London Fashion Week AW 2012....Backstage at Margaret Howell

Backstage at Margaret Howell, London, Sunday 19 February 2012.

Low ponytails pulled effortlessly to one side under pom pom topped Tam o' Shanter's and low-riding beanies, freshly cut slices of crimson streaked blood orange and wedges of crisp winter apples, sleepy eyed models sipping welcome cups of freshly brewed coffee (show start time is 9am), boxes of brown and black preppy penny loafers, utilitarian canvas backpacks, refined twinsets, knee-length gently pleated skirts and mannish blazers (evoking images of the young Mitford sisters in the 1930's), heavy wool military-inspired coats.....and one Paddington Bear navy knee-length duffel coat, flushed rosy cheeks (a brisk walk in the country on a winter's day perhaps?), wool pants with front pockets and track-pant hems, tales of acting and photographs (we loved seeing you back on the runway this season Dorothea Barth Jorgensen).....These Are a Few of My Favourite Things from backstage at Margaret Howell AW 2012.

New York Fashion Week AW 2012...Sabrina

Sabrina Meijer, the beautiful Dutch gal behind AfterDRK blog, NYC, February 2012.

Recreate Sabrina's super-cute look (kind of):

If you can't get your hands on a pair of the Acne Pop Trash boyfriend jeans (which I think are pretty much sold out everywhere), try Current/Elliott The Boyfriend cropped jeans  or ASOS high-waisted slim boyfriend jeans or Blank Denim relaxed straight leg jeans (a little less boyfriendy).

Helene Berman wide brimmed wool-felt hat

New York Fashion Week AW 2012....Tamu

Tamu always looks amazing but this was one of my favourite looks that she wore during NYFW. I love the crisp white button-down shirt with the beautiful flower-print skirt (conservative and playful all at once), and of course those darling bow-topped heels with neon socks. And probably no need to point out her lovely Celine bag ;)

Recreate Tamu's look (kind of):

Christopher Kane blue and silver cut-out jacquard skirt or Sandro neon pink Joyeuse skirt or ASOS pale pink jacquard skirt (a little more volume but still entirely wearable for day).

Theory Devyna white fitted shirt

Miu Miu bow embellished pumps (just add socks!)

p.s. Check out British Vogue this month (April) to see Tamu in her stunning apartment in Milan. Go girl!

New York Fashion Week AW 2012

Love all the colours in this fur gilet (or is it part of her leather jacket?) and her cute Tory Burch Amanda logo clutch/bag. Fabulous in vermilion colour for summer.

Paris Fashion Week AW 2012...Natalie

Natalie Hartley, Senior Fashion Editor InStyle magazine (UK) and editor of Natalie Hartley Wears blog, Paris, March 2012.

Natalie's blog is all about looking good on a lower budget - she successfully mixes high street labels with designer items.....and has fun doing it!

Recreate Natalie's Look (kind of):

ASOS grey marl boyfriend t-shirt or T by Alexander Wang classic t-shirt

MM6 by Maison Martin Margiela grey washed leather jacket or All Saints Marsh leather biker jacket (in pale powder blue for spring/summer)

Levi's cropped boyfriend jeans

Add a pop of colour with some open-toed booties for summer -  Camilla Skovgaard purple stiletto booties or Maison Martin Margiela open-toed bootie in lavender (Natalie's boots are Michel Perry).





London Fashion Week AW 2012...Leomie

Leomie Anderson, after Maria Grachvogel, London, February 2012.

Recreate Leomie's Look (kind of):

Madewell neon citrus pullover (wear with a tank underneath for Spring)

Marc by Marc Jacobs high-waisted cut-off  black denim shorts or Alice + Olivia cady cuff shorts

Paris Fashion Week AW 2012...Ulyana

Ulyana Sergeenko, Paris, March 2012.

Did you see the article in British Vogue (April 2012) featuring the Russian girls Elena Perminova, Miroslava Duma, Vika Gazinskaya and Ulyana? I love that they admit to sharing their clothes during PFW (kind of like a girly slumber party.....only with a lot more designer clothes and beautiful beds at The Ritz instead of sleeping bags!).

Recreate Ulyana's look (kind of):

Topshop moto fitted denim shirt or Current/Elliott The Perfect Shirt 

I really like the way Ulyana has dressed up her denim on denim look with the statement necklace. This is definitely a look you could wear in "real life".

Noir jewellery neon rope and crystal necklace or ASOS Krystal Swarovski Garden Statement necklace. Or instead of a oversized necklace, wear a pair of statement earrings. Love these Dannijo Monaco earrings (in fact anything by the Dannjio girls is pretty awesome!) 



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