Gucci gone wrong!

Is this the ugliest car ever?

Er, yes.

Sorry Gucci, but this little creation is totally chavtastic. You're doing for yourself exactly what Daniella Westbrook did for Burberry. And you know how long it took them to recover from that!

I mean, if you're aiming at the 20-something, Gucci logo wearing, Eurotrash boys (you all know who I am talking about), you've probably hit the nail on the head. Just wait for them to 'zoop' up that miniature car with super-size additions, a noisy engine and some disco lights. Just saying.

Thank God for the gorgeous Natasha Poly - not only does she hide some of that awful car, she somehow manages to add some seriously needed glamour to the ad. Still hate the car though.

Gucci: Stick to the day job. Love your clothes; hate your car.

P.S. If you're interested, this is what I'd quite like:

And if Mr Lagerfeld felt like giving me a chic (tasteful) Chanel interior then I'd be very happy!

Met Ball 2011: An ode to Alexander McQueen

After the excitement of the Royal Wedding, it was hard to believe that we would be given another fashion feast so soon, but last night the Who's Who of fashion and film came together for the annual Met Ball bash.

This year, guests paid tribute to Alexander McQueen (RIP): A wonderful theme.

There were so many amazing outfits, I just don't know where to begin. So I'll start with the lovely ladies who wore McQueen...

Sarah Jessica Parker

 Salma Hayek

Gisele Bundchen

Daphne Guinness

They all look sensational. My fave has to be Daphne Guinness - she actually looks quite silly, but only she would have the guts to wear something quite so outrageous! It doesn't look on her, quite how it looked on the catwalk earlier this year. But as a tribute to the designer, Daphne certainly get's my vote!

And for those who chose to pay tribute to McQueen in other ways, here are my top ten:

Blake Lively in Chanel

Oh gosh, I just adore this number. The figure-hugging under-layer covered in draped fabric is a stroke of pure genius.

Madonna in Stella McCartney

When Madge does it well, she really smashes it. Classic and glamorous. Lovely.

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu

 I am so feeling the thigh slit at the moment and Diane makes easy work of it in this dress.

Lily Donaldson in Erdem

If you've got it, flaunt it! Not many people could pull off this lace number, but Lily looks just divine.

Jennifer Lopez in Gucci

Love the colour, love the shape, love the frill, love it ALL!

Rene Zellweger in Carolina Herrera

Rene is always loyal to Carolina. And why not? She always look fab...and just look at those legs!

Miranda Kerr in Marchesa

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. That's all I have to say.

Fergie in Marchesa

I liked this. Then I didn't. Now I do again. I think the problem was, that it is much more delicate than we are used to seeing Fergie, but she pulls it off well.

Iman in Stella McCartney

If I look this hot when I am 55, I'd be wearing this sequin jumpsuit. Iman looks superb!

Shalom Harlow in Marchesa

The dress I love. The hair I do not. The dress has so much going on, that a sleek up-do would have been a much better finish. But, the dress itself is just amazing.

London Fashion Week AW'11, Day Five

Day Five is finally here...hoorah! Not that I don't love Fashion Week, but five days of running around town in silly heels, drinking only champagne (water has not passed my lips, which is actually rather silly as my skin now looks like that of a teenage boy) and smiling constantly, takes its toll.

Today was a busy day, so just as well that I dressed comfortably. Not!

Vest: Primark (keeping it real)
Jacket: Vintage
Necklace: Butler & Wilson (amazing, but I actually have cuts on my neck from the weight of it!)


Trousers: Yves Saint Laurent
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Bag: Chanel

And today shows were:

MARIOS SCWHAB

I've always been a fan of Marios Schwab...and he didn't disappoint. He might have played it a little safe with an homage to all of his previous seasons, but I thought it was a great collection. There were simple, flattering dresses, statement cover-ups and great details (bondage buckles being my fave!).

I love this coat. It reminds me of the coats he sent out a few years ago - I took them all the way to the glaciers of New Zealand to shoot them for Grazia. Anyway, I want this coat please.

The dresses may be simple, but they are tailored to perfection

AQUASCUTUM

Aquascutum is all about the coats and this season there were lots of them. I really like the fact that there was a more youthful feel to the collection. I've been scribbling the same words in my notebook all week: deconstruction and reconstruction (looks like Tim Blanks at Style.com has been copying my homework because he's only gone and bloody used my ideas in his show review!), and boy was that phrase appropriate here today - take the herringbone coat with the puffy gilet attached on top as an example.

I found some of the layering a bit too much, but then, you don't have to buy a whole look. I still believe that an  Aquascutum coat is an investment for life.

A sporty edge

Classic meets current

 Over-layered?

Love, love, love the blue gloves with fur detail - so fun!

High-impact outerwear

ROKSANDA ILLINCIC

Just stepping in to the salon (definitely not just a room) at the Roksanda show, was like walking in to a slice of bourgoise history. Gorgeous!

After a series of more casual looks, Roksanda showed off her real strength - beautiful dresses. Slinky, sexy and red-carpet perfect, there were yelps of delight all over the place.

Thigh high slit? Check. Maribou feathers? Check. Clashing colours? Check. 

Lust-factor? Check, check, check!

Trousers: The new dress?

I.N. 

L.O.V.E.

MEADHAM KIRCHHOFF

Now, it's quite hard to comment on this show. It was amazing, but I couldn't possibly tell you what the clothes were like. The choreography of the models' walk was simply stunning. Rather than sending out the models one-by-one, they all marched down the catwalk together, entering, leaving, entering, leaving...and then gone. Just like that.

It must have been the shortest show ever. I was so engrossed by the march that I could barely pay any attention to what the models were actually wearing.

Uber-stylist Tamara Cincik summed it up perfectly: "Ashkenazi Salem"...I'll let you have a think about that one...

ASHISH

Well, it probably comes as no surprise that I am a HUGE fan of Ashish. A man after my own heart, he's as big a fan of sequins as I am! I loved this collection and felt he'd really come on in leaps and bounds after last season's cowboy-McDonalds efforts.

Of course the announcement that this was the final show of LFW had the audience in a fabulous mood, but we were positively skipping after the fun and lightness of Ashish's work.

A sequin tribute to Chanel - I have never felt love quite like this before! 

 Lilac tartan in sequins? Who'd have thought that work so well?!

A hop, skip and a jump later, I was quaffing Moet at the My-Wardrobe party at Sketch - a totally chic soiree celebrating the website's re-launch, which you can see right here.

And that, dear readers, sums up my London Fashion Week.

 That's a lot of shows!

Wardrobe weeding with Miss Magpie

Last week was crunch time: either my wardrobe would soon burst at the seams (I know that's just a saying, but I feared that in my case, it could actually come true) or I did something drastic.

Yes, dear readers, it was time for a very premature spring clean of my wardrobe (or a very belated one, depending on how you look at it).

So today Mummy Magpie came to my aid and helped me weed out every unnecessary item of clothing from my full-to-the-brim wardrobe.

The result?

It turns out that there were a few things I could do without...

Believe it or not, I was stunned in to complete silence when we collected all my unwanted items together. Is it really possible to have this much stuff? (Well, clearly it is)

Naturally, my new New Year's resolution, once I have shifted all this at a carboot sale, is to refrain from buying/accumulating anything else! Enough is enough (unless of course, Madame Chanel or Monsieur Louboutin enter my life).

Like I said, I shall be flogging all this treasure (it is after all only my trash), at the Capital Carboot sale VERY soon, so stay tuned if you want to bag any of the following gems:

Shoes glorious shoes

 The perfect-for-winter vintage maxi

 

 Nautical crochet

Totally on-trend tartan

Figure-hugging denim

Pretty in pinstripe

A miniscule mini (no longer befitting a nearly married woman!)

1950's glamour

All sorts of arm candy

Lots of bling!

 And much, much more...

There's something for everyone so don't be shy - come and buy my wardrobe!

Details to follow soon...

And as for wardrobe weeding, I highly recommend it. I feel as light as a feather and totally guilt free. Sweet dreams one and all...

Paris Fashion Week - The big guns!

Here's a little treat for you on this rainy Wednesday morning. Chanel, YSL and Alexander McQueen all in one short, sharp dose. You lucky, lucky things!

Chanel

Karl Lagerfeld's choice of setting and scene is almost as hotly anticipated as his collections. This season he opted for a monochrome (note the prevalence of this combo) ornamental garden - tres chic.

The collection itself contained plenty of monochrome and the trad Chanel two piece suits, but this season they were given a burst of youthfulness, with unfinished hems. Instead of a neat finish, they were edged with feathers or just left raw. Feathers also made a big appearance in the show. Yay! There was also plenty of delicate chiffon, which contrasted brilliantly against the rougher fabrics used elsewhere.

As a change from the Chanel skirt suit, how gorge is this dress?

Chanel does casual. LOVE.

This gorgeous water colour print is divine.

Totally random, but oh-so cute.

Yves Saint Laurent

Stefano Pilati made this collection an homage to the late Yves Saint Laurent, taking us on a history lesson, starting at the trench coat, going right through to Le Smoking. Inbetween came 70s style jumpsuits, bow blouses, ruffles and lots of colour. A hit.

I need to get me a trench - white may be a bit of a risk though...

Zingy orange is a breath of fresh air.

Classic YSL at its best. J'adore.

Ooh-la-la - Je besoin. I need.

Alexander McQueen

Well, this is the first collection produced by the label after the death of McQueen. Sarah Burton, McQueen's new Creative Director, had a lot to prove. And prove herself she did.

The collection started simply with a very McQueen-esque tail coat and steadily gained drama, finishing in a huge maribou feather ball gown. Well, it wouldn't be McQueen without drama would it. 

In between we saw some familiar shapes and textures, making this unmistakably McQueen.

A beautiful tail coat adds subtle drama to any outfit.

 So McQueen. How many times have we seen this imitated?!

Building up the drama... Part fairy, part goddess...

The finale. I just adore this look. Utterly beautiful. I want, want, want.

There you go. Some beauty and inspiration for a Wednesday morning. Enjoy!