Fashion’s Grey Area

Are women over the age of 50 forgotten in fashion?

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.’ One could argue that Eleanor herself was one of those ‘beautiful old people’ she spoke about so tenderly; an older lady who grew more beautiful with age. Jump forward to the 21^st century, and women over the age of 50 seem to be culturally invisible when it comes to fashion.From magazine front covers and fashion trends to advertising campaigns and the high street, rarely do older women appear in mainstream fashion. So, are women over the age of 50 past their sell-by date?

There is of course the ridiculous notion that women over 50 spend their lives like a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills, keeping themselves busy running pointless errands - hardly women interested in fashion. Fashion designer Donatella Versace is in agreement when it comes to her typical older customers, “You think old people - ladies who stay at home all day and drink tea. It’s not at all like this.” And she is right. According to a recent study by The Daily Mirror, the over 50s market spend a staggering £6.7 billion a year on womenswear, and are now the fastest growing fashion sector in the country. Yet they are practically ignored when it comes to the great British high street.

For example, very rarely do you find an older women shopping for a pair of jeans in stores such as H&M, Topshop and Urban Outfitters. These shops cater to a much younger, stylish customer and targeting an older category would just spoil their image. Marks and Spencer is one of the few major high street stores which champions the older women, not only with their clothes but also through their savvy TV commercials and stylish ad campaigns, usually featuring Twiggy, aimed at women of any ages.

Yet, fashion did not always exclude mature women. For the first half of the 20^th century, older woman were considered the most fashionable set in society. It was ladies, aged 40 and over who brought Haute Couture from the finest fashion houses, and never left their homes without a matching hat and gloves. Society women such as Marella Agnelli and Jackie Onassis were the style icons of their day - their age not even a consideration in terms of fashion. However, much has changed since the glory days of couture, with current fashion houses such as Elie Saab and Giambattista Valli, aiming their collections at a significantly younger customer. Even the traditional customers of couture have been dropped in favour of a younger woman.

The invisibility of women over 50 doesn’t only apply to fashion, but other aspects of our culture too. For example the never ending quest of Hollywood actresses to discover the sacred fountain of youth. Influential women, with huge media followings such as Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore, Cher and Madonna, who can you believe is almost 60, have all gone to extreme lengths, involving extensive Botox and cosmetic surgery, to literally 'turn back time' and look like their 20 year old selves again. But is there really anything to be ashamed of in growing old gracefully?

The elegant ladies who featured in the heart warming 2014 fashion documentary, ‘Advanced Style’ certainly don’t think so. Iris Apfel, 94, Jacquie Murdock aged 85 and Joyce Carpati, 83, were just some of the colourful characters from the successful documentary, which proved that you can still look and feel quintessentially stylish and beautiful at any age -  without the ‘help’ of a cosmetic surgeon.

Even Instagram, a social media platform normally associated with the selfie mad younger generation, has a number of older users who have made quite a name for themselves through their street style posts. Dorrie Jacobson, who runs the @SeniorStyleBible has amassed a huge following with her quirky sense of fashion as has Judith, who posts images of her impressive wardrobe on her page @StyleCrone. It comes as an afterthought that both of these women are in their 70s. There are also plenty of strong women working in the fashion industry now. Editors such as Anna Wintour and Carine Roitfeld are both in their 60s and yet have such a formidable voice in society, while entrepreneurs like Natalie Massenet, 50, show no signs of slowing down.

Nevertheless, psychologist Dr Lauren Rosewarne discovered in a study at the University of Melbourne, that less than 4% of women on advertising billboards are aged over 30.A shocking statistic which is not that difficult to disbelieve.It seems farcical that in 1992, Isabella Rossellini, who had just turned 40, was dropped by Lancome for being ‘too old,’ when today actresses Helen Mirren,70, and Andie MacDowell,57, are celebrated L’Oreal ambassadors, regardless of their age.

Yet this year, the charming older women was celebrated rather than squandered amongst designers. Celine featured the 80 year old writer Joan Didion for their spring/summer 2015 campaign, sending out a strong message that beauty is indeed eternal. Dolce and Gabbana featured a group of beautiful grandmothers in their summer campaign while legendary folk singer Joni Mitchell, 71, was the striking face of Saint Laurent Paris. A couple of years ago it would have been out of the question to make model Monica Bellucci a 'Bond Girl' at the grand old age of 51. But now it has been embraced as something totally new and inspiring for the James Bond film franchise.

Perhaps, the fashion industry is finally setting out to challenge that awkward ‘grey area’ that has until now been an ignored and cleverly avoided issue. Let me know your views.

'I'll be at the Beach' - Vogue Japan

Last month I featured two fashion editorials from Vogue Japan on the blog and you all loved it. Both shot by acclaimed photographer Giampaulo Sgura, it featured a very serene and beautiful Caroline Trentini styled by the one and only, Anna dello Russo. 'Caroline's Symphony' was taken from the October 2015 issue of Vogue Japan, while 'Once Upon a Time in Siciliy' was from a couple of years ago, yet is just as beautiful. If you want to check it out later you can find both photoshoots on theFASHIONbox, as they are fantastic examples of the way Dello Russo is able to capture a specific mood and feeling through her atmospheric photo shoots.

So carrying on from last month, here is my favourite fashion spread for the month, styled once again by Anna Dello Russo and photographed by Giampaulo Sgura - they do make a good team! I was drawn to this amazing, cultural editorial while scrolling through the gorgeous images on Sgura's website, just because of the vibrant use of colour, wonderful styling and the sky was just so blue, reminding me of a summer long gone. It cheered me up on a dark, gloomy autumnal day in London and transported me to the colourful shores of Salvador, Brazil, where the shoot was originally shot, featuring in Vogue Japan May 2013, titled 'I'll be at the Beach.' I seem to have an obsession with Vogue Japan shoots!

Supermodel Magdelena Frackowiak is the star of the shoot, which centres around her on the beach, funnily enough, posing alongside wooden huts, cafe bars,strolling along the promenade past a derelict church and sheltering under large palm trees. In one lovely photograph, Magdelena is pictured with oranges on her head, sandwiched by gorgous twins Suzana & Suzane Massena, all wearing print dresses and flat gladiator sandals. The clothes, which feature a lot of Dolce and Gabbana dresses and jewellery, are bright and captivating, with lots of layers of chunky accessories, including bags, aviator sunglasses, scarves, belts and large sombrero hats. I love that when you look at a really well done fashion shoot, you feel as though you are transported to the place where the photos are taken. In this partciular editorial shoot, you can almost smell the salty sea and coconuts on the beach as well as feel the blazing sun on your back in sunny Salvador.

It must have taken at least a couple of days to finish such an in depth shoot, and I can imagine countless photographs taken by Sgura in the process. Everything from the lighting to the setting, the incredible styling to the models is perfect in this photoshoot and makes me want to jump on a place and head to a tropical paradise, and then I too can say, 'I'll be at the beach.'

My Gothic Horror Hair Show

We have all had a hair dye disaster at some point in our lives. Unfortunately for me, mine was last week. I decided that I wanted to go for a dark brown hair colour, similar to the style of Isabeli Fontana, Eva Mendes or Kendall Jenner. Dark brown, shouldn't be a problem, right? Well, it turned into a mini catastrophe as my medium length hair turned not the healthy, brown I imagined but instead into a Gothic black. And by black I mean, jet black. It's fair to say I almost had a mini heart attack as I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I soon realized my mistake, as I had used the darkest Nice and Easy hair colour shade which I thought would cancel out all the blonde in my hair, but instead it just went, well BLACK.

Now there is nothing wrong with black hair. It is striking, shiny, stylish and polished. Just take a look at Megan Fox, Katy Perry and Nicole Sherzinger. But for someone like me who has fairly tanned, olive skin, it turned me into a rock chick, ACDC lover, gothic horror show. Now I did try and act quickly, by washing out the hair colour as best I could and doing a last minute, rather desperate dash to Tesco to buy some Head and Shoulders shampoo (apparently it removes dye very well) to little avail. I went to university the next day extremely self conscious, as though I wanted to melt into the pavement away from the gazes of the world. On the train I felt as though all eyes were hovering on my hair, at my lecture, which just so happened to be on Punk, I slid down in my seat and looked no one in the eye while in the library I plonked myself down at the nearest computer and hoped that nobody recognised me.

My friends liked my new look, my colleagues at work liked it, my mum, who supportively assured me that it wasn't that bad, liked it too. Everyone it seems except for me. This nightmare went on for another couple of days before I brought some hair colour remover as a last resort and stripped all of the black out of my hair. Believe me, it was the best £6 I've spent in my life, and I can now hold my head up high with a mane of glossy, dark brown hair.

This experience has taught me a lot though. Mostly to do with how our hair can completely alter our self confidence. With good hair, you feel confident, powerful and happy, ready to take on anything. It does wonders for our self esteem and really does play with our heads. The moment a bad colour, or bad hair day gets in the way, suddenly we lose that glamour, that confidence and shrink away from our former self. I definitely felt that way, and I'm sure many other women, and men too, have felt the same way at some points in their lives, as our hair defines us. It's not a nice feeling and not one I would like to go through again.

How did Britney feel after she had shaved off all her hair in a moment of madness? Do you think she regretted it? Or what about when Jessie J shaved her head for charity, which was such a brave thing to do. How did she feel having nothing there to flick or tie up in a ponytail? We can flip this around and roll our eyes at what a shallow society we live in, where everybody judges everyone else and where looks unfortunately do matter, especially in the fashion industry. After all, who believes that beauty is in the inside not the outside? We are so conscious of how others perceive us that we build up this outer wall which not only messes with our head but shatters our self esteem too.

And what about if you lose your hair completely, to a disease like cancer for example. I can't even imagine how mortifying or scary it must feel like to look in the mirror and see someone you don't recognise staring back at you. Thousands of women are diagnosed with cancer everyday, and many of those do end up losing their hair through chemotherapy treatment, during a long battle with the disease. It must be soul destroying, especially if you considered your hair one of your best assets to lose a part of you which you so loved and cherished. Yet these women are even more strong, even more powerful and even more brave without their hair. They solider on, they deal with it and usually, their hair grows back even more beautiful than it was before. It makes my dyeing disaster feel so stupid and insignificant when I put it into context like this. I won't make the same mistake again, and will in future be so much more appreciate of the hair I have got and more grateful for what I have naturally been blessed with.

So I will sign off with lyrics from a woman who regularly experiments with her glossy mane, and who continually inspires those who lack confidence with her music.

"I just wanna be myself
And I want you to love me for who I am
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to know, I am my hair"

- Lady Gaga

To donate to Cancer Research today, visit their website: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/donate

Paris Fashion Week: Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu

Louis Vuitton
Everyone is heralding this as Nicholas Ghesquiere's most triumphant collection yet for Louis Vuitton. I did really enjoy last seasons, fall 2015 show so I wouldn't go as far to say that it's one of my personal favourites, but if definitely is up there with some of the best.

Kicking things off on the final day of Paris Fashion Week, Ghesquiere presented an immaculate collection inspired by video game stars, and the futuristic sci-fi characters we love to play with when gaming. Models walked with hair slightly disheveled with small plaits running along the face, while makeup was video game-tastic! We were brought straight into the world of gaming with the first model, who had bright pink, candyfloss hair and a cool, Harajuku look about her. Working a pink and black leather jacket and a warrior style pair of shorts, she pretty much summed up this collection which was super cool, stylish and extremely want-able as well as wearable. The famous LV logo was printed on jacket sleeves, gloves and trousers while crop tops were paired with mini shorts and silver belts. I loved the use of layering and of course, the handbags. Who could forget the LV bags, which this season came slouchy, boxy, large and small but all with a minimal touch, favoured by Ghesquiere.

There was plenty of colour too, with futuristic prints on biker trousers and jackets, long leather dresses and sleeveless jumpsuits while black was the key colour in which everything was pared down with. The shoes came either pointy in boot styles or more funky, with sandals and flat brogues. I wouldn't say this was a sweet, feminine collection, in fact it was the complete opposite. It was tough, powerful, edgy and very stylish with covet-able pieces which will be instant sell outs across the globe. A fantastic collection from a master of design, Mr Ghesquiere.

Miu Miu
Mrs Prada never disappoints. Fact. Miu Miu, the younger more fashionable sister of the main Prada label, went a very grungy for spring/summer 16, with dark glamour and a sinister mood filling the entire collection. But what a collection it was!

The show opened with the classic over-sized Prada coats we have come to know and love, with large lapels, geometric patterns and giant buttons, layered over grey cigarette trousers. This moved into a more Victorian Gothic look, with high neck lined silk blouses and loose pinafore dresses layered over entire suit looks. Fur stoles in a variety of colours were thrown casually over one shoulder on top of coats and jackets; perhaps Miuucia Prada is forecasting quite a cold spring next year while chunky ankle boot shoes stomped down the runway. But there were lighter pieces too, such as the fluid silk floral dresses and midi skirts. The rest of the collection was just a lot of leather jackets, be it beautiful leather jackets.

Layering was a key factor, especially at the end of the show in which scary, sheer maid dresses were worn over jackets and shirts. It was very Halloween-ish, especially with the dark looks of the models. Each girl sported dark red lipstick and very white faces, with glittering hairbands sitting on top of the head. Head wear has been a big thing at PFW, with Saint Laurent showcasing tiaras and Chanel using white head bands, so watch this space for next season. Overall, this was a great Miu Miu show, with all the classic Prada features that the fans will surely go gaga for. And that's it folks! Fashion weeks are officially over for this year, in what was a fantastic season for spring/summer 2016. 

Flying High with Chanel & an African Adventure at Valentino

Welcome to Chanel Airlines...

Just when you think you've seen it all from Karl Lagerfeld, he blows your mind once again. We have had a barn yard, a rotating carousel, an underwater kingdom complete with Florence Welch emerging from shell, a supermarket and now... an airport terminal, flying from gate no.5, of course!

Yep, you heard correctly. If you haven't already seen the amazing venue, watch the video link at the top of this post and you'll see what I mean. The Chanel spring/summer 2016, was held in a life like make shift airport, with air attendants, a check in desk, luggage trolleys, airport waiting seats and even boarding passes for show tickets, with seat numbers and baring the Chanel logo! Anna Dello Russo had great fun posing with the trolleys after the show - perfect Instagram material! Lagerfeld really out did himself with such a lavish, amazing spectacle that I can't even imagine how exciting it must have been for the lucky audience members watching the show, let alone me admiring the collection through a screen.

And as for the clothes. It was all classic Chanel. The collection opened with Edie Campbell wearing a neon pink and green gingham jumpsuit, pulling a suitcase along with her. Then it was just a roll call of fashionable passengers, all in tweed suits, bright blue eyeliner which looked like a sci-fi visor over the eyes, chunky skirts and silk blouses adorned with pops of colour.

Red and blue stood out predominantly, colours usually associated with air stewards uniforms, while gingham as seen at Stella McCartney was a key feature. Smart blazers came with layers of necklaces, something Lagerfeld really plays on seeing as Gabrielle Coco Chanel basically invented costume jewellery. While there were also 80's influences in the form with jackets tied around the waist, baseball hats and clashing prints piled against each other.

Mini skirts were swinging and transparent, silver shoes did all the walking, literally done the super long runway staged at the normal Chanel venue, the Grand Palais. Kendall Jenner made an appearance, which got Twitter talking, in a blue midi skirt and matching tweed jacket while models strolled through check in with ease and style. There were a couple of really lovely lady like looks, such as a v-neck pastel pink mini dress which was worn with a flat hat and sunglasses. Or maybe you fancied the white Peter Pan collared dress, which was slightly see-through but pretty enough to pass as a luxury day dress. And then came the finale, which featured Cara Delevingne, even though she didn't walk in show but is still an ambassador of the brand, however much she tries to distance herself away from modelling. Other models pretended to check out at the desks, while others filed through the departure lounge all head to toe in Chanel. What fun!

I know there are some who don't like King Karl, as I like to call him, and feel that his work at Chanel is dated and completely boring compared to the other amazing designers out there. But the truth is, I can't think of anyone who can possibly take his place at Chanel. his vision and design talent have built this fashion house into the mighty luxury brand it is today, and his crazy spectacles of a show are something which will have magazines and the press talking for months. I loved this Chanel collection, and respect such a talented designer such as Karl Lagerfeld. Now, please excuse me, I have to go and catch my flight on Chanel Airlines...

A Trip to Africa with Valentino 
Today's Valentino spring/summer 2016 collection was a million miles away from the Chanel show staged earlier today. There was no giant airport to distract you from the clothes, no gimmicks, no over the top craziness. It was just the clothes, and the craftsmanship and beauty that did all the talking, in what was a fantastic collection, and one of the finest I think Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paulo Picciolo have produced.

The collection opened with scuptural black evening and day dresses, some falling to the ground and others sitting comfortably on the knee. Picciolo and Chiuri now practically own the whole 'make the models look like angel' look, and this show was no different, yet models sported tightly braided hair which gave way to messy buns at the back of the head. An ode to African culture. Of course, there were still plenty of signature, Valentino, Italian pieces, such as the leather mini dresses, Victorian-esque blouses with high neck collars, pre raphaelite looking maxi dresses and decadent embroidery on silk tops and jackets. As well as black, there were earthy colours mirroring the landscape of Africa, such as browns, orange, yellow and beige which were sublime and beautiful.

I loved the Masai warrior style dresses, which looked like a fierce harness on the top and then gave way to black mesh skirts, as well as the fringing details and bright orange and white prints on jackets and shorts. The geometric patterns printed on sheer silk dresses were also impressive, worn with statement necklaces and flat gladiator sandals - footwear which has been the top choice for shoes so far at PFW. Long skirts came layered with flowing coats, decorated with pattern along the hem and the lapels while the white feathers which sprouted from shoulders and around the neck looked highly luxurious but also very African.

To be honest, there was Africa everywhere, southern Africa to be exact and the plains of country which are full of tribes, animals and wildlife. Dresses looked like old shields and spears that are usually hand painted by tribesmen and wonderful animal prints such as elephants and giraffes were printed onto sweeping maxi dresses in such beautiful colours like dark green, dusky orange and chocolate brown.

Valentino are known for their fluid, long, lean lines and this collection featured many of those classic shapes. I personally loved the white looks seen at the end of the collection, which were highly embroidered, embellished show stoppers which tastefully did not show off any flesh, covering the arms, the body and the chest. It just shows you can look elegant and beautiful without flashing your legs, or your cleavage and Valentino proved that mythical beauty can shine through anything any day with one of their gorgeous angel-like creations. The whole collection was amazing; so rich with cultural influences and beauty that you felt as though you were watching a couture show rather than ready-to-wear. This is one of my favourite shows so far of PFW, and we now only have one more day to go. Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu are the big names showing on the final day of Paris fashion week, and they will surely be collections you won't want to miss. Check back here for the full reviews and images.

PFW: Including Stella McCartney, Hermes, Sacai & Saint Laurent

Saint Laurent
Hedi Slimane loves his rock chick. For Saint Laurent, he left off from last season and presented us with a rock and roll girl, complete with tiger print coats, fur jackets, muddy wellington boots (Glastonbury anyone?) and lots of mini silver metallic dresses. There was a fun touch with all the models wearing little tiaras on their heads, while the slinky black dresses at the end of the collection were jaw droppingly amazing. It was nice to see some evening-wear from Slimane who tends to focus more on day outfits, and lots of barely there little dresses. A fun collection, which was also dark and sexy, with a Rolling Stones influence.

Stella McCartney
I absolutely loved this Stella McCartney show. Shown first thing yesterday morning at PFW, it kicked off the day with a bang with a youthful, yet very stylish feel. Gingham dresses in red and yellow opened the collection, which then gave way to fringed dresses which looked very futuristic and super cool. As the models walked down the runway, the small knife pleats moved beautifully and the soft pairing of colours, such as lemon yellow, navy blue and pillar box red created lovely combinations. There were also pastel coloured suits paired with amazing sunglasses, and of course, Stella's famous net, cut out dresses at the end of the show. Some came off the shoulder while others bared cheeky glimpses of flesh. An amazing show.

Hermes
With all the fun, crazy shows shown today at PFW, Hermes almost feels to be left behind with their minimal, sculptural designs. But this is a fashion house which just screams luxury, and has no problem doing what they do best without all the gimmicks that go with it. White skirts came to midi length with coloured lines along the hems, beige suits and leather dresses were effortless and beautifully tailored to perfection. There were pops of colour in bright orange and cobalt blue, but if anything this was for Hermes' minimal clients who prefer to let the clean lines and sharp cuts of the clothes do the talking. Fluid, soft and elegant.

Sonia Rykiel
I was drawn to this collection mainly because of the make up. The dark eyes, which were soaked in metallic eye shadow were mysterious, pale lips added drama and the amazing sculpted cheek bones really stood out against the hair which was pulled back away from the face with a severe middle parting. As for the clothes, Sonia went for glamour with fringed mini dresses, plunging necklines, bright, bold colours and super trendy military jackets complete with buttons and belt. The shapes of the clothes were feminine with the waist accentuated with tight maxi dresses and peplum style tops. Even the strappy sandals were glam, and the fur stoles which were carried casually by the models.

Sacai
Not only was there an amazing roll call of models, but this show was daring, stylish, maximal and full of colour. There were strong oriental themes running throughout, with kimono style prints, gold brocade, layers of silk on patterned shirts and high necklines. But it was also fun, with sheer black t-shirts, neck scarves which were wrapped loosely around the neck and colour strewn onto flowing midi skirts.

Giambattista Valli
Valli really is the go-to designer for preppy, stylish, sophisticated dressing. It is an old fashion house seeped in history, but now has a very modern core and appeals to the chic girls of Paris and beyond. For spring/summer 2016 there were a-line mini skirts, similar to those that Nicholas Ghesquiere did at Louis Vuitton last season, buttoned up white coats, jazzy bolero jackets covered in jewels and heeled gladiator sandals which came in white and black. Models walked with flowing, blow dried hair, working fun mini dresses, printed blouses and Victorian-esque necklines.

'Une Histoire Romantique' Alexander McQueen: Spring 2016

Oh my goodness gracious me. What an absolutely wonderful, spellbinding, magical, beautiful Alexander McQueen collection. Creative director, Sarah Burton has really done Mr McQueen proud with a show which was dainty and feminine, with so many historical references and intricate detailing that it took my breath away, as well as a number of fashion editors too, I can imagine. As I tuned onto Vogue Runway to view the said catwalk looks, I did not expect to see such an incredible collection, which as I glanced looked as though it could have been the costume roll call for a historical movie. I fell in love straight away.

The show opened with a variety of sweeping dresses, covered in ruffles, tiered chiffon layers, sheer lace and beautiful embroidery. High neck collars gave a hint towards a Victoriana love affair while the amazing, and I really do mean amazing, level of hand embroidery could easily be carried off as a Haute Couture rather than just a measly ready-to-wear collection. It was romantic and whimsical, with models wearing minimal makeup and their hair tied back in a loose bun; flyaway strands surrounding the face as though they were a modern day Tess of the D'urbevilles, wandering across a lonely hill. Necklaces came softly layered over tiny white crop tops and jackets while the beautiful dusky pinks, neutral beige and off white colours looked so pretty against each; so pure and beautiful as the silk flowed gently in the wind.

For anyone who has looked at previous McQueen collections, then you would have seen some of the similarities between this collection and that of 'The Girl who Lived in a Tree' from a/w 2008. There were Indian influences and similarities between the boxy yet sweeping silhouettes of the clothes. As is usually seen in India and of the time of the British Raj, loose trousers were worn underneath skirts with small jackets on top, embellished sleeveless tops were worn casually with blue jeans which came with multiple rips down the front while the bold red and white jackets were again strikingly similar to the colours in the 2008 show. But this was all purposefully done, of course, and to great success as this was a modern McQueen girl who still carried a sense of intrigue and drama, and a pair of lovely heeled wedge sandals which all the models wore.

A lot of the dresses were sheer, in either black or white which added a sense of mystery and sex appeal while the floral maxi dresses which hung a-symmetrically were so majestic. I keep wanting to use the word beautiful because that is what this collection really was; beautiful. The show ended with some various floral patterns decorated on dresses then came the show stopping feathered skirts, warrior style corsets in monochrome and yards of fabric gathered delicately across the bottom of the dresses. Not only were there longer dresses, but shorter prom styles were also presented adorned in more frills and high necks with large buttons along the middle.

I loved everything about this show, which really did remind me of something the real Lee Alexander McQueen would have created if he was alive today. Burton followed no spring/summer 2016 trends, nor did she try and do something completely different and out there. Instead, it seems she delved into the house archives and her own memory from the years she has spent at McQueen, and delivered a collection which was like a romantic fairy tale. It had Lee Alexander McQueen's name written all over it (quite literally!) and perfectly summed up why this great, English fashion house is such the name it is. Practically perfect in every way.

Paris Fashion Week: Celine, Kenzo, Elie Saab and more...

John Galliano
Delicate and beautiful, this Galliano collection was perfectly parisian and cool yet feminine and quite dark. Black was a key colour, coming in sheer style slips and also on silk crop tops, shorts, long jackets and mini dresses. Polka dots made a brief appearence on midi dresses and tights as did splashes of colour such as electric blue. There were plenty of wearable dresses, maybe not the transparent ones for daytime, and added sparkle on skirts and patent leather shoes. I loved the use of draping in the skinny leg trousers and Grecian style white dress at the end of the show.

Elie Saab
It was obvious right from the beginning that this season, Elie Saab are looking to target a much younger customer. Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Lily Donaldson all took to the catwalk in beautiful dresses, bomber jackets and gladiator heels. It was a fun collection, with plenty of classic Elie Saab floral dresses, sweeping chiffon and layered ruffles adorned all over pretty, feminine dresses. I loved the use of black and white lace, as well as the candy floss stripes and punchy bold colours. The red jumpsuit was a fav!

Celine

Set in a giant circus tent, this Celine collection was as epic as ever. Pheobe Philo has a magic touch when it comes to minamilist chic, and this season was no different. Models walked effortlessly with swinging ponytail plaits at the back of their head, while carrying huge bucket bags, wearing leather dresses, gorgous oversized coats and loose smock dresses. Lapels were small and neat while seductive slips in white and black gave a nod towards underwear as overwear. Chino trousers were worn slightly creased, bold red lipstick off set colour blocks and decadent earrings were interesting and fun. There wasn't a strong circus theme in the collection, but it was still a spectacle.

Nina Ricci

Vampy, grungy, slick, stylish and sexy. The Nina Ricci spring/summer 2016 was dark and mysterious. It opened with khaki and finished with khaki, with lots in between. Rubber looking dresses, mustard mini skirts, slick silk blouses and tailored trousers; everything was thrown in there. I loved the daring sheer top which literally bared all and the feathered mini dresses which looked super luxurious. Kind of a little Lanvin, this show was dark but powerful realeasing our alter ego who likes to get dressed up to the nines and stalk the streets in style.

Thierry Mugler
Well, what a collection! And what a line up. Isabeli Fontana, Doutzen Kroes, Lily Donaldson and model of the moment Mica Arganaraz all stalked the runway for the latest Thierry Mugler show, in what was a very sexy, sophisticated and sharp collection. There was plenty of khaki pieces similar to Versace at MFW, the suede mini dress and leather trench coat were favourites, as well as lots of show off LBDs. Sparkle and metallics were thrown in as were large white buttons on pleated skirts and jumpsuits, with plenty of leg on display. If anything, this was a party collection with so many amazing pieces to dance the night away in. I loved the bold, orange coat dress that Isabeli Fontana wore with her dark hair slicked back with a side parting as well as the sexy floor length dresses at the end of the collection, which were form skimming and very glamorous. There was power and strenth but beautiful tailoring as well. An amazing collection.

Kenzo
Kenzo made his name in the 80s with 'Jungle Jap' and a cool, trendy image which chic Parisians could not get enough of. This was clearly evident in the latest collection for the urban brand, which was brimming with super cool yet stylish clothes with a crisp and elegant edge. It was very geometric, with red and yellow shapes splattered across white shift dresses and short coats, while bolder prints were adorned on knitwear and mini dresses.
And as for the INCREDIBLE gladiator shoes! They were fantastic and almost looked like a fashion suit of armour as they crawled up past the knee and up to the thigh. They looked difficult to walk in but with such shoes, who cares! They came in white, black and yellow so you could have a pair for everyday of the week if you really wanted. I loved the round John Lennon mirror sunglasses, the cool necklaces and the overall slickness of the collection. It was aimed at a younger audience, but then that is what Kenzo is made for really. The super stylish woman.