Lace.

Everyone knows that lace is a big trend this season and it never grows old. The reason is because lace is so delicate and antique looking that it can follow trends or can be used to pull of a more Vintage-without-being-second-hand look. I decided to explore some of my favourite lace pieces that I have seen across a variety of mediums in the fashion industry.

1. Erdem, Spring/Summer 2011. I was absolutely fascinated by this collection. The styling of the washed out make up and slightly roughed up hair styles is a perfect fit to these interesting outfits from the collection.

2. Emma Watson models this revealing but classy, lace embellished dress from People Tree. She helped pick out the fair trade materials for the dress. Okay, so the lace part of it is more a netted lace made from dogtooth hand woven fabrics but it is still such a beautiful piece.

3. Eric Daman gets it right for his styling of Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl with the lace and metallic dress teamed with black patterned tights and the cropped cape.

4. ASOS lace panel dress by TBA. I love the nude and white together, teamed with the casual hat.

5. Lace doesn't have to be girly and fragile. For example, take online boutique ohmyfrock.com who show some more edgier takes on the trend.

6. Topshop mixes the lace trend with the idea of masculine dressing. I personally have this top and love wearing it with high waisted black shorts or tapered trousers

Black Swan

If I were to take the Ballet fashion trend and style up a fashion shoot, I'd be thinking about it's connotations a little more closely. Everyone has already seen the trends; the floaty chiffon skirts, tutu shapes and leotards but I'd rather play on that. I'd want to do a twisted, edgy and creepy version of it. Afterall, Black Swan is psychotic and mad in a beautiful form and fashion could be used to convey that. I'd want these sheers mixed with hard materials and Heroin chic make-up in a broken down setting.

These Images from Russh magazine are the kind of initial inspiration I'd be looking at. The conflict of beauty and destruction is perfect to the black swan theme. Then, the next idea would be to look at clothes I would use.

For starters, id be using this. A 1950s circular skirt and corset dress design by Samantha Tretton from DeMontfort University, Leicester.

The design is elegant and pretty but there is something not all perfect about it. I'd stle it with perhaps a leather one shouldered body suit or dress underneath to continue with the rugged touch to the design. Perhaps Rick Owens would have the right piece, or more likely, Margiela. He does some edgy pieces bodysuits that would style well with this whilst alluding to the ballet theme. 

I think something like this would be good with a bit of embellishment such as a full circle dismantled tutu around the waist, cut shorter than the bottom of the dress. 

I noted that this kind of look in Italian Vogue was spectacular , looking at ways to mix corsets and chiffon fabrics together. Brilliant.

But how would I style up a friend or a fashionable teenager if she wanted ideas on how to work the trend ?

Well...

I'd firstly say don't go for the complete obvious. There are many dresses say in Topshop with big tutu skirts or what not, so why not choose something like this.

This Sadie dress by Jones and Jones at Topshop is a little more of an artistic and conceptual take on the ballet idea. Much more Natalie Portman in Black Swan than the generic idea. White tights would go well with this to give a pale and pasty contrast. You wouldn't want to go too heavy on the accessories though

American Apparel have these sheer skirts that can be worn over something like a black leotard or edged up by pairing maybe a graphic top shorts underneath with the skirt on top. In fact, I might try out that look myself tomorrow when I go shopping. 

Good news and good fashion

Well, the good news is my interview went really well today and I think I have found my placement :) The head womenswear designer seemed to like my work and said she is going to contact me after Easter. I've never been so excited. Can you imagine, me doing a year out designing for Republics Womenswear. It's like my dream job :)

Today Is also a good now as I now have a sexy boyfriend too :) Just thought I'd add that in before I move onto fashion :)

Rad Hourani is a name I picked up this week whilst doing research into the transition of garments from one silhouette to another as a multi functional piece. He's come up with 6 coat designs, with 22 different looks which are all edgy and unconventional. At the same time, you could almost see just walking into a high street store and finding one one the racks. They are quite incredible pieces.

 wish I could post more, but I've still got 11 pages of drawings to do and I wanna get a few of them out the way today. I'm looking forward to the year break from Uni to be fair and the major deadlines !

Brittani Kline

I'm with Brittani all the way to win America's next top model cycle 16. She's a babe

 Brittani in Michael Cinco

 Brittani to the left

Brittani on far right

Back, up and running

So, I wanted to start of my blog again for the first time in three months with this particular photograph. By Steven Meisel, this shoot containing my favourite model Coco Rocha, was meant to be in the September 2007 issue of Vogue USA. Grace Coddington loved it, but it was rejected from the issue by Anna Wintour. Now, I'm not usually one to question the decisions of Anna Wintour, but I'm confused as to why she rejected this shot. It is so beautiful and dramatic, and remains one of my favourite fashion images of all time.

Now, I'd like to say I haven't posted in a while because I have been so busy which would be true in a way but not entirely. My blog became last priority to making mistakes with men, trusting untrustworthy friends and genuinely not going the right way about my life. The other day, I realised In a few months time I won't be at uni anymore and will be taking a placement year and it's time to get serious.

At the moment, I have three projects on the go all due in in less than four weeks time. I have my slow fashion design project design development journal, boards, illustrations and flat drawings to have done, a series of ten photos , an essay and journal for digital photography, plus a garment and journal for Garment tech. On top of that, I have two interviews for placements coming up. One is for Republic which is the one I've been after for ages. Not only is it local but I completely adore their design style. The other is a London placement for Samantha Cole London whom I completely admire, so I feel honoured to have been given a chance with both. I will keep you posted as to how they go and keep uploading you images of my work.

Lady Gaga and Nick Knight

I suppose if you are a fan of both Fashion and Lady Gaga, you saw the pics of Lady Gaga in Vanity Fair which were absolutely brilliant. Nick Knight is so talented and she is so beautiful.

I love this new shot to promote "Born this way", Lady Gagas new album. You can't see her face but the image is overall so powerful and styled in an edgy, eye catching way too.

Ruby Aldridge and Martha Hunt In Ponytail Magazine

These women are both so stunning. Love these fashion shots :)