What will Princess Catherine choose?

I am inordinately excited about what the newly invented Princess Catherine will wear for the Royal Wedding in just a few weeks time. There has been speculation that she will wear Alexander McQueen and because she is a modern princess I would love to see her in a label like this, known for it's drama. Yet I suspect that even if this bride ever had daring styling tendencies, they will have been dumbed down by a sense of decorum. I hope I am wrong.

To be fair there is so much choice for brides that I can only imagine how hard it is when it comes down to it. You can see my own favourite, multiple personality wedding style below.

Elegant waists...

Here, above, Brigitte Bardot in casual pink gingham Jacques Esterel and below, Dita von Teese in voluminous Vivienne Westwood. Both dresses rely on boning and structure to emphasise tiny waists and are endlessly flattering.

Lace and Edging

Nicole Kidman (above) wore Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga for her wedding. The dress was delicately detailed, and it's turn of the century style sleeve was reminiscent of Tess of the d'Urbervilles. The exquisite lacework of another dress I am in love with belonged to the original Queen of Hearts, Grace Kelly. First and foremost a silver screen icon, her dress was aptly designed by MGM designer Helen Rose.

A modern legend in bridalwear design, Vera Wang, was the chosen designer of the dress for Avril Levigne's wedding in 2006. From the scalloped edges in Grace Kelly's veil to those on the bodice and skirt of Avril's dress you can see how mastery of an elegant detail like this can soften the image of even the most tomboyish.

Tailoring

I am most enamoured by this outfit. It reminds me so much of Ossie Clark's pattern-cutting that I can hardly believe he didn't design it himself. In fact this was a Mainbocher creation. The label also designed a further 66 pieces in the wedding trousseau which were accessorised with Schiaparelli and Chanel. Lucky girl!

Bianca Jagger married Mick Jagger in a sharp, white Yves Saint Laurent suit that although eminently stylish can only be pulled off by the slimmest bride. Daring in her omission of a top!

I think the only approach is to adopt what I call 'The Elizabeth Taylor Principle' - have lots of weddings, chose a totally different look every time! I wonder what Princess Catherine would say to that. But then, I think I might know that already.

Elizabeth Taylor wears an Irene Sharaff shift dress (Sharaff was the costume designer on Taylor's 1963 film Cleopatra).

Style Bubble Party

Blogging deity Susie Lau held a little soiree at the Furla store on Regent Street this evening and I went along to see the jelly-shoe style bags she is currently sporting on her blog Style Bubble in situ. Here is the lady herself (left) with vintage clothes entrepreneur Hazel Holtham of Rag and Bow (organiser of The Affordable Vintage Fair).

I was so excited to see such an influential voice in the flesh and moreover to see what she was wearing. Susie had layered up nicely sporting pyjama style trousers that she spoke about in her Elle supplement magazine last month. I loved how her bright pink jelly bag (in the bottom left hand corner of the photo) picked out the colour on her trousers.

Below the glossy, citrus coloured bags.

Who knew you could even fit a small dog in one!

To get your name on the list, Susie had challenged readers to send in a picture of the contents of their handbags. Above was my shot. In my lovely Mulberry are: Le Labo's Iris perfume, Mason and Pearson hairbrush, emergency peacock earrings, Chanel compact, iPhone, Oyster, house keys.

Two Swallows Don't Make a Summer

We've had a week of lovely weather and though blithe spirit convinces us it'll last and summer's here, we are annually surprised by the grey skies that follow for the rest of spring.

In just the same way, I can't pretend that with just two examples that there is any trend on the horizon here but since I bought my Mulberry (see the To be Fair post) I have become a real addict to black and gold combinations. It's not Spring/Summer fair, but I thought you might want be interested in what makes me tick. Below is gorgeous vintage Junya Watanabe from Atelier Meyer that I watch over like a parent on the site.

And vintage black & gold heels by J Renne at MayDae.com £20.38 plus postage.

I urgently need both.

You have got to love...

'any-night out' sequinned jackets. They'll inject a bit of glamour into any outfit, occasion or photo.

Both the above are from Coco Ribbon (£545)

Mine (in detail above) is from a vintage treasure trove in Leeds. I had to have it because I had never seen sideways sequins before and because I can pretty much wear it with any colour.

Bright Blue Accessories

A little while ago I posted about the merits of bright blue clothes (in 'Why So IKBlue' if you're interested) and how everyone is stocking it at the moment. And now I am magpying towards it again. I can't resist. Here are my favorites from the high street...

I love it when someone's personality really peeps out when they wear something as quirky as a turban. Turbans are obviously not new in fashion but they are a real class act. This one is from River Island and is just £9.99

Above is a very reasonably priced (£18.99) blue glass ring from Whistles. Wear it with contrasting bright nail varnish for full effect.

If you are too timid to go all out and wear this eye-popping bright as an outfit, then tip your hat to the trend by waisting a dress with a double belt like this one from Reiss £45.
Above: These are easy-height heels from Zara which would brighten up any outfit. Not super comfy but hey, I think that's just me. Yours for just £49.99

Focus: Carnaby Street - Part Two: The Kooples

So, to continue with merits of the Carnaby Street area... This one is actually a small but not unassuming shop at 22 Carnaby Street, London W1F 7DB. It's called The Kooples and it's one very nice shop. If you are a short-wearer, lace-lover or just someone in need of some sharp, non-suit officewear this is The One.

I have to admit that the website just does not do the shop any justice. Each piece is really beautifully considered. Trimmings, edging, tailoring. So you just have to take my word for it and go in.

The general colour palette of the collection is quite conservative - army green, navy, black and white so they are not too ostentatious for the office but the pieces are amazing. I love both the lace and the plain shorts (each £120) with their scalloped edges. So chic and perfect for that work/going out conundrum.

The label has developed it's line to go together so if you needed a warm layer or to smarten up the shorts for a meeting, there is also a matching suit jacket in the plain fabric. I have to add, that the plain shorts do have excellently considered satin yokes so that they are ultra-flattering. Does go without saying though that you do need reasonably good pins for these.

I also feel duty bond to mention the exquisite skull lace-work. So often, high-street lace can look really cheap but this is beautiful and makes the gulf even wider between the mass-produced and the lovingly crafted. Here is a zoom in on one of Kooples' t-shirts (£130).

And finally, I should mention the leather vest so you can get the full picture (see below). Lovely. £170

Heaven.

Focus: Carnaby Street - Part One: Beyond the Valley

If you are looking to shop somewhere and find truely lovely and original things to wear, look no further than the Carnaby Street area. Yes you have the staple brands in the viscinity - Topshop, HOSS, Jigsaw, COS etc. But if it's independent shops you are after, this is concentrated area of reliable shops I like to keep a close eye on. In the next couple of posts I am going to share with HungDrawn readers my own little black book of stores in the area.

Today: Beyond the Valley (2 Newburgh Street, Lomdon, W1F 7RD).

Currently showing their Cosmic Tropicalia Spring/Summer collection this store is very edgy (see their mood board below). Selling quirky clothes, accessories and shoes, this is stand out from the crowd stuff. This is strictly for the theatrical amongst you.

Often, when a line is using a high-tech or very fashionable print, design can go out of the door but each piece chosen for the shop is highly individual in combining interesting prints and texturing with often-mind-bending pattern-cutting. What I like most about shop is that it does not focus on clothes that will just suit the skinnies. Lots of the pieces aren't fitted and could be worn by all sorts of shapes and sizes. Also, it's not (necessarily) break the bank.

I fell in love with these snakeskin boots by fashion-crowd favourite, London based label Finsk. I think they would look so dramatic on the end of a peg leg trouser.

Also with MOMOCREATURA, a label homing in on my macabre interest in taxidermy with their mamed woodland creature jewellery. I think it's funny. You might not. But you can bill me.

Here endeth the first lesson...

Turning Japanese

So much high fashion at the moment is about bright, block colouring. I love it. And at the risk of sounding like my grandmother 'it is nice to see a bit of colour on you.' But what if it's not for you? Well, the recent glimpse of spring has shown us a different pallette altogether. Gentle blue skies, pale golden sunsets, delicate pink cherry blossom. It all makes me think of the colours that nineteenth century Japanese print artist Hiroshige captured in his work (see below).

These are the colours I pick up on in Holly Fulton's Spring/Summer 2011 collection. Below you can see a piece typical of the designer's direction. Her pieces are distinctly modern designs with a definite reference to historical styles - in recent collections Japanese and Egyptian. They are often beaded, printed. What they will always be is pricey.

So given that most of us are not minted, the best way to put a look like this together from high street retailers is...
Above: French Connection's Cleo Dress £145

Above: Navette earrings from Accessorize £10.80

Above: Klue shoes at Carvela £100

We interupt these messages...Elizabeth Taylor dies

Sad news... Elizabeth Taylor, most fashionably-attired multi-bride ever, died today. RIP.

Victorian Obsessions

The circus is in town.

The town: London, Monmouth Street to be exact. At super-luxurious lingerie store Coco de Mer they are stocking a collaborative label called Circus Child - a playful, made-to-measure collection which takes it's inspiration from iconic circus costumes. At just under £1000 a piece it's (rather appropriately) more of look don't touch collection but it very much homes in on our continuing obsession with all things Victorian: burlesque, the circus, the spectacular.

At these prices, this is firmly a fantasy post so, in for a penny, in for a pound... imagine yourself as Dita von Teese wearing these and working the look whilst strutting round the Big Top. Have fun!

...And a post on the circus wouldn't be the same without a picture of a Bearded Lady...

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

Ultra cool. Chloe Sevigny

Blatant girl crush on Chloe Sevigny's style. She always dresses from the heart, is ever-original, ever-changing. The girl wears vintage, designer, high-street and sometimes wears nothing (just Google it!), and all the while she smolders looking sardonic. She knows that's all you really need to pull of a daring look.

and I just want her on my blog so that I don't have to trawl the internet to see how cool she is whenever I want - so there.

Dark Side of the Moon

At the moment it seems I cannot say no to clothes that are all the colors of Pink Floyd album cover Dark Side of the Moon. Or, as I like to call it, 'Black and Rainbow'.

A short while ago I picked up a dynamite vintage cover-up in this colour-way (see below for a close-up) and now it keeps popping up on my radar. 

Yesterday marked the sad (but necessary) passing of my favourite striped t-shirt. Unwilling to face even a day without this wardrobe staple in my life I strode forth to replace it. I happened to pass a Ted Baker concession and found a solution in the form of the Balfour wrap which hits two-fashion sweet spots, stripes (on the front), and Black & Rainbow (on the back). See Below.

I love the colourway for it's versatility. It will go with leather, this seasons big trend bright block colors, gold or silver jewellery, patent, matt, I could go on but I won't, you get the idea.

PJ Harvey

Easily the coolest female singer of all time. She transfixed us all at the Troxy in London earlier this month on her Let England Shake tour.

For such a demure stage persona she wore a spell-binding, macabre stage outfit. Diaphanous black petticoats and smooth leather bustier were topped off with a beautiful feather headpiece that reminded me of the plumage I had seen on exotic birds in display cases at the weekend when I visited Tring’s Natural History Museum (see below).

Pictures of PJ Harvey courtesy of www.pollyharvey.co.uk