REETALICIOUS

WOWOWOWOOWOWOW. I AM IN AWE. I loveeeee both of these outfits. The styling, hair, make-up (FYI, blood red lips are my current fave) to the gold sandals. Words cannot describe how much I LOVE Rita Ora's outfits at this year's MOBO Awards, held in Liverpool.

Two very different looks but both as amazing as each other. I want to know who her stylist is and I want to work with them NOW!

A/W 2012 Mugler white dress

A/W 2012 McQ by Alexander McQueen floral dress

I have been staring incessantly at these photographs to get some inspiration for my upcoming Christmas parties, but let's face it I'll never look as good as the Ora here!

What do you think of Rita's look?

*** Images courtesy of Daily Mail online, which you can view by clicking here.

"It's vintage...from the 80s"

Any avid followers of my blog and Twitter may have noticed I made a recent TV appearance on The Graham Norton Show...IN THE RED CHAIR. Gulp.

After applying for the show after a dare from my friend at work, I thought 'Oh I'll never get picked' lo and behold I get a call from the Producer on the Saturday asking me and my friends to come down the next day. I get there and after getting in to the studio, had to tell my story in front of the 7 other red chair candidates. After hearing the variety of stories, I confirmed to myself that I wouldn't be selected and to just enjoy the show. OH HOW I WAS WRONG.

I was chosen and was a bag of nerves (as you can see by clicking here). On the upside a fair amount of airtime was spent on my outfit - namely my 'Quality Street' vintage jacket from a shop in Glasgow, along with my black H&M dress, chiffon Zara top and chunky Miss Selfridge gem bracelet. Not to mention my staple flowers in my hair, Russian Red MAC lippy and re-dyed red hair.

It was a lot of fun and I found Graham Norton to be as friendly as he appears on TV. Hope you  all enjoy reveling in my sheer embarrassment, which FYI was in front of Daniel, Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem and of Monsters and Men - EEK!

Chatting to Graham

Affronted!

Oh Daniel Craig is watching me. Hope I'm looking good!

Off I go - WHOOSH!

Happy Friday! 

Ragged Priest

Ok guys, I'm a teensy bit late to the party but discovering Ragged Priest has really changed my life. It was a rainy Friday afternoon when I stumbled into the flagship Topshop store on Oxford Street and, whilst waiting for the boy, I decided to take a wander down to the lower depths of what is sometimes, my fashion hell.

Coming upon the rails and rails of unique (and admittedly slightly cheaper than Topshop's usual over-priced and over-produced tat) introduced me to an array of fun and quirky designers. It was there my love affair began with Ragged Priest.

It began a few months ago when I started donning a vampish blood red MAC lipstick, where I started to develop a love of S&M inspired clothing. Ok ok, I'm not one to follow trends but I can't help love a bit of the S&M. However NO I will not be delving into Fifty Shades of Tripe anytime soon.

When a clothing brand has an eye catching, unique website I feel, particularly in today's digital mad era, a deeper love for them as it shows they're really trying to not just push their look out there but their overall aesthetic, be that fashion films, club nights or the utilization of top bloggers-cum-models. And this my blogettes, is what Ragged Priest do really well.

I heartily recommend you 1) visit their website and 2) buy something. Here's my favourite Ragged Priest items below, along with a 'look what I got'...

TO BE PURCHASED!!!

What I bought - pic of me donning this to follow!

So, what I learned from Ragged Priest is that I'm not as much of a prude as I thought I was and bloody love leather, spikes and chains all in one ensemble. I'll leave the S&M parties until next year though.

Emma x

Neon Hitch - Style icon in the making

I love a good wee nosy at the latest up and coming fashionistas. It's always towards the end of the year a new crop of stylistic talent emerge, who will then over the course of the next year, dominate everything from our ear dreams to Topshop. This year it was the reign of Mercury prize nominated Jessie Ware, the amazing Brooklyn based rapper Azealia Banks and Australia's own version of Azealia, Iggy Azelea. 

So who will be on our radar next year? Why British songtress Neon Hitch of course! What really makes a popstar these days is those with a strong aesthetic - for Azealia Banks it's all crazy coloured weaves and S&M crop tops. Neon Hitch is no different - and yes, that's her real name!

I adore Neon Hitch. I love her hair and her overall style and could spend all day poring over images of her hairstyles and outfits. She has a look which combines cool and quirky East London with Anna Dello Russo, with a look is so in your face you can't help but stare. ABSOLUTELY.LOVE.IT. On another note, the key colour for next S/S '13 is set to orange, as per Neon's hair colour. 

Now, time to have a wee perve at this lady's amazing style and wardrobe...

Watch this space for a new style icon in the making! And you can check out Neon Hitch's music on her website by clicking here. 

Emma x

Outfit of the Week

What a wet Monday!

Thought I would introduce a new weekly post to my blog, that of 'Outfit of the Week'. As I'm so obsessed with celebrity news and keeping my eye out for new designers, it's only apt I have this slot to showcase my thoughts on all the trends and designers which emerge over time!

Therefore, my first outfit of the week is Sienna Miller in an Alessandra Rich white cape dress...

The iconic Lulu Guinness clutch and doubled gold cuffs (see a previous post on this trend!) really make this outfit and offset with her simple hair and make-up make her look exquisite. I've long been a fan of this dress cut and love the glamour it evokes.

A very popular dress style in the 1930s I'm glad to see this making waves in 2012 and have been seeking out my very own vintage caped number in East London's vintage stores. In the meantime here's my favourite high street caped dress...

ASOS - Sold out boo :( 

Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B caped dress

I went to purchase the ASOS caped dress earlier this summer and was absolutely devo'd to have missed out on this due there being none of my sizes left in stock. Please bring this back next summer! And the L.A.M.B number is wishful fancy. My best bet to get this style of dress is Ebay if I'm honest. Trust me, we will all be looking like Snape in no time!

Now I'm off to Brick Lane to hunt down a caped dress yet again...

Emma x

Back in style!

My my I haven't blogged in some time. Now I'm back! Recently it's been a whirlwind of work, the BF moving to London and saying goodbye to yet another London summer. I'm super excited for Halloween and Christmas - hiya festive wear. I've already spied a few wee gems out and about and reckon my colour of this festive season will be emerald green, a colour which works well with my super pale skin and green eyes!

 

A few fashion things I am loving at the moment include...

 

1) The Lana Del Rey H&M collection - notably the jewellery.

2) The Anna Dello Russo collection at H&M - they continue to smash it!

3) My Primark vests - cropped at the front long at the back, love a floaty number.

4) Neutral colours on a Sunday - lot's of khaki and dark greys.

5) My new Ragged Priest dress - post to follow on that...

 

For those interested, here's some photos of what I've been up to lately...

Old dress (Internacionale!) and my croissant up-do



Dalston wear - vintage jacket and headscarf, Beyond Retro

Sunday roast with the BF and best pallies

London Fields poser - homemade floral crown and vintage Hawain print dress (ignore the socks!)

Few tinnies on Primrose Hill - vintage dress and H&M Lana Del Rey earrings

Vintage tea print dress (Sally Army no) and faux Converse. Love these ASOS sunglasses too.

Hair bow, LDR earrings and Primark Chanel-esque dress

Ragged priest dress, H&M earrings and MAC dark red lipstick

Primark vest top as dress and vintage Kangol hat - and my best accessory, one of my bessers Kazza

Topshop bell skirt, customized vintage jacket-cum-top and Primark neckpiece



I got sent a great book on fashion stylists this week which I'm getting into and will let you know my thoughts on shortly!

Emma x


 

Frills a-go-go

Brief post today to bleet on about how in LOVE I am with the dress worn by model and actress Laura Bailey at the Anna Karenina premiere in London last night.

I love anything with frills and this is just simply beautiful. It's rather annoying me that nowhere I'm looking had identified the designer - although it definitely has hallmarks of a Valentino design with the elegant tailoring and innovative use of chiffon. A great Glorious Garment of the day for you!

Laura Bailey

Hope you're all enjoying this sunny weather - I just wished I hadn't worn black tights today eek!

Emma x

Baroque is Back

Baroque has to be one of my favourite trends in the world. My wardrobe is filled to the brim with metallics, sequins and gold, and I've always been heavily influenced by the glitz and glamour style of Studio 54 back in the 70s. Which makes me very happy to see that the Baroque trend is set to dominate Autumn/Winter 2012 and the high street is getting stocked up to the brim with baroque inspired garments.  

It was upon coming across a photograph of singer Paloma Faith in this a-may-zing gold and black Baroque number which has inspired me to get out of my summer florals and back to my heavy metallics and vivid golds this Autumn...

Paloma Faith, vintage, August 2012

Having studied the Baroque art period at University, you can indeed take elements from this art form, and input these into your clothing pertaining you get the balance between old and modern right. You can do this either with a slick of plum or deep red lipstick or by adding sparkling, colourful clip on earrings.

Baroque stems from an art form which ran rampant in Italy during the 1600s. Sculptors and painters, such as Bernini and Cararvaggio, were pioneers of this art form as it suited the dramatic subject matter which they executed in their works. Essentially meaning "rough or imperfect pearl", baroque in today's culture evokes drama, colour of depth and in a sense, flamboyancey. Perfect for Autumn fashion.

See how you can translate the colours and forms seen in my two favourite Baroque painters Caravaggio and Peter Paul Rubens into your clothing below...

Caravaggio, "The Conversion on the Way to Damascus", 1601

Peter Paul Rubens, "The Four Continents", 1615

The rich tones and qualities of the Baroque era work really well for Autumn/Winter, and you can find a wealth of garments ideal for this style in vintage clothing stores and markets across the UK. Keep your eyes peeled for jacquard jackets and dresses, vintage oversized clip on earrings and chiffon fabrics to nail this trend on the head.

If you don't want to get your vintage in nor rake through piles of old clothing, ASOS currently have some brilliant items on their site all at relatively decent prices. See some of my favourite ways to achieve the Baroque look, images courtesy of ASOS, below...

ASOS Dolly Bird dress, £75

ASOS Mini skirt in Metallic Jacquard, £35

ASOS Premium Darling Drop Bug Earrings, £20

Now, I know we may still have a few weeks of summer left, yet for those who are already planning their autumn/winter wardrobes (like me) I hope you all embrace the Baroque trend as much as I will be!

Emma x

Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton - A Style Tour de Force

I've been meaning to write a post on the recent Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton collaboration for a long time as this is possibly my favourite art/fashion collaboration EVER. For those requiring an art historical insight Kusama, I'm your blogger, with an expensive Art History degree which conveniently drains my finances each month. I knew that degree would come in handy one day.

Japanese born artist Kusama perpetuates her installation and performance art pieces with a dizzying array of polka dots and colour making her the ideal candidate to create an accessories and clothing collection for Parisian design house Louis Vuitton. When embarking on writing my University dissertation I opted to write 12,000 on the wonders of Kusama's works however my advisor warned me she wasn't big enough an artist to merit 12,000 words on and to focus on the German Modernist art movement instead.  Well Mrs Advisor, after this year's Tate exhibition and now collaboration with one of the world's biggest fashion house I think you have been proven wrong.

Kusama was the Yoko Ono before Yoko Ono. Her beauty, creativity and skill made her a tour de force of artistic wonder and praise in New York during the 1970s. Her pop up installation and performance artworks took form in warehouses and on trees dotted around the city. One notable aspect of Kusama's work that must be recognized is that she suffers from a debilitating mental illness, and her polka dots are her cathartic way of dealing with the mental illness she's suffered since a young girl. To this day, Kusama creates her work in a studio next to her home in a mental institute in her native Japan. In today's society, where mental illness inflicts so many of us, she truly was a pioneer of her time showing that despite being mentally ill you still have the power to create and become something amazing. 

Here are two of my favourite photographs of Kusama during her 1970s artistic peak and illustrate to you how much input she has had in the Vuitton collaboration we see now...

Kusama's personal style is also one that must be admired and I love an artist who actually 'wears' her art, again reinforcing that she is the ideal artist for a top fashion house to work with. Bright coloured textiles and patterns, combined with quirky accessorising and wigs is a fashion win for me and I would love to be able to match my outfit to my wallpaper. Who knows, this could be a future fashion trend...

You can visit Kusama and Louis Vuitton's concept store in London's Selfridges until 1st October 2012. Just go for a look, you don't even need to buy anything, after all - it's art! See some amazing images of the collection below...

Hope you enjoyed reading this rather belated post!

Emma x

*** Images courtesy of Louis Vuitton, Selfridges and Artcyclopedia.