A Rebellious Prefect

There's something about collegiate looks that I love. Perhaps it's the idea of playing around with your school uniform, the rebellion against school regulations. When I think back to when I was at school, I was the queen of uniform rebellion. Be it painting my nails bright red, only to be caught at 9.15 am and sent to the head of year to take it off ( yes that was a low point). But when look over what I did get away with, I can't help but justify myself winning 'miss best dressed'. Oh that sounds modest. Nevertheless, I would never let the plain black and red uniform cloud my fashion fury. 

The moment the adaptation of school uniform truly stood out for me was one citizenship class. 

Swapping my black trousers, for a pencil skirt. 

My plain shoes for heeled brogues.

My Plain coat, for a tight waisted, Dior-like jacket. 

I possibly looked very secretary-like. But I loved it!

So when it comes to collegiate fashion, I am perhaps a desperate follower. 

I put this look up on asos fashion finder... to achieve this look go to... http://fashionfinder.asos.com/womens-looks/rebellious-prefect-107363

The NYFW I've fallen for so far...

Thom Browne SS14

Browne's asylum collection turned me insane with admiration. As the models glide almost possessed, in the most magnificent Elizabethan inspired outfits, you are stolen away into Browne's story. These ladies are elegant and beautiful, the cunning and charming side behind any mad-person. Looking at the collection, Browne has evoked a scared affection towards the wearer. Treading into new territory,  he unravels human attraction towards a slightly mad persona, clouded by physical appearance. As i look to this collection i am forced to think of Jane Eyre's, Bertha Rochester. A woman who captivates you by her looks, but only later reveals the madness inside.

 The latex and paper details, make the collection new and exciting. Absolutely exquisite, i am mesmerised!



Zac Posen SS14

 

Posen's collection, is dangerous and teasing; femme fatale. The structures in this collection are so carefully manipulated around the female figure, making the pieces empowering and striking. Nevertheless, flirty through the flounce and bounce of the frills. The woman wearing these garments, is illustrating control and confidence. Posen's latest Instagram posts show the dresses in fully swinging motion... definitely a must see!

http://instagram.com/zac_posen

"Good artists copy, Great artists steal"

As I began sewing these velvet/corduroy shorts for my autumn/winter wardrobe I began to question nostalgia. Corduroy, a fabric greatly associated with the 60s and 70s, made a re-appearance in my childhood. I remember flouncing around in corduroy flares. Even Rachel Bilson confessed her love of corduroys, them being “ really comfy and cozier than jeans.” Yes, it is a re-useable fabric, however, I begin to question other trends, such as the 90s. A fashion that only roamed the streets a decade ago, yet seems to have reappeared.  I, myself have a fascination with wartime and the period of the 40s-50s. A time, I wasn’t even alive in. So why then are we so obsessed with bringing them back to life?

On researching into it, I discovered an article by author Will Self:

“ I think I now understand why it is that the young are so very nostalgic. They have so little by way of personal history that they polish it up and make it shine like a treasured heirloom.”

And I am encouraged slightly to agree with his remark. After all, can we not create our own decade? When we look back on the 2000s and the 2010s, are we really going to say we had a 90s comeback? That 2013 let loose a 20s flare?

I find myself saddened by the lack of change and development I can see in the future. Even now as I look through the up and coming SS14 collections,  yes, they are beautiful. But are the new? As we reference them, we include previous designers and ideas. 

Even Picasso told that "Good artists copy, Great artists steal"

Is there originality? Yes.

Although my previous argument, strongly opposes this, I am urged to reconsider. After all, J W Anderson, with every collection re-illustrates an idea of unisex silhouettes. Christopher Kane, continues to excite us with his use of new fabrics. Mary Katrantzou and Peter Pilotto's print take us on a journey of new realisation. And Dolce and Gabbana, continue their story to portray an angelic and supernatural beauty, through their collections. Yes, we may be a bit too nostalgic, but as we dwell and even use these previous ideas. We sort through them, taking the best parts and pairing them with a freshness, that will take us into a new future. 

Monique Lhuillier SS14

   

As a romantic and desperate fan of Dior's 'New Look', this Lhuillier collection was love at first sight. There is such elegance and femininity, whilst echoing female vigor and beauty. Lhuillier's Spring Summer colour palette perfectly balances delicate pinks and creams, with shocking pinks and devilish oranges. 

Being a lover of fall fashion, I always fear Spring Summer collections will be too simple. After all, its hardly appropriate to wear layers of leather in the summer sun. ( Although i'm sure we try 'no pain no gain') Nevertheless, Lhuillier's collection has pushed this phobia straight out of my mind. The collection is detailed, angelic and empowering. Ideal for a spring summer romance.

“There is no exquisite beauty… without some strangeness in the proportion.” Edgar Allan Poe

 My Autumn/ Winter 14 make-up ideas...

   

 There's always a fear with make up and fashion that you will fall into a stereotype. But when autumn winter comes its finally acceptable to let your gothic flare loose. 

As a teenager I was a goth/ emo/ chav/ skater/ plastic... the list is endless, I was part of them all. In fact, so were most people of my generation. The fashion was changing so rapidly. As 2013 arrived it was clear that fashion had seen a diffusion of all fashion groupings across time. Where one trend would dominate the street, now you'd see 10. 

With the help of celebrities such as Florence Welch and Prada's continuous gothic A/W collections, the once stereotyped gothic image is slowly being played with and encouraged.

As I consider the AW colours for my make up palette this season, I can't wait to explore the dark and mysterious tones, whilst popping purples and oranges. 

 "I dyed my hair red when I was ten and when I was 11 – in my goth period – I dyed it black and I was really into witchcraft. I made mini shrines in my bedroom with candles and tried to cast spells to make the boy in the next class fall in love with me. I don’t think he did"

Florence Welch

"Fashion is about dressing to what's fashionable. Style is more about being yourself." Oscar de la Renta

I have often thought about this word 'style' and wondered what it really means. If Oscar de la Renta is right and "Style is about being yourself", what would it mean for me? A girl who likes to change her style everyday. And then there's the obvious question, when people say "that is so YOU"... me? How do you know? 

I had always considered myself as someone who loves black. The mysterious and simplicity of black attire. It's so sophisticated. 

Yet, my friends will pick up a floral jacket and say "this is so you!" Having questioned this, I decided to look in my wardrobe. 

What screams to me when looking here is not black at all. But exciting colours and patterns! So do I really know myself ? 

"Fashion is about dressing to what is fashionable" de la Renta continues, but then I know I do not follow trends or dress to be fashionable. So where do I stand?

Here I look to the great artist Henri Matisse for advice...

"An artist must never be a prisoner. Prisoner? An artist should never be a prisoner of himself, prisoner of style, prisoner of reputation, prisoner of success, etc."

Therefore, style, as de la Renta suggested, is perhaps about being yourself. However, this does not define you. Style should be as easily changed as fashion. 

After all isn't that what makes the industry so exciting, the change and progression. Being able to reinvent yourself everyday through what you wear. So for now, my wardrobe will remain a jumble of numerous personalities, eager to be performed.

"When it comes to casual clothing, my enthusiasm for clothes starts to waver" Bill Nighy

I have NEVER been one for casual dressing. It feels too plain and awkward for me. This summers trends have had casual ALL over them, with the sporty influence! Leggings in particular have been a NO NO for me. At one of my University interviews I was asked what my biggest fashion fury was... confidently I rambled on about leggings. On exiting the interview I looked at both my interviewers, yes, they were wearing leggings. It couldn't've been so bad... I got the place. 

Yet, High waisted leggings have slowly worked their way into my mind. It began when I noticed a friend of mine wearing them and noticing how they elongated her legs. Then a cheeky shopping trip in Topshop urged me to try on these black dog-tooth leggings last winter. I fell slowly in love with them. 

I was convinced not to enter to the laziness legging fashion can encourage. TOUCH WOOD... I haven't

Still, I see this casual sporty dress on people in the streets and to an extent I admire the casualness, but something doesn't quite stick. 

SO festival season came, and what did you see EVERYWHERE? Shorts so short that bums were hanging out. A trend I will never quiet understand in the streets of London.

 And converse. 

They were everywhere.

So I decided to give it a try... after all... can I honestly be willing to wear anything eccentric and nothing casual?

Hmmm...

Advanced Style's interview with 100 year old Ruth answers this question.

"I dress up everyday and I don't wear blue jeans. I dress up even to mail a letter, you never know who you will meet along the way." 

And she's right! After all, this casual look is alright, but would you want to meet someone important dressed like this? 

I think i'll keep this one for the Gym and take Ruth's wise advice! 

Read full article with Ruth! You'll enjoy it... 

http://advancedstyle.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/life-and-style-tips-from-100-year-old.html