Monday 28 May 2018

How To Style...HVN Cherry Print Dress

Coming at you today with another styling edit, yay! I adore putting these edits together, they are quite possibly my favourite posts that I write for my blog. I love coming up with a styling concept, it could be based on a current trend or a single garment / accessory that I am loving atm, and then I build various looks around that very concept. I always like to show how you can style a trend/garment to suit different personal style, as well as daytime and eveningwear appropriate looks. For this edit I focused my attention on one single garment for New York based label HVN. Established by Harley Viera Newton, the label celebrates vintage inspired silhouettes many of which feature ditsy motifs. My favourite of which is the 'Cherry Print'. The dress at the centre of this edit is the silk 'Mini Morgan' dress, which is part of an exclusive capsule collection for Net-a-Porter. The great thing about this dress is its versatility. Priced at £505, this designer dress will be a wardrobe staple.
Outfit 1
When styling this outfit, I was picturing the perfect evening look for a summer vacation. Imagine being on holiday somewhere such as Greece or Italy, and you want to dress up for a beautiful dinner in the evening. Well this is the look for that occasion. A neutral-toned tailored blazer is the perfect jacket to throw on over this dress. If you're on vacay somewhere hot, you don't really want to be wearing dark coloured pieces, so this jacket is ideal. As I wanted to opt for a very chic and classic evening look, I have teamed the dress with a pair of white leather mules from Tibi. They are a great heel height for a holiday, ensuring comfort and practicality when you wear them. Mules are also a huge footwear trend for 2018. The bag comes courtesy of Cult Gaia and is one of the must-have 'it' bags of the season. It also makes for a great beach bag, so a great day-to-night transitional piece. Tying the look together is a pair of tassel earrings from Oscar de La Renta, adding an additional pop of red to the outfit.
Outfit 2
As I previously explained, HVN takes much inspiration from vintage pieces so that is the direction I wanted to take this outfit in. I was thinking along the lines of a preppy American high school look. When it comes to styling, one of the easiest ways to make a outfit casual and laid back is to add a denim jacket and a pair of trainers. I didn't want to go down the typical route of a blue denim jacket, instead opting for a pastel lilac option from Push Button. The colour works well against the red cherry print, and makes it a great summer piece. Trainers are a classic pair from Superga. The red tote is from one of the most talked about accessories brands of the past 12 month, Boyy. It's a classic style but the lipstick red shade makes it a real statement bag. Sunnies are from Adam Selman x Le Specs. If you saw my eyewear blog post a few weeks back then you will know that short frame cateye sunglasses are without a doubt the biggest eyewear trend of the season. The white adds another preppy element to the outfit.
Outfit 3
This third and final outfit was inspired by Kaia Gerber. The model of the moment has been sporting some similar outfits as of late, and her 'model off duty' look is definitely similar to what I would wear myself. Talking of the 'model off duty' look, many models including Bella Hadid and Hailey Baldwin have also been loving wearing Doc Martens lately so that also inspired this outfit. Whilst Docs are not for everyone, they add an element of punk to the look, and toughen up the otherwise very pretty and feminine dress. It's a subtle juxtaposition but I really love it. A leather jacket was a given based on the vibe I was going for. A Saint Laurent bag, with metal hardware adds to the punk element of the outfit. Sunglasses are a short frame rimless style from Missguided and add a touch of 90's nostalgia to the overall look. 

Which is your favourite of the 3 outfits?

Phillippa x

Pinterest - phillippadesign
Twitter - @Phillippa22
Instagram - phillippa22

Monday 21 May 2018

Street Style Trend - Logo Mania

Logos are literally everywhere atm. Whether it be on apparel or accessories, you can't escape emblazoned branding. Ok, so whilst logos are nothing new, I definitely feel they are making a reappearance thanks in large part to the current trend for all things 90's. I for one can certainly remember wearing 'FCUK' t-shirts back in the day, and not forgetting of course a classic pair of Kappa popper trousers with the logo running along the leg. When it came to designer goods in the 90's, it was all about strong logo branding from the likes of Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior. Whilst these designer brands have always embraced their iconic logos, they did take a back seat for a few years, but they are now back with vengeance. Fendi recently released a 'Fendi Reloaded' collection, with every piece in the collection being adorned with the 'FF' logo. Such a collection plays into the hands of the insta-generation, those fashionista's who are desperate to get their hands on the latest must-have designer pieces simply to boost their social media following and increase likes. As sad as this may seem, we do live in an age of mass consumerism and for many retailers such an approach is crucial to sustain sales in an otherwise tough economic climate. 
Another factor which has played a part in this revival, is the trend for athleisure. This has been hanging around for a number of seasons now and is still going strong. This trend consists of basic everyday separates, typically worn as loungewear, but given an everyday street style overhaul. Numerous brands have played into this trend and designed tees, hoodies and crop tops with logos slashed across the chest. Whilst it may not be to everybody's taste, its an affordable way to access a designer brand. Key Designers: Balenciaga, Gucci, Moschino, Off-White, Vetements
1. Bag - Dolce and Gabbana £825
2. Top - Off-White £415
3. Belt Bag - Balenciaga £1250
4. Cap - Vetements £214
5. Bag - Fendi £2790
6. Bag - Prada £685
7. Heels - J.W.Anderson £685
8. Clutch - Gucci £805
9. Bag - Gucci £1080
10. Bralet - Moschino £65
11. Heels - Gucci £805
12. Top - Versus Versace £350

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
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Monday 14 May 2018

A/W 18 Trend Report - Headwear

The biggest accessories trend for A/W 18 was undoubtedly the vast array of headwear seen on the runway. Ranging from hoods to motorcycle helmets, designer after designer sent models down the catwalk wearing unique headwear.
Zadig et Voltaire and Christian Dior championed the baker boy hat, which has already had a strong presence on the fashion scene over the past 12 months. This style of hat is super wearable and a quick way to update a casual street style look and make it more trend driven.
Another one of the most wearable looks was seen at Simonetta Ravizza, House of Holland and Gabriela Hearst, all three of whom opted for a 90's fashion favourite - the cap. This is super easy to style, just team with a basic tee and pair of jeans for the ultimate laid-back daytime look. It is also a very 'safe' headwear option, meaning it is already such a classic fashion accessory that you'll be on trend without even trying too hard.
Lacoste, Prada and Sies Marjan went for one of the most sensible autumnal options, a rain hat. Not always considered to be the most stylish of hats, it sure is practical and if you follow Prada's lead and opt for a neon pink option you will certainly be one of the most on-trend fashionistas come rain or shine!
Traditional wooly winter hats were seen at: R13, Undercover and Burberry. These came in a number of neon colours, including pink and acidic yellow, and some were even embellished.
If you thought that hoods only came attached to jackets and hoodies, then think again. This season hoods are a standalone fashion accessory, see Preen and Toga for ref. They can add a pop of colour, or print, to an outfit however if you like to play it safe with your sartorial choices then they are probably not for you.
Trilby's and wide-brimmed felted hats bring an element of sophistication to this trend. Saint Laurent teamed such a hat with floor length evening gowns, whilst Redemption brought all the rock'n'roll vibes to the runway by styling a fedora with a killer red suit.
If you, like many fashionista's, love Parisian style then you are in luck this season. The beret was seen at Moschino, Naeem Khan and Versace, the latter of whom delivered a green tartan version which is sure to be a hit with fashion editors and stylists.

This trend did at times however hit the headlines for the wrong reasons, when some designers showcased religious headwear. Some argued that it should be applauded that such headwear was visible in mainstream fashion, whilst others disputed this claiming it was insensitive cultural appropriation. What are your thoughts on this?
Here is a quick overview of the key styles:
Baker Boy Hats - Zadig et Voltaire, Christian Dior
Caps - Gabriela Hearst, House of Holland, Simonetta Ravizza
Fedora's / Wide-Brimmed Hats - Saint Laurent, Jacquemus, Marc Jacobs, Redemption, Margiela
Rain Hats - Lacoste, Sies Marjan
Wooly Hats - R13, Undercover, Burberry, Sonia Rykiel, Dolce and Gabbana
Hoods - Preen, Toga, Calvin Klein, Versace
Beret - Versace, Naeem Khan, Moschino
Head Scarf - Balenciaga, Vivetta, Gucci
Turbans - Gucci
Motor Cycle Helmets - Richard Quinn
Balaclava - Marine Serre, Matty Bovan, Gucci, Calvin Klein, Versace, Alexander Wang

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa
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Pinterest - phillippadesign

Monday 7 May 2018

MET Gala 2018 - Red Carpet Review

How does this event come around so quickly every year? I have reviewed the MET Gala red carpet on my blog every year since 2013, and these posts are always some of my most viewed - I guess we all share a common interest in this high profile event! The MET Gala marks the start of the latest fashion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and tickets to attend cost $30,000 with money going to charity. The theme of the event this year was 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination'. The theme has drawn some controversy, with some suggesting it is offensive to reference the church in fashion but such a theme has been ever-popular in fashion, especially Couture, for many decades. Take a look at who wore what to attend the event this year...
Cardi B - Moschino / Jasmine Sanders - H&M 
Sarah Jessica Parker - Dolce & Gabbana / Kate Bosworth - Oscar de la Renta
Ashley Graham - Prabal Gurung / Joan Smalls - Tommy Hilfiger / Kim Kardashian - Versace
Olivia Munn - H&M / Irina Shayk - Versace
Naomi Watts - Michael Kors / Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - Ralph Lauren
Sienna Miller - Louis Vuitton / Katy Perry - Versace / Evan Rachel Wood - Altuzarra
Shailene Woodley - Ralph Lauren / Kerry Washington - Ralph Lauren 
 Emily Ratajkowski - Marc Jacobs / Riley Keough - Louis Vuitton / Gisele Bundchen - Versace
Solange - Iris Van Herpen / Lily Collins - Givenchy
Bella Hadid - Chrome Hearts x Gareth Pugh / Cara Delevingne - Christian Dior
Emma Stone - Louis Vuitton / Tessa Thompson - Thom Browne
Jennifer Lopez - Balmain / Rita Ora - Prada
Greta Gerwig - The Row / Imaan Hammam - Zac Posen
Madonna - Jean Paul Gaultier / Janelle Monae - Marc Jacobs / Mary Kate Olsen - Paco Rabanne
Zoe Kravitz - Saint Laurent / Miley Cyrus - Stella McCartney / Karlie Kloss - Brandon Maxwell
Kylie Jenner - Alexander Wang / Kate Moss - Saint Laurent
Sarah Paulson - Prada / Rihanna - Maison Margiela / Zendaya - Versace
Alicia Vikander - Louis Vuitton / Jennifer Connelly - Louis Vuitton / Michelle Williams - LV
Scarlett Johansson - Marchesa / Nicki Minaj - Oscar de la Renta
Blake Lively - Versace / Priyanka Chopra - Ralph Lauren
Ruby Rose - Tommy Hilfiger / Cindy Crawford - Versace
Anne Hathaway - Valentino / Amber Heard - Carolina Herrera
Brooke Shields - Zac Posen / Hailey Baldwin - Tommy Hilfiger / Mary J Blige - Versace
Gigi Hadid - Versace / Diane Kruger - Prabal Gurung
Adwoa Aboah / Amal Clooney - Richard Quinn / Stella Maxwell - Moschino
Salma Hayek - Altuzarra / Ariana Grande - Vera Wang
Alexa Chung - ALEXACHUNG / Winnie Harlow - Tommy Hilfiger / Yara Shahidi - Chanel
Lana Del Rey - Gucci / Selena Gomez - Coach
Ruth Negga - Louis Vuitton / Dakota Fanning - Miu Miu / Kendall Jenner - Off-White
Hailee Steinfeld - Prabal Gurung / Jourdan Dunn - Diane Von Furstenberg
Kate Upton - Zac Posen / Frances McDormand - Valentino / Hikari Mori - Prabal Gurung
Lily Aldridge - Ralph Lauren / Amanda Seyfried - Prada / Gabrielle Union - Prabal Gurung
Tracee Ellis Ross - Michael Kors / SZA - Versace
Ming Xi - Prabal Gurung / Poppy Delevingne - Michael Kors

Best Dressed
For me the MET Gala is all about those unforgettable red carpet moments. Whilst there are always numerous gorgeous gowns to swoon over, there are always some which stand out more than others. I'm taking about those looks which will go down in MET history as iconic (I mean just think about Rhianna's Guo Pei gown a few years back!).
1. Black Lively wearing Versace - Blake seems to make my best dressed list every year, but thats simply because the actress never fails to absolutely nail her red carpet look at this event. Always dressed to fit the theme, OOT, classic glamour, flawless - you name it her look personifies the theme of the MET Gala perfectly!
2. Rihanna wearing Maison Margiela by John Galliano - Undoubtedly one of the most controversial outfits at the MET Gala this year, thanks to the papal inspired headdress, but when have Rihanna ever shied away from a little controversy? The length was perhaps a little too short for such an event, but despite this the look embodied the theme and afterall that is the point.
3. Lily Collins wearing Givenchy - I thought this look was the perfect balance between fiiting the somewhat traditional theme but also being modern at the same time. Lily looked flawless and the headpiece was fitting for the theme.
4. Cara Delevingne wearing Christian Dior - The great thing about Cara is that she is never afraid to take a risk on the red carpet. Her gothic Dior gown look was suitably daring for such a big event.

Other looks which I loved:
Zendaya - Versace
Kate Bosworth - Oscar de la Renta
Bella Hadid - Chrome Hearts x Gareth Pugh
Diane Kruger - Prabal Gurung
Imaan Hammam - Zac Posen
Anne Hathaway - Valentino
Kendall Jenner - Off-White

Least Favourite
1. Tracee Ellis Ross wearing Michael Kors - This all felt a little bit too 'Jackie O' for me
2. Selena Gomez wearing Coach - I usually adore Selena's style, and it was a given that she would wear Coach as she is a ambassador for the brand, but unfortunately this look did nothing for me.
3. Kate Moss wearing Saint Laurent - A great party dress, but not fitting for the theme of the MET Gala.

Who was your best and worst dressed?

All of the above red carpet looks, plus many more, can be seen over on my Pinterest (details below)

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
Instagram - phillippa22
Pinterest - phillippadesign

Wednesday 2 May 2018

Outfit of The Month - May

I'm definitely a Chloe kinda girl. I adore everything the brand has produced over the past few seasons with Claire Waight Keller, and more recently Natacha Ramsay-Levi as creative director. The French brand embodies a free-spirited bohemian sense of style, but in a very modern way without any cliched gimmicks. For this outfit, I based the look around an SS18 mini skirt - you probably know by now that mini skirts are my preferred style so it goes without saying why I opted for this one! I'm not much of a bold colour kind of person either, so the warm brown works well for me. I wanted an easy-breezy top to team with the skirt and needed to look no further than one of my current favourite affordable designer brands, Rixo. This ditsy print blouse, in a beautiful powder lilac shade, adds a slight pop of freshness to the look. I'm a sucker for a good ankle boot, so decided to add a contrasting print in the form of these snakeskin chelsea boots from Isabel Marant. I suit a pointed toe boot, more than rounded toe options, as they help to elongate my legs (which is a neat little styling tip!). A mint green, medium size, bag comes courtesy of Wandler. This brand are new on my radar and I love what they are doing at the moment. It seems many others also love this brand, as many styles are currently sold out online so be quick if you want to invest in a piece of the action! Whilst i'm not really into oversized sunnies, they were the most suitable styling option for this look. These glitter frame acetate sunglasses from Gucci, add a major 70's vibe to the overall outfit and I love the classic smoke grad lens. A coin pendant from Missoma's collab with Lucy Williams completes the look.
Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22
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Pinterest - phillippadesign