Chanel Couture, Step Back in Time...

It is hundreds of years old, opulent and exclusive as well as being highly beautiful and special. Haute Couture has always been an interest of mine, especially appreciating the handiwork and dedication which go into making such beautiful garments. Seamstresses, tailors and a design team spend hours upon hours creating bespoke items, for only the super rich - which explains the hefty price tags. But, you are paying for luxury and you are wearing an item which is limited only to those lucky few.

Chanel couture is especially beautiful. I love watching how long the design process is for such dresses, jackets and skirts and then seeing the amazing final outcome, much to the joy of all those involved. It is a tiresome process and a journey but at the same time a work of art to see that fashion still exists like this today. Some say that couture is dead, but I would have to disagree. If anything, couture is making a comeback and it's so exciting to see the high fashion being produced in this day and age.

Chanel also has such a special tie with couture, dating back to founder and fashion heroin Gabrielle Coco Chanel. It was this lady who pioneered fashion at a time when women were restricted to long, heavy dresses and hardly any freedom to express themselves in society. Coco would hand make and design one of pieces for each of her customers through both World War 1 and 2,  the post war period and then until her death in 1971. She revitalised haute couture as we know it today, competing with the likes of Dior and Paul Poiret. Jump forward to 2015, and the house of Chanel still prides itself in their couture creations and keep that loyal clientele of customers who only want to wear the finest.

Watch this spellbinding video of the making of Chanel Haute Couture for Spring/Summer 2015, and appreciate the beauty this fashion house has to offer...

 



The Isabel Marant Touch

Yes, we're slowly (and rather unfortunately) moving into September, and then consequently autumn. Soon it will be time to put away those pretty summer dresses and gladiator sandals and pull on a pair of warm boots and a scarf. If like me, you hate the cold and absolutely dread the transition period of summer into winter, then this time is not particularly inspiring. But this year, something feels strangely inviting about dusting off your lovely coat and putting on a nice cashmere jumper. I actually want to wear warmer clothes - for once! And with the weather not seeming to get any better, you can be certain that autumn is literally almost upon us.

Parisian designer, Isabel Marant's Fall 2015 collection was everything an Autumn/Winter show should be. Marant has long been a favourite designer of mine, with her easy, relaxed French aesthetic and beautifully crafted clothes. For next season she gave us a show packed full of wearable pieces for autumn. With supermodels such as Anja Rubik and Natasha Poly stalking the runway, this was a classic Marant show. There were plenty of quintessential French pieces such as the stripy nautical top and buttons sewn into trousers and on shoulders but overall this collection had nods to the seventies and boho chic. I loved the white long sleeved jumper with the cute undone clasping at the front whereas the multicoloured prints on tops and trousers with youthful  and cool.

As for the trousers, they were super high waisted! Everyone knows that any form of high waist jeans are flattering and make your legs look more slender and refined than say a pair of low slung jean. Isabel channelled this into her show, with trousers rising up to models' midriffs. Even backstage, Marant was rocking a pair of these trousers herself, stating, 'I'm not 20 and I don't have a butt like those girls do...' but who cares when you can look that good in them! A big part of Marant's shows are always the cuddly, comfy knitwear. The oversized Aztec print cardigan Natasha Poly wore looked amazing and would certainly work not only for this season but for many more to come too. There were plenty of embroidered wool jumpers with prominent shoulders paired with severe mini skirts, a little Balmain-esque. Cardigans were also a treat coming in longer lines but still with that special Marant touch.

The overall silhouette of the clothes was extremely feminine but fierce. Waists were cinched in and highlighted with pretty pleated skirts and super tight jeans, along with a variety of belts. Some such as skinny leather black belts were used for more practical reasons while others were so big and bulky they suited a kimono rather than a mini dress! But still, the proportions were just right. Some collars were high such as the dress worn by Anja Rubik while others didn't have any collars at all and just sat comfortably on the shoulder blade. As always, there was plenty of legs on display. Marant designs for young women who aren't afraid to bare some flesh in the colder months, for fashions sake that is. Most hemlines were short or discreetly covered with military inspired loose coats with plenty of silver buttons. Boots looked incredible too, some rising to the knee and others just above, while most black boots sat snugly on the mid calf. That's how you wear a winter boot.

A big part of any collection is the colour palette and Marant chose wisely for hers. The colours were beautiful and so soft. Think creamy beiges, pristine white, speckled blue and thin red lines adorned on jumpers and skirts. It was neutral and simple, but in a very French way. There were frilly dresses that looked more Victoriana than boho, but then you also had lovely three quarter length jumpers and embellished tops which gave the whole concept a little more oomph. If anything this was such a fun collection but with so much style. I have to credit whoever puts together these catwalk looks as every model looked fabulous and could have easily gone home dressed in their runway outfit. I have so much respect for Marant and the label which you cant help but fall in love with. In fact, she has made me eager for Autumn to come! Now, where did I put my boots...

 

Style File: Kourtney Kardashian

I have previously done style files on most of the Kardashians. The curvacious Kim Kardashian, the tall and sophisticated Khloe and the model behavior of Kendall Jenner, (Kylie Jenner will be coming soon, promise!) However, all this time I have missed out my favourite Kardashian, the unsung hero if you like: Kourtney. The eldest of all the sisters and the mother to three gorgeous children, Kourtney is not known for her killer style or savvy sense of dress, but she has indeed got a unique and simple way with clothes. She doesn't 'Kourt' attention (excuse the pun) like her younger sisters Kendall and Kylie and she doesn't feel the need to flash the flesh, unlike Kim K. Instead she dresses comfortably, as most mothers of young children do, but this mum usually gets her style just right.

Kourtney Mary Kardashian was born on April 18th 1979. The eldest Kardashian sister aged 36, some might say that Kourtney is also the most intelligent as she remains the only sibling to have gone to university, gaining her bachelors degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Spanish at the University of Arizona. Like her sisters, the reality tv star found fame on the family's show 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' along with the business' she runs with her sisters, which include Dash Boutique and a make-up empire. In terms of her love life, we all know the drama surrounding Kourtney and her long term on/off boyfriend Scott Disick. The pair have dated for almost a decade and have three children together, Mason, Penelope and Reign. However, if you are a fan of the show you will understand the turmoils and troubles the couple have gone through over the years surrounding Scott's drinking habits and Kourtney's tight leash she keeps on her boyfriend. They finally decided to call it quits last month, but who knows what the future will hold for this famous couple.

Anyway, that's enough about Kourtney's life and career. Let's talk about her fashion! At only 1.52 metres, Kourtney has a petite frame and wears clothes to flatter her body. Usually opting for her trusty pair of knee high gladiator sandals and a pair of shorts, the TV star likes to show off her tanned legs and keeps things simple, not daring to show off too much flesh. A-line skirts, cute playsuits and maxi dresses are all fav pieces Kourtney likes to throw together, always with a huge pair of black shades to shield her eyes from the flashes of the paparazzi. On an everyday basis, you will see her rocking a pair of ripped denim jeans with a crisp white shirt and some Louboutain heels or maybe a loose fitting dress with plenty of feminine frills and trills.

One of my favourite outfits Kourtney has worn was her super chic monochrome polka dot playsuit, which she paired with a gold Moschino belt and elegant black stiletto heels. It was simple yet effective, earning her street style points on every fashion blog under the sun. Or how about that lovely white smock dress she wore recentley while filming in St Barts with her sisters. While Kim, Khloe and Kendall poured themselves into tight fitting maxi dresses, Kourtney chose a more sophisticated look wearing a white transparent summer dress with gold sandals and flash of red lipstick. You see unlike her sisters, Kourtney dresses to please herself, and not the waiting throng of press ready to srutinize her every move. If she wants to wear a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, then she will. This lady isn't bothered about trends or whether she needs to compete with her younger sisters. I'm sure she does have a sort of stylist who helps her choose outfits and accessorize effortlessly, but with her down to earth attitude Kourt doesn't show it. Before she became a mother, you would often see her tottering around in sky scraper heels, a luxe fur coat and high waist skinny jeans. In fact, before Kourtney had kids, her style was a lot more fun I have to admit, and there were times when she would dress miles better than Kim K. Leopard print jumpsuits, tiny mini dresses, crazy hair with long extensions and bold make-up; that was Kourtney's thing. But ever since she gave birth to her first son Mason in 2009, this lady has elevated her style. Now, it's flats instead of heels and an easy pair of daisy duke shorts with a check jumper instead of thigh high skirts. A lot more classy and grown up.

In St Barts, August 2015

Over the years, Kourtney has also been praised for her pregnancy style. After having three kids, she has made sure she keeps her trim figure by working out tirelessly at the gym, photos of which she usually shares on Instagram. But while pregnant, Kourt opted for ease and elegance. Remember those awful photos of Kim while she was pregnant with North West? She tried to squeeze herself into the tightest of dresses and was compared to Shamu the whale! Well, Kourt was never once criticized as she did pregnancy dressing the right way. I loved the pastel pink maxi dress she wore with round sunglasses when pregnant with Penelope Scotland, as well as the baggy trousers and loose dresses she wore while awaiting the birth of her third child, Reign. With immaculate hair and not very much make-up, she had such a natural glow that she could just about pull of anything and people would salute her.

On the red carpet also, Kourtney shines bright. At the Elton John Aids Foundation party after the Oscars last year, her sisters went for Hollywood glam in deep red dresses, but Kourt stood out in her sexy black and white suit. With her hair pulled over to one side in loose waves and her make-up flawless, she certainly looked every inch the Hollywood siren and worked the red carpet better than her sisters. At other events, she goes for more cute looks with flowing mini dresses and lots of bold colours. Due to her dark hair, the more vibrant shades work really well for Kourtney and compliment her olive skin tone while more neautral tones, like beige and pastels flatter too.

Overall, I wouldn't say she is the best dressed sister - that title goes to Kendall. But Kourtney Kardashian definitely knows how to dress. Over the years we have seen her style change considerably but she always remains chic and sophisticated in whatever she wears. I think I've just about run out of steam praising Kourtney and her sense of style! Take a look through some of my favourite outfits of hers that I've put togther and see for yourself this woman's inevitable sense of fashion...

Pretty and cute, Kourt's pregnancy style

On the red carpet...

Dior and I

I'm a huge fan of John Galliano, previously creative director of Christian Dior. So you can imagine my shock and sadness of his sudden departure from the luxury fashion house 3 years ago. But in fashion, things change people move around and everyone adapts. When Raf Simmons was appointed the new designer for Dior, I'm not going to lie, I was extremely surprised and a little apprehensive. Here you have a minimalist, modern man who worked wonders at Jil Sander take the reigns of one of the most respected and renowned fashion brands in the world - Dior. But a few seasons on and I've got used to him and the 'new look' he has given the brand (excuse the pun). Of course he's never going to be another Galliano, that era has come and gone. Raf represents the new Dior. 

So as I sat down to watch the fashion documentary 'Dior and I' directed by Frederic Tcheng, I was determined to keep an open outlook on what I was about to see. Tcheng previously directed the acclaimed 'Valentino: The Last Emperor' and this docu-movie covers the same sort of ground. The film which came out in April 2015, was cited as a big success by critics and fashion magazines alike and was credited for a wonderful inside peak at what goes on behind closed doors at Dior. And I have to say, the reviews were spot on. 

If you haven't seen 'Dior and I' yet, I suggest you watch it. Even if you don't have a huge interest in fashion it doesn't matter. The film touches on everything you expect from a multi billion dollar brand; business, international clients, textiles, Haute Couture and of course an exciting and in depth history of Christian Dior itself. The movie charts the change over the brand faced with a new creative director and the way in which he had to fit into the Dior design team and world of couture. It's clear at the beginning of the film how overwhelmed Raf is at the prospect of presenting his first Dior couture collection in a matter of 8 weeks. As a man who has only ever known ready to wear, its understandable how daunting and scary upgrading to the beautiful and expensive world of Haute Couture is. 


Throughout the film you get an amazing, in depth glance into the way in which a fashion brand is run leading up to a major collection. This one is Raf Simmons first for Christian Dior - autumn/winter 2012 Haute Couture. Everything from the design inspirations to the handiwork which goes into the creations of these elegant clothes is covered in detail, which I found particularly interesting. Even if you aren't too interested in fashion, you've got to respect and admire the amount of blood, sweat and tears (literally - Raf cries at the end due to the strain of the job) that go into a luxury fashion house like Dior. The seamstresses and tailors are clearly experts at what they do and spend hours and hours working extra time to get garments finished and attend to VIP customers who purchase obscene amounts of Couture every season. You see the dilemmas and problems faced by the small design team as well as the amazing finished pieces, which are so breathtaking you just have to drool over them. It's fair to say that if you are creative director of any brand, your task is not an easy one. Right from the get go, Raf is put in a position of leadership and pressure, a lot of pressure. His struggle to speak French to his team is just one of his early problems, as well as the vast scale of work that goes into a house like Dior. All eyes are on him and the pressure is on! 

Overall, it's really a fantastic watch and I would highly recommend seeing it. I have come to understand that not everyone is like Galliano and people work in different ways creatively. Raf Simmons has indeed earn't my respect and admiration, even though I am still not a huge fan of his minimalist approach to Dior. Yet the effort and love he has for fashion and Dior is touching and special, and I truly believe he will g down as a great in terms of Dior's history. 

Airport Chic on the Runway

I'm going on holiday tomorrow (yay!) and I've known what I was going to wear to the airport for weeks! I planned my outfit in my head perfectly; striped shirt dress, black stud sandals, silver bracelet, no necklace and no earrings, hair up in a top knot and white nails. Done: airport outfit all sorted. But then I started asking myself why? Why do we girls feel the need to dress up when going to the airport? I'm almost certain that I'm not the only one who plans my airport outfit days if not weeks in advance - quite sad isn't it! But, it is the sad truth that for us the airport is quite literally a fashion runway.

However, it's still mind boggling to me to understand the need to look supper stylish to catch an Easyjet plane. Firstly, Gatwick or Heathrow are not the most fashionable of places to want to look good - they're busy, sometimes a little confusing, super organised and the staff work tirelessly to get passengers from A to B without any problems. Most people at the airport are so focused on checking in quickly, getting through security, maybe indulging in some duty free shopping and then rushing to Gate 59 as quickly as possible so as not to miss their flight that they don't even look at other people's outfit of choice. Plus, if you're traveling on BA, Ryan Air, Easyjet etc, nobody is going to care what you look like! Okay, so maybe if you're taking a longer flight to America, the Middle East or Asia you may want to wear comfier clothing but do you still also need to wear your heels, skinny jeans and a silk shirt? Why does the need to look good even matter?!

Amal Clooney

I put my airport theory to the test and asked a number of female friends if when they go on holiday they put more effort into their airport outfit than their entire holiday wardrobe. The verdict: YES! There is something about the airport that makes us want to dress up! One friend explained that it was officially the exciting start of the holiday, so of course you want to feel good and bit special while another admitted that she not only plans her airport departure outfit but also her return outfit weeks in advance. Crazy, right? Even for older women in their 40's/50's, like my mum, owned up to the fact that they love putting on an amazing outfit for the airport as they too like to strut around feeling comfortable and knowing they look nice.

I have been guilty of this for years. Even when I was 12 I would have my entire aeroplane outfit planned out in advance. Maybe it was because I've always been extremely organized or it could be that it was a chance to show off! I have to say celebrities don't help in this matter. We are forever seeing images of the likes of Rosie Huntington Whiteley, Olivia Palermo, Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosio, Jennifer Lopez and Gwenyth Paltrow struting their stuff on the way to the VIP departure lounge in a pair of skyscraper heels and expensive sunglasses at LAX. Victoria Beckham is a prime example with her ridiculous mini dresses and 6 inch Louboutains while juggling a baby and a Hermes Birkin. Or what about Kim Kardashian, who likes to wear huge flowing coats, Sergio Rossi heels and a tight midi dress while catching a flight. Do they change on the plane? Because seriously, it can't be comfortable to wear that for a 10 hour flight, can it? Whatever, the reason airport chic has rubbed off on us mere mortals and now we feel the need to turn heads while going through security.

Even back in the day you can find images of Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe all looking fabulous at the airport. So maybe there is just something about the need to look great on a plane! There might not a throng of paparazzi waiting to take your picture, but there are people nonetheless that we feel we need to show off in front of. So tomorrow, when I'm at Gatwick Airport at 4am I will have a look and do a rough tally of the amount of women who have also, like me, put thought into their outfits be it so early in the morning! At least we take pride in our appearance, I guess!

Miranda Kerr and Victoria Beckham - look at those heels!

The Kardashians dressing practically for their flight...

Rosie H W and Jennifer Aniston both looking sharp at the airport