Day One and Two of NYFW

Fashion month is finally here and it kicked off on Thursday in New York city. The fashion crowd were out in full force and with Yeezy Season 3 and shows like Jason Wu and Adam Selman taking place, the first couple of days set the bar for a captivating week. Here are some of the highlights:

Thursday saw the bizarre presentation of Yeezy's third season at Madison Square Gardens, the city's largest stage. Displaying his latest collections, he also used the event as an opportunity to give the audience a first listen to his album 'Life of Pablo'. Elsewhere, up-and-coming model Ruth Bell walked for Jason Wu. Showing that co-coordinating your accessories with your separates were Tanya Taylor with her retro floral gloves and Jason Wu's check bags. Experimenting with bold kohls, Adam Selman's models showed imperfect eyeliner is the way to go this season as Zimmermann's heavy lace and embellishments had aura of the romantic.

Top Ten Trends for Autumn/Winter 2015

Although the summer weather is only just approaching, for the fashion world, Autumn/Winter is well under way. Here is your mini guide to the trends you'll see this coming Autmn/Winter 2015.

Fun Fur 

Last year, the faux fur coat was massive- expect it to make an even wilder comeback for AW15 as Louis Vuitton's yeti creations and Stella McCartney's leopard print prowled the catwalk. Thick, over-sized and effortlessly chic, update your winter coat with something more fashionably fuzzy.

Modern Layering

The conventional teaming of a cardigan and tee won't work this season as a new, more exciting layering rears it's head this season. Re-think your wardrobe, clash a bright teal polo neck with a camel coat, grab your favourite slip dress and pair it with a band t-shirt. Hermes and DKNY demonstrated this perfectly.

Victoriana Lace

Adding a touch of elegance this fall, many designers decided to emulate the grandeur of an era steeped in romantic clothing. High, ruffled collars, delicate lace and ankle-skimming skirts were all seen on the catwalks from Givenchy to Victoria Beckham.

70's Psychedelia 

Beginning in Spring/Summer 2015 with paisley prints, crochet tops, fabulous flairs and elasticated tops, the 70's trend seeps into fall with rich reds, fringed accessories and big hair- expect to see pieces by designers like Burberry, Anna Sui and Jonathon Saunders.

All About the 80's

Return to retro this AW15 with a high fashion selection of flamboyant, fearless and unforgiving creations. Miu Miu and Louis Vuitton adopted that same attitude of 'glam good times' with sparkling cocktail dresses and puffed shoulders.

Patchwork 

Complimenting the ever-popular 70's trend, patchworking comes into it's own this season, with the likes of Chloé, Valentino and Moschino all giving their take on patching things up.

Eastern Influence

Just like this year's Met Gala theme, we are looking to the East next season- from dragons on silk and unlimited gold, the oriental-inspired influences shone through with Tom Ford, Oscar de la Renta and Valentino all embracing the trend.

Winter Brights

Winter might be a little darker, but it needn't be duller as designers like Dior, Saint Laurent and Gucci demonstrated. Be bold with clashing hues and pops of primary colour this AW15!

The White Blouse

There really is something idyllic about the white blouse. On the surface, it's refined, simple and easily teamable. Yet look beyond that and you will see a classic top filled with endless charm. Dior, Chanel and Michael Kors all embraced the crisp white piece.

Wes Anderson 

Gucci embraced geek chic this season with Margot Tenenbaum, one of legendary director Wes Anderson's most prim characters. Berets, glasses, twee tweed and cute pussy bows all gave a delicate nod to the ultimate good girl.

Meet the Older Ladies Taking the Fashion World By Storm

As much as I admire the fashion industry and the young women who graft their way to the top of the modelling world, something saddens me about the shelf-life of women in the limelight. By the age of 50 they seem almost sidelined, as the media conveyor belt churns in a younger, fresher face for a worldwide campaign. 

What a welcoming relief I felt at the emergence of experience-laden, quirk-filled fashionistas, who are now taking the style world by storm, 65-year old Twiggy, who just bagged a contract for L'Oreal, at the forefront. 

Let's meet the campaign Queens who prove they've still got it: 

Joan Didion

Author, writer and essayist Joan Didion became the face of a Celiné campaign. The 80 year-old wore a simple black top with a statement necklace and sunglasses. A documentary is also planned on the life and works of Didion, told in her own words. 

Iris Apfel

Embodying all I imagine in a fashionista, Iris Apfel was picked to design and model her own range for MAC cosmetics in 2011 (at the age of 90). She definitely defies that patronising sentence "Too old for that". 

Catherine Deneuve

For Marc Jacobs' final campaign as creative director at Louis Vuitton, he decided to pick French actress Catherine Deneuve (71) to star alongside a number of women including model Gisele Bündchen- she seemed to outshine them all. 

Dolce & Gabbana's Three Ladies

Always keen to stick to their Italian roots, Dolce & Gabbana's latest campaign depicts elements of a Sicilian family- these three women with rich, embellished tiaras and bejewelled clutches are my favourite (This is my desktop background!)

                        Jacky O'Shaughnessy

American Apparel has attempted to provoke in a recent campaign which featured 62 year-old Jacky O'Shaughnessy, the face of their underwear line. In a lace bandeau bar and knickers, O'Shaughnessy was featured next to the quote "Sexy has no expiration date. Jacky in Floral Lace Lingerie."

Twiggy 

The world's most successful haircare company couldn't wait to sign up Twiggy, who has been a model since 1965. Thrilled to have become their ambassador, the company said of her: "What is there not to love about Twiggy - she has always inspired women to look and feel their best." 

L'Oreal Paris has also seen a boost in sales since having actress Helen Mirren (69) as the face of their brand, as they hope to base their ethos around ageing, as oppose to pushing the prevention of it. 

Source: The Telegraph. 

Irresistible Iridescence

From sweet wrapper clutches, to petrol-hued pumps, to intergalactic pencil skirts, the iridescent trend is shimmying its way into our wardrobes. Whether you want to add a touch of sparkle with a metallic accessory, or go all out with 3D croc-effect prints and sequin packed pieces, there are endless styling options.

Sequin crop top, Topshop // Pencil skirt, Boohoo // Metallic court shoe, ASOS // Croc phone case, Topshop// Gold scrunchie, Topshop// Two-tone leather clutch, Topshop // Rose gold watch, Olivia Burton

Faux Pas Christmas Wishlist

The festive season is well and truly here and it's time to write those letters to Santa!

Although I'm not overly excited when it comes to writing about reams of products I want for Christmas, there are a few pieces I'm coveting this season.

Pilgrim tee, Teds Draws// Milkshake clutch, New Look//Pom pom earrings, Vida Kush // Kick Push platforms, La Moda // Mint to be lipstick, Limecrime// Slip dress, Motel 



Ted's Draws is a small online boutique that I fell in love with a little while ago, with illustrated caricature tees seen on the likes of model Jourdan Dunn and singer Jessie Ware. I'm a massive fan of his Wednesday Addams top, £25 online. 

No girl can ever have too many clutches and New Look's recent batch of culinary inspired bags caught my eye, my favourite being this milkshake themed one. With a zip to the top of the piece and a metallic finish, it's hard to resist. Timberland's and their counterparts have been trickling onto the high street and my favourite boutique La Moda has these swaggerific platform boots. The thick sole and honey-toned hue make them the perfect shoe for a shortie like me.

As accessories go, I'm always slightly disappointed by how similar high street pieces look, however Vida Kush always gets me excited. These pom pom earrings in baby blue are a vintage-inspired nod to '90s chic. Perfect.

Green is my favourite colour, and there is nothing like a silky dress to accentuate the emerald shade. Motel Rocks has this vibrant, iridescent dress for just £40 in a silky, slip style, perfect when accessorising with chunky chains and cleated heels. For the ultimate in quirky make-up, Limecrime answers my prayers with their shade 'mint to be', loaded with pigment and long lasting, it really is my favourite beauty brand.

My Little Box Review November 2014

Investing in monthly packages seems a real rite of passage for the modern day beauty/fashion blogger, and I found myself in a slight conundrum as to whether I really wanted to invest my money in one. After a long search, I found myself adhering to the stereotype and signing up for a 'My Little Box', a monthly bundle filled with lifestyle, fashion and beauty products all with a French feel.

The Little Box may be au contraire, but the products you receive are trés chic. After last months impressive collaboration with American fashion designer and former princess Diane Von Furstenberg, this month's theme was My Little Cosy Box, apt for the chilly change in weather.

A My Little World magazine is included in each box, filled with interviews, lifestyle and fashion inspiration, beauty tutorials as well as pull-out recipes (French in nature, of course).

I look forward to the cute postcard-sized quotes that are often included with a debonair illustration, this months was all about time, and making the most of it.

Getting me all set for winter was Tsumori Chisato's small heated cushion, perfect as a little warmth in bed, or to heat the hands after a chilly afternoon outdoors. 

Aptly labeled with the phrase 'All you need is coffee', a tiny box encasing an espresso cup surprised me this month, along with beauty essentials I had been craving. For an intense smokey eye, Yves Rocher's deep cappuccino brown encapsulated the winter eye look. My Little Beauty volume and care mascara was also included, which (I was excited to see) came with an extra thick brush as well as Arcancil Paris' black eyeliner with waterproof features, perfect for battling that winter wind and rain. 

With beautiful packaging, and that magical French feel I know and love, My Little Box will never disappoint. 

Visit My Little Box here

Chanel Fronts Feminist Fashion for SS15

How many celebs need to join the feminist bandwagon before people start listening? 

A few more it seems... 

Photo credit: Lea Colombo (Dazed Digital)

After the welcome pleas of equality from English rose Emma Watson, who created the He for She campaign aimed at targeting men to support feminism, fashion juggernaut Karl Lagerfeld decided (very wisely) to use the Chanel catwalk as a soapbox for a display of equal rights during Paris Fashion Week. 

Photo credit: Vogue

Making history, Lagerfeld created a street protest on the runway, with his models holding signs such as 'Ladies First', 'Be Your Own Stylist' and 'History is Her Story' as well as 'He for She' in support of the equality campaign. 

Supermodel of the moment Cara Delevingne fronted the march armed with a megaphone as she exclaimed 'What do we want?' and 'When do we want it?' with her fellow models screaming 'NOW'. Other fellow femme supporters came in the form of Kendall Jenner, Edie Campbell, Joan Smalls, Edie Hadid and Georgia May Jagger. 

The collection itself was vibrancy personified, with excited, magnified florals in draped, oversized cuts. Outer prints clashed with spirited linings and models approached the runway in twos and threes as if out for brunch with friends. Classic tweed and tartan was made modern in two-pieces and the iconic double 'C' logo was subtly sprinkled among some of the pieces. 

The manly brogue was given a girly makeover with cut-outs , ankle straps and a gold theme with black caps.  

Photo credit: Lea Colombo (Dazed Digital)

Strong and striking, androgynous suits emanated the motif of a strong, independant woman as chic work attire became a fitting link with the feminist support of the show. 

Faux Pas Wishlist: Socially Questionable Items I Desperately Want

Grillz

I know what you are thinking. Bizarre mouth bling that makes your teeth look unattractive or even grimey? You may have thought grillz were firmly placed in the mouths of hip hop moguls, but their recent appearances on the red carpet have left me yearning for some. Some small, silver, as subtle-as-you-can-yet grillz perhaps?! I don't know maybe I'm mad but they are certainly faux pas. 

Shop grillz

Fashion Glasses

Remember when you went to school and always said to the speccy girl that you wish you had some cute frames like hers? No? Just me then. I love the way glasses (as well as sunglasses) work as an accessory and can really change your look. Tossing aside the ghastly 'geek' trend and opting for a cat-eye frame, fashion glasses could definitely be a thing and if they are, I'm totally behind it.

Shop glasses

Faux Septum Rings

My logic for faux piercing jewellery is pretty simple- its painless and in no way permanent. Before I decided to get any cartilage pierced, I purchased a number of ear cuffs and after loving the look I got several piercings. Wimpy Mc Wimperson over here was very much anticipating the pain of a septum ring incertion so a faux ring seemed like a much better option. Intricate and comfortable enough to wear all day, they are a sure fire way to change a look without permanently changing your face. 

Buy septum rings

Gold Henna

I adore henna, as a fickle person who has never really been into the idea of tattoos, it's been a go-to material to decorate my skin. Injecting a hint of metallic into a henna look is super fun and with likes of Beyonce covering herself in the stuff while she basks in the sun, who wouldn't want to wear it?! 

Buy gold-style henna 

Do you have a faux pas wishlist? 

Feminist Fashion

Feminism /fɛmɪnɪz(ə)m/

Definition: the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes. 

The basic idea that surrounds feminism is simple- that women are to be treated as intellectual and social equals to men. Whether you love or hate the word, no-one can deny the idea of feminism is logical and contrary to belief, it can be on-trend. 

For anyone wanting to bust out their inner feminist, I found some rather tongue-in-cheek pieces that send a subtle message of girl power so forget bra-burning and man-hating, it's all a myth- feminism is here and it's super chic. 

Mermaid Cushion // Picture in frame // Feminist Necklace // No More Page Three Canvas bag// Fries before Guys sweatshirt 

For anyone who loves a good quote, Etsy's dothandmade from Toronto provides a digital art visual for your femme-tastic home. Combining two of my favourite things, Look Human have a wonderful Mermaids for Equality cushion that prove you can be a glamorous sea nymph AND be feminist. 

No More Page Three is a cause close to my heart and just as the name suggests, it's a campaign against newspaper The Sun, hoping to prevent topless women from being on the front of the tabloid. If you aren't prepared to wear the bold lettering on a tee, why not opt for their chic illustrated tote bag, perfect for campaigning flyers, or perhaps just your purse. 

Nothing says feminism more than a statement necklace with the word in bold. Sugar and Vice Designs have an engraved pendant and the best part is that 25% of the money goes to charity Rape Crisis. For those who fancy a laugh, encapsulate the ever-growing harajuku trend with a cheeky 'fries before guys' sweatshirt. Not so much feminist, but it sure makes me hungry. 

My Favourite Online Stores at the Moment

There's a whole world of choice out there and thanks to the internet, you can pretty much buy anything you want from any country! For me, it is all about finding small stores or individuals who make unique pieces, items that were previously out of reach on the high street. Instagram has been the main channel that helped me find these stores, but a lot of them I found through Googling. It's definitely worth searching around if you are looking for something specific as you could support smaller designers and labels! 

Clothing

O Mighty

My favourite online clothing site of all time, O Mighty helps feed my '90s obsession. Their cheeky store is based in Singapore and often bases its print on current pop culture trends. From Justin Bieber mug shot socks, to Clueless sweatpants, Kim Kardashian cry-face phone cases to chicken nugget print skirts, everything is totally hilarious and totally worth the money. Celeb customers range from Miley Cyrus, Azealia Banks, Hayley Williams and Justine Skye. 

Visit the site here

Jade Clark 

An individual that I found through Instagram, I fell in love with Jade Clark's '90s inspired pieces, mixed with a 21st Century edge. Her pieces have a wonderful delicate appearance and are dominated by feathers and holograms. 

Visit the site here

Somewhere Nowhere

Somewhere Nowhere is a place I go when I'm in the money, or when there is a sale. Previously I detested the thought of wearing fluffy jumpers but this label has changed my mind completely. Mixing faux fur with sheer panelling, this brand is not for the shy and retiring! 

Visit the site here

Shoes

Cleated heels are to me, the must have wardrobe accessory and I spent a good month going between these two sites trying to decide which pair of shoes I wanted. 

My 1st Wish

With an array of flats, boots, heels, sandals and wedges, there is a little too much choice at My 1st Wish. I love unusual pieces but for those looking for neutral shades they have nude/white pieces available. 

Visit the site here

La Moda 

For me La Moda always seems to answer my cries for fashion help. Their cleated heels are superb - I ordered Harper in nude and was thoroughly impressed with a quick delivery and such stunning shoes! Their range of accessories is equally inspiring and I am so excited they teamed with Vida Kush to bring faux septum rings to the UK. Call me sad but I would rather try out a faux ring than get someone to stick a needle in my nose!

Visit the site here

Hair Dye Review: Blullini by Bleach London

I'm a big believer in experimenting with hair colour but just like a lot of people, I'm really not willing to commit to one colour, just in case I get bored or learn to hate it. Semi-permanent dye gives me the option to explore different shades without the worry that the look is here to stay. Having used Crazy Colour and Directions previously, I found BLEACH London products to be amongst my favourites. 

I purchased the blue/green shade Blullini, with the hopes that once faded, it would give me a nice minty pastel colour for my hair. BLEACH products come in a sizeable bottle and often contain enough for 2/3 applications (my hair is mid-length), although if you are looking for a particularly bright, intense colour experience I would attempt to use as much of the product as possible in one sitting. 

Instructions on the bottle say to leave on for 15 minutes, I left mine on for 20-25 and achieved a fabulous bright blue shade that I loved. For a pastel shade add a minimum amount to your hair and leave in for 5-7 minutes. Be aware that when using on a yellow/blonde shade, the colour may appear more green, which could be disappointing. After one week of washing, I still have a majority of the colour in, and have not achieved pastel just yet. 

I highly recommend the product for anyone looking for true colour stay, and for those who don't mind some slight fade. This is what my hair looked like just after applying the colour: 

This is what my hair looked like a week later : 

If you have any questions feel free to ask me, I have used quite a few of their colours as well as other dyes and can recommend many! 

Versace at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week 2014

Paris fashion week has come to an end *sad face* but what better way to get excited for autumn than to take a look back at some runway favourites. The first day kicked off with Atelier Versace's Fall/Winter 2014-15 show and the mystical midnight blues and purples looked ultra rich on the runway. 

Fringing can often be unattractive but I fell in love with Versace's approach. The midnight blue jacket with a half-crotchet look was elegant yet grungy with matching suede peep-toe boots. 

The fur pieces had a certain exotic bird quality to them, with varying lengths teamed with semi-sheer sectioned tops and cigarette trousers. 

Glitter and leather- who would have thought this combination could work together in such harmony. A metallic leotard made way for a leather bralet strapped on with a stunning matching train- a red carpet look I hope to see very soon. 

How to Rip and Score Your Jeans

Pinterest is often a place I look for inspiration, at the same time as trying not to become depressed with the hoards of skinny bodies I would LOVE to emulate. Summer fashion boards led me to grow a love for ripped or scored jeans, they look amazing with your favourite pair of stilettos and a giant clutch, or dresses down with some ballet pumps and a strappy top. 

How to Score Your Jeans 

1. Start by wearing your jeans and marking out the parts you want to be ripped.

2. Make two horizontal cuts which mark the bottom and the top of the rip

3. pull threads downwards one by one at the bottom of your second rip and you should begin to see a scoring pattern

4. Once all the threads are pulled you should end up with a number of white horizontal threads. Repeat in other areas of your jeans if desired. 

Beautiful Bodysuits

No faux pas wardrobe is complete without a snazzy bodysuit, and whether you are opting for sultry evening wear, or looking for a top to wear with jeans, bodysuits are the way forward.  

Celeb inspiration comes from the wonderful Katy Perry, who wore a candy themed bodysuit complete with multicoloured swirls around the bust- eye-catching! Kate Moss went racy in a nude bodysuit with embellishments covering her assets, and a white ring-leader blazer for a (slightly) more conservative look.Leigh-Anne Pinnock of Little Mix grunged her sheer panelled bodysuit with leather-look hotpants, a chunky chain and a striking red bomber jacket. Jennifer Lawrence kept it classy with a fabulous slate sheer gown with a plain black sleeveless bodysuit. 

Bodysuits provide a sexy, fitted alternative to an evening top, the quirkier the better! 

From Left to right: ASOS// Missguided//Black Milk

My  Poison Ivy bodysuit is from aliexpress, the t-shirt version can be found at Black Milk for $60 AUD. 

I'm Obsessed with... House of Holland Nails

It's official: false/stick on nails are my everything. 

Why bother growing out your nails when you can bite them down in a frenzy and stick over ready-made, pristine ones to cover up the horror that is your beauty regime?! I'm just kidding. 

But seriously, why fork out a fortune on acrylics when you can purchase unique and comfortably fitting nails for a lot cheaper? House of Holland have the most exquisite range at the moment and definitely fulfil my faux pas needs. 

My three favourite ranges are Geek Chic, Tweed and Sweet Tooth, all of which were at the fabulous price of £8.00-£9.00 on the official site. 

Compared with the heavily advertised Elegant Touch Express nails that contain what is fundamentally double-sided tape, the House of Holland nails have staying power when combined with a standard nail glue.

Look at those disgusting hands..

I use nailene ultra quick glue and have found my nails often last two weeks or more! With the amount of typing I do though, I do often get tired of the tinkling noise it makes... so if you are looking for pretty over practicality, House of Holland is your best option!

I LOVE HOUSE OF HOLLAND