Wednesday 30 May 2012

Tribal Shorts

Tribal and Aztec prints are hitting the high street shops. Topshop, H&M and Miss Selfridge are among many to display tribal shorts on their hangers and shelves. Sass & Bide in my opinion are the ultimate tribal brand. They have stuck to their core identity and have always produce brilliant ready to wear pieces season after season.  Material covered denim are also seen around the DIY circuit. The tribal print is so up-to-date with the summer season perfect for day out with a pair of espadrilles or at night with a pair of wedges or heels. They stand out on their own so can be warn with simple top, crop vest or under denim jacket.


Inspirations...



lolligoss.blogspot.co.uk Mossimo for Target shorts


Sass and Bide viawww.stylepin.com

madeinpretoria.wordpress.com

Vietnamese tribal embroidered panels shorts from Thu Thu

ASOS shorts

shades-of-style.com

Insight 51

Tuesday 29 May 2012

I feel like sewing...


 When people are stress there are different ways to ease the tension, some clean, some go for a walk, some meditate and I sew. This is a recently developed habit but something about the intricate thread and needle that calms me. The accuracy that it requires help take your mind off other problems.

At first I just wanted to make some jewels applique for future use. I applied the design on netting to use on black clothing without having to sew directly onto the fabric. Glued the design in place and secure it with stitches. Stitched them on a leather bustier, good idea at first but then got carried away and ended up sewing metallic beads on then I wasn't happy with all the gaps so I filled them with small beads. And basically....I have sewn about 300 beads in total...and 3 hrs of my life I won't get back.














Sunday 27 May 2012

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012



both images from artnet.com


I have a thing for crazy graphic prints. Prabal Gurung definitely delivered that. He is pushing beyond his comfort zone as he was more well known for making SJP's red carpet dress and Michelle Obama's dress. This season is inspired by Araki Nobuyoshi Sensual Flowers series, he collaborated with a printmaker in London to create a floral motif that runs through the collection from a silk georgette dress, wool pantsuit, silk shirt, tailored jackets. In contrast with the kaleidoscopic print he was tweaking fetish trend like paint drip latex pants and dip dye rubber coat. The silk cord harness is inspired by erotic images of women bound in rope also by Araki. Inserts of leather belt also adds a fetish touch to the otherwise more feminine frilly dresses.

Sheer too was a central conceit, sheer panels inset at the waist of dresses, and see-through tulle on sleeves and skirts with a crisp hem finish. The finale violet lace gown with rubber paillettes and the paint drip suit trousers (the violet is woven in not painted) are my most favourite looks.












all images from elle.com

The Ombre effect lips is inspired by the collection mimicking and orchard bursting from within by MAC lead makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury. And last Linda Farrow for Prabal Gurung spring 2012 sunglasses.

Monday 21 May 2012

You are now watching the throne


Yesterday me and friends went to Jay-Z and Kanye West Watch The Throne at the O2. It was an amazing performance and definitely worth the wait. But this post is really more about the outfits Jay & Ye were sporting. This is a great marriage of creative ideas between music and fashion. One of my most favorite designer of Givenchy, Ricardo Tisci, art directed the album Watch The Throne. He continue that relation on WIT tour, with stage outfits and fan T-shirts with artwork from the album, Givenchy stars along the collar and “KW’ and “JZ” initials monogrammed on the sleeve. The rest of the outfits were mostly black and leather much like Givenchy menswear Fall 2011.


 via highsnobiety.com

  via highsnobiety.com

 via newmusiclive.ca

via upscalehype.com

Nike LeBron 9 “Watch The Throne”
via nicekicks.com


US Vogue for March 2012, features the story ‘Tisci’s Time’, highlighting his relationships with Kanye West is also featured in the story and the corresponding photo shoot.



His artwork for the single “H.A.M.” and the album draw Tisci’s childhood passion for mythology and religious iconography and his current psychedelic prints and graphics. "The artwork’s bold colours and angular lines are symbols of masculinity for two of the most iconic rap figures of our time...” Ricardo Tisci.


via highsnobiety.com


Wednesday 16 May 2012

Chanel A/W12


via jwp-blog.blogspot.co.uk

Like Magpies I'm a sucker for shiny things. You can always count on Karl Lagerfeld to put an extravagant show. This Chanel Autumn/Winter 2012 takes you to a world  of stalactites maze surrounded by gigantic crystals. Like set scene from planet Krypton in Superman, geode stalks shooting up from the ground scattered around the stage. Models weaved around the cat walk smashing sharp Perspex heels on crushed glass floor.  Crystal encrusted boxy clutch and geode on metal bangles sparkles against white peals nails.




What is Chanel without tweed? This season's tweed updated with uneven rocks of crystals decorated over the collars and shoulders and sleeves. The obvious key is layering, a lot of oversize thick wool and boucle outerwear with feathered on capes and hoods piled on with glittery mohair snoods. Ensure to keep you snug for the winter while dresses and trousers were from a delicate lace and silk with 90's throwback trend of skirts over trousers. Parkas with sequined hoods and green tweeds backpacks are my favorite wearable street luxe (very LUXE). Polished each looks were slick hair and jewels eyebrows. I'm not so convince about the long elbow gloves or some patchwork pieces but I love the jewel tone pallets of this collection.



 via style.com




Monday 14 May 2012

DIY: Embelish shorts


This is probably the most popular DIY's ever. Shorts are becoming very versatile and are not restricted for the warm months. They are acceptable for any occasion depending on style and cut. Matching shorts suits are now being warn in the office and embellished shorts can be worn as evening wear a la Dolce & Gabbana. Shorts can be customized to make it your own in so many different ways, cut, frayed, dyed, studded are a few I have seen around. Here are some of my inspirations.

Tikipeter Eliza Doolittle in 2011 at Coachella

Rihanna in 2012 at Coachella

Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2012

AllSaints Embellished Shorts

DIY by Effiesmakeupbox.blogspot.co.uk

Sretsis Daisy Duke Shorts

This is one of my earliest DIY project but thought it would be fitting for this post. I was feeling neon when I brought this ASOS pink denim. 

Step 1: With two pliers stud the denim on the left pocket. I did them very close together and near to the edges as possible. Using small studs apply them in a scatter pattern towards the left side. 

Step 2: Place 3 skull studs where there are spaces. Then sew on different size pearls on individually, scatter them between all the spaces. I want them to only congregate on one area so they don't look overdone.  


Step 3: In the end I decided to dip dye the plain side of the shorts orange. I use hand dye Dylon in Goldfish Orange, same way I did my dip dye post.


This piece is special to me...the first is always special ;) It taught me that if you want it done right then DIY! And thank you to all the talented blogger out there for the inspiration x