Hit and Miss of the Week: All Good

This week has been rather good in terms of the red carpet. Angelina Jolie of course started the week in that red Versace dress, and kept standards high throughout the week. Cameron Diaz made a comeback in Vionnet and Blake Lively, another red carpet pro, was also looking fabulous, slipping into a sparkly Chanel number for a New York premiere.
And even the stars that aren’t so well known for their style were also doing a good job. Jessica Biel looked fantastic in a Giambattista Valli number (red was the hot colour this week) and Lea Michele and Anna Kendrick also pulled together some interesting looks. In fact, I didn’t give anyone a miss this week. Impressive, no?

Cameron Diaz: Hit

I wasn’t the only one who felt a little disappointed at the UK premiere of Knight and Day, as Cameron went totally casual. But when she dropped into France she made sure to glam it up a little bit more for the red carpet, and is now back on top. I adore the Vionnet dress she chose for the premiere. It works on so many levels: first of all Vionnet is the label to be seen wearing, it also shows off her infamous pins, and although dressy it has that air of nonchalance about it that says “Me? Oh, I just threw this old thing on.” I love it!

Jessica Biel: Hit

I’ve never been a fan of Jessica Biel’s style, but she has definitely been making more of an effort in recent months – perhaps spurred on by Alba’s sudden makeover? This Giambattista Valli dress is an ambitious look for Jessica (does it remind anyone else of Christina Ricci’s Givenchy Superhero Met dress?), and the wild hair as seen on Isabel Lucas is a perfect fashion-forward addition. Jessica works with Christina Ehrlich, who also styles Ashley Olsen, so we know who to thank for this great look.



Lea Michele: So-So

I still haven’t found the time to start watching Glee but I have been following Lea Michele’s style and it’s obvious she intends to become a regular on the best dressed lists. So far she has made some smart choices, but none that really stand out. This Reem Acra dress is very pretty and is a great fit for her – I especially love the neckline. I do think it might be a tiny bit too grown up however, and if she’s really going to compete with fellow TV fashionistas like Leighton and Blake she needs to add and edge to her look.

Blake Lively: Hit

I was really pleased to see Blake Lively in this Chanel dress for the premiere of Chace Crawford’s latest movie, Twelve. The colour is fabulous against Blake’s tanned (and annoyingly long) legs and the sheer detailing across the stomach adds a wonderfully quirky touch. I know Blake receives a lot of stick for the amount of cleavage she tends to show on the red carpet, and while I disagree with all the hating I do think she looks better in a more demure neckline. Less is sometimes more. And on this occasion Blake looked beyond gorgeous.

Angelina Jolie: Hit

I wasn’t the only one who was excited to see Angelina Jolie in a red dress at the start of the week. But as predicted she quickly reverted back to her favourite colour: black. This L’Agence maxi is a really interesting choice for Angelina, I think. The dark colour and slight leather-look to the fabric taps into the dominatrix image she so often likes to portray, but the loose shape and soft draping is much more feminine than her usual style. It’s nice to see the softer side of Angelina and I wonder if we’ll see her in a maxi again.

Anna Kendrick: So-So

I find Anna Kendrick so likeable, and I really want her to own it on the red carpet but she’s still missing that certain something. This week she attended a premiere in LA wearing this navy Marchesa dress. I keep changing my mind about whether the dress is too short or not, but it’s fair to say it is a risky hemline – especially as the dress is strapless too. Beyond the dress I think the shoes are OK. The burst of yellow is fantastic and definitely adds an edge of Anna’s style. It’s not a great outfit but at the same time there is nothing wrong with it either. I think Anna is getting more confident on the red carpet, so hopefully next time it will be a hit!

Who do you think was the best dressed this week?

Images Newscom/Getty/famepictures/AdMedia at picapp.com

Emily

ELLE UK have given Emily Blunt a well deserved September cover and I love it. You can't go wrong with a bit of black lace for the September issue, can you? And it's great to see a new face on the cover.
I'm a big fan of Emily, not just because of The Devil Wears Prada but also Sunshine Cleaning, which I enjoyed a lot more than I expected too. I still haven't got round to watching The Young Victoria but it's on my 'must rent' list as I think Emily is a fantastic actress. I laugh just reading this line of hers from TDWP:

"I'm on this new diet. Well, I don't eat anything and when I feel like I'm about to faint I eat a cube of cheese. I'm just one stomach flu away from my goal weight."

As an ELLE subscriber I got my copy today. The newstand edition is out on August 4th. 

What do you think of Emily's ELLE cover? A good choice for September?

image by Matthias Vriens-McGrath scan thefashionspot.com

Erdem's Gift Shop Delight

I have always been able to spend money in any shop. It's a gift I am not particularly proud of, but take me to just about any shop and I am sure I can find something to buy. On school trips I always looked forward to the end of the day when we could finally visit the museum or galleries gift shop.
It comes as no surprise then that I adore the gift shop at the V&A museum. The Victoria and Albert Museum has always been my favourite museum in London and if you haven't visited their gift shop you are really missing a trick. To celebrate the upcoming exhibition Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes (opening on September 25th) fashion designer Erdem has designed a silk scarf to be sold exclusively at the V&A gift shop. Click to see full-size.

Erdem is one of my favourite designers working in the UK at the moment, his use of print and colour in unbeatable and his designs always look fantastic on the red carpet. The Narcisse scarf he's designed actually features original costume designs by Léon Bakst for the ballet Narcisse in 1911 which is a beautiful touch. "It’s wonderful to work with Bakst’s illustrations," Erdem explains. "I thought they were such a wonderfully inspiring starting point for the scarf. The Ballets Russes are so inspiring and colourful."

Thandie Newton wears an Erdem Fall 2008 dress to the 2008 GQ Men of the Year Awards

The Narcisse Scarf won't be available until September, however you can pre-order it online now HERE. I have a feeling this will piece will sell out super-fast as Erdem's fanbase continues to grow. The 90 x 90cm scarf is on the pricey end at £185, but you'll definitely stand out from all the McQueen sculls and Vuitton leopard print numbers out there.

What do you think of Erdem's creation?

image courtesy of the V&A - Thandie image Getty/Picapp.com

The Irony of the Fashion Industry

"Sometimes, I think the people who buy our clothes live in a parallel universe. Hell, we can't even afford our clothes." - Lazaro Hernandez

The lovely Proenza Schouler designer explains to Grazia's Paula Reed that the design duo can't afford a PS1 handbag either. As far as I'm concerned the PS1 is a classic (up there with the Chanel 2.55 and Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag), and it does make me feel a little better knowing the actual designers themselves can't afford one either. Life is unfair, right?

Proenza Schouler PS1 Large suede satchel

Olivia Palermo Covers ASOS Magazine

Those of you have been shopping at ASOS for a long time will have probably noticed that the quality of their monthly magazine just keeps getting better and better. Not only do they get great cover stars but the styling and photography would not look at all out of place in a monthly glossy.
For August those sneaky people over at the online store managed to snag Olivia Palermo for their cover. Pictures of Olivia are never in short supply, and I think the majority of Coco's Tea Party readers love The City star's style as much as I do. However, it's rare that we see an editorial featuring Olivia, and she has done a fantastic job modelling the A/W trends. She can rock a cloche hat (isn't the cover fantastic?) but also looks super in Converse.
Let's hope that ASOS magazine isn't the only publication eager to give Olivia a bit of modelling work.

Continue reading to see more of Olivia's editorial...

Photographer: Tesh at ArtMix

Stylist: Zeba Lowe

Hair: John Ruidant at See Management

Make-up: Keiko Takagi at See Management

What do you think of Olivia's editorial?

images courtesy of asos.com

Thinking About the Winter Coat

I have never been that savvy consumer who buys their winter coat in the middle of August. I always leave it to the last minute and then end up buying a style I'm not 100% happy about. This year I am trying to be more prepared, and have started compiling a list of the coat/jacket styles I want to snap up.
Obviously, like everyone else on the planet, a shearling aviator style jacket is on the top of my wishlist. One style that wasn't, however, is the humble duffle coat. It was only when I saw this image of Taylor Tomasi Hill, the Style and Accessories Director at US Marie Claire, that I decided I desperately want one. Taylor rocks this look, no?

I've had a quick look online and there doesn't appear to be much duffle action going on. I did find this gorgeous black angora-blend twill duffle coat by Miu Miu (below left) for  £1,190 at Net-A-Porter. On on the highstreet side of things Topshop have produced this hooded style (below right) for a humble £45. I can't help wishing it came in a black or navy though.

What do you think of Taylor's duffle coat? And what style of winter coat will you be investing in this year?
image from citizencouture.com

Leighton's Off-Set Look

I'm the kind of Gossip Girl viewer who dips in and out of the show when I feel like it, but the pictures from the New York set are making me desperate for the new series to begin. While I'm not always a fan of Blair's style (it's too preppy for me at times) I love Leighton's off-duty look, which she has been showing off the the maximum this week.
On Monday she left her trailer in a look Blair would no-doubt hate: skinny utility trousers (I think they're Houlihan's, right?) a lightweight beige shirt and a guitar sloped over her shoulder. She's great inspiration for anyone wishing to give summer's utility trend a whirl.

And yesterday Leighton was snapped in another great outfit as she left the set. While I'm not sure the guitar case really goes with her Celine handbag it's refreshing to see that's she's carrying her own stuff. No Mariah behaviour for her. The Miu Miu heels are totally delicious too, no?

What do you think of Leighton's off-set outfits? And which is your favourite?

images from famepictures and PacificCoastNews via Picapp.com

The Jacques Townhouse

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with the lovely Stevie from Discotheque Confusion and we hopped along, like eager little fashion bloggers, to the launch of The Jacques Townhouse. The Townhouse is London's first pop-up boutique hotel, and was created by David Carter for Jacques Cider.
On arriving we were instantly whisked into the reception room where we were greeted by adorable hotel staff dressed in top hats and models wearing feathered eyelashes. We were then taken on a grand tour of the hotel, which is in a top secret location. Set Designer and Prop Stylist, Cordelia Weston, has done a great job, as all the little details are adorable.

Obviously, there is a bar, which serves Jacques, and guests can also indulge in cupcakes courtesy of Vintage Patisseries. Situated just off the bar is the Table Of Temptations - a gorgeous display of cakes that looks like it should be in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette - and the Forest Of Dreams.

Apart from just enjoying a drink with friends you can also have your fortune read by three fortune-tellers working in the Townhouse. Apparently I'll be moving somewhere new within the year, and according to the tarot reader will also become very environmentally friendly.
And then in the basement there's the Powder Room, where Benefit Cosmetics beauticians are on hand to apply flash-lashes and give out beauty tips. I had some crazy pearl embellished flash-lashes put on, which received a few odd looks on the tube, I must admit.

The Jacques Townhouse officially opens tomorrow, and will only be open a short amount of time. If you're keen to go visit facebook.com/jacques to book a (complimentary) place for you and your friends. There will be two sittings per night, the first from 6pm – 7.30pm and the second 8pm– 9.30pm and the location will be revealed once your place at the Townhouse is confirmed.

Scarlett Goes For the Heidi Crop

I've only just had a proper chance to look through the images from Comic-Con, and so far the only real style statement of note is Scarlett Johansson's haircut. Scarlett appeared at a panel discussion on Saturday, and showed off her dark blonde bob, which is very similar to the look Heidi Klum adopted this year. I've always liked Scarlett's long locks, but the shorter style suits her too. 

Heidi's original cut was labeled  "Mom hair" when she first debuted it in April. Though I always thought her look was more Anna Wintour than mumsey. Scarlett, however, decided against the fringe and is wearing her bob messy rather than sleek.

What do you think of Scarlett's new look?

image Getty/Picapp.com

Victoria Covers Vogue Turkey

I've never picked up a copy of Vogue Turkey before, but Victoria Beckham is on the cover of their August issue and I think I may just have to buy my first ever copy. Victoria has done countless photoshoots over the years (although she is still missing that pivotal US Vogue cover) so it's hard for anyone to get something new out of her. Photographer Ellen Von Unwerth has done a fantastic job though, it's great to see a full-body shot on a magazine cover.

You can check out some scans of Victoria's editorial HERE. And while we're on the subject of Victoria I had to post this adorable video of David talking about her on the last ever Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie may be the most famous couple in America, but over in the UK Posh and Becks are still firm favourites, and it's impossible not to go 'awww' when he talks about her.



I love that she's down in his phone as Posh...

What do you think of Victoria's Vogue Turkey cover? And isn't David so sweet?

scan from thefashionspot.com

UPDATE: There seems to be a problem with Youtube at the moment. The link to the clip is HERE.

Starting the Week With Colour

Yesterday evening Angelina decided to wow us, wearing a red Versace dress for the Moscow premiere of Salt. When Angelina wears a bright colour I get very excited, and as it's such a rare occasion it always feels like an real event. This dress doesn't quite top the yellow Emanuel Ungaro dress she wore in Cannes three years ago, but it's a great look. I look forward to the next burst of colour Angelina wears. Expect it in 2012 I guess...

What do you think of Angelina's red Versace moment?

Newscom/Picapp.com

Hit and Miss of the Week: From Hollywood to London

This week two Hollywood A-listers made their way over to London. First there was Jennifer Aniston, who had a date at Harrods to promote her new fragrance. Despite the predictable nature of her look it wasn’t yet another black dress, and I thought Jen looked fabulous. She should ditch black forever.
Fellow LA resident, Cameron Diaz, was also in town, promoting Knight and Day with Tom Cruise. While I like the fact she chose a British designer for the premiere I was disappointed that her dress was so casual. I felt she could have brought more Hollywood glamour with her. And back in LA Vanessa Hudgens wasn’t having much luck on the red carpet either, as she has fallen into a bit of a style-rut. She needs an Alba-style makeover, I think.

Jennifer Aniston: Hit

Jennifer Aniston was in London this week promoting her new fragrance at Harrods. I like the choice of nude Valentino dress. I would have liked to see some colour (both Jen and Angelina religiously stick to black and nude – Brad clearly has a type) but I prefer Jen in nude than black, so I’m not really complaining. The choice of tan heels is also great, as they lengthen her already amazing legs. It would have been nice to see something more inspiring going on with her hair – but this is Jennifer Aniston, and predictable style is her game.

Cameron Diaz: Miss

I normally love everything Cameron Diaz wears on the red carpet but was deeply disappointed to see her in this Stella McCartney sweater dress at the UK Knight and Day premiere. This is not an exciting look – I could put my hair in a ponytail and throw on a jumper dress and a pair of black heels any day. London needed a bit of Hollywood magic and Cameron failed to bring it. I would have liked this look for a TV appearance (because it is a great dress) but at premiere I expect a little more drama.


Christina Hendricks: Hit

I’m still working my way though season one of Mad Men which is quite shameful as I normally get though a box-set at warp speed. Christina Hendricks is great style inspiration on screen, and her look at the Mad Men season four premiere showed she’s equally as fashionable off screen. The long-sleeved lace dress is perhaps a little too A/W for a July premiere, but she pulled it off. I even quite like the high neckline, which is unlike me.

Vanessa Hudgens: So-So

I was a little bit disappointed to see Vanessa’s outfit for her boyfriend Zac Efron’s movie premiere this week. I know there is nothing wrong with this look – the mini is a good shape for her and she’s accessorised well – but it’s just boring. It sounds like I’m being cruel but it’s only because Vanessa Hudgens could be so much more fashionable if she pushed the boat out a little. At the moment I feel like she’s in the place Jessica Alba was last year; wearing perfectly nice clothes, but nothing anyone will ever remember. What she needs is an Antonio Berardi moment…

Jada Pinkett Smith: Miss

I love Jada Pinkett Smith, and the whole Smith family if I’m honest. What I’m not loving, however, is this pink t-shirt dress. Granted this premiere wasn’t for her own movie, but her son’s, so I can understand why she kept it low-key. The problem I have with this dress, though, is that it’s too short (despite Jada’s amazing legs), is ill-fitting and the colour is too teen-y. I won’t hold it against Jada though, as she looks completely fantastic on every other occasion. This is just a blip.

Kylie Minogue: Miss

Long-time readers of the blog will know that my fashion pet hates are white heels, blue eye-shadow and dresses with one sleeve. I love Kylie but this look was never going to work for me because of the miss-matching sleeves. Beyond that it is also a little dull – how many body-con LBD’s have we seen these last few years? Her boots definitely earn her some points, but sadly not enough to give this look a hit. Sorry Kylie!

What are your thoughts on this weeks lineup of celebrities?

Getty/AdMedia/ Newscom via Picapp.com

Lusting After Nicole's Jacket

For a few weeks now I have been on the lookout for a silver sequined jacket. I desperately want one but have two concerns; the first is I can't actually find one I like, and the other is that I'm worried I might look like a magician.
Last night Nicole Richie (along with Christina Aguilera, who knew they were friends?) hit up Voyeur in LA wearing a lovely sequined blazer. It's nice to see pictures of Nicole again - it feels like she's been hiding out recently.

This is exactly what I'm looking for in a sequined jacket: fab shape, great sequins and not at all magician-y. It also looks amazing with the snakeskin clutch, no? Nicole is always spot on with her accessories. If anyone knows where I can find a similar jacket (preferably around the £100 mark) please let me know. I want one even more now Nicole's rocked the look!

Do you like Nicole's sequined jacket too?

image from PacificCoastNews via Picapp.com

Would You Wear Your Hair Wild?

Back in February when I attended the Topshop Unique A/W show the bushy unkempt hairstyles left a lasting impression. I thought the wild styles looked wicked on the runway (especially with the badger hats and big eyebrows) but wasn't sure it was a look that would ever work off the catwalk. A bed head is one thing but a full on bush is going a little too far maybe.

While I still haven't seen anyone walking down the street sporting Topshop hair I have noticed Isabel Lucas has been working a slightly more groomed version of the style. Isabel was the girl to watch last summer and is still as on-trend as ever working her grown-out highlights. Back in February at the Calvin Klein A/W show Isabel sported a tousled version of the look and for the after party worked a crimped style.

Isabel Lucas goes wild at the Calvin Klein A/W 2010 show...

... and then crimps it up for the after party.

Granted, the Calvin Klein collection showed before Topshop Unique, so Isabel was working this style before it hit London Fashion Week, but it's interesting to see how easy it is to make this look work for events. I think we'll be seeing a lot more backcombing and crimping on the red carpet this fall.

Are you a fan of the wild hairstyles? And which other celebrities would you like to see give the look a go?

images from style.com and Getty/Picapp.com

Anna's Favourite Girl Wears Christopher Raeburn

Last year I wrote about Kirsty Doyle, the winner of 2006's Project Catwalk (Elizabeth Hurley's Project Runway spin-off). As I mentioned before Kirsty and fellow contestant Christopher Raeburn were my two favourites and I was shocked that Christopher never made the final. But as is the case with reality TV, it's not always the winner who comes out on top. Christopher has just had one of his designs photographed by Mario Testino and worn by Blake Lively for the Style Ethics page in the August issue of US Vogue. Not too shabby, huh?

I love Christopher's designs (check out his website - he does great menswear too - HERE), and the coat Blake wears is definitely the standout of his A/W 2010 collection. Being featured in US Vogue is obviously a huge deal for any designer and I'm thrilled that Christopher didn't disappear along with Elizabeth Hurley's TV presenting career.
As for Blake, she's Anna's favourite girl right now. Not only did she get her second Vogue cover this year she also sat with Anna at the couture shows in Paris. I wonder what they talk about. The Chuck and Blair love affair probably...

For a 2006 flashback check out this clip from Project Catwalk. 4 mins 30 seconds in is where it heats up as judge Julien Macdonald describes their work as a "loada' rubbish" and ELLE editor Lorraine Candy gives them a grilling.



What do you think of Christopher Raeburn's coat? And what do you make of Anna's love for Blake?

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Ten Smart Buys of the Week

There is nothing better than a bit of online window shopping on a Wednesday afternoon. I'm not supposed to be spending money until payday, but these 10 items have all tempted me this afternoon. Some are total dream pieces, like Acne's flying jacket and Chloe's gorgeous Darla tote, but others are great mid-week bargains. I adore the Topshop leather skirt - very Celine. Whether you're on the hunt for a special pick-me-up or just window shopping like me (is it even possible to window shop online?) check out these fashionable gems:

What do you think of my top 10? Did any items catch your eye?

all images from product websites

Vintage Mary-Kate

I really miss Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who are both keeping quiet at the moment. Ashley has completely vanished and we haven't had any new MK candids for a while either. For a hit of Olsen style I decided to check out the July 2005 archives at Olsens Obsessive and found this great snap of Mary-Kate back in her brunette days.

Five years ago it was all about the 'zoebot' LA boho vibe, and although MK wasn't really part of that crew she was on trend in her oversized shades and ethnic blouse. I really like the torn flared jeans, which would look great for 2010 paired with this Elizabeth and James silk shirt, available at Net-A-Porter.

Elizabeth and James Cheyenne printed silk shirt

What do you think of Mary-Kate's look circa 2005? And who else is desperate for some new MK and Ash pics?

image from olsensobsessive.net

The Hills is Bizarre to the End

Fans of The Hills will know what I mean when I say the show has always been strange. It took an even weirder turn in the sixth and last season as Speidi discovered the "healing powers" of crystals and befriended six-year-old Enzo. And although it was never quite the same once Whitney and Lauren left, I will miss The Hills now that it's gone for good.
But as it's The Hills it had to go out on a weird note, and MTV UK have come up with what is possibly the most bizarre method of saying goodbye to the show. They want fans to submit their "Goodbye Audrina" messages to their facebook page, and they will then print these messages onto a dress for her to wear at the UK final screening.

I don't quite know what Audrina did to deserve this, or whether or she will be forced to wear the dress; it's such a strange idea. But if you want to leave Audrina a message you can HERE.
Personally I won't miss Audrina much (not that I dislike her or anything) but there are some things I will genuinely miss about The Hills:

• The phrase "you're a shady person" - the Lauren Conrad classic
• Whitney Port and her amazing collection of headbands

• The fact Spencer still calls Lauren 'LC', even though the rest of the world stopped that after Laguna Beach
• Justin Bobby - the yummiest Hills boyfriend ever, despite the questionable sense of style

• The Teen Vogue cupboard and the wonderful Lisa Love
• The flawless manicures 24/7 - if anyone ever finds a chipped nail in an episode of The Hills you deserve a medal!
• Stephanie Pratt, who I grew to love after she bought an Anya Hindmarch clutch because "it will go really well with a spray-tan." It's like she stepped out of Clueless...

Ah The Hills how I will miss you.... What do you think of the kooky idea to send Audrina a goodbye dress? And what will you miss most about The Hills?