J Brand - it's not always in the jeans

'It’s easy, it’s effortless, you can wear it without having to try too hard,’ Rudes said. ‘Just like our jeans.’

A few nights ago across the pool from me, something special happened. You may have come across J brand as the go-to place for a good quality pair of designer jeans. Their reputation has grown more and more through each collection, to the point where they are now a world-renowned label.

This isn't the end of the J Brand tale - in fact, they've just started a new chapter. In my eyes it's called 'J Brand - it's not always in the jeans'. Okay it's not actually called that, but if they were actually calling this chapter a name - it's definitely an option.

New York was blessed with the debut ready-to-wear collection - found stood upon uniformly arranged podiums - and the trousers still won the gold medal. Let me show you.

The Jungle Look

I walked into Zara today, and honestly? I might as well have just walked into the Amazonian rainforest.

Okay slight exaggeration, but truthfully I think we can only blame one thing...

Hello Kenzo

Andy Torres from Stylescrapbook

Don't get strappy with me

Isabel Marant - £420 - Matches

Actually, I take that back. Give me strappy!

There are plenty more fish in the sea

Let me introduce you, in case you have not already been introduced, to Peter Lippmann:

He is a fashion photographer who doesn't just shoot photos, he creates art. I am always impressed by not only the imagination he has but also the way in which he inspires me, and the skill he has to exercise your own imagination.

You may know him for shooting advert campaigns for Christian Louboutin, which is what I'm writing about today. Let me spoil you with some photos from his previous campaigns. 

Now do you see what I mean...? We are certainly not talking your standard ad photographer here. Prepare to enter a world of pure imagination *starts singing Willy Wonker*

Shoe mad

I think it's fair to say that shoe designers went a little bit crazy when it came to designing shoes for S/S 13, if you don't believe me. Take a look...

Celine: turned into Cruella Deville, the Cookie Monster and Elmo were among her victims. Of course I am joking, neither were harmed in the making of these shoes, thank god.

Image IMAXtree 

Image IMAXtree

Image IMAXtree

Prada: They didn't just create a shoe, they created a shoe combined with a fit-the-shape-in-the-hole game, who knew sandals could be this much fun?! To save disappointment, these shoes do not come accompanied with various different wooden shapes.

Image IMAXtree

Celine: I have nothing to say other than please do not wear with a tan.

Image IMAXtree

Alexander McQueen: Finally a shoe that creates a convenient way to store your precious gems and jewels! Thank you McQueen, thank you!

If you haven't noticed so far that I've been very sarcastic

a) you need to pay more attention 

b) sar·casm 

n.

1. A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.

2. A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.

3. The use of sarcasm. See Synonyms at wit.

However, there was a designer that in my opinion, just smashed all the others out the window. Not because they created the wackiest shoes. They managed to create such beautifully unique shoes, yet without taking away that element of desire that I feel so many designers did. 

So thank you Fendi:

Image GoRunway

Image GoRunway

Image GoRunway

Image GoRunway

Image GoRunway

Image GoRunway

Image GoRunway

So there you have it, congratulations Fendi you win the award for the most well executed weird shoe. The colours were striking, the heels were bold and the strips of leather over the front mimic the roof of the Sydney Opera House. What could be better?

The perfect couple

Like it or not, Valentine's Day is looming.

But, for those of you who dread it, like a kid dreads a visit to the dentist (note: this dread is not necessarily limited to children), I present to you the perfect opportunity to celebrate the romance, and dare I say it, the sexy relationship between a trouser and a jacket in a trouser suit. They are the ideal couple. Like it or not, your relationship will not match up to theirs for the following reasons:

1. They look great together: Think Brangelina, Posh and Becks, Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom. Oh but they're so much better, they're charming, classy and undeniably cute.
2. They're practical: yet elegant. If you can find another couple that look this suited in so many situations, then you are lying.

Note: The communication between them is limited, but I'm willing to look past this.

So now you're aware of the couple of the year, let me show you how to get your own.

Erdem - £1820 for the pair

Richard Nicoll - £892 for the pair

Erdem - £2800 for the pair

b&b - £175 for the pair

Topshop - £107 for the pair

Paul & Joe - £645 for the pair

J. Crew- £765 for the pair

Malene Berger - £550 for the pair

Zara - £99.98 for the pair

Theyskens' Theory - £870 for the pair

How to be the Queen of sheen

The shiny look has never appealed to me, I think it's easy to make an outfit look cheap and tacky when you're wearing a top that looks like it's made out of foil. The best way to wear them is understated. A metallic clutch paired with a relatively minimalist outfit is ideal. However, there are plenty of pieces you can wear that are subtle yet flattering and feminine. The iridescent, metallic fabrics were a big hit on the catwalks, seen at Burberry, Jonathan Saunders and Mary Katrantzou among others.

Giorgio Armani Prive - photo by GoRunway

Valentino - photo by GoRunway

Burberry Prorsum - photo style.com

Mary Katrantzou - photo by GoRunway

I've found some of the best pieces you can buy now

Clockwise from top left:

Gold top - Esteban Cortazar £180

Blue stilettos - Jimmy Choo £595

Clutch - Mulberry £650

Silver Stilettos - ASOS £45

Clutch - Michael Michael Kors £185

Trousers - J. Crew £150

Over-the-shoulder bag - Burberry Prorsum £550

T-shirt - Markus Lupfer £190

Playsuit - Topshop £55

Vest top - Maison Martin Margiela MM6 £158

T-shirt - River Island £22

Lust List

I think it's totally normal, as a girl who's into fashion, to have a mental (and now written) list of items, which I am in total awareness that I will never (ever, ever, ever, ever) be able to buy (in a million years). But that sure as hell will not stop me from finding them, loving them, wanting them and staring at them as though if I stare hard enough at my laptop screen, they'll appear in their beautiful, tangible form in front of me. So here they are...

Ileana Makri diamond and gold sea-flower earrings - £9,570

Azzedine Alaia Perfecto jacket - £3975

Gianvito Rossi suede lace-up boots - £515

Sea NY tweed contrast panel dress - £355

Alexander McQueen 3D Stripe knitted dress - £1160

Shourouk wax necklace - £405

Burberry Prorsum cotton trench coat - £1195

Hermes Vintage Ostrich skin bag - £28,800

Okay, so that's my current list. I am nervously making my way towards the calculator, right got it. Typing it in right now...*innocent whistling*

Drum roll please....

£45,975

commence the awkward silence

Bright whites

One of the biggest trends of S/S 13 is the immaculate and pure colour white. I'm not saying you should go all snow queen on me or anything, because that is not a good look. And for those of you sat there, feeling rather regal, in your floor length white fur coat, and your fairy tale like white dress. Please get up and look in a mirror.

So rule number one: If you look like you've killed and skinned a polar bear, you're doing it wrong.

Lets see how white well and truly ruled the runway...

Images from Vogue & Harper's Bazaar

I think despite the essential boringness (that is a word) of the colour, using whites you can create an unquestionably beautiful outfit. I've hand picked some of my favourite pieces:




1 Brogues - Robert Clergerie - £365
2 Sundress - Topshop - £36
3 Jacket - Lanvin - £1290
4 Tote - Anya Hindmarch - £250
5 Dress - Alexander McQueen - £1250
6 Booties - Carvela - £100
7 Cashmere sweater - Closed - £205
8 Sunglasses - Mango - £22.99
9. Watch - Michael Kors - £185

Opposite ends of the spectrum

There's something beautiful about monochrome. I don't really know what it is, whether it's the contrast between the two moods, or the minimalist approach to colouring. Either way, it's unmissable in the shops right now after the perpetual overhaul of the stuff on the catwalk at the S/S 13 shows. However, this isn't necessarily a trend for the whole outfit, just one piece will do, so pick yours here:

The BLAZER

Designer

Stella McCartney - £1195 - Matches Fashion 

High street

Topshop - £45

The SWEATER

Designer

Tibi - £232 - Matches Fashion

high street

Zara - £45.99

The DRESS

Designer

Altuzara - £1250 - Matches Fashion

High Street

French Connection - £120