With the recent acquisition of a black one-button blazer from Next, I can now rest easy, knowing I have a blazer for every day of the week.
I only got into blazers (or tailored jackets or suit jackets or whatever else you want to call them) relatively recently. My first purchase (aside from an ill-fitting black Primark number that I only ever wore to job interviews five years ago) was a beautiful slim-cut burgundy blazer from Zara. At £59.99, it was a fair bit more than I usually spend on a single item of clothing, but it was a dead ringer for one I’d seen on the Gucci menswear catwalk, and it got me snapped at London Fashion Week a lot, so there was that.
That was in September 2011. Since then I’ve been gradually building up my blazer arsenal. On a fashion blogger event shopping spree at Forever 21 I picked up two of the same style in white and royal blue, plus a little cropped beige jacket that’s very useful in the summer. Last year, I got what would become my most ubiquitous blazer, a slightly tuxedo-style black button-less jacket that caught my eye when Kate Moss modelled it on the side of a bus for Mango.
As useful as that Mango jacket was, I couldn’t help but feel there was a black hole in my blazer battalion. This month, however, I filled that hole, with this little beauty:
I had a Next gift voucher to use* and chose this jacket (£35) from their Tailored range. While I wasn’t particularly excited about it at the time of purchase, within a week this had become my Most Very Favourite Blazer (a coveted title amongst my garments, to be sure) and I’ve worn it so many times since I’ve lost count. It’s a great sharp cut, slightly oversized (but not so much that it could be tarnished with that over-used ‘boyfriend’ moniker) and a classic one-button, three-pocket style. It’s also a nice mid-weight fabric – thick enough to wear with a check flannel shirt in winter or a boat neck t-shirt in summer. Quite frankly, I love it, and I’m not sure how I got dressed for work without it. Well, actually, I do: I picked one of my many other blazers. But right now, this one’s my fave.
*full disclosure: I was sent a Next gift voucher by a PR, to use in exchange for a review of a product.
Demi-modelling: ’the ludicrous poses adopted by fashionistas outside shows when they spot an approaching street-style snapper.’ Style Magazine.
These fashiony event-hoppers irritatingly describe their look using obscure adjectives and wilfully walk the streets looking full-on-crazy in the hope they’ll get noticed by a passing blogger.
Once upon a time a bit of crazy amidst a sea of coordinated outfits was seen as a little off-centre and unique. Now, the practice of sello-taping cuddly toys to your clothes or arriving in an outfit ,which can only be considered a bet, no longer constitutes distinctive style. The one-upmanship amongst these street-stylers has created an escalating competition whereby a lone quirky hat is no longer enough to get yourself noticed. More is now way (too much) more.
It’s a similar principle to the one employed on a first lunch date or somewhere you need to look ‘accidentally gorgeous.’ You make a subtle, extra effort, unnoticeable to an untrained eye but just a casual turn of the dial for maximum impact. Then you can convincingly act surprised or accept compliments (‘…oh, this old thing, I got ready in 5 minutes flat…’) knowing you look better than normal. However if you are ludicrously posing near an ideal backdrop/with good lighting/accessories poised, you look like a massive idiot. Worse still, is when someone does actually ask for a photo and the wannabe rolls their eyes in an ‘OMG this happens all the time….’ way and acts like their triple booked fashion schedule has been disrupted. Pur-lease.
Helen wrote a great piece after London Fashion Week, describing some of the fashion absurdity witnessed during the height of the street-style calendar. Yes, fashion is about breaking moulds, idealism and pushing boundaries. In everyday life it is also about finding staples you love, pulling together outfits from a random drawer and enjoying the process of finding clothes that suit you. It is most definitely not throwing yourself at a designer wardrobe (mixed with vintage pieces obvs), adding fiendish accessories and wacky jewellery for good measure and then loitering with a mass of other crazies trying to look ‘accidentally snappable.’
I’m going to initiate a backlash and start street-style snapping people wearing jeans and T-shirts, walking their dog in a lovely waterproof or perhaps a commuter with an especially well-made briefcase.
You would expect that at the launch party for a new menswear tailoring range there would be some sartorially superb men about wouldn’t you? Well at the River Island life of a tailor event there certainly were. Oh and one lady too. Read Helen’s excellent report from the event here then marvel at the awesomely attired menfolk below.
I say probably, because we didn’t clap eyes on, like, everybody at the whole of Fashion Week. But our stringent street style sampling method around Somerset House i.e. Helen and I both had to agree their outfit was, to use a Will.i.amism, dope) sure did snare some killer looks. Let’s meet our winners.
Elizabeth, who works for Elle magazine, was wearing a vintage Versace top and using one of those velvet rucksacks covered in little mirrors that you get on holiday in Thailand as a clutch. If you ask me, this is how the 90′s revival should be done. This season at LFW she loved Marques Almeida’s collection at Fashion East and she was looking forward to the Linda Farrow party on Saturday night.
Barbara, who works for the Daily Fail, er, I mean Mail, was wearing a Unique kilt, Kurt Geiger bag and Christian Louboutin shoes. She gets extra points for a perfect pedicure noir. This season she loved the Todd Lynn show and she was most excited about John Rocha.
Camellia, a freelance fashion editor and blogger at www.choufouchouf.tumblr.com, had the most adorable French accent. She was wearing a Stefanel dress, Chloe cadigan (pink and red is basically my favourite colour combination FYI) and Urban Outfitters boots. She was taking pictures around Somerset House and looking forward to the Pringle and Paul Smith shows the most.
Gabriella or @Gabsguthrie works in social media. She was wearing a H&M top, Mulberry bag and Mawi jewellery (a brand you see a lot of around LFW). I like that shade of chartreuse – it’s not quite neon but it sure is shocking. Gabs also loved the Todd Lynn show.
Zoey Goto is a journalist. She was wearing a H&M jumpsuit and a vintage bag. Her favourite show of the week so far was Holly Fulton and she was most looking forward to Vivienne Westwood, Buberry and Mulberry. Lucky girl to have tickets to all those.
Alex, an architecture student, was wearing a Zara dress, Topshop shoes and a Mulberry bag. She was just hanging around Somerset House waiting to meet a pal. See, it isn’t always the bloggers and celebs who are the most stylish.
Samantha, a blogger, was wearing a customised jumpsuit by Birmingham designer Cherelle Reid, so there’s not much chance she’s gonna clash outfits with someone else at LFW. Samantha loved the PPQ and Felder Felder shows and she was excited about going over to Vauxhall Fashion Scout to check out some new designers. We were too, so we went to the VFS Ones to Watch show.
Photos: Helen Coakley and Faraz Pourreza-Jorshari www.boomson.com
After so many seasons at London Fashion Week, you start to become pretty desensitized to it all. All the stylists laden with equal quantities of PR contacts and Mawi jewellery begin to blur together, and outfits usually only seen in children’s nightmares become the norm. Personally, I stopped trying this season. I ditched my 6-inch wedges and pleather skinnies in favour of flats – and not falling flat on my face on the cobbles of Somerset House. I also made sure I had pockets galore to stash emergency pens, tickets, passes, camera lenses and painkillers. I am actually considering a utility belt next season, in a completely un-ironic and totally practical way. I’m just scared I’ll kick off some new ridiculous Bob The Builder trend and get trolled by the trade unions. Someone even complimented me this week on the fact I hadn’t ‘dressed up’ and how it was totally ‘refreshing to see’. I am 98% positive this was said in an ironic way, but I’m still cashing in that compliment, you hear.
After trawling through about a zillion of our photographs from London Fashion Week, we decided to put a top ten rundown together highlighting the – shock horror – FUN we had and hilarious sights we saw, amidst all the seriousness and ridiculousness. So here it is, our attempt at injecting a little humour back into LFW. God knows it needs it.
1. We think we found our Prince
We couldn’t tell if this joker was an actual member of the royal family or had just popped to Burger King. We know K-Middy and co are usually Frow at Issa, but maybe he was just lost looking for Raffles? Either way, he definitely needed to get some air into his crown quick-smart. I think the only other guy spotted who topped our Prince Charming was the idiot in the ‘Free Shags’ t-shirt walking around Somerset House hand in hand with his GIRLFRIEND.
2. We found out why Burberry don’t just let anyone in
Major tip: if all you desires is to get papped by a street style photographer, one sure-fire way to succeed is to basically wear everything you own (but, in the words of Joey Tribbiani, you ‘better not do any lunges’). Wearing a dress with actual teddy bears as shoulder pads does not make you the height of fashion, it makes you look like you got lost on the way to your audition for Nightmare on Sesame Street. As the greats do say, there is a fine line between style and peacocking fashion.
3. We found an actual triple threat
In the immortal words of Andrew Stone, of Pineapple Dance Studios fame, these guys are a true triple threat. They WILL threaten you if you dare to question their choice in man-clutches. Oh, and they have also perfected the art of synchronized walking. Bravo, my friends, bravo.
4. We found the happiest man alive at Fashion Week
Contrary to popular belief, you are allowed to smile at fashion week, as proved by this cheeky chappy. I’m not even 100% convinced he was working, as I saw him grab his coat and dash out of Somerset house about 5 minutes after I took this photo. Maybe he had Bob Geldofesque tendencies and was attempting to feed the models. Or just really friggin’ loves his popcorn. Either way, he was the happiest guy we saw all weekend.
5. We found out we are potentially the only two people eating at Fashion Week
After we accosted said happiest man alive for his ‘corn, it appeared we were the only people who dared eat in public within a two mile radius. We know this is usually a maaaaajar faux pas, but after 10 hours on your feet the sight of a free bag of sweet and salty is enough to make anyone drool.
6. We found that Gangnam style
Watch out London, the phenomenon that is Gangnam Style has already infiltrated the walls of Somerset House and your wardrobe is next. Hell, we’re seriously considering a trip to Korean Fashion Week just to see if the models Gangnam all the way down the catwalks.
7. …and that Katie is a pro
Having already perfected the art of Gangnam, Katie gave us a lesson in riding the invisible horse in between shows. Perhaps we should have crashed a few shows and made our own Gangnam parody – but I’m pretty certain Henry Holland would have had us blacklisted for life if we’d dared.
8. We found the worst PR team ever
When you’re sitting in a meeting room, planning the publicity for your fashion show, and someone suggests you could cut a few corners and just chalk out directions on the pavement, you need to FIRE THEM. Honestly, what if it had rained?!
9. We found out a lot about the Freemasons
Whilst we were camped out at Freemasons Hall for all the Vauxhall Fashion Scout shows, our Katie got talking to a real life Freemason, and by all accounts got a 20 minute history lesson too. It turns out that Freemasons Hall is still the Global headquarters for all the Freemasons and not just a fashion show location twice a year. Go figure.
10. I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave!
Oh Fashion Week. We’ve had our highs and we’ve had our lows. It makes sense we only see each other every six months my darling, but can we still be frenemies? Until next time, air kisses sweetie! Now can someone direct me back to the real world please?
I used to think that snakeskin was only for accessories. For shiny coats and Birkins that cost more than a car. That was until I got to road test a pair of Current Elliot skinny jeans from online designer boutique The Editeur. In a pale canvas snakeskin print, the Ankle Skinny, as it’s called, is a surprisingly versatile jean, as I discovered when Helen and I took to the streets of London to make like the Sartorialist and snap these babies in their natural habitat. Here they are, styled up in a quartet of looks.
Double denim
Call it ironic if you want, but sometimes two doses of denim in one outfit just works. A sharp black blazer keeps this look on the right side of casual.
Take as many variations on neutral as you want then add one zingy bright neon piece to set it all off.
Jeans, as before; jumper, shoes and jacket, Forever21.
Crop it like it’s hot
Make like a modern day ranch hand with jeans tucked into cowboy boots and a crop top. The nineties are back in vogue you know, so a low rise is totally acceptable – draw the line at bootcuts though.
Jeans, as before; jumper, H&M; boots, vintage.
Animal magnetism
Nothing says fierce quite like a giant feline-faced top. Pair it with snakeskin print for a outfit to take on the concrete jungle. Miaow, hiss etc.
Take five fashion bloggers and two fashion PRs and you’d except some pretty cool outfits right? Well that’s exactly what I found last Saturday at the London-based event to celebrate the opening of first Forever 21 in Manchester. Check out all the looks below and read about the event here – the store opens today.
Not only did Graduate Fashion Week deliver a whole heap of talent on the catwalks (check out our round up of the best graduate collections) but there was plenty of style savvy on display in between the shows too. While perusing the pathways of the Earl’s Court exhibition centre we found many an attendee nodding to the two of the biggest spring 2012 trends – pastels and florals. Was it deliberate? We stopped a handful of very well dressed visitors to find out.
Who:Marissa Owen, who won last year’s graduate womenswear designer of the year award. Marissa is now a designer at Marks and Spencer.
What are you wearing? Cos dress, PPQ shoes, Topshop socks and bag.
Do the seasonal trends influence what you wear? Not consciously, but because I’m always researching trends for my work I think there is a certain influence.
What have you seen at GFW so far? I saw the UCLan show, that’s the uni I went to, it was brilliant. I loved the collection with the jack-in-a-box theme [it was by Xiaoping Fiona Hwang].
What are you wearing? Topshop shirt, trousers and brogues, Lazy Oaf backpack, Me and Zina jewellery.
Are you influenced by seasonal trends? Not really. I like florals and pastels anyway so I’m glad they’re in the shops right now.
What are you looking forward to seeing at GFW? I want to look at other graduate fashion promotion potfolios and see what they’ve done.
Who? Mehbuda Uddin, studying fashion at Bournemouth.
What are you wearing? Warehouse blouse, New Look skirt, Dorothy Perkins bag and accessories.
Are you influenced by seasonal trends? I picked this outfit many because I like the petrol blue colour of the skirt and because it has a retro feel. I flip through magazines so I’m aware of trends but for me it’s more about what suits me.
Who?Charis Younger, Northumbria graduate now designing menswear at All Saints.
What are you wearing? Asos dress, Primark bag, All Saints jewellery.
Are you influenced by seasonal trends? I’m definitely aware of the trends but I usually wear a lot of black and grey, like the All Saints clothes. There’s just so much pastel in the shops at the moment, but I try to wear it with my own twist.
Who should we look out for from Northumbria at GFW? Look out for Charlotte Sowerby and Emily Edge, they’re both great.
Who: Elis, from Bulgaria, studying business and management at Exeter university, currently on a sandwich placement doing marketing at IBM.
What are you wearing? All by Zara apart from shoes which were bought from a shop called Renkel in Berlin, Germany.
What have you seen that you’ve liked at GFW? I really liked the University of Edinburgh show as they did interesting things with the business suit – it’s something I wear everyday.
Are you influenced by seasonal trends? I’m limited with my work clothes but I likes to wear flowers and colours outside of work.
Guys! Have you not heard about the newest social media bandwagon upon which you’re supposed to jump? Pinterest is the latest hyped to the heavens website that aims to “connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting.” I was dubious at first, but now I’m really getting into it.
How does it work? You go to www.pinterest.com and request an invite. Once you’re signed up you download a little button that sits on your browser that says Pin It. Whenever you see an image on the web that you want to share you hit the button and save it to a Pinboard. So you might save a photo of Ryan Gosling looking ridiculously hot to a Pinboard called ‘My Future Husband,’ for example. You can also choose to post your Pins to Facebook or Twitter as you go along, and you can follow other Pinners and ‘repin’ their images on your boards.
If you’re a visual sort of person (and you’re reading this awesome fashion blog right now so I imagine you’ve got pretty good taste) you’ll probably love Pinterest. Like most new social media sites, it takes a bit of practice but before long it gets addictive and you can’t stop pinning. I got properly hooked last weekend after the Angry Birds photo on my nail art Pinboard got 15 repins (I’d barely got a single repin before that). And my best friend Caroline discovered that someone had pinned an old street style photo of me, which I was pretty excited about: little old me, a source of style pinspiration, who’d have thought?
Check out Style & Then Some on Pinterest and leave me a comment below with some tips on which Pinners I should be following.
Ever ask your friend to grab a joke dress to try on so she can come in the changing room with you? There’s the matronly looking joke dress above – pale mauve maxi tunic with pleated skirt – but fast forward two minutes in the H&M changing rooms and I thought I’d wandered into a production of A Midsummer’s Night Dream.
Although it needs some quality time with an iron, the dress (£25, H&M) and Samantha’s accessories were meant to be together. Gold Michael Kors watch, camel H&M wedges, gold pocketwatch necklace and loose, romantic curls.
H&M hanger 0, Samantha 1.
If you’ve ever picked up a random pair of trousers or floaty top that looked amazing once you’d got it on or had high hopes for a frilly frou-frou confection that didn’t quite come off, send us your Me versus The Hanger photos to styleandthensome@gmail.com.
Frantically swapping tickets after an envelope mix-up disaster, the (extended) S&TS team found a little downtime between shows for LFW posing. We’ve always got energy when someone points a camera at us..
Coat from John Lewis Kids (!), vintage boots, H&M bag and new hair
That's a Whistles cardigan, Topshop shoes and H&M skirt and tee
Working Urban Outfitters boots and blazer with Gap shirt and H&M leggings, accessorised with a Fashion Scout pillar
Too many invites, too many “muses” and “style icons” in our way, not enough time = what I like to call Fashion Eek. But Sophie and Sophie still kept it together on their first morning running between shows.
Dress picked up in the sale at Oasis yesterday - ssshh, don't tell anyone
Rocking a jumpsuit from Dotty Ps and crown of plaits
Now, I realise it’s summer over here in the UK and all you want to think about wearing are denim shorts and playsuits, but a little bit of styling effort with your favourite wool garments on the Fashion by Feelings website could nab you a trip to the Australia, where it’s well on the way to winter.
Launched by Aussie wool promoters Woolmark as part of the We Love Wool campaign, Fashion by Feelings invites you to upload a photo of a look associated with one of twelve feelings – like cute, seductive, powerful or natural. It’s a lot like every wannabe street style photographers favourite website, Lookbook.nu, but the crucial criteria here is that every look has to involve wool in one way or another.
The look that gets the most ‘loves’ by the end of September 2011 will win the grand prize, which includes return flights to Sydney for two people, six nights accommodation, a wool shopping spree worth AUD $3,600, a pair of EMU boots each and a visit to a Merino wool farm. Even if you don’t want to post a look yourself, all voters will be entered into a weekly draw to win a wool prize pack from EMU Australia worth AUD $400.
I went to Australia in April this year (and blogged about this great fashion exhibition I saw in Melbourne) but I wouldn’t mind another trip out there, so I’m off to think up a wooltastic outift that I can upload. So far I’m thinking it’s going to involve a classic navy vintage Lyle and Scott jumper styled up all nautical. Good luck if you decide to have a go too.
Visit the Fashion by Feelings website to upload your look and vote for your favourites. Look out for iPhone and iPad apps coming in August.
