Stripes are all the rage for spring summer 2015. Being such an easy print to incorporate into our wardrobes, no doubt the uptake will be massive – so the key is to keep it original and be a little more experimental than just horizontal monochrome stripes. Take a look at this cool infographic from Farfetch.com that will help you to shop and wear the trend.
Filed under Uncategorized
Are you following Charms of a Dandizette on my new self hosted site www.dandizettecharm.com
Filed under Uncategorized
Getting festival ready…
Jay Z and Beyonce Knowles Leaving The Hotel Meurice – looking pretty festival chic
We are now officially in the thick of the Festival Season! Oh the festival, the emblem of summer, synonymous with denim shorts, spent in vain without Hunter wellies and not a summer at all if you’re not attending at least one! Well, truth be told in my twenty nine years of living I must have lived only a handful of summers, because I am far from what the likes of Glastonbury and V-Fest goers would call a ‘Festival Goer’. In fact, I’m not. I just happen to wander along to the odd festival the occasional summer, and I am delighted to say that this is one of those summers. Indeed, on Friday I will be attending Wireless Festival at the Olympic Village park and as you would imagine, the ensemble preparation has begun.
My stylish thoughts have led me to the conclusion that festival fashion can be easily imitated; firstly it’s functional, so common sense and practicality, before aesthetic, dictates many of the garments Festival Goers select as a collective. Secondly, festival fashion is pretty much preordained; cut off denim shorts (Levis), sunglasses (Rayban), wellies (Hunters), parka (Babour) and an across the body bag (of your choosing) and of all the aforementioned designers for hardened fashionista festival attendees. These are what I have called the non-variable garments of a festival ensemble – although the designer can be varied in accordance to your bank balance, the actual items themselves can’t really be argued with.
If like me the rock chic/boho/festival/fashion student/Topshop look (all styles make up festival chic) isn’t ‘honestly’ your style remit, then putting together a festival ensemble you feel comfortable and chic in poses a slight fashion challenge. Readers of Charms of a Dandizette will know that I love a fashion challenge – such challenges allow you to dip into different styles and fashion sub-cultures outside of your comfort zone – giving you a broader scope to draw upon when creating ensembles, which can only add to your styling capabilities.
As tempting as it is to go against the grain, which is an approach I would usually take, for my festival ensemble I have looked at what has been working for the masses and imitated the essentials, the non – variables. As much as what Solange wore to Coachella this year is closer to my own personal style than the likes of denim shorts and wellies, I am not confident enough in this realm to be able to break the rules just yet – so, you could say in this context I am playing it safe. Did I just say that? Admittedly, following the crowds isn’t an overly dandyish or dandizette like approach to dressing, but you see, the festival would not have been a dandies typical playing field anyhow – so I believe there’s no need to feel bad about not being overly creative at this point. Besides, this is just the beginning.
In line with this way of thinking, I was able to select the key garments in my festival ensemble quicker than you can say ‘denim shorts’ and indeed, those cut off denim shorts I have an on again off again relationship with are on again, not Levis but Topshop. My footwear, not Hunters, but black zip up stack heel ankle booties, also from Topshop and my across the body bag, the only one I own, from Marc Jacobs, have all been selected. The variables, on the other hand, the sunglasses, jacket (or something to keep warm), jewellery and head wear – are the more fun and more expressive elements to the ensemble. These are the game changers and I am going to be using these items to be more expressive, more individual and more on trend – hopefully showing off some fashion savviness at the same time!
My Tom Ford sunglasses, my summer investment piece, will be replaced with a non-designer pair that are loud enough and conspicuous enough to earn their right in the sea of Raybans. And can do so without denting the bank, because let’s face it, although the opulent and frivolous sunglasses, think Dolce and Gabbana, are trending right now, we’re sure to hate this trend by next summer. I’m adopting this attitude for all the variables, replace my everyday cuffs and chunky Marc by Marc Jacobs turn lock bracelet for wrists embellished in a pile up of gold bracelets and plenty of bangles. And, instead of opting for the conventional parka I’m opting for an elaborately printed silk bomber jacket.
I am now in the midst of selecting the perfect top, but that’s nothing that a visit to Topshop won’t solve! I am feeling festival ready and pretty fashion confident! Should my ensemble be a success, there could be some personal photos to look out for!
Take a look at my inspirations…
Solange Knowles at Coachella – not so practical, but loving the ensemble
Rihanna rocking the crazy glasses – up the ante on those festival accessories
Beyonce at Coachella 2010 – copy this entire outfit and you won’t go far wrong
Chanel Iman at Coachella 1013
Miranda Kerr and Alessandra Ambrosio at Coachella 2013 – hat lovin’
Rihanna – if you can pull it off go for it!
Jay Z and Beyonce perform at Coachella
Kate Moss at Glastonbury – queen of festival fashion
Miranda Kerr rocking out with her Victoria Secrets Angels Alessandra Ambrosio and Candace Swanepoel at Coachella
Miranda Kerr at Coachella
Rihanna Performs at the V Festival
Be charmed, stay inspired! x
Filed under Fashion, Uncategorized
Here’s a fashionable little token to my American Charms of a Dandizette readers…
Enjoy Fourth of July wishes from Diane Von Furstenburg, Kenzo, Jimmy Choo and the adorable fashion illustration of Lady Liberty from Lanvin!
Happy 4th July from Diane Von Furstenburg
Kenzo 4th July
Jimmy Choo 4th July
Lanvin 4th July
Be charmed, Stay Inspired! x
Filed under Culture, Fashion, Uncategorized
Indeed Alexa Chung, the girl that has been championing flat shoes way before Charlotte Olympia made the smoking slipper a statement shoe, has penned her own book, titled simply ‘IT’ and released on the 5th September 2013. The book will contain writing, no doubt of the stylish nature, accompanied by photos that Alexa has been taking since October 2012, when she first announced that she would be writing a book, and her very own illustrations – yes she draws too. Alexa has said that the book is by no means autobiographical, but, as the description reads on Amazon…
‘A truly one-off collection of Alexa’s personal writings, drawings and photographs, It covers everything from her thoughts on life, love and music to her favourite looks and how to decide what to wear in the morning. With wit, charm and a refreshingly down-to-earth attitude, this gorgeously-designed full-colour book is a must-have for anyone who loves fashion, music and just about everything Alexa Chung.’
Although Alexa may not be a style icon on my radar, I am most definitely intrigued to read ‘IT’, after all, isn’t she the girl whose CV any girl would want to emulate? Model, TV Presenter, FANTASTIC WARDROBE, a relationship with Karl Lagerfeld, guest editor at Vogue and now illustrator and author!
Better get to writing that book then, eh?
In the meantime, here’s some stylish reads on my Fashion reading list…
The Fashion Fairtytale Memoirs – Christian Lacroix and the Tale of Sleeping Beauty
The Fashion Fairtytale Memoirs – -The Empress’s New-Clothes
The Fashion Fairtytale Memoirs – Christian Lacroix and the Tale of Sleeping Beauty, Manolo Blahnik’s the Elves and the Shoemaker, Diane Von Furstenberg and the Tale of the Empress’s New Clothes
Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations: On Fashion. Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli talk fashion
Happy reading,
Be charmed, stay inspired!x
Filed under Uncategorized
Giovanna Battaglia for Case Scenario
We would once be considered on trend and stylish just by the mere fact of owning the latest lifestyle gadget, be it the latest MP3 player, tablet, mobile phone, e-reader and so on and so forth. These little technological devices were once a worthy testament to our fashion savoir faire – particularly any device designed by Apple and predominantly the iPhone – because everyone needs a phone and any fashionista knows it needs to be an iPhone. Such a staple have these little pieces of technology become and so dear to us they are, that we are no longer merely protecting our iPhones in functional cases, we’re embellishing and adorning them like we embellish and adorn ourselves. I think of my Biba iPhone case as an investment, with massive cost per wear value, like a statement coat, a belt or pair of sunglasses. And like anything that has massive cost per wear, the iPhone embellishment offers big fashion kudos.
Admittedly, embellishing our iPhones is pretty frivolous, even for fashionistas – we wouldn’t pimp our phones before we have the shoes that we want, the sunglasses we’ve been coveting or the handbag we’ve fallen in love with – phone pimping is for the girl that has everything – at least that’s how she might appear and let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to look like they have it all? It’s why we buy handbags that cost more than our rent. Fashioning our iPhones is just so frivolous it’s fabulous and designers, fashion houses, fashionites and fashionistas aren’t missing out on the opportunity to make yet another part of our functional lives fabulous; the likes of Marc Jacobs and Moschino have created some super frivolous and massively recognisable cases, Marc Jacobs’ with the bunny ears, Moschino with the teddy bear. Celine continues to take the minimalist approach, and fashionite Giovanna Battaglia has designed her own line of baroque style iPhone clip on cases, which she can often be seen sporting when attending fashion events. If you haven’t yet made your iPhone fabulous with its functionality, why not get started? And then after that, your iPad, your Kindle and so on…
Be charmed, stay inspired!x
Filed under Uncategorized
How ironic, the fashion houses are unveiling their Spring Summer 2014 collections to the world, whilst here in London we’re still waiting for Summer 2013 and consequently our Spring Summer 2013 wardrobes! Clearly I’m not bitter. Stella McCartney invited the gliteratti to view her SS 2014 collection at West 10th Street New York City in the setting of a garden party. On the guest list was Cameron Diaz glowing in white, massive fashion salute to her for wearing white in the rain, Madonna who seemed to have taken inspiration from Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Bosworth, Julian Moore, Liv Tyler and many more.
Be charmed, stay inspired! x
Filed under Fashion, Style, Uncategorized
Be charmed, stay inspired!x
Filed under Culture, Uncategorized
It seems that it wasn’t enough for Kris Jenner to be the subject of chat show billionaire Oprah’s Next Chapter, now she’s after her job. Kris Jenner is going to be hosting her very own chat show! I am not sure what the general consensus is on Kris, but I am guessing she might not be considered the best of wives -mainly due to the way she treats Bruce and of course her affair(s?). She might not be considered the best of mothers either, mainly due to the fact that has so openly claimed that Kim Kardashian is her favourite daughter and has kind of possibly exploited her children and she might be considered vain and occasionally dress too young for her age, but one thing that cannot be denied is, she does have personality! I am going to sit on the fence on this one and try not to make any hasty judgements, but I think we might all be pleasantly surprised!
Don’t you just love those pink Valentino shoes?
Read Kris’s article in the Hollywood Reporter
Be charmed, stay inspired! x
Filed under Culture, Uncategorized
Rihanna for Schon! magazine’s June 2013 edition…
Photography / Zoe McConnell @ Chilli Media
Talent / Rihanna
Styling / Mel Ottenberg
Hair / Ursula Stephen for Motions/Epiphany Artist Group, INC
Make Up / Mylah Morales
Manicurist / Kimmie Kyees
Stunning as always,
Be charmed, stay inspired! x
Filed under Fashion, Uncategorized
“He’s got right under my skin, literally.”
Ayesha
Charms of a Dandizette 