New York Fashion Week AW 2012....Daria

Ukrainian tv presenter, journalist and organiser of Mercedes-Benz sponsored Kiev fashion week, Daria Shapovalova, before Alexander Wang.  

And yes, that really is a "Well, Clarice - have the lambs stopped screaming?" Dr. Hannibal Lecter face mask purse. It was designed by a Ukrainian label, Bob Basset, in collaboration with Pure boutique .

Recreate Daria's look (kind of):

Herve Leger feather coat

Kenneth Jay Lane Swarovski crystal and coral resin earrings

ASOS faux fur turban headband

New York Fashion Week AW 2012

Love hats - I don't think I can even name one style that I don't like (although absolutely adore is another matter all together). Mmmmm okay, maybe not such a fan of that Balenciaga visor hat (although I am sure it would look completely brilliant in an editorial) but at least it would keep the sun firmly off the back of your neck ;)

And what could be better than a feather-topped chapeau?!

Recreate the look (kind of):

Forever 21 feathered wool fedora (in navy) or Rag & Bone classic fedora in navy (just add your own jaunty feather).

ASOS long cream scarf  or Splendid cable knit scarf

Marc Jacobs Stam satchel (in petal - the perfect palest pink for Spring)

London Fashion Week AW 2012...Anya

Tatler Russia's fashion director, Anya Ziourova, before Mary Katrantzou London, February 2012.

Recreate Anya's look (kind of):

Dsquared2 silver and white jeans or J Brand Super Skinny Jeans (with just a hint of metallic coating)

Pom Pom beanie - get your mama/nana/best friend/local craft shop to knit you one!

Rag & Bone Kenton suede platform booties or Giuseppe Zanotti suede ankle boots 

J Crew painter striped cotton top or Aubin & Wills Morval breton striped top



London Fashion Week AW 2012...After Vivienne Westwood Red Label

The hair and make-up at Vivienne Westwood Red Label, complete with hand/leg/neck tattoos, was wild and simply breathtaking. Not sure that the "drawn-on" tattoo look would work off the catwalk (perhaps with a very steady, practised hand it might just work - get it wrong and it will look like you were bored at school/work/in front of the tv and have accidentally doodled on yourself!).

Recreate model Bo Don's look (kind of):

Current/Elliott The Ankle Skinny leopard print Jeans (in sapphire blue)
MiH Jeans oversized white cotton shirt or Madewell perfect ex-boyfriend shirt (cute name, huh?!)
Alexander Wang Rocco studded bag
ASOS parka with detachable faux fur lining
Tibi long sleeve cropped sweater

London Fashion Week AW 2012...Valentina

Valentina Siragusa, editor of Factory Style blog, before Burberry, London, February 2012.

Recreate Valentina's look (kind of):

Burberry woven raffia peaked cap in ivory or striped

Burberry London yellow Westland ribbed trench coat

Burberry Prorsum beaded sandals 

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Cara

Adore Cara Delevingne and her crazy, fun approach to being photographed....and EVERYONE wants to photograph Cara!

And how sweet is Cara's personalised backpack?! Not just for littlies but for big kids as well ;)

Recreate Cara's Look (kind of):

Marc by Marc Jacobs Miss Marc backpack (love, love, love this backpack - it isn't personalised but it is seriously cute. This is the kind of backpack you buy for your daughter/niece/godchild but end up keeping for yourself :)

or go down the colour-block route with this fun Lazy Oaf backpack

Miu Miu patent leather high-top sneakers or All-Saints pony-bound hi-top sneakers or Converse All Star eyelet detail high-tops

New York Fashion Week AW 2012

Love the aviator/flying helmet hat!

On a side-note, when we were is Washington DC we visited the Smithsonian National Air and Space museum which was brilliant (and free!). And I am not even particularly interested in aeroplanes or space. The guided tour was excellent and it was so inspiring to see such an amazing collection of objects documenting the history of flight. Amelia Earhart's bright red Lockheed Vega 5b was a particular highlight. This model's flying hat reminds me of the leather flight helmet Amelia wore....

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Elisa

Model and actress, Elisa Sednaoui, after Michael Kors, NYC, February 2012.

Elisa's outfit is a lesson in how to wear fuchsia (and white) in winter without looking like you have mixed the seasons up or forgot to check the temperature gauge. And everything (well, probably not the coat unless you have a very mild summer) you could wear in spring/summer as well.

Recreate Elisa's Look (kind of):

Equipment Daddy hot pink blouse with floral collar (great if you prefer to wear hot pink near your face - beautiful with a (fake) tan - rather than on your legs) or Reiss Bretta fuchsia top

Preen Razor fuschia pants or Christopher Kane neon pink trousers

Valentino Ivory wool and cashmere belted coat

Michael Kors Zebra print clutch or Diane von Furstenberg Tonda zebra print clutch

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Preetma

I ♥ American Vogue's Preetma Singh in a big way.

Ex-lawyer, now Fashion Editorial Assistant at Vogue.....and wearer of her old Princeton University sweatshirt 'cos she was cold and needed something to keep her warm. Genius. I adore this look (so great with the crocodile-print patent leather skirt and knee high boots - elegant, faintly s*xy and sporty all at once) and it works even if you don't have an Ivy League sweatshirt like Preetma's. Got an old school or college sweatshirt lurking at the back of your wardrobe*? Pull it out and try teaming it with a leather pencil skirt (I think it would work quite well with a flippy leather skirt as well).

Preetma also has a blog, The Working Girl, Esq, which you can find here.

Recreate Preetma's Look (kind of):

Marc Jacobs croc print patent leather pencil skirt or Tibi leather pencil skirt

*Although probably a sweatshirt with a zillion signatures all over it proclaiming just how much your classmates will miss you/love you is probably best left in the back of the wardrobe ;)

London Fashion Week AW 2012...Alexa

Alexa Chung, after Erdem, London, February 2012.

Another girl who always looks amazing, in an effortless, she hasn't spent an age in front of the mirror kind of way. And she is a talented writer as well. In the latest issue of British Vogue Alexa talks about giving her wardrobe an ethical makeover...a great read and I love the honest way she ends the article "I can't say I will be dressing head to toe in ethical fashion from now on, but I will be making a concerted effort to be more mindful of what I consume, and endeavour to look through what I already own before adding more. Who knows? One day, I might be able to see what my bedroom floor looks like again."*

All of the pieces she is wearing here (particularly that beautiful floral skirt and the coat...and those Celine silver wedges are pretty cute as well ;), would be pieces she could pass down to future generations....just like her grandmother did.

Recreate Alexa's Look (kind of):

Erdem Criona high-waisted mesh and raffia skirt or Erdem floral pencil skirt (love the front pockets in this skirt...it somehow makes it a little more relaxed) or Topshop watercolour slip skirt   

Karl metallic silver wedges

*British Vogue, page 190, April 2012







New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Oroma

Oroma Elewa, Editor-in-chief, Pop'Africana, NYC, February 2012.

Recreate Oroma's look (kind of):

Derek Lam Albertine clutch in berry or Valentino mini VaVaVoom bag (love this as you can wear it as a clutch - with handy studded finger hold- or as a shoulder bag)

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Tilda

Tilda Lindstam, after Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, NYC, February 2012.

In my first year of university, I had a pair of black denim dungaree shorts almost exactly the same as Tilda's....in fact they are probably still tucked away in a drawer somewhere in my mum's house (we are a family that doesn't throw anything "still useful" out....and those denim dungarees were virtually indestructible, as denim invariably is). I wore them with a variety of t-shirts, an oversized plaid shirt (it was the grungy 90's and that was the way we rolled, yo!), a pair of Timberland-style tan lace-up's.....I probably looked like a tradie from a building site but at the time I thought I looked pretty damn cool.

Not (quite) as cool as Tilda though. Love the way she has teamed the heavy dungaree shorts with the delicate lace top....this would have worked brilliantly in the 90's with the lace bodysuit that I owned :)

Recreate Tilda's look (kind of):

French Connection lace top or Madewell silk Intermission top (in parchment) or try American Apparel for a lace bodysuit

Paul and Joe Sister denim dungarees or NSF Sky denim overalls

Duffy wool and cashmere beanie

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Hanneli

My favourite outfit that Hanneli wore during NY fashion week*? The Acne motorcyle jacket (amazing, amazing colour) and adorable Miu Miu gingham earrings at Jason Wu.

Recreate Hanneli's look (kind of):
Acne Rita suede aviator jacket (in blush suede - I know it isn't the electric blue but it is a beautiful, soft colour that would last for years).
Miu Miu gingham and plexiglass earrings (these looked so beautiful with the sunlight hitting them)


*closely followed by a Karen Walker dress :)

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Ruby

Ruby Aldridge rugged up against the cold (and it was freaking cold that day), after Prabal Gurung, NYC, February 2012.

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Violaine

Violaine Bernard, Fashion Director Velour Magazine, after Jason Wu, NYC, February 2012.

Recreate Violaine's look (kind of):

Elizabeth and James Evelyn wide-leg trousers (wide) or Rag & Bone leather-trimmed silk-chiffon maxi trousers (super dooper wide)  or Elizabeth and James floral print palazzo pants (so pretty - like wearing a Spring garden on your legs!)

Violaine is quite petite and I think she is a great example of being able to wear the palazzo/wide leg pants trend without being model tall.

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Shanina

Aussie model Shanina Shaik, after Ruffian (and in the snow!),NYC, February 2012.

Recreate Shanina's Look (kind of):

Derek Lam small Ume bag (in indigo) or The Cambridge Satchel Co silver metallic satchel

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Hanne

Hanne Gaby Odiele, after Jason Wu, NYC, February 2012.

Recreate Hanne's Look (kind of):

Lover wide leg jeans (one of my fav Aussie brands). To get Hanne's frayed hemline (which Garance was sporting on her jeans in London as well "I never have time to take them for alterations"), a night in with a pair of scissors and a Quick Unpick/Seam Ripper tool is in order.

 Bottega Veneta yellow and nude sandals (love Hanne's mustard yellow shirt but not everyone suits this colour.....I know this because I wore a mustard yellow high school shirt for 5 years (with a brown skirt!). These heels are great if you want to wear rich, deep yellow but your facial skin tone says uuuurgh).

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Justine

Her outfit (all Rag & Bone) and beautiful dark wavy hair are amazing, of course, but what I loved so much about Justine Couvillion*....and this is going to sound rather odd and creepy, was her voice....totally awesome Mississippi/Southern accent! Clearly I haven't met many people from the South as I think I told her 3 times that I just loved listening to her speak. Weird, I know. I have photographed Justine before, but I think this was the first time I actually got to speak to her. So happy I did :)

Recreate Justine's Look (kind of):

Rag & Bone classic Newbury booties (in taupe)
Rag & Bone/Jean The Skinny Jean (in bluebird)

*Rag & Bone's West Coast Account Executive

p.s. This is now a couple of week's old (and I always feel a little odd sharing press article's with y'all) but I was very honoured to be included in the New York Times article written by Laura Neilson. If you haven't read it, you can find it here.

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Aline

Always cheerful and nice, model Aline Weber, NYC, February 2012.

Anyone manage to get their hands on a pair of the Isabel Marant black Willow sneakers before they sold out in a nanosecond across the world???

Recreate the Look (kind of):
Isabel Marant Bobby suede sneakers (they aren't the Willow but they are still really cute and look comfy to wear) or Chloé's luxe patchwork canvas and suede high-tops

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Lauren

The exquisite Lauren Remington Platt after Jason Wu.

Seriously, she is just so poised and elegant (she literally glides when she walks) and (sigh) beautiful. And the best advertisement for her members only NYC-based hair and make-up booking company (they come to you), Vênsette.

I can't think of anything better than having hair and make-up done by a professional before a special night out.....especially if, like me, you aren't so great at wielding the eyeliner and curling iron (I am still in awe that Kate Middleton did her own make-up for her wedding!). I spent many an hour (and $) in the beauty hall at David Jones (a department store in Australia) having my make-up done for university ball's/weddings/parties. I love the idea that with Vênsette, the artist comes to your home (or office) and will even use your own products.....much less embarrassing than sitting in a chair in the middle of a department store with the general public wandering by and passing judgement on your choice of lip gloss :)

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Before Alexander Wang

Before Alexander Wang, NYC, February 2012.

Recreate the Look (kind of):
Hervé Léger Black Feather coat or ASOS Faux Fur coat (in black) or Balmain black embroidered fur jacket (investment piece)
Alexander Wang Racer Back leather dress (throw on a coat for now and sandals for summer in a couple of months..... Except if you are in Australia right now in which case baby/talcum powder is your best friend if you want to wear leather in 31°C weather ;) 

New York Fashion Week AW 2012

Love those Rag & Bone Astrid boots!

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...After Ruffian

Falling snow + NYC + bouncy curls + perfect red lips =  all the things I love to shoot!

I was so excited when it started to snow in NYC....I couldn't sleep properly the night before, and when I looked out the window on the Saturday morning and tiny specks of snow were falling onto the fire escape, it was one of those yeehaw moments! I have never seen snow fall in NYC before - last February was my first winter season at NYFW and while there was lots of snow on the ground, it didn't actually snow while I was there.

I took a cab uptown and made the driver let me out at Central Park so I could take all the prettiness in...the park looks beautiful any time of day but to see it in the early morning with snow falling was pretty damn special. And then I got to Lincoln Centre just as the models from the Ruffian show were coming out....the hair, the red lips, the snow. So much loveliness to photograph.

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Aimee

Aimee, who has the stunning blog, Song of Style (helloooo beautiful, smooshy Californian light!), before Lacoste (I think), NYC February 2012.

This was the day of THE SNOW. I think Aimee was as happy about the snow as I was! Love her primary colour blocking and the floral jacket peeking out from underneath her gilet. I think all of us layered on as many clothes as possible the day of THE SNOW although (most) of us didn't pull it off quite as cheerfully as Aimee did.

Recreate Aimee's look (sort of):
Alice + Olivia Kathryn yellow high-waisted skirt
Sonia by Sonia Rykiel colour block sweater or Acne raspberry pink Ry angora blend sweater or ASOS green angora sweater

How Aimee has styled her outfit might not work for everyone (particularly newbie colour-blockers who may not be so confident with combinations of brights) so a skirt or a sweater in a solid colour is a good way to ease into the trend for summer.