Monday 28 December 2015

2015 Best Dressed - Top 10

Blogging about red carpet fashion is one of my favourite topics to write about. Working in trend, I spend hours perusing over runway collections and I love to see how stylists interpret these runway looks for their celebrity clients on the red carpet. Over on my Pinterest I also have a board aptly named  'Celebrity Red Carpet', where I post my favourite looks from events, award shows and film premieres. I have taken a look back and selected my personal favourite 10 red carpet style moments from the past 12 months. There were certain looks that were so memorable, I instantly knew I had to include them in my top 10. So lets take a look at my Top 10 Red Carpet looks for 2015...
Elizabeth Banks - Elie Saab Fall 15 Couture - 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2' - Berlin Premiere - November
This was a real 'WOW' moment on the Hunger Games promo tour. From head-to-toe this gown was breathtaking. Sequins, beading, florals - this voluminous fairytale gown had all the required elements to make an enchanting entrance. Elizabeth Banks wore this look exceptionally well.
Rosamund Pike - Givenchy Couture - Academy Awards - February
This elegant, yet dramatic, gown created a very statuesque silhouette. The intricate detailing, front slit and bold red colour meant all eyes were on Rosamund at the Academy Awards.
Kate Hudson - Atelier Versace - Golden Globes - January
Kate Hudson is never one to shy away from a daring dress…and this was certainly daring. Yes this dress is sultry and oozes sex appeal, but it still manages to look sophisticated. A plunging neckline is not easy to pull off, but Kate Hudson always has the ability to wear these looks with ease.
Lily James - Elie Saab Fall 14 Couture - Cinderella LA Premiere - March
Lily James had one of the best promo tours of 2015 whilst promoting her movie Cinderella. Appropriately wearing this princess gown to the LA premiere, a dress by Elie Saab was the perfect choice for the Brit actress to wear. I adored the soft aqua colour and exquisite embroidery.
Karen Elson - Dolce & Gabbana - Met Gala - May
Talk about making an entrance…this Dolce and Gabbana gown was appropriately extravagant for the Met Gala. With layers upon layers of red tulle, this fiery look was attention grabbing for all the right reasons. The overall styling, including arm cuffs and headpiece, made for a captivating red carpet appearance.
Jena Malone - Reem Acra Spring 16 - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Berlin Premiere
I love Jena Malone's red carpet style. Never afraid to wear colour, print or embellishment, Jena often wears the bold looks others shy away from. This Reem Acra gown is flawless, the billowing silhouette encrusted with exquisite embroidered detail. The hint of colour totally makes this look for me. The minimal styling meant the dress did all the talking.
Sarah Jessica Parker - custom H&M - MET Gala - May
You can always rely upon Sarah Jessica Parker to fully embody the spirit of the Met Gala - The theme this year being 'China: Through The Looking Glass'. Opting to wear custom H&M, SJP's theatrical look was full of drama! The fiery headpiece came courtesy of Philip Treacy.
FKA Twigs - Alexander McQueen Spring 08 - Savage Beauty Exhibition Preview - March
Back in 2007 when I saw this dress on the runway, it further fuelled my love of McQueen. The spectacular use of rainbow colour and feather print makes for a such a bold standout look. I was thrilled to see FKW twigs wearing the full runway look, complete with real feathers. She is a perfect ambassador for the McQueen brand, bringing her own personality to the outfit.
Lupita Nyong'o - Elie Saab PreFall 15 - SAG Awards  - January
Stars don't often opt for printed gowns when attending big awards shows, but Lupita went against the crowd and wore a stunning Elie Saab floral gown. I adore print, so always find it welcoming when someone wears a bold print on the red carpet. The fractured floral print, offset with graphic black lines, is accentuated by the plunging neckline and long sleeves.
Rihanna - Guo Pei Couture - MET Gala - May
How could I not include this look? 2015's most show-stopping/memorable red carpet moment belonged to Rihanna at the MET Gala wearing this incredible Guo Pei creation. Whilst it is not a conventional red carpet look, there is no denying this gown was the  most talked about look of the year. Yellow is not an easy colour to wear, but Rihanna wears it well. I can't think of any other celebrity who could wear this look with the same confidence and flair as Rihanna.


Phillippa x
Twitter - @Phillippa22
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Saturday 26 December 2015

Karlie Kloss X WSJ Editorial

Well…this might just be my favourite editorial from 2015! Karlie Kloss photographed at Elon Musk's SpaceX headquarters in California for the Wall Street Journal. Wearing an array of patriotic runway looks in red/white/blue, I adore everything about this editorial especially the scale.
2. Wearing Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent
3. Wearing Lacoste SS16
4. Wearing Louis Vuitton
5. Wearing Moschino

For more editorials follow my 'Model Editorials' board over on my Pinterest page (details below)

Phillippa x

Twitter  - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Wednesday 23 December 2015

Poppy Delevingne X Aquazzura

Model Poppy Delevingne has teamed up with luxury Italian footwear brand Aquazzura on a 8-piece capsule collection. Designed to reflect Poppy's personal style, whilst at the same time remaining true to the Aquazzura aesthetic, this collection takes inspiration from Poppy's global travels. Featuring a pair of Aquazzura's signature laced flats, a star motif was added - a nod to one of Poppy's favourite pairs of earrings. There is also an air of Bohemianism, in the use of suede and tassels.
Available now from Aquazzura's main website, along with Net-a-Porter, Matches, Saks, Colette, and Bergdorf's...here's what you can expect from the collection. Price Range: £395 - £935

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
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Monday 21 December 2015

Jaime King X Sapling Child

The beautiful Jaime King has teamed up with Australian brand 'Sapling' to create an exclusive range of baby clothes. Sapling uses 100% organic cotton and water based fabric dyes that are free from toxic chemicals, meaning the clothes are a safe and environmentally friendly choice. I have read several interviews with Jaime King regarding this collaboration, and I admire how genuinely passionate she is about the collection and what it stands for. The garments in the collection feature soft, whimsical prints in pretty colours, which are so cute! Price point: $22.95 - $39.95

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
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Saturday 19 December 2015

Brand To Know - Chilpa

Established in 2013, Chilpa focuses on quality design whilst paying a fair price to those who produce the work. With brand roots in Mexico, the products are handmade by 3 communities of artisans in various locations. The accessories and home-wares are all made using traditional methods and local materials. The beautiful colourful cushions are what initially drew me to Chilpa, and on closer inspection each cushion is embroidered with the artisans initials.
Take a look at the array of products Chilpa has to offer...I hope you love this brand as much as me! If you do love what you see, then visit the website www.chilpa.co.uk for information on the full range of products and prices. Twitter @WeAreChilpa
 
Phillippa x
 
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22
 


 



Wednesday 16 December 2015

Jonathan Saunders X Radley

Leading London Fashion Week designer Jonathan Saunders has teamed up with British handbag and accessories brand Radley, to create an 8-piece capsule collection. Featuring a striking graphic geo print in black, white and dusty pink, these leather bags come in various different styles. Priced between £65 - £249, the price point is perfect if you want to invest in a quality bag but do not want to pay over the odds for it. The collection has a cool city-chic vibe to it, and would look great styled with jeans and a white shirt - perfect for work or leisure. Jonathan Saunders for Radley is available now, so whether you love backpacks, bucket bags or totes there is something for you in this collection. It has recently been announced that the Jonathan Saunders label is to close…so for now Happy Shopping!

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Monday 14 December 2015

Christmas Gift Guide

I thought that this year I would put together another Christmas Gift Guide, however this time I have decided to spilt the products into 3 different price categories: Under £10, Under £50, Over £50
Under £50

Under £50

Over £50
Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Saturday 12 December 2015

Christmas Decorations

For the past six years, Claridge's Hotel in London has enlisted the help of a special guest designer each festive season to design the hotel Christmas tree. This year, Burberry's Creative Director Christopher Bailey has designed the famous tree. The tree is made from 100 umbrella's covered in gold and silver fabric, as well as thousands of little lights with motion sensors.  It is a playful nod to British weather and the iconic Burberry trench coat. You may remember for the finale of the Burberry AW12 runway show, all the models carried umbrella's, so that is instantly what this tree reminded me of. Guests staying in a suite at Claridge's, are also gifted a Burberry trench coat!
So keeping this unique tree in mind, I have searched online for some of the most distinctive and fun Christmas tree decorations. I am not one for matching decorations, I much prefer a Christmas tree to be an eclectic mix of decorations which have been collected over the years and vary in style…which is what you will find in this edit.
1. Liberty £3.95 / 2. Kurt Adler £15.50 / 3. Liberty £9.95
4. John Lewis £5 / 5. Alessi £14.50 / 6. John Lewis £10
7. Harrods £7.95 / 8. Liberty £16.95 / 9. Liberty £5.95

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Wednesday 9 December 2015

Event: #BloggersXmas

On Saturday I attended the #BloggersXmas organised by Soeurs de Luxe. Held at Finch's opposite Finsbury Square, the event welcomed a number of different brands across multiple categories: fashion, beauty, lifestyle and food. With over 200 bloggers attending, and several new brands to discover, the event was a fabulously festive way to kick off the month of December. Some of my favourite brands on the day included...

Chilpa - Accessories and homeware brand with Mexican roots (I will be doing a separate blog post on this brand later this month) - www.chilpa.co.uk / Twitter: @WeAreChilpa
Aroma Cake Boutique - Delicious cakes and baked goods using a fusion of flavours from India and the Middle East. Flavours include: Masala Chai & Rose, Coconut & Saffron, Rose & Pistachio - www.aromacakeboutique.com / Twitter: @AromaCakeBoutiq
House of Dreadful - One for the men...Penny Dreadful vintage designed boxer shorts feature illustrations by Sarah Dvojack - www.houseofdreaful.com / Twitter: @PDMenswear
Sweet Cheesus - Incredible cheesecake in the  most amazing flavours: Salted Caramel and Peacan, Cookies and Cream, 7 Deadly Sins... Available in Selfridges, The Deli at 80 on Stroud Green Road (see the website for more stockists) www.sweetcheesus.com / Twitter: @SweetCheesusUK
Miglio - Beautiful silver jewellery which add elegance and sophistication to your outfit - www.miglio.co.uk / Twitter: @MiglioUK
T+ - This new drinks company makes flavoured and functional teas. The flavours come in 4 different categories: t+ Detox, t+ Boost, t+ Immunity, t+ Multi Vitamin. I love the branding on the packaging. www.tplusdrinks.com / Twitter: @tplusdrinks

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Monday 7 December 2015

Christmas Party Outfit Ideas

It is that time of year again to start thinking about what to wear over the Christmas season...work parties, catching up with friends and Christmas day itself. I have put together 5 different outfit options which should give you some good ideas of what to wear. The outfits in this edit have been put together using a mix of both designer and high-street pieces…
Outfit 1
Dress: Matthew Williamson £3895 / Shoes: Sophia Webster £560 / Clutch: Saint Laurent £1190
Outfit 2
Dress: Temperley £1495 / Shoes: Aquazurra £490
Clutch: Alexander McQueen £1695 / Earrings: Mizuki £500
Outfit 3
Jacket: Reiss £245 / Dress: Next £48 / Shoes: Topshop £85 / Bag: New Look £15.99 
Outfit 4
Dress: Topshop £75 / Shoes: Valentino £640 / Bag: New Look £19.99 
Bracelet: New Look £4.99 / Earrings: Topshop £10
Outfit 5
Dress: French Connection £170 / Shoes: New Look £49.99 / Bag: Topshop £25 
Bracelet: Topshop £7.50

Hope these fab, sparkly outfits have given you some festive style inspiration!

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Saturday 5 December 2015

Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 - Red Carpet Best Dressed

The cast of the Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 have recently wrapped up a pretty momentous promo tour to coincide with the release of the final instalment in the franchise. Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Banks, Jena Malone, Natalie Dormer and Willow Shields took centre stage on the red carpet wearing a selection of breath-taking gowns. A couple of the red carpet look in particular will certainly be contenders for best dressed of the year (yes it really is time to start thinking about this!).  So lets take a look at the top sixteen looks and see who gets your vote as best dressed...

1. Jennifer Lawrence - Christian Dior Fall 15 Couture
2. Jennifer Lawrence - Christian Dior Couture
3. Elizabeth Banks - Elie Saab Fall 15 Couture
4. Jena Malone - Reem Acra SS16
5. Natalie Dormer - Vivienne Westwood Couture
6. Jennifer Lawrence  - Schiaparelli Fall 15 Couture
7. Jena Malone - Gauri and Nainika
8. Elizabeth Banks - Razan Alazzouni
9. Jennifer Lawrence - Ralph Lauren
10. Willow Shields - Naeem Khan Pre-Fall15
11. Elizabeth Banks - Dolce and Gabbana
12. Jennifer Lawrence - Christian Dior
13. Jena Malone - Emanuel Ungaro SS16
14. Natalie Dormer - Roland Mouret Fall15
15. Jennifer Lawrence - Christian Dior Fall15 Couture
16. Willow Shields - Marni

Best Dressed - A two-way tie between Elizabeth Banks wearing Elie Saab and Jena Malone wearing Naeem Khan. Both these gowns were truly stunning and delivered  real showstopping moments on this promo tour.

Who was your best dressed?

If you love red carpet fashion, then be sure to follow my 'Celebrity Red Carpet' board on Pinterest (details below)

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22








Wednesday 2 December 2015

Brand To Know - Mestiza

Founded in 2014 by Louisa Rechter and Alessandra Perez-Rubio, MESTIZA offers cocktail finery inspired by the exotic. The elegant collections evoke feelings of glamour and sophistication, perfect for women who love to socialise in stylish circles. Made using the most luxurious fabrics with exquisite embroidery, this brand is beyond beautiful. With strong connections to the Philippines, MESTIZA has partnered with the Habi Foundation meaning a percentage of sales goes to help employ women in the Philippines weave textiles. With prices in the range of $300-$600, MESTIZA may soon become your favourite go-to brand for upscale cocktail attire.

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign
Instagram - PhillippaDesign22