BLOG BLESS: Elle's Top Model mag!

I devoured these when I was a teenager in Greece! Discovered at one of my local kiosks while looking for any fashion mag I could get my hands on, I remember them being just perfect, mainly because - as their title ever so vaguely suggests - they were all about models, supermodels, The Supers. Who they were, where they were from, how they were discovered (because they were all, somehow, 'discovered'!), what they wore, who they shot for; every last single detail. I thought I had more of them but during a recent trip back home I only found these three although frankly, If I was to just choose three that told me and you all we needed to know about those years, I'd go with Linda, Christy and Karen. Please, bring them back Elle!

I HEART: Here comes the Whistles sun!

My ever-increasing, never-ending, on-the-right-side-of-obsessed love for Whistles is, I think by now, pretty well documented and based not merely on the fact they once made a jumper that featured a dog! Suffice it to say that this alone would get any other label a big nod of approval from me. Whistles - and I'm sure we can now stop specifying the moment Ms Shepherdson took over - does so much more and so incredibly well it often makes me wonder, why doesn't everyone else? The answer, of course, lies in the simple fact that no other label has a superteam like theirs, one that through experience (you can't beat that) and a focused, clear and easily identifiable purpose has outgrown the need to show off or follow each silly trend that comes around. How they can therefore produce collections that feel right for the moment but have a lifespan longer than a dash to the supermarket is a masterclass in design, marketing and understanding who your customer is and what it is that they want from you.

Being their own customer too also helps the team, which is why when I walked into the label's SS11 press day event, a couple of weeks ago, I marvelled at how good everyone looked! Jane Shepherdson (CEO), Jo Farrelly (Marketing Director) and Ellie Wilson (Press Officer) in particular with a great Seventies look in a pair of leather trimmed wide leg trousers that should hit stores quite soon. On a sunny but freezing cold morning, the colour palette of the SS11 collection acted not only as the best de-puffing, brightening eye cream around, but as an appetizing amuse-bouche (is there a more pretentious food-related word?) for spring and summer. Can winter be over already?

This bag is the first thing I saw when I walked in and I might as well note here that, without exaggerating, this is the bag I've been looking for in a while! The label's own accessories are particularly strong this season. Oh yes, the gorgeous pleated dress hanging it behind it might have something to do with how much I fell in love with it too! More bags and accessories to follow below.

Is your heart - because your mind is probably telling you otherwise - set on getting at least one brightly coloured lace dress for Spring-Summer, after the month of Fashion Weeks we just had? If so, go to Whistles where the tones of these dresses, also in a lovely off-white, are actually flattering but cool enough to pull off the Chris Kane/Princess Margaret look with aplomb.

Brightly coloured, lace-up, pointed espadrilles. I think I've found the shoe of the summer.

Spots replace stripes as the thing to wear next summer.

It's all about the heart, I told you so, but with Whistles I have a feeling your mind will follow suit.

I HEART: Sequins and Feathers and DKNY.

Now, I'm what you might call a drowning-in-the-holiday-spirit kind of person, the type that refuses to utter the C-word (C to the H to the R...) until November 1st is upon us and gets puzzled by all the pumpkins that gather around our supermarkets in October - what on Earth could they be there for? - but will still accept a warmed up slice of pumpkin pie gladly. It is therefore easy for you to imagine my glee and joy when I receive "C******** in July!", "What to buy your loved ones" and "It's the Holiday season!" emails from other-than-that lovely PRs who I am sure have something called 'a job' to do. Mine does not involve shooting product pages and putting together shopping guides so I avoid them.

Naturally then this morning, I went to DKNY's Holiday press day! Not because I love waking up earlier than normal, venturing out in the freezing cold for a slice of delicious quiche Lorraine and a cappuccino but because DKNY is the kind of place that, Holidays or UnHolidays, I know I'll find key items that I'll like. A great coat with a sporty, in the American sense, cut, cool boots and lately, the kind of little skirt that you can wear with a big jumper - or sweater - and/or a silky little button-down for evening. I was not disappointed and yes, the quiche was lovely too!

I guess I'll have to succumb to the spirit momentarily, like the Scrooge that I am so, here is what caught my eye and what to me means Winter Holiday:

Sequins and quilted leather...

A hairy big hat (I'm in love with, by the way!)

Feathers on a skirt and a scarf you won't leave the house with...

Layers and chains and a woolly or felt hat to keep your head warm and the brain going...

And finally, boots that go with everything you own...

So, there! Happy Holidays. Now, forget I ever said that and tell me exactly where did the summer go?

DKNY's new Holiday collection hit the store this morning!

L(ove)FW SS11: Things that made me smile...

Part 2 -

Jim Goldstein's presence, everywhere! Here's a close-up on his Galliano jacket...

The hats at Margaret Howell and every editor on the front row holding on to their cup of coffee...

The natural ease in everything Margaret Howell touches...

The summery floral print that jumps up and says, 'wear me!' at L'Agence...

And stripes! You gotta have stripes with florals...

The entire Emilio de la Morena show and especially the little cutout details at the back...

And the shoes! Oh, the shoes. Thank you, Charlotte Olympia....

The hair at Charles Anastase that remind me of a girl called Valentine...

The backdrop at Matthew Williamson even though we had to drive to Battersea Power Station for it...

Blurry, sure, but Valentine's bright red shoes manage to still shine through, no?

The precision in the cut and vision in J. JS Lee's collection and the fun window at her NewGen shed...

The popcorn at Orla Kiely's presentation that I then spilled all over the backseat of our Merc...

All images by myself.

L(ove)FW SS11: Things that made me smile...

Part 1 -

Acne's choice of venue for their show, Princess Margaret's apartment in Kensington Palace...

And the band that entertained us outside...

Mr Galliano at the Fashion Fringe show...

The interior of Antonio Berardi's venue and observing the model walk-through before the show with Antonio, Sophia Neophitou and Gucci Westman alongside Sasha in a moment of perfect serendipity...

Mama Dellal and Charlotte together at Emilio de la Morena...

The backstage tent for Erdem at Bedford Square Gardens...

And the tent where the sublime show took place...

The bags by The Fantastic Ms Hillier for the Gorgeous Mr Holland...

and there's so much more...

L(ove)FW SS11: Shiny and new!

With London Fashion Week over and done with, and the chatter from Milan over the brilliance that was Prada and Jil Sander beginning to fade in the eve of Paris Fashion Week, I think it's a good time as any to reflect on what caught my eye over the who-you're-calling-crazy five days of LFW. Like a magpie, I was drawn to shiny, sparkly, gorgeous little things to collect and treasure and two jewellery labels in particular stood out for me.

Alex Monroe I was, and I imagine you already are, familiar with so it was lovely to walk through the doors of the Exhibition at Somerset House and see their pretty, countryside picnic stand right in front of me. Dangle delicate chains of charms over a tall glass or spread them on a pretty blue spot print plate and I will hover above like a hungry bee and admire it all, it's that simple! But Alex Monroe's collections always deserve a closer look, to marvel at the detail of the charms while desperately trying to figure out how it can all be yours. Bees, bicycles and daisies for Spring? Yes, please.

Cabinet I was not familiar with but that's because I live in a land deep inside my own head and miss out on a lot of good things happening in this outside world. It didn't take long to get me hovering again, this time above their beautiful bejewelled and be-feathered antique collars. Designed by Gemma Critchley and Zara Braganca, this is the label's third collection and it's certainly one of my favourite personal discoveries of LFW.

All images by myself.