One of the strangest parts of London Fashion Week is walking through the arches to a myriad of street style photographers. I honestly think one day someone is going to get runover by one of the Mercedes LFW Cars!
Having chatted with Jon over twitter for the last couple of months it was great to finally meet him, and I was more than happy to stop (in fact quite flattered) and have my photo taken for his brilliant streetstyle site.
Bottega Veneta’s new lookbook is weighty! Looking forward to leafing through it drooling over luxury I can’t yet afford. #fashion #menswear #luxury (Taken with instagram)
#LFW ate my @nudiejeans :0( #menswear #jeans (Taken with instagram)
Being made to wait until menswear day can be torture for me. Day after day at London Fashion Week, wonderful creative pieces flow past me, all brilliant and all out of my reach unless I decide on a major shift in lifestyle. So any glimpse of something, anything I could potentially add to my over stuffed wardrobe is welcomed with open arms. Prophetik early, (ok ok 10.30) Sunday morning was one such delight. Now before I start can I just say I am an avid supporter of conservation, raising awareness of animals plight, and indeed collaboration between fashion and anything charitable. In light of this I learnt that the plural of rhino is rhino, and that the rate at which rhino are being poached has escalated to truly horrific levels due to ridiculous beliefs in the medicinal powers of rhino horn. This must stop now, or in less than fifteen years wild rhino will be extinct. I also learnt I never want to see a mutilated rhino carcass before breakfast again. So thank you Prophetik for bringing the issue to my attention, I guess I’ll just have to man up regarding the second part.
Courtly Love was the title of the collection and we were transported to a time post revolution when the French aristocracy were clinging onto what they knew, for a joint menswear and womenswear collection. Dilapidated grandeur is a swift way to my heart. Miss Havisham tattered damask silks, some grubby knees and evocations of bygone glories are a quick way to inspire me. Maybe it’s the thought of love lost, who knows? Whether a dip-dyed empire line gown the colour of encroaching mold or stunning threadbare dress that evoked images of a dramatic night time escape from the family chateau, this collection contained beautifully twisted elements of this. Unfortunately, whether it was through fabric selection, fabrication or construction as a whole the collection sailed too close to costume for me.
Still brimful of literal historical references the menswear by and large avoided a similar fate. There may be more longevity in such pieces of menswear than womens who knows? Maybe I was giddy with the thought of some clothes I could actually wear. Kilts almost risqué in their shortness, a chunky yet light knit over black militaristic jodhpurs, and cropped Westwood like jackets, all made their way down the catwalk and could quite easily find their way on to my wishlist. In particular the black and white check coat and waistcoat, working brilliantly over the high waisted trousers. This is before we even mention the magnificent embellished charcoal great. Which garnered knowing looks amongst the front row attendees. This was something covetable, and could quite easily be fought over once the collection hits the stores. I would happily have lifted it off the models shoulders right there and then, if I thought I could have gotten away with it.
Prophetik needs time and space to continue to grow, London Fashion Week and Vauxhall Fashion Scout are great incubators of talent so next season should be stronger. Bizarrely the menswear succeeded in it’s rebirth of past times, where this caused the womenswear to flounder slightly. It’s hard to win a battle on more than one front, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
Ok so it’s a blurry shot from my iPhone, but for me this jacket was one of the highlights of a great Topman show. I’ll review the rest once I’ve sorted out my photos including the fact myself and Style Cupid, had a great view to admire the always tasty Mr David Gandy!
In the meantime here is the beautiful ponyskin biker jacket, I immediately tweeted about! I love it.
Love this from Sibling! Sequinned scissor jumper! (Taken with instagram)
London Fashion Week started with a bang this week, I’ve seen so many exciting looks and innovations already and there is still 3 days to go. But for many of us wandering round Somerset House this week LFW really began on the Thursday night. Swedish brand Bjorn Borg hosted an immense party in the Battersea Power Station to celebrate the launch of their new glow in the dark underwear range.
Underwear parties mean one thing really, semi-naked models, and we wee not disappointed on that score at all. We were also treated to a huge themed space bring a Scandi winter wonderland to south west London. Hot tubs, meat balls, Absolut vodka, and a ‘sauna’ were all to be found in the party. Once the party was in full swing we were treated to a fashion show of the entire new range. I have to say I was impressed, and without going in to my own underwear buying habits too much I will be looking at these with greater interest.
Hurrah #menswear at @Prophetik! Love me a good kilt! #lfw (Taken with instagram)
I obviously am getting around a bit these days. The Horniman Museum is about to host a new and exciting exhibition The Body Adorned charting how the vast diversity of London influences how we dress and how we look. They asked myself and the very lovely Sabrina from Science of Style to contribute our thoughts on what the London Look is.
Hear our thoughts below and if you’re in London when the exhibition is on definitely check it out.
Yesterday brought this cuteness from Fam Irvoll. Wonder what today has in store #LFW (Taken with instagram)
For all the hundreds of designers that are showing this week there are countless more that wont be, one of these is the brilliant and directional Horace. I first their collection as a combined video and catwalk presentation this time last year, and loved it. The more directional elements are not my style but even the most reserved person could see on the right person how cool it would be.
I hate to use the word cool, even uttering renders something slightly uncool, it’s such an intangible quality that those who have it just do, whilst those that chase after it too hard will never catch it.
Check out Horace’s Facebook to see the whole collection and for the current collection head over to 6000AD (more to come from them here later!) What do I love most from the collection? Clearly the T’s above are great, but what I am most after is one of the Biker Jackets. From what I’ve been told they are in the softest leather.
I really need to decide which colour, and face facts it’s time I invested in a brand I love and a much needed leather jacket.
Shaving demonstration by @murdocklondon. Need to book myself in! #necessaryindulgence #grooming (Taken with instagram)
There are exciting times ahead. Those of you following me on twitter will know by now I have taken the plunge and leapt into the world of freelancing. Having designed a single product for the last four years I ready to see more of what the world has to offer. But not just in design, over the last two and a bit years of running this blog and speaking at length to anyone that knows me I’ve developed many skills and talents across the fashion and social media worlds.
Let it be known I’m on the hunt for new opportunities, new experiences and new positions. If you’re looking for a menswear designer, a personal shopper, stylist, fashion writer or someone to help plan your social media strategy I’m here.
It may sound like I’m casting a wide net here, but I am so passionate about both fashion and social media I want it all!
Fashion is a fast moving, exhilarating environment and so is social media. In both areas you need to look at macro- and micro trends to tailor and craft individual responses to your clients needs. Not every suit will look good on you and not every social media platform is right for your business. Let me work with you to help you discover your self (personal shopping & styling), your brand image and future products (design, art direction) and your message and how to get it out there (social media)
It’s exciting times for me and this site. Who knows where I’ll end up or where you’ll see me next, but it’s most certainly onwards and upwards, and I’ll be sure to keep you posted on what happens along the way.
Fresh off being asked to contribute to Jimmy Choo’s Valentines recommendations Bainser.com is once again in the press. This time in the industry magazine Menswear Buyer. Here Bainser.com is named as one of the key menswear fashion blogs to follow.
Thanks Menswear Buyer for this recognition and I hope you continue to enjoy the content I produce. London Fashion Week begins in earnest on Friday and there will be much for me to cover.
So there’s been a minor change since the edition went to print. I no longer work for Berwin & Berwin, so am available for freelance opportunities across the creative and social media world. More of that to come!
Yes I look frozen, but that’s because I was. But I dont really care. This shot was taken during Menswear week in Milan whilst waiting for Vivienne Westwood’s show.
photo credit: WGSN.com