STYLE MEETS DAILY LIFE

This is my cousin Lydia wearing her leather skirt from Maje and her lace top from Maje again. Needless to say; she is a Maje addict. But who can blame her? It is simply perfect. You must all own something in lace this year. Forget about leather jackets, it is all about leather skirts this season. I know that they do not come cheap but try to buy something that is made of good leather. This skirt from Maje for example feels like silk. If you are not going to buy real leather, try to make sure that the fake material feels right.

This is me. I am wearing a BCBG Maz Aria jacket with padded shoulders. My leather tights are from French Connection, my blouse is from Maje and the boots are from a boutique in Paris. This look is quite strong and it is ideal for a cool concert and I dare say that I would make a statement in Glasto with it.

This look is very Lydia-ish. While we were shooting these pictures at Lydia's house , I insisted that we chose daring looks for the blog but she suggested that we went for a more laid-back and realistic look that people would be able to wear during the daytime. So we decided to combine the two ideas and see what happens.  Here she is wearing a super comfy cashmere jumper with jeans.

This is the back of her cashmere jumper which I find very beautiful and interesting. I like the fact that you can play up with the buttons and change the style of the jumper as you like through them. Cool, eh?

This is me again. I am wearing a silk Gerard Darel shirt and a gorgeous black skirt from Maje. And my flats are Repetto's. I love this look because it is very classic, ideal for a relaxed day in Noting Hill. One must have fun with clothes and one must know how the mix things up. This skirt can be worn in so many different ways; team it up with a cool black top and a leather biker jacket and you shall be regarded as the coolest person on the street or wear it with a timeless silk shirt and some girlie flats and you can easily be mistaken for a first-lady=)

If you love street fashion, you're going to love this look. It is fabulously effortless. This gorgeous black dress belongs to my cousin and it is from Sandro and the bag is from Zadig & Voltaire. There is something very sophisticated and  intriguing about black, sometimes it is the answer of all of your questions. So, when you are having deep arguments about what to wear in your head; just take out that old LBD out of your wardrobe and put it on. Is it too simple? Too old? Way too classic? You know what to do: accessorise it! Long gangster necklaces never fail to impress others. Oh, and you must never forget to put on those old, dirty boots. Remember what the Kate Moss has told you in this last decade? The blacker, the older, the simpler, the better!

New Brands, Bright Futures

1) Hakaan:

I discovered this fabulous Turkish designer 6 months ago at a glamorous party at my aunts house. My cousin Lydia was wearing this amazing dark blue gown, quite like the one in the second picture but it was a gown so it was very long of course. Indeed it was so long that it had  tail at the back. I immediately asked her the label of course. She said "Have a guess." Was it a Valentino, a Versace...? It did not seem like any of the famous brands that came up to my mind so I gave up. "It is Hakaan, darling" she said. She must have seen the lost look on my face so she just said "He is a lovely talented man. Just wait for another month and you shall see as well as many others " And a month later he was what everybody was talking about. Kate Moss was watching from the front row, Natalia Vodianova and Lara Stone were on the catwalk.So here he is the winner of the prestigious French ANDAM Award. I think we must expect some great things from this  particular designer.

2) Duré Couture: I went to Spain a month a go to visit some friends. We went to a  fancy Japanese restaurant in the city centre in Madrid. I felt quite happy with myself in my silk printed Stella Mccartney dress and Tory Burch heels. I met my  friends in front of the restaurant. My friend Valentina was wearing this great second-skin dress. "Is it a Wang?" I asked in curiosity. "What?" she said looking slightly puzzled. "I mean your dress Vale is it from Alexander Wang?" I asked again. She smiled mysteriously and said "No it's from Duré Couture. It is a Spanish brand, I'll show it to you tomorrow." I agreed to go with her to the shop the next day. So we went there and I loved the well-fitted dresses and the jumpsuits. It is a new brand but I think we'll be hearing more of this label in the future. So it's good that I have bought some pieces from it before many of the others have.=))

http://durecouture.net/press/

3) Erdem Moralioglu is "the man" the fashion world has been waiting for all these years. The Elle Style Awards British Designer of the Year is definitely riding high on sucess: he'been proposed for big fashion houses, he's obviously selling out fantsatically on both sides of the Atlantic. His embroidered,printed and gorgeously embellished designs are quirky and edgy. His bird appliqués cocktail dresses remain to be a must-have once again this season.

http://www.erdem.co.uk/

4) Julien Macdonald: Julien was appointed Head- Designer of Knitwear at Chanel in 1996. After that, he became the Creative Director of Givency, where he designed six collections a year. In 2006, he was awarded an Order of The British Empire for his services to the fashion industury. Now, he has his own brand and his collections are available in The Matches and The Corner amongst other boutiques worldwide. So, I decided to go to The Matches to have a look at his A/W 2010 collection. He has the best lace dresses ever. Wear it with a cloak coat and leather gloves and everybody will think that you are the head of a fashion house. Loved him!

http://www.julienmacdonald.com/                                                       

5) Peter Pilotto:    Peter Pilotto and Cristopher De Vos are the two designers behind the brand. I had been hearing a lot of good things about the brand for a long time but the first time I started taking the brand seriously was when my mum came home with a bag from Harvey Nics. Inside of the bag came out a stunning a half leather, half hand-knitted jacket. Needless to say, I loved the jacket and now Peter Pilotto is one of the brands I keep an eye on. The ideas of these two designers are very avant-garte and modern but that sometimes make their designs hard to wear. Rarely, it really does. 


http://www.peterpilotto.com/

Affordable Fashion

1) Topshop

Topshop is a great brand for finding unique pieces for reasonable prices. Whatever you're looking for, you're likely to find it in Topshop and much more. I particularly like buying knee high socks, blazers and cool tops from Topshop.

PS: Check out the new leather gloves of the brand. Don't forget to have a closer look to the aviator jackets as well. They are as good as the Burberry's.

2) Asos:

This brand is perfect for finding the season's cool fashion essentials. I'm definitely buying this leather leopard print bag.

PS: Have a look at the Top 10 items of Asos from its website before buying anything.

3) Reiss:

Reiss produces fine products and it is one of the first stores I head to at the beginning of a new season. Fur coats, cool belts, rock star skinny jeans, tight second-skin dresses and much more.



PS: You must get your hands on the faux fur coats of Reiss they are perfect when worn with skinny jeans and biker boots.

4) Maje: 

It would be unfair to call this brand cheap but it is merely affordable and judging from the items they are offering, it is worth every penny.


PS: The Parisian brand has the coolest shoulder details ever.

5) All Saints:

It is the prefect symbol of the London Street Fashion. All Saints is a brilliant English label where you can find edgy rock-chic items. The brand itself is effortlessly cool and everybody must at least own a little piece from it whether it is a pair of old looking biker boots or an asymmetrical dress.

PS: This metallic skirt is absolutely gorgeous. Combine it with a black blazer!

6) Paul Smith: 

"It started of quite aristocratic and quite upper-class and very much about the countryside, but then its gone off into the naughty debutante daughter, who is up in London every weekend and parties like mad"


PS: Prefer the colourful pieces for it is the tardemark of Paul Smith.













7) Twenty8Twelve:

Sienna Miller is one fashionable lady, there is no doubt in that. Now that, she has her own label with her fashion designer sister Savannah Miller, we can all share her good taste. The products of Twenty8Twelve are fashionable yet so easy to wear. I think it is worthy to keep an eye on this new established brand for it seems to be that its future is bright.


PS: Check out the navy blue military coat of Twenty8Twelve, I think it is perfect for autumn.

8) Markus Lupfer:

Markus Lupfer has the most amazing dresses ever. I'm loving its simple yet powerful designs. Many of its designs are available in the Markus Lufer stores and Selridges all across the UK.


PS: Buy a padded shouldered second-skin dress from here and use it differently for various occasions. Trust me it does make a difference:)

9) Whistles:

I find Whistles style very easy going and elegant. It is stylish in an elegant way. This autumn, I'm going to buy some Kung Fu trousers and some pastel coloured blouses from here.

PS: As long as you try the clothes on before you buy them from Whistles you won't do a faux pas.

10) Joseph:

Ok. Joseph can be expensive, really expensive but it is also a good adress to find some very good quality affordable clothes. There are many designers in Joseph and I must say that the clothes and I must add that the clothes are chosen very carefully. It is very unlikely of you to come across an ugly dress here.

PS: Check Joseph's won designs and if you cannot afford something don't panic and get upset. Just wait for the sale!!!!

                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      

My New Season Favourites

Yes, everybody is reminding me that "less is more" right now with the "new trendy sleek Celine look" but I am still in love with Balmain's well- structured padded shoulder dresses.And, you are very much likely to be the"coolest person in the room". That's a definite promise.

J

I am loving the Miu Miu's 1960's look. I have simply adored the lovely short coats and statement belts combined with colourful knee high socks.

I have always loved Topshop for its affordable fashionable clothes but never did I know that it would become so cool. I am proud to say that I'm going to go to Topshop and buy a lot of clothes for this winter because what they are offering is better than ever. Pilot jackets, high waisted classy skirts, knee high socks a la gossip girl style, beautifully elegant beige coats, biker jackets, tartan shirts, leopard print belts, lace dresses....whatever you're looking for; Topshop is the one address for you. Whenever, I pass in front of the grand shop in the Oxford Circus ( my favourite topshop store), I cannot help myself but to say "God, this is one of the best things that has ever happened to London"

I

 Isabel Marant's Parisian charm is certainly working its effects on us all. From padded shouldered leather jackets to comfy jumpers, Isabel Marant's designs are very promising. Kate Moss is staring in the campaing and she she is undoubtedly looking as effortlessly chic as ever in the ever so cool leggings of Isabel Marant.

The Turkish designer Hakaan is doing an incredibly good job. This wool dress is absolutely gorgeous. Hakaan's designs are very well-structured. He's definitely one of my new favourites.

These leather biker Jimmy Choo boots are fantastic. There is fur inside the boots and it feels like wearing Uggs. Only it cooler, of course. They look perfect when worn with a pair of dark skinny jeans. Just put them on and people will regard you as the Next- Kate Moss.

Last season we were reintroduced to leather jackets. This season the designers have taken leather to a whole new level and come up with leather skirts and dresses. These clothes are so tight that some people call them the second skin. I loved Disel's Black Gold collection and they have loads of leather skirts and dresses for reasonable prices. Check the new Diesel shoes as well. They are pretty cool, methinks!

I've got to wear white tights to school everyday but I had never realised how wonderful they look until this year. Forget everything you know about them because white tights are on rise again. They look very beautiful when worn with colourful coats and high heels. 

With the help of Burberry, hooded shearling jackets are one of the most essential pieces of this autumn. This is a Helmut Lang gillet which is available in Selfridges. I must also add that you can easily find something quite like this in Topshop for a better price. Anyway, wear this item with a pair of high heels and you'll be a true glamour queen, wear it with some biker boots and you'll be the epitome of the rock-chic style. However you wear it, where ever you buy it from, just have one of these jackets if you want to make a statement.

Zadig et Voltaire is fastly becoming a symbol of coolness and all of us want to own a little piece from the brand. I must say that the brand excels in producing fine faux fur coats, leather jackets and blazers. I love this faux fur vest in the picture. I have also seen an amazing black faux fur coat in Asos and H&M but of course their quality is debatable.

d

Leopard prints are a big trend this year and Burberry has come up with this fabulous white and black leopard print coat. The coat matches perfectly with the black leather belt. When I saw the coat I couldn't help myself but to imagine it with black YSL heels and black tights. "Gorgeous" is the one word for it.

K

The Anglomania King Fu trousers are a perfect way of improving your physique. They are easy to wear, comfortable to walk around and fabulous to be seen in. Everybody must own a pair of King Fu trousers this season. They look amazing with short blazers, and edgy leather jackets. You can't o wrong when you finish the whole outfit with a pair of killer heels.

Spring/ Summer 2010 Fashion Musts

1) Pastel colours are taking the lead this season. From Bailey's Burberry to Lagerfeld's Fendi, every designer has put a bit of pastel colouring in their collections. These creamy shades give glamour the perfect feminine touch.

2) The fierce military look is still working its magic on us. The Balmain jackets are the right choice for the ones that prefer to go for the super cool rock-chick look this season.

3) Towering Platforms: Some say that the future looks kitten heeled but from the latest fashion shows we can assume that platforms are likely to keep playing an essential role in our wardrobes for a bit longer.

4) Colour up the sporty look: Neon colours go amazingly well with comfortable fabrics. The colours do not just give the combination a twist but it also fires up the outfit, making it a true fashion statement. Messy bed hair makes this trend look even better. Let the colours say it all for you.

5) Jumpsuits: Apparently, it is not just the astronauts and factory workers who are wearing jumpsuits. This is one of the hottest trends of the season and perhaps your new ideal day-to-night outfit.

c

6) Knee high socks: The knee high socks are back for good. This season you will not be wearing socks just with your trainers. It turns out that they look gorgeous with a pair of killer heels.

7) Crazy prints: Miu Miu is the epitome of the beautiful prints of the season. With its platforms full of daisies and cats prints it is obvious that Miuccia Prada has started a new trend.

8) Masculine Blazers: We just cannot get enough of these blazers. Kate Moss started the trend with the school boy blazers she had bought from various charity shops. Now, everybody has one. By far the best accessory for the effortlessly-chic look.

9) Shorts: Sometimes it is just about keeping it short: Short have always been an important for the summer trends but this season with lovely prints and great fabrics they are going to be even more popular than ever. It looks like these great short will be our new trousers.

10) Denim: D&G has given the signals that the denim is back and it is not just jeans that we are talking about. Anything from denim shirts to denim short is going to play a fundamental role in our fashion statements.