Chanel review

I  was catching up with the catwalk shows over the last few days and thought I'd review some stunning Chanel ones.

At the Ready-to-Wear Show Fall-Winter 2017/18 there were lots of stunning clothes on the catwalk (needless to say).  I loved the sparky tights under the tweed dresses and suits; lovely green metallic trousers, shorts, skirt and jackets and my particular favourite is the black sequin jacket and top which is stunning (15 minutes in).

The soundtrack was great too - the first track is so full of impact and tension, the same with the last track, especially with its long crescendo like a roaring engine building up the tension.  There's a definite nod to the sixties with the second track when there was such a strong space-age and futuristic trend and when trends were quite child-like.  Is this a subtle reference to the peace movement at a time when the world is, as usual, in total turmoil coming after Chanel's previous protest show (protest from 9.20) again with sixties trend references in psychedelic colour and tie dye which replaced business attire. 

There were so many space references in the clothing from wide white collars on many of the dresses make me think  of astronaut suits wide collars to accommodate the helmet, the metal edging on other  necklines and the super rocket handbag!  All the current trends were there - metallics in various guises, pinks, pleats, midi skirts.  Strong but not over stated makeup which kept the feminine heritage.

The Haute Couture Show Spring-Summer 2017 which took place on January 24th, 2016 at the Grand Palais in Paris began very refined with flute music, a glass stage decorated with lillies and models in beautiful little suits.  I think the slow orchestral sounds are to relate back to the heritage of a slower pace of high society.  The music soon became contemporary, the clothes became more elaborate and detailed.  It was all purity with a light palette, whites, reflective jewels decorating clothes - the detailing like ruffles, frills, adornments is beautiful.  There's something about the exquisite detail and design that makes me tearful

There were a few black pieces, and two jewel coloured dresses made with a reflective material.  The fabrics included sequined, feathers, lace, bead encrusted - breathtakingly delightful

Models hair and make up was very elegant and subtle - absolutely no need for anything else to draw attention from the statement clothes.

Between the Ready To Wear and Haute Couture shows there was a strong element of purity and reflection, references to futuristic themes and high society tradition.  All very contemporary and artistic in one of the most fundamental ways someone can express their identity.

I've had a long week so I'll write about CHANEL Métiers d’Art show Paris Cosmopolite 2016/17 soon!

Metallics

I'm really pleased to see metallics are still on trend as I love this look.  The pleated skirts have been done to death so I've been finding some less obvious looks - it's been difficult not to get one for the styling, one for Jacki but I did well...  ASOS have a huge load of great items in this trend, it could be your one stop shop, but the best of the high street - Zara, Mango and River Island have some lovely pieces too.  I'm not suggesting wearing head to foot metallic, here are items from each category you can wear to funk up an everyday look.

There are some stunning elegant dresses available

This Missguided dress is one of my favourites so it gets flatlay board all to itself.

These other clutch bags didn't make it to the final cut - I wasn't going to go with a totally gold look so the stunning round bag didn't make it and the elaborate turquoise one was just a bit too heavy on the detail.

 

And then let's go from tops

 Skirts

Trousers

To toe with shoes

Jackets

Edgy suits for women and men

Here's an idea to wear double metallic without being too bling.  A top and a pair of boots can look really cool, either casual or smartened up for going out.

And for work you can wear a smart pair of pale grey trousers with a long sleeve silver top which looks contemporary but business like.

Trying to find tasteful coloured metallic dresses was a challenge - there were very few which didn't make the wearer look like something from a Quality Street box.  Here are the wrong uns -

And to finish off, here are some beauties.

St Andrew's Fashion Festival

I was at another emerging fashion event on Saturday 11 Feb, St Andrew's Fashion Festival at the Byre Theatre which was a small event with several stands run by local businesses, and this was the first event in a five year plan and the fashion show showcased fashion from local boutiques.
This is another great emerging idea which I hope will become part of the hub of fashion companies around Scotland which I hope will grow together to develop a proper industry providing opportunities and support for those wanting to make a career in fashion possible in Scotland.

There was a good competition for emerging designers and the event got some good local press coverage: fifetoday.co.uknew fashion festival for st andrews. Here's a link to photos from the show: facebook.com/media.

To keep up to date with the news on social media here are links:
facebookStAndrewsFF

Fashion PR - first client!

I'm developing a fashion PR company, intended to represent independent and emerging designers in Scotland and today was the first meeting with a designer client.  Toco Fashion and I first met at the Checkmate fashion show last May and then did a shoot in early Autumn and she is originally a milliner who designs amazing hats as well as some beautiful clothing and is a designer I'm incredibly pleased to be working for.

She was already familiar with the aims and ethos of my idea, and to take it further I need to hear exactly what the designers need me to do on their behalf beyond what I've already got in mind.  We had a lengthy conversation to establish what's required and once I got home I started working on that list.  I'm looking forward to seeing the first round of results which will be a lookbook and a revamped website.

She's currently planning a new collection and is at the pattern cutting stage and it sounds like a stunning, luxury resort collection.  Amazing things are taking shape!

Gaelstrom

I've been developing a magazine in my spare time over the last year and published the first issue today - I hope you enjoy Gaelstrom.  It is a melting pot of Scottish creative and cultural expression. 

Gaelstrom is about the Scottish creative industry: we've got a massive wealth of talent, productivity and inspiration.   and the purpose of the magazine is documenting and writing contemporary urban legends, alongside commentary on affairs, opinions and culture. We seek to look positively at the future to see how we can create opportunities and inspiration; to examine what Scotland's attitude is, not continue to demonstrate it's image of being tartan-tastic. I want to portray the issues we face factually and then discuss the progression we can make together.

We'll continue to be captivated by mystica themes and fantasy - that's our Celtic heritage, but will define our identity beyond the tourist perception of Brigadoon and Wee Jock. We've developed way beyond that.

I hope you enjoy this first edition and I encourage contributions for future issues.

Fashion References

I've found a few references recently so thought I'd put links to them here.

First there's Amanda Hallay's YouTube Channel The Ultimate Fashion History with a huge quantity of videos I'm working my way through from Vikings to the 1950s.  There's also a Facebook group.

This is a lovely bit of British history - a website with images from Kays Catalogue: World Of Kays which shows hundreds of images from the catalogues from the 1920s and accurately described as "social history in a book.  Having been published twice each year since the 1890s, Kays catalogues represent a fascinating archive of the way we lived in the past.  Not only are contemporary fashions included but there are also household items and luxury goods, thereby allowing the whole picture of life in past times to be examined."


 


Above: Ladies dresses in the 1930s



Above: Ladies dresses in the 1950s



1960s



1970s

It's fantastic to get these pieces of history, even better to remember the items from your own lifetime.

2017: So far, so good and looking better.

The new year so far has been good.  I've worked with a London stylist on a short film production called A Take Of Free Fittings, about a real charity, Suited And Booted, which helps vulnerable men prepare for job interviews to get their lives back on track by looking professional in order to make the best first impression they can.  On the Friday before the first production day I was running around all over London, or so it felt, doing picks ups,  buying costumes and props for filming on the Saturday and Sunday.  I loved working with Laetitia, the rest of the cast, crew and contributors were great and I loved chatting to Maria who runs Suited And Booted.

The Friday's shopping was a great way to get to know London, and it included a drop off to Burberry on New Bond Street and then to a lovely boutique, Donna Ida, in another part of London.  People have been really helpful with directions and I'm managing to learn my way around quite quickly.  The days on set were quite long but I was kept busy with getting things that were still needed and definitely made myself a good team member.

During conversation Maria told me about another charity which does the same assistance for women, and this organisation, Smart Works, has a branch in Edinburgh.  I tweaked my Image Consultant CV and sent it off with the application form and I'm going for a chat and to see their set up on Friday, so hopefully I'll be volunteering with them soon.

I've got another film coming up back in London in February, a fantastic horror-style music video in Glasgow later in Feb, then a beautiful fantasy shoot and I'm planning to run an editorial styling workshop with a photographer at his studio so have the trial run of that coming up!  I've also got flyers to distribute to attract new image consultancy clients.  And the icing on that massive layer cake is that I've been asked to style a show at Ibiza Fashion Festival in June which I'm stoked about!

Incredibly busy eh?  I'll need to work out the priority list to make it all function well ☺