London Fashion Week, Day 5, Part 2

Miss Magpie may still be in recovery from the excesses of LFW but she isn't going to make you wait any longer to hear about the fab shows she saw yesterday. That's devotion for you!

Show No. 1: Jonathan Saunders

Ohh-la-la, was this a treat or what! Rather than go down the route of reviving the Seventies, which most other designers have opted for, Jonathan Saunders looked further back in time and took his inspiration from the Forties and Fifties.

The dresses were divine creations - some made for the woman in us, others for the girl.

 

You can absolutely see the 1940/50's influence shining through here. I adore this look.

 This dress is simply amazing. I love how the sheer fabric sits against the strapless body underneath. The print is so pretty and is exactly what prevents this dress from being slutty.

 From below the knee to below the bum, the hemlines shot up drastically, bringing out the naughtier side of the collection.

 Back to the longer lengths and a more tranquil colour palette...after this it went black!

As you can see the indications on hemline were not quite clear. They went from the sophisticated calf length to the very youthful mid-thigh. Though this didn't make clear who exactly Jonathan Saunders was appealing too, it made for a delightful collection. And perhaps he's just broadening his appeal?

The colours and prints made for pieces of art - blocked colour looks were separated by picture perfect florals, all of which had me desperate for a piece of Saunders.

Hair was sleek and tied back. Lips were red hot. The overall look was womanly and seductive. I was sold in minutes.

Show No. 2: Ashish

If you have some knowledge of Ashish and if you have been reading this blog for long enough, you'll know that we are a match made in heaven. Ashish's trade mark is his use of sequins, mine is how much I wear them.

This season, Ashish went for a Wild West theme. It was Dolly Parton meets Lily Savage meets the Village People meets a sequin explosion. Camper than anything and it sounds totally bizarre...but I loved it.

The first look got the sequin ball rolling in a very dazzling, high energy way: a simple black sequin dress, with a sequin red bandana scarf and a pair of cowboy boots. The boots. on first glance, are just a pair of cowboy boots, but on closer inspection one shows the MacDonalds logo and the other, a label of a Heinz Baked Beans tin. Social commentary on a pair of boots? Love it.

I'm thinking Pocahontas was one inspiration here, i.e. the feather headpiece and cropped top. The second piece of inspiration, it seems, was a cow. I'd love to be in the mind of Ashish Gupta!

When this headpiece came down, I could only think of doing the Can-Can. That or some kind of American Indian chanting around a campfire. Just goes to show how fun and exciting the show was.

Each piece was a larger-than-life, pailette or fringe covered version of its ancestor. The fringed jeans were clearly a mistake (sorry - was too horrified to take pictures of them) and the headpieces, well they were fabulous...though perhaps better reserved for fancy dress!

Show No. 3: Issa

Now, I must admit that I've always thought of Issa as a bit samey and uninspiring. I was wrong. This collection was just gorgeous...beautiful...magnificent...

Jewel colours ruled the collection and actually managed to look chic rather than tacky.

Elegant and lady-like, with the perfect dose of glamour.

The few prints included in the collection were bold and bright. The trousers looked so incredibly comfortable. I want some!

The inspiration was India - I'm guessing this is where the colours and draped sari-like pieces came from. The wrapped head pieces looked more African and the printed fabric (above) more Cubist  to me. But forgetting that, the collection really was gorgeous and very, very wearable.

Coming next... All the trends from London Fashion Week.

London Fashion Week, Day 5

Ooooh! The last day of London Fashion Week is upon us (well, actually, as I sit here typing away in my pyjamas it's well and truly over) bringing joy and sadness all around.


Reasons to be happy:
- My feet can finally recover
- I might actually get some sleep
- No more queuing for shows that never start on time
- No need to be smiley, chatty and interested 24/7

Why it is sad:
- I'll miss getting dolled up every morning (just not a practical thing for real life)
- No more liquid lunches with the lovely Elaine
- No more beautiful shows by some of the world's most talented designers

...though having said all that, there's only 6 months until the next round!

Here's how I dressed up for Day 5:

Actually, this is not the complete look - I had to take off my uber-chunky scarf as the powers that be have given us the most glorious late September weather this Fashion Week. This is a Buddhist Punk dress, long at the back (I should probably get some form of payment for sweeping the streets of London today) and very short at the front (don't forget that it's is sheer), those fab Bertie shoes and some brighter-than-bright pink lippie.

I have a feeling I may have flashed my knick-knacks on more than one occasion today. Oops! I just made it look 'fashion' - hopefully everyone bought that.

My favourite moment has to be arriving to meet my beau at Canary Wharf for a spot of lunch (he's off to Hong Kong for a week - sad face). I do believe those banker types have never seen bare knees before - ok, bare thighs in my case. I left behind a trail of shocked faces. Seriously, they should have got down to Somerset House this week for some real education!

Anyway, coming soon will be all of the goss from Day 5: Jonathan Saunders, Ashish, Issa. Watch this space!

London Fashion Week, Day 4...cont.

Ok, so are you over the excitement of my previous post yet? Probably not, but there's lot more to show you still so let us continue.

Let's not overlook Nicole Farhi's actual collection - the front row turn-out has slightly overshadowed that and I think we should give credit where credit is due.

Now, I'm not normally the Nicole Farhi type. I can totally appreciate the workmanship, tailoring and quality fabric, but have never been so convinced that I've made a purchase. But this collection spoke to me.

Why?

 

You guessed it! Sparkles, glamour and fun. Miss Magpie's cup of tea exactly.

There were some looks that I totally didn't get though. Some strange flashes of PVC that were not what you would expect from Nicole Farhi at all...and which maybe were better left out.

Looks a bit flammable really, doesn't it.

Despite that though, I'd say it was a success!

London Fashion Week, Day 4

OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!

Today I witnessed the FROW to beat all front rows. Well done Nicole Farhi. It was like being on safari and seeing all of the Big 5 in one sighting (for those who have never been on safari, that's almost impossible).

From the left: Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, French Vogue's Carine Roitfeld, The Times' Carolyn Asome, Harpers' Sarah Bailey, some randoms, Nicola Copping, Bill Nighy, US Vogue's Anna Wintour, Vogue's Hamish Bowles

Does it get much better than that?

And because I wasn't sure when I'll ever see this sight again, I got a bit snap-happy!

Anna Wintour and Hilary Alexander having a chin-wag

The coolest mother and daughter duet around

Hamish Bowles looking ever so dapper

Oh and her...

Very long, chunky scarf from Zara, structured hem dress from a boutique in NYC and my new Bertie shoes. Doesn't quite compete with the FROW I know...but thought I'd throw it in for good measure.

I'll let you get over the excitement of this post before I go in to show details. Read it and weep!

London Fashion Week, Day 3...cont.

Hello, hello...

I promised you Richard Nicoll. Here you are.

A sheer twin-set encrusted with Swarovski crystals, teamed with a patent PVC fishtail pencil skirt - a sort of 'proper' take on fetishism. I think Richard actually plucked this out of my dreams. I want it ALL.

There was lots of monochrome going on, which made quite a stark contrast to the softer nude colours filling the collection.

This look shows you quite how much the Seventies influenced Richard Nicoll. I adore the pleated chiffon and the fluidity it provides.

These three pics might make the collection look quite erratic but what it actually shows is the period in time Nicoll was referencing. To be precise he was looking back at a few years in the Seventies between the days of glam-rock and punk. David Bowie was, apparently, a huge inspiration (and naturally the music all came from him). I'm not so au fait with that particular period in history, but what I can tell you is that it provided a great source of inspiration for RN.

The collection is the perfect balance of femininity, edge and glamour. I heart big time!

As Elaine and I left the show we spotted model du jour Jourdan Dunn. Perhaps it was the pre-show champers or maybe a rare moment of supreme confidence but...

What a way to make yourself feel short, fat and ugly.

Here's what I looked like without a model by my side:

I think I prefer the solo look!

London Fashion Week, Day 3

Another dawn, another day. And when I say dawn, I mean it. I was up at the crack of it this morning. 6am to be precise, because my first show this Sunday morning was at 9am. Yes, 9am. Should be illegal. As I brushed my hair, I watched a girl, pissed as a fart, stumble through the streets on what I hope was her way home.

But finally the lack of sleep and the sore feet became worth it...

Show No. 1: Basso & Brooke

I have a real soft spot for Basso & Brooke. I always have. After today, I think I always will.

Basso & Brooke are the masters of the print and they clash them with complete assurance and dexterity. This collection contained newspaper print, florals, musical score and even more obscure patterns, all happily sitting side-by-side.

Floating silks and chiffons made this collection beautifully feminine and entirely flattering. Sticking to simple shapes and clean lines meant that the prints were left to speak for themselves. And that they did.

Well done boys - it was brill!


Show No. 2 - Richard Nicoll

This show was the highlight of my LFW so far. My photos are terrible so I am going to wait until I have something worth showing you before I share quite how fantastic it was.

FYI the venue was fab - The old Eurostar Terminal at Waterloo:

Train tracks and everything.

Ok, lets meet again tomorrow and I promise you, the Richard Nicoll show is worth coming back for...

London Fashion Week, Day2, Part 2

Ok, it might be the end of day 3, but here's a round-up of my second day. Better late than never, here I go...

Show No.1: Betty Jackson 

Simultaneously glam and frumpy, this collection was an interesting mix of midi skirts, maribou feathers and bare midriffs. Slightly schizophrenic really.

The inspiration was the 1940's, but the colours, fabrics and textures totally current.

In the flesh this look was gorge. The feather skirt peeking through the coat fluttered as the model sashayed down the catwalk so delicately I was completely mesmerized.

From showing barely any flesh, to showing lots of it there seemed to be a style to suit most needs.

There were no real revelations, but I guess that's Betty for you.

Show No. 2: Osman

This was dullness incarnate. Osman Yousefzada is a master of minimalism, but for SS'11 he took it one step too far. Hessian sacks were my lasting memory. You think I joke. I don't.

See what I mean? I shan't bore you with more.

Vogue's Alexandra Shulman, Grazia's Paula Reid and the mystery cowboy I see at every LFW didn't seem impressed either!

Show No. 3: John Rocha

Thank f* for John Rocha who finally managed to lift my spirits after a very drab day!

With structure came fluidity, with light came dark, with big hair came even bigger hats, with grunge came femininity, with sheer came opaque; this was collection built on contradictions. It worked!

 Structure

Opaque vs. sheer

Big hair = big hat

Not that my pictures do it any justice. Here's one of my fave looks (taken by a real photographer):

But then came along something quite suspiscious:

Isn't that just a wee bit Chanel-alike????

Seems everyone this LFW is stuck for original ideas, borrowing from here, there and everywhere!

London Fashion Week, Day2

Dear Wisdom Tooth,

Please stop causing me pain. Please let me sleep. Please go away.

Please, please, please.

Love Miss Magpie x

------------------------------------

Dear darling feet,

Please do not turn on me this weekend. I know I don't always treat you right but I promise I'll make it up to you as soon as LFW is over. I will wear flats and Ugg boots for a whole week. Please just hold on a little longer.

Yours truly,
Miss Magpie and her very pretty shoes
xxx

---------------------------------------

Yes, I woke up this morning to some extremely painful toothache and a pair of seriously numb feet. Ouch! Unable to move I missed my first few shows of the day. Boo!

As I dragged myself in to the shower, I got THE best phone call. Miss Elaine Greenshields - Fashion and Beauty Director of Grazia Middle East and my ex-boss - had landed in London. Yippee!!

I was at Somerset House to meet Elaine in no time and look what I found upon my arrival:

OMG!!!!! Elaine is the proud new owner of this season's hottest footwear - Burberry's shearling boots. Jealous? Just a teensy little bit.

Elaine is so going to kill me for putting this pic up (she's very camera shy), but I think she looks fab. Utterly chic and classic.

I, on the other hand, opted for the slut-chic look...again.

I gave the thigh-high boots another chance - I will not be defeated. This time though, I chose to cover up with a pair of orange lace leggings. Ok, so they don't really tone down the OTK boots but I'm pretty sure that the white van drivers of this world don't find them interesting. In fact, I think they found them quite confusing.

Miss Magpie 1. WVDs 0.

It is now 1am on Day 3, so if you don't mind I think I shall go and rest my weary head and let you know all about today's shows tomorrow. Adieu.

London Fashion Week - Day 1, Part 2

A quick outfit change later...

[FYI Yves Saint Laurent sequin trousers, black pony skin Loubs, new military cardi-jacket and orange Ayla Maxi-clutch]

Show No. 4: Ashley Isham

After the ridiculously long wait to get seated for this show, I was really praying that it was blow-your-mind fantastic. Hmmm.

The collection consisted of a series of party dresses that, quite frankly, were pretty tasteless and totally OTT (and you know how much I like over-the-top glamour), to the point of tacky. Because I seem to be sounding like a broken record this season, I'll admit that there were a couple of looks I thought were passable, namely the feathered dresses.

 
A bit drag queen at Carnival though, no? Trust me, these were the better looks.

Don't get me started on the headpieces. Ideal for editorial shoots, but real life? Er, never.

Next...

Show No. 5: PPQ

The PPQ show is always highly anticipated, always draws in the celebs, is always packed. This season was no different.

There's Paloma Faith in some Mickey Mouse disco ball ears. I'm rather penchant to a bit of wacky headgear, so she gets my thumbs up.


WARNING! Broken record coming up again.

A wee-willy-winky nightie, some unflattering shiny blue fabric and a matching fez. Each to their own I guess, but I really don't understand the inspiration behind the collection at all. It was not cohesive, it didn't seem to have a story and it looked completely high-street.

Everyone was going crazy for this print. It's pretty, yes, but, in the words of Sisi G, 'it's so Topshop'. Agreed. In fact, unless you are below the age of 21 (which I am most certainly not) you wouldn't be able to get away with it, at all.
 

 
This was a very random look thrown in to the collection...thankfully! I love it. A very simple figure hugging number with a sexy hood - perfect. If only the rest of the collection had followed this simple aesthetic, there'd have been smiles all around!

The bags were fab too!

At last came partytime...

LFW Party No.1: PPQ

Much like the PPQ shows, the PPQ party is guaranteed to be jam-packed with uber-cools. The venue was a generic hotel in Waterloo (the fact that I have been to a wedding there should have set the alarm bells ringing), the bar lacked anything anyone actually wanted to drink and it was not packed in the slightest. Apparently, the fashion elite were partying in private at a penthouse upstairs. The cheek!

While I was waiting for the party to get started (sadly that never happened) I got a little make-up touch-up from the lovely girls at Benefit....

...then I hung out with some friends and left before midnight, a la Cinderella.

Celeb sightings: Jamelia, Gizzy Erskine (that cooking girl), a famous DJ I didn't recognise (or know for that matter)...you get the idea.

Here's hoping day 2 will be better.

London Fashion Week - Day 1

London Fashion Week is here. The pitter-patter of stilettos fills the air, the outrageous meets the down-right strange and the city is at its sartorial  best.

Here's how I welcomed in LFW Spring/Summer '11:

Animal print top: Zara; Cardi: H&M (a long, long time ago); Dress: Topshop; 

Boots: Dune; Bag: Luella, Necklace: Agatha

Yes, I left the house at 7.30am wearing thigh-high boots. I didn't think this was a problem until I realised that a lot of white van drivers are also setting off on their days at that time too. Big problem actually. I felt more like I was doing the walk of shame than heading off to feast of fashion.

Anyway, I'm changing for this evening, so all those yucky men can keep their mouths closed now!

Show 1: Paul Costelloe

Really, really pretty and feminine dresses... Beautiful fabrics and textures... Structure and shape to die for. I was pleasantly surprised!! Lighting - sadly not so good for my photos...

So you see, feminine, flirty and totally wearable. I'm a huge fan of the peplum so I'm over the moon that they are coming back!

Also - messy beehives and bright pink lipstick...OH YES! OH YES! OH YES!

Show 2: Maria Grachvogel

I don't want to sound like a bitch, but I'm going to. I was left totally uninspired and unexcited by this show. It's pretty much the same as last season, except with a different colour palette. Woohoo. Not. However through the blah-ness, there were a couple of pieces I quite liked.

These canary yellow shorts could add impact to a wardrobe.

Obviously you won't be seeing me going out of the house with that much flesh exposed (well, not that bit of flesh exposed anyway), but thought this look had a mature sexiness to it.

There's a video to come - I just need to figure out how exactly I do that!

Show 3: Bora Aksu

Best bit of this show?

THE Hilary Alexander sitting on the floor!!! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Snaps to her though - she came in late and insisted she sit there so as not to make any commotion. Other editors would have stormed straight through!

This collection was a bit creepy-crawly for my liking...quite literally bugs everywhere!

Clothing-wise it wasn't really my cup of tea but I did find a few pieces that I thought were pretty strong.

So you see, cool separates. When i get the vid up you'll see what I mean about the rest.

Ok, break over - got to get back to it.

Laters!