A Little Bit Country…

For the past month Fashion Week has dominated every magazine, website and blog around keeping all eyes have been firmly focused on the SS12 collections. Not I love to ogle the latest designer goodies as much as the next fashion obsessive but given that it will be a good six months (if we’re lucky) before we can even think about baring our pasty limbs in flimsy frocks, I think it’s high time we got back to thinking about Autumn. I’ve made myself highly unpopular over the past couple of weeks by bitching about the recent heatwave. And yes, I know us Londoners should be grateful if the sun shines at all but personally I just felt robbed of the chance to get stuck in to the new season’s most delicious looks. Autumn inevitably brings with it a flurry of heritage fabrics but this season designers have well and truly gone to town with it offering up a myriad of gorgeous pieces that simply scream to be taken for a weekend in the country. Everything from tartan to houndstooth to Prince of Wales checks are up for grabs in a kaleidescope of rich autumnal hues. Us Brits may be famed for our capacity to make rural style chic but with the likes of Tory Burch, Derek Lam and Yves Saint Laurent getting in on the act this might not be the case for much longer. Feeling bold? Then channel Sonia Rykiel in head-to-toe tartan. Not quite so fearless? Just add a plaid scarf a la Etro for a subtler take on the trend.

From left: Sonia Rykiel, Tory Burch, Salvatore Ferragamo & Yves Saint Laurent AW11

If hearty tweeds aren’t your thing then don’t dispair for there is another way to work this seasons’ country trend. Forget about Princess Anne hunting on the Royal estate and look to the Native Americans and Little House on The Prairie for inspiration instead. Navajo prints, crochet and whimsical embroidery all made an appearence on the catwalk for AW11, cropping up everywhere from Proenza Schouler to Pringle of Scotland. Patchwork, fringing and homespun accessories are officially back on the sartorial menu in bright, block colours and clashing patterns.

From left: Chloe, Proenza Schouler, Isabel Marant & Pringle of Scotland AW11

Isabel Marant may be the coolest woman in fashion but much as I want to love her tassled boots, they’re just not me. Instead I’ll be going for tartan cigarette pants and checked pencil skirts accessorized with leather riding boots for extra countryside chic. Aristocrat-inspired or new age Navajo, which look will YOU be channelling this week?

Love Ella. X

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Ella Catliff in Fashion Leave a comment

La Petite Fashion Week Favourites: Paris, SS12

After four weeks of catwalks shows, presentations, parties and photo opp’s, fashion month has finally drawn to a close leaving the sartorial community to go back to their day jobs and forget about all things summery for at least the next six months. Last week the international fash pack re-packed their Prada and upped sticks once again for the final leg of the Fashion Week tour. Now whilst I’m forever loyal to London and newly enamoured with New York there is nowhere quite as chic as Paris, so it seems fitting that it’s in this oh-so-stylish city the most important month on the fashion calender finishes up. I may not have been there in person (sob) but thanks to the wonders of Style.com, nothing could keep me from ogling the sartorial delights being displayed mere hours after Anna Wintour et al. Given that everyone from Chanel to Gareth Pugh show in the French fashion capital it wasn’t easy to pick favourites but in the interest of keeping things short and sweet I gave it my best shot…

Lanvin

Another season, another breathtaking show from the wonderful Alber Elbaz. Only he could take the idea of an angel in hell as a starting point and concoct a collection that fused sportswear with red carpet chic to create something truly beautiful. The aesthetic was sleek, modern and sexy combining thigh high slits, plunging necklines and cut-away detailing with clean lines and slicked back hair. Strong shapes, fluid fabrics and cinched waists gave Lanvin’s ladies a femme fatal air, exuding a gothic glamour that felt both elegant and powerfully seductive. Striking monochrome looks were interspersed with mesmerizing snake prints and dusky hues before bursting into a dazzling, jewel toned finale. Sheer will most definitely be sticking around come Spring and Lanvin’s new season collection included some truly showstopping chiffon numbers.

Carven

I’ve always had the feeling that Guillaume Henry designs his collections especially for me and his latest show just about proved it. Over the past few seasons Carven has become one of the fash packs’ most coveted labels and the brand’s SS12 offerings were nothing less than perfection. Skater skirts, pleated mini’s, adorable collars and immaculate tailoring were the order of the day in butter soft leathers, eye-popping brights and graphic, summer-ready prints. The look was unapologetically fun and deliciously girlish with lace inserts, super-short shorts and cut-aways below the bust adding just the right amount of naughtiness. Rarely do you see a collection where you’d kill for every single item but for me, Carven’s latest was just that.

Stella McCartney

It was another stella show (sorry, couldn’t resist) from Ms McCartney this season. The designer wowed the crowds in Paris with a collection that combined super sleek tailoring with slouchy shapes and barely-there summer dresses. With her penchant for crisp whites and immaculate suiting, Stella designs tasteful clothes for grown-ups but there was certainly nothing conservative about her latest offerings. Hemlines were shorter than ever before whilst scalloped edges, crochet detailing and strategically placed mesh inserts gave the collection a fresh, playful twist. It appears that clashing your prints will still be de rigeur come Spring. Stella’s collection was a riot of polka dots, checks and graphic patterns with retro sunglasses adding just a hint of kitsch. The overall aesthetic was deliciously louche and effortless with elegant jumpsuits sitting comfortably alongside thigh-skimming slip dresses, oversized sweaters and micro shorts. All in all a delicious collection that would be equally at home on the streets of Paris as aboard a yaught in St Tropez.

Chanel

What would the world, or at least the fashion world, do withought Karl Lagerfeld? Mad he may be, but my God does that man know how to put on a show. The white gloved one’s latest collection for Chanel was truly a joy to behold. From demure, pencil-skirted twinsuits in soft creams and delicate blush hues to multi-coloured, organza confections – every single ensemble was covetable beyond belief. It was a perfect fusion of the old and the new which combined classic pieces with assymetric hemlines, zips and sculptured, exaggerated silhouettes. The brand’s trademark boucle wool, boxy jacket was given a 2012 makeover to sit atop voluminous skirts or casually flung over a show-stopping dress. As per usual the collection was a textural extravaganza encompassing frayed knits, high shine PVC and just about everything in between. From subtle, pearl adornments to ornate embellishment, not so much as a button was applied without painstaking attention to detail. Even viewing it on the smeary surface of my computer screen I could see that Chanel’s latest show was the kind of sartorial spectacle that makes you want to be a Princess aged ten and Editor of Vogue aged 15.

Love Ella. X

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Ella Catliff in Fashion Week 4 Comments

Front Row and Fabulous: Olivia Palermo

I know I claimed that I wouldn’t be featuring pointless FROW-ers in these posts but how could I not include Olivia Palermo? I mean, does anyone even care whether or (more likely) not she ever works a day in her life? The girl is so ridiculously pretty and sickeningly stylish she was simply made to sit in the front row and no doubt will continue to do so for many seasons to come. After all, what good is having perfect cheekbones and world’s best wardrobe if you’re not going to spend your time getting papped?

My first close (well, close ish) encounter with Olivia was at the Tibi show in New York where she and Emma Roberts nearly caused several PR’s to be trampled by hoards of stampeding paparazzi. I then spotted Olivia again at the Jaeger show in London and am sorry to announce that she really is every bit a gorgeous as she looks on The City. I’ve heard through the grapevine that she isn’t actually as much of a bitch as she seems on the show which I personally find a tad disappointing but that, my friends, is another story.

No matter what continent she’s on or which show she attends, Olivia Palermo always looks the part. Her’s is the kind of style that a lucky few are simply born with and she mixes classic staples with statement pieces as only the pro’s know how. Olivia may not be a role model in terms of climbing the career ladder but my God can she dress to impress.

Love Ella. X

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Ella Catliff in Fashion 2 Comments

La Petite Party Diaries: Pixie Lott for Lipsy Launch

Pixie Lott for Lipsy is well and truly the celeb/fashion collaboration that just keeps on giving… and I’m not just talking about the clothes. Obviously it’s great that Pixie’s sartorial flare has led her to design four sell-out collections for the brand but even more excitingly, the continued collaboration has resulted in a whole Lott-a parties (please excuse the pun, I couldn’t resist). Last night I attended my third Pixie Lott for Lipsy launch held at West London club, Public. Given that Public is located slap bang in the middle of the King’s Road it seemed fitting that the entire cast of Made In Chelsea pitched up to join in the fun. Ashamed as I am to admit it, I’ve watched the programme since it started (major guilty pleasure) so it was a tad surreal to see Caggie et al in the flesh. With X Factor’s Lucie Jones and the Hollyoaks ladies also in attendance, this certainly wasn’t your usual fash bash and for the first time ever, I didn’t feel overdressed.

Made in Chelsea’s Rosie Fortescue
and Milly Mackintosh

X Factor’s Lucie Jones

Moi

Pixie Lott

The evening began with champagne and mingling with tasty looking waiters serving almost-as-tasty looking canapes. Of course there’s only so much mingling (and bubbly) a girl can take so I was thrilled when Pixie arrived and the party could really begin. The music was loud, the drink never ran dry and the singer’s latest collection really rather lovely. If every Pixie Lott for Lipsy collaboration warrants this kind of celebration let’s hope she doesn’t stop designing anytime soon!

Love Ella. X

Credits: Photography by James Mason

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Ella Catliff in Parties 1 Comment

Front Row and Fabulous: Anna Wintour

Ok, so I may not be going to Paris or Milan this season (sob!) but that sure as hell doesn’t mean I’m going to be letting go of Fashion Week anytime soon. This magical time comes but twice a year so whether you’re attending the shows or viewing them from the comfort of your own home I say let’s make the most! Now we all know that the point of Fashion Week is really the collections. Ultimately we’re all there to check out the clothes in store for next season but no matter how inspiring they are, their beauty sometimes pales in comparison to the fabulous faces on the FROW. Thinking about who to feature in my first ever front row post, the answer was pretty blooming obvious. Who else could I possibly begin with than the Queen of fashion herself, HRH Anna Wintour.

Unlike other serial FROW-ers I could mention, La Wintour is not just there to pose. Anyone who’s watched the Septmber Issue (and if you haven’t I command you to stop reading and YouTube it NOW!) will be well aware that Anna has the power to make or break a designer’s career. A nod from her and you’re sorted, a scowl and you may as well pack up and go home. Having spent the entire Meadham Kirchoff show trying to get a snap of her instead of looking at the collection, I can understand why Anna is such paparazzi fodder. Aside from the fact she’s top of the fashion food chain, the Editrix extraordinaire never looks anything less than perfection. Ever immaculate but never boring, sensationally stylish and a little bit terrifying, Anna Wintour certainly knows how to work a FROW.

Love Ella. X

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Ella Catliff in Fashion 3 Comments

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