Saturday 30 April 2011

Long live McQueen!


Official Royal Wedding portrait by Hugo Bernand. The couple with their bridesmaids and page boys

The fashion world breathed a collective sigh of relief on Friday when Catherine Middleton stepped out of that Rolls Royce Phantom in a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen creation. Rumours of which designer the future princess would choose had been running wild for months and were all but confirmed when Sarah Burton was spotted going into Middleton's hotel, The Goring, on the eve of the wedding. A spectacular moment for British high fashion.

Catherine Middleton stepping out of the Rolls Royce Phantom outside Westminster Abbey

Catherine's dutiful sister, Pippa Middleton also donned an ivory Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress to serve as Maid of Honour.

Catherine's sister Pippa carrying her train into Westminster Abbey

To add to the British heritage of the dress, the ivory silk tulle featured hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace throughout the bodice, skirt and underskirt trim handmade by the Royal School of Needlework which is based at Hampton Court Palace. The lace sleeves and wasp-like silhouette have drawn obvious comparisons with one of the great royal wedding dresses of the twentieth century, Princess Grace of Monaco's - a magnificent inspiration if ever there was one.

The newly-married couple leaving the Abbey

Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III of Monaco

The couple appeased the eager crowd with not one but two brief kisses on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. The bride's 'something borrowed' was the Queen's Cartier 'Halo' tiara, given to her on her 18th birthday.

The couple kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

For the reception, HRH Catherine Duchess of Cambridge again opted for a stunning Sarah Burton for McQueen dress that again highlighted her slight frame with a diamante-embroidered waist and a luxe angora cardigan thrown over the top. Perfection.

The Duchess of Cambridge at her wedding reception

A fresh-faced Duchess of Cambridge opted for a chic, floaty blue dress belted at the waist, a cropped blazer and summer-y wedges for a stroll through the grounds of Buckingham Palace the morning after the wedding. The newlyweds took a helicopter to an undisclosed location in the UK to spend the weekend together, they will reportedly return to their normal lives this week and take a honeymoon abroad at a later date.

The couple leave for a secret UK getaway for the weekend

More soon.

Wednesday 27 April 2011

Style crush: Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama has been on everyone's style radar ever since her husband's Presidential campaign shot her to the forefront of every media outlet the world over in all her classic, elegant, bare-armed glory. Likened to Jackie Kennedy as her husband's "secret weapon", America's First Lady is yet to put a sartorial foot wrong, if anything she's only getting better.

Spotted this week as a guest on popular American daytime talkshow, The View, Michelle opted for a skirt by one of the most covetable labels in America, the Olsen twins' The Row. Always one to show her support for fledgling American design talent, Obama always manages to keep her look youthful and on-trend whilst still retaining a classy and demure aesthetic appropriate for the office of the First Lady - for this I could not admire her more.

The Row pleated skirt

A stunning Jason Wu gown for Barack Obama's inauguration ball

A casual look in Alexander Wang

Regal in a red Alexander McQueen gown at a White House reception for the Chinese government

More soon.

Wednesday 20 April 2011

Playboy meets Marchesa!

Feminine label, Marchesa have redesigned the iconic Playboy Bunny costume to celebrate the launch of the new Playboy Club in London. The one-off design is said to be based on the classic Bunny corset however design duo Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig have modernised the look and given it some high fashion credibility with their signature feminine detailing such as embroidery and draping. Marchesa's design will be unveiled on May 26th and auctioned off to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Marchesa's sketch of the Bunny costume

The club itself, which opens in Mayfair on June 4th, is set to be a revival of the popular chain of swinging '60s Playboy Clubs complete with the glamourous 'Bunny girl' waitresses, world-class cocktails and a casino. But don't get too excited just yet, in keeping with the exclusive feel of the clubs guests will be private members only with membership starting at £1,200 per year plus a £1,000 signing fee.

Hef and the girls

Find out more about Playboy Club London here.

More soon.

Monday 11 April 2011

Gemma Ward is back!

It's been three years since promising model and everyone's favourite Aussie, Gemma Ward was seen on the pages of a major fashion publication and it's safe to say she was missed. Gracing the culture section of the May issue of Australian Harper's Bazaar, Ward's 'comeback' is not all it seems - it is in aid of her burgeoning acting career which currently sees her starring in a play in her hometown of Perth. While a modelling comeback seems unlikely, it's nice to see GW back in the limelight and on the fashion pages.

Gemma Ward in the May 2011 cover of Australian Harper's Bazaar

More soon.
Follow the twitter for by-the-minute updates.

Model comebacks: the Agyness Deyn edition

Think back to 2008 and, if you're anything like me, you think of rising supermodels Agyness Deyn and Gemma Ward who disappeared just as quickly as they came. But fear not for it looks like both are set for comebacks, of a sort.

With several short films to her name since we last saw her, that brief engagement to a Stroke, as well as some strange "performance art" clips of her chauffeuring James Franco around LA whilst eating an apple, it seems Agyness Deyn is ready to come back to the world of modelling. And of course she didn't do it by halves - with a full spread in the May issue of British Vogue shot by personal favourite, Tim Walker, Miss Deyn is back with a bang - and that infamous peroxide crop. I for one look forward to seeing more of the British beauty.

Photos by Tim Walker, May 2011 British Vogue spread

More soon.
Follow the twitter for by-the-minute updates.