Peek a Boo (Part 2)

Following on from this post about underwear as an outfit, I stumbled across this editorial from Vogue Russia (June 2008) that sums up such a mood perfectly:

It's strange how minimal the clothes are but it still seems to highly styled. Shot by KT Auleta and featuring Brazilian model Aline Weber it's one of the best examples I've seen of the underwear outerwear trend. The natural lighting, minimal make up and outdoor setting makes what could have been a stereotypical stunning model in lacy underwear suit become something new and makes the trend seem alot more wearable. The first shot of the high waisted knickers with lace tights is a perfect example of how easily this trend could be adapted; thrown up on a beaten up old t-shirt on top of that and it becomes an outfit.

A moment of reflection

With New York fashion week just around the corner, and everyone in the mood for some Spring/Summer looks, I found myself looking back to the fall season. In what was a disappointing season for both runway shows and ad campaigns - in particular Dior not even having a mainline ad campaigns this season - my favourite ad campaign came from an unlikely source; Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti:







Shot by Alasdair Mclellan and styled by Vanessa Reid it was the most beautiful and simple campaign of the season. The double page lay out; with emphasis on the clothes on one hand and emphasis on the composition of the photograph on the other. It was a perfect balance between trying to sell clothes in such a difficult time for designers, but in a subtle way. This campaign made me do a double take when I saw it in print, and that can't be said for many campaigns this season. It's so understated and charming that it becomes such a memorable campaign for all the right reasons.

An Icon Returns

I've never been hugely nostalgic for the supers. I was born in the era of heroin chic, so it's with curiosity I look at the newest work of Linda, Claudia & Naomi but I don't long for the era of the glamazon. There's only one past model who I truly wish I could have appreciated her heyday.

Kristen McMenamy is truly one of a kind. At 42 years old she stars in the current Lanvin campaign, as well as producing the most memorable Vogue Italia cover of the year.

She's married to photographer Miles Aldridge and has worked with everyone from Helmut Newton to Richard Avedon. After making a brief runway appearance for Givenchy in Fall 2008, she has remained relatively quiet for a long time. But, she has made two triumphant returns in the shape of two Vogue Italia editorials. The newest one appears in the September issue photographed by Peter Lindbergh:

Really, do these pictures need any kind of description?

scanned by diciassette @ thefashionspot.

Jil Sander x Uniqlo = The Perfect Winter Coat

1st October. That's the date for the most anticipated high street/designer collaboration of the year finally drops. I have long been a fan of Jil Sander, after leaving her own label in 2004 it seemed that she may not return to fashion. But she has returned with a new collection in collaboration with Uniqlo and with price points starting at £14.99 and ending at £99.99 this, for once is an affordable range.
There is so far only preview images of the range, but this coat is an absolute stand out:


It's the type of coat you see in a magazine season after season it's usually by Calvin Klein or a Dior Homme, but finally an well made cheaper alternative comes along. I'm going to be first in line on October 1st at the Oxford St store when the line finally hits the stores. Update on my progress there to follow.

all images from thefashionspot

Where the ELLE have I been?

I can't remember ever picking up a copy of Elle US. I subscribe to Elle UK, and have done since I was 14, not because I particularly enjoy the magazine but it's more a family tradition of an Elle magazine subscription every Christmas.
Usually I simply skim over Elle US, with cover stars such as Miley Cyrus & Victoria Beckham I admit to judging this magazine by it's cover. Like Pop before I judged it a little too harshly, because the September issue of Elle is fantastic, coming in at just under 490 pages and with six editorials including a Karlie Kloss/Marc Jacobs feature, what more could you need from a September issue?

I'm just going to skip over the cover choice (Jennifer Aniston), ensuing interview (I'm not lonely honest!) and photoshoot (black&white, vaguely provocative) and get right down to the editorials. Firstly, there was a Camilla Bidault-Waddington styled shoot. 'Age Of Englightenment' featured the perennially underrated Elsa Sylvan.




The editorial had such a dream like state, like Elsa had nothing better to but to slink around in the forest dressed in beautifully delicate clothes. It makes it feel so organic, with her make up free face and unstyled hair it leaves you free to focus on just how intricate and interesting the clothes are. I mean seeing this architectural shoulder dress from Dolce & Gabbana lying rumpled on a bed; out if it's usual runway setting, and how it's usually styled makes it look positively soft and femine:



Elle US also continued with a twenties inspired editorial shot by Richard Bush. 'Away We Go' struck me as such a simple concept but the styling and the model once again made it what it was.


I love how this editorial transports you back to an age where you said goodbye to your darling at the train station, and wore cloche hats. We now live in an age where a Facebook message is the closest you get to such drama now, but somehow these clothes seem so appealing. They're practical: it'll definitely keep you warm in the autumn, the heels aren't too high and yes, it could still be worn to the office. But somehow this editorial just isn't boring. Far from it:

all images from thefashionspot.

Pop vs Love: Round 1

I have never been a fan of Pop magazine, something about it was just too whimsical, and throw away. The random d-list celebrities that were featured never appealed to me, even if they were being used 'ironically'. So when, the new cover of Pop dropped, and featured child star blogger Tavi Williams I thought my avoidance of Pop would continue.

I continued to check The Fashion Spot to see what the new Pop might be like, mainly as I was intrigued at how Dasha Zhukova would begin her new approach at Pop magazine. Being a fan of her clothing label, Kova&T I wasn't expecting good things from her. But not necessarily a great, memorable issue of Pop that sets itself apart from other magazines. However, I was wrong. So wrong.



The first editorial is Kinga by Viviane Sassen a wonderful photographer who has worked with Vogue Nippon and i-d Magazine. The surrealist mood created in this editorial is such a wonderful change from the Guy Bourdin 70's inspired look that every single magazine seems to be shooting month after month. Kinga looks natural, young and playful. It doesn't look forced or too styled in spite of the intricate clothes by Jil Sander, Yohji Yamamoto & Hussein Chalayan.

However, what really struck me most about Pop was it's sheer variety. Next to an interview with Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female head of state is a photoshoot with current rising model Constance Jablonski.

Such an editorial isn't an uncommon theme; beautiful girl in a garden, wearing very little. But instead of using the go-to-models for shoots like this, such as Anja, Natasha or Lara a new girl gets given the chance to shine. Oh, and I love the dark lighting to this shoot, making it look like it was shot on a stormy day somewhere.

However, the new Pop still found time for two old favourites; Lily Cole & Jessica Stam. Shot by Paolo Roversi, the eternally youthful faces of both Lily&Stam became older women dressed in fabulous clothes in Spent!



Both models who came to fame in the doll face era of modelling, are utterly convincing, love this shot of Lily with her rolled down taupe coloured socks with her feet just resting in her comfortable slippers.



Love on the other hand features such bastions of style as Pixie Geldof, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Momsen and The Jonas Brothers. I'm a teenager, and I don't even care about these 'teen stars'. This, of course is a twelve year old's dream, which was maybe the point of Love, to catch a brand new audience's attention by using their favourite stars, and slowly introducing them to the Love brand of fashion. Which is smart thinking. But for now, I'll stick with Pop.

Peek a Boo

(Apologies for the terrible headline that belongs in The Sun)

All girls obsess over their underwear, so it seems like a logical trend that having a bra poking out from underneath a sheer top would become a trend. Admittidely it's not for everyone, but if done right I think it can look very cute and flirty. One of the best red carpet examples I've seen so far is on January Jones:

I'm sure Betty Draper wouldn't approve, but by keeping the look all one colour, and having details on the pocket, it makes what can be a very bold look alot more subtle and intriguing.

On the runway, the looks have varied from Balenciaga having a flash of lace underneath a power suit:
Repressed romance at Miu Miu:
But it was Givenchy that lead the way with using a bra as a top trend, which has had a huge influence on the editorial scene:

(images from thefahionspot. taken from; W September 2009, Vogue Espana 2009, i-D Pre Fall 2009, Vogue UK September 2009 & Elle September 2009)