November Metro Fashion Column: Maximise your Midi-Skirt

Above Average… Maximise your Midi-Length

Hello all,

The midi-length skirt trend often eludes me. I think it’s partly to do with my trouble deciding how to wear it. This AW’13 I was determined to get to grips with it and bought two midi-length skirts; a fitted one in grey jersey and a full, voluminous one in soft black leather.

My initial attempts at styling the full midi skirt had me looking like a lumpy, frumpy granny; missing only a knitting bag and a set of rollers. After a bit of trial and error, however, I established what actually works – for me at least. Balancing out the volume of fabric below the waist was the key. A full midi skirt needs a loose yet tailored blouse, in a pale, silky (not shiny) fabric. Best worn with sleeves rolled up and top button undone, just to show a bit of skin. Topshop.com has this polka dot print shirt (pictured £38.00), which is a great alternative to the Mulberry heart print phenomenon. Heels are a must too, unless you’re lucky enough to be over 5’11” that is; flats found me channelling Little Bo Peep or one of those extras in Grease with no date at the prom.

Getting the jersey tube skirt to look OK on me took a bit more practise; I was hoping for Molly Ringwald circa The Breakfast Club style…

Though substantially less than the full midi skirt, the tube skirt still has a lot of fabric, and worn with long tops I looked strange and misshapen. Shoulders/lower arms/décolletage, and if you’re 17 (or Nicole Scherzinger) midriffs, need to be flaunted with the midi-length tube skirt. Inspired by Louis Vuitton AW’13, I chose this this lace camisole by Zara (pictured €69.95) and wore it tucked in; with hair up it actually looked quite dressy.

By happy chance I also discovered that a fitted cashmere polo neck looks good with both skirts too. Pushing the sleeves of this Bottega Veneta (pictured £728.90 farfetch.com) up past my elbows, I’d be happy to say the midi is all mine this season.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

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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

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

A Style Post: Sheer Sunshine

Hello All,

Sunshine, Joy. Official ‘Summertime’, Joy. Warm bright evenings, Joy.

I’m so excited at the moment. The massive amounts of extra daylight and beautiful sunshine we’ve been having has made me happy. Being able to do things that don’t involve and NOT WEAR TIGHTS is too good. I’m kinda running myself to the max at the moment, freelance deadlines and blog style posts, as well as trying to run an on-line vintage business on ASOS and setting up my own site… But I love it, being busy is great! Makes you feel alive.

Dress, Belt & Bag ORVintage

Jacket, Topshop

Boots, Korky’s

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A Style Post: Autumn Sun… and a thank you.

Hi All,

‘Street Style’ photographs are one of the most significant elements of fashion and style blogs. They’re my favourite part of other writers’ blogs and style posts are the most fun and the most stressful part of my own blog.

It’s a conversation that I often have with other personal-style bloggers; the awkwardness of being out in the street with a DSLR stuck on a tripod, you standing awkwardly in front of it holding your remote shutter release. All the time praying no-one brings you any attention/stops and stares/runs off with your camera. (I for one wouldn’t have a hope of chasing anyone in the outfits I choose to photograph myself in).

It really isn’t very fun and I have to be in an incredibly confident mood to wander about taking photographs of me. I know bloggers who have (seemingly adoring) boyfriends, willing to snap away to their heart’s content (pun intended), which I’m sure makes doing style posts that much easier.

But what it boils down to for me is being lucky enough to have some very patient and generous pals, happy prepared to point a camera at me and snap away. Often in the middle of a busy street, while I’m shouting instructions at them.

I guess I just wanted to say thanks, they know who they are; this blog really would be nothing without them…

Love you guys… Xxx

Blimey, you can tell it’s beginning to feel festive around here can’t you?

Dress & Biker Jacket, Topshop.com

Bag, Belt & Necklace, ORVintage

Tights, Penney’s / Primark

Shoes, KG Kurt Geiger

Yours,

Whisty, Xx

Props to Fafs for these photos.

Mary Katrantzou Topshop S/S’2012

Dear Lord,

Dear Santa more like…

I’m a pretty big fan of Mary Katrantzou. (Here and Here). Image via

According to Elleuk.com, a ‘leaked’ photograph of a dress from the Mary Katrantzou for Topshop S/S’12 collection has appeared on-line this morning. Though, according to Elle.com it was Mary Katrantzou herself who tweeted the image.

Interestingly enough, Harper’s Bazaar have a clearer image of the same dress

So leaked or otherwise, who cares, you don’t need hype for this collection people.

So thank you Mary Katrantzou (or whoever it was) for sharing. And yes we’re all smitten and lusting.

Yours,

Whisty Xx