Fade to Gray - Louise Gray A/W 2012

I have been dying to show you Louise Gray's Autumn Winter collection ever since the A/W 2012 shows back at the beginning of the year. I had such a back log of stuff I hadn't even shown you for this Summer, what Summer? I hear everyone in the UK mutter to themselves whilst peeking out from under their umbrellas!! - Can I just say, not only is the continuous UK rainfall getting me down, I then have to read about how hot everyone is on any US blogs that I follow, which makes me really jealous!! Anyway, weather rant over for today!! I am now at the end of my Spring summer 2012 posts...

Let's have a look at Louise Gray's A/W 2012 collection of multi-coloured, print clashing, Pop Art Punks to cheer ourselves (Me) up.

How I shall be wearing Louise Gray AW 2012......If only I could afford the real thing.....

Let's start at the Punk inspired hair, I shall be quiff and spiking my hair up, perhaps create a bit of a curly quiff with my Babyliss styling wand. Sleek down the sides or for long hair, a pony tail and quiff up the front.

The 80s punk v's geisha girl make-up - loads of bright pink blending into orange eyeshadow/blush blended from the cheekbones right up to the side of the eyebrows...yeah!!!

The 80s inspired earrings - brightly coloured, massive beaded, trinket filled dangly earrings that finish below your chin. Wear 'em big!

The outfit - a 1960s style shift is the winner here, you can wear it over clashing printed tights, leggings or trousers ( the 1990s skirts and dresses over trousers look is massive this autumn winter) The print of your dress needs to clash with any other prints you are wearing or at least come in a different colour to the rest of the outfit. The jackets are either cropped or sixties inspired rain macs to wear over your main outfit or opt for a long sleeve shirt or printed long sleeve bodysuits to be worn under your dress like a pinafore.

The footwear - the knee high boot returns, wear them bright and printed and clashed up with your brightly printed tights or trousers.

The prints - this collection is a mash up of tribal aztec, metallic futurism, 1960s graphic  op-art and bleached up, punk paint splashes....all must be worn at once.

The Bag - bright and clashing with your outfit and carried like a clutch upside down.

I think that covers it.

Oh, Louise Gray,  you are becoming my favourite fashion designer ever!! As always, you are sooo creative and colourful and it seems, like me, you are very influenced by 1970s punk and 1980s style, with a smidge of 1960s pop art. I could wear every piece of  all your collections!!!

I love Louise Gray's personal style, she completely absorbs her collections, which makes me appreciate and enjoy the collections more. It makes them more wearable, I think, to see the designer wearing the collection. the clothes aren't just for very young, skinny catwalk models! Check out some images of Louise Gray above, I am loving the randomly applied eye make-up and I am considering this look for the next time I DJ at my club night Bang, which is in less than two weeks on Friday 27 July!! Excited!!! ND xx

Sources used for images include www.catwalkqueen.tv www.futurespacemagazine.com www.thedandyproject.com www.stylebubble.co.uk http://pinterest.com/nodebutante/

I want..... House of Holland at Asos

Before I even start on all the Autumn Winter 2012 shows that I have been hoarding images for over the past few months, I thought I would continue with more of the Spring Summer 2012 looks that I still haven't given a mention. The next on my list is the House of Holland Spring Summer range that is currently available at Asos. Although I will only be able to afford the tights and socks from the range, I still like to dream and swoon over some of the items! These images have all come from my Pinterest Fashion board via Asos.com.

I love this Tribal style oversized jumpsuit with it's extreme hareem pant cut. It looks so comfortable, I only wish I could afford it, it's currently available in the Asos sale at £300, it was £600! I guess I should stop wishing that all designer stuff at Asos is gonna be loads cheaper than the original designer label price. I have been spoilt by my £25 Versace leggings from H&M, haven't I?

I love this super sized leopard print over water colour greens and purples. It almost looks like a cow hide print on the jumpsuit, it's £550 ( maybe not for me then!) The drop waist maxi dresss is updated for this summer, it's out of stock and was £440 (get over it Emma, it's Henry Holland!) and I do love an oversized T-shirt style dress! £75 and currently out of stock too. (I'm not surprised, I'd love to be wearing it this summer).

I'm not sure the models are is the right choice for these garments, but I guess Asos need to have more commercial models who appeal to a mass market. I'd like to see ID style models wearing these outfits, oh, and me, of course, on the school run!

Now for something I can afford! Check out these lovely hosiery pieces, House of Holland stripey long socks in blue, they are also available in orange, green and pale pink. I love socks and tights, I do like to buy and hoard and sometimes wear them! They're now only £3.50 in the sale. I'm getting them, of course. These Union Jack (flag) tights are cool, worn here with a bit of double denim, they are a bit patriotic though........I'll be more punk inspired when I wear them....I think I could stretch to paying £15 for these beauties!

Hopefully you will see some blog pics of me over the next month with my latest Henry Holland items! ND xx

                                    

It's too early for that dress -Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas - Part 6

It's raining, it's been raining for weeks here in Bristol and it's cold too, so there shall be no bare skin on show or summer sandal wearing for me, this post mostly consists of cardigans and jackets and tights (to keep me warm!). It seems I have been wearing a lot of Tribal looks since my last post, lots of animal prints, safari styles and khaki colours.

My favourite leopard print dress from Topshop (about 3 years ago) and vintage brown leather belt thrifted.

Khaki coat and shorts worn with Sonic Youth tee, grey socks and Red Converse.

Leopard Print Mix Up

I am looking real tired in these photos so it's a good thing they are small. Having a 5 month old baby is taking it's toll on me, she still gets me up in the night and sleep deprivation is not helpful when you're trying to choose what to wear for the day or when you need to use your brain, a little, to write a blog!
Leopard print cardigan from Primark, leopard print top Topshop and Leopard print Converse low tops.

More cardigans and cut off denim shorts. This cardigan is also from Primark.

 Camouflage and lace
I love my camouflage jacket, I've had it for years, it's a wardrobe staple, I'm wearing it here with my lace bodycon dress which is actually the maternity bodycon dress bought for the weddings last summer.

Camouflage jacket - Army surplus store, lace dress - Asos.

Cute little Primark dress and H&M cardigan.

More khaki worn with stripes and the much needed waterproof DM boots!

Khaki poncho jacket - Primark, stripe top  - Topshop worn with basic leggings, long socks and Dr Marten boots.

Phil and I got to go out on our first date night since Sylvie was born, despite the rain and the fact I was accidentally given a meat pie ( I am a vegetarian and ate two mouthfuls before I got to the meat!!!) during our pub meal (who says romance is dead?) We then managed to get (the correct) meal and drinks for free before heading down to another bar on a bus that luckily just turned up when we needed it and then managed to get in free to a local bar to watch some bands as we knew the bloke on the door! I love it when things work out like that! Unfortunately when we got home Phil was rather sick, we blamed the vodka and coke that I made him drink following all those pints of beer but I have since found out there is a sickness bug doing the rounds.....I'm sure Phil still blames the Vodka and coke! Oops!

The outfit I'm wearing is from Vivien of Holloway (if you could only see it beneath the warm layers-damn this weather) The top is a gingham bustier top, I think I blogged it for the Vintage Americana post a few weeks back. The jeans are a new item for VOH they are cut from original 1950s patterns, I had trouble finding the right size for me (my figure is anything but a 1950s shape) but these jeans are so comfortable and make a change from all the skinnies that you still see everywhere! I thought I would accessorise by curling my hair and adding a headscarf (not seen in this pic) and cute ankle socks and Converse low tops. I shall attempt to get a better photo of the jeans for my next post as this pic isn't quite doing them justice.

Did you notice that I have become accustomed to a bit of photo shopping? Oooh check me out....it is a bit embarrassing but I am a total photoshop novice, before this cropping and resizing was my limit! That's how old I am, we didn't have computer lessons in school and if we did it was the whole class sat around one computer......CAD was a new thing when I was at Uni and I have to say it was not really my thing....I'm a fashion designer daaarrrrling, I work with fabrics.....and that...ND xx