Gisele for Chanel S/S 2015

Kim Kardashian: 2014 Style

Her older sister kourtney may have just given birth to a baby boy (Reign Aston Disick if you're interested) but it has been Kim Kardashian who has been the real star of 2014. With her marriage to Kanye West this summer, her trips to Dubai and London, celebrating her daughter North West's first birthday and sealing the exclusive cover of American vogue... Kim has had a record year full of amazing moments and fashion triumphs. Most recently, her attempt to 'break the internet' with her infamous Paper Magazine cover highlighted not only her amazing figure (who else can balance a champagne glass on their arse?) and the power she holds over social media and the press.

Wherever she goes, a strong paparazzi following will be a step behind while her fashion sense has changed her image from trashy reality star to aspiring fashionista. Givenchy, Balmain, Chanel, Celine and Lanvin are some of Kim's most favourite brands, as she is frequently snapped in such luxe designer wear it will make your head spin. There's no denying Kim's struggle to be taken seriously by the fashion world. She staged her wedding in Paris - the fashion capital of the world and attended a number of shows at Paris fashion week accompanied by her her husband and daughter. She had also managed to crawl her way into the ice queen Anna Wintour's heart, bagging a best selling vogue cover shoot. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you google it fast!

I have always been a fan of Kim Kardashians, and admire her climb to the top. She's a little like marmite - you either love her or hate her, and I prefer the former! Yes, she graces the cover of probably every magazine on the news stand but then again... Whatever she endorses she sells! It's no wonder she has been compared to the iconic Marilyn Monroe who was equally the most papped woman in the world at the height of her fame. Kim is growing into an icon.

2014 has been great for Kim, especially in terms of fashion. She has got it right so many times with her sexy but simple pencil skirts and roll neck tops, dramatic party dresses and stylish man coats. Hair and make up is always immaculate thanks to her crack team of stylists while her choice of clothes has had fashion fans fawning over her style in wonder. Kim highlights her curves and doesn't pretend to be someone she's not. In fact, some would say she is one of the most real people out there with her pleasure in sharing everything about her private life on twitter and Instagram and her family's reality show 'keeping up with the Kardashians.' I've hand picked some of my fav Kim fashion moments from the past year so take a look through and enjoy! To finish off, I also want to wish you a very merry Christmas as this will be my last post before the festive fun begins! Have a good one! X

FRIDA GIANNINI LEAVES GUCCI

As soon as I saw that Frida Giannini, Gucci's creative director, was trending on Twitter, I knew that something really good was about to happen or unfortunately something bad. I was right in thinking the latter; Frida will be leaving her position as creative director at Gucci after the fall 2015 collection in February next year. Both Frida, and her husband, Patrizio de Marco who is currently the CEO of the Kering group Gucci belongs to, announced their exit from this luxury fashion label only hours ago, which has left many loyal fans (including myself) in shock. Instead, Marco Bizzarri has been named the new CEO of Kering, with a designer for Gucci still undecided.

Frida Giannini joined Gucci in 2004, heading women's accessories under the watchful eye of Mr Tom Ford. By 2006, her hard work and clear understanding of the brand saw her acquire the role of creative director; a role which she held for 7 years until now. Under Giannini, Gucci grew and flourished after the departure of Tom Ford, with nods to the 70's, an emphasis on the leather good the label is famous for and a sexy, polished Italian style that only Gucci could possibly pull off. Her use of colour and prints was unique, setting trends every season such as the knee high leather buckled boots, the fedora hat and her jewel coloured silk dresses. Her style was immaculate, and Gucci saw their sales rise year after year. Frida also was a champion of the 'Chime for Change' concert in London last year, with the help of Beyoncé and Selma Hayak. Together they focused on bringing around equal opportunities for girls all over the world, in a spectacular concert which raised thousands for charity.

There is no doubt that Giannini will be missed. She was and still is wonderful for the brand, and whoever comes in to take her place defiantly has a lot to live up to.

Take a look back through some of the best moments during Frida Giannini's collections for Gucci:

 

Julia Roberts for Givenchy

 'I decided to make her more intellectual, more serious, more pure...It's a different, fresh, new way to see Julia - really cool and urban, I think.' 

- Ricardo Tisci, Givenchy creative director

I was as surprised as everyone else when Givenchy revealed Hollywood actress, Julia Roberts as the new face of their spring/summer 2015 campaign. Known for an essential, minimal yet obvious cool, Givenchy as a brand associate themselves more with the urban music scene and the glamoros models of the past decade eg. Kate Moss, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Joan Smalls... Yet Julia Roberts fits that 'cool' look in this campaign, in mascuine black suits, feminine silk blouses and tailored fitted trousers. Her make up is minimal, scraped back to the bare minimal almost while her hair has that effortless 'I just got out of bed look.' Yet, with all the messiness going on there is something very polished and beautiful about these photographs, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. I love these photographs, even though only three have been released there will be plenty more I'm sure; this is just a sweet taste!

Its quite nice as well to see a talented woman such as Roberts shoot for a major Parisian fashion house like Givenchy - Tisci could have just called upon the charms of the Kardashian/Jenner clan. Instead, Julia is a woman who has stood the test of time in Hollywood, carved out an incredible career for herself, won an Oscar, starred with some of the biggest movie actors in the world and is also a mother, wife and charity campaigner. She is a role model for our society and has such a big, captivating smile its hard not to return it when looking at her parading down the red carpet. My final point I want to make is that Julia is not young - well, what society considers young! She's in her late 40's and is plastic surgery free, which is rare these days. She is not a young, hot a-list actress who has no real idea about life or the fame, but someone who is recognized the world over as a talented woman, with an immaculate fashion sense!

Chanel Metiers d'Art 2015

Even though there was a certain Victoria's Secret show going on in London, that wasn't going to put Karl Lagerfeld off as he delivered his latest show for Chanel. Staged in the Christmasy setting of Salzburg, a host of supermodels which included Cara Delevingne and Kendall Jenner strolled through the large, Austrian mannor house clad in Chanel gear.

The annual Metiers d'Art show is a special collection, a kind of pre-spring show giving Chanel fans a little chance of what to expect next year. The clothes were romantic and pretty, Austrian hats, jeweled jackets and cute knee high socks with delicate floral patterns. Of course, there were tweed Chanel suits thrown in for good measure updated with intricate prints and military style buttons, but there was plenty of 'new' too. I loved the boxy bolero jackets with extra padding around the shoulders as well as the cute ribbons in models hair and the high-neck jumpers, complete with lovely ruffles. This was a show which could have jumped straight out of The Sound of Music. I could almost here the Vontrapp family singing in the background...