Academy Awards 2016 - Red Carpet

Last night the 88th Academy Awards took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles...here is a review of who wore what on the red carpet...

Olivia Munn - Stella McCartney / Charlize Theron - Dior

Alicia Vikander - Louis Vuitton / Cate Blanchett - Armani Prive

Rachel McAdams - August Getty / Saoirse Ronan - Calvin Klein

Brie Larson - Gucci / Naomi Watts - Armani Prive

Lily Collins - Saint Laurent SS16 / Selena Gomez - Louis Vuitton

Margot Robbie - Tom Ford / Diane Kruger - Reem Acra Fall 16

Emma Roberts - Yanina Couture / Heidi Klum - Marchesa

Kate Bosworth - Ralph and Russo / Rooney Mara - Givenchy Couture

Kerry Washington - Atelier Versace / Lady Gaga - Brandon Maxwell

Olivia Wilde - Valentino Couture / Elizabeth Banks - Ralph and Russo

Julianne Moore - Chanel / Jennifer Garner - Versace

Jennifer Lawrence - Dior Couture / Kate Winslet - Ralph Lauren

 

My Best Dressed

1. Alicia Vikander wearing custom Louis Vuitton. I found this the most memorable gown from this years event. The buttercup yellow was so refreshing, in a sea of black, white and metallic dresses. I also loved the length of the gown, cut just above the ankle and with just enough volume to make a statement without being difficult to wear.

2. Margot Robbie wearing Tom Ford. This look was head to toe Hollywood glamour. Oozing in sophistication this look was flawless. And can we just take a moment to appreciate just how photogenic Margot is. Stunning!
3. Jennifer Lawrence wearing Dior - I loved than Jen opted to wear a gown with texture, as we did not see much of this on the red carpet. Whilst I still prefer Jen's 2013 Oscar dress, this gown had a beautiful lace bodice and a low cut neckline that added a hint of sex appeal without being too daring.

Other Thoughts
* Cate Blanchett wearing Armani - I adore Cate's red carpet style. She always wears bold statement looks, and whilst I do love this dramatic gown I was not sold on the soft icy blue colour.
 * Brie Larson wearing Gucci - This was my favourite use of colour that we saw. The soft ruffles and embellished belt were beautiful.
* Naomi Watts wearing Armani - Like Cate Blanchett, Naomi is a huge fan of Armani. This dress was stunning and perfect for this event, however I feel like I've seen Naomi wear this style of dress so many times before.
* Diane Kruger wearing Reem Acra - Worn to attend the Vanity Fair after party, this  gown was straight of the runway at NYFW. The embellishment was exquisite, and the sheer fabric showed just enough flesh to grab attention but without being too risqué.
* Kate Bosworth wearing Ralph & Russo - The soft powdery lilac colour was perfect for Kate's complexion and the detail on the neckline was enough to mean that styling could be kept simple.
* Rooney Mara wearing Givenchy - A beautiful gown, but as was the case with Naomi Watts I feel Rooney has worn this style so many times it no longer looks new.

Who was your best dressed?

Phillippa x

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Independent Spirit Awards - Red Carpet

Yesterday the Independent Spirit Awards took place in LA. Always the final awards show to take place before the Academy Awards, this event takes place during the day so we usually see a variety of beautiful daywear looks in brighter colours than you will see at an evening event. This event is much more relaxed than other award shows, so dress lengths vary and the dress code is not as strict. Take a look at who wore what...

1. Dree Hemingway - Chloe SS16

2. Rachel McAdams - Solace London

3. Jessica Biel - Roland Mouret SS16

4. Cate Blanchett - Gucci

5. Nikki Reed - Etro

6. Brie Larson - Chanel

7. Bel Powley - Mary Katrantzou A/W16

8. Zoe Kazan - Miu Miu

 

My Thoughts

I loved the fresh, spring feel of the majority of looks that we saw at this event and because there are less constraints on the dress code it was nice to see a range of different designers being worn and a wider selection of print and colour. 

*For my best dressed I would go for Dree Hemingway wearing Chloe. I love that this look is sleeveless and evokes a bohemian/free-spirited vibe. I covet everything Dree wears, her personal style is spot on.

*I also liked Jessica Biel's total look - the orange print on blue ground is eye-catching but not overpowering, and the shoes were seriously lust worthy.

*Rising star Bel Powley is captivating me with her red carpet style. She always opts for something a little different to the norm, not afraid to go for something more quirky and playful. She teamed her Mary Katrantzou dress, straight off the A/W16 catwalk at LFW, with a cool pair of 'Pacman' printed platforms.

*Whilst I love Etro, I just wasn't a fan of Nikki Reed's look. It was less about the dress and more about the fact that for me this is an evening look. The long sleeves and dark colours just seemed a little out of place at this event, where everyone else had opted for more summery looks.

 

Who was your best dressed?

 

Phillippa x

 

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London Fashion Week - A/W16 - Top 10

Now that London Fashion week has drawn to a close, here is my Top 10 review...

J.W.Anderson

For me, this show was my personal highlight of LFW. With architectural silhouettes, bold colour, quilting, a cloud motif used on a skirt and inventive fabric manipulation - each look from this show had me captivated. It very much reminded me of Pierre Cardin. This show also featured by favourite accessories seen so far on the A/W16 runway - the 'Pierce' bag and sculptural shoes.

Burberry

Christopher Bailey described his inspiration behind this collection - 70's glam rock, military tailoring and mix media bohemia. 70's wallpaper prints were given a makeover and seen on sequined mini dresses. Signature black and khaki separates were paired with jacquard tops. Coats came in classic wool with military details, plaid, shearling, fur and python. Never anything other than perfect, Burberry knows what consumers want...I'll take one of everything please!

Christopher Kane

I adore seeing what Christopher Kane will serve up at LFW, each season different to the last and full of imagination. More commercial pieces, such as sweatshirts emblazoned with the letter 'K' in a gothic font, and tailored coats, were shown alongside floral printed and felted dresses. I particularly liked the eclectic use of ostrich feathers and crochet details. The plastic rain hats were a nod to Kane's mother, and were designed by Stephen Jones. 

Alexander McQueen

Returning to London this season, each look from this collection was  breathtaking...but after all this was McQueen. The dream-like ethereal gowns with butterfly motifs and hummingbird sequin embroidery were sensational. These were contrasted against structured leather dresses with photographic floral print details. Corsets were a key style in this collection, but for me the pièce de résistance was the quilted satin coat - nothing short of sublime!

Mulberry

Johnny Coca made his debut at Creative Director at Mulberry this season and I was thrilled to see the return of Mulberry to the LFW schedule. There were leather dresses and trousers, shearling, layering, classic tailoring (incredible wool felt coats and capes) and beaded mesh. A bold orange silhouette floral print looked striking on a black ground and the yellow/aubergine colour combo is definitely one I want to wear next season. Mulberry ready-to-wear is officially back on my radar.

Mary Katrantzou

'Cowboys and Princesses' was the title of yet another superb collection from the queen of LFW. Inspired by all things Americana, this collection featured colourful and playful motifs and prints. These prints included: stars, hearts and butterflies. There was even a display of embroidered evening gowns with pleated and voluminous tulle. The more youthful looks sat alongside easier to wear everyday pencil skirts and jackets.

House of Holland

You know a House of Holland collection will always be fun, and this one sure was. Metallics, leopard print, leather, lace, fringing, killer boots...oh and the awesome Cher and Debbie Harry dresses. Henry stated that the collection was a fusion of the 20's meets the 70's - however this concept was conceived it worked for me.

Peter Pilotto

Inspired by Pilotto's Austrian heritage, my eye's were drawn to the incredible ski map print on an oversized coat. Looking like a textured print at first glance, a closer look revealed true nature of this genius print. As always, colour was high on the agenda, as was patchwork lace and just above the ankle length dresses. I also liked the icy colours for A/W.

 Temperley

With a distinct maritime feel, Alice Temperley's show was awash with pirate collars, tattoo motifs and beautiful seafaring prints. Temperley knows how to make clothes to swoon over, using the most perfect colour palettes including soft lavender and loose feminine silhouettes. There is always an element of delicacy with a Temperley collection, whether it be lace ruffles or pretty embroideries and this season I adored the ribbon embroidery on a tiered ruffled dress. The tattoo prints were inspired by the inkings of Temperley's friends.

Erdem

Taking a step back in time to the 30's and 40's - this collection was inspired by Hollywood starlets from the silver screen. This collection had a great balance between romance and darkness, with pretty floral prints and dramatic black velvet and high-neck lace dresses. Diamond shapes made for interesting patchworks. I predict this collection will be a red carpet favourite.

 

I will be posting my Milan Fashion Week Top 10 review next week...but to keep up to date with all the latest collections follow my 'Runway Favourites' board on Pinterest (details below) - I post catwalk collections daily.

 

Phillippa x

 

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Brit Awards 2016 - Red Carpet

Who was your best dressed at the 2016 Brit Awards?...

1. Lana Del Rey - Monique Lhuillier

2. Karlie Kloss - Alexander McQueen

3. Rihanna - Armani Prive

4. Cheryl Fernandez Versini - Zuhair Murad

5. Adele - Giambattista Valli

6. Kylie Minogue - Dolce and Gabbana

7. Tali Lennox - Dolce and Gabbana

8. Tallia Storm - Balmain X H&M

9. Alexa Chung - Preen A/W16

 

My Best Dressed 

Karlie Kloss wearing McQueen - in a sea of underwhelming and rather predictable looks, I loved that Karlie opted for something a different. Teaming her lace and ruffled McQueen outfit with a pair of trainers, I loved this high fashion look with a laidback vide.

 

Phillippa x

 

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Wishlist Wednesday

I've been doing some label lusting recently, so here is a quick little 'Wishlist Wednesday' featuring a mix of: fashion, beauty and interior products, which I am coveting at the moment. All items are available now, except the Matthew Williamson journal which launches in March!

Phillippa x

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Inspiration: Roksanda PreFall 16

Season after season, Roksanda Ilincic's collections are like a colourful dream come true. For Pre Fall 16, Roksanda adopted a colour palette of: dark teal, mustard, terracotta and blush pink. These colours are the most perfect transitional colours for Fall, and beautifully reflect an Autumnal mood. The single flower heads spliced between the geometric shapes add a softer focus and tone down the harsh lines. Finding this whole collection so inspiring, I wanted to put together a moodboard inspired by the colour and print. These colours would also look gorgeous in an interior setting, creating a traditional and warming A/W feel.

Phillippa x

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New York Fashion Week - AW16 - Top 10

As always on my blog, I review each city during 'Fashion Month'. This is the busiest time of the year for both my blog and professionally, as I work for a luxury fashion brand. This season designers are showing their A/W16 collections, which means we usually see heavier fabrics, darker colours and splashes of metallic. New York fashion week wrapped up earlier this week and I have selected my Top 10 collections...

Proenza Schouler

A key feature of this collection was the lace fastenings - loosely tied on jackets, tops and dresses. Another recurring style was the rib knit dress. Seen in previous seasons, this time they came in five different colour options including red and yellow. Asymmetric silhouettes on jackets, patent coats and statement patchwork fur pieces completed the collection.

Rodarte

The Mulleavy sisters can do no wrong! Marking the 10th anniversary of the brand this season, the A/W16 collection further proved Rodarte's exceptional use of imagination, embellishment, texture and romance. Fur, leather, lace, ruffles and mesh were key features, and I particularly liked the inclusion of a loosely drawn floral print.

Altuzarra

The oversized shearling outerwear from this collection would have been the ideal garment to wear in New York this past week, given the -15 degree temperature. The Indian inspired paisley prints and jacquards had a charming gypsy feel to them, paired with fringing detailing evoked this spirit even more. Handkerchief-hem dresses were the highlight of the collection for me, either embellished or printed and layered over turtleneck tops. It also had huge appeal that all my favourite colours were used: fuchsia, emerald, sapphire.

Milly

Known for her use of exciting textiles, this season Michelle Smith included a variety of interesting fabrics on an array of different silhouettes. Dresses came in a number of styles with; billowing skirts, spaghetti straps and off the shoulder looks . The bralet has become something of a Milly signature and this season they were layered over shirts and long-sleeved knitwear separates to great effect. The chosen colour palette for the season worked harmoniously together.

Victoria Beckham

Out of all of the NY shows, this collection was probably the one I would want to wear the most. Stripes, checks and houndstooth were the order of the day, featuring on  the majority of looks. The bustier was another key feature, seen on dresses, tops and knitwear. I also loved the pairing of the below the knee dresses with the pointed flat shoes, creating stylish yet practical daywear.

Prabal Gurung

The notion of undress was played with in this collection - sleeves falling off the shoulder and slashed hemlines with unfastened buttons. It added a subtle hint of allure to the collection. There was also a beautiful feather print, seen on a few dresses and even a fur coat. The soft tailoring and easy to wear silhouettes were offset against more structured leather dresses, chunky knitwear and huge fur coats.

Marchesa

You can always rely on Marchesa for a stunning display of red carpet worthy dresses - and this season was no different. A array of decadent gowns swept down the runway, with all kinds of wonderful embellishments. Organza florals, fringing, ruffles, ostrich feathers and metallic embroideries all in rich fall colours.

Delpozo

It goes without saying that Josep Font always brightens up the runway at NYFW with his bold architectural silhouettes and brave use of colour. Oversized sleeves, exaggerated shapes and origami detailing created a runway show full of 'Wow' looks. The bold styles were contrasted with easier to wear pleated skirts and a beautiful crisp white satin jumpsuit. The Delpozo aesthetic is now instantly recognisable.

Jonathan Simkhai

Architect Santiago Calatrava was listed as a source of inspiration for this collection. Simkhai's use of intricate lace is exquisite, pushing the boundaries of how we are used to seeing lace being used in fashion.  Silhouettes were long and lean, with the occasional use of fur being thrown into the mix for a contrasting effect. All looks were highly polished in crisp colours.

Tory Burch

There was a distinct equestrian feel to this collection, with an oversized horse print, jodhpurs, saddle bags and silk scarves. A beautiful mix of 'to be expected' fall colours and everyday silhouettes made for a collection that was super wearable. All garments will be easy to mix and match with other pieces already in your wardrobe, making them timeless classics which you can wear over and over again.

 

I will be posting my London Fashion Week review on Saturday 27th, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, you can follow my 'Runway Favourites' board on my Pinterest page (details below) for an extensive look at all the A/W16 shows as and when they happen.

 

Phillippa x

 

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