What really drives fashion week, apart from the collections on the runway are the celebrities that attend the shows. Which celebrities will grace the front row this season I wonder. I predict Alexa Chung will feature heavily at the international shows. Rumour has it style icon Olivia Palermo will be in London (again) and I predict Cheryl Cole will make her debut appearance at London Fashion Week. In the past year she’s supported a fair few up and coming UK designers and who can forget her in that David Koma dress on X Factor.
Among all the stars, editors, and socialites sitting front row at fashion week, it’s a pint-sized girl in glasses and a quirky hat who I predict will steal the headlines. Thirteen year old blogger Tavi Gevinson made it to the front row of the Chanel Couture show last week, pulling funny faces with Alexa Chung no less. She has her own column in Pop magazine, the sisters behind the Rodarte label, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, have taken her on as their muse. She’s also landed several magazine covers already.
I used to really like her, her blog is sweet and I love that she’s young and fearless when it comes to fashion. But Tavi Gevinson has become the new darling of the fashion industry, a bit like an ‘it bag’ it all just seems a bit wrong, she’s sitting front row with highly powerful fashion editors sitting somewhere behind her. Even Grazia tweeted that they were watching the Dior show through Tavi Gevinsons massive bow hat. The fashion world has gone out of it’s way to court Tavi but what has she got to aspire to now?
And more importantly what happens next? It is tempting to think that Tavi will be a short-lived sensation, the product of a culture gone Internet-crazy, in which bloggers are getting book deals, clothing lines and more column inches than Britney Spears. Designer Christopher Kane told British Vogue, "No one who wants to read a serious review of a show is going to look at what a 14-year-old thinks." But tell that to the thousands of unique visits that follow Style Rookie each month!
Tavi was a darling because she was on the outside but now that she’s been handed the fashion world on a silver platter, she is looking less and less like the kid everybody fell in love with. But to be fair I’m excited to see what she’s going to wear come Fashion Week and I hope she leaves the huge headgear at home because I pity those who have to sit behind her.
I’m amazed at how many films have influenced my style in one way or another, whether it be the kids from Fame dancing away in their leg warmers and neon coloured tops, Pretty Woman with Vivians thigh high boots. More recently there was Andy Sachs going from geek to chic in The Devil Wears Prada. And who doesn’t look back in awe at Kim Cattrall in 1987’s Mannequin when she’s dancing around the department store with Andrew McCarthy?
Here are my top five films that I own that have influenced my style and how I dress today:
1. Teen Witch
When Louise Miller turns up at her high school prom in an indigo blue shoulder padded number I was in awe. This film is one of my all time faves (I purchased it off Ebay for a shocking amount of money for a VHS Video). Louise is an unfashionable geek who discovers she’s a witch, and decides to cast a spell to make her the most popular girl in school. The movie’s fashion reads like an ode to late 80’s styling, with items like strong-shoulder padded boleros and wispy bolo ties making a strong appearance in the film. I wanted it all; the denim embellished waistcoats, the lacy ra-ra skirts, the jewelled stilettos. But most of all I wanted that dress at the end.
2. Pretty in Pink
Ah who doesn’t love Pretty in Pink? Andie wasn’t the most popular girl in school, but she loved fashion and had her own creative personal style. With a nod to Annie Hall, Andie wore menswear-inspired pieces, that were at times so horrendous they were great. She always added a feminine edge with floral scarves and pearl and beaded accessories. I love Ray Ban Wayfarers because of this film and I also wanted that dress at the end.
3. Grease
I think you’ll all agree this is a hugely influential fashion film. From the Pink Ladies to Sandra Dee’s ‘tell me about it stud’ outfit you’ll have tried to recreate the magic at some point, even if it was for fancy dress. Even today I channel Sandra Dee when I wear my leather leggings, she even made smoking look cool.
4. Flashdance
When the sweatshirt Jennifer Beals wanted to wear as welder-by-day/dancer-by-night Alex Owens shrunk in the wash, a fashion craze was born. Sportswear was in, but not the kind worn at the gym. Combining torn sweatshirts with leg warmers, spandex pants, headbands and hi-tops – it was 80’s personified and I loved it. I remember having lots of torn T-shirts and over sized jumpers and I really really wanted a pair of red stilettos. I can’t dance though, just for the record.
5. Breakfast at Tiffany’s
When Audrey Hepburn stood gazing at a Tiffany’s window, the little black dress she wore became the crown jewel in any woman’s wardrobe. I love this film; she’s positively crazy, with major issues but you can’t help but love her because of her style and her elegance. I have countless LBD’s, so many triple-strand pearl necklaces, sleeveless dresses and oversized sunglasses. Victoria Beckham has this film to thank for her new style status if you ask me.
I love all things glitzy, even my bed spread and pillow cases are embellished with diamontes come to think of it. So due to my love of glitz you can just imagine just how excited I was walking in to the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED party in honour of Daisy Lowe and her new capsule collection.
The party had it all:
Glitterballs. Check.
A sparkly sofa. Check.
Jewels hanging from the ceiling. Check.
Celebrities. Check.
Champagne. Check
The party was brilliant. Daisy Lowe looked stunning in her new season Christopher Kane dress, which suited her figure perfectly. Her red shoes and matching lips were a hit with all the boys that surrounded her all night and she also had the new season Chanel tattoo around her thigh – the first celebrity I’ve seen giving the tricky trend a go. I loved her hair too, it had a very big, bouffant Wonder Woman vibe to it.
She had lots of friends around her; a few celeb pals, a few model chums (Tallulah Adeyemi to name my fave) Unfortunately there was no sign of any family members which was a tad surprising, and disappointing as I was hoping to catch a glimpse of step-mum Gwen.
No matter how hard I try, sometimes it’s just difficult to stop working at these events. I’m always looking around looking for stylish people to snap for Elleuk.com or I’m too busy ‘networking’ that I forget to have fun!
I did manage to enjoy the champagne and hit my diamonte encrusted bed in the wee hours of the morning and not to brag or anything but the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED party rocked!
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve thrown a few snowballs in my time and I’ve even been skiing on a school trip (I cried every day) but I’m just over this weather already. What I’m finding especially hard is the chore of getting ready for work. Please tell me I’m not the only one finding it tough? Working in the magazine world, every day I walk through the doors and wait for the lift and I’m stood there surrounded by glamour. The majority of the girls have style and elegance seeping from every pore; they have the latest designer handbag, they have perfectly coiffed hair and their immaculate fingernails are always painted in the ‘in’ colour for the season, FYI right now it’s one of the new Chanel shades – Inattendu is their current favourite (I can’t wait to get my hands on the ‘greige’ shade come the end of the January)
Anyway, as i was saying getting dressed is no mean feat. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a charity case – I can put an outfit together and I do usually have nicely painted nails. However, it’s this weather + work attire that I struggle with. To Ugg or not to Ugg that is the question. Uggs I find, are also Marmite, I personally dislike them but I see the benefits and right now those benefits are amazing! Jumpers are also tricky, in theory jumpers are great, you think you’ll look casual and chic but instead you just look a little bit chubby and a bit too hot once the office central heating kicks in.
It seems that every day for the past week I choose the drabbest items I can find, I put on the minimal amount of make-up, I do barely a thing with my hair and I just throw on as many layers as I can. There is no sight of a sparkly accessory or even a smile for that matter, I just go to work, come home, put my cosy pyjamas on and I sit and watch rubbish TV. I think I have Seasonal Affective Disorder with the trigger being snow.
I just want a spring in my step, I want the clocks to go forward and Summer to arrive, just the mere thought brings a smile to my face; I can’t wait for floral prints, 90’s denim, rucksacks, round sunglasses, Pimms, Wimbledon whites, strawberries, Neon shades, Coachella festival, beachy waves in my hair and a sunkissed glow on my face… ahhhh bliss.
For now, well I suppose a hot chocolate with whipped cream will have to do…
Brace yourself girls… the trailer for the new Sex and the City film, and oh my god I cannot wait to see it.
Like most girls I loved the TV series and I loved the film but I wasn’t thrilled to hear about another instalment; Big and Carrie got together, everyone was happy and the film ended on a high. Sex and the City… DONE.
Since the pictures emerged off the set of the second film, speculation has run wild; does Big cheat on Carrie? Does Aiden come back? Who is Penelope Cruz going to play? What’s Miley Cyrus doing on the film set? And the biggest one? Will one of the girls die? God forbid please say no.
The trailer, featuring a montage of New York landmarks and set to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ hit Empire State Of Mind, sees Carrie stepping out in a white dress and sunglasses, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) embracing motherhood with her daughter, and Samantha (Kim Cattrall) chatting up a younger-looking hot guy.
All you cynics out there I suggest you watch this trailer and try not to get excited. After a year of looking after the pennies and hearing of so many untimely celebrity deaths I think we need something bright and cheerful for 2010.
Get those Manolos at the ready when Sex And The City 2 is released on May 28 2010.
I'm a fashion stylist and consultant based in London. I'm Fashion Editor at Phoenix magazine, and I've styled for many musicians from Kate Nash to... (more)
What really drives fashion week, apart from the collections on the runway are the celebrities that attend the shows. Which celebrities will grace the front row this season I wonder. I predict Alexa Chung will feature heavily at the international shows. Rumour has it style icon Olivia Palermo will be in London (again) and I predict Cheryl Cole will make her debut appearance at London Fashion Week. In the past year she’s supported a fair few up and coming UK designers and who can forget her in that David Koma dress on X Factor.
I’m amazed at how many films have influenced my style in one way or another, whether it be the kids from Fame dancing away in their leg warmers and neon coloured tops, Pretty Woman with Vivians thigh high boots. More recently there was Andy Sachs going from geek to chic in The Devil Wears Prada. And who doesn’t look back in awe at Kim Cattrall in 1987’s 
