Elle Italia: Evoluzione della specie

Italian Elle Magazine: Black lipstick. Skulls. Crows. Versace, Chanel and Dior.What more could you ask for? This editorial ticks all boxes as far as I'm concerned. Combining 19th Century biology-lab set with all things dark and deathly is genius enough, but throwing in a high fashion model and some of the most lust-worthy dresses of the season is quite honestly the icing on the cake.

This shoot works on so many levels - it is Gothic without being overtly so, the set feels authentically archaic, the model is styled with a sophisticated dark edge that gives the feel she's stepped right out of a turn-of-the-century Ball and the Photography is both distinguished and memorable.

Magazine: Elle Italia – November 2008
Editorial: Evoluzione della specie
Model: Kemp Muhl
Photographer: Ruven Afanador

5 Things...

I'm craving this week:

1) Glittery nails

2) Waffles & Ice-cream

3) Jeffrey Campbell Leopard Wedges

4) Cocktail rings, and lots off them!

5) Bubble-baths

Hello, Kitty.

Last week I went to see my friend who's cat has just had Six kittens, literally the cutest things I have ever seen! They were climbing up my legs and biting my fingers. I wanted to put one in my bag and run away with it!

Right now I am sitting in my room drinking strong coffee, trying to stay awake and sewing a purple dress I found in the Charity Shop for £1, I'm making it into a playsuit for summer, not that I'll be able to wait that long to wear it. I need to try not to let violet take over my wardrobe this summer! Tomorrow I'm getting the pics back from a shoot I did recently, it was probably the most fun shoot I have had yet, I can't wait to see the end results!

I think some of the more contemporary playsuits can be a bit boring, especially on the High Street. It's usually much cheaper to thrift one or re-work an old dress - and you can guarantee no one else will have it!

Alexander McQueen: 1969-2010

Since hearing of the loss of Alexander McQueen yesterday I've been in mourning. He was one of my all-time favourite designers and his presence in the fashion industry has provided endless inspiration for me and so many others. I've been putting off writing this because I know nothing I write could do such an exceptional person justice.

Alexander's death is such a tragedy: his visions were truly out of this world, his designs a form of art and his shows both magical and enchanting. I feel like it would be a waste not to take something positive from such a terrible disaster, to continue to strive for the change you want and no matter how far away your dreams may seem, to keep on until you have what it is you set out for - in the true spirit of Alexander Mcqueen, who has forever changed the fashion industry.

His S/S 2010 Collection - 'Plato's Atlantis' has been hailed "the best collection of SS10" and features futuristic visions, materialised into other-worldly prints of praying-mantis and all things scaly.

Inspired by a distant ancestor who was tried for witchcraft. The catwalk, a Ouija Board below a screen which showed disturbing images in the form of a naked woman covered in cockroaches and flesh being burned from skulls. (A/W 2007).

A whimsical A/W 2006 collection featuring antler and bird-wing headdresses, ever-so-romantic high-collars and country chic found in the tweed and tartan fabrics. This dress has to be my single most beloved garment.

McQueen was set to unveil his ready-to-wear collection at the Paris fashion shows in March and in February's copy of Love Magazine, commented that "I want this to be a company that lives beyond me". The one thing I am sure of is that his work will undoubtedly live on.

R.I.P.

Heart-shaped Glasses

So today I ended up staying in my home-town and instead of taking the more enticing option of going to a couple of lectures and researching for my endless assignments, my boyfriend and I went for Vanilla Chai Latte at this quaint little Coffee Shop. Ahhh... Chai Latte.

As much as you're probably sick of hearing about it, there's no denying that love is in the air, at least for me it is! I'm a big fan of romance and I find there's nothing better than a bunch of flowers, lots of candles and home-made V. cards. And playing a good game of Monopoly or Trivial pursuit. OK... Just me then?

On a slightly different note, and I mean very slightly, Valentine's outfits anyone? I'm still debating over what to wear - we're going to a little Chinese restaurant so It's between my turquoise 1950's Chinese dress (How fitting, I know), or a more sultry vintage LBD. I'll have to flip a coin or something.

I think I'm developing an obsession for heart-shaped things - particularly heart cut-out dresses à la Luella S/S 2010, heart-shaped lipstick and cakes/pancakes/anything else extremely-tasty-but-extremely-bad-for-you. To a certain someone: a batch of heart-shaped pancakes would not hurt on the morning of 14/2 this year!

Galliano S/S 2010

There's not a better way to start this season's fashions than with some serious catwalk inspiration. John Galliano-type-inspiration, to be exact. His latest collection draws on 1940's Hollywood glamour - combining wispy materials like chiffon and lace with plenty of glitz and Broadway-starlet inspired makeup.

I prefer the more gothic elements of this show, that is to say the mourning-style veils, Manson-esque make-up in the form of very pale skin and dark eyes, and the doll-like quality of the ankle socks. Converting this into some kind of wearable style I'd have to take the floaty dress and extravagant headdress (depending on how adventurous you're feeling!) paired with lace gloves, pastel ankle socks and some pretty special heels. Preferably those above in the third picture...a girl can dream.

Is it just me or are you sensing some potential DIY possibilities here?

In the nicest way possible, the embellishments seen in the first three pictures remind me of Quality Street wrappers - I'm not denying that it could go one of two ways but you never know!

The next two go without saying, head on down to your nearest craft stall and fill your pockets with feathers, lace, netting and all things bejeweled to jazz up an old headband or a boring fascinator.

Finally, and I wouldn't recommend trying this out on your newest pair of Jimmy Choo's, dig out some super glue and supplies such as ribbon to make into bows, felt which can be cut into polka dots and thrifted brooches or pearls and go crazy making your very own pair of Galliano-inspired heels!

Sleepy kitty!

God, I'm so tired today! Missed my morning lecture and slept right through my alarm. Anyway, this is just a quick one - I'm really dying to get started on some proper blogs but just sooo busy today and tomorrow. Tonight I'm going into Manchester and buying brown rice and stir-fry ingredients for tea! Yummy.

I feel like this kitty ^^

I think the snow has finally left, it was so pretty but not at all amusing sliding all over the place and being laughed at by strangers (yes, that actually happened!). I think this has to be the best snowman ever...