CHANEL - Métiers D'Art 2009

There aren't many opinions out there about Chanel that would argue that it is iconic, beautiful and elegant!
An unmistakable style, which has become somewhat Holy Grail of fashion must haves ie: the black 2.55 Chanel quitted bag! - sniff oh how beautiful!

Last week in Paris Karl Lagerfeld launched his 7th show entitled Chanel's métiers d'art collection. He launched the Chanel's métiers d'art collections in 2002 as a way to showcase the skills of the house-owned specialty couture ateliers, pioneering a trend to hyper-luxury.

Although Karl lagerfeld bothers me alot of the time, either by his opinions or mannerisms he is without a doubt a creative genius and a master of reinvention! A strong statement but I can't ignore how completely talented in the ways of fashion!

Alittle know fact is that he sold his name to an unknown brand, I think its called Tommy Hilfiger in 2005, although he kept the full design rights control - weird!

I guess that's neither here nor there when he produced an amazing show in Paris last week. I thought it was quite theatrical and very Russian in content, an extravagant production with astrakhan muffs to fantasy folkloric headdresses.

"There are three things I like about Russia,I love Imperial Russia, from Catherine the Great to Fabergé. I love constructivism, of course. And I love Russian folklore, which is very special. What was fun was to mix it all.”

Roisin Murphy -WOOP

After attending her show last night in the Olympia Theatre, I really thought I better say, "Hats off to you miss Murphy"!!!

I've loved her ballsy eclectic style for quite awhile now and her unapologetic and against the grain approach she takes to fashion.

"All the fashion stuff is a performance...it shouldn't be taken too seriously even though it is an art form in itself".

She leaves you with a very theatrical taste with her style, whether she's on stage or off! To be honest she makes it pretty hard to see the line though.....

I was taking a video last night of her singing in this outfit and I found myself zooming in on this fur jacket rather than her.....this is probably pretty wrong but hey it was one damn nice jacket!!!

"I'm proud of my mistakes. They come from being self styled and brave"

She is unsurprisingly a muse to designer Roksanda Illinic.

I'm glad we can claim her as our very own as she was born in Arklow in 1976 and didn't move to England till the age of 12!

Delighted!Shes a brillant performer with an amazing self style!

PIXIE!

Pixie Geldof is now the face of New Looks limited Edition Range.

These pictures shot by Vogue, reveal new looks decadent winter collection with a casual punk twist, I think she prefectly fits this catagory of style!
Shes reportedly getting 160,000 dollars for these 8 pieces so im dying to see what these look like in the shops, and see if its worth it

Delighted!!

LUELLA lllllllluuuuueellla

Ladylike and quirky, a punk inspired Chanel-ism with a dip dye from the British Music scence.....with an extremly English feeling. These are the thoughts that flow when i think of the lovely Luella!

Alexa chung, Roisin murphy, Kelly osbourne, Jamie winestone (who is going out with Lilly allens brother but I often wonder why the hell shes in every magazine...including vogue?), Cameron diaz, Chole sevigny, Sienna miller are to name but a few of this woman's dedicated followers of fashion...the beauty that is Luella!!

Luella ready-to-wear collection 2008.

Bagrew up in the town Stratford-upon-Avon ,London to study fashion journalism at Central St. Martin's College of Art and Design.She entered the fashion industry as a journalist, writing for Vogue, The Face, and Dazed & Confused.

Just two rando's in the crowd at her ready-to-wear Collection 2008.

Effortlessly cool Luella Bartley traded in her Journalistic mind for a needle and thread and decided to take the reins herself, resulting in the whimsical, floaty and edgy label Luella back in 1999. With her first collection entitled "Daddy, I want a Pony" which she showcased at a friend’s apartment. A year later, she was awarded Britain’s Young Designer of the Year award.
Her second show was entitled "Daddy, who were the Clash?" in 2000

No suprise there then that shes getting inspiration from music so??

After six and a half years based in New York. She opened her first store, in London's Brook Street in 2004.
She creates many ready-to wear collections, and if u flick though the collections you will be so suprised that all her designs look so familar???...her work has filtered down into the High street (delighted!) with cardigans, high waisted skirts, pasily prints, pretty dresses which you will find in the likes of topshop, urban outfitters etc...YYYEaaaaii for us!

Luella ready-to-wear spring 2008

She said of her 2008 collection "It was about Thora Birch in Ghost World. A bit geeky and cartoonish," ......all her clothes actually really remind me of the newish show "gossip Girl" , a mix of high fashion, geek and chic!

This is definetly always a newness and novelty feeling to her clothes and collections alike, there is so much more we're going to see for this lady and her fair beautiful clothes!

Jane Birkin -A style Icon

On vois aime J. Birkin.

You may not know the name Jane Birkin but unless you've been living under a rock you'll have heard of the Birkin Bag.

Famously, Hermès named and designed the famous "birkin bag" for her in 1984 after the actress was seen in 1981 by the head of Hermès struggling with several bags while boarding an aeroplane. The Birkin bag has become one of Hermès' most popular and expensive handbags.
Grace Kelly is the only other muse of the prized Hermès bag

Katie Holmes holding the iconic Brikin Bag.

Im actually fascinated with her and her life, She has made me want to live in the 1960's . Her bohemian-luxe style appears timeless and effortless.I think its a combination of the era she was in coupled with influences from London and France. I admire her authentic style.

She is an english born french actress from London, she has starred in many controversal films and songs such as 1968 Blowup!

She has said in interviews that she was heavily influenced by the men she was involved with.

"The truth is I did all those things to please the men I liked at the time. I always did what they wanted, as I was scared of losing them."

This is shown in the release of the song "Je t'amie....mon noi plus"(i love you....me neither) written by Serge Gainsbourg initially for Brigitte Bardot, but she begged him not to release due to its sexual explicitness. However Jane agreed to release it when Serge said she would never do anything like that.

It was banned in many europe cities owning to its No. 1 success in the UK!

Cannes film festivel 1969

Cannes Film festivel 1974

She was married to John Barry their daughter, the photographer Kate Barry, was born in 1967.
A creative relationship with her mentor Serge Gainsbourg — Their daughter is actress Charolette Gainsbourg. In 1982 she gave birth to her third daughter, Lou Dillion (who in my opinion may not look very like Jane retains the same effortless style) from her relationship with the directorJacque Doillon. She now resides in Paris because she fell in love with it during her relationship with Serge!

Jane was and still is a style icon, she had the amazing mix of classic english mixed with effortless french chic that i find so inspirational!

She never looked completely polished, always looking like she's just rolled out of bed which gives her that sytlish yet unstyled natural nonchalance (yup i just used the word nonchalance ...any chance i get im taking). Most Irish people cannot get away with this level of scruffiness - we just end up looking like we need a good wash!

Alexa Chung!!

Alexa has a laid-back, London street chic with an indie retro twist style...how very Marc Jacobs in my opinion. The British model-turned-TV presenter has a individualistic way of putting herself together with just the right mix of classy with an little edge.

Take quirky, high street, vintage and a pinch of designer and there you get the style of Alexa Chung.
A combination which has definetly gotten better in the last couple of years ....or maybe just since she cut her hair and got free designer clothes...unsure as to which!

But whatever the case i like it and have become a firm fan!

I think she seems fun and is having fun with fashion and abit of a laugh rather than taking it all too seriously/boringly samey as some other people seem to do!
Making her interesting to watch!

She has a great mix of high street with high fashion, couture...a very achievable style with a few key pieces....leading us to believe we can all be just like Alexa type of thing!
Shes dresses in a way like any one would, recycling pieces and wearing them over and over again, shoes, bags, necklaces etc...

She frequently wears clothes from Topshop, H&M and off course she has said a major fan of Vintage shopping in all the usual London Haunts. Beyond Retro on Great Marlborough Street, This Shop Rocks and Relik, in west London along with all the other places scattered on Brick Lane are amoung her favourites!

Even though we cannot claim her as our own, our Euorpean shores will be losing her to the big (often but not always) bad (...ly dressed) USA as she will be presenting TRL in the new year over there!

It will be really interesting to watch her style and to see will it evolve with the move ..... however I'll hope that she says true to the london form!
One lady to watch!

Alber Elbaz

Tulip skirts, oversized beads and the flat pump.....I am guilty guilty guilty of loving all of these items, and if you are among the others who feel the same way inclined, you only have one fabulously talented Israeli man to thank for adding these to our lives and wardrobes!

....And up until recently I had never heard of him - Fore shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spring 2009-Lanvin

Spring 2009-Lanvin

Spring 2009-Lanvin

Alber (Born as "Albert" but he decided it would be far more fashionable and chic when he moved to New York to drop the "t", that and taking up drinking coffee...what a funny little man) Elbaz, has had quite the eclectic career for a fashion Designer.

Summer Collection 2008 - Lanvin

He started off at 18 in the Israeli army, when he returned went to design college, moved to New York and began his path to Lanvin, Paris.
He was famously fired from YSL by Tom Ford, which he has said was one of the lowest times in his life!
But everything happens for a reason and now he's the artistic director for the oldest extant fashion house worldwide, Lanvin in beautiful Paris.
Alber is famously known for his wearable, simple and feminine haute couture featuring feathers, chunky jewellery, sporty tailoring. His style has been embraced by the fashion press and celebrates such as Kate Moss, Nicole Kidman, Chloe Sevigny......

Spring 2009-Lanvin

Spring 2009-Lanvin

Spring 2009-Lanvin

And I love him for this Quote more than anything else:
"One of my biggest fears is arriving to the airport and checking in my suitcase because I never know if I will get it back, and I wear the same clothes, you see, day and night, winter and summer"

This is one of my greatest fears aswell, as any of my friends will tell you after an unfriendly sequence of events travelling to Vancouver a few years ago!!