselves - ornate baroque patterns, equestrian prints etc and this was the approach taken by designers including: Faustine Steinmetz, Salvatore Ferragamo and Toga. The latter of whom also opted to style the scarves as Elizabethan-style head scarves - a nod to the Queen perhaps! Talking of her majesty, the Queen attended the Richard Quinn runway show at London Fashion Week. The designer was the first recipient of 'Her Majesty's British Design Award' and i'm sure she would give his latest collection the royal seal of approval. Documenting his love of wallpaper motifs and traditional prints, Quinn fashioned scarves into edgy eveningwear, and in doing so maybe made the biggest impact of all the designers championing this trend this season. French designer Marine Serre, delivered a show-stopping collection which highlighted the issue of sustainability within the fashion industry. Having stockpiled silk scarves in the lead up to her third collection, Serre was able to produce her collection by upcycling old textiles - the result of which was a dynamic showing of modern silhouettes and handkerchief hem skirts. If you are looking to tap into this trend then you can dress head-to-toe in print or opt for scarf print separates. Better still, you may already have a few vintage pieces in your wardrobe which you could style in a more fashion-forward way to really embrace the spirit of this revived print trend. Key Designers: Richard Quinn, Gucci, Toga, Salvatore Ferragamo, Marine Serre, Leonard, Tory Burch and Nicole Miller.

Phillippa x

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Pre-Fall 18 Trend Report - Scenic Prints

Scenic prints are more of a niche print trend, but they were still present for AW18. This trend crops up from time to time, but we never see it on the same scale as say floral prints or geometric patterns. Typically scenic, or landscape, prints are harder to wear. Given the nature of the subject matter, they are often large scale to incorporate a lot of detail and therefore they fill a full silhouette creating a bold look. This season there was not just one theme: we saw tropical rainforests, traditional English hunting scenes and Japanese landscapes. Karen Walker used earthy tones to create a dramatic tree print with blurred lines to create movement, whilst in the same collection also showcased a tropical island print which was representative of a utopian destination. The juxtaposition between the two contrasting locations made a statement of living a dreamlike existence. Erdem took inspiration from the Japanese artist Hokusai, and the resulting prints had a feel of romanticism to them. Elsewhere, Antonio Marras created whimsical British themed prints and these complemented the overall feel of the collection when teamed with classic tweed and intarsia knitwear.

Phillippa x

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The 'UGLY' Trainer Trend

Each season, without fail, there is a questionable trend that emerges from the runway and you are left thinking 'surely no one will wear that'...this season the trend in question is the 'Ugly' trainer. It goes without saying that the trend for all things 90's revival is massive atm, and this shoe trend definitely stems from there. Despite being seen on the runway, this trend has really come into its own on the street. For sure becoming one of the most 'instagrammable' fashion looks of the past 6 months. The irony of course being that designers know that such sneakers are unashamedly ugly, but hey it's fashion and if it's what the consumer wants it's what the consumer will get! Kicking off the trend, Vetements collaborated with Reebok on the now infamous 'InstaPump' and Raf Simons ongoing collab with Adidas has also thrown some good options into the mix as well. Balenciaga then went and released the 'Triple S' trainer, and it's fair to say that there has been no going back since then. Off white coloured versions give me MAJOR throwbacks to my childhood, when trainers were practical and not a fashion statement. Some designers have gone one step further and developed styles with several colour-clashing combo's, adding to the 'look at me' fashion moment which such trainers will create. I'm yet to find a styling option for this trend which would work for my personal style, thinking instead that this trend is more suited to those who like to dress rather OTT in oversized silhouettes with a sporty edge. I also think that luxury brands have nailed this trend better than the highstreet, so if you dare to invest big on this trend check out my edit below...

Phillippa x

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A/W 18 Trend Report - Red/Pink Combo

The number one emerging colour trend of the season is the combo of red and pink. This colour combination was seen on the S/S18 catwalk, but has become trans-seasonal and subsequently dominated the A/W 18 catwalks. It's a very feminine colour combination, but as both colours sit near to each other on the colour spectrum the contrast is not too harsh on the eye. These two colours, for many women, also represent strength - something which is at the forefront of people's minds now more than ever. This is quite a full on colour trend, and see's the wearer adopt a full head to toe look. The 2 colours in question are also very bold... no pastel pinks to be seen here. The key to nailing this trend lies in a couple of styling options. 

Option 1: block-coloured separates. Team a red polo neck with a pink skirt, or try a loose fitting pink dress with candy apple red coloured jacket. This will give your outfit the full catwalk treatment.

Option 2: Two in one garments. This option is the safest way to wear this trend, if you are unsure if head to toe colour is your thing or not. A red and pink striped tee would be perfect for tapping into this trend and you can style it with jeans, for example, for a subtle trend driven look. 

As always with trends, you can choose to adapt them to suit your own personal style, so if accessories are your 'thing' then a pink bag and red shoes would be great. One of the best things about colour trends, is that the chances are you will already have several pieces in your wardrobe that are the colour, or colours, of the season - so if that's the case you could start wearing this trend right now and get ahead of the game!

Phillippa x

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Outfit Of The Month - April

Spring is finally here! After weeks of cold/snowy weather, how nice is it to finally have some warmer weather and a relaxing Easter break? Time to start dressing for Spring and bring out the floral prints. Ok so i'm not a massive fan of wearing print, however a ditsy floral is perfect for this transitional period. Me being me, of course i've opted for a printed dress on a dark ground - I mean i'm not ready for full on colour just yet. This pretty dress is from Karen Millen and the pops of blue and buttercup yellow are perfect for Spring. It is also a great piece to style for both day and night. You probably know by now that I love a good leather jacket and a white option is ideal for Spring. Tying in the monochromatic theme, I have styled the look with a 2-tone J.W.Anderson bag and vintage inspired pointed toe Tabitha Simmons boots.

Phillippa x

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A/W 18 Trend Report - Rainbow Animal

This print trend first made an appearance during New York fashion week, when Tom Ford delivered a show-stopping collection of unashamedly bold leopard print outfits in an array of neon brights. Ford's memo was head-to-toe print, making his A/W 18 offering the go to collection of choice for girls who aren't afraid to make a statement and turn heads with their sartorial choices. Streetwear favourite, R13, also showcased similar leopard print suits and accessories. Elsewhere in NYC, Victoria Beckham's take on the trend was a little more understated. Make no mistake though, an orange leopard print trench coat is still pretty fearless. Over at Zadig et Voltaire, zebra print reigned supreme and was seen on ultra cool 80's inspired mini dresses and killer pointed toe boots. For a slightly different take on the trend, Marni and MSGM both opted for large scale cat illustrations. Such prints had a naive quality to them, and offer a more fun approach to this season's main print trend. Note: stick to block colours.

Phillippa x

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April Music Playlist 2018

Panopticon by Cloud Control

Flow by Crooked Colours
Dreams Tonight by Alvvays

Lay Down by Touch Sensitive

Bodies by Wafia

Hideout by S. Carey
Pieces by Andrew Belle
Tears by Mr Jukes ft Alexandria
Memorized by Mat Kearney, RAC

John My Beloved by Sufjan Stevens
Turbine Blue by Seekae
Hero by George Maple
Burns by George FitzGerald
Pacer by Jesper Ryom
Glue by Bicep
Silence for You by Mononoke
De Ja by Lil Silva
Creul by The Preatures (Client Liaison remix)
Foreign Hands by George Ogilvie
Diamonds by The Boxer Rebellion
Two Thousand and Seventeen by Four Tet

Cheetah Tongue by The Wombats

Alfie's Song by Bleachers
Obvs by Jamie xx
Walls To Build by Kllo (Mall Grab remix)
Honest Man by Daniel Pearson
Siv (You and I) by ViVii
One More Time by Jelani Blackman
Play Out by Zola Blood
Blue Light by Kelela
No Love by Lyves
Pain by The War On Drugs
Underwaterfall by Bearcubs
Sink by Noah Kahan
Soul Structure by Maribou State
Water Flow by Klyne
Hopes Up by Drama Duo

Love Is A Basic Need by Embrace
Opal by Bicep (Four Tet remix)
Exactly How You Are by Ball Park Music
Papua New Guinea by The Future Sound of London
Delicate by Taylor Swift
Something's Gotta Give by Camila Cabello

Phillippa x

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