New York Fashion Week AW 2012/2013....Leandra

The one and only Leandra Medine (Current relationship status: breaking up with Lydia*) aka The Man Repeller, after A Show, NYC, February 2012.

Recreate Leandra's look (kind of):

Shearling trimmed coat: Rag & Bone Scalpel coat with fur trim,  Preen Zora shearling and cotton blend twill coat, Marni shearling and houndstooth coat, or Joseph Dallas shearling and wool coat

Boy. by Band of Outsiders t-shirt, Club Monaco Faye stripe tee, Proenza Schouler striped top, or MiH Jeans striped top

Jeans: Citizens of Humanity Dylan boyfriend jeans, Current/Elliott The Rolled skinny jeans, or Topshop Moto bleach boyfit crop jeans

Open toe booties:Camilla Skovgaard Open Toe cutout booties, Christian Louboutin Col Zippe booties, or ASOS Twilight peep toe shoe boots

*be sure to read Leandra's latest post!

New York Fashion Week AW 2012/2013....Ilva

German model Ilva Heitmann (Supreme), after J.Crew, NYC, February 2012.

Recreate Ilva's look (kind of):

Brighten up a winter coat with a coloured beanie:Topshop rust coloured cable-knit pom pom hat, Eugenia Kim Jamie chunky beanie, Eugenia Kim Holly cable-knit beanie or Warehouse knitted hat

Whistles Margot tweed coat, ASOS fur collar belted coat, Tibi boucle tweed coat, or Iro tweed short sleeved cape coat

New York Fashion Week AW 2012/2013....Sung Hee

Korean model Sung Hee Kim (Wilhelmina), after 3.1 Phillip Lim, NYC, February 2012.

I am a big fan of leather shorts - this season, the longer the better - and the different textures in Sung Hee's outfit. While it is all black, the different fabrics help to make it look interesting.

Recreate Sung Hee's look (kind of):

Leather shorts: Valentino leather shorts, Alexander Wang croc embossed leather shorts, See by Chloe Drawstring leather shorts,  Funktional pleated leather shorts, Karl Sanna glossed leather shorts, or Vero Moda leather shorts

Alice + Olivia Verity fur jacket, Rachel Zoe Brooklyn faux fur coat, Maje Roger hooded rabbit and shearling coat, ASOS Mongolian faux fur jacket (in black), or Antipodium Vyner fur sleeve bomber

Alexander Wang Elin desert boots

New York Fashion Week AW 2012/2013....Peony

Peony Lim, before A Show, NYC, February 2012.

Another alternative to a party dress for events during the festive season is a pair of sequined pants..... either slouchy like Peony's or more fitted jeans or leggings. Dress down with flats and a sweater/t-shirt for day and change into heels for evening.

Recreate Peony's look (kind of):

3.1 Phillip Lim sequined silk tapered track pants, Free People sequin party pants, Alice + Olivia sequined low-rise skinny jeans, Funktional Weiland pants, Blank Denim sequined skinny pants, Lanvin sequin print pants, Hunt No More So Long sequined pants, Style Stalker Gold Finger sequin pants, IRO distressed sequin pants or ASOS pants with sequin embellishment

Paris Fashion Week SS 2013....After Leonard

After Leonard (I think!), Paris, October 2012.

Paris Fashion Week SS 2013....Anni

Super sweet (and talented) Estonian model, jewellery maker, and blogger Anni Jurgenson (Elite London) from Style Hurricane blog, before Hermes, Paris, October 2012.

Recreate Anni's cute look (kind of):

Metallic/coated jeans: Alice + Olivia metallic skinny jeans, J Brand super skinny metallic coated jeans, Gianni skinny jeans in metallic coated denim, Current/Elliott The Ankle skinny metallic jeans, or Sass &Bide Three Words stretchy metallic jeans

Printed blazer: Rag & Bone Tapestry 42nd Street Blazer, Rag & Bone Ikat blazer, Topshop co-ord lace shadow blazer, or ASOS Premium floral print blazer

Paris Fashion Week AW 2012/2013....Violaine

Fashion Director Velour magazine Violaine Bernard, after Anne Valerie Hash, Paris, March 2012.

For those of you who have another week of work before the festive season break (and live in a cold climate), I think Violaine's outfit is lovely inspiration if you need to go from work → evening dinner/drinks/party.

Recreate Violaine's look (kind of):

Cable knit sweater: Chloe cable-knit detailed sweater, Joseph cable-knit sweater, Club Monaco Aran sweater, Juicy Couture chunky cable-knit turtleneck sweater, or Vila Exclusive cable knit sweater (in cream)

Milly Aspirin dot tulle skirt, RED Valentino tulle and lace skirt, RED Valentino Applique tulle skirt, Elizabeth and James Nichole skirt, or Darling Amelia skirt

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs Deco dot scarf, or Marc Jacobs Tinsel striped scarf

Beanie: Plush cable knit beanie, Topshop beanie, Eugenia Kim beanie

Joomi Lim London Calling earrings or Lulu Frost Leto earrings

London Fashion Week AW 2012/2013

Somerset House, London, February 2012.

Recreate her look (kind of):

There is (almost) nothing more comforting than wrapping yourself in an oversized cardi, poncho or sweater but that can also mean loosing your body shape under the layers....which is fine if you are going for a super casual look. If you want to emphasise your waist/look a little dressier, add a belt like this girl has. Oversized cardi/poncho: ASOS blanket wrap cardigan, Maison Scotch knit poncho vest, Thakoon Addition double layer jacket, Vero Moda Bold stripe knitted wrap poncho, Selected mohair oversized cardigan, Rag & Bone Bajwa blanket poncho, or Vince fringe cardigan

Scarf: Thakoon Addition floral camo printed scarf, Marc by Marc Jacobs graphic animal print scarf, or Topshop skull scarf

Over the Knee boots: Juicy Couture Morell Over the Knee boots, or Cobra Society Zeus Over the Knee boots

Behind the Scenes....MiH Jeans Pre-SS13 Lookbook Shoot

Behind the Scenes @ MiH Jeans Pre-SS 2013 Lookbook Shoot, MiH Headquarters, London.

I make no secret of my preference for working with brands that I absolutely love, and MiH jeans (and the wonderful team behind it) is one of them. Back in the summer, I was fortunate to be invited back by the lovely Chloe Lonsdale, MiH's founder, to photograph behind the scenes on the MiH jeans pre-spring/summer '13 lookbook (studio) shoot. You might recall last year's behind the scenes shoot with the lovely model Beegee. 

The shoot took place at the new MiH headquarters in London where, by the end of the day, I was ready to move in (Dear Chloe, my bed would definitely fit in a corner of the photographic cove. I measured it ;)). The enormous space (it used to be a photographic studio) is beautifully decorated (vintage photographs and posters on the walls, a wonderful oyster-coloured chaise lounge, large wooden tables, white washed walls, antique blue & white china, a gourmet kitchen) and filled with light. All the things that make me extremely happy as a photographer :)

The team for this shoot were:

Model: gorgeous British model Milly Simmonds (Elite London)

Photographer: Oskar Gyllensward (who is a genius with lighting. I just watched on in awe - and stayed well out of the way - as Oskar worked his magic with the lighting, transforming the studio for the shoot).

Stylist: Simone Konu

Hair: Mari Ohashi

Make-Up: Hiromi Ueda

Set Design: Robert Storey

I am so fortunate to have worked with the MiH team on this (and last year's shoot). Everyone is a joy to work with and even though it is "work" (lookbook shoots are fairly fast-paced because of the number of outfits that need to be shot within a short period of time) it never feels stressful. 

You can find the lookbook with Oskar's incredible shots of Miss Milly and the new collection on the MiH website.

p.s. The prints in this MiH collection are by the wonderfully talented NY-based illustrator Bernadette Pascua (probably many of you know Bernadette's beautiful blog, Decade Diary). Last year, after I posted the photographs of Beegee from the behind the scenes shoot, Bernadette sent me an illustration inspired by one of my photographs. The MiH team saw her illustration, loved her work, and now she collaborates with them, designing the prints! I love a happy, inspiring story :) Well done Bernadette!

New York Fashion Week AW 2012/2013....Kat

Ukrainian model Kat Zakharchenko (Models 1), NYC, February 2012.

Break up a head-to-toe black look with different textures and fabrics (note Kat's patent tote bag, leather trousers and belt).

Recreate Kat's look (kind of):

Black coat: J Brand Ready to Wear coat, or ASOS oversized pocket coat

Leather pants: J Brand super skinny leather pants, Current/Elliott The Skinny leather pants, A.L.C. leather Ridley pants, Joseph skinny leather pants,or Karl Pacey faux leather pants

Rachel Zoe Adrienne lace up booties, Acne black boots, or Burberry Prorsum platform ankle boots

Patent tote: Burberry patent tote, Tory Burch Crinkle patent tote, or Coach Madison patent tote, Rachel Zoe Morrison patent tote or McQ by Alexander McQueen patent tote

Paris Fashion Week AW 2012/2013....Elena

Elena Perminova, after Valentino, Paris, March 2012.

 Recreate Elena's look (kind of)):

Derek Lam shearling trimmed cotton coat, Proenza Schouler shearling-collar quilted leather jacket,  O'2nd detachable fur cocoon coat, Belstaff Rutland padded shearling coat, Alexander McQueen hooded shearling jacket or River Island leather biker jacket with fur collar

Ganni Oldspice striped jersey top, Madewell Kira bow back tee, or Zoe Karssen ribbon stripe tee

Cap: Eugenia Kim Elyse cashmere Marine cap, The Elder Statesman Billed Bubble cap, or Bop Basics Newsie cap

Patent boots: Stella McCartney faux patent leather ankle boots

Paris Fashion Week AW 2012/2013....Anya

Stylist and Tatler Russia's Fashion Director Anya Ziourova, Tuileries, Paris, March 2012.

I love all the details (and colours) of Anya's beautiful dress including her looped belt which, I think, gives the illusion of a bow.