Fashionista Barbie

Not content with just modelling Sister by Sibling’s autumn/winter 2012 collection, my favourite doll Barbie took part in London Fashion Week with her own six-doll mini-exhibition within the NEWGEN space at Somerset House. Wearing the clothes seen in Sibling’s ‘Diamond Lil’ collection, Barbie look amazing in the funky knitwear, so much so I totally wish, hope, pray that Mattel bring out a collaboration that I can buy.

I do have to apologise for not getting great images but they were quite high up on a shelf and I wasn’t allowed to move them, which is why you can’t seen any of her shoes. Such a shame really as these beauties deserved to be showed off more.

My favourite two have to be the leopard-print dollies – how cute are they with their pom-pom headbands – I just love them.

Barbie may have taken her Dream Closet to New York Fashion Week, but for London she rocked her plastic body for a photoshoot for Sister by Sibling’s autumn/winter 2012 collection. Snapped by Alastair Strong, the series of photographs entitled ‘Test Shots’ feature Barbie wearing a series of looks from the new ‘Diamond Lil’ collection, from the Paris Texas-inspired pink fluffy dress, to blue lurex leggings, and even a leopard-print knitted 3-piece skirt suit, all of which the designers made on miniature knitting needles especially for Barbie.

Whereas the real-life models in the Sibling presentation, which took place in the Portico Showspace at Somerset House at the weekend, were seen covered in sequinned balaclavas, Barbie shows of her Malibu beauty and looks super cute in her pom-pom headband.

Oh and can I just mention that amazing silver sequinned skirt and the Barbie logo towel – my dolls totally need them!!!

As well as Polaroid style photos which were exhibited on the walls at the Sister by Sibling presentation, the designers also collaborated with Mattel on a six-doll mini-exhibition within the Newgen space at Somerset House – trust me when you see these dolls in my next blog post you are going to want them all – well I do anyway.

I am not sure why I am looking super grumpy in this piccie, maybe it was the chilly breeze outside the Topshop venue, but I am actually having one of my best London Fashion Weeks in a long time. Today was a very cool day as I got my first ever invites to the Pringle of Scotland and Michael Van Der Ham shows, which were amazing  - one had Olivia Palermo front row and the other one fed and quenched my first before the show – all will be revealed in my show reports.

I am a lover of cardigans, maybe it is because I am always cold, and I do mean always, and this chunky knit one from New Look is a perfect pastel shade for spring, but also a great length. I paired it with my knitted J by Jasper Conran dress, which has the cutest sleeves that I totally forgot to shoot, and to add some more colour to my look I added my favourite rose clasped Dorothy Perkins belt – I know I am crazy for the high street!!!

Friday for me was all about the pedigree of Fashion Fringe, with the 2010 winner Corrie Nielsen starting proceedings followed by 2009 winner’s Jena.Theo and last year’s winner’s Fyodor Golan. Like with their winning collection at last year’s Fashion Fringe final, this was another collection filled with their trademark sculpted lines, luxurious detailing and exquisite styling.

Showing in the new intimate LFW showspace at the Embankment Galleries, the venue has a lovely long runway, which totally suited the drama of this collection with its high necklines, blade embellishments, cut out detailing and statement jewellery by Pebble London.

Inspired by the juxtaposition between Russian peasants and royalties, autumn/winter 2012 was a rich and detailed display showcasing not only their creative process but their exquisite craftmanship. Once again I was in awe at the use of contrasting textures from luxurious velvets to quilted leather, as well as Swarovski embellishments, tribal detailing, feathers and sheer panels. Every single piece that strutted down the runway was mind-blowing, and the colour palette was rich in its use of whites, burnt oranges and reds, and greens, which included a green glittery woman.

Like with Corrie Nielsen I think the Fyodor Golan duo are aware of making their line commercial and there were a number of sharp tailored overcoats and some gorgeous knitwear items, which sat really well against the dramatic dresses. My favourite look though had to be the finale, which included a statement headpiece that I am sure Lady Gaga’s team are already eyeing up, and for good reason as it as it just blew the audience away.

I loved the dark romance about this collection, which had a lot going on, but I am so proud of their first solo show as it presented their technical and creative skills to the max. On the way out of the venue people were saying that it was reminiscent of the late Alexander McQueen and I most certainly agree. I love it when emerging designers aren’t afraid to do couture looks and step away from just following the trends, this collection really has made me excited to see more from the uber-talented Fyodor Podgorny and Golan Frydman.

Inspired by her Scottish roots, Corrie Nielsen’s show started with a fanfare of gorgeous tartan worked into her signature historic approach to fashion with a gorgeous long-sleeved dress with lashings of lace frills, wide-leg trousers and a tartan pencil skirt teamed with an exquisitely tailored blouse with a very unique conical neckline that only Corrie can produce.

Her unique sculptural forms continued into a selection of black separates and dresses, each with exquisite tailored detailing, high necklines, and checked shirts with tulle overlays that had a regal vibe about them. Like with her spring/summer 2012 collection, her line included a lot of more wearable pieces including daywear and eveningwear, which were stunningly tailored and looked divine against the magnificent styling of ‘face laces’ made exclusively by Phyllis Cohen and the hats by Emma Yeo.

Her signature structured shoulders, which I completely adore were in the mix on jackets and dresses, and I have fallen in love with the wide-leg trousers, the sash-detailed dresses, the pleated skirts and the monochrome checked box-fronted jacket with an attachable scarf. Once again I am sure these pieces will catch the eyes of many luxury London department store buyers.

The key highlights for had to be the final two gowns, pure Corrie Nielsen, pure Couture, and pure and simply exquisite as only Corrie can achieve. This is a designer that I have admired since she won Fashion Fringe in 2010 and I was lucky enough to meet last season, and each collection gets better and bigger, and she totally deserves all the success as she is a talented and passionate fashion designer.

Of course with the addition of tartan and couture designs, I am sure Corrie is going to be compared to her former mentor Vivienne Westwood, but no matter what this autumn/winter collection carried all her signature style with a new found confidence for paired down separates and everyone left the main tent wowed by how far Corrie has come. I am excited to see all the pieces up close when the press day season kicks in.

“This collection is dedicated to my grandmother, Tollie Burns and my great, great, great grandfather, John S. Burns, for their strength and courage.” Corrie Nielsen.

I can’t believe it is Sunday already, this has been one of the busiest London Fashion Weeks for me and I am so happy as I do love the buzz of a catwalk show and all the drama and socialising that goes with it. Whereas Saturday is official being re-named ‘the day that rains’, today the sun is shining, which means I could finally get my sunglasses out.

Quiet day for me today, I have a number of shows in but I have only done one, the Prophetic show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, so I can catch up on editing my images and bringing you all the news from the first two days, seriously I have a lot of stuff to share, and generally taking a breather before the madness that is my Monday schedule.

Today’s look is kind of casual, mainly because I was only around for a few hours, but also one of my favourite looks so far. I do love a good maxi skirt and this is one of my most comfortable and surprisingly long enough ones from New Look; I paired it with my Simeon Farrar t-shirt, Long Tall Sally leather jacket, and finishing off the look is my Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag.

My Style Details:

You know I love t-shirts, well my Simeon Farrar printed Kate Mouse tee is fast becoming one of my favourites and most versatile pieces, I really just love it and couldn’t resist working it to fashion week.

Fashion week wouldn’t be complete without getting out my trust blue Rebecca Minkoff, this bag is one of my all time favs not only is it a great colour to add a pop to my mainly black wardrobe, but it is also an ideal size for all my belongings. Today I have paired my RM with my new zebra printed New Look scarf, I was wearing to keep the chill off but I love attaching scarves to bags and I thought this worked well.

Finishing off my look today are my Calvin Klein sunglasses, when it comes to dark frames I am more of a dark brown than black type of gal and these are my wear anywhere and everywhere glasses. LFW really does look better in the sun!!!

Day 2 at London Fashion Week for me was all about the excitement of Barbie, as I blogged earlier this week my favourite doll is teaming up with Sister by Sibling as their model for their autumn/winter collection, so I thought in honour of her my outfit need to be a little Barbie-lious and it all started with my Barbie necklace and Thomas Sabo Barbie charm.

Been another hectic day, taking in shows from Daks, Elisa Palamino, Sister by Sibling, John Rocha, a cute presentation from Markus Lupfer, as well as seeing my friends over at Fashion Fringe for a presentation for former finalists Nabil Nayal and Alice Palmer at one of the most fantastic hotels the Corinthia, which Rihanna apparently was staying in.

Today, as always it seems on the Saturday at London Fashion Week was the day it rained, which always puts a dampen on things, mind the pun, and makes it harder to go to shows at different venues and I have to admit taking shelter at Markus Lupfer’s presentation wasn’t all bad!!!

My Style Details:

This wool blend skirt with pleated detail to the front and very Gucci-inspired block colours was a bargain at Primark, costing me just £5 in the sale. I love the pop of colours against the black, and the fit was perfection. I paired this skirt with my black Jaeger Boutique jumper, which has star cut outs, I got this in the sale a few seasons ago and recently found it in my closet and have fallen in love with it again. Today was very cold and the sleeveless top I was going to wear just wasn’t going to cut it.

Finishing off my look today was once again my Osprey London bag and Russell & Bromley brogues, I know bad blogger wearing something more than once, but hey the bag is perfection and I didn’t have time to change over all my stuff and I couldn’t be bothered to wear heels.

Finally pieces of my look were dedicated to Barbie – wearing her signature necklace that I picked up off Etsy at the start of the year, and my Thomas Sabo Barbie silhouette charm.