Queen Bey - Making Lemonade out of Lemons

"I dream it, I work hard, I grind 'til I own it
I twirl on them haters, albino alligators"

-Beyonce, Formation

There is really no other woman like Beyonce Knowles-Carter. And you would have had to be living under a rock this past week not to hear, or see for that matter, something about her new visual album, Lemonade. We had waited patiently for this second visual album to drop, after the massive success of Formation and a number of hints regarding her epic world tour (which kicked off yesterday in Miami). And its fair to say that Queen Bey has slayed once again with her 6th album looking to hit the no 1 spot on Sunday, along with Lemonade currently ruling the iTunes album chart.

From the powerful lyrics in Freedom with Kendrick Lamar to the life lessons narrated to us in Daddy's Lessons, the military-esque dancing in Formation to the song which has caused such an uproar surrounding Beys marriage to Jay-Z, Sorry; this album consisting of 12 incredibly well written songs is a real treat and definitely an album celebrating women in general. Bey shows off her vocal range in Don't Hurt Yourself and then makes you want to get up and dance with Hold Up, which has proved to be the best selling single off the album so far. And of course, who could forget the beautiful music videos which accompany every song. We see Beyonce walking down the road in a bright yellow Roberto Cavalli dress smashing windows and cars in her wake. She rolls around on the ground on the pitch of a football stadium with daughter Blue Ivy and Jay-Z in tow. Or how about my favourite video, Formation, in which Bey lies on the top of a drowning police car in a printed red Gucci dress, or dancing around a plantation mansion in vintage Gaultier and McQueen.

There are very strong issues this singer/songwriter is stating across this album, particularly regarding the unfair and often brutal treatment of black men and women in America by the police as well as equality for women in general. With someone with as much power as Bey fronting these issues, the world has no choice but to sit up and listen, and listen they have. She has made breaking news across the globe with politicians and erm Donald Trump, all giving their opinions on Bey's strong messages.

Throughout the album and the videos there is a strong Southern theme, celebrating Beyonce's roots in Houston Texas and the old South. Songs have a country feel about them with Bey's soft accent adding to the overall theme, while her choice to film most of the videos in southern states shows her loyalty to her roots and her pride in where she was born and raised. Victoriana is also the choice of fashion, with frills, corsets and decadent jewellery all worn throughout. The inspiration for this was apparently due to the fact that it was during the Victorian period that slaves and plantations were very much prominent in America, particularly the south. Beyonce felt that everywhere she was filming carried this Victorian theme, says her stylist Marni Senofonte. "We were thinking about being on those plantations at the time of her ancestors and what they would have worn. At the time, there was slavery, so it wasn't about that. It was about looking at these beautiful women that came from Africa and accentuating this beautiful culture and beautiful people." We see Beyonce also wearing a grey Yeezy crop top and leggings, Saint Laurent studded heels, a Hood by Air fur jacket and a Yousef Al Jasmi bodysuit in other videos. In her words, Beyonce truly does slay.

In regard to the rumours circulating about Jay-Z's cheating, I don't know whether to believe the rapper has been unfaithful or that this is just a publicity stunt to promote the album. With Rita Ora and Rachel Roy both in the firing line, a lot has been said about 'Becky with the good hair' whom Beyonce name checks in her song Sorry. Is that the reason for the infamous Solange/Jay-Z elevator bust up at the Met Gala? One minute Bey is dedicating Halo to her husband on her Formation tour, and the next they are both pictured without their wedding rings... only time will tell for the truth to be revealed. Who would be mad enough to cheat on Beyonce anyway? For now, lets just enjoy the music and the fact that I have been lucky enough to get tickets to see Bey live when she comes to London for her tour in July!! If you haven't guessed already, I'm rather a big fan.

Loving Everything Etro

I think of the Italian fashion label Etro as a kind of unsung fashion hero. Its not on the same scale as other Italian greats - Prada, Versace, Gucci, Fendi etc, yet this label has got the heritage, beauty and overall appeal to give even the big guns a run for their money. Known for their love of prints, paisley to be precise, Etro continually show beautiful, enchanting and quite bohemian collections season after season, establishing themselves as the go to designer for hippy chic dressing. I have always loved Etro for their clever colour combinations and effortless style. But is their spring/summer 2014 show which will stand out as my all time favourite of theirs.

I don't mean to harper on about the past, seeing as we are currently in spring/summer 2016, but the spring 2014 international collections in my opinion was one of the best seasons ever. I loved each and every show through NY, London, Milan and Paris and could see myself in all of the wonderful clothes on show. During Milan Fashion Week though, it was Etro who stole my imagination. Creative Director Veronica Etro delivered a show full of Arabian influences, with layers of soft silks tied and draped around the body, bright lemon yellows and bold reds, all the while sending out each and every model with a naturally radiant look about them. Since Etro was established in 1968 by Gerolamo Etro, textiles and his beloved patterns have helped the luxury label soar into mainstream fashion. All these years later, I could have literally brought the whole collection, and happily worn it while holidaying in Cannes or somewhere just as glamorous. 

Andreea Diaconu opened the show in a stunning pastel printed skirt and shirt, followed by the likes of Nadja Bender, Kasia Struss, Daria Strokous, Fei Fei Sun, Magdalena Frackowiak and Malaika Firth all wearing equally as pretty pieces. Off the shoulder dresses nipped in at the waist, floral and leopard prints combined into one, shimmery metallic tops paired with harem pants and 70s inspired maxi dresses all completely captured the spirit of summer. I know it really does depend on who's styling the show in how the clothes come across on the catwalk, but with this show the models could have walked barefoot with no make up on and the garments would have still looked amazing. The Donna Summer soundtrack also added to the relaxed feel of the show with Julia Nobis closing the show in a pastel pink, paisley jumpsuit.When Veronica came out to take her bow, it was truly well deserved and heart felt. 

What I also love about Etro is that it hasn't been sold off to LVMH or Kerring. Instead it is run by the Etro family, with Kean Etro, Jacopo Etro, Veronica Etro and Ippolito Etro all taking control of womenswear, menswear and management. This sense of family and love for beautiful fabrics and heritage shows in each and every Etro collection and I can't wait to see what they conjure up for spring/summer 2017.

Shop the Etro collection at www.etro.com/en_uk/woman/spring-summer-16/ or Net-a-Poter, Harrods and MyTheresa.com.

Delve into the world of theFASHIONbox on Pinterest!!

 Do you have Pinterest? If the answer to that question is yes, then you've got to follow my Pinterest page - theFASHIONbox. And if its a no, then you must make an account fast! I've had Pinterest for a couple of years not but until a couple of months ago didn't pay much attention to it. I didn't understand the concept of pinning things to random boards and collaging pictures of things you want but can't have. There was also a laziness factor in which I couldn't really be bothered to be more proactive on this inspiring visual discovery tool.

But I have discovered that Pinterest is really so addictive, super inspiring and really just a way to store all your favourite pictures. Everyday I stumble across new images and gifs which I add to my boards all organised into themes and areas of interest. I have always loved the old Hollywood actors and actresses of the 1940s and 50s, so of course there are boards dedicated to Marilyn, Rita, Ava, Grace, Sophia, Brando, Cary, Audrey and many more. The Marilyn Monroe board is particularly heavy of beautiful images of the actress on and off the screen, while Brigitte Bardot and James Dean have a good collection of wonderful photos too.

I have boards dedicated to my favourite fashion stars, including Miroslava Duma and Anna dello Russo, my favourite issues of Vogue including Vogue Paris, Italia and of course, Japan, as well as many designers whom I love and admire. Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci, Emilio Pucci, Lanvin and Chanel are huge inspirations as well as Balmain and Versace. So as you can see there is a real mix of old and new, fashionable and timeless people and moments that I love to share with all my Pinterest followers. I spend hours scrolling through images choosing which ones to feature, and which to add onto theFASHIONbox Tumblr page. I am always creating new pages, most recently a Chanel board which can you believe was not already featured on the Pinterest page, so if you have any suggestions of boards/inspirations you would like to see, please do let me know. I sometimes feel that 'pinning' really is a hobby and hope to welcome you all onto Pinterest soon!

Follow theFASHIONbox on Pinterest at the below address, or if you already have the app, simply just find me and click follow!
https://uk.pinterest.com/theFASHIONbox01/

Iron Butterflies - Vogue Italia June 2004

I have always admired the work of Steven Meisel. From his infamous 'homeless chic' shoot for Vogue Italia to the beautiful ad campaigns for Dolce and Gabbana, there is something captivating about his photographs, with a strong message hidden somewhere in the depths of those pictures. Through his photography he is able to make a statement, a comment about the state of society or issues affecting our lives, and that to me is extremely clever and very insightful in this day and age. If anything, his work shows that fashion is not all about pretty dresses and even prettier models, but changes and reflects the times in which we live in.

I happened across this shoot while scrolling through my Tumblr timeline and was immediately transfixed by the beauty of the model posing in a form of swimwear against such a dramatic backdrop. A large oil painting hangs directly behind Elise Crombez showing some sort of powerful apocalyptic disaster while the stone bench and ornate marble floor only add to the overall feeling of majesty. The rest of the shoot from Vogue Italia June 2004 is just as amazing, with the incredible Edward Enninful in charge of styling and Pat McGrath on make-up. Baring in mind this editorial piece is over 10 years old, it shows the relevance it still holds today featuring on Tumblr et all.

From the fine art backdrops, to the leopard print swimming caps and super high stiellto heels to the impressive staircases and carefully though through straight lines of the photos, this editorial flows magically and would literally look just as great without the models! Even the title 'Iron Butterflies' suggests a deeper meaning; perhaps that the models are like statuesque pieces of iron daring to be set free like a group of butterflies... completely open for interpretation.

Beautiful swimming costumes, capes, accessories and headpieces by the likes of Gianfranco Ferre, Raf Simmons, Roberto Cavalli, Dior by John Gallinao and Dolce & Gabbana all feature throughout, with Stephen Jones responsible for most of the 1920s esque swimming caps bound tightly to the models heads. My favourite photo has to be of the three girls posing on the enormous white marble staircase, with Jessica Stam holding Karen Elson in her arms or perhaps the vulnerable photo of Stam showing off the large emerald rings on her fingers while looking in the opposite direction of the camera.

If anything, this shoot is such a juxtaposition, with models in bikinis posing in such an ornate,stately building that would be more fit for a couture shoot rather than a summer swimwear piece. Yet, Meisel cleverly captures the clothes in such a special way that the mood and oppressive atmosphere is felt at once, but in a more breathtaking way. Take a look through the gorgeous photographs in all their glory below.

Magazine: Vogue Italia June 2004
Photographer: Steven Meisel
Stylist: Edward Enninful
Make Up: Pat McGrath
Hair: Jimmy Paul
Models: Jessica Stam, Karen Elson, Elise Crombez, Dovile Virsilaite

Au revoir Hedi Slimane - The designer leaves Saint Laurent

So Hedi Slimane has left Saint Laurent. For months, speculation was rife that the former Dior menswear designer would be exiting the brand, and now it has finally been confirmed with a joint statement by Kering and Slimane. 

"What Yves Saint Laurent has achieved over the past four years represents a unique chapter in the history of the house," stated Francois Henri Pinault this morning, chairman of the Kering group. "I am very grateful to Hedi Slimane and the whole Yves Saint Laurent team, for having set the path that the house has successfully embraced, and which will grant longevity to this legendary brand."

Can I say I'm surprised? Well not really. Slimane was good for a couple of seasons and it was nice to see such a dramatic make over of such a classic brand like YSL, taking over from Stefano Pilati. But after a while it all got a little boring - (there's only so much you can take of rock chick girl season after season.) What Slimane will do next is unknown, maybe set up his own brand? But the big question is who will replace him at YSL. Anthony Vacarello is a favourite so far but in this crazy world of fashion, names will always be thrown about in anticipation of who will be the actual replacement. With Dior also recruiting for new a creative director, YSL will have to move fast to snap a worthy replacement. I think it would be great to see someone who already works at Saint Laurent to step up and take over. Someone who knows the brand and heritage well and is super passionate about all things Yves - similar to what happened at Valentino with Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paulo Piccolo, former accessories designers at the Italian fashion house. 

For now, let's take a look back at some of Slimane's best moments at Saint Laurent, with my favourite show being the fall 2013 collection. I loved the 70s fedora hats and amazing tailored skinny suits. From the messy undone hair to the super cool biker boots, this show for me really established Slimane as a respected fashion designer. I also loved his final show, which was only shown a couple of weeks ago at PFW. It was couture on another level, with the huge shoulder pads, sparkly mini dresses and eccentric make up. In hindsight this was a farewell collection, with Slimane putting on a truly amazing show to say his final goodbye - and what a way to bow out!