Summer WishList

I must admit I never really used to get the whole fascination everyone had with Pinterest until very recently.I used to use it every now and again but now it has clicked and I love it. I have to admit once upon a time I was the very same with twitter. I always said I won't have twitter and now look at me I tweet my way through every day. Pinterest boards are a great way to collate all of your inspiration for your home, life and also your wardrobe. I have started a board called 'WishList' that works alongside my blogging too, as I can capture items that I like for a later blog post as and when I see them. Ok so most of my wishlist currently involves clothes that I simply cannot afford but there are also some great affordable pieces from Monki, Klear Klutch and ASOS.  Take a look at my Summer Wish List straight from my board on Pinterest. 

1. Simple plain dress, Topshop

2. Pascal Light Sunglasses, Acne

3. Gold Watch from Sekonda *ON SALE*

4. Metallic Clutch, Luisa Viaroma

5. Floral Head Garland, Topshop

6. White Gladiator Sandal Boots, Topshop

7. Gemstone Necklace, ASOS *ON SALE*

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LC:M Newgen S/S '14

London Collections: Men is just around the corner and with a lot of fashionista's already planning their outfits and getting excited about the event's busy schedule I think it's going to be even better than before. London Collections: Men is a 3 day event that celebrates everything great about menswear from catwalk collections to exhibition space and exclusive events hosted by the likes of Tom Ford. The highlights for me last season were definitely the Katie Eary show, which I had great seats for and also the controversial but mesmerising J.W.Anderson show. I cannot wait to see what they have to offer us next, something bigger and better I would assume.

Newgen is a sponsorship with Topshop/Topman that has supported London Fashion Week for over 10 years. When menswear was taken away from LFW and given it's own event LC:M Newgen followed and rightly so. Each season Newgen supports up-and-coming designers to give them that extra push needed to showcase their work and this season's designers have just been announced.

Agi & Sam

I love a design duo and Agi & Sam are one step above the rest when it comes to quality and creative flair. Their last collection stood out with it's bold prints and striking silhouettes, combining the right amount of heritage and modern together. 

Matthew Miller

After studying at the Royal College of Art Matthew set up his own label and has grown from strength to strength with each season. For A/W '13 his almost all black collection collection got great reviews as he took an anarchic take on classic tailoring. 'Born to Fail' was the slogan of the collection, although I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon. 

Astrid Anderson

Using hip-hop and masculinity as a crucial influence within design Astrid inserts a feminine touch with his choice of materials and colour ways. After only graduating in 2010 Astrid has acheived so much and won the Brioni Creativity and Innovation Award and the River Island MA Student Bursary Award. 

Lee Roach

After graduating from Central Saint Martins BA course in 2010, Lee's S/S 2011 collection featured in Selfridges 'Bright Young Things' initiative. Lee describes his signature as “Reduction and repetition.”

Nasir Mazhar

After working alongside with theatre costume designer, Mark Wheeler and training with Jane Smith, Nasir made the decision to go it alone and set up his own label. Not one to play it safe Nasir is definitely one to watch this season.  

Shaun Samson

With a MA from Central St Martin's it's no surprise with the success Shaun Samson has had in the fashion world. I went to his show last season and was transformed into a world of modern streetwear and I loved it!

Martine Rose

With a very retro feeling within her designs and influences Martine Rose has been allocated presentation and designer showroom sponsorship at S/S 2014 London Collections: Men. The only female out of the group, come on Martine, do it for the girls! 

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Tramp in Disguise A/W 13

Some designers own experiences influence them, others look towards the streets. For Tramp in Disguise A/W '13 collection the book 'One Thousand and One Nights' forms the inspiration behind the collection entitled 'Arabian Nights'. The story tells the story of a Persian king who marries a succession of virgins who he then executes because he suspects their fidelity. He then marries a women called Scheherazade who begins their marriage by telling the king a tale- but when she doesn't complete the story the king, curious to here the conclusion, postpones her execution. Her story telling continues for 1,001 nights covering everything from historical tales to burlesques and various forms of erotica. 'Arabian Night's features print motifs drawn from these tales and includes daggers, mosques, architectural geometric patterns and belly dancing clothing. 

Tell us a bit about Tramp In Disguise. How did the brand begin? 

 I started Tramp In Disguise in 2010 after finishing an MA in Fashion knitwear design at the Royal College of Art.

Your latest collection 'Arabian Night's in inspired by the book One Thousand and One Nights. What made you turn to literature as inspiration? 

I wanted to do an Arabian themed collection and I remembered this book from my childhood and started to read it for inspiration. It’s always good to design from a story where you can take inspiration from many things, so you will create something unique and unexpected.

Your designs are full of wonderful patterns and luxurious fabrics, where do you source your fabrics? The prints are designed by me, so I source the fabrics for printing normally from the print manufacturer’s selection. I do normally use silk, wool and cotton fabrics.

How do you engage with your target audience? Is Social Media Important to you? 

I wasn’t so big of a user on social media before but it’s really important now. In today’s world social media has got a great importance to engage audience. 

You work a lot of color within your collections. What colours will you be wearing this Summer? 

The colours I wear depend on my mood in the morning. If I’m on a good mood I wear bright colours if I feel tired or more serious I often wear dark colours. I don’t follow trends in regards to the colours that I wear.
  

What does the future hold for Tramp in Disguise? 

We have a fully sponsored catwalk show in Croatia in Zagreb fashion week in May. We are launching our diffusion line My Galavant also in May, so we’ll be working with two lines in the future.

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London Collections: Shaun Samson A/W 13

My Shaun Samson ticket request was granted very late-in fact the night before the show! When I arrived I was hardly surprised as it was very over crowded. I did get quite a good spot, underneath some photographers, crunched up on the floor but it was worth it. Overall I was very impressed with the general running and show spaces at London Collections: Men, my only vouch would be 'The Hospital Club' show space was far too small and over crowded.

Anyway back to Shaun Samson, his A/W 2013 collection was apparently inspired by monsters and mice. However, I would say it looks more like hockey and American football. The collection had quite a bright colour pallette and a mixutre of snapbacks worn backwards, giving it a street feel. The urban theme continued as there were clothes with an almost graffiti aesthetic. The deep marroons and warm reds complimented each other well in contrast with a lot of black.

 Shaun Samson offered a softer side to the collection as some beige chunky knits came out onto the catwalk. Not to mention a splash of tartan that has been so popular at London Collections:Men this season. Thank you Shaun Samson for a brilliant show.

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The power of the internet

Fashion shows used to be an event purely for the VIP's of the fashion industry but now with the use of the internet and live streaming this is a thing of the past. Ok you don't quite get the same atmosphere streaming online and there was a very annoying buzzing the whole way through the show-but who am I to complain? It is brilliant for those with an interest in fashion, that otherwise wouldn't be able to watch the shows but I can't help to think with all the live streaming that it is taking something special away from Fashion Shows?

I don't think that Live Streaming will ever take over from Fashion Shows but it certainly takes away from the exclusivity and prestige of receiving an invitation to a fashion show. As like everything there are pro's and con's and for the designers their work is being sent round the world instantly-it certainly benefits them. For those living abroad with no option to fly over for London Collections it also is a benefit. However I can't help but think that I would rather have been at the Hackett show this evening, catching a glimpse of the front row celebrities and rubbing shoulders with the uber stylish. However thanks to the internet I feel like I have still been a part of the excitement with Hackett this evening, and writing this with my cup of green tea and tucked up in bed, I can't complain.

Katie x

Who's Jack : London Collections

As I'm sure most of you all know today kicked off London Collections:Men and that means one thing our twitter timelines and instagram feeds are filled with all things fashion related. I have the honour of covering some of the shows this week for Who's Jack Magazine. I applied for the position a few weeks back, so was very pleased when I learnt they wanted me to cover some of the shows. 

Who's Jack is a magazine covering everything from Art and Culture to Fashion and the going's on in London. Check out some pages of their current issue: #57.

It will actually be my first time at London Collections:Men after it began last June. I will be attending some shows tomorrow but Wednesday is the busiest day for me, and I will be covering:

-Baartmans and Siegel
-J.W Anderson
-Qasimi
-Matthew Miller

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for live updates from the shows.

Katie x

It's raining men..

Monday the 7th of January 2013 kicks off the three day event 'London Collections: Men' also known as men's fashion week. London Collections will attract the biggest and best menswear designers of our time, along with journalists, bloggers and celebrities alike. London Collections started off last June, where there was definitely a buzz around it, however this time around people seem to be getting a lot more envolved and excited about the shows and exhibitions that follow. 

London Collections has a lot of people describing London as 'the capital of menswear' and I have to agree, the talent and determination of designers in London is so refreshing right now. Before London Collections menswear designers had a dedicated day at London Fashion Week which led many to argue they weren't allocated enough time. London Collections has given other menswear designers the opportunity to showcase their collections and get their name heard. 

Nicole Farhi. London Collections: Autumn/Winter 2012

Meadham Kirchhoff. London Collections: Autumn/Winter 2012
 
London Collections has really given menswear a new lease of life and everyone from the designers to journalists and the media have really embraced it. I will be covering some of the shows, in the forthcoming days, so don't forget to check out my blog this week. Also remember we are now in the 21st century and you can now watch most of the shows from the comfort of your own home.

Also follow me on twitter and Instagram for live updates on the days.

Katie x

The perfect Front Row?

I was sitting yesterday at the GALA show for Graduate Fashion Week looking at all of the important fashion icons going to sit on the Front Row. Allocating front row seats for fashion shows I can imagine is a huge task in itself. I have always been mesmerised by the FROW (front row) and the importance and prestige that surrounds it. If I am at a fashion show and I don't know who somebody is on the front row it leads me to question "who are they" shortly followed by "what's in their goody bag?". This led me to think about if I was a designer who I would allocate my front row seats to. In no particular order I have come up with my perfect front row:

1. Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen

2. Mario Testino
3. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
4. Alexa Chung

5. Kanye West
6. David Gandy
7. Alice Dellal 

8.Hasan Hejazi 

9. Mary Katrantzou
10. Alexis Knox
11. Susie Lau (Susie Bubble)

12. Daphne Guinness
13. Henry Holland
14. Olivia Palermo

15. Anna Dello Russo 
16. Lucinda Chambers
17. Victoria Beckham
18. Vivienne Westwood
19. Scott Schuman (The Satorialist)
20. Pandemonia & snowy

Who would be on your front row?

Pandemonia.

I am writing an article all about conceptual artist Pandemonia for the fifth Issue of Third Floor. I have blogged about him before but after an extensive few hours researching her I am fully transfixed with the image she portray's and the life she lead's. She answered in one interview that she doesn't leave the house unless dressed as 'Pandemonia' but then how would we know, if nobody know's who Pandemonia even is? Here are the images from i-D winter issue shot by Peter Ashworth.

My favorite outfit by Pandemonia. I think the speech bubble speaks for itself!

One of the most well known Pandemonia outfits, another favorite!

The Red Sweeping hair also makes a huge statement.