Her Fashionable Life

Recently discovered: this new collection of ethically sourced T's and bags by super supermodel Erin O'Connor (love her!!) and stylist Kate Halfpenny.  Taking a tongue in chic poke at planet fashion, the brand is called 'She Died of Beauty' with slogans consisting of 'She Died of Perfection' (my favourite); 'She Died of Beauty'; and 'She Died of Individuality'. Well done, Erin and Kate, for reminding planet fashion not to take themselves too seriously (as if!)

Bring me my Golden Dreamcoat

Yes, yes, Joseph was rather irritatingly boastful/went on and on about his technicolour dreamcoat. Then again if I had this......I might be singing too!

Jacket by Alan_Donovan_Tjon

Is It Wrong That I Want This Onesie?

Unitard by Faster Mark Fast

.....it just looks so comfortable. And it is kind of hot!  I really want one. Is that so wrong?

Out With the New

i-D Winter 2010

With every new month, comes brand new magazines; and in my opinion i-D has long been one of the best publications on the market when it comes to fashion editorial. For the Winter 2010 issue, i-D cleverly commissioned new and cutting edge designers, including Emilio de la Morena, to create stunning designs in heritage William Morris print fabric from the Morris and Co factory. Stunning!

Coat by Simone Rocha using Morris and Co fabric

Top by Emilio de Morena using Morris and Co fabric

Dress by Emilio de Morena using Morris and Co fabric

Top by Jo No Fui using Morris and Co fabric

Jacket by Michela Carraro using Morris and Co fabric

Highland Fling

I was checking out pictures online earlier of the Central St Martins 20:20 party which took place over the weekend. 20:20 is an initiative set up to provide funding and support to CSM fashion students and is an amazing idea given how difficult it can be for emerging designers to finance themselves. We need to foster our home-grown fashion talent! And when you think of some of the CSM alumni: Stella McCartney, Pheobe Philo, Alexander McQueen - well just say the world would be a lot less colourful without them!

I have just completely digressed from the point of this post. Here we go: well, Daisy Lowe (love her) caught my eye resplendent in Versus tartan.....is tartan making a comeback courtesy of Christopher Kane?

Daisy Lowe in Versus 

I know, it is a bit early for Burns night to be thinking of clans, haggis and rugged moors. But it is not only uber-Scot Kane who is championing the return of this heritage fabric. I spotted tartan on the catwalk at dSquared2 (who can forget their tartan 'glamping' picnic blanket dress from Spring Summer 2010) and Marc Jacobs. M.A.C - always quick to jump on a bandwagon - have just created a new collection, entitled 'A Tartan Tale'. Vivienne Westwood has just created a stationary collection including notebooks and diaries in her signature Albion tartan. And even luxe shopping and fashion websites such as farfetch.com have been talking about this trend.

I think of tartan as a bit Marmite: some people really hate it, but there is a lot of fun to be had with this versatile fabric. It can be punk (think Westwood); it can be posh (think old school aristocracy dancing eightsome reels in their kilts); it can be prim and haughty and it can be sexy (see Christopher Kane). Here are some of my favourite pictures from through out the ages.

A young Prince Charles in a traditional kilt and sporran

Agyness Deyn walking the catwalk for Henry Holland, Autumn/Winter 2008

Alexander McQueen Autumn Winter 2006

Alexander McQueen Autumn Winter 2006

Vivienne Westwood

M.A.C Tartan Tale campaign Autumn 2010

C'est Chaud!!!

Soon to open in London: super hip Parisien concept store, The Kooples. Part of their mission statement: a cloakroom for two; and they have entirely promoted the brand using images of real life, beautiful couples. I am definitely without a doubt going to blog more about The Kooples as I L.O.V.E the whole aesthetic but for now I am going to take a look at some of the most stylish couples (in my opinion) ever!

Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger

Anita Pallenberg and Keith Richards

Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin

Brigitte Bardot and Marcello Mastroianni

John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Mark Ronson and Josephine de la Baume

Kate Moss and Pete Doherty

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis

Bonnie and Clyde

Coming Soon: Yohji Yamamoto at the V&A

I wanted to whet your appetites and tease your tastebuds for the up and coming Yohji Yamamoto retrospective at one of my favourite museums in London, the V&A.  I love retrospectives: the chance to peek into and experience firsthand a designers archive is quite special; it can even be quite intimate. Mr Yamamoto literally exploded onto the fashion scene in 1981 when he moved from his native Tokyo to show in Paris. He is of course best known for his relationship with tailoring, pushing boundaries by exploring new techniques, and going against prevailing moods and trends. Famously he has been quoted as (obstinately - even childishly), 'hating fashion'. For some reason though, I just can't quite believe him - despite all this built up contrariness, I think he just wants to keep us guessing. And I have little doubt that he will be the one having the last laugh at this private joke with himself, that the rest of us will never quite get. I for one can not wait to glimpse into the history of this incredibly visionary designer.

Yohji Yamamoto at the V&A will run from March-July 2011