Part Two Road Trip | Bath Fashion Museum

 

 

As promised here’s part two of my road trip in the UK and the reason I was wearing a bonnet, after some wild camping stop offs we headed for Bath and pulled onto a proper camp site for a couple of nights so we could explore the city properly, walking in along the river we passed a very pink barge and some plants and trees clad in lime green.

Kate Moss Lends A Hand In Crowning The Winner Of The MANGO Fashion Awards

Hi Gals, encase your wondering what Kate Moss has been up to of late, she has been putting her extensive modelling experience to good use by taking part in the judging panal for the Mango Fashion awards in Barcelona. The judges crowned Thai designer Wisharawish Akarasantisook the winner, having lost his father last year, Wisharawish line was heavily influenced by aspects of reincarnation, it featured repeated three dimensional patterns in the form of pleating and stunning leather work that looked like armour to represent the cycle of birth and death as well as lions, snakes and eagles. This stunning modern day armour complimented Wisharawish clean boxy forties lines introduced in his tops and jackets. I was enthralled by the broody quality of this designers line and the way he has elevated the textures of his fabric and the animals showcased to share his message of spirtunalty and reincarnation with us. I think comparisons maybe drawn between Alexandra Mcqueens work and Wisharawish Akarasantisook. If there are any fashion geeks out there like me or Mossy fans you might enjoy her recent interview at the event in Barcelona here.       

Shiny Happy People!

For those of you Marni fans who were in raptures that they were soon to be guest designers at H and M, but then failed to get your hands on pieces of the collection (or were unwilling to camp in a sleeping bag OVERNIGHT outside the doors of your local H&M!! ) that you wanted after they sold out in a record 24hrs! You might be pleased to know that I recently stumbled across some great Marni Esq  pieces whilst browsing in Topshop, Marnis collection for H&M was all about contrasting shiny fabrics, unusual prints and simple sporty lines all tied up with a chic Italian bow that is their signature.

                           Just A Magpie At Heart


 I confess to having magpie tendencies, put me within a eighty mile radius of anything remotely shiny and I will soon be lining my nest (wardrobe) with the latest pretty bauble to hit the high street! As a curvy gal I need to proceed with caution as to what shiny pieces I can actually wear, these latest sporty pieces from Topshop are goof proof for those shy of shine.

Top Style Tip - Think Out Of The Box When Trying A New Trend

 I particularly like the idea of wearing this shiny graphite coat not as a raincoat but open with a patterned baby blue t-shirt and these shrimp pink trousers and a bold but simple necklace. These metallic sandals are a nod to the look and have the sporty simplicity that made me first fall for Marni, wear them with baby blue rolled up jeans or some silk draw string trousers in the same colour, if you're thinking of  buying into this seasons luxe look.    

Preview Of Russian Designer Nikolay Krasnikov S/S 2012

Every now and again I love to write and showcase clothes here on My Passport To Style that reflect my romantic nature, sometimes though, that can backfire, as perceptions of what is romantic varies across cultures and tastes. I don't for example find is at all romantic to wear a pale pink dress limply clinging around my ankles like a piece of curled up ham. I like dresses like my hot chocolate served with a shot of fiery chilli or should I say in relation to clothing slightly tempestuos, think Carmen Miranda or the hot bright colours of Mexico that's more me! So when I was sent the look book of Russian designer Nikolay Kransnikov  S/S 2012 collection inspired by the paintings of Philip Malyavins which combined a story of peasant women wearing  heady reds and blue floral tapestries I was smitten enough to share the images here. Nikolay Kransnikov shares his next collection during Russian Fashion week on the 24th of March just incase you fancy popping by, (show me the plane and I'm on it!!) to see the painting  that inspired the collection click here    

photo credits- Anton Bundenko

Karl Largefeld | Shares His Bleu Sky Thinking At Paris S/S 12

I have a confession to make, I have a bit of a split personality when it comes to colour, perhaps my image above will give you a clue to my type 1 colour personality, for as long as I can remember I have had a fetish for blues of all hues and its never really diminished. I have sadly noted that the colour blue has never really been taken seriously in high fashion circles and in main stream fashion in the UK, it's been type cast as a neutral for office wear in effect a uniform. Luckily for me, my type 2 colour personality demands I wear a clashing candy store of bright colours, whew, at least I won't be cast out completely by the fashionable set just yet! 

Is It A Plane? No It's a Runway!

So I don't mind telling you that Karl Largefeld recent triumph at Paris fashion week, left me feeling that my fondness of blue was quite correct and highly fashionable! Seriously though, this man is like the ring master in a big top, each show has to be bigger and better each time, lucky us! To hold a runway show in an aeroplane, was in my opinion the perfect setting to showcase his stunning blue and purple collection; against the backdrop of the silver of the plane, the purple strip of carpet that became the runway for his models and the uniform clean lines we have come to associate with Chanel.

 Karl Largefeld Shares His Bleu Bliss With His Passengers

 Heavy bead work and scuptural detailing on the sleeves, became seamles caplets and the rouleau necklines combined with his treatment of blue on pieces from his collection created a sense of functional feminine whimsy, hot summer days beckoned. In other words serious chic! What are your thoughts on the subject of blue and Karl Largerfelds latest collection for Chanel? I would love to know!

photo credits -Fashion Gone Rogue, Real Style Network and Harper's Bazaar

Sign up to My Passport To Style fashion posts by email (top right of this page) for your last chance to win a red Gionni satchel, 3 pairs of chic folding leather Redfoot pumps, a vintage iphone case by Cloth Magpie, a vintage Union Jack cushion and much more! 

My Passport to Style | Marc Jacobs Brings The Great Gatsby Into The Future

Marc Jacobs - Sportwear inspired

Sheer stocking and fabrics

Dropwaist

Betty Jackson - snake skin chain

I really enjoyed watching Mark Jacobs spring 2012 collection, to sum it up, it was flapper girls gets futuristic; lots of sheer and shiny looks. Great cuts, elegance by the bucket load, drop waists, neat jackets, sharply pointed Mary Jayne's and cowboy booties made from plastic, with a transparent neck that elongated the leg so cleverly, he conjured up so many body lengthening tricks throughout his collection I was dizzy trying to keep up with them! It would take pages to unpack them all and one very large suitcase! Fabrics had the looks the look and feel of plastics, or may even have been the real thing, how you would wash them without melting them, who knows or even cares. The use of this material gave the collection a youthful exuberance which I loved. I swooned over his palette, an unusual collection of greens, cool sophisticated greys and mint green and warm caramel and acidic yellows. Casual pieces were smart and sporty with a distinctly 1930's tennis girl style.

I love it when you find an accessory that you know will slot into a next season range your excited by, this Betty Jackson chain by Jon Richard will do just that, grey snakeskin is the perfect accessory to work with Marcs cool mint greens, greys and silvers and those chic drop waists and cowboy booties!

My Passport to Styles | Cheats Guide To Pregnancy Shopping!

flattering A- line smock shape and bold neckline 

Hi Gals,

Increasingly I'm coming across fashion conscious expectant mummy bloggers on the blogosphere, so today's post was inspired by them and their style needs as they change shape, but still want to get more bang for their buck. I'm loving these picks for expectant mothers from Sonia Rykiel whilst not strictly maternity wear, the lines would work perfectly for those mums that are around three to four months and wanting to disguise their bump in the early stages or equally those mums in the later stages of pregnancy happy to show off their bump in a flattering way that celebrates their shape now, but still leave them with pieces to wear next A/W. The fact that most of Sonia Rykiels pieces from her new collection are knitwear or A-line in shape this A/W 2011 makes these pieces very pregnancy friendly, but where she really excels is her talent for carving up bold colour into shapes that draw the eye towards the slimmest parts of the body, which when we are pregnant is generally are lower leg or neckline. Who says pregnant women can't indulge in fashion! Did you know that Sonia Rykiels first ever pieces were maternity wear.

tiny polka dots distract the eye

 




team this SR top with black wool or crepe wide leg black

maternity pants to draw the eye up the body.Black blocking

is positioned to flatter a larger bustline.



My Passport to Style | Mad Mens Costume Genius Teams Up With Banana Republic!

Have you missed what is possibly the hottest fashion news to hit the internet? Banana republics latest limited edition collaboration with legend costume designer and fashion darling Janie Bryant who designed the costumes for the sensational Mad Men, well fear not as the chic line launched on the 11th of August. So there is still time to hotfoot it over there! Here are my favourite pieces from the collection, now wheres Don? - 

The White Fairy Tale Love Ball 2011 Hosted By Natalia Vodianova

 I had to share these stunning images that were shot in the run up to the Love Ball of Natalia Vodianova by photographer Paulo Roversi they gave me goosebumps as I uploaded them, they are so magical dark and light at the same time. I love the way Natalia manages to capture the spirit of the Love Ball event in some of her poses, looking like a child lost in play, in these shots she looks tiny and then by the miracle of the supemodel and clever photography looks so lythe and long of limbs.The closed eyes shots are expectional, through her body language she evokes the spirit of a ballerina caught in the moment, about to dance her next step.For those of you that are not familar with the Love Ball held Wednesday the 6th of July, it was set up by the supermodel to raise funds for Russian charity the Naked Heart Foundation, which aims to create play areas and more recently family centres for Russian children and orphans, the charity recognises and celebrates the importance of play for healthy child development a subject that is close to my heart too.

 The event hosted in Paris at the Chateau de Wideville, by Natalia Vodianova wearing a stunning red Valentino gown, was a glittering spectacle of white and silver the theme for the evening and celebrity guest women  looking like every kind of variation on the snow queen imaginable, were invited to quench their thirst with piles of real snow balls stacked on solid golden platters, sorry I ran away with myself there!  When you enter the world of fairytale its very tempting to embellish a little! I think perhaps refreshments were more in the realms of champagne! The event helped raise a two million euros, bravo Natalia and her team! 

Natalia Vodianova / Giambattista Valli @Paolo Roversi for NHF

Natalia Vodianova / Worth @Paolo Roversi for NHF

The White Fairy Tale Fashion Show

Natalia Vodianova / Yves Saint Laurent @Paolo Roversi for Naked Heart Foundation

Natalia Vodianova / Oscar de la Renta @Paolo Roversi for NHF

Natalia Vodianova / Ulyana Sergeenko @Paolo Roversi for NHF

Natalia Vodianova / Stella McCartney @Paolo Roversi for NHF

images courtesy of Natalia Vodianova facebook page, to find out more about the Naked Heart Foundation charity just click

My Passport to Style| Goes Back Stage With Stephane Rolland At Paris Fashion Week!

Backstage at Paris fashion week A/W 2011-2012 with Stephane Rolland, his collection is impeccable, breath taking edgy designs, clothing and architecture were never so closely paired, I'm in heaven. Just looking at the strong clean lines from his collection, you  realise very quickly that your posture would stand corrected the moment you step into one of his dresses and have it magically deftly zipped up by the invisible hands of the Rolland team (they come as standard with any item from the his collection, did'n't you know?) the slouch in you would not stand a chance!!Makeup and hair styling on the models reflect the purity and grandeur of the collection, but have a slight eerie perfection reminiscent of shop manequins which adds that essential untouchable quality that is at the heart of the magic of Paris fashion week.

 

My Passport to Style | Does Diors Autumn/Winter 2011 Collection Have What It Takes?

What do you get when you lock Bill Gaytten, Diors new head designer together with a pyramid of pastel sprinkles, a flurry of candyfloss clouds, fairground wizardry and a gaggle of clowns in a cutting room at the house of Dior? Simple really the drama and fairytale of the big top, sensual, dramatic satin ruffles and the thrill and intensity of a laser light show spillling onto dresses, with back pannels that will billow out should a breeze catch them. Texture, slick use of colour, movement a plenty, drama, sweet but strong. Gayttens Autumn/Winter 2011 collection is diverse, fun in parts but ever so dramatic and the skill and daring he demonstrated darting from opposing moods/colour shifts which characterize his A/W collection is breathtaking! Hair is big, barbarella style or has high fluff factor, eyes are sweet with large pale giant sequins or sticky bright colours and brows.    

strobe light checks genius!

I desireth this, no not the pale and interesting doughnut's! The above!

 geometric candy cones, make sweetness, sharp!

                                                                               shiney gobstoppers      

loving the nude tiny tulle pompom detailing above

                                                                               

I love! But do you? Do tell!