New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Juju

Juju Ivanyuk, after Badgley Mischka (she opened the show), NYC, February 2012.

Paris Fashion Week AW 2012...Grace

There is something about New Zealand born, Paris based Grace's style that I absolutely adore. It's...unaffected, undone, honest somehow....rather like that of another one of my girl style crushes, Ursina. It is refreshing to see at fashion week. And of course I am crazy about Grace's freckles ;)

One of my friend's said to me at Chanel, "Ness, I just photographed a girl you would love....she is SO your type". When I looked at the photograph on the back of her camera, it was Grace! It is funny that most of us photographers at the fashion weeks have a particular type of girl/style we like photographing. It is what keeps things interesting, I think.

Recreate Grace's look (kind of):

Whetherly Noam double jersey tee or ASOS double-layer tee

Max Studio dark brown leather coat or Marni caramel leather coat or Vince leather coat (a great trans seasonal piece) 

Duffy grey wool and cashmere beanie

Marc by Marc Jacobs electro blue Too Hot to Handle zip around wallet or wristlet  
Smythson orange Keep Calm and Carry On notebook (a motto I like to play on repeat in my head during the fashion weeks ;)

Essie mint candy apple nailpolish (do you see the colour of Grace's manicure...and her hand chain? So cool!)

Paris Fashion Week AW 2012...Vasilisa

Vasilisa Pavlova, after Carven (she closed the show), Paris, March 2012.

Crisp, clean, neat black and white...a touch masculine, classic and very wearable.

Recreate Vasilisa's look (kind of):

Madewell shrunken white boyshirt or create a stir with this Acne poplin shirt (sweet, demure peter pan collar at the front.....until you turn around. Hello oversized keyhole back! This would be fun to wear at work. Keep your jacket on for meetings and wear alone for after-dinner drinks - or while sitting at your desk :).

Rag&Bone/Jean The Legging Jean in black

Jil Sander Chelsea boots or ASOS Alibi Chelsea boots



London Fashion Week AW 2012....Ellie

Ellie Ward, Junior Buyer, designer brands, ASOS.com, London, February 2012.

Love Ellie's Ashish sunflower print sweater! And her traffic-light orange bobble beanie.

Recreate Ellie's look (kind of):

Ashish sunflower sweatshirt or black&white stripe and sunflower sequin top

Cheap Monday mid-rise skinny black jeans (customise with your own strategically placed rips - either with scissors or a spot of skateboarding ;)

ASOS Alibi black leather Chelsea boots



London Fashion Week AW 2012...Poppy

Poppy Delevigne carrying Tommy Ton's new utility satchel for Club Monaco, London, February 2012.

How pretty is her double-slit skirt? And I think we all want to get our hands on one of Tommy's bags that he designed in collaboration with Club Monaco. Would you choose the satchel or the backpack?! My pick is the backpack (great for hauling cameras around).

Recreate Poppy's Look (kind of):

Ecote double-slit skirt (hellllloo Coachella!) or Tibi pretty blush coloured silk-chiffon maxi skirt or Mulberry dreamy, swishy tulle maxi-skirt

Givenchy skeleton print tank top

Lot78 Riley leather biker jacket or Acne leather biker jacket  

London Fashion Week AW 2012....Taylor

Taylor Tomasi Hill, Moda Operandi's Artistic Director, London, February 2012.

I really liked the capsule collection she designed for Lane Crawford (how gorgeous is that sequin tassel skirt - imagine the way it would shimmer when you walk- and the leather and lace shirt?).....I hope she does further collaborations in the future.

Recreate Taylor's look (kind of):

No.21 electric blue floral print blouse (love the combination of blooms, lace and blue silk-twill) or embrace Spring in Warehouse floral top  or Textile Elizabeth and James Austin shirt or if you prefer a little-less-saccharine sweet, this shirt from Proenza Schouler.

Instead of Taylor's beautiful winter-weight flared trousers, try By Malene Birger Cara high-waisted flared trousers in navy for Summer or Vanessa Bruno vibrant coral flared pants (fabulous with a pair of wedges).

New York Fashion Week AW 2011...Joan

Joan Smalls in pansy-print Givenchy, after Carolina Herrera, NYC, February 2012.

Recreate Joan's look (kind of):

Givenchy Iris tee or shirt (Iris = the new Pansy print)

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Eve

British model Eve Delf, after Ruffian, NYC, February 2012.

With her pale, pale skin, red lips and the snow, there is a touch of the fairytale Snow White about Eve.....certainly a modern day Snow White with those Dr. Martens ;)

How beautiful would that hair and make-up be with this Marc Jacobs lamé and neon-lime 1920's flapper-style dress (we can only dream!)?

Is anyone having a snowy weekend this weekend? If you are, have a wonderful time out playing in it. London is expected to be rainy and rather grey.



New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Valentina

Valentina Ilardi Martin, Editor in Chief/Fashion Director of the beautiful, beautiful bi-annual magazine/book, Grey.



New York Fashion Week AW 2012...After Karen Walker

I ♥ girls who wear braces.

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Giovanna

The always beautiful and stylish Giovanna Battaglia, after Tory Burch, NYC, February 2012.

How stunning is that copper-coloured full skirt with those olive knee high boots?! Derek Blasberg is looking pretty cute in the background as well ;)

Recreate Giovanna's look for summer (kind of):

Acne taffeta mini skirt in black or palest, duck egg blue (a little shorter for summer) or ASOS egg shaped skirt in black organza

10 Crosby Derek Lam Hooded Parka



New York Fashion Week...Laurel

Teen Vogue, Assistant Beauty Editor, Laurel Pantin, NYC, February 2012.

How chic is her newly cropped hair? Brilliant. It probably now takes her only 30 seconds to "do" her hair in the morning. Doubly brilliant!

Recreate Laurel's look (kind of):

Elie Tahari cropped Fiona pants (in fiery red like Laurel's) or ASOS slim cropped pants (in red) or flip and reverse the fuchsia/red combo in DVF hot pink New Georginne pants

Team with a bright coloured top like Laurel's or a crisp white Oxford shirt from Gap or Madewell's shrunken white boyshirt in white

Add Miu Miu studded glitter sneakers and a pair of teeny, tiny gold spike earrings (I know you can't see from my blurry soft focus photo but Laurel was wearing a pair similar to this).

London Fashion Week AW 2012...Rosalind

One of my LFW favourite girls to photograph (hence lots of photos!), the crazy beautiful and talented Rosalind Jana: student, writer and editor of Clothes, Cameras and Coffee blog.

Roz loves wearing mostly vintage, ethical and second-hand/charity shop finds (clever, clever girl to unearth such fantastic pieces), and, fittingly, she covered LFW for Oxfam (Roz writes for them regularly).

Recreate Roz's look (if you don't have time to trawl vintage/op-shop's yourself - patience and dedication is the key to finding choice vintage pieces, I think ;):

Sass & Bide The Introduction colourblock pants or Alexander Wang trackpants (love classic navy for evening with a great heel) or Topshop silk jogger by Boutique

Textile Elizabeth and James Austin shirt (super feminine and sweet) or Reiss Kara nude polka dot shirt

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 :)