#Minnie Mouse Flys The Flag At #LFW12

Terry De Havilland

Hi there any Minnie Mouse fans in the house? Good well your in for some lovely Minnie Mouse overload, Britain's top designers were challenged to come up with some Minnie Mouse contributions for LFW 2012, with designs to be auctioned on Ebay, after LFW was over, so which Minnie pieces left me wanting to be part of the next big bidding war on ebay?

 Terry De Havilland beautiful designed Minnie Mouse inspired wedges, complete with huge red and white polka dot bows could turn any die-hards tom boys amongst us into coquettish bow wearing minxes. Giles Deacons black and red spikey bow juxtaposed against the sweet back drop of clashing Minnie Mouse print with a sliver of polka dots that just covered the bra strap area is suitably saucy and edgy to warrant a bid.

The next two dresses in vintage style prints by Richard Nicoll are also strong favourites and so wearable for statement clothing. The first dress features a pair of giant Minnie Mouse ears for sleeves and the second print in a washed out grey creates a faded newspaper effect.

 I'm a big fan of accessory designer Tatty Devine and was thrilled to discover she had been one of the designers contributing to this London Fashion Week project, I love her crazy toon time eyeball necklace complete with fluttering lashes synonymous with Minnie Mouses character, it drapes beautifully and it will add a sharp contrast to any colourful necklines this A/W 2012.Could I possibly squeeze one last bid out? I decided that yes I could, for this original and pretty stirling silver and rose gold polka dot bow headband by Husam El Odeh and Luke Hershesons, it scores big in my books for combing innocence and sophistication together. 

Final Word

I love much of Lulu Guinesss work and while handbags have all the lure of the theatrical, I was underwhelmed by her Minnie Mouse offering, the quality of the design was evident as always, but I expected a more exciting use of materials, to me the clutch reminds me of a plastic children's lunch box I might pick up from a Disney store, with the exception of her signature lipstick charm. I have to say my least favourite piece from project Minnie Mouse was the finale piece in this line up a grungy black headband by designer Piers Atkinson, that left me feeling wearing it would transform me into a drowned sewer rat rather than a perky spirited Minnie. Make fashion history and try your luck with a bid here!            

Richard Nicoll

Richard Nicoll

Tatty Devine

Husam El Odeh

Lulu Guiness

Piers Atkinson

 * images courtesy of fashion telegraph.co.uk 

Temperley Launches #JLSomerset Range

Alice by Temperley

 Double Layer Lace Maxi

Pink Leopard Dress Fitted Leather Jacket  

Animal Print Silk Maxi 

Monochrome Cocoon Dress

Great to see for those of us that loved Alice Temperleys more affordable line Alice, that she has now launched a new range, Somerset at John Lewis, the sixty piece collection starting at £29.00 includes floaty 70's piece that show off her love of silk and lace as well as animal prints and this little cocoon dress that fits with her love of monochrome looks which I so want! 

  

My Passport To Style | Styles Up Age Of Reason Pocket Scarves

Age Of Reason ( UK accessory label) celebrated their first birthday at the end of March 2012 and as sensible as their silk scarves first appear to sound, these are not sensible air hostess type scarves, not unless you count pink ink splattered pugs adorned with safety pins or russian dolls caught up in a web of neon coloured chains. Age of Reason British designer Ali Mapletoft from Brighton, sent me three silk pocket scarves to style up differently featuring three of her russian doll designs in a variety of bright orange and turquoise colours. On closer inspection I noticed that one of the dolls was wearing a fetching leopard head scarf, great fun! Each doll on the pocket scarves is designed slightly differently exciting news for any silk scarf collectors out there. Age of Reason have just unveiled their commemorative jubilee pug scarf, in both their full sized neck scarf and a pocket square. I would love to see a certain member of the Royal family sporting this design to celebrate this years diamond jubilee, classic head scarf style! I guess we shall have  to wait and see... I decided to enlist a model for this challenge and as luck would have it I knew the perfect gal, the beautiful Nicole Wilson who was up for the challenge. Scroll down to see how working with Age of Reason inspired me!

I tied two contrasting pockets together to create a tie to wear with Nicoles plain grey shirt, the flash of neon orange on one side of her collar adds a nice twist.

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 I liked the idea of doubling up these pocket scarves and styled one as a short neck scarf on Nicole and the other as a belt for her jeans, leaving a triangular flap at the front made for a playful look.

 I updated Nicole's classic top knot by wrapping a pocket scarf over it and securing with some thin elastic, this look can be recreated to look casual or sleek depending on how loose or sleek you decide to wear your top knot. I love the windmill effect created by the pockets silk corners.

Using a Russian doll pocket scarf with neon orange accents quickly transformed my old large rose gold watch face into a fun time piece as modelled by Nicole!

To find out more or to buy an Age Of Reason original silk scarf go to

www.age-of-reason-studios.com   You can also find them at Matches Fashion, Coco De Mer & Whistles

Thanks to Nicole Wilson for modeling this collection styled and photographed by myself.

Credits for additional Age of Reason images go to www.capturefactory.co.uk

A/W 2012 Review | The Tartan Queen Goes Tribal

I have a bit of obsession for British heritage fabrics such as tartan, tweed and plaid. So it was an obvious choice to choose to cover Vivienne Westwood's A/W  2012 Red Label runway collection here on My Passport To Style today. Take a look at my favourite pieces from her runway collection. Westwood combined her impeccable pinstripe tailoring with tribal prints in very wearable shades, such as toffee, burnt red, denim and violet.

 Signature Style

 Her usual signature design elements were evident such as big bows on shirts, the floppy cowl neck ( used in dresses for both evening and daywear)  that she loves to use and the side fastenings on dresses and jackets. She is the mistress of layering pattern and texture and making it look exciting but at the same time elegant. 

Even The Great Get It Wrong

I liked her reworked version of Victorian spats, but felt her honey monster stripe rugby shirt was just not hitting her usual high notes, I am biased as I have never really liked rugby shirts on women, they are so boxy, I think it was a odd choice for her given how she loves to accentuate the curves of a woman. The tribal markings that were etched onto models legs were a bit clichéd and looked slightly tacky in my opinion.

Accessorize Watch Out!

 Accessories were strong, rakish hats wound with broad contrasting ribbon, pretty Aztec print broad scarves, large black fuzzy bags, pretty tartan totes and squat ladies handbags in blueberry tartan fizzed and popped on their journey across the runway. Verdict?  A very wearable collection, with a stunning  colour palette. What do you think of Westwoods A/W 2012 collection? Do you have a favourite piece?

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Close And Personable Hollands A/W 2012 Collection

Something I read recently whilst doing my weekly round of fashion blogs has really stayed with me. A fashion blogger I visited who is pretty well known in fashion circles said she was staying away from the circus of London Fashion Week this time because she wanted to enjoy it at face value and not be sucked into bitching of who sits where etc, I admire a gal who knows her mind and can still enjoy and share the music that is fashion.

Seeing as I'm not there (London Fashion Week) either, for different reasons which I won't bore you with, the lovely words of the fashion blogger I just mentioned made me feel better about the whole thing. Just for the record I respect London Fashion Week and the designers that show there.

 I'm just happy for now to share my views at a distance and from the comfort of my armchair. So coming up are my favourite picks of the A/W 2012 Henry Holland runway show 'Ride'. With a little virtual catwalk commentary thrown in, i.e things I imagine I might have said had I been ringside that would have had no real bearing on my fashion blog or the proceedings!

Me - Hollands crayola zipzags, ouch! It's ok you just jabbed your elbow into me and my pencil for sketching has disappeared under that chair, its ok, I think I can manage without it, although it would have been nice to have.... you could reach under with your umbrella, really?! Whisper, thanks! Dull thunking sound as her umbrella zips forward like a snake about to launch it's venom beneath the sleek lines of the chair front left, flailing from side to side like a redundant windscreen wiper, shuddering as it hits the steely chair repeatedly.

I giggle nervously as the woman sitting on said chair swivels her head a whole 90 degrees in my direction and uses her x-ray fashion savvy vision to see right through my most stylish shirt, piercing my thermal vest that I bitterly regret wearing now given how warm the room suddenly feels.
 "Pencil gone", lip syncs my neighbour and kindly offers me a shocking pink plastic fan with black ostrich feathers that looks like what I imagine to be a freebie from baroque barbies wardrobe were she human size. Right where was I, ah yes, this is Holland at his best, simple clean flattering lines, supersized bright knit patterns create a print that is flamboyant yet still sophisicated, the riding hat punctuates the look with a regal grown up feel that elevates the look beyond playful. It's the signal, a deep sigh and the row including myself uncross and recross our legs again, pencils at the ready, as the next stream of Henry Hollands knitted dollies are launched from the wings of LFW's runway.   

I breathe in as the next model shimmies past in black sleek shiny skinny leather boot cuts, topped off, I scribble, with lemon hunks of giant dogtooth printed onto a chunky scarf and easy sweatshirt, clashing blue, perforated by a strip of hot pink.

 Still with me? Great! thanks for joining me.

I wriggle, I need a pee, I look round to see if sucking sweets is permissable and spot several suspicously bulging rose powdered cheeks. A quick rummage in my bag, trying to locate a mint, a strong waft of Coco Mademoiselle reveals my worse fears, my mints are now doused in it's heady scent, I wipe my mint on my shirt, feeling a little smug that I cunningly re-scented my blouse as well as helping control my bladder a little longer all in one swift move. A few raised eyebrows later and I'm back in my stride, in the zone, breathy with the excitement of Hollands next look. This dress has optical illusion written all over it, I scribble madly like a crazed professor, Holland has made 3d acid red, pink and purple with the use of pinstripes and shapes combined masterfully, bold simplicity of shapes and variations in the fabrics depth of colour as light hits each new pinstripe ripple in the skirt fabric are mesmerising. 

  

Cameras are clicking, popping and clucking like a clutch of broody robotic hen sounds in my ear, slightly unsettling, I try another mint, but truthfully I could eat a whole plate of something much more stodgy and northern right now if I'm honest. I'm thankful the next poor girl lovingly swathed in this blinding blue and brash clash of black leather and dog tooth, striding willfully down the runway has thoughtfully been shielded by Holland with her riding hat brim protecting her eyes from the glare of the constant popping of flash bulbs.Liquorish pipes spring to mind when I start to think of the next few metaphors to describe the contrasting leather sleeves and patterned bodice of another of my favourite Henry Holland sporty dresses from his 'Ride' collection.

 It's official I'm hungry! A quick glance left and right confirms that I'm not alone glassy eyed fashion editors have grown teeth of beaver like proportion and are gnawing helplessly on their black velvet pencils, perhaps dreaming of tucking into a truffle or two at their favourite restaurant? Finale word? I have really enjoyed Hollands use of leather in his A/W 2012 'Ride collection, particularly the red skirt top of this page and his fearless approach to hot colour's he has taught me yet again, when it comes to pattern more is more if it is transposed onto pared back shapes and I thank him for that and his gran!  

If you enjoyed discovering this designer collection with me and would like to read more of my fashion babble sign up by email top right of this page.

Silken Favours | Animal Fantasy Collection Launches S/S Feb 2012

Five Minutes With Natures Own Poster Girl Victoria Murdoch

Having been pointed in the direction of dreamy new scarf label Silken Favours and its designer Vicki Murdoch I have been bursting at the seams with jumping jelly beans of excitement to share the labels new spring 2012 Animal Fantasy collection. You will understand shortly why that sentence flowed unprompted from my keyboard and out of my head. You see Silken Favours are not the type of scarves you tie on your handbag, rather like tying your pooche to a lamp post, while you go of and buy some cheese. These are the delicately captured blooms of a true daydreamer penned by an artist with great skill and a sense of humour that have a way of transporting you back to a time when the only thing that was important was revelling in your imagination. 

I was thrilled to discover that Vicki's whimsical scarves produced in the UK, are accompanied by poems that tell tales of far flung fantastical adventures penned by Gail Murdoch, Vickies mum, hence my excited ramblings above. Before I share my interview with Vicki and a sneak preview from Silken Favours Spring 2012 collection, here's a scarf from Vicki Murdochs current collection together with its poem.

BUTTERFLIES AND BEASTICLES

HOW CAN SOMETHING CATERPILLARY

METAMORPHOSE TO FRITILLARY?

IT'S JUST NOT BELIEVABLE THAT IT'S ACHIEVABLE THAT SOMETHING SO HAIRY TURNS INTO A FAIRY AND GLADDENS OUR HEARTS AS IT FLUTTERS AND DARTS LIKE THE ANGEL'S SHARE THAT JOINS THE AIR IN THE DISTILLERY

by Gail Murdoch

   

 Here's the preview of Vicki Murdochs spring 2012 collection which will see the launch of six of her exciting designs and can be found exclusively at Liberty at the end of February 2012, minus their poems as I don't want to completely spoil the surprise for you! 



Trippy Kitty






Flights Of The Imagination

 

Hope you had fun getting to know Vicki and her label Silken Favours, sign up to My Passport To Style by email top right of this blog to meet more new exciting accessory and fashion labels!

Me-Vicki, the images you create for your silk scarves are steeped in fantasy, do your designs relate to your childhood?Vicki I was a daydreamer when I was wee and still like to dabble , my designs are playful and I hope they make those that wear them think back to their childhood and their dreams.

Me-How did you come up with the label Silken Favours?Vicki-It started a year ago when I designed a surprise bespoke scarf as a gift for my parents. It had all the birds that came into their garden up in Scotland on it. They loved the design so much, it inspired me to create a collection with much loved British animals on them.

Me-Where did you gather inspiration for your spring 2012 collection?VickiI love day dreaming, and what's better to dream about than kittens riding unicorns in a tie-dye sky? The rest of the collection stemmed from that dream.

Me-How do choose your colour palette for each season?Vicki- tie dye dreams are mainly made up of pastel colours, so my choice was made for me.

Me-How important are the latest trends in fashion to your designs? Vicki- It is important to some extent, but I like to design prints that can be treasured forever not just for a season. Something that reminds one of their childhood or has a much loved creature on it.

Me-Your designs can be bought at Liberty, what advice would you offer to new designers wanting to get their fashion/accessory label out there?Vicki- You have to be passionate about your work and believe in it, This can be hard if there is no one else telling you it's great!  I would also say when going to show buyers you should have your product finished to a very high standard along with lookbook and packaging so they can imagine it going straight to the shop floor.

Me-What three words best describe you as a person? Vicki- imaginative, goofy, fun.

Me-I love the evocative poems that accompany your silken scarves in your press release, I believe your mum came up with the words, which are in my opinion a perfect fit for your flamboyant and charming pieces, do you plan to collaborate creatively with your mum on any other projects in the future?Vicki-  Yes she has a wonderful way with words. I have already made her my in-house Silken Favours poet, each scarf is accompanied by a wee poem written by her. The pressure is on Mum!

Our Love Of Flashing The Plastic

Agnes Dean

Black plastic watch Marc Jacobs

Grey plastic stud boots asos

One word plastic, what does it make you think of ? Cheap and nasty or seductive and playful? A grotty loo brush or a state of the art chair you would love to design? I find it fascinating that at a time when bespoke, organic materials and quality are the new buzz words, the luxury world is increasingly turning to plastic rather than leather or silk or cashmere as a material to design from and charging designer prices I might add. So what might the reason be?

 Well here's my theory, it's all essentially about what plastic as a material conveys now, think about the barbie doll you owned and her teeny tiny shoes or let's be non sexist here, it could have been your red dumper truck. As a teenager because plastic was so cheap you may have been tempted to buy the latest teen accesories fashioned from brightly coloured plastic. The finale phase of this style evoloution has been the utilising of what has typically been viewed in society as a cheap material crafted in the same way a luxury piece would be, couple this new approach to the use of plastic and the price of  this new breed of plastic with the association of youth and it becomes a irreverant fashion statement and therefor you guessed it! Cool. Which is why the Marc Jacobs and Vivienne Westwoods of this world want to play with it and share it with us.Well that's my very simple theory anyway. What do you think of the stuff? Would you resent spending half your pay cheque on a designer piece made from melted rubik's cube? 

Sign up to My Passport To Style by email top right of this blog before the end of Jan 2012 and win a cherry red Gionni satchel, 3 pairs of Redfoot leather folding pumps, a vintage union jack cushion,Me, Me Me! luxe boxed nail polishes and vintage iphone case by Cloth Magpie and much more! Good Luck! 



Blue almond toe short wellingtons - Vivienne Westwood