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Showing posts with label Womenswear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Womenswear. Show all posts

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Aqua by Aqua


The most amazing shop has just opened in Fouberts Place, just off Carnaby Street in London. If you're from the North of England you may well have heard of this store before, as they began life in Leeds five years ago, and have even recently been selling on asos. Aqua is the most interesting and forward thinking independent store on the high street at the moment. It opened here in the capital only two weeks ago, so take a visit soon before everyone else catches on!

Two of my favourite pieces are these oversized tops. Most garments in the collection are body-con, but these diaphanous tunics are a fresh, wearable way to do the lingerie trend which has been all over the high-street for some time. If like me, you don't like to wear your pants over your trousers like superman, I suggest these options!

I visited Aqua with a friend yesterday, and she bought a few hard-edged statement dresses. They may not be to all tastes, but you cannot deny their unique and utterly flattering design. We scoured the regular shops around Oxford Street and Carnaby Street, but nothing compared to the party dresses in this new store.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Fashionary

Hello strangers....how are you? So, it's been a fair while since I last posted. I've been trying to keep myself busy over the past few weeks, after splitting with my boyfriend. I won't go into details, but precious time has been spent with friends and family and lots of alcohol! I didn't realise quite how long it had been since my last post, but don't worry, The Starling is back ;)

Some good news - I found out I have sold my Samurai dress, on NJAL. The money I make from this dress is going to go towards my 'buy-me-a-K+L-mannequin' fund! I'm so excited...this means I'm going back to the sewing machine after a (too) long break. More designs and experimentation's coming your way soon, and who knows I may sell a few!

Whilst doing some 'research' at work today I came across the most brilliant idea on weheart. Something like this will genuinely benefit my day-to-day work and now I know about it, it seems like such an obvious invention (why didn't I think of this?). What am I talking about? Fashionary - the world's first fashion sketchbook, tailor made for designers!


Fashion/Graphic designer Peter Yip came up with this brilliantly unique idea after drawing out of proportion figures. There are barley visible figure templates on each page, allowing designers and students to draw quickly and easily whilst on the move. Like a moleskin, there are also amazing reference tools like body measurements, basic pattern samples, spec sheets, measurements tools and textile information.

You can buy them online here...and I'm buying mine right now...maybe 2...maybe 10!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Wrap me up

I need these ladies in my life...and their head-wraps.





Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Charlie le Mindu live @ SHOWstudio

Famed for his work with Lady GaGa and his amazing fusion of fashion/millinery/hairdressing , Charlie le Mindu is sure to excite when he sets to work tomorrow at the SHOWstudio space. Webcams will be streaming his every move live on 11th and 12th March 2010, giving us a chance to see the avante-garde hair stylist at work. The brief? Diamonds, religion, and 'bigger than anything attempted before�'

I'm going to try and sneak a peek without my boss knowing, and I'm excited to see how this revolutionary 'designer' creates his masterpieces, and reveals his construction secrets.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

FACEHUNTER: the book

I know, I know, another book - my addiction is getting out of control - I may need to seek professional help soon! Usually I go for large, coffee table tomes but the latest addition to me ever-growing fashion library is a perfectly man-bag sized gem from blogging royalty - Face Hunter. The Sartorialist had a book, and now does the Face Hunter...but if I had only enough space for one on my bowing bookcase, I'd have to opt for Yvan Rodic's sharp observations of innovative personal style;

'Face Hunter travels the globe in search of the most inventive, colourful, freaky, imaginative, gifted, graceful, exquisite, fascinating, unpredictable, gorgeous, refined, delicate, divine, facehuntable, fantabulous, bewitching, edgy, ravishing, chic, winning, alluring, wild, glamorous, voluptuous, radiant and classy.'

'I'm not a social scientist or a journalist...My pictures are not meant to document reality; they are meant to tell you short stories.' FaceHunter


I didn't even realise this image was from Face Hunter until I saw it in the book - one of my favourite images of both Roisin Murphy and this iconic Pugh dress (certainly looks better than when Beyonce tried to Pull-off-a-Pugh!).



Sonny Groo looking fierce as usual, contrasting against this luxurious tangerine drapery illustrate both extremes of my taste radar. Simply delicious.





This is my favourite shot. Or is it my favourite outfit? Or is the boy just cute? Who knows, but I love that freekin' jacket!

To launch his book Yvan Rodic (aka FaceHunter) is holding a book signing at Foyles, Charing Cross Road on 12th March, at 5pm. BE THERE.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

11Null sunglasses

So Spring is upon us and one must think of re-vamping his wardrobe. I'm a bit of a spontaneous shopper, so this concept is proving a little difficult to follow through, seeing as though I'm still wrapped in black from head-to-toe!

One piece which easily sees me through this transitional stage between seasons are these futuristic, unisex sunglasses from 11Null. These glasses are not my usual style, and seem to be channeling Jean-Paul and Sonny, but I actually rather like them...seriously easy to carry around (in their rolled up form, fitting perfectly into a photo film canister), they sit perfectly on your face without falling off (trust, i tried)...


I know, I know...crappy image taken on my iPhone at work...but you likey?

Friday, February 19, 2010

Merve Tuna - LCF MA 2010

I'm a big lover of taxidermy...but incorporating it into clothing, quite literally is just a little bizarre for me. I won't get into the fur debate - I don't want to ruffle any feathers - but having a fully stuffed duck/hare/fox hanging from my waist isn't really my cup of tea. But hey, fashion is open for interpretation, and I am strangely intrigued by Merve Tuna's (animal collection....fishy name?) MA collection, shown at this years London College of Fashion show.

Although the garments on their own are not pushing any sartorial boundaries, the piece above is actually rather beautiful - the pastel colours, soft fabrics and relaxed silhouette with the 'bird in flight' broach adding another level to this elegant ensemble.


I would consider these pieces as art, rather than fashion. Yet another debate that quite frankly, I can't be bothered to get into right now...but these pieces are amazing when taken away from the catwalk and viewed alone. I would happily have these displayed in my home, just not on my person.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

One step Closer to the dream...


I've had my first piece in a magazine!!! Woooo! It's not exactly high brow, but the first piece from my new job for New Look has a full page spread in Closer magazine. Above is the sketch, and the inspiration from the Preen lacing and another dress of mine (which is also going into New Look very soon).



Above, the dress in our studio...and below, the spread in Closer! One step closer to the dream.



Friday, February 12, 2010

Isabel Toledo: Fashion from the Inside Out

I think we are all very aware now of my troubling addiction to books. I cannot let a fortnight pass without purchasing another fashion/inspirational tome! Soon I will have my very own reference library - feel free to browse at your leisure!

My latest addition to this ever-growing collection is a wonderful book about the under-exposed designer, Isabel Toldeo. If I'm to be completely honest, I had not even heard of her until a few months ago when I stumbled across these images on the TwistedLamb blog (which, by the way, is pure freekin' genius).



Toledo's work is amazing, and spans many different 'genres' of fashion design - from origami, geometric, fluid drapery, architectural structure, opulence and minimalism...but above all, extremely clever cutting. Valerie Steel states in this book that unfortunately, like many designers Toledo has not had the financial backing to expand from her niche market. Widely recognised by fashion insiders, Isabel Toldeo has been running her own label for over 20 years, however it is only now that she is starting to get fully recognised and stocked across the world.



'Displaying garments Toledo has created since her first show in 1985, this book is a revelatory exploration of a fashion innovator in a mass-market industry.'


Words cannot describe the tragic loss that the fashion industy experienced yesterday, with the sudden death of a (my) hero - Lee Alexander McQueen.

Long live McQueen!

1969 - 2010

May you rest in peace.