LFW: My Snaps

It was a long month to say the least.

If I wasn't running and dressing at fashion shows, working on collaborative projects, networking or styling clients I've been run ragged working at my retail job and building a portfolio for submission - pretty hectic. But in between all of this I have found the necessary time to relax and get some sleep, hence the negligence.

Also known as "Fashion Month", February's are stacked with an endless number of fashion shows and events. And whilst I've been embarrassingly left behind with all of the latest collections, I made sure to at least put my stamp on Somerset House with my lovely model and cousin, Kay, who got shown some love from the blogging paparazzi - so keep a look out for her!

For Day 1, Kay wanted to keep it minimal and clean so I opted for a pair of grey structured dungarees from Topshop with a crisp white shirt, black blazer (H&M) and a colour block clutch (also from Topshop) to inject a burst of colour and a touch of sports luxe. To give the look a further dose of attitude, studded black leather gloves were added. Keeping the look in form, a pair of black wedges were teamed with a pair of light grey socks helped to fend off the bitter cold winds. Hair was swept into a neat low pony to keep the look sleek.

I took to the print clashing trend for Day 3's look but kept it monochrome for striking effect. A typography print shirt dress was chosen as the outfit base (again, from Topshop) and to keep things interesting, by utilizing a pair of monochrome stripe leggings from ASOS,  Kay's elongated legs made a statement of their own. For a touch of luxury (and for added warmth) Kay's black leather fur biker jacket was thrown on. Accessories were re-used for this outfit to break up the black and balance out the sportswear influence.

Whilst being surrounded by a vast stylish crowd of different creative professions, originating from various parts of the globe, one cannot help but feel inspired. Taking full advantage of the setting and primarily focusing on street style, I captured some of those looks that caught my eye.

Printed Tailoring - The roll neck or crisp white shirt proved a popular accompaniment to the printed pieces whilst footwear choices varied for different but well put together looks. The Dent de Man suit was protocol for those in the know including model/stylist Joel Jay P.

Statement Tie & Shoes - Teaming footwear in interesting hues and an up-to-date tie is an easy way to keep the outfit interesting from head to toe.

Modern Dandy - Harping back from the 1800's and still equally as effective today in the style stakes. Add contrasting socks for a nod towards current trends.

The Long Overcoat - The long line coat was spotted all around, and offering such a stylish way to keep warm one can see why.

Neutral Palette - In contrast to the mass of colour were simple, understated outfits that allowed details such as fur trims and piped mandarin collars to do most of the talking.

Blue Denim - Whether it's vintage, distressed or bleached denim goes with just about anything, proving to be the ultimate urban staple.

Amongst some of the inspiring and up-coming creatives I met at LFW, Danny Crook (a stylist from Southampton) had one of the most particular styles seen; achieved by mixing his sporty dancer influences with vintage and customised accessories. Find his blog here.

Global-inspired - True creatives seek inspiration a little further afield. Dope Chef and To-orist founder Macharia Brian pictured with others inspired by the motherland.

  

Bold Hues - A sure-fire way to get snapped, regardless of who you are, was to embrace full on colour. Whether it was citrus hues, bright pinks, neon and metallics were played up for strong effect.

Scroll for more selections of street style at and around Somerset House.

All photos taken by me.

Menswear Collections: My Recap

As a newcomer to menswear I find myself getting acquainted with the differentiating forms but I also become rather bored of predictable sightings of grey and black suiting. Don't get me wrong - I am partial to a good tailored ensemble as seen at Dolce & Gabanna's AW13 collection and few do it better than David Gandy. But as a fashion enthusiast I need something to satisfy my eclectic tastes. 

Luckily for me though there was an abundance of shows to tickle my fancy. London offered fresh in-your-face design talent with alternative "artsy" show installations. Milan did what they do best - high end glamour and gloss, whilst Paris brought together the two showcasing some of the best  menswear design talent. But throughout all of the shows, several themes emerged. Bright saffron, red, cobalt hues and neon footwear played along side muted colour palettes; american sportswear and nomadic influences were made evident through uses of fisherman hats, hockey t-shirts, oversized parkas, fur accents and 3-D detailing. 

With so much to choose from, I narrowed my selection down to the collections that stood out the most for me. 
Scroll down for more...


Richard Nicoll - Refining his influence from the anti-synth movement of the early 80s, No-wave, Nicoll formed a clean contemporary uniform version of the mini era featuring fresh muted tones, a painterly camo print and mirrored jackets. Towards the end we are suddenly jolted to attention at the sight of an almost neon orange, reminding us that rebellion is what the collection is really about.

Meadham Kirchoff - The design duo Benjamin Kirchoff and Edward Meadham are notorious for their don't-take-it-too-seriously approach to fashion with showcases to cleverly support their concept. In this instance, the boys are tossing out the garbage leftover from 2012 and are leading us into a sombre military mood of parting friendships into the new year.

 

Jonathan Saunders - Very typical to Saunders was the magnificent spectrum of colouring exploding on to garments. Fused with a sportswear/outdoorsy vibe, bomber jackets were layered under woolen overcoats with patches of leather provoking a complimentary youthful appearance.

 

Gucci - With an assortment of candy coloured arrays seen in many of the shows so far, the Milanese powerhouse released an Autmn/Winter collection compiled of military precision with a light-hearted stroke of mod dandiness. Filled with plenty of lust worthy pieces such as the brick red shearling lined suede jacket and leather holdall, Frida Giannini has done well.

Etro - It was another time travel back: Mongolian warrior meets bohemian rhapsody. Paisley and organic tribal prints ran through heavy tapestries and velvet, whilst garments hung loosely on models emulating a free spirit that runs through every Etro show. The collection also offered an alternative to the dinner jacket in luxe silk patterns.

Carven - Guillaume Henry revisits the working class of the 1950's man travelling to work at La Défense, also donning practical ski attire to venture up the Anguille du Midi. The collection is brought up to date with splashes of on trend red and cobalt.

  

3.1 Phillip Lim - Scooter mod influences reigned at yet another Philip Lim show, only this time our chic biker has returned from travelling a little farther afield. Chunky zip detailing, graphic patchwork, a simple colour palette and quirky styling touches combine making this one of my favourite collections of the season.

 

Saint Laurent - Fueled with a rock & roll edge, Hedi Slimane payed tribute to his musical icons this season. Indie band casted models wore ripped jeans, oversized jumpers, plaid shirts and   leather pants - the sort of clothing you'll also find worn on the streets of Camden. Whilst it is refreshing to see un-refinement in a luxury brand, maybe Hedi should have kept this one out of the main line?

Alexander Wang - With a relatively small collection, Wang has continued to back his urban-street influences primarily focusing on outerwear (as ever appropriate for the cold season). Face masks are merged with hats and padded jackets are given kangaroo pockets for a healthy dose of sportswear but with higher-end materials - a force to be reckoned with.

All images sourced from Style.com. Click the link to see all the full menswear collections.