Metro Column – It’s a Blue, Blue Summer

Hello!

Never one to shy away from putting my money where my mouth is…

Here’s May’s Metro column…Along with a couple of street style shots…

Blue Jaquard Suit and ivory chiffon vest all Topshop

Black two strap sandals, Primark/Penneys

SS’13 Blue Trends

Yours,

Whisty Xx

The Copy…

Cobalt blue was a big colour for Autumn/Winter ’12-’13; seen on catwalks at Lanvin, in the form of tailored wool shift dresses; at Sportmax in the form of loose silk trousers and matching shirts, and at Prabal Garung in the form of ultra-shiny slim, tailored trousers – note: models wore matching cobalt-coloured nail varnish. However, street stylers, bloggers, magazines and the high street have carried this trend through to Spring/Summer ’13.

Topshop’s silk high-waisted trouser suit (pictured €266) brings cobalt blue together with this season’s cropped trouser length. We associate blue with cooler colour tones but cobalt’s natural, rich pigment means it has warmth.

If you prefer your blue hues prettier and subtle there is a shade of blue for all tastes and skin tones. The Spring/Summer ’13 blues include other natural shades, like dusty cornflower and Provencal. Seen at Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy in floating fluttering frills; at Chanel in classic bouclé tweed and at Elie Saab, in dresses with sheer panels and shimmering, elegant ice blue lace.

AWear have translated the trend into this skater dress (pictured €65) in light blue tweed; while this Asos dress (pictured £150) teams pale blue lace with chic blue leather. Wear your spring/summer ‘13 blues with fiery gold accessories, nude nail varnish and open toed sandals. Perfect with bare, tanned summer legs, the key shoe style for this season is a high heeled, no-platform two-strap sandal.

Wear your cobalt blue, suit trousers above the ankle and embrace this shoe trend; you can’t go wrong flashing the flesh either side of an ankle strap. Penneys/Primark have the perfect, seriously comfortable pair (Pictured €15). I wore these to an awards ceremony last week and danced all night in them.

It might be a blue summer but this trend is red hot.

Yours, Whisty Xx

Photo Diary

Hey all,

It’s been a while.

In case you’re wondering what’s been happening, here’s a photo diary…

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Striped Up, Hyped Up, Ready for Wilin’

Hello.

If you haven’t already sussed it yet, the S/S’13 trend most heavily represented so far on the high street is inches-wide stripes.

Stripes make regular appearances year after year, but something about this season’s stripes feels fresh and unique. Their width definitely feels new, the fact that the pieces are tailored yet loose feels new, but mostly I think it’s the way that the stripes clash. By that I mean they’re worn going in different directions. Horizontal, vertical, diagonal stripes meet and twist and repel each other on dresses, separates and suits. See Marc Jacobs and PPQ, Jonathan Saunders and Acne…

Top Row: Jonathan Saunders, Acne, PPQ

Bottom Row: Marc Jacobs, Marc Jacobs, Jonathan Saunders

Images via Vogue.co.uk

Here’s my take on it in this month’s Metro Herald column

At the first spring/summer fashion preview I attended last autumn, a single trend got me immediately; bold, brilliant, black and white stripes.  Inches wide and perfectly defined these stripes are inspired by Marc Jacobs’ bold, multi-directional black and white pieces, PPQ’s nautical inspired, off the shoulder dress, and the way Acne and Jonathan Saunders mixed perfect banded tops with plain white trousers. Graphic, monochromatic stripes are here in a big way for SS’13.

Not only are they unique and current, these stripes are definite and dramatic; not pretty, not fine and definitely not subtle. Too fine and from a distance your stripes merge into a dirty shade of grey, but you’re making a monochrome statement everywhere with this season’s take on stripes. Forget school-days, grunge-inspired faded stripes, these are well-defined lines to be worn with cool confidence, not scuffed-up Doc Martens.

Don’t believe that stripes aren’t flattering either; loose fitting dresses, separates and jackets, skim off shoulders and hips. These stripes don’t cling to your shape they merely highlight your angles. They’re easier to wear than you think; team vertical striped trousers with horizontal striped tops, and plain white or black outerwear. Mix up your stripes with accessories in neutral leather, bright patents, and top off the look with luscious red lips.

A key way that stripes were worn on the catwalk was with a flash of flesh, at midriffs, ankles and scoop necklines. These Warehouse trousers (pictured €63) combine this season’s stripes with an ankle-grazing length – a glimpse of flesh makes the stripes less aggressive. This New Look thick stripe jumper (pictured €29.99) is a casual way to combine horizontal stripes with plain white trousers. The chicest way to rock bold spring summer stripes is to team this high waisted ASOS skirt (pictured £40) with 1940’s inspired make up. If you didn’t do your fashion homework, then you’ve got detention, and you’re doing lines.

Top Row: Topshop, New Look. Middle: Warehouse. Bottom: ASOS, Penney‘s/Primark

Inspired by… perhaps?

Yours,

Whisty Xx

River x Ri-Ri & other pieces

Hello All,

So with just a week to go till we can shop it, (online and in selected stores March 5th), the campaign images are out and the wait is nearly over for the Rihanna for River Island collection.
Here’s a sneak peek at each piece, in case you haven’t seen it yet. I also thought it was about time to post the rest of River Island’s SS’13 collection too!

First the Rihanna collection: Launched during London fashion week, the collection was very much River Island given a Risqué attitude, targeted at a young market who are in possession of a seriously toned body. There are cropped tops and shorts in their dozens with the collection, but there are definitely pieces similar to those we’ve seen at River Island in previous collections. The footwear for example, huge edgy platforms are the brand’s staple but seem to ring true with Rihanna’s personal style; Bra tops, varsity jackets, maxi dresses and hi waisted shorts, again all very River Island but also pieces similar to those we’ve seen Rihanna in.

I don’t think I’m in the right demographic to be buying from this collection, I’m holding out for the Georgia Hardinge collection in April.

Until then I’ll be shopping the rest of the collection, here’s a round up of what I saw at the previews and some is in store now:

Themes

Key Pieces:

Amazing, white lace jumpsuit

Elegant pink metallic Jaquard 60′s style coat

Bohemian style, beaded, tasselled cape

50′s inspired day dresses in thick cotton with oh-so-now 2-inch-wide stripes

Accessories:

Mix kahki green, jumpsuits and rose-print = This perfect spring/summer staple:

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Kurt Geiger SS’13 Collection

Hey All,

I hope you’re well.

I was lucky enough to visit the Kurt Geiger design rooms at the company headquarters to view the 2013 Spring/Summer collection. I was a little apprehensive… was it going to be like a high-heel massacre, discarded soles, frayed laces, broken stilettos and thrown away designs everywhere? “I’d definitely have worn those” ready to burst from my lips, I went in…

Of course it wasn’t like that, it was actually better than I could have imagined. Huge glass windows, designs being thought up by designers sitting at Mac, inspiration boards, sketches, swatches and photographs covering every table… and you know the odd pair of shoes…

Absolute Favourites

Stand Outs

Accessories

Crazy Ass Heels…

Neon, Platforms, Baroque, Studs…

Matchy Matchy Match Matchy etc etc…

Leopard Print Courts, Ankle-Strap Heels & Clutch Bag

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Louis Vuitton Icon Collection 2013-14 & Pre Fall Round Up

Hello All,

Here are a few of my favourite pieces from the Louis Vuitton AW13/14 Icons collection. The Icon Collection features the timeless LV designs; always a part of the standard collection and reinterpreted each season with current trends.

The Sheepskin Balmaccan Coat

The LV Plaid Karakoram Cape

Shoes and Boots

The Leather Clutch

The Noé Bag

First commissioned in 1932 to carry 5 Champagne bottles… you don’t say… (4 the right way up and one upside down in the middle) the Noé bag this season comes in vibrant colours from orange and blue to cerise to purple two-tone. It also comes in different sizes and strap lengths, the longer strap makes a cross-body bag and a more youthful vibrant feel. Stunning,

Pre Fall 2013

“Lace is More”

The collection is a mix of 19th century aristocrat, 60′s miss and

recalls the understated elegance of Jeanne Moreau in Truffaut’s film, “The Bride Wore Black”

(images via Google)

Jaquard, velvet, tweed and lace, lace, lace all give texture beyond the staple embossed LV monogram; only on the Speedy Cube bag was the company logo really visible and even these were given a twist with thick luxurious carpeting embroidery.

Thick velvet bow details, and minuscule blue and black sequins gave softness and charm to elegant silhouettes, while frock coats, mini skirts and shift dresses shirt suits were staple pieces that gave the dramatic collection a sweet edge.

Click the short videos to watch the collection on a carousel…

Yours,

Whisty Xx

January 2013 Metro Fashion Blogger Column

Hello dear readers,

Here’s this month’s Metro Herald Fashion Column

Less about trends, more about maintaining interest in a tired winter wardrobe; as much as well all wear black, it’s not so tricky to add a splash of colour…

Wake up your Wardrobe

I don’t know about you but I think starting a new year in a month like January is a terrible idea. We’re supposed to feel refreshed, revitalised and ready for a new start. In reality we’re exhausted, have the ultimate holiday hangover and all we want to do is stay under the duvet ‘til March…

…March, now that’s a good month to start a new year, the next trend season is Spring/Summer after all.

Except I can’t bring myself to think about new trends yet, I’m happy in my lamb’s wool jumper and riding boots keeping warm. So instead of buying all new pieces, the next two months can be spent spicing up the ones we already have. By taking inspiration from this season’s trends and adding a transitional twist we can brighten up our wardrobe, and hopefully our winter-blues too.

Georgia Hardinge, (available at wolfandbadger.com) and the much-lauded Mary Katrantzou, are modern-day geo print pioneers. Bring a little Art Deco-inspired print into your pre-spring collection; avoid summery, pastel, floral designs and opt for bold blues and vibrant Oranges. This Biba top (pictured £69) available at Houseoffraser.com will work wonders on your all-black winter wardrobe.

Cobalt is a strong colour trend this season, Lanvin’s plain shift dress and Céline’s oversize cocoon coat made true-blue statements on the catwalks. Tame the trend with this Chupi gold ring (pictured €97/£81) available at the Loft Market.

If you’re over this season’s trends and just want to invest in something chic and classic to brighten up your wardrobe then this purple leather Cambridge Satchel Co. bag (pictured €145/£110) available at Harvey Nichols, Dundrum will see you through all seasons. Adding splashes of colour to our winter staples are a great way of preventing ourselves from getting too comfy in our winter warmerland.

Yours,

Whisty Xx