Musings on Muse # 22

Muse is a magazine I often admire but rarely buy. Firstly, it's £12 and it's not a very consistent publication. It usually has three different covers - generally featuring models, until it shot the weird Lindsay Lohan as Jesus story. But the new issue is amazing.

Perfect Covers

It's a battle of the bombshells with Gisele, Isabeli and Angela. I love the variations in the cover, how sensual Gisele's is and the nice touch of graphic art on Angela's cover. Styling seems to give way to beautiful models in simple but effective poses. These are always my favourite type of covers.

The inside content offers a mix of new faces, rising stars and established supermodels. Ruby Aldridge makes one of her first major publication editorial appearance:

Shot by Sebastian Kim I like how moody and stormy the editorial is compared to the light florals on the cover. I can't wait to see the rest of this shoot.

The Rising Star: Eniko

Eniko is absolutely everywhere at the moment, every new magazine I pick up she's there; on the cover of V, inside V and in the new publication Gentlewoman. I must say I prefer these black and white and simple editorials compared to her usual bombshell mode. She has such an interesting face that is full of expression that she doesn't need to be a bombshell at all times. Her work in this style is some of my favourite. It would be such a shame if Eniko is relegated to Victoria's Secret style modelling, as she is so much more than that.

The Uber Models:


The issue seems like a title weight prize between three of the best models of our generation, it's impossible to pick a favourite as all of their editorials are as strong as each others. With Gisele acting as Brigitte Bardot, Isabeli roaming along the beach and Angela as a hippie all soft lighting and transparent florals. I don't know how I'm going to pick a favourite!

Pringle of Scotland

I can't believe I overlooked this collection. It was only after reading an interview with Panos Yiapanis I discovered he had styled the fall collection, so of course I was straight to style.com to check out the collection.
Pringle has had somewhat of a merry-go-round history with designers at the house, but the brand's creative director is now Claire Waight Keller (she joined the brand in 2006, after stints at Tom Ford's Gucci and Calvin Klein womenswear). Her fall collection was just magical, with baggy wader style trousers, amazingly cut leather skirts and asymmetric coats. It surely stands as one of London's stand out collections, and certainly one to watch.



It reminds me in places of Phi, which is a label I really miss. But I just adore this tough look but with beautifully constructed pieces (the leather skirt in particular is a real stand out).

Oh, and for one of the most interesting fashion interviews I've read for a very long time, take a peek at this interview with show stylist Panos Yiapanis, it may be one of the most sobering reads I've read for awhile.
Stylist to Courtney Love and frequent collaborator with my beloved Rick Owns he's one of the most interesting but under-appreciated stylists in the industry, and his quote regarding stylists are more famous now for their Fashion Week looks than their work is becoming a sad truth.

Resort Round Up

I feel like the resort collections are the forgotten gem, the mid-season slump is a little better and September and the Fall collections seems just a little closer. The collections never seem to get enough editorial coverage, but as is the case with Alexander Wang I often prefer his Resort and Pre-Fall collections to main line.

Anyway, here's some stand out looks I found looking through the collections.

Alexander Wang


I love the updated Coco duffle bag, and I wish Alexander did tailoring more because I love the proportions of both these looks. It's much stronger than most of his Fall 10 collection.

Bottega Veneta


Rag & Bone


I love Rag & Bone's clothes, and especially the styling. The layering is impeccable and so is the mix of fabrics, and it's always their fall collections I enjoy the most. Fresh from winning the CFDA award for menswear the duo are certainly on the rise.

Marc by Marc Jacobs


The collection is inspired by 'a dancers wardrobe' which translates to no fuss basics and cute party dresses. I love the simplicity of this collection, how easy it would be to recreate on a smaller budget. In my mind this is the quintessential Marc by Marc Jacobs collection and it's well worth checking out the whole collection.

Stella McCartney




How fun is this!? It's just so...charming. These clothes could get lost on a white studio background but set in what appears to be a garden party these clothes comes to life. It's how I imagine they would be worn. I love the stunning blue palette that is used throughout, especially when you combine them all together:

Dreaming of Dries

Now that I'm on my summer break, I find myself browsing through style.com alot more. I love going to my favourite designers and looking back through the collections. Dries Van Noten is a designer I adore, and the first place I got a designer bargain (metallic gold heels from S/S 08 for £40!). The clashing of prints and fabrics is always a look I'd like to achieve, and the fashion geek in me really enjoys seeing a designers progression from early collection. Which is why Dries Van Noten S/S 04 stood out to me so much...



Dries is a brand I have always associated with fabulous prints and great styling, so it was interesting to me to see such a pared down collection - but I love the silky and simple dresses. Inspite of the collection being six years old it still seems so relevant now.

One of my favourite Dries collection remains S/S 08 because it seems so quintessentially Dries.



And my main source of inspiration for fall remains the laid back vibe from Dries Fall 10



I just can't get enough of the wind swept hairstyle, full skirt silhouette and casual relaxed tailoring and the famous Dries print still appears here and there. I'm sure I'll be blogging about this collection alot in the lead up to Fall but it's the perfect fall collection.