My Passport To Style | Heritage Happens!!

Susie On The Ralph Lauren tweed run

I was thrilled to find this post by top UK blog Style Bubble, which made me feel less alone in my obsession for finding fabrics with heritage. To be honest with you, my non fashion blogging friends don't really get why a smelly piece of tartan in a vintage shop can send me into raptures and have started to make their excuses early if they think I might be about to go on the hunt for a new piece to add to my ever increasing musty pile! I do think though, there is something really special about wearing clothing made from cloth that has been woven by hand for years in the same way, it's not about snobbery it's about knowing that fabric connects you to the people who wove it and story behind it. I am am the proud owner of a poncho that I made from a treasured piece of Harris Tweed I found on one of my heritage fabric hunts.  

Susie On The Isle Of Lewis wearing Harris Tweed hightops

My Passport To Style | Mia Jafari Spring/Summer 2012



Watercolour Explode



I'm guessing Mia Jafaris inspiration for this piece of her collection was one of my favourite artists below!

Gaudi

My Passport To Style | I Spy Mia Jafaris Latest Piece From S/S2012



Purple Flight Dress



I spy another piece from Mia Jafaris spring/summer 2012 collection Waterlilies done in digi-broidery, methinks that the inspiration for this dramatic butterfly shift is blue lapis shot through with rose gold.

My Passport To Style | I Want Mia Jafari Louboutins

Meditation In Louboutins Dress

Hi Gals, It's not often I see a white dress so special and unique that I think I need to get married again! To the same man of course! This unusual embroidered dress by Mia Jafari is such a dress, it's pretty colours dazzle this dress is joy and and despite the modern references, lipstick ect in what we generally deem as a traditional sewing technique, I am transported to corn fields and the country as if in a dream, whilst at the same time the embroidered design and exquisite cut gives this dress a touch of majesty and regal bearing, perfect for a spring wedding. In theory to all sounds a little confusing, in practice Mia Jafari skilfully pulls it off as you can see! I'm going to be having fun later today guessing her design inspiration for some of her other pieces from her spring/summer Waterlilies 2012 collection. Enjoy.

Patterned Princesses Unite!

   

Hi everyone great to see you again! Summer may be leaving us, but this Autumn/Winter, patterns more than make up for gloomier days! A candy store full of colour, extravagant patterns and a playful approache to wearing this seasons hottest patterned pieces like these Missoni inspired high tops, are what makes Winter 2009 the best season of all to be experimenting with your Style. 

I have picked out my hot favourites for you, some of these patterns are old friends we have seen before that have been reworked to create a more contempory feel, like this sweet skinny lepard print dress from Warehouse or their grey lepard pencil skirt. Red and fuschia are both strong colours this A/W and I love the way red pattern has been used in this pillar box red two piece above, vintage with a modern and strident feel to it.

Gallianos three pieces are decadent, mysterious and romantic at the same time, a paricularly masterful and sophisticated look to achieve, his textured and patterned Russian inspired couture sent sparks flying of the runway! 

Warehouse are real genuises in my opinion when it comes to high street accessories that make you feel really special, but without the sting of a high price tag. I adore their red jaquard tights, which would rescue the plainest dress or skirt and their paisley tights if you wanting to create a romantic look. This gorgeous Aztec sequined belt in black and red will I predict fly off their shelves, its not hard to see why its so Art Deco and oozes opulance!Then there is their take on this years popular tartan jacket in maroon and grey  with a bib style collar and nipped in waist, soft but Stylish.I looove tartan, its huge this A/W as punk gets a revival and the flattering ever popular 50s lady like chic makes a return but tartan is not an easy pattern to work with or wear, if you get the colour combinations wrong or the balance in putting an outfit together, it can easily look brash and trashy. 

Finally we started with a pop of colour so we are ending with a pop of colour and pattern in this fleur de lys yellow and black dress and matching shoes, so sharp you could cut your finger and this gorgeous off the shoulder candy stripe evening dress! I love the elegance and the boldness of the designer in using  yellow and contrasting it with black.Bumblee chic!Sx 

In need of some expert Style Advice? If you follow My Passport to Style and subscribe to my posts, then you are welcome to post me in your latest Style dilemmas and the first one to be selected at random will feature here, you will be left a message to say you have been selected! Good luck and start posting in those burning Style dilemmas/questions!  

Welsh Style File - Lots of Welsh Rare-bits!

Hi great to be back! Thank-you for all the lovely comments you left me, it was a great welcome!I thought you might appreciate my pick up of all things Welsh and Stylish,which includes a picture of the area I stayed in, in Abersoch, as well as my favourite really Stylish and inspirational actors and singers, including some men for a change! Some of you wont be surprised I picked the gorgeous Anthony Hopkins, I love his confidence in wearing simple clothing well. His charisma is electric! Rhys Ifans, may seem a unlikely Style Icon, his style when he is not acting alternates between scruffy chic, to country gentleman, but I love his care free attitude and how he seems so at home in his own skin. This shot of him from the film, The Boat That Rocked, is awesome! I totally heart his Style, bang on trend this winter season by the way.Which just goes to show that true Style, needs a sprinkle of attitude and confidence along with a well cut Wardrobe! Those of you who adored Rhys Ifans clad in his underpants in the film Notting Hill will know exactly what I mean when I say its his imperfections that make him sooo perfect! Duffy had to be in with my pick of Wesh Style Icons, being as I love the substance that vintage can lend to a gals wardrobe, usually because clothes were generally much better tailored in bygone years.She embodies a simpler time and is truly inspirational! My Welsh Style file would not be complete without Welsh designer Julienne McDonald, his Autumn/Winter collection is so creative, he understands how to dress women. I thought you might appreciate this stunning piece from Julienne McDonald's Autumn/Winter collection, it really speaks of his Style elegant, flamboyant and just a little sexy! I couldn't resist throwing in some gorgeous handmade Welsh shoes for good measure, brogues are huge for women this Autumn/Winter, for women wanting to Chanel the androgynous trend and it doesn't get much better than these vintage inspired handmade Mary Jane shoes. The creative design/detailing (note the scalloped edges) is breath taking. Oh and I had to bring back this chic woven tweed clutch, with sky blue, silk lining. Tweed is big news this season, but Welsh tweed in particular is pretty special!

Sharon x

Izzy Lane Ethical Clothing Company - A Yorkshire Pioneer Is Born

I am so excited about introducing you to Isobel Davies from Yorkshire,the founder of Izzy Lane an ethical couture wool clothing line. A vegetarian, with a vision for uniting her passion for saving sheep from slaughter that didn't quite make the mark, whilst breathing new life into the British textile industry.Izzy lane cloth is woven at an ancient mill in Selhir using Victorian machinery, that has been in operation for well over a hundred years.The ethically based company use fleeces from sheep that have been saved by Izzy and now live out their days at the sheep sanctuary which Izzy first founded.The fleece from Wensleydale and Shetland sheep are used to make the wools necessary to achieve such quality luxury apparel as well as the fleeces from Scottish cashmere goats. These beautifully tailored pieces, I have selected, have not a hint of heaviness about them, wool is wonderful as it breathes. I have for some time now had a fixation on natural fibres, my close friends choose clothes in fear of me feeling the fabric of the item they have happily selected and reciting my usual mantra of, is the fabric a breathable fibre? i.e a cotton or a wool mix, if not it will wash like a rag after one wash, cling to all the bits you wish it didn't and crease within two minutes of your wearing. Quite simply I'm a bit of a fabric snob, I think natural fibres generally makes us feel nice when we wear them and keep us smelling nice too. They are far superior to man made fibres at keeping us warm in cool weather and cool when the sun ever decides to show its face! Here endeth my fabric sermon. But what do you think? Or do you even care? Man made or natural fibres, what works best for you? Visit http://www.izzylane.com/

Sharon x