All Leathered Up

 

Mary Kate Olsen rocking a Balenciaga quilted Leather jacket in 2007

Okay, so I bet you've seen a million posts about the "Classic Leather Jacket". The magazines this time of year are always filled with articles urging you to go out and "invest" in one. I admit that the leather jacket isn't groundbreaking, but come on, it's just SO timeless. You can practically wear it with anything and it instantly gives an outfit that 'cool, rocky' vibe, (well, at least in my mind it does anyway.) It's also a perfect ensemble during that transition from Summer to Winter where it's too warm for a coat but you need that extra bit of warmth.

Most of last Winter (and if I'm honest, half of this year) I wore a cropped, fake leather, £9.99, H&M jacket ALL THE TIME and trust me, it was definitely not adequately heated for the colder months! However, I have realized that it is now time to let go of my leathery cropped past and to embrace the new, (well, a new version of the same thing anyway.) Looking out at this dreary weather, I think it's definitely time for a fresh, much nicer, length appropriate version of the leather jacket. Mainly because I seriously prefer it to a coat and do not want to freeze to death this Winter. 

Anyway, moving on from my ramblings, here are my faves from the High Street and Designer. Of course I'll be purchasing fake leather as I cannot afford the real stuff. I'm a jobless student for goodness sake!

This Faux Topshop one has a lovely fur trim and is reasonably priced at £58

At £29.99 this H&M one is cheap and the classic style will carry you through the colder months.

This is from Miss Selfridge and is £49 (I've tried this one on and love it, so a possible purchase for me)

 

This ASOS collarless quilted Leather jacket it gorgeous. It's a bit pricier at £120 but the real thing is worth a few extra pounds and it's by far cheaper than the designer ones below!

I couldn't resist showing you a few Net-A-Porter diamonds too...

Burberry Brit Shearling Jacket (Retailing at £1,095, yikes!)

Helmut Lang Analog Leather Jacket (£1,085) The shape of this is just WOW, love the ruched arms.

3.1 Phillip Lim Ruffled Leather Jacket (£1,020) This one looks so supple, like it would just fall into the perfect shape when worn. Gorgeous.

I hope this post has helped you to find your Leather soul mate!

Fashion Find Of The Week: Ark Clothing

So, I’ve not blogged in a while… well in a long while actually! Shocking, I know. However, I couldn’t resist sharing this amazing store with you. I discovered this treasure trove of happiness whilst wandering the quaint streets of York (If you haven’t visited, you must! The cobbled streets and old-worldly architecture are lovely and even though it’s a bustling town, it’s incredibly peaceful.) Anyway, more to the point, I was delighted when I found Ark Clothing nestled among the other shops. I walked in and immediately loved everything in sight, it’s safe to say that I caught a dose of shopping fever and tried on literally everything in store... oops!

Ark holds a range of individual brands such as Hearts & Bows, Glamorous and Motel which I believe, you can find in Topshop. I’ve got to say that Hearts & Bows was the one that really stole my fashion heart as it had that vintage feel that I love. From chunky knits to cute peter pan dresses and vintage Levi Jean shorts, I was spoilt for choice. I did manage to guiltily purchase a few things though with my non-existent money. But don’t worry my fellow bloggers! The prices are relatively cheap, most of the things are much cheaper than high street stores such as Topshop and you get the bonus of having a less mass-produced product that you won’t see everyone wearing!

Here's what I got:
The dress below is the Hearts & Bows Tan Kelly Dress and is £29.99 ( I got it in Maroon but also loved this colour)                       

 

The cardigan below is also Hearts & Bows and is the Burgundy Carly Knit at £22.99. Doesn't it look snug!

 

I also loved these high neck tops for their patterns and colour combinations: 

This is the Glamorous Blue Tina Top £19.99

 This is the Hearts & Bows Grey Anna Top also at £19.99

 This one's the Hearts & Bows Peach Caroline top at £17.99

Don't you just love how everything has a cute name! Until next time, happy shopping girls.

Get The Look: Festival Style

This is the three minute segment me and my team produced for my final first year university project. It's all about how to get a natural beauty look for a festival. Enjoy...

This is the short profile I did on the designer, David Longshaw for a university project. It's in the style of Elle magazine. Here it is...

IN IT FOR

THE LONG HAUL

He’s a fashion DESIGNER, an ILLUSTRATOR, a WRITER and a Diet Coke ADDICT – want to know more? ELLE’S Maddison Barrett talks to David Longshaw to find out what’s inside the mind of a character so compelling.
'You can’t polish a turd’ declares David Longshaw, his dark shaggy hair cutting just above his eye line. A photograph shows him wearing a T-shirt from his first label, which he created whilst studying Fashion Design at the prestigious Central Saint Martin’s. Bearing the words Crucified Angel the T-shirt’s paradoxical slogan perhaps sums up the way this unique designer thinks. Take for instance the reasons why he loves fashion: ‘because it’s relentless, fast paced and creative,’ yet he dislikes the industry for these same reasons.

Manchester born, twenty eight year old Longshaw was snapped up by Alberta Ferretti before his final graduate collection was even shown and has worked for fashion houses such as Max Mara since his graduation in 2007. As well as completing an MA at the Royal College of Art, he was the winner of the BFC/ELLE Talent Launch Pad which gained him valuable recognition and which left him ‘relieved and wanting more.’ If that wasn’t enough, Longshaw doesn’t just design; he’s also an illustrator and writer, winning the Colin Barnes Drawing Prize in 2005 and recently contributing to publications such as THE END magazine, The Daily and Fashion156.

Alongside designing, he created Maude; a fabric fashion mouse (made from 100% Cashmere,), whose voice transcends through to his work, giving him a creative outlet and enabling him to create Maudezine, an online fashion magazine. Counting this creation among one of his proudest and most life changing achievements, he admits that she’s ‘a pain in the arse, but very inspiring.’ Granted, an imaginary fashion mouse called Maude isn’t your typical designers’ muse, but then again, Longshaw isn’t your typical designer.

It isn’t just the mouse Maude that inspires him. When asked about his favourite designers, he mentions the talented Kirsty Ward who collaborated with him on jewellery for his latest collection and added half jokingly: ‘Well, she’s my girlfriend so I’m too scared to say anyone else.’ It’s lucky that she’s talented as there’s nothing that Longshaw hates more than ‘awful designs offending my eyes in magazines.’ Every season he creates an elaborate story, his collections being an extension of his whimsical and eclectic tales, enabling him to bring a specific vibe and individuality to each piece that he creates. Take his Spring/Summer 11’ collection which is based on the concept of ‘chav dogs, feathers, a ruffle or two and a story I wrote.’ The story centres around a group of hoodies, breaking into a stately home and dressing up in the costumes on display. The result is trousers, skirts and shift dresses, mainly in rich regal and powder blues; covered in his signature illustrative prints, the ‘Chav bull dog’ taking centre-stage. There’s even a hooded cropped jacket, and the collection oozes the essence of Longshaw’s story. This unique and captivating aesthetic makes him an innovator in his field. The combination of design, illustration and story writing really gives his designs that something extraordinary.

Although fully committed to his work, family is also extremely significant to him, with his most treasured memories being from his childhood of ‘playing rugby and going on family trips to Wales.’ Like Karl Lagerfeld, he has a soft spot for Diet Coke and admits that ‘where I’m going to get my next Diet Coke and if it’s going to be cold enough’ is pretty high up on his priorities.

So, what’s in store for this quirky, extremely talented individual? Well, Vauxhall Fashion Scout labelled him as a One To Watch in 2010 and if you haven’t guessed already, they weren’t wrong. Longshaw isn’t picky though, as long as he’s ‘designing, writing, illustrating and being as creative as possible aged ninety’ then he’ll be living the life he’s always wanted. Well, with a little help along the way from Maude of course.

Below is one of Longshaw's illustrations, 'complicated and feminine', just like his garments.

MK & ASHLEY - LOVE

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen at the YSL, Metropoliton Opera Gala. Both wearing Yves Saint Laurent and The Row Sunglasses. They look AMAZING as always in their signature oversized sunglasses.

Internet Piece: In the style of Grazia Daily

MODEL WATCH: Q&A with Stacey Martin This month Grazia Daily is catching up with some of the hottest models of the moment. We caught up with model Stacey Martin from Premier model agency to find out her top fashion and beauty loves:

 1. What have been your favourite shows this season and why? Topshop, because it keeps impressing me with its innovative feel while still being wearable. I didn’t do fashion week but love keeping up to date with the show. It’s my guilty pleasure.

2. What are your top three beauty products? Clinique Moisturiser, Maybelline One by One Mascara and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream.

3. What pieces/labels can’t you live without? I couldn't live without my American Apparel black skinny jeans and Vintage leather boots. Labels aren't a big priority for me but I try to stay with good quality brands.

4. What are you currently wearing? Black jeans, a Beyond Retro cut out tank top and leather boots

5. What is your best beauty tip that you've picked up whilst modelling? Stay natural, there’s nothing worse than trying to do too much and pretending you look different from who you are.

6. What are your favourite places to shop and why? I like the idea of not having a favourite place and trying to find eclectic pieces, and then the buy has more value. But of course I shop High Street when I need something basic and cheap.

You can watch what goes on at Premier in the new series The Model Agency every Wednesday at 10PM on Channel 4 or click here

Heritage Sweetheart

Some of the photo's from an Imaging project I recently did...