The new spring/summer 2014 show from London fashion house Orla Kiely is definitely getting me. It's one part Suzy Bishop from Moonrise Kingdom, one part Anna Karina, and one part outdoor sock hop. I always appreciate the retro-inspired, feminine details that she puts into all her pieces along with her signature patterns. Clothing aside, I also love the styling of the set which is reminiscent of a natural history museum diorama. Looks like it's time to buy a beret and some pointelle knee socks for my next safari. See more from Orla Kiely here.
London-based artist Paul X. Johnson definitely has a way with the ladies - painting them, that is. He uses a beautiful muted color palette to set the tone for his moody raven-haired vamps, who always seem to have something on their mind. Whatever that may be, they look good doing it, and his restrained technique with the brush really brings them to life. I would kill to have a portrait done in his style! After I get my eyebrows done of course. See more from Paul here.
the lastest runway show by new york based designer mara hoffman has me adding things to my fantasy wishlists left and right. hoffman, of the ubiquitous tribal-patterned bikinis that seemed to be everywhere last summer, is not afraid of a little color (hello neon pink) and a lot of pattern (hello again, psychedelic peacock print). i enjoyed the whole collection, filled with party sweaters, party dresses, and party pants for any girl who doesn't mind a little attention. see more from her here.
today i'm swooning over the pre-summer 2013 collection from alice by temperley, and while like many she is embracing the trend toward geos and native-inspired patterns, the pieces all still feel very feminine and flirty - the temperley signature! i'll take one of each. learn more about the brand here.
i love a good fashion exhibit - and there's a fantastic one out now, schiaparelli and prada: impossible conversations - so i'm a little miffed that i missed the opening at the met by mere days. the exhibit explores the similarities between the two iconic italian designers elsa schiaparelli and miuccia prada, despite their multi-generational gap, the former having worked in the 20s and 30s and the latter working from the 80s to the present. the exhibit is broken out into seven themed galleries, ranging from "the surreal body" to "naif chic," but all explore the way the women tackle similar concepts through different approaches to fashion. paired with each gallery is a baz luhrmann film featuring an "impossible conversation" between prada and an imaginary schiaparelli about the topic at hand. i was already a huge fan of both designers, and the clever way the museum has arranged their bodies of work just makes me appreciate them all the more. and hey, now i have an excuse to return to ny this summer!see more here.
alba prat is a spanish fashion designer whose pieces from her recent "neon cold war" lookbook have really caught my eye. i love the workwear aesthetic on its own, but it's always nice to see something old updated with a little something new. those shoes with the neon piecing are to die for! learn more here.
i am oohing and aahing over the latest autumn/winter line by australian designer kate sylvester, inspired by the cult fim secretary. the collection is elegant while still being quirky, and despite the slightly risque origins each piece still feels completely wearable. minus the restraints. see more here.
with the pastel trend dominating the spring season in fashion, it's only natural that the color would seep off the clothing and onto the models themselves. the feature in this week's t magazine from the new york times shows just that - beautiful, even, hair color in cotton candy hues by master stylist orlando pita. if it weren't for the upkeep, i'd already have that lavender do. photographs by richard burbridge.
this isn't totally new, but i've just come across the fabulous winter 2011 campaign for new zealand apparel brand twenty seven names. i was already a fan of their schoolgirl style, but i think this is a really clever, straightforward way to showcase their patterns - particularly that stripe which i am lusting after. photographed by guy coombes.
i'm really loving the pre-fall line that jonathan saunders showed this week, with its shades of turqs, oranges, yellows, grays and maroons. i'm a big fan of the retro interiors-inspired patterns and '60s schoolgirl silhouettes. and that orange dress? to die for. see more from the designer here.
if you were like me today, you may have spent the early part of your morning elbowing throngs of wild-eyed women who had clearly beaten you to the caffeine by at least five or six hours. the reason? missoni's collaboration with target launched today, featuring over 400 products in the brand's signature patterns and colors. what i had seen online, and what i caught glimpses of flying through the air in the store, looked lovely, and i was even able to *politely* nab a few nice things for myself (like the dress and heels above). the less cool part? the people who frantically snatched everything up this morning just so they could sell it for tenfold on ebay.
when i saw the new lanvin fall 2011 campaign video, a huge smile spread across my face. beautiful caped girls, be-hatted boys, and a funky beat by pitbull? thank you lanvin, and especially you adorable alber elbaz, for not taking fashion so seriously. check out the collection here.
