Fine Jewelry by Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier is a designer I have always admired, especially since I saw a mini documentary about her on CNN. She stands out in her razor sharp focus on delivering luxe, ultra feminine, très très chic pieces. Her bridal line is beyond gorgeous, her clothing line delivers the goods excellently collection after collection. I’ve come to expect the highest in luxurious standards from her.

So imagine how excited I was when I discovered she has a wedding ring line in collaboration with Blue Nile, the largest online retailer of certified diamonds and fine jewellery.  I really like it when a designer segues into different aspects of fashion easily, especially when it’s done so well.

The collection is beyond stunning, it is breathtakingly beautiful. She did an engagement ring line and a wedding ring line. Each engagement ring is adorned with a blush pink sapphire “lovemark,” symbolizing a blushing bride. Beautiful.

I selected my best pieces of the collection, my absolute favourite has to be the Princess Double Halo. If you ask me, the prices are pretty reasonable for diamonds set in platinum.

To read more about the collection and see the pieces in detail, check out the Monique Lhullier page on Blue Nile

Double Halo Engagement Ring $3000

Draping Halo Engagement Ring $2750

Floral Halo Engagement Ring $4550

Heirloom Diamond Engagement Ring $3750

Milgrain Halo Engagement Ring $1900

Petite Draping Halo Engagement Ring $1800

Princess Double Halo Engagement Ring $3200

Split Shank Halo Engagement Ring $2655

Twist Shank Engagement Ring $2300

Vintage Hexagon Engagement Ring $2945

Images via Blue Nile

London Fashion Week [S/S ’13] – The Roundup

Paris Fashion Week is on as we speak, the final week of fashion month, featuring the crème de la crème of the global fashion industry. Watch this space for my favourite of the shows.

In the meantime, I’ve put together my round up of London Fashion Week. Overall, the shows didn’t get rave reviews but you know there will always be beautiful fashion in there somewhere. Roksanda Illincic stood out, it was an explosion of colour combinations and fabric combinations, and there were the designers from the Fashion Fringe competition. Dig in…

Roksanda Illincic

The collection combined so many stare worthy elements. The foundation was ultra feminine cuts and shapes, build on top of that unusual yet stunning color combos and gorgeous fabrics like silk and tweed and you have a delicious confection.

 

Temperly London

The fifties silhouette will have my heart any day and I got a pleasant surprise from Temperly London. Perhaps we could have a micro trend for the season. The silk wide leg pants and sequin blouse look was absolutely stunning, I dream of myself in outfits like that.

 

 

Fashion Fringe Designers – Haizhen Wang & Teija Eilola

The most unexpected place where I got my ultimate fashion high was at the ‘design feet’ of brand new freshers. Two of the three finalists of the Fashion Fringe competition (think London version of Project Runway) absolutely took my breath away.

Haizhen Wang

My first thought on seeing the pieces in this collection was Haider Ackermann! The deconstruction, generous layering/draping, rock solid structure and combination of contrasting fabrics (think leather and silk) was reminiscent of Ackermann. The designer, Haizhen Wang is an alum of Central St Martins and worked at MaxMara, Boudicca, and AllSaints; I definitely see AllSaints in there. He made an excellent showing of himself and I found he won the competition, too well deserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teija Eilola

Teija’s collection got me in the very detailed yet simple and fresh feel. I loved the balloon sleeves on the striped dress and crisp white blouse. All very wearable with a lot of interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credit: styledotcom

Milan Fashion Week – Dolce & Gabbana SS ’13

The plan had been to follow the fashion week happenings in a chronological order, my review of London Fashion Week was next but I saw this Dolce & Gabbana collection and I could NOT wait.

It grabbed my attention and what I find so so mesmerizing is the detail, the vibrant colours, the accessories, the way it all just comes alive. The collection was inspired by Sicily, where Domenico Dolce is from. I find the collection so fascinating, I can’t help myself. The detail, Oh the detail. Never mind that this is almost to be expected by the design duo, they do florals and detail so well.

Notice the rafia fabric and vibrant colours, the graphic images sketched on dresses and tops and skirts, lol. I love this collection and I could wear some of the pieces. Notice the stripes in this collection too, major trend for S/S ’13 for sure.

The bags were stunning as well, and we’d have to come up with a name for the earrings – Über statement earrings. It made for such great viewing, all 86 pieces in the collection. The art and creativity of it all is what really gets me excited, never mind if some of the pieces are actually not wearable, fashion is art.

Photo credits: styledotcom

New York Fashion Week (S/S ’13) – The Round Up

As we all know, by now the fashion week train is in Milan after finishing at LFW, so I must make my blogging way briskly in that direction, Lol.

I’m concluding my NYFW review with some of my favourites across the board, the designers who showed styles I really love. Sleek chic: check; generous draping: check; ladylike chic: check; impeccable tailoring: check.

Here they are:

Badgley Mischka

The clothes oozed elegance and a sleek chicness. The styles were in simple cuts, nothing overly architectural or out of this world but they were done in fabrics with a lot of gravitas. Brocade, Bouclé, Lurex treated tweed and lace made their way into the collection. Really pretty and very wearable.

Monique Lhuillier

Lhuillier is a designer I find very very appealing because she dresses the woman. Very sleek, very chic, stunning play on fabrics, ranging from leather to shimmering sequin encrusted beauties; everything skimming the female form and rock solid in structure. She also brought back the peplum, giving me the privilege of seeing one of my favourite styles from this summer coming back.

Carolina Herrera

I’ve seen quite a few pant suits but I love the elegant way this one was rendered. The fluid silk fabric, the blouson sleeves of the blouse and the gold floral embroidery is simply stunning.

Diane von Furstenberg

This is another designer who knows how to clothe the woman. I love the draping, the fluid fabrics and the use of colour.

Photo credit: styledotcom

New York Fashion Week [S/S ’13] Part 3 – Stripes Society

You know a fashion trend is going to be massive when two major designers base their entire collection around it. So, all lovers of stripes, in every imaginable expression, here they are.

Marc Jacobs

I particularly like the long dresses and the embellished horizontal striped dress. I find it completely fascinating that the entire collection was made up of stripes, in so many different ways. I mean, how far can you stretch your imagination? Big pat on the back to Mr Marc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tommy Hilfiger

And just when you thought you had seen it all, Tommy Hilfiger does it in a whole new way, blazers, leather dresses, the whole gamut – in stripes! Get ready to see in stripes come Spring 2013!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenny Packham

If there was one trend I loved this season, it was the peplum. So it was great to see it still in the running for Spring 2013. Love what Jenny Packham did with it! I’ll take that polka dot dress any day.

 

 

 

Photo credit: Styledotcom

New York Fashion Week [Spring Summer 2013] Part 2

Today I’m focusing on a designer I absolutely love love love – Rachel Zoe.

There’s an elegant, grown up, classy lady feel to the entire collection. She did what she does so well, impeccable tailoring, easy laid back yet chic looks.

I’ve had a style crush on sequins for a while now, she did it so beautifully well, the off shoulder beautifully draped, floor length sequin dress is stunning.

I love this collection, it’s beautiful. I loved every single item sans plunging necklines of course, what would I give to popularize the more demure pieces.

Ok, look out for more great fashion in part 3!

The lovely Rachel Zoe

 

Photo credits: styledotcom

New York Fashion Week [Spring Summer 2013] Part 1

It’s New York Fashion Week!!! Yeah, old news (for the fashion savvy) I know but exciting nonetheless. There’s no better time to rouse my sleeping blog, it’s fashion week once again, my favorite season too.

So I’ve been taking it all in, my instagram feed has been awash with images, live from the runways, as it happens. There have been tons of street style snaps and behind the scene footage, all the buzz!

We can already see some trends taking shape, the stripes (Marc Jacobs and Tommy Hilfiger went wild on stripes), the sheers (loads of sheer panelling, chiffon and tulle), the embellishments and the peplum trend which has been around for two seasons now – not that I mind, I love peplums! Loads of lace everywhere, I’m a sucker for lace, especially in the opulent rich texture as seen at Oscar de la Renta and Vera Wang. The color yellow seems to be showing up everywhere, color blocking is around yet again and the clashing of prints and patterns are clearly here to stay.

As it is with summer collections, I personally am loving all the bright fête of color going on, it just gives this joie de vivre vibe.

The season is looking so yummy already, and I have quite a few favorites. I will feature my favorites from a cross section of designers in a blog series starting with this one.

I shall start with the collections that had the jaw dropping effect on me.

Vera Wang

The textures, the colours – sparkling white, chartreuse, azure blue, amethyst, cypress green, gold-  the layers and layers of tulle, the decadent lace. This collection was so divine.

Oscar de la Renta

If you’ve been on this blog more than once, you know I love Oscar. He just can’t go wrong. He delivers the ladylike just the way I love it, the use of colour and texture and cut is pristine, can’t be faulted. This time around, he delved into pant suits and skirts suits, we saw a blazer and we saw shorts. There was a diversification in terms of style but definitely not in terms of aesthetic, the collection still personified ‘The Lady’

Alice + Olivia

There was something about this collection that just made me happy. It was airy and bright, young and free, eclectic and fun. The splashes of colour were vibrant and happy. The yellow sequinned dress was stunning, right up my alley. There was life -simply expressed – in the collection, I found that appealing.

It has been a fun ride, great fashion and there’s still plenty more to come. See you in part 2!

Photo credits: styledotcom

Gracious Grecian Bride

I have a few friends who would swear by the unconventional wedding dress. You won’t catch them dead wearing a ball gown on their wedding day. Absolutely no  hope for the fussy stuff.

These days, I’m getting more attracted to the understatedly elegant, simply graceful yet abundantly feminine wedding dress. In a general fashion sense though, I love silk, in whatever form, if i had my way, i’ll be swathed in silks all day every day. Then, my best clothing detail in the world is draping, generous luxe draping. Combine both and it  makes sense then that I fell in love with this Amanda Wakeley collection at first sight.

Not for your conventional bride but it ticks all the boxes of chic.

It’ll cost you though. An Amanda Wakeley dress retails from £2,000. See more details here

 

So what do you think? Will you go for the classic ball gown or you’re more along these non fussy lines?

 

Photo Credits: Amanda Wakeley

Love. Want. Need

Something fifties and lady like will always always appeal to me. I love this exquisite find on Net-a-porter, a Red Valentino  black and white embroidered cotton dress.

It’s perfect because it combines many delightful elements, black and white, floral embroidery and lacy edges. What more can a girly girl ask for?

You can find on Net-a-porter for £590.

Art For Your Sole: Walter Steiger heels

Fashion for me equals creativity, art, self expression. The things that really catch my eye are the unusual, the different, the stand out pieces. It goes to show the mind of the designer or wearer, taste and a great eye is like pregnancy, can’t be hidden. It always peeks out, in the tiny little detail, in the choice of colour, in the decision to have a curved heel versus straight like everyone else.

Walter Steiger’s signature is the curved sole and stunning is what it is. The shoes are sold at flagship stores around the world.

 

Check out the website www.waltersteiger.com

The Most Fashionable Bloggers Episode 1

There are thousands of bloggers on the blogosphere and it’s not news that bloggers are taking over the global fashion industry. Bloggers inspire collections, co-design lines for designers, style editorials for fashion magazines, feature prominently in fashion week, act as consultants for designers and are a huge part of the advertising for fashion brands.

With so many blogs to choose from, there are many different styles, aesthetics and sensibilities, so when I find a blogger who makes my eyes round as saucers due to their AH -MAZING style, it excites me to no end.

So I was doing the blog round up the other day and came across the extraordinarily stylish Wendy Nguyen of Wendy’s Lookbook

She basically ticks all my boxes, tres femme, multi faceted expressions of style, loads of versatility, classy and tres chic dressed up or down and she’s got a sweet personality that shines through. Reading her story in the About section, there was even more jaw dropping. Wendy grew up in foster care, worked and fought hard to get into college, has worked with incarcerated youths and still volunteers at an organization that provides mentorship to previously incarcerated youths. Totally wowed! and that trumps the silly notion held by weird people that fashion aficionados are automatically flaky people.

Wendy also proves the point I’ve made several times that fashion is an artistic expression. I can’t help but quote her, ‘ I find inspiration in art, nature, culture, architecture, food, people, and music. And for me, fashion is a compilation of all that. Fashion is a vehicle for me to play with shapes and colors in order to uncover my personal style. Like music and art, fashion and style are forms of creative self-expression where each of us are architects creating unique designs and looks.‘

Pardon my excitement, it’s not everyday you find a fashion soulmate *grinning*

So, for that great style that has me doing the couch jump, check out after the jump. You can see Wendy sharing great fashion tips on her youtube chanel as well.

Cheers to you Wendy! Massive cheers to you!

All photos from Wendy’s Lookbook.

Time Magazine’s ALL Time Fashion Icons

TIME magazine just compiled a list of 100 fashion icons, featuring fashion inflencers and icons from as far back as Cristobal Balenciaga, Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn. Complete with short stories of influential designers, stylists, editors, photographers, models and muses, there are the familiar faces and the unfamiliar plus the (concisely written) stories behind them.

Of course you know Anna Wintour was on that list!

Very interesting read, seeing some of the stories cements my belief that fashion and the fashion industry is waaay beyond the wearing of clothes, it’s art, it’s creativity, it’s passion and expression. Totally inspiring and a must read for everyone with  more than a casual interest in the fashion industry. Trust me, there just might be some names you’ve not  met before.

You can find the story here

And style icon extraordinaire Grace Kelly

Photo credits: Time Magazine.com

One Look, So Much Inspiration

Fashion is so much about creativity and expression. It excites me to no end when I see someone wear something beautiful in an unexpected way. Doesn’t happen every day, so I have to celebrate it when it comes along. I happened upon this yesterday…

Graphic Print Tee + Stunning Flowing Accordion Pleat skirt + Chanel bag + Long Necklace = Super Stunner

On a completely separate note, I found this quote on Pinterest and it makes my heart skip a beat. This is a life note like no other…let’s use the whole box of crayons!

Photo credits

Street Style: My Girly Side

Quote: Dear Monet

Love. Want. Need.

Lanvin Swarovski Crystal and Cord Brass Chain Necklace.

Solid, beautiful and versatile; great wardrobe staple and would work with many looks. Particularly excellent for dressing a little black dress up.

Find it on net-a-porter for £730

Spring 2012 Trend: The Tweed Jacket

Inspired by Chanel, more specifically Coco chanel, this jacket style is having a fashion moment right now. My favourites so far are the pieces by Tory Burch, Lanvin, Zara and HnM. The great thing is that they’ve been interpreted in a variety of cuts and structures to suit most body types.

Coco Chanel

Chanel Spring 2012 RTW

The most important tip for wearing this style is to dress it up chic and for best effects with edgy accents. To avoid landing in the old lady chic zone, this jacket must NOT be worn with a full or A line skirt. Regular or wide leg pants are a no no too. The blazer tends to be bulky so for balance, the bottom must be streamlined

Pair with skinny jeans, tapered pants, capris or shorts; wear over a sheer or light weight blouse with shoe boots or chunky platforms. Hobo bag and statement necklace if you like and you’re ready to go.

I especially love the Tory Burch below, the frayed edges, deconstruction and metallic buttons are right up my alley.

Tory Burch Daniela Bouclé Tweed jacket £460

DKNY Fringed Cotton Blend Tweed Jacket £405

Lanvin Frayed Bouclé Tweed Jacket £2145

You can find the Tory Burch, DKNY and Lanvin on net-a-porter.com.

Zara did a beautiful job with this trend, love the studded blazer. Note the styling of each blazer too, very edgy, very chic. Not a chance for old lady chic.

You can find all blazers on zara.com

Zara Studded Fantasy Fabric Blazer £90

Zara Piped Blazer with Zips £70

Zara Frayed Blazer £50

H&M kept it simple and streamlined, great addition to a stylish wardrobe, great price too. You can find on hm.com

H&M £30

H&M £30