"where the wild roses grow..."

Secondly I had the pleasure to discover Parisian Chic this week! My definition of Parisian chic is when a person simply knows how to dress; knowing what suits best, understanding to combine colour, tone, cut and quality to create the ultimate chic but in a subtle more sophisticated way. It is the person itself who creates Parisian chicness...

The Name:     Donna 

The Title:    Associate Dean Fashion

Coat:                    Gap
Scarf:                   a gift
Cardigan:                Uniqlo
Trousers:                Cos
Socks:                   Uniqlo
Shoes:                   Barkers
Earrings:                independent jewelery shop in London

Shopping destination: Margaret Howell (usually in the sale!), YMC, Uniqlo, Agnes B, Cos - I discovered it a few years ago and it changed my life

(Ahhh me too! though just discovered it thanks to Tim!)

Motto: Dress to please yourself not others. 

Favourite designer: I make no secret about being a big Margaret Howell fan. Her clothes work for people over 40 and over size 8 and are of a high quality in every possible way. I also admire Nicholas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Alber Elbaz for Lanvin, Jonathan Saunders, APC, Marni, Jean Pierre Braganza, Aminaka Wilmont...

Most influential person in fashion: Often the people who wear the clothes are more influential than the people who design them and I fear that it may be Kate Middleton, with her sister coming a close second!

London Secret tip: Where shall I start ....
SCP – Curtain Road EC2 – furniture and designery things
Labour and Wait – Cheshire Street, E2 – pots and pans etc.
Maragaret Howell – Wigmore Street W1 – I could happily live there!
John Lewis – Oxford Street W1 – especially the food hall ....
...Which brings me on to food...there is so much choice but if you love a cake- Maison Bertaux – Greek Street W1– fantastic French cream cakes in a bohemian Soho setting.

South London Gallery – Peckham – great gallery with, importantly, a great café.
Dulwich Picture Gallery – the most beautiful gallery in London with a great permanent collection.

New years resolution: Learn to tap dance. Its almost the end of January and I’ve not even taken the DVD Tim let me borrow out of the box!

I say: We love to be headed by such sophisticated chicness!!!

oh la la - belgian style....

This week I was limited to hunt for a fab student outfit as it was reading week or something like that and not many students around.

But of course I had other opportunities and I found true style.

Firstly the belgian league. I absolutely adore belgian fashion designers and their aesthetics. I spotted a person who could have just stepped out of Dries van Noten's 'Het Modepalais' department store in Antwerp. (You should check out the collections of Dries van Noten, one of the Antwerp Six; then you know what I mean...)

The Name:   Lucy

The Title:  Fashion Lecturer

^{Cardigan:                Gap (10 years old -let's call it vintage)}

^{Dress:                   Flee market in Amsterdam}

^{Stockings:               M&S}

^{Shoes:                   Clarks}

^{Schoolbag:               Cambridge Satchel Company}

Motto: if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well

Favourite Fashion Designer: Dries van Noten, Marni

Most influential person in fashion: Marc Jacobs - directional fashion designer for luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton

Secret Tip: check out Portobello Market, Labour and Wait Cheshire Street/Brick Lane, Marylebone High Street

Shopping destination: flee market Amsterdam, Charity shops, Portobello Market, flee staff in Broadstairs

Online shopping: Toast, J.Crew, Anthropology 

New years resolution: Go running more

I say: Lucy gives us great inspiration to look into belgian fashion much more in-depth. Go and check out the Antwerp Six, The Fashion Department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. You will be amazed and made aware what you are up against... Be taken by this world and create your own special aesthetics and style - YOUR VERY OWN SIGNATURE STYLE. We cannot wait to see... 

PS: A little hint what belgian fashion is all about:

'The collection and the love and passion for clothing always take first place. With the Belgians, there is no superstar allure, or coquetry, but a healthy mix of humility, sobriety, and daring, and this translates first and foremost in the apparel itself. There is no blinding haute couture for the Belgians, but there is attention to professional craftsmanship, the study of form and concept; no out-of-control profits in the wake of the luxury houses, but a self-sufficiently structured enterprise in which as many factors as possible are kept under the designers’ own control; no top models whose star status relegates the clothes to subservient status, but real girls with character.'

something that reminds me off...

The outfit I chose for the look of this week only has a little story to it. 

When I spotted it before Xmas it reminded me of a painting I had seen in my best friend Rael's sketch book for his final collection.

Are you aware of Jean-Antoine Watteau's 'Pierrot', traditionally identified as Gilles?

The man in the painting is dressed in a slightly oversized costume which adds a certain innocent radiance. Although Gille is a study of solitude I see the child within a man; a cute innocence expressed through the clothes and accessories.

The idea of a man/child was the starting point of Rael's great final collection; sadly he passed away not too long ago. But I saw a beautiful reminder of such aesthetic in the outfit Tom wore last year:

The Name:   Tom

The Year:   1st

^{Cardigan:                Vintage East End jumble sale}

^{Top:                     altered dress also from jumble sale}

^{Jeans/Shoes:             Primark}

Hat:                     Topshop

Bow:                     own fabulous creation

Glasses:                 ?

Motto: 'Don't dream it, be it.'

Favourite Designer: Tierry Mugler; (although he is not involved in fashion anymore, it is good that the fashion house is back on the fashion catwalk/scene)

Wardrobe malfunction: I have had some in the past but I generally can pull off most outfits. I go by echoes; if you want to dress like Boy George then do it and be not afraid of trying out new things

New years resolution: To give 1000% to what I'm doing; to keep driven and to achieve my goals

I say: Thank you.

SHE'S GOT IT

A special welcome to everyone who is interested in the style and fashion of our UCA future fashion stars.

I am on the hunt for the most fashionable outfit of the day amongst the Fashion Design students and maybe beyond. It all depends if you have the Fashion-Factor!

I am looking for THE outfit, not just one special clothing item. It has to be the whole look from shoes, accessories to hair and clothes. Styling at its best showing off some serious PIZZAZZ.

And here we go again:)

Spotted:

The Name:   Rochelle

The Year:   1st

^{Cardigan:                Liz Claiborne}

^{Roll Neck:               Primark}

^{Jeans/Watch:             Camden Market}

^{Shoes:                   Charity Shop}

^{Earrings/Head band:      Vintage}

^{Lipstick:                MAC}

Motto: Anything goes

Shopping destination: Brick Lane, Camden Market, Kurt Geiger, High Street

New years resolution: Work harder, get better and enjoy.

I say: What a great combination of some serious italian fashion fierceness

(think Gucci), 50th head band twist, boyish flat shoes comfort, fabulous pattern mix, all 'naturelle' marbled in the trousers and cool ribboned on the cardigan. The junky jewellery and watch blend in perfectly but are still a statement. Why? Because of the lack of colour and the strong shape. Check out the metallic/white tones. 

Shades of blue give a sophisticated look; but the splash of Bright lipstick and hair colour brings the outfit to life and makes it über-cool. Check out the trend: Why not bathing in the shades of your favourite colour, add some bold pattern mix and little splashes of colour and you'll got it too!

FANTABULOUS!

Fashionable Fierceness

A special welcome to everyone who is interested in the style and fashion of our UCA future fashion stars.

I am on the hunt for the most fashionable outfit of the day amongst the Fashion Design students and maybe beyond. It all depends if you have the Fashion-Factor!

I am looking for THE outfit, not just one special clothing item. It has to be the whole look from shoes, accessories to hair and clothes. Styling at its best showing off some serious PIZZAZZ.

The hunt is officially on....

And of course I spotted one today; seriously pulling it off. Check him out…

The Name:   Tola

The Year:   3^rd

^{Coat/cardigan: Uniqlo}

^{Shirt&Tie:     M&S}

^{Trousers/Belt: Uniqlo}

^{Shoes:         Vans}

^{Jewellery:     Etsy}

^{Badge:         Craft Fair London}

Motto: you look good - you feel good

Shopping destination: Reiss, Zara, Uniqlo, Charity Shop

New years resolution: Try not to buy new clothes, try charity shops instead.

I say: We like the sophisticated combination of mauve, purple and blue tones. The look a Savile Row Tailored – Bohemian – Charity Fierceness. Sculptural hair style plus perfectly trimmed beard. Enhancing the fierceness of the look is the use of opposites found in the chosen accessories: the slightly voodoo- esque, goth-y skull necklace and the traditional tie pin. And don’t forget the 2 toned shoe laces.

Monsieur, simple FIERCE!