Go Gaga for Naja

If there was a Fashion God (no, Anna Wintour does.not.count) and he was given a million blank canvases, I'm pretty sure this is what it would look like. Very psychedelic and hypnotic. In a good way.

Once I'd clapped eyes on Naja Conrad- Hansen's Illustrations/Paintings/Graphics/Prints (again, fingers in pieeeeee) I thought her work was brilliant. No words needed...but mainly because all you need to know is that she's abstract, contemporary and bloody cool. Her 'fashion fiction' does all the talking.

Enough. Look.
.

I tried to pick favourites.

I gave up.

This blog post does NO justice. http://www.meannorth.com/
Illegal not to.
Kind of.

Her mate STELLA

The only words I seem to be typing at the moment appear to go along the lines of ......
"urgent.
call in.
sample.
high-res image.
bike booked.
look book.
fashion special."

followed by "pls.pls.pls" and a lot of "kind regards".

These words are flown from my computer along to what seems like a million and one PRs in the hope they will favour my request before many other similar ones flying around their inbox. (my favourites so far; Tatiana from Net-a-porter,com, Jordan at ASOS & Imogen at Miu Miu who never seem bothered by the overload of emails/calls from me a day).

However- - -
whilst sending a lengthy email to the Stella McCartney press office I was rather overjoyed that I was assigned the 'task' of flicking through her website to pick out images for our Wardrobe Mistress page. I've always been a fan of good ol' Stella. Pretty much one of the only designers to make a leather/fur 'animal friendly' collection look so good. ..........(If you don't believe me, head down to the North Laines and look out for a shop called 'Vegetarian Shoes'.)

And with Natalia Vodianova (f-ing HOTT_) fronting the collection, I think it's fair to say that Stella's got it all under control.
My fingers officially hurt from typing so I'm gonna let the pictures do the talking.

Pssst. She also has a 'knicker of the week' pack for only £125. A-dorable.

(Yummy)

WANT WANT WANT

Girl on Film

In recent years fashion designers have begun experimenting in more creative ways to showcase their collections, rather than cramming too many buyers, press and photographers into hot and dark rooms.

A trend has kicked off the back of the recession and designers have begun taking it upon themselves to come up with some ingenious ways to get the buzz going about their latest designs. Not only are designer presentations going to be popular this season again, so are films.

Back in 2008, Yves Saint Laurent released a video of the A/W menswear collection, and who better to take the lead. *(No one.)

Drum roll please for Miss Kathryn Ferguson who is fast becoming the go to girl for edgy and innovative short fashion based films. Basically.

She's racked up a rather snazzy portfolio including collaborating with eclectic new designers such as Richard Nicoll, Theatre de la Mode, Erika Trotzig and DAVID DAVID.

She has also used footage of Lady Gaga from her Glastonbury 2009 rehearsals to create a short piece for dazeddigital.com and Paloma Faith and Beatrice Brown feature in her 2007 'Tingel Tangel' short film about chorus line girls in the 1920s. Sometimes helping a designer's collection come to life and sometimes helping to build a brand asthetic, her work is never short of sharp and exciting.

With her work being showcased alongside other directors on 19th February this month - just in time for London Fashion Week, Kathryn has a pretty impressive knack to creat abstract, kooky, charming and charismatic short films. Which I enjoy watching. You should too.

(Pssst. She also helped photographer Cat Stevens direct these rather beautiful photographs. Ah, a girl with her finger in more than one pie. Yum.)

http://www.kathrynferguson.co.uk/ http://www.kathrynferguson.co.uk/  http://www.kathrynferguson.co.uk/ http://www.kathrynferguson.co.uk/ http://www.kathrynferguson.co.uk/ http://www.kathrynferguson.co.uk/

Get your kicks

Fashion is a touchy subject. I've talked about this before. It's questionable and it's been highlighted as vain and shallow. Understandably it will never be the open-armed, friendly, 'grab a seat and we'll brainstorm' club. Its invite only. But then what industry is welcoming with open arms? (Minus charity).

It appears that fashion over time has become society's scapegoat for all things evil within consumption and such other areas outside of necessity. Fashion is a luxury in parts. I mean clothes are not a 'treat' they are kind of erm, essential. Unless you are a nudist. But we all know how little they count...

It's an industry that is built upon people's desires to look good/acceptable/sexy/etc....but it works and it's booming. So they're doing something right. It's understandable that when faced with problems in the world, fashion seems soul-destroying, it seems harsh and unnecessary. It looks frivolous and uncaring to the world and it's problems. But it's not. It's an outlet. It is not an industry made to help politics, or to solve world debt or to stop those kids drinking down the estate at 15; but it's also not just designed to make front rower's 'oooh' and 'aaah' at any old shite that's thrown down a catwalk. It's intricate and a lot of work is put in. From PRs, journalists, stylist, designers, photographers, editors, buyers, merchandisers, the lot.

Some of it's fantasy and fun, couture is a perfect example of people putting blame on 'unnecessary' and 'unwearable' fashion. Correct? No. If those people took five minutes to understand the history of couture and it's legacy
(it would also explain Daphne Guiness <---- legend)
then they would realise why it still exists. I don't understand cricket. But I understand why people (might) enjoy it. I don't particularly have too much of an opinion on Politics, because I don't know enough. So my mouth stays shut. But because people think fashion is an easy target, and it's not 'clever' they feel they can mock it.

Tanya Gold wrote a snarling, pent-up rant against fashion recently. Point taken.

"Put simply, I hate fashion. I scowl at Harper's. I snarl at W. I spit at Vogue. Sometimes, I tear them up, these glossy pages full of anorexic ­children – part human, part makeup, part ­computer program – just because I'm worth it. Then I put a colander on my head."

I find this quote amusing. I think she's right. But I flick through Harpers, W and Vogue delightfully. I am, as ever, bemused as the chunk of advertising for clothes you can't afford takes up the most content (after paying the best part of a fiver) and the perfect models. But I don't think anyone really sits there, (like in Christina Aguilera's 'Beautiful' video) with a conscious mind and belittles themselves because they aren't airbrushed up to their eyeballs. Getting mad at models? It's kind of, oh I don't know; their job. It's their choice, damn their beauty, fuck they're skinny, but it's a business. And it's damn good advertisers. Enticing, making people want what they don't have. Conspicuous Consumption. And again? A job.

Its development from a necessity to a luxury consumption is a fine line, and one that the fashion industry crosses (obviously) but they cross it to create a business; to function. Just like any other business, it pushes itself to the limit within all aspects. Although it probably doesn't take full responsibility for crocs.

Fashion is a creative industry, just like art, theatre, music and dance, people seem to find it unfathomable that something people enjoy doing in their usual 'downtime' is someone else's job. Just because they aren't stuck at a desk, 9-5, working with the cast of the Office in a building from the 60s, doesn't mean their job isn't worthwhile. I see jealousy of people who aren't creative enough to get up from that swivel chair and do something they enjoy. Get a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life.

People sneer at 'creative' universities and the like, because they don't spit out toffs with backwards thinking, a severe lack of social ability and facts that will endear no one. They are enabled to encourage the Mandi Lennards and the Stuart Vevers, the Tim Walkers and the Richard Nicolls.

Basically, I could go on for hours. I probably haven't worded this right. But people who stick their noses up at fashion because it is hollow and a waste of time are just wrong. It's such an innovative mechanism that is fast becoming an integral part of society. There are negative involved in fashion, but aren't we just nit picking there?

Fashion is saying something without saying anything. End.

Boys, Boys, Boys

The Menswear shows started in Milan a week ago, and have already moved to Paris. As much as I appreciate a man who knows how to look sharp without killing it, my heart simply pounds faster and harder for women....

Alas, not to let the fashion team down, here are some of my favourite looks so far from the men's shows.

There is an awful lot of choice coming from Issey Miyake, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dries van Noten, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Maison Martin Margiela, Givency and Hugo Boss....to name a few. Not to mention Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Jil Sander, Prada and Salvatore Ferragamo.

Now, what was I saying again...?

My all time favourite designer has to be YSL (no reason needs - see above).

Viktor and Rolf however are becoming very worthy contenders... My reasons? See below...

Dries van Noten had some pretty eye catching attire.

You can always rely on Mr Galliano to put on a show.

For more eye popping images of Galliano and co, http://showstudio.com/collections/seasons/parismenswearaw

(I heart men's fashion week_) HOWEVER

I hold my breathe for .....................

COUTURE ON MONDAY. COUTURE ON MONDAY. COUTURE ON MONDAY.
Oh, I think that the Couture shows start on Monday..............cool.

Ps. Hermès had the bes models. By far. SO, well done.

REISS LOVE \\ LOVE REISS

I am a fan of

Probably because they are a little bit classier than Topshop, I like their colour palette this season so far and oh yeah, I work there (diiissscccooouunntt.)

 As it has been decided I am spending the majority of my summer in IBIZA and will be showered in the hot hot heat (hell to the yeah) I have decided to already begin picking my FAVOURITE summer looks.

I will be a playsuit whore no doubt. But my favourite bits from Reiss so far look like............

Now, I'm not a huge fan of wedges but in recent years, seeing as I cannot wear my black leather boots in summer and I think stilettos in summer are a little bit tacky, (unless you are donning them on a yatch), the wedge is the perfect alternative.

Still in keeping with a rock vibe and not overly 'chic' and 'girlie' these wedges will do the job perfectly...

I can imagine wearing this navy dress with a pair of gold sandals and my oversized white blazer.


These 'Phoebe' shorts come in tango orange and navy, and I have been umming and aahhing over exactly which colour is best...and as I already own a pair of French Connection navy shorts and Ibiza is all about colour...I think my choice is pretty clear. I'm going to wear these with a Reiss pocketed simple white tee.

I am also going to develop a rather large fetish for oversized blazors over feminine dresses (classic) this summer and what better to feed my addiction....

And finally, a loose fitted blouse with the Patti jeans and a trademark trilby.

How many days until summer

?