LFW: House of Holland

As well as the Unique show I also went to the House of Holland show yesterday. The HH invite this season was printed on a white bandana with aqua writing, which instantly made me think of N’sync and Jennifer Lopez in the J-Lo days.
The bandana reference was made clear once the first model walked out – purple bandana tied around her high-pony-tail. Overall I wouldn’t wear any of the pieces the way they were styled for the collection, which was just too J-Lo for me. But there were some pieces that I really liked, including the shearling jacket worn with the striped jumpsuit [bottom right] which looked so much better in real life than it does in this picture. And the candy pink printed dress [bottom left] is going to look great in editorials. The highlight of the collection for me though was watching Sessilee Lopez walk – she is beautiful.
Apologies for the use of style.com pictures, but I was sitting behind someone in a rather large hat, which was fine, I could still see perfectly, but my pictures were just coming out as this hat and the occasional models head.




On the front row were Alexa (who had changed clothes since Unique) and Pixie. The front row were given bottles of vitaminwater and Blackberry gift bags. After the show I heard Pixie tell Hilary Alexander that she adored the collection, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s spotted wearing pieces from the collection very soon.

images from style.com

LFW: Topshop Unique

Yesterday lunch time, myself and Stevie from Discotheque Confusion had a quick catch up over a sugar-free muffin (it’s fashion week, after all) and then rushed over to the Topshop Unique show. It was my first time at a Unique show and I wasn’t sure what to expect (apart from Pixie Geldof, of course), but it was actually a really cute collection.



The theme this season was camping (I never have, and never will go camping) and there were some beautiful pieces. Knee-length pencil skirts with super huge pockets were worn with braces that were covered in badges, reminding me of my days in Brownies. Tigers and wolves were screen printed onto a jersey maxi-dress, which was then worn with thick white tights. And there was even a bit of double-denim thrown in for good measure too.



My favourite elements of the collection look rather miss-matched when I write them down. I adored the animal headdresses (designed by Emma Cook), which ranged from foxes to badgers, and blended into the models wildly backcombed hair. And the shearling jackets are definitely going on my A/W 2010 wish-list.



One of the finale pieces was a little grey mini dress, with a fitted bodice and a puffed out skirt. The silhouette reminded me of one of my favourite Miu Miu collections (S/S 2008) so it’s sure to be a sell out piece – I’d say the typical Topshop customer (myself included) dreams of wearing Miu Miu, so it’s inevitable that it will be popular.



And as for the front row: there was no Kate, but I saw Alexa (soooo skinny), Pixie, Olivia Palermo (sooooo beautiful), Nicola from Girls Aloud, and I heard Peaches was there too but I didn’t see her. Though, I was most excited to turn around at one point in the venue and see Suzy Menkes behind me. She’s a real fashion star.

all images my own, if you wish to re-post please credit (although you can pinch must better ones from style.com ya know)

Hit and Miss of the Week: On a Saturday

Don't worry, you haven't somehow skipped a whole day, it really is Saturday, I'm just posting the Hit & Miss a day early this week because of LFW. Instead of the Hit & Miss expect some show updates tomorrow.
But on to what everyone has been wearing this week: two of the stylish Kate's (Moss and Bosworth) both put together top looks this week. While Mossy went cool Bosworth went sophisticated. It's hard to choose a favourite. Also doing the rounds this week were Nicole Richie (who was promoting her Winter Kate line), Maggie Gyllenhaal (promoting granny-chic) and Molly Sims. Oh, and Lady Gaga wore a poodle on her head. Can't forget that!







images from celebrity-gossip.net and thefashionspot.com

P.S follow me on twitter at twitter.com/cocosteaparty for updates on my day

Famous for Fashion

Last night I was a panelist at LCF for the screening of Kate from Make Do Style's short film, and a discussion about the influence of celebrity in fashion. I was so nervous, as the other panelists were Grazia's Melanie Rickey, Tamar Jeffers Thomas, author of Hollywood Catwalk and Pamela Church Gibson, Course Director MA Fashion and Film at LCF, and they all had such intelligent things to say.
The discussion did turn to celebrities who have become more famous for what they wear than what they actually do, which was interesting. And the prime example of this is Kate Bosworth.
I think I have seen one movie with her in, and would struggle to name any of her others, yet she is one of the celebrities I write about most on the blog. As we were having this very conversation she was sitting front row at the Calvin Klein A/W show, again looking flawless. And here I am posting yet another picture of her. It goes round and round.



Are you bored of 'actresses' being more famous for the shoes they wear or are you simply happy to see a great outfit on someone?
I have to admit I've kind of separated the Bilson's, Bosworth's and Biel's of the world from the Watts' and Winslet's. I'm more than happy to see a fabulous look on an 'it' girl, and I do really like most of these celebrities - but I'd rather go and watch a film with a serious actress in.
I'd love to know what you think about this, and honestly, doesn't Kate rock that skirt? You can't fault her.

image from celebrity-gossip.net

NYC: Proenza Schouler

Proenza Schouler is not just one of my favourite American labels, it's one of my favourite labels period. There's always something in their collections I lust after (most recently the PS1 bag) as Jack and Lazaro have that Marc Jacobs-like ability to tap into anything and everything cool.
The A/W collection was cool (and had a front row to rival Rodarte, with Nicole Richie, Selma Blair and Mary-Kate Olsen) but also presented me with my ideal winter dress.
See, I don't particularly like to wear jeans or trousers of any sort. Dresses are my thing, but in the winter it's hard to find styles that are warm (think sleeves retailers!) and still pretty. Winter dresses tend to fall into two categories: long sleeved but black/grey/navy or pretty print but more appropriate for LA than London. Proenza have bridged that gap - now I just need the budget to buy this entire collection.





And as New York Fashion Week slowly wraps up look what's popped up again and again. It's only the humble turtleneck. Will you be wearing one come Fall?


images from style.com

NYC: The Row

It was inevitable that I would like The Row's A/W 2010 collection. I am a die-hard Olsen fan. So much so that my friends are forever making fun of me. But as far as I'm concerned there are stylish celebrities and then there are the Olsen's. They are in a league of their own.
It's the first time that Mary-Kate and Ashley have shown their collection at New York Fashion Week, and I liked the collection. It played to that luxe 90's vibe that Ashley is so into, and reminds me of Calvin Klein, Jil Sander and Helmut Lang.
There weren't any pieces that were out-of-this-world exciting, but The Row is about timeless, well-made wardrobe basics. And they do it well.






Above Ashley and Mary-Kate take their walk, and - this has nothing to do with anything, but it's so terribly cute - Ashley poses at a NYC party with her BF Justin Bartha. She looks good in animal ears.
And on the subject of Justins, Justin Timberlake shows his William Rast collection in New York tonight (is it me or is every other show in NYC this season created by a celebrity?)
He's like the opposite of Victoria Beckham - quitting music for fashion was the best move she ever made, but JT should really make another album instead of designing pants.

Anyway, what do you think of The Row?

images from style.it and justjared.buzznet.com

NYC: Rodarte Front Row

Marc Jacobs didn't have celebrities on the front row this season, which took him out of the running for the most impressive front row lineup. Rodarte is in with a good chance of winning though; they invited Kirsten, Natalie and Chloe. I think everyone has a girl-crush on at least one of these lovely ladies, no?




From top left: Kirsten Dunst and Jason Schwartzman; Natalie Portman; Chloë Sevigny and Humberto Leon; Julia Restoin-Roitfeld; Anna Dello Russo; Derek Blasberg and Jen Brill.

As for the clothes, I liked. I'm a big fan of Rodarte, but this was in no way my favourite collection Laura and Kate have produced. The Rodarte look is well established now (and other designers sneakily take 'inspiration' from them too) so there was nothing too surprise this season.


But then I'm not that great at change anyway. And I loved the dreamy colour palette and angelic white dresses. It was a beautiful collection, and I'm sure Natalie and Kirsten will wear a few pieces between them on the red carpets this year.

images from style.com